State troopers believe alcohol was involved in an early morning wreck Saturday that sent three people to the hospital, including one on a helicopter transport to JPS in Fort Worth. The wreck occurred on CR 1111 at approximately 1 a.m. The driver was northbound and failed to make a 90 degree turn, crashing the passenger car into a wooded embankment. Alisha Kimbrell, 19, of Rhome, suffered head and back injuries and was transported by AirEvac Lifeteam to JPS. Her injuries were non-life-threatening. Her twin sister, Melissa, was driving. She was transported to Wise Regional for minor injuries. She admitted to consuming alcohol and will undergo a mandatory blood draw. She possibly faces DWI and intoxicated assault charges. Another passenger, Richard Whitten, 21, was transported to Wise Regional for minor injuries. A fourth passenger was uninjured.

Messenger Photo by: Andrew May

FOOTBALL LINEUP – Six local high school football teams are in action tonight. Alvord looks to make it two wins a row against Whitewright in Denton, Paradise hosts Henrietta, Boyd travels to Gunter, Bridgeport takes on Burkburnett at Bull Memorial Stadium, Decatur will be at Gainesville and Northwest is at home looking for the upset over Allen. Chico will play Howe in Denton Saturday night. Scores will be posted tonight at www.wcmessenger.com/sports/update. Look for a preview of Chico’s game as well as a recap of tonight’s games in this weekend’s Wise County Messenger.

GOAL IS SET – The United Way of Wise County’s 2010-2011 campaign officially began with yesterday’s kickoff luncheon. This year’s goal is to raise $450,000 for the 27 local agencies supported by United Way. For more information, go to www.wisecountyunitedway.org or e-mail uwwise.ed@embarqmail.com.

CRUISE NIGHTS – Cruise Nights on the Courthouse Square is 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Registration is $10 per vehicle from 4-7 p.m. Awards will follow judging. Stores and restaurants will be open late and streets will be closed for pedestrian traffic.

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY – Wise County Development Services (Public Works, 911 Addressing, County Engineer) will be closed for the Labor Day Holiday Monday, Sept. 6. The Decatur dumpsite on Farm Road 51 will also be closed Monday. Boyd, Chico and Cottondale dumps will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 8, for the holiday.

LIBRARY PROGRAM – The Decatur Public Library will have a free after school program for students in the 5th grade and up beginning Sept. 7, from 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 webpage at www.decaturpubliclibrary.com.

ADULT SOFTBALL – The adult fall softball league starts Sept. 8. Contact Clifton North at (940) 393-2752 today if you want to sign up for the co-ed or the men’s league.

CLASS REUNION – The Class of 1990 is having its 20-year class reunion Saturday, Sept. 25. There will be a family tailgate gathering at Bono’s from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, before the homecoming football game. The class reunion will be Saturday night at the Decatur Civic Center. A family picnic and golf tournament are also being organized during the day on Saturday. For more information go to http://www.facebook.com/DecaturClassof90 or e-mail Kerrie Thornton atkdthornton2001@yahoo.com or andrewrottner@yahoo.com.

4H RABBIT CLUB – Wise County 4H Rabbit Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the County Extension Office. Officers will be elected for the upcoming year. Do not bring rabbits to this meeting. For more information call Sherry Haas at (940) 393-1766.

RARE RAINY DAY – Parts of Wise County received several inches of rain yesterday and overnight as thunderstorms rolled through the area. The Wednesday afternoon storm caused some damage, including a report of a powerline down on Hitt Street in Boyd. Minor flooding was also reported in parts of Decatur, including on U.S. 380 near U.S. 81/287. Weatherwatchers in Rhome and Newark were activated around 5:15 to be on the lookout for possible tornadic activity. Rainfall totals included 4.19 inches in Decatur, 1.35 in Alvord, 1 in Runaway Bay and 0.8 in Chico. The rain has moved out of the area, and today’s forecast calls for temperatures reaching the mid-90s before turning cooler tomorrow.

GAMES MOVED — The heavy rains have caused a game change for tonight. Due to field conditions, tonight’s 9th grade and junior varsity Decatur football games have been moved from Eagle Stadium to the Thompson Street field. Game times did not change, with the 9th grade beginning at 5 and the JV to follow 10 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

DRY MONTH – Although September got off to a wet start, the month of August was anything but wet. According to weather watcher Doyle Green, Decatur received just under a half-inch of rain for the month, well below the average of 2.46 inches. It was also the driest August since 2000, when Decatur received no rain for the month. Temperatures for the month ranged from 105 on Aug. 24 to a low of 58 just four days later. The temperature topped 100 degrees nine days in the month, and the average high temperature for the month was 97 degrees.

KICK-OFF – The United Way of Wise County will have its campaign kick-off event at 10:30 a.m. today at the Decatur Civic Center. The luncheon is $15 and all United Way of Wise County agencies will have displays.

BRISKET SALE – Wise Electric Cooperative is selling briskets for $40 each to raise money for various charities. Briskets can be picked up after 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3. Call (940) 627-2167 for information.

ALVORD HOMECOMING – The 2010 Alvord High School homecoming parade is Friday, Sept. 24. The theme this year is “Red, White and Blue – Bulldogs Honor You.” The entry form is available at the Alvord High School office or by e-mail, karan1959@hotmail. Return the form by Tuesday, Sept. 21, to Karan Huggins at AHS or to karan1959@hotmail.com. For more information call (940) 577-0377.

CRUISE NIGHTS – Cruise Nights on the Courthouse Square returns this weekend, 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Registration is $10 per vehicle from 4-7 p.m. Awards will follow judging. Stores and restaurants will be open late and streets will be closed for pedestrian traffic. For more information, call (940) 627-6158.

