By Scott Harvey

Paris – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed licensed counselor and Paris resident Pam Russell as one of five professionals to the Task Force to Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect.

Perry's office formally made the announcement this week.

Russell is an author and co-owner of Paris Counseling Center. The goal of the task force is to establish strategies for reducing child abuse and neglect and for improving child welfare in Texas. The group was commissioned by the 81st Texas Legislature.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – The City of Sulphur Springs has received a grant worth $450,000 from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to benefit moderate income families.

The grant, applied for last fall, will provide funding to rebuild dilapidated homes for six or seven families.

The city will work closely with the Nehemiah Foundation to implement the grant. The two entities will now begin to organize the partnership.

By Scott Harvey

– The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth is making its rounds to instruct local residents on how to spot severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The annual "Skywarn" Storm Spotter Training course has already made stops through Fannin and Lamar County this week, with plans to be in Hopkins County Thursday night.

Everyone is invited to attend the event, which will focus on storm observations, reporting procedures and safety. Thursday's meeting runs from 7-9 p.m. in the Sulphur Springs Library.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A new subdivision will soon be established for 38 new residential lots in south Commerce.

The City Council Tuesday night approved the second reading to rezone property located just east of Monroe Street and south of Brookshire's Grocery.

Now work on the 21 acre tract, which has an average lot size of 14,000 square feet, can begin.

Also on Tuesday council approved a first reading amending the city's water and sewer rates, effective April 1.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A hearing has been held for a Greenville man, alleged to have held a woman hostage last month.

Thomas Patrick Miller, 38, of Greenville, remains in custody in lieu of a total of $255,000 bond on charges of aggravated kidnapping and assault/family violence.

According to a press release from the Greenville Police Department, a call came in on Jan. 23 of an assault in progress at an apartment in the 3200 block of Kari Lane in Greenville.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – More highway lanes will be available in Hunt County. Additional lanes of U.S. Highway 380 are expected to be opened and be available for traffic today.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced Tuesday that contractor RK Hall Construction is proposing to open up the two eastbound lanes of the highway between the Collin County Line and Farm-To-Market Road 903 Wednesday, weather permitting.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – An attorney has been appointed for a Wills Point man, charged in the weekend shooting death of a Quinlan-area resident.

A judge Tuesday appointed the attorney for Lanny Dean Campbell, who remains in jail on $1 million bond. No additional hearings were immediately scheduled.

Quinlan Police responded Saturday to a call of shots fired at a home in the 2400 block of Cottonwood in the Waco Bay subdivision. Deputies found James Michael McKinnis lying in the front yard of the residence with apparent gunshot wounds.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – Commerce Police are investigating a reported break-in at the city's water treatment plant that resulting in gallons of raw sewage being dumped into a local creek.

The incident occurred sometime Monday evening.

A broken valve led to the sewage spill, which dumped into an unnamed tributary of the Sulphur River, which feeds Cooper Lake. It was unclear of how many gallons actually spilled into the creek or how much of the waste will be diluted.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A Commerce business is hoping to retrieve its license after having it revoked following a New Year's Day shooting.

The City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday regarding an appeal of a dance hall license at The Lodge. One person was stabbed and two shot following an altercation at the business. Four individuals would later be arrested.

Council was to address the issue two weeks ago but failed to meet a quorum.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A Richardson man has been arrested by Paris Police after receiving word the individual was selling crack cocaine.

Police obtained a warrant Monday to search Jimmy Don Williams' vehicle, which was sitting in the 400 block of West Campbell Street. The search would reveal a substantial amount of crack cocaine and over $1400 cash in the vehicle's console.

The 46-year-old Williams was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone.