News Briefs for May 8

Published Thursday, May 8, 2008

By Staff

EVACUATION - Residents of the Governor's Ridge Retirement Center in Decatur were evacuated Saturday night after a small fire in the kitchen filled the building with smoke. Decatur firefighters, police officers and Wise County EMS personnel helped with the evacuation. Bridgeport firefighters were initially called to assist but were told to disregard before they arrived at the scene. There were no injuries, and residents were allowed back into their rooms about an hour after the evacuation.

ACADEMIC MEDALS - Slidell students brought home several medals last weekend at the State Academic Meet. Gary Enis placed second in computer science and fifth in ready writing. Kendal Stephens placed fifth in computer applications. The computer science team of Enis, Josh Starner, Zach McElreath and Kyle Oney placed second.

KING STUDIES ENERGY - State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) recently convened a meeting of the House Committee on Regulated Industries to discuss the benefits and growth of wind power. The committee discussed the great potential for wind development in the Texas Panhandle as well as some of the challenges of ensuring enough transmission and distribution is available to bring that power to areas of Texas that need it most. King also recently moderated a panel at the Texas Solar Forum to discuss the future of the solar power industry. In 2007, King authored a bill which paved the way for development of new nuclear generation plants.

This week's events...

THANK A TEACHER - This week is Texas Teacher Appreciation Week.

OFFICE CLOSED - The Wise County Veterans Office will be closed Monday, May 5 through Thursday, May 8. The office will be open from 8 a.m.-noon Friday, May 9.

ART SHOW - The Decatur High School 2008 Art Show runs through Thursday, May 8 in the DHS library. A reception for the public will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the library.

CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY - The Decatur Fire Department is conducting a Citizen's Fire Academy May 15-Aug. 7. Deadline to apply is May 7. The free program will be held from 6-9 p.m. each Thursday at Decatur Fire Station No. 1 plus two Saturdays for hands-on activities. Any resident of the city of Decatur or the Decatur fire district can attend. For more information, or for an application, call (940) 627-3199.

MEETING - The Greater Runaway Bay Alliance will have their quarterly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Runaway Bay Community Church Fellowship Hall. A program on "Identity Theft" will be presented by RAB Police Department's Susan Hoelscher. The meal is $10. For reservations, call Bettye Parker at (940) 575-4754.

BAKE SALE - First Financial Bank Decatur will host a bake sale May 8 and 9 benefiting Mary's Gift of the Wise Regional Medical Center. The lobby is open May 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

PINK - Tough Enough to Wear Pink merchandise is now on sale at the Aflac office in Bridgeport, 1102 Stevens, with all proceeds benefiting the Mary's Gift mammogram program in Wise County. Call (940) 683-1775 or 683-4408. Merchandise will also be sold at the May 9 performance of the Butterfield Stage Days Dodge PRCA Rodeo.

ST. JUDE'S TRAIL RIDE - The Sheriff's Posse is hosting a St. Jude's Trail Ride Saturday, May 10. Those participating will meet at the Sheriff's Posse Arena at 8 a.m. Saturday, then will travel to the starting point. For more information, contact Cindy Stephens at (940) 5999 or Marvin Smith at (940) 389-5997. Lunch will be provided.

BUTTERFIELD STAGE DAYS - Bridgeport's Butterfield Stage Days Festival and Rodeo is May 9-10. The Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Dodge Rodeo Parade will be held in downtown Bridgeport at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 10. The theme for this year's Rodeo Parade is "150 Years of History." Entry forms for the parade must be returned to the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce Office by Friday, May 9, or faxed to Susan Miller at (940) 627-8542. The rodeo is at 7:30 p.m. May 9 and 10. Tickets are $12, and children 5 and under are admitted free. Dances will be held following the rodeo both nights.

5K RUN - The Second Annual Decatur 5K run-jog-walk is at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10. The start and finish line is on North State Street at the Wise County Veterans Park. The fee to enter is $15, and you can register by mail, on-line at www.active.com or at the front desk of Fit-N-Wise. Trophies will be given to the top three male and female finishers and awards will be given to the top three finishers in five age groups. The run is hosted by the Wise County Veterans Group and Fit-N-Wise. For more information, call Mike Bowers at (940) 391-9057 or e-mail mike.bowers@wiseregional.com.

STAMP OUT HUNGER - Bridgeport letter carriers will be picking up nonperishable food placed at residential and small business mail boxes from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. May 10 as part of the nationwide "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive. Food will be donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

Next week's events...

REPUBLICAN MEETING - The Wise Republican Women and Wise County Republican Party will meet jointly at 6:30 p.m. May 12 at the Decatur Courthouse, second floor. Guest Speaker will be Gail Lowe, a member of the State Board of Education.

AGGIE MOMS - The Wise County Aggie Mom's Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 12 in the lecture hall at Decatur High School. The club is open to all moms who have a student at Texas A&M or have a child who graduated from Texas A&M. Moms who will have a child attending Texas A&M in the fall are also invited.

SPRING SHOW - The Decatur Eagle Dolls and the Decatur Middle School will have their Spring Show at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the DHS auditorium. Admission is free, and a silent auction will be held to help raise funds for the dance team.

