BAD SPOT - For the third time in less than 24 hours, southbound U.S. 287 has been closed at the Business 380 overpass in Decatur by an accident involving an 18-wheeler. About 11 a.m. Sunday the cab of a southbound truck went over the guardrail forcing traffic to be rerouted along the service road. The driver did not require medical attention.
HIGHWAY CLOSED - A diesel fuel spill caused Hwy. 287 over Business 380 in Decatur to be shut down shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday. An 18-wheeler hit the guardrail in the southbound lanes, and about 80 gallons of diesel spilled, making the roadway hazardous. Traffic was rerouted to the service road. It marked the second accident in the same spot Saturday. The first, shortly after noon, involved an 18-wheeler and an SUV. Neither wreck involved serious injuries. Both may have been weather-related, as the entire North Texas area experienced steady rains throughout the day.
BALL GAME CANCELED - Decatur's high school football game with Argyle Liberty Christian this weekend has been canceled. The two teams initially postponed the game until 5 p.m. Saturday after they were unable to get started Friday night due to lightning. The non-district game is not required to be made up. Decatur's next action will be at home Sept. 18 for homecoming against Argyle High School.
THREE VEHICLE WRECK - A wreck involving three vehicles sent two men to the hospital on Friday afternoon on U.S. 380 near the Sheriff's Department. A vehicle exiting U.S. 380 business was struck by an eastbound pickup. This caused another vehicle to crash into those two. Amazingly, the only people injured were the two men in the pickup. One had several broken ribs and the other had an injured knee. Both were transported to Wise Regional.
Messenger photos by Joe Duty
REMEMBERING 9/11 - Today marks the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and a couple of of events are planned today in Decatur. The Wise County Veterans Group will host a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park. Maj. Gen. Gene LaCoste, a 9/11 survivor, will speak. Also, a prayer gathering will take place at noon on the southwest corner of the courthouse.
CAR WASH - Chicken Express in Bridgeport is holding a benefit car wash, 10-4 on Saturday accepting donations only with funds benefiting the families of Becca Logan and Leslie Denison.
BLOOD DRIVE - Carter BloodCare has a blood drive, 9-5 today at Wal-Mart in Decatur.
DISASTER EXERCISE - A Hazard Mitigation Team emergency exercise is at 10 a.m. Saturday in Decatur. The scenario will involve an F-2 tornado touching down in Decatur.
MEETING - The Wise County Fossil, Rock and Mineral Society meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Wesley Center in Decatur. A video on the 2009 Tuscon, Ariz., Gem and Mineral Show will be shown. For more information call Randall Watson at (940) 627-7837.
4-H MEETING - The Chico 4-H Club will meet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the middle school cafeteria. New and existing members should attend to sign up for the 2009-2010 school year.
FOOTBALL FRIDAY - Six local high school teams take the field tonight. Alvord will be at Valley View, Boyd is at Glen Rose, Bridgeport hosts Prosper, Chico hosts Archer City, Decatur travels to Argyle Liberty Christian and Paradise will be in Aubrey. It's homecoming for Bridgeport and Chico. Chico's homecoming parade is at 1 p.m. today.
SEED SALE - Fall grass and legume seed, including bluebonnet and wildflower mix, fall deer mix and grazing mix is for sale at the Wise Soil and Water Conservation District office in Decatur. To order, call 627-2942, ext. 5.
ART GROUP RESUMES- Wise County Art Assoc. will resume after summer break Monday at 7 p.m. at the Bridgeport Public Library. Dues are $25 annually.
FUNERALS - Graveside service for Alexander Charles Elder, infant son of Caleb and Jennifer (Moody) Elder of Cundiff, is 10 a.m. today at Jim Ned Cemetery under the direction of Hawkins Funeral Home.
MEMORIAL service for Paul Edward Fitzsimmons, 84, of Paradise is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins Chapel. Family will receive friends after the service.
SERVICE for Darrell Hale, 57, of Runaway Bay is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
FUNERAL for Rev. William M. Greer, 77, of Rhome will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at 2 p.m. in DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday.
SERVICE for Doris L. Jackson, 77, of Rhome is at 2 p.m. Saturday at Abundant Life Worship Center in Newark with burial in Aurora Cemetery under the direction of Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday.
SERVICE is pending for John Branson, 54, of Plano at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
SERVICE is pending for Naida E. Robinson, 77, of Decatur, at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
