FATAL WRECK – The driver of a passenger car was killed in a wreck with an 18-wheeler this morning. The accident occurred around 5:40 near the intersection of Texas 101 and County Road 1786, north of Chico. Chico, Alvord and Bridgeport fire departments as well as Wise County EMS responded. More information will be posted at WCMessenger.com as it becomes available.
1 SHOT, 1 STABBED IN CHICO – One person was shot and one stabbed in a disturbance just before 7:30 Sunday night in Chico. Both victims were transported by helicopter ambulances to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. The incident occurred in the 300 block of Oakwood. Initial reports indicated one person suffered a gun shot wound to the back of his right femur and a second victim was stabbed in the back. Wise County Sheriff’s Office investigators have not yet released the victims’ names, but they did confirm both victims are males. More information will be posted at WCMessenger.com as it becomes available.
DRIVER’S SEIZURE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF WRECK – Investigators believe a pickup driver suffered a seizure which caused a one-vehicle rollover around 9:45 Saturday morning. No other vehicles were involved, and the driver, Jason Whitaker of Oklahoma, was the only occupant of the truck. The 37-year-old man was northbound on U.S. 81/287 south of Decatur. Witnesses said it appeared Whitaker was turning left at the crossover near County Road 4421 when he veered off the road and drove across the median and southbound lanes of the highway. His pickup continued through the fence of a property and struck a trailer that the property owner said he was getting ready to hook up to. Whitaker’s pickup continued across a ravine before coming to a rest in a field, about 100 yards from the roadway. He was transported to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur. His injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Investigators on scene said he was conscious but not coherent. It appeared the man was still seizing when they arrived on scene.
RAINY DAY AHEAD – The rain started falling overnight, and it’s expected to stick around today. Rain totals as of 7:45 a.m. included 0.45 of an inch in Alvord, 0.3 in Decatur and 0.2 in Rhome and Greenwood.
DRAGON SHOOTOUT – The junior class at Chico High School will host a sporting clay event Friday to raise money for their class. The event will take place at Fossil Pointe north of Decatur on Farm Road 51. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the shoot will begin at 9. To enter to shoot or enter a team, call Traci Umphress at 940-644-2228, Leanna Moss at 940-393-1177, Wanda Tate at 940-389-7007 or Fossil Pointe at 940-393-6402.
OTAKU CLUB – The Decatur Public Library Otaku Club will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will include a special computer-based craft project, anime and snacks. Tuesday is also the date to turn in pumpkins for the Otaku/Manga Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Any pumpkin weighing 10 pounds or less and decorated with anime, manga or graphic novel-inspired art has a chance to win prizes. Call the library at 940-393-0290 for more information.
SOCIETY MEETING – The Wise County Fossil, Rock, and Mineral Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wesley Center of the First United Methodist Church, 201 E. Main in Decatur. Guest speaker Pierre Levesque of Decatur will speak on “How Explosives Are Used To Mine and Extract Rock and Minerals.”
VALIDATION TIME – State Sheep and Goat Validation is 3-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Posse Grounds. County Steer Validation for the Wise County Youth Fair is also scheduled at the same time and location. For more information, call the Extension office at 940-627-3341.
PARENT CAFE – Parents of Carson, Rann and Young Elementary Schools are invited to a free Parent Cafe in the Rann Elementary School library 6:30-7:30 tonight. The session will focus on various ways to discipline your child and how to choose the most effective method for the situation. Call Teri Vrba at 940-393-7606 to sign up. The Parent Cafes are sponsored by the Wise Coalition for Healthy Children and led by Cook Children’s.
DECATUR SCHOOL BOARD – The Decatur School Board tonight will hear an update on the ongoing administration building project. In a related item, the board is expected to consider proposals for parking at the Special Services building. The board will also consider nominating someone to serve on the Wise County Appraisal District board. The meeting begins at 6 with a closed session followed by the open session at the DISD administration building, 501 E. Collins.
NORTHWEST SCHOOL BOARD – The Northwest ISD school board will review improvement plans for the district as a whole and individual campuses at its meeting 7 tonight in the executive board room at 2001 Texan Drive in Fort Worth. Trustees will also consider applying for class-size waivers for classrooms that exceed the allowable 22:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a resolution to support the Northwest ISD Education Foundation and revisions to the Board of Trustees Standards of Professional Practice.
FUNERALS – Services for Bobbie Jones, 81, Carolyn Neighbors, 64, and Mary L. Chambers, 95, all of Decatur, are pending at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
FUNERAL for Wilema England, 95, of Greenwood is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Church of Christ with burial at Greenwood Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
FUNERAL for Jerry Lee Stark, 70, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport with burial at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
GRAVESIDE service for Robert Phinney, 80, of Aurora is 10 a.m. Wednesday at Aurora Cemetery. Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL service for Tish Peterson, 72, of Rhome is 1 p.m. Tuesday at Aurora Baptist Church. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Christian-Hawkins.