NEW LIGHT – The Bridgeport Police Department reminds motorists that the new traffic signal at U.S. 380 and County Road 1304 is now fully operational.

YARD SALE - The Wise County Veterans Council’s annual yard sale is 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17. Donations are being accepted at the DAV Hall on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. beginning Sept. 13. Call Bobby Harris at (940) 389-1922 or Patsy Harris at (940) 389-5399 to set up a different time for drop off.

PLEA REJECTED – Stephen York of Bridgeport yesterday rejected a plea offer from prosecutors in his capital murder case. York, who was arrested following a high speed chase in April of 2009 that ended with a crash that killed Bridgeport Police Sgt. Randy White, had been offered life without the chance for parole by prosecutors if he pleaded guilty. District Attorney Greg Lowery said that since the plea offer was rejected, the state will seek the death penalty at trial. The trial was set for Jan. 24, 2011, and jury selection is expected to last several weeks. Read more in Thursday’s Wise County Messenger on  newsstands today.

BARNETT SHALE MAP – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has launched an online, interactive map of air pollution data collected across the Barnett Shale region. The site has instructions on how to use the viewer and contains data on toxic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The map is located at www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/barnettshale/bshale-viewer. Read more in Thursday’s Messenger.

ONLINE REPORTS - The Decatur Police Department has partnered with PoliceReports.us to allow citizens and their insurance companies to purchase traffic accident reports online. Accident reports generated on or after July 1, 2010, can be accessed through the city’s website, http://www.decaturtx.org or directly at http://decaturtx.policereports.us. To search for a report, you will need the report number or the date of the accident and the last name of the driver. The department recommends you wait at least seven working days after the accident before attempting to access the report, and some accidents could require more time to process.

BRISKET SALE – Wise Electric Cooperative is selling briskets for $40 each to raise money for various charities. Briskets can be picked up after 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3. Call (940) 627-2167 for information.

KICK-OFF – The United Way of Wise County will have its campaign kick-off event at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Decatur Civic Center. The luncheon is $15 and all United Way of Wise County agencies will have displays at the event.

JUST A TEST - Decatur will test storm sirens at noon today, weather permitting.

OFFICE CLOSED – The Veterans Service Office will be closed Friday for the quarterly VA meeting in Dallas. The office will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7.

SOFTBALL – 12-and-under Batbuster Girls Select Softball Team holds open practice/tryouts at 6 tonight in Bridgeport. Call (817) 694-7909 for field location.

FUNERALS – Graveside service for Freddy Lee Partin, 37, of Springtown is 10 a.m. today at Boyd Cemetery. Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.

GRAVESIDE service for Angel Martinez, 80, of Decatur is 10 a.m. today at Oaklawn Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.

Stephen York of Bridgeport today rejected a plea offer from prosecutors in his capital murder case. York, who was arrested following a high speed chase in April of 2009 that ended with a crash that killed Bridgeport Police Sgt. Randy White, had been offered life without the chance for parole by prosecutors if he pleaded guilty. District Attorney Greg Lowery said that since the plea offer was rejected, the state will seek the death penalty at trial. The trial was set for Jan. 24, and jury selection is expected to last several weeks.

TAX BREAK – Citizens of Decatur will get a one-cent property tax break. The Wise County Water Supply District, which serves the city of Decatur, is proposing a 13.5-cent tax rate, down a penny. Coupled with the city council’s plan to keep its 64-cent rate, property owners will benefit from a combined decrease.

SIGNS APPROVED – The Decatur City Council approved six variance requests from Decatur ISD last night to install message signs in front of all six campuses.

BOARD APPROVES TAX RATE - The Bridgeport School Board last night approved the 2010-2011 budget and set the tax rate at $1.27 per $100 valuation.

BULLDOG MANIA – Bulldog Mania is tonight at Alvord High School football field, with a hamburger meal at 6 p.m. The event will honor Pee Wee and Midget football players and cheerleaders, the cross country team, Black Diamond dancers, middle and high school cheerleaders, the Bulldog Marching Band and the middle and high school football teams. Bulldog gear is also on sale, and family and individual booster club memberships will be sold for $10 and $5.

4-H MEETING – Slidell 4-H has its first meeting for the new school year at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the high school library.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM – The Decatur Public Library will have a free after school program for students in the 5th grade and up beginning Sept. 7. For more information call the library at (940) 627-5512 or visit www.decaturpubliclibrary.com.

ABWN MEETING – The Area Business Women’s Network meets at noon Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Decatur Civic Center. Reservations are due before noon Thursday, Sept. 2, using the reservation form on the website, http://www.abwn.org or by calling Tammy Kelly at (940) 627-8777.

HIGH SCHOOL RODEO – The Decatur High School Rodeo team has open enrollment for Decatur students in 9th-12th grade until Wednesday. The meetings are held in the Rabbit Building at the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds. Contact team coach Rick Wilson at decaturrodeoteam@hotmail.com or (817) 733-0930.

FUNERALS – Service for Roberta Montgomery, 72, of Boyd is 2 p.m. today at Trinity Baptist Church in Boyd with burial at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.

GRAVESIDE service for Freddy Lee Partin, 37, of Springtown is 10 a.m. Wednesday at Boyd Cemetery. Family visitation i s 6-8 tonight at Christian-Hawkins.

FUNERAL for Marvin Rinhold Euchner II, 56, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. today at Grace Baptist Church in Decatur. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.

GRAVESIDE service for Angel Martinez, 80, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Wednesday at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins.

FUNERAL for Johnny Joe Brown, 64, of Bridgeport is 2 p.m. today at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at Paradise Cemetery.