News

By Ap Wire

Lindale – Authorities say an infant was found
dead in a hot, parked vehicle outside Lindale City Hall yesterday.

A reserve police officer parked his truck during the morning and drove a police car to a law-enforcement class in
Canton, about 30 miles away. Justice of the Peace James R. Cowart told The Associated Press that, about 3:20 P-M, the man contacted Lindale police in a panic and said he did not recall taking his
infant to day care that day.

By Kevin Jefferies

Celeste – Funeral services are tomorrow for 20 year old Britney Lipsey, one of two A&M-Commerce students killed in a major accident along I-30 Sunday. Lipsey was a 2004 Celeste High School graduate who served as a lifeguard for the City of Greenville, gave swim lessons on the A&M-Commerce campus, and worked as a waitress in Commerce while attending school.

By Kevin Jefferies

Honey Grove – Charges against a former Honey Grove police officer of child pornography possession have been dropped. Larry Phillips had been indicted in 2003 on charges of possessing child pornography when pictures were found on his computer at work. Those charges have now been dropped for lack of evidence as investigators were unable to link the pictures directly to Phillips.

By Kevin Jefferies/Brad Kellar

By Kevin Jefferies

Greenville – A guilty plea has been entered in connection with a brutal Greenville murder in 2003. Travis Lynn Watson faces up to life in prison now after entering a guilty plea to first degree murder. He has been held on $1 million bond since November 2004 on charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery.

By Kevin Jefferies

Wolfe City – Wolfe City is asking its citizens to volunteer their time to help the town receive a sizeable grant meant to help small towns hit hard by drought conditions. The S.T.E.P. grant from the federal government could mean as much as $350,000 to help the town find new sources of clean water. The grant requires substantial help in labor to show at least a 40% savings due to a volunteer workforce and other areas. Wolfe City is now looking for help in all areas to meet the grant requirements.

By Kevin Jefferies

Hunt County – A Hunt County woman has been diagnosed with a case of West Nile virus. The announcement came late last week by the Hunt County Health Department. Officials were notified of the case after a woman was referred to Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. It is the first case of West Nile diagnosed in Hunt County this year.

There were two cases last year, one human and one horse; and 125 human cases statewide, including 11 fatalities.

By Kevin Jefferies

Northeast Texas – Some much needed rain yesterday, but not enough. Thunderstorms blew through the area yesterday, bringing about an inch of rain and a break from soaring temperatures. But Northeast Texas is still dry, and much more rain would be needed to alleviate drought conditions.

Late last week, Bonham moved to Stage II of their Emergency Water Demand Plan. In addition to requests for customers to limit outside watering to non-peak hours between 10:30pm and 5:30am, several mandatory restrictions have also been enacted.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – A&M-Commerce is seeking permission from The University of Oklahoma to contact a quarterback released amidst controversy earlier this week. Rhett Bomar's release from the Sooners drew national attention after an investigation showed he and another player violated NCAA rules by taking payment in excess of actual work at a car dealership in Norman, Oklahoma.

By rule, any Division I player can transfer to a Division II and play the next season.

By Kevin Jefferies

Texas – The tax-free weekend is underway all across Texas. Now through midnight Sunday, most clothing and footwear that costs less than $100 will be exempt from sales tax. Other items and accessories will also be tax-exempt this weekend.

This is the eighth year Texas has had the tax-free weekend. The holiday occurs the first weekend of every August.