After seven months of work, the Fannin County Sheriff's Office reported last Thursday that they had wrapped up a large narcotics investigation that resulted in the arrest of 33 defendants. The defendants were directly involved in drug-dealing that takes place in Fannin County and affects the residents here. After it was all said and done, 52 felony charges and two misdemeanor charges were filed against the defendants taken into custody.

An inmate who escaped custody on Feb. 21 while on a work release program at the Fannin County Precinct 3 barn is back in custody after he was located at a Bonham business last Saturday afternoon.

Fannin County Sheriff Donnie Foster reported Saturday that Bonham Police Department received a tip around 4:30 p.m. that escapee Jimmy Lee Brock was at a business located in Bonham. Officers from that agency responded to the location and took Brock into custody. After taking him into custody, officers discovered he was driving a truck that was reported missing around 9:45 a.m. the day before from the Precinct 3 barn - the same barn he escaped from. Also recovered were other items listed as missing in the report, which included chainsaws, weed eaters and impact wrenches, among numerous other items.

Texas A & M University-Commerce will hold three public hearings this week to discuss a proposed increase in designated tuition for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Two hearings will take place March 1 on the main campus and at the Metroplex Center in Mesquite with the final hearing to take place back in Commerce. The first hearing will be at 3 p.m. in the Business Administration Building in room 290. The second hearing will be at 6:15 p.m. at the Metroplex Center in room 133. The last hearing will be held March 2 at 10 a.m. in the Traditions Room at the Rayburn Student Center.

Spring is in the air. One thing that means for the Fannin County Children’s Center is that it is time for their annual youth art contest. This local nonprofit organization that helps abused and neglected children is seeking artwork from area children and youth.

Two winning entries which best illustrate the theme “Open Your Heart” will win special ribbons and VISA gift cards donated by Dr. Jim and Valerie Tarpley.  The winning artwork will be reproduced on cards to help the agency raise funds to provide advocacy, counseling and other critical support services for the abused and neglected children of Fannin County.

The National Forests and Grasslands in Texas is accepting applications for summer employment with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program, according to Acting Forest Supervisor JaSal Morris.

YCC is a summer employment program for young men and women ages 15 to 18 who work, learn and earn together for eight weeks on projects that help conserve the natural resources of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.

Carson & Barnes Circus the Biggest of the Big Top shows brings its all-new show for 2012 to the Hunt County Fairgrounds on Jack Finney Boulevard in Greenville on Thursday, March 22. Tickets are now on sale locally and online at BigTopShow.com. A portion of sales will benefit the Ridgecrest Hispanic Baptist Church.

Celebrating its 76th year the Carson & Barnes Circus has been traveling the nation since 1937. While the show has changed over the decades, what remains is a solid two-hour show that features classic circus acts, daring high-wire feats and the antics of dozens of clowns. But aside from the clowns, the prancing horses and high-IQ dogs, the biggest stars of the show are the elephants.

Commerce, TEXAS (Feb. 29, 2012)—Surviving Tuskegee Airman Army Lieutenant Calvin J. Spann will share his story at Texas A&M University-Commerce March 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Social Science Auditorium.

The event is open to the public at no cost and hosted by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alumni Relations, and Dr. Mary Hendrix, vice president of student access and success.

A&M-Commerce and the community will have an exciting opportunity to see history come to life as Spann, one of the first black military aviators in United States history, shares his story as a Tuskegee Airman. Spann is one of few surviving airmen from the original 996 pilots who trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield between 1941 and 1946. Now in his late eighties, Spann is part of the legacy that inspired the new movie Red Tails.

As part of A&M-Commerce’s celebration of Living Legends Lecture Series, the Eta Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and Theta Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting the round table lecture. After sharing his story, Spann will answer attendee questions.

Dec. 26, 2011 - On Dec. 7, Fannin County Narcotics Investigators executed a search and arrest warrant in the 800 block of E. 8th St. in Bonham. During the search, the suspect, Juan Carlos Paz-Cannales, managed to escape from custody. Investigators believed at that time that Paz-Cannales possibly fled to an area residence and was likely driven away by friends.

An information release was forwarded to area media requesting that anyone having information of the possible whereabouts of Paz-Cannales contact law-enforcement. Investigators received some telephone calls with possible locations for Paz-Cannales. Tips were checked and investigators determined that Paz-Cannales might have possibly fled to Oklahoma.

June 23, 2011 - The Democratic Women of Fannin County are pleased to announce that the new Sheriff, Donnie Foster, will be speaking to the group at their next meeting. Everyone is invited to come meet the new Sheriff and hear his presentation on Monday, June 27, at 7 p.m. at the Elizabeth May Room located in the American Bank of Texas Bonham branch.

June 16, 2011 - "The Hicks", local brother and sister team Jerod Hicks and Kristina Nelson, opened the fifth concert week,June 2with a few gospel songs, followed by country favorites; Boondocks and Willie Nelson's On The Road Again, changing things up later with Old Time Rock and Roll.