Federal Drug Roundup In Paris
Paris police and Lamar County deputies along with federal agents began a roundup of 32 individuals indicted by a federal grand jury in Sherman. Those indicted face conspiracy and separate drug possession charges. Two suspects also face weapons charges. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Mt Pleasasnt Police Beat
Mt Pleasant police arrested 39 year old Gerald Wayne Furlow and 42 year old Matty Laverne Lumpkins, both of Hughes Springs on a charge of transporting chemicals with theintent to manufacture a controlled substance. THe pair allegedly got caught attempting to shoplift non-prescription medicne, lacquer thinner and 25 feet of tubing from the Walmart. 41 year old Michael DeWayne Smith of Naples and 38 year old Tracy Pamela Davis of Odom were arrested by Mt Pleasant police for possession of a controlled substance. Smith was also charged with violation of parole. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Winnsboro Homeowner Shoots Burglar
A Wood County homeowner shot and wounded an alleged burglar following a break in at his residence on CR 4290 West of Winnsboro. The intruder allegedly threatened the homeowner and refused to leave the home. He was taken to Winnsboro Presbyterian Hospital, where he became combative with investigating officers. Charges of burglary of a habitation and aggravated assault on a public servant by threat are pending against the alleged burglar. The investigation is continuing. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Couple Suspected Of Several Bank Heists
A man and woman wearing white painter's masks and armed with a handgun robbed a bank in Murchison on Monday and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. FBI agents are investigating surveillance tapes that could link the pair to other robberies in East Texas. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Commissioners Deny Liquor Permit
Wood County commissioners have denied a request by the owners Fish Hawke Point restaurant on Lake Hawkins that would have allowed them to sell alcohol. The motion from the owners of Fish Hawk Pointe Restaurant on Lake Hawkins asked for an extension of the five-year lease on the property, which is owned by the county. It also asked for the right to assign the lease to someone else and for permission to sell alcohol. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

One More Year For Laney
District Judge Cynthia Kent has ordered at least another 12 months of maximum security confinement for Deanna Laney, the Smith county woman found not guilty by reason of insanity in the stoning deaths of her two young sons and the permanent injury of a third. The incident happened on Mothers Day weekend last year. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Ex McKinney Cop Charged
An ex-McKinney police officer posted bond yesterday on a sex-related charge involving a young girl. 28-year-old Ian Hasselman resigned after being charged with indecency with a child. The department hired Hasselman two years ago. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Roofer Scalded By Tar
A construction worker at Krum Middle School suffered third degree burns yesterday afternoon when he fell into a wheelbarrow full of hot tar. Krum's Fire Chief says the tar was about 400 degrees, and the roofer was burned over more than a third of his body. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Baylor President Under Fire
A battle may be about to erupt at this week's Board of Regents meeting at Baylor University. A faction, lead by the Committee to Restore Integrity wants the Regents to fire President Robert Sloan. It blames Sloan for tuition hikes, falling enrollment, and Baylor's increasing debt. Sloan has survived two no confidence votes in the Faculty Senate. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dk)

Paris High School Principal Takes Advantage Of Double-Dipping Law
Paris High School principal Earl Baggerly resigned June 30 taking advantage of a law that allows collection of Social Security and teacher retirement benefits and will not return as High School principal. He may be used in some other capacity by the district possibly as a teacher. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

Tour de Paris Nets $75,000
The Tour de Paris Bike Rally brought in about $75,000 to the Paris economy this past weekend as the number of riders increased some 10 percent from last year to almost 600. The economic impact of the rally remains high due primarily to the large number of volunteer workers who assisted making the rally a great success. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

91-Year-Old Woman Attacked And Raped
An elderly woman was attacked and raped inside her Antlers apartment complex this weekend. The 91-year-old victim says she walked her dog early Sunday morning, but when she returned to the Savanna Park apartments, a man was inside her residence where she was attacked. Authorities are looking for a Native American male in his early 20's, average height and slender build with tattoos on his forearm. If you have any information, contact the Antlers police department at 580- 298-5513. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

