LIGHTNING TO BLAME FOR HOUSE FIRE – Fire departments from Rhome, Newark, Boyd and Haslet responded to a house fire in the 100 block of Watering Hole Court in the Chisholm Springs neighborhood south of Rhome just before 5 p.m. Monday. The fire was started by a lightning strike accompanying a relatively small, but powerful, storm that popped up in far southern Wise County during the late afternoon. Three teenage girls were at home when the fire started, but no one was injured. The first fire units on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from the second story of the home.
CHEYANNE BENEFIT – A spaghetti supper and silent auction fundraiser to help Cheyanne Dollins’ family with funeral and other expenses is 6 tonight at Alvord High School. Adult plates are $7, and kids under 12 are $5 (kids 4 and under are free). There will be a balloon release at the football field at dusk, following the dinner. Dollins was struck and killed by a train July 29 near her home north of Alvord.
DANCE – Registration for Miss Twister Dance Co. began yesterday at Bridgeport City Hall. Classes will begin Sept. 5 and will be held every Wednesday at the Bridgeport Community Center. The cost is $45 per month, and a special discount will be offered for siblings and for semesters paid in full. Contact Bridgeport Parks and Recreation at (940) 683-3480 or Kylie Stegman at (940) 389-5138 for information.
BOOK SALE – A used book sale will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and each Tuesday in August at the former Alvord Library site, 117 N. Wickham. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Alvord Library.
FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES – “Gear Up,” a free school supply event for local families, is 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Decatur Church of Christ on Farm Road 51 South. 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.
HEAT GOES ON – It looks like our string of 100-degree days will continue today with a forecasted high of 101. There is a 20 percent chance of rain this afternoon.
NORTHWEST BUDGET WORKSHOP – Northwest ISD will hold a budget workshop tonight to discuss facility needs. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a closed session to discuss personnel followed by the open meeting in the Northwest ISD Executive Board Room.
CHICO CITY COUNCIL – The Chico City Council meets tonight at city hall. Agenda items include a closed session regarding the city engineer, the proposed 2012-2013 budget, a new air conditioning unit for the community center, use of the former city hall building as a temporary location for Chico Auto Parts and staff reports. The meeting is at 7 p.m. and open to the public.
FUNERALS – Mass of Christian burial for Mateo Nunez, 82, of Decatur is 9 a.m. today at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Decatur with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
FUNERAL for Elvena Berthena Gayler, 100, of Alvord is 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Forestburg with burial at Perryman Cemetery. Family visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Coker-Hawkins.
SERVICE for Charlie Hill, 56, of Boyd is pending at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
FUNERAL for Bill Simpson, 79, of Boyd is 10 a.m. today at the First Baptist Church in Boyd with burial at Boyd Cemetery. Christian-Hawkins is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL for Doris Ruth Gardner, 71, of Bridgeport is 10 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Visitation is 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
SERVICE for Josephine Bross, 70, of Chico is pending at Hawkins.