BLOOD DRIVE - Wise Electric is sponsoring a "Rock and Roll" blood drive from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the Wise Electric Community Room. Donors will receive a special rocker-style T-shirt. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit http://givelife.org to make an appointment.

BENEFIT BREAKFAST - A Pancake Benefit Breakfast will be from 7-10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at Chisholm Trail Baptist Church, 300 Chisholm Creek Parkway in Rhome. All proceeds will benefit the family of 3-year-old Kyla Moore, who has Stage 3 cancer. For information call Christine at (817) 992-6742.

PIONEER DAYS FESTIVAL - The Rhome Volunteer Fire Department seeks vendors for the Rhome Pioneer Days Festival May 17-18. Contact Kay Spivey at (817) 696-6742 or Judy at (817) 704-8124 for further information. All proceeds go to the fire department.

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY - Oak Grove United Methodist Church will celebrate its 130th anniversary from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 18. The event will include reenacting life in the late 19th Century. The church is located at 1295 Greenwood Road in Decatur. The church will have an ice cream social from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 17.

Upcoming events...

BLOOD DRIVE - The Decatur High School Student Council is sponsoring a "Rock and Roll" blood drive Tuesday, May 20, from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday, May 22, from 8 a.m.-noon in the small gym. Students across Texas are competing for High Challenge scholarships. Call the school office or visit http://www.givelife.org using sponsor code "decaturhs" to make an appointment.

JOB FAIR - The North Central Texas Workforce will present the Wise County Job Fair from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Decatur Civic Center. For information call (940) 627-3919.

GT NOMINATIONS - Chico ISD is accepting nominations for students in grades K-12 to be screened for the 2008-2009 Gifted and Talented program. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, May 23. Students may be nominated by teachers, administrators, counselors or parents. Nomination forms are available at each school's office. Achievement and ability testing will be scheduled during the month of June. For information call Dolly Green at (940) 644-5783.

PBR CHALLENGE - Tickets are now on sale for the fifth annual J. W. Hart PBR Challenge bullriding competition set for Saturday, May 24, at the Sheriff's Posse arena in Decatur. Tickets, at $25 each, are available locally at Wise Wireless in the Prada Shops on FM 51 in Decatur. The store opens at 8 a.m. Tickets are also available online at http://www.wcchallenger.org or by calling 800-514-3849. All seats are reserved. This is the fifth PBR event in Decatur benefiting United Way of Wise County. Oklahoma native J.W. Hart is a former world champion bull rider who draws some of the biggest names in the PBR to Wise County for the Challenge.

GOSPEL SHOW - A Gospel Show will be at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Wise County Historical Museum.

RELAY FOR LIFE - Cancer survivors will be honored at the May 30-31 Wise County Relay for Life at the Decatur track on FM 51 S. Caregivers will also be honored at a reception at the Relay. In addition, the Decatur Church of Christ will honor survivors with a dinner at 6 p.m. at the church May 6. To RSVP for the dinner by April 30, call Earlene Niblett at (940) 627-3557 or tdduck@netcommander.com. Give T-shirt size. Survivor and caregiver registration for the Relay is also through Niblett. Deadline is April 25. To register a team for the May 30-31 Wise County Relay for Life, call Kim Lawson at (940) 626-1384 or Barbara Brooks at (940) 389-5435 or visit http://www.events.cancer.org/rflwisecotx Relay for Life benefits the Wise County Unit of the American Cancer Society.

TEAM ROPING - CASA of Wise and Jack Counties will host a team-roping event Saturday, June 7, at the Gibtowne Arena. Cost is $25 per run. For more information call Jennifer at (940) 5567-5894.

SUMMER BLOWOUT - CASA of Wise and Jack Counties will host the Summer Blowout Saturday, June 28, at the Sheriff's Posse Grounds. The event will feature carnival games and a dunking booth.

REUNION - The Decatur High School class of 1988's 20-year reunion is the weekend of Aug. 2. Call Coy Harris at (817) 645-7174 for more information.

In other news...

PUBLIC HEALTH - County Judge Bill McElhaney has prepared a public health questionnaire to determine the need for a county-wide public health department. Results of the survey will help guide planning for food service inspections, contingency planning for wide-spread health problems, septic permitting and childhood inoculation programs. Survey forms are available in the county judge's office and at various other locations across the county, including the Wise County Messenger in Decatur.

BENEFIT ACCOUNT - After a successful bone marrow transplant in November and normal initial recovery, Rene Taylor of Newark is back in Baylor Hospital in Dallas after a turn in her health. She will be in the hospital for four to six weeks, and will then live in an off-site apartment for continuing care. The family has asked for donations to fund her stay in the apartments. Donations may be made at any Wells Fargo using the account number 9892529455.

MEMORIAL FUND - A fund in memory of Jennifer Stephens, the 2007 Chico High School graduate who was killed in an automobile accident April 6, has been set up at Citibank. Donations can be given at any local Citibank and all funds will go toward the Stephens' family.

HOME SCHOOL - Home school enrichment classes are enrolling now for the fall semester. Classes are offered for grades 1-12. Call (940) 531-1918.