By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Commerce Police are reporting the recent arrest of two individuals for illegal narcotics following traffic stops.

48-year-old Ron Edward Reed was found in possession of two to four ounces of marijuana in a Drug Free Zone, or within 1000 feet of City Park. Reed's bond was set at $15,000.

A separate traffic violation led to the arrest of 33-year-old Martin Jimenez, of Greenville, who had apparently just spend time in jail the previous night.

Hear Scott Harvey's exclusive interview with Coach Schneider from October 7, 2009.

Darren Schneider, A&M-Commerce Men's Track and Field Coach

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A Paris man is charged with eight counts, five drug-related, following the issuance of a warrant and his arrest yesterday.

26-year-old Jermaine Deon Ellis is said to have fled police on foot before later found hiding in a shed. Upon arrest, Ellis was found to be in possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, and crack cocaine all in a drug free zone.

By Scott Harvey

Texas State Board of Education candidate visits Commerce; Commerce joins elite group as "StormReady" community; Testimony ends in Hunt County murder trial; North Texas man receives prison time in local forgery case; More area school districts closing due to flu absences; Paris High School Assistant Principal receives honor; Sulphur Springs ISD receives major grant; Fire destroys home in Sulphur Springs; New director named for Paris Junior College-Greenville campus.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – A Sulphur Springs residence is destroyed Tuesday afternoon following a fire on West Oaks Circle.

No injuries were reported from the blaze.

Firefighters report the home was completely engulfed in flames upon arrival. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – A North Texas man receives prison time in a forgery case where he allegedly wrote a bogus check in Hunt County.

Christopher Scott Day, of Watauga, already had more than a dozen felony convictions on his record before pleading guilty Tuesday.

Under a plea bargain arrangement, Day was sentenced to seven years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – Testimony in the capital murder trial of John William Trotman III, of Mesquite, concluded Tuesday.

The jury is expected to receive the case to begin deliberations following closing arguments today.

The prosecution's final witness Tuesday was the woman Trotman was staying with at the time he allegedly stabbed Greenville resident Ryon Rhoden to death in November 2007. Leticia Jones testified Trotman told her he had killed Rhoden after attempting to rob him.

By Scott Harvey

– Area school districts continue to close their doors amidst the spread of seasonal flu.

The Como Pickton ISD will be closed for the remainder of the week for excessive absences, while Campbell ISD will be closed through Monday. The Trenton ISD in southern Fannin County has also shut its doors.

Earlier this week, the Boles ISD announced plans to close school until next Wednesday due to high absenteeism.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Local officials were on hand last night at the A&M-Commerce Alumni Center to hear a presentation by Thomas Ratliff, candidate for the Texas State Board of Education.

Ratliff (R), of Mt. Pleasant, is opposing incumbent Dr. Don McLeroy (R), of Bryan, for District 9. Ratliff is part-manager for a title company in Mt. Pleasant, as well as a lobbyist in Austin.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – An investigation is underway in a reported burglary at the Greenville Walgreens on Wesley Street early Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred between 2:30 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. Prior to the burglary a vehicle was stolen from a local business that was used to facilitate the burglary.