By Scott Harvey

Greenville – Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville is finalizing plans for major improvements to their emergency room scheduled to begin this summer.

The Hunt Memorial Hospital District board of directors received a report on March 29 from Corgan Associates architects on plans for the first phase of the project. Corgan also will serve as construction manager for the project.

The expansion will add about 2,000 square feet to the facility, most of it enhancements to the entrance and waiting room.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Commerce High School's one-act play has advanced to the UIL Area competition which will be held at Creekview High School in Carrollton Thursday.

The tragedy "Eurydice" by Sarah Ruhl, which is based on Greek mythology, is one of two of the five plays performed at the district competition selected to advance.

Cast members receiving honorable mention were Taylor Mefford, Tony Feduccia and Audrey Anderson. Daniel Starks was named to the All-Star Cast. John Naizer was named Outstanding Tech.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – Judge Robert Newsom will in fact preside over the trial of longtime Sulphur Springs physician Dr.

Don O'Neal. Newsom last week granted a change of venue request in the case, which moves the trial from Hopkins County to the 6th District Courtroom in Paris.

The jury pool will be made up of Lamar County residents.

District Attorney Martin Braddy has not decided which of the 61 charges against Dr. O'Neal will be tried first.

By Scott Harvey

– As part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to avoid distractions, watch out for work zones and their workers.

Trey Turner is with the Paris District office, which serves nine area counties.

"In our work zone in 2009, the Paris District did have 257 total crashes and four fatalities," Turner said.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The firearm allegedly used by Dane Ray Clark was also in his possession illegally.

He's pleaded not guilty to all three charges, which include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

The incidents in question occurred June where he reportedly threatened a female victim with a firearm, and last July where one person was shot.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Hunt County resident previously convicted of murder returns to prison after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated.

Larry Lee Brown, of Royse City, entered the plea Monday to driving while intoxicated in October 2009. As part of a plea deal, he received 12 years in prison and fined $3,000.

Records show Brown had previous convictions of DWI in Bell County in the 1990's, and was convicted of murder in Bell County in 1988.

By Brad Kellar

McKinney – Two Rowlett residents have been indicted in an alleged scheme to sell shares of a fake power plant.

Kenneth Paul Lawrence and Casey Ray Van Lune have been indicted by the Collin County Grand Jury for theft by appropriation. The two are alleged to have swindled more than a dozen individuals out of more than $720,000 in 2008 and 2009.

Commerce – What does it take to be a princess? A Princess Tea at the Northeast Texas Children's Museum occurs Sunday, April 17, at 3:00 PM. Young princesses throughout the area learn the answer to that question. A real princess, such as the soon-to be Princess Kate in England, requires proper instruction.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – Lamar County will play host to the trial of longtime Sulphur Springs physician Dr. Don O'Neal, who's facing a total of 61 felony counts.

Judge Robert Newsom last week granted a change of venue request in the case, and later transferred the trial to Paris, where Judge Eric Clifford will preside.

O'Neal faces 33 counts of prescription fraud, 22 counts of delivery of a controlled substance and six counts for theft and misapplication of fiduciary funds from the Sulphur Springs Medical-Surgical Clinic.