HELPING AARON – A benefit account for Bridgeport native Aaron Logan, 29, has been set up at First Financial Banks. Donations can be made at branches in Bridgeport, Boyd and Decatur. Follow Aaron’s progress on the Facebook page Get Well Aaron. The page also features links to MealTrain, which organizes the giving and receiving of meals, and PayPal, where donations may also be made.
THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS …
RODEO ROYALTY MEETING – Girls between 3 and 18 years old, as of Jan. 1, interested in competing in the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse Annual Rodeo Queen, Sweetheart and Little Miss contests should attend a sign-up meeting 4 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at the Posse Grounds on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. Girls must be a legal resident of Wise County or attend Wise County schools. For information, call Carla Tackett at (940) 390-9104.
GOSPEL OPRY – Ellen Kennedy Marsh, former pianist for comedian Phyllis Diller and the Dixie Melody Boys of Little Rock, Ark., will perform 7 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the museum. For information, call the museum at (940) 627-5586.
BRIDGEPORT YOUTH FOOTBALL - Registration for the Bridgeport Youth Football Association fall season for third through sixth graders is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14 and July 21, at the Bridgeport Stage. Cost is $125. For information, call Billy Young at (940) 389-5311.
LAST CHANCE SIGN-UPS – Alvord Youth Football is having its last sign-up for Pee Wee and Midget football and uniform fittings 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 14, at the old middle school gym. Call Larry Hickey at (940) 399-9846 for information.
GOSPEL CONCERT – A free gospel concert featuring Armstrong Family Ministries, a ladies trio, is 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Renewal Fellowship Church, 112 N. Rock Island Ave. in Boyd. Door prizes, snacks and child care will be provided. Those attending can meet the featured artists as well as Gary Family Gospel Music board members.
CHURCH FESTIVAL – July Jamboree is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Morris Memorial United Methodist Church, 302 S. Weatherford St., in Chico. The free event includes music and food. For information, call (940) 627-4312.
COLLEGE PREVIEW DAY - Weatherford College Wise County is hosting a Student Preview Day 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14. Students and parents can tour the facility, obtain information about the application/admissions process and course placement testing, meet faculty and staff, speak with a financial adviser and speak with a veterans affairs adviser. The college’s address is 502 Big Sandy Court, Bridgeport, which is near the intersection of U.S. 380 and Farm Road 1655.
NEXT WEEK’S EVENTS …
COMMISSIONERS TO MEET – Wise County commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Monday in the third-floor conference room of the courthouse in Decatur. They will be updated on the fiscal year 2013 budget review process and will discuss tentative dates for budget workshops.
DEMOCRAT MEETING – Wise County Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, July 16, in the second floor courtroom at the Wise County Courthouse.
DIY CAMP - Texas AgriLife Extension is hosting a “Do It Yourself” Day Camp on Mondays this summer. Each Monday is a different theme. Create new treasures by recycling old relics. Gear up for Water Camp by learning about water. Get your hands dirty while gardening. Learn how to build and launch rockets. Create culinary masterpieces in the kitchen. The D.I.Y. Monday Day Camp is open to all youth ages 8 to 12 and will be held at the Extension office 1 to 5 p.m. on Mondays July 9, 16, 23 and 30. Call the Extension office at (940) 627-3341 for information.
PUPPET SHOW – The Decatur Public Library Summer Reading Club presents Goldierocks and the Three Dinosaurs, a Texas Fairy Tale puppet show, Tuesday, July 17, at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Summer Reading Club is a free program open to children of all ages. Call the library at (940) 393-0290 for information.
OTAKU CLUB – The Decatur Public Library Otaku Club will hold its monthly anime meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 17. Teens 13 and up are invited to join in celebration of the Japanese holiday of Ocean Day with crafts, a snack and anime. Call (940) 393-0290 for information.
BRIDGEPORT CHAMBER LUNCH – The Bridgeport Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon is 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 19, at Sagebrush, 1020 Halsell St., in Bridgeport. The program will be DFW Ozone Nonattainment Area expansion into Wise County. Cost is $10. RSVP by calling (940) 683-2076 or email tiffanyevans@bridgeportchamber.org.
