Commerce – The Commerce ISD has named Wes Underwood principal of the newly constructed A. C. Williams Elementary School.

Underwood has been principal of Commerce Middle School for the last two years and prior to that was assistant principal at CMS and Commerce Elementary School.

"The elementary experience Wes received early in his career, his extensive knowledge of technology and his expertise in curriculum made him the clear choice to lead A.C. Williams Elementary School to the next level," Superintendent Blake Cooper said.

Alice Reese Movie Review: Friday, June 5, 2009.

Alice Reese Movie Review: Friday, June 5, 2009.

By Scott Harvey

Paris murder charges dropped; Greenville man already convicted now facing more charges; Commissioners to discuss possibility of Quinlan alcohol sales to appear on Nov. ballot; Commerce and Greenville among area schools to hold graduation; Hopkins County Commissioners hire attorney to help develope plan for overcrowded jail; Sulphur Springs City Council approves sale of downtown improvement bond.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – The Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday gave approval to issuing $4.4 million in bonds to fund downtown improvements.

This was the second reading of the ordinance, tied to the Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone #1. The zone will used to increased tax revenue created by the expected rising property values to fund downtown improvements.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Greenville man, recently convicted of armed robbery is now facing more charges.
19-year-old Jason Eugene Stevenson is alleged to have been involved with a "street gang" which committed a string of violent offenses in October of last year.

Stevenson was one of four people from Greenville indicted last month by the Hunt County grand jury on one count of aggravated kidnapping. Stevenson pleaded not guilty to the charge during a hearing Thursday.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A Paris woman is sentenced Wednesday to three years behind bars for the shooting of her estranged boyfriend.

47-year-old Cherrie Elaine Tingen had previously pleaded guilty to shooting 50-year-old Rickey Cassel five times in June, 2007; once in the head and four times in the back. The incident happened at Cassel's home west of Paris during a night a drinking, according to Tingen.

Both testified they were frequent victims of physical abuse from one another.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce, Greenville – Commerce and Greenville are among area cities to host graduation ceremonies this evening.

To help accommodate attendees, the Commerce ISD will hold graduation exercises in the gymnasium of the Field House on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Jarred Turner is this year's valedictorian, while Rachel Armstrong is the salutatorian. The two are among 104 students set to graduate this evening. The event gets underway at 8 p.m.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A judge in Paris orders murder charges be dropped against two white men, accused of killing a black man.

Shannon Finley and Ryan Crostley were dismissed Thursday afternoon by the Lamar County District Clerk's office at the request of a special prosecutor.

The two men were accused of running over and dragging to death 24-year-old Brandon McClelland on Sept. 16, 2008. Local civil rights activists had denounced the case as a racially-inspired hate crime.

By Scott Harvey

Hopkins County – Hopkins County Commissioners Thursday morning approved the hire of an attorney to assist in the development of a long-range plan for the county's jail.

Jim Allison, of Allison/Bass Associates, LLP, out of Austin, specializes in legal processes for the County Judges and Commissioner's Association of Texas. Hopkins County has been ordered by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to develop a long-range plan for their jail facility by August.

By Scott Harvey

Quinlan – Signed petitions from a number of Quinlan residents may give voters the opportunity to decide whether alcohol should be sold by local merchants.

Hunt County commissioners are slated to review and possibly approve two petitions pertaining to the sale of alcohol within Quinlan city limits when they meet Friday morning. If the petitions are approved, the items will be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot.