By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The City of Commerce has been awarded a portion of property at 118 Maple Street to be used for installing water and sewer pipelines. The project is a mandate by the Texas Department of Transportation, who plan to rebuild the intersection at State Highway 11 and Loop 178.

On Friday, three special commissioners awarded the city the 6,700 square foot easement, owned by Quan Young Liu and Jing Wei, in the amount of $2,931.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – A review is underway to find out exactly what happened when warning sirens in Sulphur Springs weren't activated during last week's severe weather.

Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jim Bayuk is taking steps to make sure the sirens warning residents of approaching tornadoes or other emergencies are activated in a timely manner.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – A report finds the Bonham Chamber of Commerce is struggling financially, with money low and credit nearly gone.

Trouble began when The Bonham Economic Development Corporation opted out of an agreement with the chamber to perform marketing and economic development tasks for the city. Additional motel tax funds that went to the Chamber were then cut by the city, creating an even tougher situation.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – A dinner meeting in Sulphur Springs this evening will address downtown planning including ideas for parking, green spaces and two-way traffic.

Informal meetings will continue throughout the week where the public is invited to express their own ideas and concerns.

City officials and design specialists will be on hand Tuesday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sulphur Springs Library, 620 North Davis St.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – A standoff in Greenville Saturday morning in which a female was being held hostage ends peacefully.

Officers were called to a reported assault in progress at 3201 Kari Lane where they encountered 38-year-old Thomas Patrick Miller inside an apartment threatening to take his life or have the police do it for him. Approximately four hours into the standoff, police obtained a search warrant and Miller came out voluntarily.

Alice joins The Morning Blend to discuss the weekend movie lineup on Friday, Jan. 22.

By Scott Harvey

Bonham – Bonham ISD is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to sponsor a flu shot clinic on February 10, 2010 from 9:30 until 11:30 AM at the Bonham High School and Finley Oates campuses. They will also be at the L. H. Rather and I. W. Evans campuses from 1:00 until 2:30 PM on February 10th. On February 11, 2010 they will be at the Head Start campus from 9:30 until 11:30 AM.

Host Scott Harvey is joined by Mark Fox with the National Weather Service to talk about SKYWARN, which is making its rounds through the region. Our Friday feature highlights a department on the A&M-Commerce campus.

The Lead: Friday, January 22, 2009

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Greenville woman has pleaded not guilty to four counts of abandoning or endangering a child.

A tentative trial date for 20-year-old Tina Raafat Ezaldin has been set for April 12.

According to the indictment, Ezaldin left two female children, each less than 15 years old, alone in an apartment for at least 40 minutes in August, 2009. Ezaldin is also alleged to have engaged in conduct which placed the two children in danger of death, injury or impairment.

By Associated Press

– The National Weather Service confirms at least five tornadoes caused damage in east Texas this week.

The tornadoes near Canton, Sulphur Springs, Larue and Poynor left trails of uprooted trees, shattered homes and toppled trucks on Wednesday. One had winds estimated at up to 130 miles per hour.

There were some reports of minor injuries but nothing too major.