RIDER FOUND SAFE – A bloodied horse, still wearing a saddle, was discovered running from a wooded area north of Alvord about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, resulting in a three-hour search for its rider. The Alvord Volunteer Fire Department, Wise County EMS, U.S. Forest Service agents and Wise County Sheriff’s Office investigators were called to the scene on County Road 2788 near the LBJ National Grasslands to search for a “possible injured person.” The rider, who lives just north of Alvord, was found, uninjured, at 4:30 p.m. She’d been thrown off her horse at 11 a.m., had walked home and had been driving in the area searching for the horse when she discovered a search party was looking for her. “She was skinned up, but she refused any medical treatment,” Sheriff David Walker said. The blood on the horse was believed to be from insect bites.

PISD PROPOSES TAX RATE – Paradise ISD trustees Tuesday afternoon set the proposed tax rate for the 2012-13 fiscal year at $1.34 – the same as the previous year. The trustees will hold a hearing on the rate at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 before their regular meeting. That proposed rate includes $1.04 levy for maintenance and operations and 30 cents for debt service. Paradise Superintendent Monty Chapman also presented trustees with a total budget of $11.247 million. The budget’s expected maintenance and operations expenditures are $9.552 million. The district expects to pull $71,257 out of its $3.2 million in reserves to cover an expected deficit. The debt service payment will be $1.187 million, and the district expects to pull nearly $25,000 out of its interest and sinking fund reserves.

CONTRACT APPROVED – The Bridgeport City Council Tuesday approved a performance contract with Siemens Industry to replace water and electric meters with radio read capabilities, installing an automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) and retrofit or replace lighting throughout the city, projects to help save the city money. The project costs $2,644,185 to be financed by Government Capital. A final finance agreement will be presented at the next council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 21.

RAIN – Parts of Wise County were lucky enough to see a little rain yesterday. Rainfall totals included 0.5 of an inch in Greenwood and 0.13 in Decatur. There is a 20 percent chance of rain in today’s forecast.

BLOOD DRIVE – Carter BloodCare is having a blood drive 9 to 11:30 a.m. today at the Chico Public Library, 106 W. Jacksboro St., and 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport Public Library, U.S. 380 and 10th Street. Those who donate will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Lowe’s gift card.

PARK FUNDRAISER – A fundraiser for the Alvord Veterans Memorial Park is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday during the Watermelon Festival. Barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, drinks, cobbler and other desserts will be sold. The park will be dedicated 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Congresswoman Kay Granger and dignitaries from Wise County Veterans Group will be on hand.

GUINN BENEFIT – A spaghetti dinner and silent auction to benefit Roger Guinn and family is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Bridgeport High School. Cost is $5. Guinn was injured in a horse accident July 15, and proceeds from the dinner will go toward his medical expenses.

MCCARROLL ORIENTATION – McCarroll Middle School orientation for all incoming sixth graders is 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Sixth Grade Campus. Orientation for all incoming seventh graders and new eighth grade students is 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sixth Grade Campus. For information, call McCarroll Middle School Counselor Cindy Barksdale at (940) 393-7333.

FUNERALS – Service for Elvena Berthena Gayler, 100, of Alvord is 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Forestburg with burial at Perryman Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

GRAVESIDE service for Charley Dean Hill, 56, of Boyd is 11 a.m. Friday at Boyd Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.

MEMORIAL for Doris Ruth Gardner, 71, of Bridgeport is 10 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Visitation is 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

GRAVESIDE service for Josephine Bross, 70, of Chico is noon Thursday at Chico Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins Funeral Home.