By Scott Harvey

– High absenteeism among students at the Boles ISD has forced officials to cancel classes for the remainder of the week.

According to the district, seasonal flu has resulted in absences from over 15 percent of the student body.

With a scheduled two-day break next week, Boles students will not return to class until next Wednesday.

Several other area schools have reported high absenteeism, but have yet to cross the 15 percent threshold needed to close its campuses.

By Scott Harvey

Testimony begins today in Greenville murder trial; Woman arrested on more than a dozen felony counts of identity theft; Collin County man arrested in last week's Greenville bank robbery; Paris man sentenced in intoxication manslaughter case; Re-trial in Hopkins County murder case begins today.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Testimony begins today for a Mesquite man, charged in the stabbing death of a Greenville man almost two years ago. Prosecutors are no longer seeking the death penalty for John William Trotman III.

Instead, should he be convicted of capital murder, he would face an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole. Trotman is alleged to have killed Ryon Rhoden in November, 2007.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Collin County man has been arrested in connection to last week's robbery of a Greenville bank.

23-year-old Justin Simmons, of McKinney, was taken into custody Friday. Simmons remained in jail Saturday in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Law enforcement was still searching for at least one other person allegedly involved with the hold-up of the Bank of America along Joe Ramsey Boulevard.

There were no injuries from the incident.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Greenville woman has been charged with more than a dozen felonies for allegedly stealing identities.

32-year-old Sharon K. Johnson was arrested September 25, and remained in custody as of Saturday. Police were still in the process of compiling charges which, at last report, included at least 20 felony counts.

Johnson would allegedly knock on victim's doors, ask to use the phone, then proceed to steal the victim's credit cards and ID's.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – 21-year-old Justin Tatum, of Paris, has been ordered to 10 years probation on charges of intoxication manslaughter.

Tatum was under the influence while driving a vehicle last March when it wrecked, killing the passenger, Amanda Matthews. According to state troopers, the accident report came in about 30 minutes after it occurred.

Tatum had previously denied driving the car that night but pled guilty in September.

By Scott Harvey

Hopkins County – Jury selection begins today in the re-trial of a Hopkins County man, accused of murdering his brother.

John Arlen Walkers, of Pickton, was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to 30 years in prison. His convicted was then overturned on appeal.

District Attorney Martin Braddy will prosecute, and Ron Fergerson will represent Walters.

By Scott Harvey

Greenville – In a recent statement, the Greenville Electric Utility System has indicated customers will incur a slight increase in service as of this month.

The Utility's Fuel Adjustment Charge\\Power Cost Recovery Factor (FAC\\PCRF) will be raised by slightly to 3.484 cents\\kWh, up from 2.5 cents for all commercial and residential bills.

The price is still far less than last summer's peak of 7.426 cents when the cost of natural gas reached record highs.

By Brad Kellar

Campbell – The body of a woman found dead last week near Campbell has been identified as a Paris resident.

The Hunt County Sheriff's office said Thursday they were able to notify the family of 37-year-old Tammy Ann Morgan, of her death. Morgan was pronounced dead upon emergency arrival Saturday in the middle of Highway 50.

A white male reportedly approached deputies after their arrival and informed them the woman was his girlfriend and that the death was a suicide, as she had reportedly jumped from his vehicle.

By Scott Harvey

Alba – Alba-Golden schools in Wood County will be closed today and Monday after a high numbers of students were absent due to illnesses.

The district is reporting 20-21 percent absenteeism. Officials say the closure is due to general illness, not H1N1 or any other bug.

Chisum ISD in Paris also closed for two days this week due to the number of student illnesses.