Wise County Messenger Update Friday, July 18, 2008

NEW PRINCIPAL - The Decatur school board named Jason Cochran as the new principal of Decatur High School Thursday. Cochran's resume includes time as a math teacher at a private school in Oklahoma, a math teacher at South Euless Elementary, the assistant principal of Hurst Junior High and assistant principal of L.D. Bell High School in Hurst. Cochran holds a bachelor of science degree from Oklahoma City University and a master's degree in education from the University of Texas at Arlington. ASSAULT - On Wednesday, Newark police were involved in a chase and altercation with Eric Surratt, 25, of Springtown. Police said Surratt fled from police in his car during a traffic stop, fleeing down Avondale Haslet Road near the Tarrant/Wise County border. Surratt fled on foot, was caught by officers, and a struggle ensued. When he was placed under arrest, police said they found methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. Surratt was charged with evading arrest, assault on a public servant and possession of a controlled substance. OIL RIG ACCIDENT - An employee of Encana oil company was injured Thursday morning while working on a pump south of Decatur on County Road 4430. The man's injuries were so serious that he was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Deborah Wesp, spokeswoman for Encana, said the company shut down operations at the site until officials know what happened. NEWARK FIRE - A mobile home in Newark caught fire Thursday night, but no one was injured. Police said the man inside the house was asleep and was awakened by his neighbors who helped him flee the home. Firefighters on the scene said less than 1/4 of the house received serious structural damage. The cause of the fire has not been determined. NEWARK - The Newark City Council has agreed to pass an ordinance limiting the number of cats and dogs a resident can have in their home within the city limits. The suggested number was five cats and five dogs. The ordinance will be drafted in the coming weeks and the details, including items such as a grace period and any exceptions, will be discussed and agreed upon at the council's Aug. 7 meeting. At the current time, there is no limit on the number of pets a person can have within the city. PLAY DAY - Wise County Wranglers are having a play day Saturday at Salt Creek Arena in Boyd with signups at 11 a.m. and riding at noon. SINGLES CLUB - The North Texas Singles Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Armondo's in Decatur. GOLF - The Decatur Booster Club golf tournament is tomorrow at The Club at Runaway Bay with registration at 7 a.m. and shotgun start at 8 a.m. Cost is $55 per person for the four-man scramble or $220 per team. FUNERALS - GRAVESIDE service for Bobby Lee Grigsby Sr., 78, of Decatur will be at 10 a.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Park. MEMORIAL service for Ruth Rohus of Bridgeport is today at noon at East Bridgeport Cemetery. GRAVESIDE service for Donald Goode of Decatur is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pleasant Grove No. 1 Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home is handling arrangements. SERVICE is pending at Hawkins Funeral Home for Dennis Reasoner, 57, of Bridgeport.