VALUES HOLD STEADY – Wise County certified tax values released by Wise County Chief Appraiser Mickey Hand show a modest 1.51 percent increase over last year. Certified values for the county came in at $7.24 billion compared to $7.13 billion last year. Tax values increased in six of the eight Wise County school districts and four of the 10 cities. Preliminary values released earlier this year predicted a 3.09 percent decrease in values for the county.
BOMB THREAT – A bomb threat made on the Newark public library building Tuesday night turned out to be a dud. Sheriff’s Office deputies and a Rhome police officer responded to a reported bomb threat about 10:30 p.m. Officers made entry and searched the premises but no bomb was found at the library located in the 200 block of Hudson Street. Newark Volunteer Fire Department and Wise County medics also responded. It’s unknown who made the threat or why.
REUNION REMINDERS – The band Los Quimikos Del Sol performs at 9 tonight at the pavilion at the Wise County Old Settlers Reunion. Remember that all pickups and dropoffs should be made at the back gate, off Old Reunion Road. Parking is $5. Carnival ride bracelets are $20 today through Saturday.
WASHER TOURNEY WINNERS – The winners of Tuesday night’s “Put Yo Money Where Yo Mouth Is” washer tournament at Reunion, sponsored by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, are as follows: first place – Tyler Hodges and Alejandro Beltran; second place – Jacob Luttrell and Casey Hale; and third Place – Kyle and Matt Badger.
BENEFIT DINNER – Only a few tickets still remain for the Decatur Lions Club benefit dinner at Gogo Gumbo in Boyd Aug. 19. Tickets are available at First Financial Bank in Boyd and Decatur and iCopy in Decatur for $20. All proceeds benefit the South Wise Services food pantry. Seatings are at 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
ZOONIVERSITY – The Decatur Public Library Summer Reading Club presents Zooniversity at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31. Children of all ages will learn about a variety of animals in this final event of the Summer Reading Club. Call the library at (940) 393-0290 for more information.
EARLY VOTING CONTINUES – Early voting in the primary runoff elections remained steady yesterday, with 158 voting in the Republican election and 7 voting in the Democratic. Early voting continues 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today and tomorrow at the Decatur Civic Center, Rhome City Hall and Bridgeport Law Enforcement Center. Election day is next Tuesday.
FUNERALS – Service for Christine Cook, 84, of Saint Jo is 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church in Saint Jo with burial at Perryman Cemetery in Forestburg. She was the mother of Frieda Talley of Chico.
GRAVESIDE service for Orel Griffith, 101, of Boyd is 10:30 a.m. today at Pleasant Grove No. 1 Cemetery. Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.
FUNERAL for Joe Edd Turlington, 64, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Alvord with burial at Alvord Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
