Wise County Messenger Update Friday, July 11, 2008

SCHOOL BOND - Taxpayers in Decatur will pay almost half a million dollars less than originally planned on bonds meant to pay for a new elementary school, technology and other needed improvements in the Decatur school district. The Decatur School Board sold the bonds on Wednesday to BOSC Inc., an Oklahoma syndicate of banks. The district will later repay the bonds at an interest rate of slightly below 4.8 percent. That means Decatur taxpayers will pay exactly $22,636,336.30 in interest for 26 years, although the district has the option to pay the bonds off early in 2018, Supt. Gary Gindt said. EMERGENCY PLANE LANDING - The pilot of a small passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday around 7:30 p.m. on U.S. 81/287 about a mile south of FM 407 near Rhome. Ben Rogerson, 40, of South Carolina was on his way to Flower Mound when his 1959 Beechcraft had mechanical problems. He made his emergency landing going south on the northbound service road of 287 at Pioneer Road. DPS troopers said Rogerson lost fuel pressure and was forced to land. No vehicles were involved in the landing and Rogerson was uninjured. The FAA did not get involved and left the local authorities to handle the accident report. YOUTH FUNDRAISER TOMORROW - The Wise County Raiders select baseball team will host a car wash tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise money for their trip to the national tournament in Broken Arrow, Okla. The donation car wash will be held in the parking lot of Meyers & McComis, Inc. in Bridgeport (1205 Halsell Street). The team will sell Raider discount cards for $20 as well as raffle tickets for an autographed guitar signed by Kenny Chesney. REUNION - The Decatur High School classes of 1946 and 1947 will have a reunion from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Decatur Lions Club Building. LUNG CANCER BENEFIT - Cruisin' for a Cure with Johnny Cooper, a benefit for the Lung Cancer Alliance, is Sunday at the Decatur Civic Center. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Brazos Stone will open at 5 p.m., and Johnny Cooper will follow. Admission is $10 for 21 and older and $15 for under 21. Children age 5 and under will be admitted free. QUEENS AND SWEETHEARTS - The Wise County Sheriff's Posse is looking for contestants for its Posse Rodeo Queen and Sweethearts contest. For more information, call Alina Smith at (940) 466-9457 or Cindy Stephens at (490) 427-2146. The rodeo is Sept. 4-6. MOTORCYCLE FUN RUN - The Greenwood Baptist Youth host a motorcycle fun run Saturday, with registration at the Greenwood Baptist Church at 9 a.m. and the run beginning at 10. Single riders may enter for $20 and couples for $25. All proceeds benefit the Greenwood Baptist Youth. For more information, contact Dave Jackson at (940) 627-9995. WATER RATES - Rhome residents will start paying 8 percent more in their water rates next month. The city council on Thursday raised residential water rates 8 percent in August, another 10 percent in October and another 10 percent in February 2009. It is the first time the council has raised residential water rates in 10 years. The city gets its water from wells and the Walnut Creek Special Utility District. City officials use pumps that run on electricity, and the city's electrical bills are rising just as they are for everyone else, Mayor Mark Lorance said last month. Council members said any water rate increases should be gradual because of both rising gas prices and food prices. ALVORD ISD MEETING - The Alvord school board met Thursday night and discussed the vacant superintendent position. The board will begin collecting resumes of potential candidates and appointed Joel Waldo in charge of the daily business operations of the district until an interim superintendent is found. The board also hired Krassimira Dlagneva to teach biology at Alvord High School. They also hired a consulting firm to hold a Tax Rate Election, and more information on that subject will be announced in the coming weeks. FUNERALS - Service for Robert Hugh Endres, 82, of Woodway is at 10 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Alvord with burial in Alvord cemetery. Family visitation from 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur. SERVICE for Ruth Rohus, 89, of Bridgeport is pending at Hawkins Funeral Home. FUNERAL for William (Willie) McDaniel, 63, of Bridgeport will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jones Family Funeral Home with burial in Jim Ned Cemetery. Family visitation from 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.