Inside Wise

By Messenger Staff

Published Sunday, March 5, 2006

Giveth and taketh away...

We share the city of Decatur's enthusiasm over receiving its largest sales tax rebate on record in February, noting that it did not include sales tax from the new Lowe's Home Improvement Center.

Lowe's should make a significant impact on rebates to the city and once that impact is noted, it must also be pointed out that a hefty chunk of change will be returned to Lowe's by the city. In it's effort to bring Lowe's to town, the city agreed to refund $500,000 in sales tax rebates over a five-year period.

Read my lips...

OK, refresh my memory:

June 27, 2005, with a drought index of 504, Wise County commissioners approve a burn ban at Fire Marshal Paul Cunningham's request.

Sept. 26, 2005, with drought index still above the critical level of 500, burn ban is extended another 90 days, again at Cunningham's request.

February 28, 2006, Decatur rainfall report: 2.65 inches for February.

March 3, 2006, Keetch-Byram Drought Index in 500-600 range for Wise County.

March 6, 2006, county commissioners to "consider lifting burn ban."

Cunningham has repeated more than once over the last eight months that it will take at least a 10-inch rain to lift the burn ban.

That prior entry bears repeating: March 6, 2006, county commissioners to "consider lifting burn ban."

Tom DeLay's buddy Jack Abramhoff has nothing on the Wise County welding lobby.

And speaking of ...

Although we didn't speak directly of Wise County firefighters in the previous entry, rest assured commissioners' action on Monday will definitely affect our selfless volunteers.

Wise County, with a population of 55,500, raised more than $88,000 for its volunteer fire departments at an event Jan. 26.

A radio DJ announced Friday morning that Johnson County, with a population of 143,418, held a fund-raiser for its fire departments this week that raised $12,000.

Tasty reading ...

The city of Decatur has taken over restaurant health inspections from the state, which rarely inspected our eating spots.

Doug Patrick, the city's new health inspector, is starting the program and will hold a meeting for owners, managers and operators of food establishments in Decatur. That meeting will be March 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Chisholm Room at the Decatur Civic Center.

Patrick told the city council recently that he had received outstanding cooperation and understanding as he went to various restaurants in Decatur to explain the inspection and permit process.

The results of the inspections will be posted in the restaurants and other food establishments (including grocery stores such as IGA and Wal-Mart) for consumers to see.

Those results could also be juicy reading for Mess subscribers, since they are public records under the state Open Records Act.

Good to hear ...

Pat Slayton, the new executive director of the Wise County Domestic Violence Task Force, introduced herself to Wise County Commissioners last week.

In a report to the county's leaders, she shared the following information:

During 2005, the task force had assisted 547 individuals and provided 1,277 "shelter nights" to 88 people.

During the first month of 2006, the task force has already assisted 118 victims.

She said the non-profit group has had "a significant increase" in private donations and implemented a volunteer recruitment, training and retention program.

Slayton has also submitted four applications for grants from the Victims of Crime Act.

"Without the generosity and support of this commissioners' court, none of this would have been possible," Slayton said.

The shelter is located in Bridgeport, but has offices in Decatur.

Inside Wise is written by Publisher Roy Eaton, Editor Skip Nichols, assistant Editor Brian Knox, special projects Manager Denny Deady, sports Editor Robert Morgan and reporters Keri Pritchard, Jeremy Martin and Don Munsch. The Messenger welcomes suggestions for Inside Wise.