‘LEAN’ BUDGET ADOPTED – The Decatur School Board Tuesday adopted a “lean” budget, as Assistant Superintendent Gary Micinski described it, along with the same tax rate as last year. The budget total of $36,792,279 includes $29,610,783 in the general fund, $1,380,000 for food service and $5,801,496 for debt service. The board adopted a tax rate of $1.30 per $100 valuation. That includes $1.04 for maintenance and operations (salaries, utilities, etc.) and 26 cents for interest and sinking (interest and principal on debt). In order to keep the same tax rate, the district used $179,400 of prior year’s funds. Read more in the midweek Wise County Messenger on news stands today.

DEPUTY IN PARADISE – The city of Paradise crunched numbers to hire a “resident” deputy at a budget workshop Tuesday. City officials allotted an annual salary of $20,000 for a deputy, $3,600 for a municipal judge and $1,200 for a court clerk. The council also budgeted an additional $1,000 for legal consulting fees and $3,600 for fuel. Officials noted that some of the expenses, such as the legal consulting fee, would only be utilized if a citation “went to trial.” The city projected $25,000 to be generated in revenue, largely through citations.

BUDGET BUILT FOR LOWER ENROLLMENT – The estimated cost of running Bridgeport ISD for the 2012-13 school year will be $21.819 million. Bridgeport ISD trustees Monday approved a budget of that amount, which included $18.060 million for the general fund, $1.102 million for cafeteria services and $2.657 million for debt service. The budget was built with a 2 percent decline in enrollment and shows a slight deficit. Read more in the midweek Messenger.

LAST FIRST DAY – The last two Wise County schools to begin class start up today at Boyd and Bridgeport.

RAIN FOR SOME - Parts of Wise County were lucky enough to receive some rain yesterday. Rainfall totals include 0.5 of an inch in Runaway Bay, 0.23 in Rhome and 0.1 in Decatur.

REGISTRATION EXTENDED – Weatherford College Wise County has extended registration through 6:30 p.m. Thursday. College offices will be open  8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and tomorrow for new and returning student registrations. Contact the college at (940) 627-2690 or wisecounty@wc.edu for information.

RODEO BANNERS – Wise County Sheriff’s Posse and Decatur Main Street will be hanging red, white and blue banners on area businesses in preparation for the Sept. 6, 7 and 8 rodeo. Any business interested in receiving a banner must contact Freida at (940) 399-9558 by Thursday.

PARADISE CHAMBER BOARD – The Paradise Chamber of Commerce Board meets 8 a.m. tomorrow at Subway.

BULLDOG SPIRIT – The Alvord Bulldog junior varsity will open the football season at Millsap at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the Alvord Bulldog varsity kicks off the season 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against Millsap. A tailgate party will be held 4-6 p.m. Friday. The Alvord Booster Club will hold Bulldog Mania Tuesday, Sept. 4, at Bulldog Stadium. Hamburgers will be served starting at 6 p.m., with introductions of players and cheerleaders at 7.

LEARN TO EREAD – The Decatur Public Library is offering classes on how to download free ebooks from the library on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m. (for Kindle users) and 3 p.m. (for iPad users). Both classes are free. Call the library at (940) 393-0290 to register.

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW – The Wise County Messenger’s annual Fall Sports Preview special section is included in the midweek paper on news stands today. The 56-page section includes season previews of local football teams and photos of cross country teams, volleyball teams, cheerleaders, bands and drill teams.

FUNERALS – Graveside service for John “Dobber” Monroe, 52, of Chico is 10 a.m. Thursday at Chico Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport.

FUNERAL for Charles F. Calvert, 76, of Decatur is 11 a.m. Thursday at Immanuel Baptist Church in Decatur with burial at Paradise Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

FUNERAL for Shirley Ann Hayes, 75, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of Decatur with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation is 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Coker-Hawkins.

FUNERAL for Trina Renee’ Kincaid, 42, formerly of Decatur is 2 p.m. Friday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Boyd Cemetery.

GRAVESIDE service for M.L. Teague, 74, of Greenwood is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Greenwood Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Coker-Hawkins.

MEMORIAL service for Rayford Jerome Phillips, 77, of Bowie is 2 p.m. Saturday at Bowie Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness. Coker-Hawkins is handling arrangements.

SERVICES for Kathy Sanchez, 48, and Marvin Picha, 69, both of Decatur are pending at Coker-Hawkins.

MEMORIAL service for Ema Lue Cobb, 67, formerly of Decatur is 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Boyd. Coker-Hawkins is handling arrangements.

SERVICE for Scott Nichols, 40, of Boyd is 10 a.m. Thursday at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd with private burial. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.

MEMORIAL service for Elizabeth Ann Largent, 80, formerly of Wise County is 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Decatur Ave. Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.