By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The newest member to the Commerce City staff has now been on the job for three weeks. Ricky Harris began his duties as Parks and Recreation Director Nov. 17.

Director of Community Development Steve Wilson had been serving at the post in an interim capacity since the resignation of Bob Mills last December.

A native of Commerce, Harris is a graduate of Commerce ISD and earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

By Scott Harvey

– With the help of nearly two dozen area law enforcement agencies, seven Greenville residents and one Mesquite man were arrested Tuesday in connection to a major crack cocaine distribution operation.

The busts were part of an eight-month long investigation, conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mobile Enforcement Team (MET).

Three Greenville residents; Vincent Stewart Johnson, Amy Nicole Terry and Gerald Wayne Johnson were still at large as of Tuesday afternoon.

Terrell – The Texas Department of Transportation is now talking about the Terrell Road where three girls were killed last Friday.

TxDot says Highway 34 is new and, until a year-long study is completed and approved by Austin, the default limits of 70 mph during the day and 65 mph at night will stand.

Cynthia Northrup White says the study has been going on for 10-months and it could take another two to complete.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – Five Paris residents have been arrested in connection to an attempted copper theft Monday afternoon.

Police were called to reports of broken windows at the old Cherry Street Annex where they located the subjects pulling copper wire out of the walls.

Arrested were Hireal Shawn Rios, April Cawvey, Roger Lind Jr., Billy Foster, and Cody Limbock. Each has been charged with burglary of a building and engaging in organized criminal activity.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – A missing Paris resident has been located after having gone missing for over a week. Dawn Yates was reported missing Saturday, but last seen on Monday, November 30.

Few details were provided regarding why she went missing or who she may have been with. Initial reports indicated Yates may have been in the company of Richard Rogers, of Pattonville, but those details were not confirmed.

Yates has requested the situation be kept a family matter.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – A Hunt County political candidate has changed his mind.

Incumbent Republican County Commissioner Precinct 2 Ralph Green has announced he will run for re-election after all. Six months ago he said he would retire from the post he has held for 15 years.

Randy Wineinger and Herman Orange have both officially filed for the position on the GOP side. No Democrats had filed as of Monday.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Shoplifting socks and underwear have earned a Greenville woman prison time.

Cometrice Dannyal Chisolm entered guilty pleas Monday to two felony counts and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Chisolm was alleged to have stolen socks, items of underwear and toothpaste on two different occasions in October.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A local teenager will spend the next several years in prison after pleading guilty to a drive-by shooting in May.

Ryan Thomas McConley, of Greenville, was one of three to have previously pleaded not guilty to a total of 18 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

He pleaded guilty Monday to six counts of deadly conduct. Under a plea bargain arrangement, he was given 13 years in prison.

The remaining defendants in the case still have trials pending.

– Candidates are continuing to file for the March Republican and Democratic Party Primary.

By Scott Harvey

Hunt County – Crews in Hunt County were continuing to clean up parts of I-30 Monday morning after an 18 wheeler ran off the road, slammed into a power pole and erupted into flames.

A passerby reportedly pulled the driver from the vehicle. An ambulance then transported the man to Hunt Regional Medical Center with what were described as minimal injuries.

Westbound I-30 traffic was being diverted to the service road at FM 1570.