Major Economic Development Forum Slated For Mt Pleasant
A forum on rural economic development has been scheduled for August in Mt Pleasant by the United States Department of Agriculture. It’s aimed at increasing economic opportunity and improving the quality of life in rural communities in Camp, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River Titus and Bowie counties. The program will be at the Mt Pleasant Civic Center. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

Still No Leads In Coaches Office Burglary
Investigators with the Sulphur Springs police are seeking the public’s help in solving the burglary of Head Football Coach Brad Turner’s office at the AThletic Fieldhouse. Thieves stole over $29,000 in electronic and computer equipment, cameras and personal sports mementos of Coach Turner. CRimestoppers will pay up to $1000 for information. Call 903-885-2020 or 903-885-7602 (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

SSPD Investigates Business Owner
Sulphur Springs police are investigating a report of indecent exposure to a female worker by a business owner. The victim claims her employer asked her if she wanted to take a product home, then exposed himself in a private area of the business. Detectives will follow up on the investigation. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

Titus County Power Plant Named by TCEQ In Complaint
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced it WILL charge American Electric Power Company violations involving AEP's Welsh plant in Titus County. THe agency is also investigating AEP plants in Gregg and Harrison counties. The alleged violations, include exceeding emission limits and failing to report emissions and were brought by an employee who was later fired. AEP denies the allegations. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

Wolfe City Water System Cited
Wolfe City’s Water System has been notified that it exceeded the maximum contaminant level for trihalomethanes during the most recent tests by the agency. A spokesman for the TCEQ in Austin said this is not considered one of the major violations. Wolfe City residents will soon be receiving a letter informing them of the violation. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

Lonestar Man Charged In Federal Court
40 year old Kirk James Loupee of Lonestar has been indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the US Attorney, he was arrested for aggravated assault after threatening his estranged wife with a gun. Loupee has a 1998 felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance in Morris County. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

Ex -Trooper Sentenced In Murder Plot
38 year old Darryl Woods, a former state trooper from Terrell has been to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. Sentencing for the trooper’s ex wife in the case was delayed. Two other men had previously been sentenced in the murder for hire plot. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dk)

West Nile Virus Reports Increasing
A mosquito sample from Highland Park tested positive for West Nile virus and trucks cranked up to spray Dallas County. So far this year Texas has 15 bird cases in four counties. One human was reported with West Nile. You can track West Nile in Texas by going to the following web address: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/diseases/Arboviral/westNile/default.asp (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Inmate Stabbed Officer Before Running
Mario Gamboa of Wisconsin allegedly stabbed narcotics agent, Sgt. Chad Taylor in the hand before he took off. He was later captured south of Marshall near the Sabine River on US 59. Also known as Bravo, he was charged with attempted capital murder and escape. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Bomb Scare At Tyler
Tyler’s Wal-Mart on the Loop had a bomb scare yesterday afternoon after three. The store was evacuated and no bomb was found. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Bowie County Employee On Trial
Donna Robinson of New Boston is on trial for two counts of tampering with government documents related to embezzlement of traffic fines in the Precinct 2 JP’s office. She also faces two felony theft counts and more than 100 other record tampering charges after $44,000 came up missing. The later will be tried at a later date. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Teacher's Pay Check Behind The Nation
Teacher is Texas come in 30th in the country on the pay scale. The average pay in Texas was nearly $40,000 compared to over $45,000 on the national average. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Some Schools Going To A Loan Officer
Some schools may be looking at getting a loan to cover expenses. Some schools receive an August payment from the state while others do not. It is based on an evaluation of the property wealth within the district. The Texas Legislature will delay payments in an attempt to balance the state budget by moving the August expense to the new fiscal year beginning September 1. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Rains County Continues Growth
According to the Rains County Leader the area is booming. The County is the eighth fastest-growning in Texas and 20th in the nation. Lake Fork is a large factor in the Rains County growth and it is also helping the area’s economy. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

What's A BWI?
You know what DWI stands for, but how about BWI? Jerry Walker of Bullard knows what a BWI is. He was fined $5000 after being pulled over. He was in his boat on Lake Palestine. He was boating while intoxicated. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by cc)

Hospital In Hugo Changes Name And Mission
Destiny Future Quest in Hugo changed names this week and missions. The new Lane Frost Health and Rehabilitation Center is now a long-term acute care facility. Lane Frost was the champion bullrider who was killed in 1989 during Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Texas State Senator Proposes School Funding Ideas
Sen. Florence Shapiro is pitching a compromise plan of property tax cuts, school improvements and increased education funding in case a special session on school finance fails to unfold. Gov. Rick Perry has identified August as a likely target for another special session, although he has indicated that he wants to see a consensus among legislative leaders before summoning lawmakers to Austin. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Escaped Convict Recaptured
An East Texas jail inmate was back in custody early Wednesday after escaping from a convoy of narcotics team members and fleeing into woods. A daylong manhunt began Tuesday after 30-year-old Mario Anthony Gamboa was accused of trying to stab a member of the Northeast Texas Task Force Narcotics Unit as he was being transported to the Panola County Jail after a drug-related arrest. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Controversy Surrounds Textbooks
The Texas State Board of Education heard from two sides of a controversial subject yesterday. Groups who like and dislike the new high school health textbook’s approach to sex and contraception options offered their opinions trying to persuade the Board to their side. With opinions split, the textbooks will probably stand. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Kleenex Will Protect Against Bacteria
First it was everything from dish soap to toothbrushes that promised protection against bacteria. Now the maker of Kleenex says it will sell tissue that kills viruses. Kimberly-Clark Corp. said Wednesday that its newest product will be on store shelves in time for the next cold and flu season. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Debt In Texas Increased 200 Percent
Debt authorized by the state of Texas increased 200 percent in 10 years, the second-largest percentage increase among states, an Associated Press analysis shows. The increase puts Texas among one of five states to double its per-capita debt during that period, the analysis showed. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)

Warrant Issued In Weekend Murder In Dallas
Dallas police issued a murder warrant for 21-year-old Blake Callahan in the weekend shooting death of 22-year-old Michael Erokwu, a Midwestern State University football player. Investigators believe the shooting happened after a fender bender outside a Dallas nightclub. (Reported: 2004-07-15, by dj)