By Brent Lyday

Dallas – Texas A&M University-Commerce kicked off the week's activities leading to the 2010 Harvey Martin Classic with a press conference on Wednesday at the Dallas City Hall Flag Room. The Lions host the Angelo State Rams on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

By Scott Harvey

– A newspaper report says 30 percent of Texas school districts have asked their voters for tax rate increases since state lawmakers adopted the requirement four years ago.

The Dallas Morning News, citing figures from a website that tracks tax rate elections in Texas, reports that about a fifth of the state's 1,025 districts won voter approval for increases. Another 78 districts have been turned down by voters, including 17 that have lost twice.

That's according to figures from www.TexasISD.com.

By Brent Lyday

Dallas – Texas A&M University-Commerce kicked off the week's activities leading to the 2010 Harvey Martin Classic with a press conference on Wednesday at the Dallas City Hall Flag Room. The Lions host the Angelo State Rams on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

By Associated Press

Dallas – A series of weak tornadoes spawned by the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine hit the Dallas area Wednesday night, injuring at least one person.

Tornado funnels touched down just southeast, east and north of downtown Dallas. Only single funnels were observed touching down at any one time in Dallas.

By Scott Harvey

Cooper – Every fire department in Delta County responded to fires overnight that destroyed two abandoned homes in Cooper.

The first fire was reported at about 2 a.m. and the second at about 2:30 a.m. Delta County dispatch reports that both blazes haed been extinguished at last report.

Firefighters from North Hopkins and Sulphur Bluff were put on standby. The cause of the fires is under investigation.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Funeral services for one of the area's most active community volunteers, Vernell Baysinger, are scheduled Saturday at Greenville's Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Baysinger died Monday.

She was known for having won every volunteer of the year award offered by the various service agencies in the City of Greenville, including Greenville's Worthy Citizen for 2000.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Trials have been scheduled for five North Texas men indicted for engaging in organized crime in connection to a Wolfe City oil and gas company.

Jury selection begins Oct. 6 for Donald Joseph Dean, of Tyler; Michael Day Lamont, of Frisco; Carl Tinsley Ratner, of McKinney; Chad Michael Hayes, of McKinney; and Kevin Michael Hayes, of Euless.

In addition to the organized crime charge, the men are alleged to have acted as an unregistered dealer and sold unregistered securities.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Ceremonies to remember 9/11 are again scheduled in Greenville this week.

"We Remember," the fourth annual Hunt County Patriot Day Memorial, is scheduled at the north steps of the courthouse beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The Greenville Police Department Honor Guard is to offer a 21 gun salute, while the Greenville Fire Department will conduct a bell ceremony and the Hunt County Veterans Honor Guard will present a tribute to the United States military.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A new apartment complex is to be constructed while a vacant downtown building will soon be occupied in Commerce.

The City Council approved applications last night for separate conditional use permits.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – The body of a 61-year-old Sulphur Springs man has been recovered following a Tuesday house fire.

The man's name was not released. Sheriff's deputies were responding to a vacant home on the service road of I-30 near Weaver to investigate a possible suicidal person when the fire was reported.

The house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

The case is under investigation.