A medical benefit fund has been established for Robert Geerts at the Guaranty Bond Bank in Mount Vernon. Mr. Geerts had surgery for cancer of the bladder on Dec. 23, 2008 at East Texas Medical Center - Tyler. Since the operation, he has had numerous medical problems. For more information, see the April 2 edition of the Optic-Herald.

Assistant D. A. Samantha Crouch and attorney William Howard McDowell flank Elbis Torres during sentencing. Mr. Torres, the third and final person at the Whiteside home for the robbery, pled guilty Friday, March 24 to a reduced charge of murder, a first degree felony.

The City of Mount Vernon and Franklin County Commissioners are helping residents to clean up their property during the county-wide clean-up effort April 4 -11.

Matthew Mears, son of Shane and Norma Mears of Mount Vernon was one of many young children who braved the cold temperatures on Saturday, March 28 to participate in the Suck Bucket Contest at the annual Young Farmers Project Show at the livestock pavilion on FM 115. For more information about the Project Show, see the April 2 edition of the Optic-Herald.

Dallas Maverick fan Edith Castle Adams of Mount Vernon will be featured in an interview with George Reba on Dallas Channel 8 TV's "Sports Extra."