SPECIAL - The Wise County Animal Shelter has a special on pet adoptions this month, accepting donated items in lieu of adoption fees. Items needed include dried puppy food, bleach and orange cleaners. For more information call the shelter at (940) 627-7577 or visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wise-COunty-Animal-Shelter/113004058348
OFFICES CLOSED - The Decatur Public Housing Authority (Hillwood Homes) office was to be closed Wednesday, Sept. 15, for training.
GED TEST - The GED test will be administered by Bridgeport ISD Monday, Sept. 21. Call (940) 683-1830, ext 1250, or visit http://www.bridgeportisd.net/comm/ged.htm for more information. You must pre-register before noon Thursday, Sept. 17.
NEED MORE COWBELL - The Decatur High School Class of 2010 will be selling cowbells for this year's homecoming game Friday, Sept. 18, at Eagle Stadium. Cowbells are $8 each and support the 2011 Junior/Senior Prom.
BLOOD DONATION - A blood drive is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Wise Electric Community Room in Decatur. To give blood, you must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. If you have given blood before, it must be at least 56 days since your last donation. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit bloodisneeded.org for more information.
COMPUTER CLASS - Weatherford College Wise County is offering Microsoft Word in a Day Friday, Sept. 18, and Microsoft Excel in a Day on Friday, Sept. 25. Both classes are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $99, which includes the book. Early registration is required. Call (940) 627-2690 for more information.
YARD SALE - The Wise County Veterans Council and the North Texas Honor Guard will have a yard sale Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19, at the DAV Hall on Farm Road 51 South. Donations can be dropped off at the hall Monday through Friday, Sept. 14-18. Call Bobby Harris at (940) 389-1922 or (940) 389-7533 or Patsy Harris at (940) 389-5399 for information.
CLASS OF '94 - The Decatur High School Class of 1994 will have its 15-year class reunion Sept. 18-19. Call Tara Smith Taylor at (940) 210-1143 or Danielle Thompson Caldwell at (817) 797-5657 for more information.
GOLF TOURNAMENT - A golf tournament benefiting John Cowling of Bridgeport is Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport Country Club. For more information on the 3-person scramble, call (940) 577-0782.
JAKES EVENT - The Cross Timbers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold a JAKES event for kids 17 and under on Saturday, Sept. 19, on the LBJ Grasslands. There will be target shooting, archery, wood carving, predator/prey game and other outdoor activities. Lunch is provided, and a shotgun and bow will be given away. Call (940) 627-5475 for more information.
SOFTBALL TOURNEY - A men's and coed softball tournament is Saturday, Sept. 19, at Kenny Renshaw Park in Decatur. Proceeds will help a 14-and-under girls fastpitch softball team go to the fall state tournament in Wichita Falls. Call (940) 389-0207 for more information.
DAR - The John B. Denton chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. The club will celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the United States Constitution with guest speaker Larry Fair, a retired Bridgeport High School government and economics teacher.
BOYD REUNION - The Boyd High School Exes annual reunion is 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Vance Godbey's Restaurant, 8601 Jacksboro Highway in Lake Worth. Business meeting is at 5 p.m. Cost of the meal is $18. RSVP to Jimmie McSpadden at (817) 281-0770, Elizabeth Zorns Milner at (817) 581-6428, Arvella Brawley Godbey at (817) 232-4753 or e-mail MaryAHunn@hotmail.com.
JACKIE'S BARREL RACE - The second annual Jackie's Barrel Race Open 5D is Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Salt Creek Arena in Boyd. Books open at 9 a.m. Money raised will benefit Jackie Murphree, who was injured in a car accident two years ago. Call Raylee Moss at (940) 577-1213 or Gail Gentry at (940) 626-9630 for more information.
KIDNEY WALK - Betty Bevil and Teresa Hartsell are participating in the Kidney Walk, benefiting the National Kidney Foundation, Saturday, Sept. 19. To contribute to the walk or for more information, visit http://www.kidneywalk.org or send checks to Betty Bevil or Teresa Hartsell, 2150 S. FM 51, Decatur, TX 76234.
SINGLES MEETING - The North Texas Singles Club monthly business dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Hot Skillet in Alvord. A private room has been reserved for the meeting. Call (940) 872-6627 and leave a message for more information.
Next week's events ...
OFFICE CLOSED - The Veteran Service Office will be closed the week of Sept. 21-25 for training. The office will reopen Sept. 28 at 8 a.m.
GT NOMINATIONS - Chico ISD will accept nominations for new students in grades K-11 for Gifted and Talented program screening through Friday, Sept. 25. Students may be nominated by teachers, administrators, counselors or parents. Forms are available in the front office of each campus. Call Dolly Green at (940) 644-5783 for more information.