RED CROSS MEETING – The monthly meeting of the American Red Cross is 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the Wise County EMS Building, 1101 W. Rose Ave., in Decatur. Richard Diano will provide training for the canteen truck. Those interested in volunteering are invited.
WATER CAMP - Texas AgriLife Extension’s Wise County office is planning a youth water camp (WCH2O Camp) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the First Baptist Church in Decatur. The camp is offered to youth ages 8 to 13. Participants are asked to bring a towel and sunscreen. Lunch and a snack will be provided. WCH2O Camp will make youth aware of current water issues and assist them with developing an appreciation of how water use impacts water quality and quantity. For information and to sign up, call the Extension office at (940) 627-3341. Space is limited.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – The Chico Public Library needs volunteers for its renovation project July 18-23. Library Board President Michelle Slonaker said they need people who can tape and bed drywall and texture walls, and they will also need a volunteer with a truck or trailer to haul items to the dump and to storage. Volunteers are also needed to paint and help move furniture, plus complete other odd jobs. If you can help, call the library at (940) 644-2330.
HABITAT ORIENTATION – Trinity Habitat for Humanity will have homeowner orientations 10 a.m. Saturdays, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, at First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, 608 17th St. Those interested in building and owning a home through the organization are welcome to attend the meetings. For information, visit www.trinityhabitat.org or call (817) 926-9219, ext. 116.
UPCOMING EVENTS …
REUNION – The Wise County Old Settlers Reunion is July 23 through 28 at the Wise County Reunion Grounds in Decatur.
WASHER TOURNEY – The third annual “Put Yo’ Money Where Yo’ Mouth Is” Washer Tournament 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at the Wise County Reunion Grounds Pavilion. Registration begins at 6 p.m., and the tournament begins at 7. Cost is $40 for a two-person team. Call the Decatur Chamber of Commerce at (940) 627-3107 or come by the office at 308 W. Main St. to enter.
WARM CLOSING – Wise Area Relief Mission (WARM) in Decatur will be closed Tuesday, July 24, for an out-of-town conference. If you normally pick up food on that day, make arrangements to come the previous week.
RHOME LIBRARY ACTIVITIES – The Summer Blitz Reading Program has begun for youth of all ages at the Rhome Library. Prizes will be awarded to top readers in each age division. Contest will end at the close of the summer. The library is also holding a poster contest for all ages. Posters will be displayed in the library and must be turned in by July 31 with name and phone number on the back. A book sale is also going on all summer. Library hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
TRANSFER APPLICATIONS – Boyd School District is currently accepting applications for inter-district transfer students for the 2012-13 school year. Applications are available at the BISD administrative offices and online at www.boydisd.net. The deadline to submit applications is Aug. 1.
FOOD SAFETY TRAINING – Food service managers can register for a food safety training program 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 1-2 at Texas AgriLife Extension’s Wise County office in Decatur. The training includes materials and the Department of State Health Services approved ServSafe exam. To register, call (940) 627-3341. Space is limited.
ALVORD FESTIVAL – The annual Alvord Watermelon Festival and Barbecue Cook-off is now registering, vendors to set up booths on Saturday, Aug. 11. 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 0-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-6 years and 7-9 years. Theme is Summer Time Fun. For information and/or a registration form, contact Michele Hardee at (940) 626-9337 or michelehardee@gmail.com.
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.
HEAD START ENROLLMENT – Head Start and Early Head Start are enrolling for the Decatur and new Boyd location. 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.
ONGOING NEWS …
HONOR A TEACHER – The Decatur ISD Education Foundation is providing parents and students the opportunity to honor outstanding teachers. When sending a contribution to the Decatur ISD Education Foundation, you may designate any teacher in the district to receive a card and Foundation Award pin. You may also wish to include a personal note along with the pin. Proceeds will go toward innovative classroom grants. Visit www.decaturisd.us for donation forms. Donations and forms may be mailed to DISD, 501 E. Collins, Decatur, TX 76234.
FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED – Cottondale Fire Department is looking for volunteer firefighters. No experience is required, and training is provided. For information, call Assistant Chief Rainer Mundy at (940) 389-5455 or visit CottondaleFireRescue.org.
