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Outdoors with Luke Clayton 04-14-10

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Crews at Texas A&M University-Commerce are a step closer toward the installation of a road behind Whitley Hall.

The Commerce City Council last week approved a resolution for the project, which is designed to relieve the volume of traffic from Neal Street to Loop 178, and in turn take the pressure off motorists and improve safety for students crossing the Loop.

The preliminary plan shows Whitley Drive will sit approximately one-tenth a mile south of the Highway 50/Loop 178 intersection.

By Brad Kellar

– There's a new identity theft scam being reported in the area.

The latest variation on phishing involves an apparent mass automated telephone call scheme, seeking account and personal identification numbers.

The call is claimed to be from American National Bank of Texas, claiming the recipients account has been closed or is in danger of being closed, requiring the recipient to submit their debit card or personal identification number.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Jay Atkins won Tuesday's Republican Party primary runoff race for Hunt County Commissioner Precinct 2, and likely also claimed the position outright.

David McNabb did the same thing in winning the GOP runoff for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, while Sheila Linden won the Republican Party nomination in her Justice of the Peace race. Linden will face Democrat Sandra Kay Linson-Bell in November.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – Lawyers for a Paris teenager with an IQ of 47 will appear in court today on an appeal that the boy's 100 year prison sentence was too harsh.

19-year-old Aaron Hart was convicted of performing sexual acts with a younger neighbor.

Lisa Greybill with the ACLU says Hart's sentence is cruel and unusual punishment.

By Scott Harvey

Dallas – New developments have emerged in the 2-year-old murder case of Dallas money courier and former Hunt County resident Phillip Washington.

The Dallas Morning News reports police now believe Washington bought a car from one of the suspects a couple months before he was killed.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – The 15-year-old Paris girl who was initially thought to have been kidnapped may have voluntarily run away.

Police have determined Stephanie Ann Phillips was not being held or taken against her will.

Initial reports indicated Phillips was taken from the Kroger parking lot by an older man Monday morning. An investigation would find Phillips had made it to school and didn't appear under duress.

Authorities will continue to search for Phillips due to the associated risks of being a runaway.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – A prominent Sulphur Springs physician has been charged with 33 counts of fraud relating to prescription medication.

Dr. Don O'Neal turned himself this week. His bond has been set at a total of $330,000.

The fraud charges stem from allegations O'Neal ordered narcotic prescriptions, even though his license to do so was surrendered last August.

He's been practicing medicine in the city for more than three decades.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Florida woman is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to possessing more than 200 pounds of marijuana in January 2009.

Raquel Richardson, of Miami, had been scheduled for trial Monday. She's now set to appear in court Tuesday and enter an open plea of guilty.

An open plea means no potential sentence in the case had been offered or arranged.

Greenville Police Department Officer Robert Pemberton made a traffic stop on Richardson's vehicle on January 27, 2009 and discovered the drugs inside.

By Scott Harvey

– Voting for the runoff elections takes place from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. today throughout the region today.

The races represent the top two vote-getters on March 2, who were unable to receive at least 50 percent of the vote.

In Hunt County, voters will decide races for Commissioner for Precinct 2 and Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 race, plus choose a Republican Party nomination for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2.