SKEET SHOOT - The Friends of Alvord Skeet Shoot is Saturday, Sept. 26, at Oakhill MX Park. Call Jim Looney at (940) 393-6382 for more information.
REUNION - The DHS class of 1989 reunion will be Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Decatur Country Club. If you have not received your invitation, contact Randy Shilling at (972) 742-5868, Scotty Helms at (214) 597-1898 or Kelli Zumar Pyland at (940) 626-9069 or kpyland1@yahoo.com.
HEALTH FAIR - The Wise Regional Health System Harvest Health Fair is 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in front of the hospital. The free event will include health screenings, blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, PSA testing (for men over 50), blood sugar checks, a kids fun area, face painting, cake walk and the Corporate Wellness Challenge where teams compete in an obstacle course.
PARADISE FESTIVAL - The Paradise Main Street Festival is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The Paradise Veteran's Memorial Park will be dedicated during the event, and local veterans will be honored. The festival will include food and craft booths, talent shows and speeches. To participate in the talent show, call (940) 859-3691. To rent a booth, call (940) 748-2422 or (940) 969-3680.
CHAMBER AUCTION - The 18th annual Decatur Chamber of Commerce Auction is 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. This year's theme is "Fat Saturday Carnivale." For more information or to purchase tickets, call Misty Hudson at (940) 627-3107.
Upcoming events ...
COAL MINERS - The Coal Miners' Heritage Festival is Saturday, Oct. 3, in downtown Bridgeport. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. and will include food and craft vendors, a video game contest, baking contest, 5K run/walk and 30-mile bike ride, classic car show, tractor show and live entertainment. Booth space applications are available at http://www.bridgeportchamber.com or by calling (940) 683-2076.
RAFFLE TICKETS - The Decatur Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association is selling raffle tickets for a Stoeger Condor 12-gauge over and under shotgun. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and can be purchased at the First Financial and North Texas banks or from any DCPAAA member. Drawing will be Oct. 13. Proceeds go to the Decatur Police Department to help provide training equipment.
REUNION - Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base veterans will celebrate their 40-year reunion Oct. 16-18 at the Ramada in Decatur. The group will visit the Lost Battalion Room at the Wise Heritage Museum at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.
CHICOFEST - Chicofest is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Chico square. Booths can be rented for $5 or $10 with electricity by calling (940) 644-2515. The event will include a cake walk, horseshoes, a beauty pageant featuring Chico High School boys at 11 a.m. and Bingo at 1 p.m. A picnic will follow Chicofest in the park.
FALL FEST - Alvord's Fall Fest is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in downtown Alvord. To reserve a booth, call city hall at (940) 427-5916.
CONCERT - The New Plainsmen will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur.
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - Applications for Decatur Spirit of Christmas will be available Monday, Oct. 19, at CitiBank, DATCU, First Financial, Legend Bank, North Texas Bank and Wells Fargo. Deadline to return applications is Friday, Nov. 13. Angels will be displayed on trees beginning Monday, Nov. 23.
In other news ...
ROAD CLOSED - The intersection of County Road 2323 and 2324 is closed until mid- to late-October for bridge replacement.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM - The Decatur Library's free after school program for students in fifth grade and up is 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students will participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities. For more information, call the library at (940) 627-5512 or visit the Web page at http://www.decaturpubliclibrary.com
BENEFIT ACCOUNT - A benefit account has been set up at First State Bank, Bridgeport for Melissa Bracken and family, who lost everything in a recent house fire. For more information, call Colleen Walker at (940) 393-3947.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - The North Central Texas Council of Governments' Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to help elderly and disabled residents of nursing and assisted living facilities in Bridgeport and Decatur. Call Lisa Walker at (800) 272-3921 or e-mail Pat Borgfeldt at ppborgfeldt@aol.com for more information.
SUPPORT - Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings are 6:30 p.m. each Monday at the Newark Community Center, 404 Hudson St.
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION - The Alzheimer's Association hosts an Alzheimer's support group at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at Wise Regional Health System's west campus board room. For more information, call Kelly Walker at (940) 627-5921.
DONATE A PHONE - Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center is accepting cell phones and cell phone batteries in any condition. The organization works with Shelter Alliance, which allows them to receive shelter funding through cell phone donations. Bring donations to the center office in Decatur, 407 S. Washburn St. For information, call (940) 626-4585.
MARRIAGE WORKSHOP - A free marriage workshop is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month at the Weatherford College Education Center in Decatur. For more information, visit http://www.theparentingcenter.org To register, call (877) 922-4733.
CPR TRAINING - The Decatur Fire Department offers CPR training to people living in the Decatur city limits or in the Decatur Fire District. Classes are held monthly from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The cost is $5. For more information or to register, call the administration offices at (940) 627-3199 or come by the fire department at 201 S. Church St.
