Richard Keiper
BOYD MAN ARRESTED IN COLD MURDER CASE – Richard Keiper, 67, of Boyd was arrested by Texas Rangers Thursday for a murder that occurred 45 years ago in Pennsylvania. According to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop N, the agency has charged Keiper in the 1968 murder of Alfred Louis Barnes. Barnes was an assistant to the vice president of Bethlehem Steel at the time of his death, and his body was found in a field in Chestnuthill Township in Monroe County, Pa. He had been shot multiple times, and his new, 1969 Ford Thunderbird was missing from the scene. It was later recovered in Warren County, N.J. Keiper was 22 years old at the time of the murder and had ties to Monroe County. According to Pennsylvania State Police, he’s been in Texas for several years but also has ties to Virginia and Florida. Keiper is currently in Wise County Jail, but he will be returned to Pennsylvania to face murder, robbery and theft charges in District Court 43-3-04 in Brodheadsville, Pa. According to the press release, officers received assistance in this case from the Wise County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Rangers and Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in Pennsylvania. If you have information about Keiper, call Trooper Donald Marsh, Corporal Shawn Williams or Corporal Thomas McAndrew at Troop N Headquarters, 570-459-3890. Read more in the weekend Messenger on newsstands Saturday.
THINK PINK – Paint the Town Pink is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today on the Courthouse Square in Decatur. There will be a bake sale, silent auction and a pink-line ceremony. Lunch will be served for $5 a plate. All proceeds benefit Mary’s Gift and Women’s Services at Wise Regional Health System in Decatur.
CHICO FEST – Chico Fest is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday on the Chico Square. There will be a children’s pageant, stickhorse rodeo, church booths, bingo, a cake walk, a slide, a jump house and booths selling food, jewelry, homemade baked goods, crafts and services. A Thompson Center Venture 300 Win Mag rifle and a porch/yard swing will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are available at Sheila’s Hair Palace, Wise Feed, Muggs & Juggs, GTG Solutions and Chico Butane Company, and proceeds benefit the Chico High School scholarship fund. For booth information, call Fleta Barrett at 940-644-2515.
CHILI FUNDRAISER – The Chico Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star will be serving chili, stew, beans, cornbread, desserts and drinks at 11 a.m. Saturday at their booth at Chico Fest in front of the Masonic Lodge.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER – The Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department’s annual barbecue cook-off and all-night 4 4 riding is Saturday at Northwest OHV Park. Live music starts at noon. There will also be washer pitchin’ and horseshoes tournaments and a kid’s area. Entry fee for the Lonestar Barbecue Society-sanctioned cook-off is $75. For more information or to register, call Kyle Bloodworth at 940-372-0134 or Amber Fogelman at 940-683-3404. All proceeds benefit the Bridgeport VFD.
“HAPPY DAYS” THEME - Newark’s 26th Annual Cruisin’ Days today through Sunday will feature a carnival and midway, live music, a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, bingo, craft booths, concessions and a barbecue dinner Saturday evening as the Newark Volunteer Fire Department presents its annual awards prior to a dance. The event benefits the fire department and auxiliary.
FOOTBALL FRIDAY – Tonight’s high school football match-ups include Decatur at Krum, Paradise at Pilot Point, Alvord at Holliday, Lindsay at Chico and Southlake Carroll at Northwest. All games start at 7:30. The Wise County Messenger will provide live blogging from the Decatur game. Find the blog and scores at WCMessenger.com/scores.
BLOOD DRIVE – Best Value Rhome Pharmacy, 400 S. Main St., in Rhome will host a Carter BloodCare blood drive 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome.
LIBRARY PROGRAM – Chico Public Library is hosting an after school program for pre-school and elementary children 4-5 p.m. today. Children will make and enjoy some delicious Halloween treats.
BINGO – Governor’s Ridge Retirement and Assisted Living in Decatur is having Community Bingo at 10 a.m. Monday. For more information call 940-627-1104
TAILGATE PARTY - The Chico Athletic Booster Club will hold a tailgate party tonight before the Chico Dragons play Lindsay. Set-up is at 5 p.m. on the road between the fieldhouse and the field.
PLANT SALE – The Decatur FFA plant sale is 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at Exxon in Decatur.
BENEFIT – A benefit for Nolan Val Kostiha is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at Bridgeport High School. It will feature a spaghetti lunch and silent and live auctions. Donations will be accepted for lunch. The 4-month-old child has been diagnosed with Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation. He is the son of Andrea and Joe Kostiha and the grandson of Dan and Debbie Selz.
BENEFIT CONCERT – The Booth Brothers will perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Decatur Civic Center. Doors open at 5:30. Tickets may be purchased at any IGA Marketplace stores or online at www.mzbaptist.org. All proceeds will benefit Wise County children attending Christian summer camps.
RINGERS WANTED – Bell ringers are needed for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign at Wal-Mart this holiday season. Ringers are needed daily from Thanksgiving to Christmas. To sign up as an individual or as a group, call Tana Fedric at 940-627-5859. All money collected by the Salvation Army at the Wal-Mart location stays in Wise County thanks to local volunteers.
FUNERALS – Service for Benny C. Bridges, 83, of Springtown is 11 a.m. Saturday at White’s Funeral Home in Springtown with burial at Cottondale Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
SERVICE for Michael D. Hood of Alvord is pending at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
SERVICE for James “Jimmy” Stewart Henderson, 72, of Decatur is 1 p.m. Saturday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
SERVICE for Teresa Evans, 50, of Rhome is pending at Coker-Hawkins.
SERVICE for Larry Rutherford, 73, of Bridgeport is pending at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
FUNERAL for Donald Lynn Zaidle, 55, of Poolville is 2 p.m. Sunday at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Boonsville Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.