| Recent Business Headlines |
| Organization provides seniors with opportunities |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, July 30, 2009 |
| Experience Works, the nation's largestnonprofit training and employment organization for older works, is accepting applications for the Senior Community Service Employment Program in Wise County. |
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| Legend bank promotes Bearden to chief of lending |
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| By Brandon Evans | Published Sunday, July 26, 2009 |
| Legend Bank promoted Jay Bearden, former president of the Decatur branch, to serve as chief of lending for all Legend Banks. It is a newly created position. |
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| USDA grants family a home loan |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
| The Anthony Estes family of Boyd broke ground in June for their new home, made possible through a loan from USDA Rural Development. |
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| Car registrations up slightly in June |
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| By Staff | Published Thursday, July 16, 2009 |
| Wise County's three new automotive dealerships registered 189 new vehicles during June, up slightly from the 170 registered in May. |
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| Economy may be cool but new business is cold |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, July 9, 2009 |
| When the market went south, Doug and Cheri Dunlap looked east. |
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| Rebate system helps consumers buy new cars |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, July 9, 2009 |
The news media calls it Cash for Clunkers.
Uncle Sam calls it the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). |
| Read More... |
| Business Briefs for Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
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| By Staff | Published Sunday, July 5, 2009 |
Heil division
announces hires
Kalyn Siebert Products, a subsidiary of Heil Trailer International, has named Lester Evans product manager and Latner McDonald regional sales manager. |
| Read More... |
| Sales tax revenue continues decline |
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| By Staff | Published Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
| Wise County cities continued to take a hit on sales tax revenue as every city in the county, except two, felt a decline in their June rebate check from the state comptroller. |
| Read More... |
| Business Briefs for Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
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| By Staff | Published Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
Local Bealls will carry new brand
New York designer David Rodriguez has created an exclusive line of women's fashions for Stage Stores Inc., which includes Bealls. |
| Read More... |
| Leadership class donates to shelter and crisis center |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
| Leadership Northwest, a development training program for current and emerging community leaders in northwest Tarrant County, presented a large donation of goods June 11 to Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center in Decatur. |
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| Auto registrations increase in May |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
| Auto registrations for Decatur's three new car dealerships were up slightly overall in May over the previous month. |
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| Brian Carpenter named top doc |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, June 11, 2009 |
| What would make an outstanding scholar, band member, and athlete who played just about every sport but football for his high school want to walk on at a Division I university and think he had a chance to make the football team? |
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| Civic Center strives to be earth friendly |
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| By Travis Measley | Published Thursday, June 4, 2009 |
| The Decatur Civic Center, already one of the most critically acclaimed community centers in the greater metropolitan area, has taken another step towards providing the best atmosphere for its customers and employees - its going green. |
| Read More... |
| Honda of Texas earns national recognition |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 21, 2009 |
| For the second consecutive year, Honda of Texas has been selected for the 2009 Best of Decatur Award in the Motorcycle Dealers category by the U.S. Local Business Association. |
| Read More... |
| Devon reports profit loss |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 14, 2009 |
| Devon Energy Corporation reported a net loss of $4 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, or $8.92 per common share ($8.92 per diluted common share). A $4.2 billion non-cash, after-tax reduction in the carrying value of oil and gas properties led to the quarterly net loss. In the first quarter of 2008, Devon reported net earnings of $749 million, or $1.68 per common share ($1.66 per diluted common share). |
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| Chevrolet's pony car returns |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 14, 2009 |
| At least 150 people turned out at James Wood Motors to dine on hot dogs and witness the unveiling of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro on May 6. |
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| Dealerships sell 126 vehicles in April |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 14, 2009 |
| Wise County's three new vehicle dealerships sold a combined 126 units during the month of April. |
| Read More... |
| Rogers releases war novel |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 14, 2009 |
| United States Air Force veteran Robert Rogers of Decatur released a Civil War novel, "Private Warfare," the detailed account of one man's experience in the Civil War, his departure from the Confederate Army and the mission that drove him to beyond the battlefields. |
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| Merchants expect May and June to be busy |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 7, 2009 |
| May and June are typically busy months for local retailers and this year is no exception. |
