By Scott Harvey

Hunt County – Hunt County Commissioners during its Monday meeting voted to keep the tax rate as is for the upcoming fiscal year.

The rate will still require two public hearings in the near future, according to Katrina Pemberton with the county judge's office. That's because the current rate of $0.507534 per $100 valuation exceeds the effective tax rate by just over two percent (2.001917%).

Still, the approved tax rate is five cents less than the 2006-2007 fiscal year rate.

This Day in History: Monday, August 10, 2009.

This Day in History

This Day in History: Monday, August 10, 2009.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – Paris Police on Saturday arrest two on charges of abandoning and endangering a child with intent to return.

The incident occurred in the Wal-Mart parking lot along Lamar Avenue. Employees of the store were able to remove the 5-month old from the car and were tending to the child inside upon police arrival.

Arrested were 38-year-old Shontell Robinson and 20-year-old Steven Smith, both of Paris. They remained in the Lamar County Jail at last report.

By Scott Harvey

KETR Newscast 8-10-09

Campbell man killed and Commerce man charged with intoxication manslaughter; Fire at VFW post in Sulphur Springs; Paris Marine killed in Middle East; Wolfe City petitions for alcohol sales could get approved Monday to go on Nov. ballot; No fatalities from two swine flu reports in Hunt County; Wood County woman arrested for assault of public servant.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – A fire at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Sulphur Springs early Sunday destroys one portion of the complex, and damages several other areas.

There were no reports of any injuries from the blaze, the cause of which is unclear but believed to be accidental.

The fire destroyed the canteen and caused severe water and smoke damage to the Ladies Auxiliary Room and social hall.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A Paris Marine sergeant, along with two other military soldiers is killed following a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan.

24-year-old Jay M. Hoskins was on his third tour of duty in the Middle East. He's is a 2003 graduate of North Lamar High School.

Hoskins is survived by his wife, Chandler and 1-year-old child Tristen. His wife is expecting another child in January.

By Scott Harvey

Campbell, Commerce – A Campbell man is killed, and a Commerce man charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection to a one vehicle wreck over the weekend.

Authorities say 22-year-old Joshua Ray Herring, of Campbell, was thrown from the vehicle when it rolled over along FM 1567 near Miller Grove. Herring was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, 21-year-old Philip Scott Edwards, of Commerce, has since been taken into custody by state troopers. His condition was not known.

By Scott Harvey

Wolfe City – Two petitions for alcohol sales have been submitted by Wolfe City residents, and Hunt County Commissioners will decide Monday whether to place the items on the November 3 ballot.

The petitions are for the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only, and for the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders. 128 and 121 signatures were received for each petition, respectively. 119 were required for each.

By Scott Harvey

Hunt County – As of Monday morning, little information had been made public regarding Hunt County's first two cases of swine flu/H1N1.

The Hunt County Health Department reported the information on its website last Thursday, but did not provide any additional details. Health Department Lab Director Joe Lilly was unavailable for comment last week.

KETR has since learned there have not been any fatalities from the two outbreaks.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The 3rd Annual Cotton Belt Symposium takes place Saturday on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

The public is invited to the free event, to celebrate the legacy and experiences of the employees and families connected to the St. Louis Southwestern Railway in northeast Texas and system-wide.