News Briefs

Published Thursday, March 27, 2008

By Staff

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - One person was injured in a motorcycle accident on U.S. 81/287 Tuesday afternoon. Johnny Whittington, 39, of Burleson was southbound on 81/287 near the intersection of Business 81/287 when he lost control of his motorcycle and drove into the median. Witnesses cite a gust of wind as cause for the accident. He was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth via ground ambulance. Decatur Police issued a citation for driving without a license to operate a motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet.

DECATUR COUNCIL - The Decatur City Council Monday held the first reading on a change in the fee schedule for garbage rates to include recycling. The monthly fee would increase from $11.85 to $15.84 effective May 1 with the addition of a weekly recycling pickup. A second reading will be next month.

GRANGER SURGERY - Congresswoman Kay Granger of Fort Worth, who represents Wise County in Washington, is recuperating at Harris Methodist Hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery. She is expected to remain hospitalized until later this week. Granger had surgery for a similar medical problem in the mid-1990s when she was mayor of Fort Worth. She has not determined when she will resume her Congressional schedule. Congress is out of session until March 31.

This week's events...

HEALTH MEETING - The Wise County Health Group will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 27, in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Miller, in Decatur.

ALIEN DEBUNKED? - The Wise County Historical Society will discuss the "Aurora Encounter" of 1897 at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at the Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur. For more information call (940) 627-5586.

RODEO - The Wise County Sheriff's Posse Youth Fair Rodeo is at 7:30 p.m. March 28 and 29 at the posse grounds. For information call (940) 626-4537.

BARNETT SHALE EXPO - The second annual Barnett Shale Expo is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston St. The free event will feature industry speakers, more than 120 exhibitors and technology demonstations. Topics to be addressed include negotiating mineral right leases, water use and conservation efforts, career opportunities, royalties and their impact on income taxes and negotiating leases as a neighborhood. The Expo is hosted by the Barnett Shale area chambers including Bridgeport and Decatur. For more information, visit http://www.barnettshaleexpo.com

RAFFLE - The Decatur Youth Fair Buyers Association is giving away a Browning over and under shotgun, a True Test livestock scale and 100 square bales of coastal hay to raise money to purchase sale projects at the Wise County Youth Fair. Tickets, at $10, are available at 2K Pawn & Gun, Sam's Hairquarters and James Wood Motors. Winners will be announced at the Youth Fair sale Saturday, March 29.

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION - The Republican County Convention is Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Wise County Courthouse. All delegates elected in the various precinct conventions should attend.

DEMOCRAT CONVENTION - The Wise County Democratic Convention will be held 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 29 at the Wise County Heritage Museum.

REPUBLICANS PLAN PARTY - Former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams will be the special guest at the Rhinestone Roundup sponsored by the Wise County Republican Party and Wise Republican Women on Saturday, March 29 at the Decatur Civic Center. A silent auction is at 5:30 p.m. followed by a VIP reception at 6:30 p.m. and a dinner and live auction at 7:30 p.m. The event will honor United States veterans. For more information and tickets call (940) 575-4754.

BOYD YELLOWJACKETS - Ex-Boyd Yellowjackets are having a reunion from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the community center in Boyd. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish and a dessert. Drinks will be furnished. Call Naomi Sipes at (940) 433-3135 or Mable Thompson at 433-5123.

Next week's events...

CONCERT - Morris Memorial United Methodist Church of Chico hosts southern gospel trio Bloodbought at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 30. A covered dish lunch will follow. The church is located at 302 S. Weatherford St.

GOSPEL GROUP - Shiloh will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 701 W. Hale.

BRIDGEPORT GRADUATION MEETING - The Bridgeport Project Graduation meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at The Club in Runway Bay. All senior parents need to attend.

EARLY VOTING - Early voting for the April 8 Republican and Democrat primary runoff elections will begin Monday, March 31 and continue through Friday, April 4 at the Decatur Civic Center. Elections Administrator Lannie Noble said polls will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Voters should use the east parking lot and east entrance to the Civic Center.

GOLF TOURNAMENT - Seven Hills United Methodist Church will hold a benefit golf tournament Saturday, April 5, at The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain Lake. Tee time is at 1 p.m. and lunch is at 11:30 a.m. It will feature a scramble format. Cost is $75 per person (lunch included). Call (817) 638-2211 or e-mail jfdean001@embarqmail.com.

BOOK SIGNING - Local author Susie Stone have a book signing for her book, Children in the Hands of a Mighty Mom, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at Borders Books and Music in Lewisville and at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at 4801 Overton Ridge Blvd., Fort Worth.

Upcoming events...

LAKE BRIDGEPORT CLEAN-UP - The 10th annual Lake Bridgeport cleanup has been scheduled from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 12. Following the cleaup the Tarrant Regional Water District will host a party for volunteers at its lake office at 1710 FM 1658 near the dam. Party time is from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with live entertainment, free lunch, prizes and giveaways. To register call (940) 683-4016 or www.trwd.com. In order to assure workers get a free T-shirt, the registration deadline is Friday, April 4. Clean-up materials will be available at the lake office on Friday, April 11 and the day of the event beginning at 1:30 a.m.