| Read More... |
| Carter inducted into hall of fame |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 7, 2009 |
| Decatur native Bill Carter, president of Carter Financial Management in Dallas, has been inducted into the Texas A&M Cadet Hall of Honor. |
| Read More... |
| Bank reports first quarter earnings |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 7, 2009 |
| First Financial Bankshares Inc. has reported earnings for the first quarter of 2009 of $13.70 million, an increase of 4.1 percent from the same quarter last year. |
| Read More... |
| Sims joins First Financial Bank |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, May 7, 2009 |
| Steve Sims of Decatur, longtime banker in Tarrant County, has joined First Financial Bank as a senior vice president of lending. He will office at First Financial's Decatur location. |
| Read More... |
| Rodeo slated to be biggest on record |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
| The books have closed and 419 entries are on the dotted line to make the May 8-9 Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo the biggest on record. |
| Read More... |
| Report: Devon had strong 2008, but 2009 has seen cutbacks |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
| Devon Energy's 2008 summary annual report provides a look at the contrasts faced by the oil and gas industry. |
| Read More... |
| Eaton elected to stock show board |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
| Roy J. Eaton of Decatur, retired publisher of the Wise County Messenger, has been elected to the board of directors of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth. |
| Read More... |
| Most cities see big declines in sales tax rebates |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
| Decatur was the only Wise County city to show an increase in sales tax rebates in April. |
| Read More... |
| Century 21 honors associates |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 9, 2009 |
| Lesley Nivens and Beverly Whetsell of Century 21 Worldwide have been recognized as Multi-Million Dollar Producers by the company. |
| Read More... |
| New Devon office under construction |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 9, 2009 |
| George Jackson, production manager of Devon Energy's Fort Worth Basin area of operations, took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the company's new Barnett Shale field office in Cresson. |
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| A Hyundai of a hunt |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 9, 2009 |
| The new James Wood Hyundai store on U.S. 81/287 in Decatur will host an Easter egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 11. |
| Read More... |
| Gentry earns CPA certification |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, April 2, 2009 |
| Sam Gentry of San Angelo has received his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. He is a graduate of Paradise High School and received his bachelor's of business administration from Angelo State University. |
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| McDonald's lattes... they're for real |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| A steaming, hazelnut latte, made to order with premium freshly-ground coffee beans at McDonald's? What's next, tofu at the Colonel's place? |
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| Auto sales continue decline |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Wise County's three new car dealerships sold 129 vehicles during February, down from the 199 sold in February 2007 and from the 149 sold in January this year. |
| Read More... |
| Book by Gettys published posthumously |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Manshadow and Leisa Gettys Waylett announce the publishing of "Decatur Baptist College: The truth be known" by Charles Thomas Gettys. |
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| Chisholm Trail gets mark of excellence |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Chisholm Trail RC&D Council, headquartered in Bowie and serving Wise and 10 other North Texas counties, has been reauthorized as a member of the National Circle of Diamonds program. |
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| Hendershot earns Vermeer award |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Hendershot Equipment Co., with locations in Decatur and Stephenville, has received the coveted Vermeer Platinum Masters award from Vermeer, a hay harvesting equipment company based in Pella, Iowa. |
| Read More... |
| Sales tax rebates continue to slide |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Sales tax payments took a nosedive in Wise County as reflected in the March distribution of rebates from the state comptroller. |
| Read More... |
| Texas unemployment is below national rate |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.4 percent in January, while the U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 7.6 percent. Texas' unemployment rate has consistently remained well below the national rate for the past year. The Texas unemployment rate for January is up from a revised 5.6 percent in December and 4.4 percent a year ago. |
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| Two institutions receive highest rating |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
| BauerFinancial, Inc., the Florida bank rating firm, has updated its ratings, based on Dec. 31, 2008 data and has given two Wise County institutions it's highest rating. |
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| Man wins truck from James Wood Motors |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 12, 2009 |
| Even though he didn't rope a steer or ride a bull, Richard Griffin of Forest Hill went home as one of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo's luckiest contestants Feb. 8. |
| Read More... |
| Retiree becomes 'egghead' with cottage industry |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 4, 2009 |
| What began as a birthday gift from his wife has grown into a cottage industry for Doug Dunlap of Lake Bridgeport. |
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| Floors and More takes top window honors |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 4, 2009 |
| With a tribute to her grandparents who have been married 64 years, Milissa Harris of Floors & More on the square took top honors in the Decatur Main Street "Best of Downtown" Fall in Love With Downtown window decorating contest for February. |
