By Scott Harvey

Hunt County – The Hunt Memorial Hospital District has voted to keep the tax rate as is for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Board of Directors Tuesday night opted to maintain the current rate of $0.213866 per $100 valuation.

With this same tax rate, the hospital district is projected to receive $8,752,444 in revenue for the next fiscal year.

By Scott Harvey

KETR Newscast 8-26-09

New sex offender regulations at CISD allow parent sex offenders to attend school events; New academy to start in Sept. at A&M-Commerce; Greenville council approves ban on cell phones in school zones; Greenville road to close for maintenance; Failed drug transport through Hunt County lands South Texas man in prison; Hospital district keeps tax rate as is; Body of homeless man recently found in Paris indentified.

By Brad Kellar

Hunt County – A failed attempt to transport nearly 50 pounds of marijuana through Hunt County has landed a South Texas man in prison.

Antonio Lerma, of Donna, entered a plea of guilty Tuesday to one count of possession of the drug.

Under a plea bargain arraignment, Lerma was sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – The body of a homeless man discovered earlier this month in Paris has been identified.

47-year-old Robbie Allen Gutzler's body was found on August 20 in a culvert beneath a bridge on Fitzhugh Avenue. He was identified by fingerprints by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office.

According to Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley, Gutzler apparently made his "base camp" near the bridge where he was found, and was seen constantly in the stagnant water of the creek.

By Mary Hazal

Commerce – A Math and Science Teacher Academy for students at Texas A&M University-Commerce will be established this fall.

The goal is for 50 students to attend the academy, which starts in September, according to Dr. Eileen Faulkenberry, A&M-Commerce associate professor of mathematics.

The academy is made possible by a $685,000 grant by the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Project directors are Faulkenberry and Dr. Gil Naizer, curriculum and instruction faculty.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A major thoroughfare in Greenville is scheduled to undergo maintenance beginning Wednesday. However, any detours connected to a resurfacing of Wesley Street are expected to be completed by the weekend.

Contractors will begin milling Wesley Street between O'Neal and Lee Streets Wednesday morning.

The process will remove several layers of pavement in preparation for new overlay and should take approximately one day. The street overlay is scheduled to begin Thursday and should be complete by the weekend.

By Scott Harvey

Winnsboro – A Winnsboro man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography following a hearing in federal court.

Agents had previously executed a search at the residence of 31-year-old Ryan Heath Clark, where they performed a forensic analysis of his computer equipment. The search revealed material involving the sexual exploitation of children.

Authorities say the material was shipped to Clark through interstate and foreign commerce.

He faces a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Texas A&M University-Commerce will open up its observatory Tuesday night to the public to view the night sky.

The free event, scheduled from 9 to 10 p.m., marks one of several events being held this year in observance of the International Year of Astronomy.

The open house will be canceled if the weather is overcast.

The observatory is used for astronomy classes and for research by university faculty, and is located at 1660 County Road 4208, approximately five miles south of Commerce.

By Associated Press

Sherman – Results of water tests are pending on a creek in Sherman where thousands of fish turned up dead.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is looking at whether oxygen levels in Post Oak Creek declined amid the heat and recent heavy rains.

Water samples were taken Monday by Sherman city workers. Utilities and engineering director Mark Gibson says testing might take a few weeks to complete.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – New sex offender regulations at Commerce ISD will allow registered offenders to attend school events that are hosted by the district.

Board members during a special session Tuesday morning finalized the new rule.