Recent Supreme Court Decisions Put Execution In Doubt
The Supreme Court found in 2002 that executing the mentally retarded amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, an Eighth Amendment violation. Next up for the Court is a look at crimes committed by those under 18. With these issues before the Court, 9 Texas defendents have had their sentences postponed including Anzel Jones of Paris. Jones was 17 when he murdered a woman in Paris and sexually assaulted her mother. Depending on the Court’s ruling, Jones might escape the death penalty entirely. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

Cameras To Catch Litterbugs
Lamar County Commissioners have discussed putting cameras at illegal dumping sites to catch those who violate dumping ordinances. The use of the cameras hasn’t happened yet but Sherman authorities will begin using them at several hot spots for illegal dumping around the city. They will use tiny surveillance cameras which will be able to video both day and night. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

High School Basketball Team Under Investigation
The Lone Grove High School basketball team is the focus of a police investigation concerning the alleged molestation of a young child. The story began when the team attended a basketball camp in Anadarko two weeks ago. Soon after they returned home, allegations surfaced that one member of the team sexually molested a seven year old boy. Police are continuing their investigation and hope to have it completed in the next 2 weeks. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

Road In Jefferson County Will Get New Name
Bowing to criticism that the name Jap Road was insensitive, Jefferson County commissioners voted Monday to rename the nearly century-old rural road. County Judge Carl Griffith put two people who live along the 4.3-mile road in charge of a committee to come up with a new name and deliver their proposal to him by July 29. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

Snake Found In Tyler Garage
A Tyler woman discovered a ten-foot-long boa constrictor in her garage. Tyler authorities believe the snake is a pet, so law officers are keeping the reptile until the owner comes forward to claim it. The snake is native to Central America and Constable Frank Creath doesn't know how the snake got into the garage, where it was discovered, but says he's pretty sure it didn't crawl to Tyler. (Reported: 2004-07-20, by dj)

$300K Drug Bust
Two illegal immigrants were arrested by SSPD Sgt Buddy Williams over the weekend on I30 after he pulled them over for failure to drive in a single lane. A search of their vehicle turned up 6 pounds of cocaine, worth about $300,000 hidden in a false compartment in the gas tank. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Paris Police Beat
Lamar County deputies arrestred a 21 year old local man on a warrant charging him with sexual assault of a child. Paris police took a 32 year old man into custody for DWI. Charges were enhanced to a felony because a child under the age of 15 was in the vehicle. A 29 year old man was arrested in Paris after the car he was driving was determined to be stolen. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Gilmer Teens Killed In Crash
A weekend accident in Gilmer left two two young men dead and a child injured. 18 year old Christopher Allen Pittman and 17 year old Jonathan W. Johnson both of Gilmer were pronounced dead at the scene. An 11-year-old suffered minor cuts and bruises. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Judge's Son Dies In Gregg County Wreck
The only son of District Judge David Brabham was killed yesterday in an early morning car crash north of Longview, a few miles from his parents' home. The vehicle driven by 18 year old Robert Edward Brabham skidded off a curve about a mile off U.S. 259. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Bond Election - Tax Increase For Sulphur Springs
Several groups have been formed to support the Sulphur Springs ISD’s $33 .5 million bond elections on September 11th. One proposal is for nearly $30 million to build a new elementary campus, and to reorganize the grade structures and renovate other campuses. The other proposal is for a $3.5 million bond that would finance a multi purpose structure for extracurricular activities at the High School. If passed, residents in the Sulphur Springs ISD face a 19 cent per hundred dollar valuation tax increase, which amounts to an additional $124 yearly on a $65,000 house, and about $190 annually on a $100,000 home. Supporters are available to speak to civic organizations throughout the district. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Tourism Conference In Sulphur Springs
The Sulphur Springs Tourism and Visitors Bureau is hosting rural tourism workshops today and tomorrow at The Lodge. The program is offering rural communities throughout the area training in stepping up tourism efforts, attracting new dollars and boosting economic growth. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