| Read More... |
| Nivens earns CRS designation |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, March 4, 2009 |
| Wise County realtor Lesley Nivens, with Century 21 Worldwide in Keller, has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. |
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| Tough product for tough times |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Sunday, March 1, 2009 |
| Both builders and the people who buy their homes are doing what they can to survive the economic downturn. |
| Read More... |
| First Financial continues to grow |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 26, 2009 |
| First Financial Bankshares, Inc. has reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008 of $13.04 million, up 4.3 percent from $12.51 million in the same quarter last year. Basic earnings per share were $0.63 for the fourth quarter, up 5 percent from $0.60 for the same quarter last year. |
| Read More... |
| Annual building projects up over previous year |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 26, 2009 |
| The city of Decatur ended 2008 with building projects amounting to almost $30.1 million, well above the 2007 yearly total of $14 million. |
| Read More... |
| Decatur takes lead in sales tax rebates |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 26, 2009 |
| In a report from the state comptroller on February sales tax allocations, the city of Decatur took the lead for the first time in a year. |
| Read More... |
| IHOP to offer free pancakes |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 19, 2009 |
| IHOP in Decatur will offer one free short stack of pancakes to each customer on Feb. 24 as part of IHOP National Pancake Day benefitting Shriners Hospitals for Children. |
| Read More... |
| Car sales continue downward spiral |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 12, 2009 |
| Wise County's three new vehicle dealerships sold 149 new cars and trucks in January, compared to 360 in January a year ago and 206 in December 2008. |
| Read More... |
| Main Street will host contest |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 12, 2009 |
| Decatur merchants hope shoppers will "Fall in Love With Downtown" during February. |
| Read More... |
| First Financial continues growth |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 12, 2009 |
| First Financial Bankshares Inc. has reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008 of $13 million, up more than 4 percent from the same quarter last year. |
| Read More... |
| Chef provides a roux awakening to local cooks |
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| By Mandy Bourgeois | Published Thursday, February 5, 2009 |
| Kraig Thome talked conversationally to the 20 people seated in front of him as he whisked, stirred and shared his theory on gumbo. |
| Read More... |
| Hospice pioneer sells to Integracare |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, February 5, 2009 |
| Serene Smith is a pioneer. Twenty years ago she brought the hospice concept to Wise County when she opened Hospice of Tejas in Decatur. |
| Read More... |
| Devon ranked 13th best company to work for |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Sunday, January 25, 2009 |
| Devon Energy had reason to celebrate Thursday and celebrate it did with a party at its Wise County headquarters in Bridgeport. |
| Read More... |
| Businessmen offer backyard electricity |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 22, 2009 |
| "There's a great big electricity source up in the sky. Wind. It's free, non-polluting and endless. But until now only a few could tap into it." |
| Read More... |
| Bridgeport continues sales tax lead |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 22, 2009 |
| Wise County cities have received their first sales tax rebates of the new year and four cities, including Decatur, earned less in sales tax than a year ago at this time. |
| Read More... |
| Law firm announces new partners |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 22, 2009 |
| Simpson, Boyd and Powers law firm, with offices in Bridgeport and Decatur, has announced that Kristy Pesnell Campbell and Allen L. Williamson became partners of the firm effective Jan. 1. |
| Read More... |
| Business Briefs for January 22 |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 22, 2009 |
| The Abilene Reporter-News, in a front page story Jan. 8, identified First Financial Bankshares as one of the top-performing stocks of 2008. |
| Read More... |
| November brings drops in sales tax |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 1, 2009 |
| Half of Wise County cities experienced a drop in sales tax revenue in November. |
| Read More... |
| Garrett Creek names new sales director |
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| By Staff | Published Thursday, January 1, 2009 |
| Jennifer Wasserman has been named director of sales and marketing at Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center in Paradise. |
| Read More... |
| Realtors provide Christmas party |
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| By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, January 1, 2009 |
| Members of the Greater Denton/Wise County Association of Realtors hosted a Christmas party for residents of the Nelson's Children's Center, a residential treatment center for kids who have come from abusive households. |
| Read More... |
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| NEW BOUNDARIES - The Decatur School Board last night approved new elementary attendance boundaries to take effect with the opening of the district's third elementary next fall. Generally, areas on the west side of the district are zoned into Rann Elementary, areas on the east side of the district are zoned into Carson Elementary and southern areas of the district including much of the downtown area of Decatur are zoned into Young Elementary. See Sunday's Messenger for a detailed map of the new boundaries. |
| Read More... |
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| Chico student athletes Malori Moss, Malanie Gates and Shelby Collins express their emotions at the news that trustees approved a resignation agreement with Pete Hart. |
| Photo by Joe Duty |
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| Sutton picks kindness over clock |
| Slidells Staub just misses medal |
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