HOUSE FIRE - Greenwood/Slidell, Decatur and East Wise fire departments responded to a house fire around midnight last night. The two-story stone home in the 3300 block of Greenwood Road north of Decatur was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. No one in the home was injured. Wise County Fire Marshal Mark Dodd is investigating.
RAINY MONTH - Decatur received nearly five inches of rain in September, making it the wettest month of the year so far. Weather watcher Doyle Green reported 4.97 inches for the month, well above the average of 3.16 inches for September. For the year, Decatur has received 27.05 inches of rain, exactly 2 inches below normal for the first nine months of the year. Temperatures in the month ranged from a high of 95 on Sept. 4 to a low of 47 on both Sept. 25 and 30.
LOOKING FOR A WIN - While most county teams have tonight off, three teams will look to get back in the win column. Alvord will take on Sacred Heart in Muenster, Bridgeport hosts Graham and Northwest will play at Colleyville Heritage. Wise County public high schools have been winless the past three weeks, and local teams are 1-23 in the last four weeks.
FINAL CRUISE NIGHTS - Saturday's your last chance to see some antique or classic vehicles at Cruise Nights on the Courthouse Square. Registration is 4-7 p.m. Awards will be presented at 8. Downtown merchants will be open late. Participants are encouraged to wear pink and bring pink vehicles in support of "Painting Downtown Pink" promotions for the month of October.
COAL MINERS - The Coal Miners' Heritage Festival is Saturday in downtown Bridgeport. Registration for a 30-mile bike ride and 5K run/walk is at 7:30 and 8 a.m., respectively. 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, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, carnival and live entertainment.
CROSSING CLOSED - Farm Road 730 will be closed at the U.S. 380 railroad crossing Tuesday through Friday, Oct. 6-9.
CUDE RUNNING AGAIN - Wise County Court at Law Judge Melton Cude has announced that he plans to run for another term. Cude, a Republican, has been judge for 23 years.
COBBLER AND COFFEE - The second annual Cobbler and Coffee Salvation Army Awareness Event is tonight in the First United Methodist Church of Bridgeport concourse following Bridgeport's football game against Graham. All donations benefit the Bridgeport Service Unit. For more information, call Heather James at (940) 683-4008.
SOFTBALL - The 12-and-under Batbusters girls softball team will hold open practice/tryouts 3-6 p.m. Sunday at the Bridgeport Softball Field. For information call Tim at (817) 694-7909.
POKER RUN - A poker run to benefit Wise County United Way is Saturday. Registration is 9-10 a.m. at Demented Cycles in Bridgeport, and the first bike leaves at 10. Riders are $20, and passengers are $10. First place receives $100, and second place receives $75.
GED TEST - Bridgeport ISD will administer the GED Test Oct. 19-20. Call (940) 683-1830, ext 1250, or go to the Web site: http://www.bridgeportisd.net and click on "Community" then "GED information" for more information. Pre-register before Oct. 15.
JUNIOR BASKETBALL - Junior Eagles Basketball shooting/passing/dribbling clincs begin Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the high school gym. Cost is $40 for four clincs (Oct. 13, 16, 19 and 22). First, second and third grades meet from 5-6 p.m., and fourth, fifth and sixth grades meet 6-7:15 p.m. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call Coach Roger Brown at (940) 393-7229 or (903) 366-2792.
FUNERALS - Service for Faye Gilley, 79, of Paradise is 2 p.m. Sunday at Cates Street Church of Christ with burial in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
SERVICE for James Key, of Alvord is 1 p.m. today at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Entombment will be private at a later date.
FUNERAL for Billy J. Mann, 82, of Decatur is 1 p.m. Saturday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
SERVICE for Billy Trim, 39, of Alvord is pending at Coker-Hawkins.
GRAVESIDE service for Art Sudduth, 56, of Bedford is 11 a.m. Saturday at Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