WILD HOG COOKOFF - The Wise County Sheriff's Posse will host a Wild Hog Cookoff and Tailgate Party at the Posse Grounds from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, April 12. The cookoff is sanctioned by the International Bar-B-Que Cookers Association and will also feature live music by Cody Robbins and Family Tradition and King Cone and the Tailgate Philharmonic, rides, games, vendors and a silent auction. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Admission includes a barbecue plate and drink. The Sheriff's Posse needs volunteers to trap hogs, and they are seeking cooking teams, vendors and sponsors for the event as well as volunteers for the day of the event. For more information, call Ben McCall at (940) 399-3013 or visit www.8fdtexas.com/wildhog.

GOLF TOURNAMENT - The BHS project graduation golf tournament will be held Saturday, April 12 at The Club at Runaway Bay. The four-person scramble will begin at 1 p.m. Teams are $300 and hole sponsorships are $100. To sponsor or enter the tournament, call The Club at (940) 575-2225.

TRAIL RIDE - The Wise County 4-H Horse Club hosts the second annual trail ride benefiting St. Jude's Children Research Hospital Sunday, April 13 at the LBJ Grasslands. Rider registration is at 1:30 at the Tadra Point Trailhead, and riders may depart at their convenience throughout the afternoon. Riders are asked to make a minimum donation of $10 during pre-ride registration or complete a pledge sheet available at the Wise County Extension Office or from ride coordinator Chris Ferris. The U.S. Forest Service has waived parking fees for all participants and has donated the use of the covered pavilion for registration and picnic activities. For more information call the Extension office at (940) 627-3341 or Ferris at (940) 627-7234.

CITY GARAGE SALE - The City of Bridgeport is waiving the garage sale permit fee for its residents Saturday, April 19. A listing of garage sales for the day and a map of Bridgeport will be available April 14 at city hall, the library and the community center. To add your garage sale to the list, fill out an information sheet at city hall or the community center by Tuesday, April 8. For more information, call (940) 683-3480.

HOOPS TOURNAMENT - The Wise Hoops fundraiser 3 on 3 basketball tournament hosted by Decatur Junior Womans Club is April 19 at the Multi-purpose Building. For information, visit http://www.decaturjuniorwomansclub.com

COLT BREAKING CLINIC - Texas AgriLife Extension is hosting a colt breaking clinic from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 at the Gordon Maatsch Arena (between Decatur & Boyd). Professional cutting horse trainer Dustan Horne will conduct the clinic. Cost is $5 at the door. Call the Extension office for more information at (940) 627-3341.

HEALTH FAIR - A health fair for people of all ages will be sponsored by the Wise County Health Forum and Wise County United Way from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Decatur Civic Center. Booth space is $25 and deadline for reservations is April 15. To reserve a booth, call Amy Hodges at (940) 389-0470 or email ahodges@integracarehh.com. The health fair is part of a nationwide emphasis on the uninsured and underinsured. "This is for those age zero to geriatrics," said Hodges. "We hope to attract a large number of vendors."

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.

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.

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. Relay for Live benefits the Wise County Unit of the American Cancer Society.

In other news...

A TAX REMINDER - The Wise County Appraisal District office is temporarily located in the Decatur City Hall Community Room at 201 East Walnut. The AD offices are being cleaned following a flood of wastewater March 9. The offices may be in the temporary location for up to a month.

BEWARE OF SCAM - The Wise County Sheriff's Office reports several citizens have received calls from someone claiming to be from the Texas Fire Association who was soliciting donations from a private number. Residents should never release any personal information over the phone. Another possible scam involves calls from someone requesting area businesses to support the area school district by purchasing sponsorship on a tote bag. The local school had not requested the company solicit for advertising sponsorship.

GOOD-BYE TO A FRIEND - "Zoe," the Carson Elementary School therapy dog, died recently. Zoe spent six years at the school. In memory of Zoe, a fund at the Decatur Veterinary Clinic has been set up to help pets receive medication/procedures that the owners cannot afford.

NEW PARKING RULES - Bridgeport will soon implement new off-street parking regulations for residential areas. The new rules are intended to eliminate parking in front or side yards except when on a defined driveway perpendicular with the road. The driveway can be defined by gravel, paved or unpaved tire runners, unpaved tire running paths, concrete or asphalt, pavestone, brick or similar materials. If the vehicle is not parked on a defined driveway perpendicular to the road, it must be parked on a surface paved with the materials listed above. For more information, call (940) 683-3411.

AL-ANON - The local Al-Anon chapter meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and at 10 a.m. Fridays at 602 North U.S. 81/287 in Decatur. For more information call (940) 627-3800.

GIVE A PHONE - Wise Hope Shelter is seeking old cell phones which can be given to victims of domestic violence for use as 911 phones. Drop off phones at Wise Hope Center at 303 S. State St. in Decatur. Call (940) 626-4855 for more information.

ABATE - Motorcyclists interested in participating in a Wise County ABATE (American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education) chapter should contact Scott Gates at (940) 389-0200. For more information on ABATE, visit http://www.texasabate.com

CLINICAL TRIAL - Skin cancer specialists at the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center in Dallas are recruiting patients into a large Phase 3 study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational product for advanced melanoma. To learn about qualifications for the study, visit http://www.melanomatrial.com

HAZARD MITIGATION - Decatur's Hazard Mitigation Action Plan team has posted an emergency preparedness survey on the city's Web site at www.decaturtx.org. Decatur citizens are encouraged to log on to the site and take a short seven question survey to help identify and rank the hazard concerns throughout the city. The survey is one of the first steps in a coordinated effort to help the city identify and prepare for the possibility of a disaster in order to qualify for disaster relief funds. Events qualifying for disaster status include tornadoes, hail, high winds, lightning, winter storms, summer heat, drought, wildland fires and flooding.