CHILD DROWNS – A 5-year-old girl from Paradise drowned in Eagle Mountain Lake late Wednesday afternoon. Pipper Sasnett was swimming with a group of people in the designated swimming area of Eagle Mountain Lake in Azle when she went under at about 6 p.m. The girl was unresponsive by the time medics arrived. She was transported to Cook Children’s Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at the emergency room at 7 p.m. Chad Lorance, spokesperson for Tarrant Regional Water District, said the district is still investigating the tragedy and interviewing witnesses to find out exactly what happened. He said they will release more information when it becomes available.

DUELING ROAD PETITIONS – Two petitions have been filed in regard to a half-mile section of County Road 3214 – one to keep the road closed to through traffic and one to re-open it. Precinct 4 Commissioner Terry Ross said the bridge on CR 3214 has been in some form of disrepair since the late ’90s, and although that stretch of road has been opened to the public on occasion, it’s been closed for most of the last 13 years. When Ross began work on that section of road last month, landowners in the area filed a petition in the county judge’s office June 22 requesting that it remain closed. They have stated that there is no need to re-open it because vehicles can use Cuba Road instead. An opposing group of citizens filed a petition Tuesday asking county commissioners to deny the requests made in the first petition. They want the bridge and section of road repaired and opened. They say it would be a convenience for everyone, allowing drivers to avoid the school zone and downtown traffic. The issue will likely be discussed at the July 30 county commissioners meeting. Read more in this weekend’s Messenger.

GOSPEL CONCERT – A free gospel concert featuring Armstrong Family Ministries, a ladies trio, is 6:30 p.m. Saturday 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.

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.

CHURCH FESTIVAL – July Jamboree is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday 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.

RODEO ROYALTY MEETING – Girls between 3 and 18 years old, as of Jan. 1, interested in competing in the Wise County Sheriffs Posse Annual Rodeo Queen, Sweetheart and Little Miss contest should attend a sign-up meeting 4 p.m. Sunday at the posse grounds. Girls must be a legal resident of Wise County or attend Wise County schools. For more information, call Carla Tackett at (940) 390-9104.

HABITAT ORIENTATION – Trinity Habitat for Humanity will have homeowner orientations at 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.

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 tomorrow at the old middle school gym. Call Larry Hickey at (940) 399-9846 for information.

GOSPEL OPRY – Ellen Kennedy Marsh, former pianist for the Dixie Melody Boys of Little Rock, Ark., and a former accompanist for comedian Phyllis Diller, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday 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.

HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT – A benefit horseshoe tournament is 3 p.m. Sunday at Texas Tattoo and Co., 562 FM 1810, in Decatur. Cost to enter is $20 per team, and proceeds benefit leukemia patient Lance Bias of Rhome. Each person on the first-place team wins a $100 tattoo. The second place team wins $40. For information, call (940) 255-7485.

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.

FUNERALS – Memorial service for Renee Downey Bennett, 63, of Chico is 2 p.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport.

MEMORIAL service for Marion Lewis Sessumes, 82, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sycamore Baptist Church with burial at 2 p.m. at DFW National Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.

SERVICE for Sandy Jenkins of Decatur is pending at Coker-Hawkins.

FUNERAL for Marie Hastings, 83, of Chico is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at Chico Cemetery.