East Texas Church Van Overturns
A Mineola church van carrying a youth group to Six Flags Friday blew a tire and overturned into the median on Highway 80, 2 miles west of the Van Zandt County line. None of the 15 youths from Harvest Acres Baptist Church were seriously injured. They were taken to hospitals in Tyler and Grand Saline and treated for bumps and bruises. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Henderson PD Changes Account of Shooting
The Henderson County Sheriff's Department has reversed its initial report that two men fled a wrecked vehicle which contained the body of a Mabank man. The only person in the vehicle was Mark S. Haller, who was later shot and killed by law enforcement officers following a six-hour standoff in Malakoff. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Another Death in Dallas Police Custody
Dallas Police are once again investigating the death of a man who died in their custody. Officers responding to a shooting call in the 2400 block of Bickers Street Saturday night say they found a man whom they described as "deranged" waving a baseball bat. The unidentified man passed out as they tried to arrest him, and died a short time later. The Medical Examiner says it will take an autopsy to determine why he died. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Plane Crashes In Lake Lewisville
An ultra-light aircraft crashed in Lake Lewisville Saturday afternoon, slightly injuring the two Irving-area men on board. According to one witness the plane may have been flying too close to the water. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dk)

Lamar County Commissioners Seek To Correct Insurance Woes
Lamar County Commissioners will meet this morning focusing on employee health insurance. Commissioners may have violated the law when voting for a new insurance carrier after Commissioner Carl Steffey contacted only one of the companies involved and got a change in their bid. A discussion item is on the agenda to rescind the court’s acceptance of that proposal. There are more agenda items dealing with the insurance issue. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

Townsend Will Not Seek Paris City Manager Position
Paris interim City Manager Terry Townsend has decided to not seek the permanent position of City Manager. Townsend told the Paris News that he will publicly announce this decision at a July 27 Paris City Council Meeting. Townsend said his decision is purely personal. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

Clarksville Hires New City Secretary
The Clarksville City Council hired Pennye Hobbs of Clarksville as the new city secretary replacing Lorene Beers who resigned July 2. The Council is still looking for a city manager to replace Belinda Peek. Hobbs is currently employed by Paris Regional Medical Center. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

Tour De Paris Termed A Success
Almost 600 riders participated in the Tour de Paris bike rally Saturday. The riders came from all over Texas and other states with 53 local riders participating. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

Jefferson County Looks At Renaming Jap Road
Jap Road in Jefferson County causes feelings of discomfort for some and fondness for others. Today, commissioners in the southeast Texas county will hear from civil rights groups who find the name offensive and would like to see an alternative adopted and those who think the name is just fine. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

McKinney Police And Crime Lab At Odds
McKinney police cited a delay in results from the state crime lab as the reason for releasing three men they suspect in a quadruple slaying. But lab officials said Friday they finished most of the tests on DNA, ballistics and fingerprint evidence a month ago. Thus discrepancies in stories leave doubt as to the truth in this matter. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

17-Year-Old Woman Admits Making Up Story Of Sex With A Judge
A 17-year-old girl has admitted she told a cellmate that she made up allegations that she had sex with a judge for money as a minor. Her admission could bring Social Security judge Forrest Elmo Stewart's house arrest to an end. Stewart, 77, has been charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact. He was arrested in April in Victoria. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

Marketing Company Repays Government
The marketing company that mailed 60,000 newsletters from U.S. Rep. Joe Barton to Texans who are not in his district has paid more than $10,000 to reimburse taxpayer expense. Dallas-based Valentine Direct Marketing sent the check to the U.S. Treasury Department last week to cover postage and printing costs. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

San Antonio Man Convicted Under New Sex Law
A retired San Antonio police officer has been convicted on three counts of videotaping a female relative having sex with her boyfriends. James Bell was convicted under a new state law known as "improper photography," which makes it a crime to photograph someone without their consent "with intent to arouse and gratify one's own sexual desire." (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)

More Immigrant Smuggling Found
A state trooper conducting a routine traffic stop of a tractor-trailer found 30 illegal immigrants in the back of the truck Sunday morning on Interstate 20 in Parker County. The trooper decided to inspect the truck after noticing that the driver seemed nervous. (Reported: 2004-07-19, by dj)