COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE – The city of Chico will host an open house for its new community center, which is housed in the former elementary school at 400 South Hovey St., at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. The space has been renovated to meet community needs and is available for rental. The volunteer fire department will serve brisket sandwich plates for $5, and the chamber of commerce will hold a ribbon cutting. For information, call (940) 644-2435.
BASEBALL REGISTRATION – Registration to play special needs baseball for the fall season, which begins Sept. 15 at Renshaw Park in Decatur, will be at the following locations and times: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug 4 at Enrollment Fair at Bridgeport High School; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug 11-12 at Wal-Mart in Decatur; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug 18 and 25 at Wal-Mart in Bowie, Boyd Marketplace (IGA), Bridgeport Public Library and Decatur Public Library. You can also sign up to be a player’s buddy or sponsor a team. Visit the league’s website at www.wcspecialneeds.com. For information, email president@wcspecialneeds.com or call Jeri Kay Kao at (940) 577-1848.
CAR WASH – The Wise County Cowboy Church youth will have a car wash 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Fresh Produce Market, 709 W. Walnut, in Decatur. All proceeds benefit their youth camp.
NO CRUISE NIGHT – There will be no Cruise Night on the Courthouse Square in Decatur this month. The next Cruise Night, sponsored by Decatur Main Street, will be Saturday, Sept. 1.
NEXT WEEK’S EVENTS …
RODEO QUEEN – The deadline to sign up for Wise County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Queen, Sweetheart and Little Miss contests is at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at the Posse Grounds. Contestants must be between the ages of 3 and 18 as of Jan. 1, 2012, and be a resident of Wise County or attend a Wise County primary school. For information, call Carla Tackett at (940) 390-9104 or Margaret Mollenhour at (940) 442-9903.
SEASON TICKETS – Decatur football season tickets are available to last year’s owners 8:30 a.m. to noon the week of August 6-10 and at the Blue White Scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 11, with sales beginning at 6 p.m.
BOOK SIGNING – Decatur resident Paula Rutherford will be signing copies of her first published book, “Dusting for God’s Fingerprints,” 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Expressions, behind The Marketplace on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. For information, call (940) 626-9707 or (940) 393-1487.
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE – Wise Hope Crisis Center’s School Supply Drive continues through Aug. 8 for children whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. The community’s help is needed in collecting school supplies and regulation-size backpacks. Donations may be dropped off at 201 N. Trinity in Decatur, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call Jael Mares at (940) 626-4585.
ALVORD FESTIVAL – The annual Alvord Watermelon Festival and Barbecue Cook-off on Saturday, Aug. 11, is now registering vendors. Call Debra McKelvain at (940) 389-1656 for information.
WATERMELON PAGEANT – The Alvord Watermelon Pageant is Saturday, Aug. 11, at Elm Creek Park Pavilion in Alvord. Check-in time is at 9:30 a.m., and the pageant is at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $20. Proceeds go to the Library Restoration Fund. Categories are 0 to 23 months, 2 to 3 years, 4 to 6 years, and 7 to 9 years. Theme is Summer Time Fun. For information and/or a registration form, contact Michele Hardee at (940) 626-9337 or michelehardee@gmail.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS …
GEAR UP EVENT - “Gear Up,” a free school supply event for local families, is 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at Decatur Church of Christ. The event will include Bible activities, a barbecue supper, back to school services such as free haircuts and books and a full-sized backpack with school supplies for kindergarten through sixth graders accompanied by an adult.
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC – Texas Department of Health Services will host an immunization clinic 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the First United Methodist Church in Decatur on a sliding-scale fee. Parents must bring a shot record. For information, call (940) 665-6397.
BENEFIT TEAM ROPING – A benefit team roping for Cheyanne Dollins is Saturday, Aug. 18. Books open at 8 and close at 9. It’s $20 for three head, progressive after one (#12 slide). Buckles will be awarded to the average winner. The roping will be held at the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse Arena in Decatur. For information or to enter, call JD Parr at (940) 210-3777. Dollins was struck and killed by a train early Sunday morning near Alvord.
GET YOUR GOGO – Two of three seatings for the Decatur Lions Club’s benefit pasta dinner at Gogo Gumbo in Boyd Sunday, Aug. 19, are almost sold out. Proceeds will benefit the South Wise Food Services Pantry. Tickets are $20 each and on sale at First Financial Banks in Boyd and Decatur and iCopy stores in Decatur and Bridgeport. There are three seatings of 50 each at 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Most remaining tickets are for the 4 p.m. slot.
PARADISE HAS TALENT – The Paradise Historical Society is looking for talented amateurs to compete in the first Paradise Has Talent Competition at the Paradise Main Street Festival Sept. 29. The contest is limited to 15 entries, and prizes of $150, $100 and $50 will be presented to the top three acts. Entry forms and guidelines can be found at paradisehistoricalsociety.com. The entry fee is $10 and must be received by Sept. 14. Call Karen Bohmfalk at (940) 969-2131 for information.
NEW PLAINSMEN – The Wise County Historical Society presents The New Plainsmen gospel-singing group 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur. Advanced tickets, $10, are available at the museum. Tickets at the door will be $12. For information, call (940) 627-5586.
HEAD START ENROLLMENT – Head Start and Early Head Start are enrolling for the Decatur and new Boyd locations. Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. It serves pregnant mothers to children 5 years of age. Children are provided a free preschool education that includes individualized curriculum, nutritious meals, health and developmental screenings. For information, call (940) 627-4618 or (940) 626-4787.
AMO LEER – The Decatur Public Library invites preschool-aged children and their families to Amo Leer, a bilingual storytime, Mondays at 11 a.m. This program allows children to experience and enjoy stories and songs in both Spanish and English. Call (940) 393-0290 for information.
