ENROLLMENT NUMBERS - Wise County schools have submitted their Oct. 15 high school enrollments to the UIL, which will use those figures for creating new districts and classifications for athletic and academic competitions. New alignments will be announced early next year. Most schools turned in numbers that should keep them in their current classifications. Class 3A schools Decatur and Bridgeport fell in the middle of the range of 430 and 979 used for the classification in 2008. Decatur turned in 857, and Bridgeport submitted 619. Class 5A Northwest turned in an enrollment of 2,720, well above the 2008 cutoff of 2,085 for the state's largest classification. Class 2A Boyd turned in 334 with the range of 200 and 429 used by the UIL for the 2008-10 realignment. Alvord submitted 221 for its high school. Paradise turned in 306. Chico, which has been in Class 2A the past two years, could return to Class A with an enrollment of 185 in grades nine through 12. The cutoff for Class 2A in 2008 was 200. Read more in sports in today's Wise County Messenger.
RAIN - Rain was falling over all of Wise County as Update went to press, and the forecast calls for the rain to continue throughout the day ahead of an approaching cold front. Wise County is included in a flash flood watch from noon today through late night.
EARLY VOTING - Through 5 p.m. yesterday, 173 people had cast votes through the first two days of early voting in the Decatur and Bridgeport school bond elections and constitutional amendment election. Early voting continues each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Decatur Civic Center and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bridgeport ISD administration building through Oct. 30.
RABIES CLINIC - The Wise County Animal Shelter is hosting a rabies clinic 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Shots are $6. For information, call (940) 627-7577.
REATA BENEFIT - Reata Rehab is holding a fundraiser on Saturday at the LBJ Grasslands. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Valley View Trailhead in Decatur. For more information call (940) 479-2612.
CHAMBER LUNCH - The October Decatur Chamber of Commerce luncheon is 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Decatur Civic Center. Reservations are due Friday. Guest speaker is Decatur ISD Superintendent Gary Gindt. The lunch is sponsored by Decatur Main Street, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
QUEEN "B" - The city of Bridgeport is hosting the first Queen "B" Contest 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the Bridgeport Stage. The male employees of the city will participate in female form to earn the title Queen "B." Silent auction items will include a helicopter ride, a Nolan Ryan-signed baseball and more. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students and can be purchased at the door or in advance. For information, call Jesica McEachern at (940) 683-3402. All proceeds benefit the United Way of Wise County.
COAT DRIVE - Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center, a family violence/sexual assault victims' service organization, is holding a coat drive for the children of clients. Donations of new fall/winter children's coats, monetary donations and/or gift cards are being accepted. Take donations to the Wise Hope Crisis Center, 407 S. Washburn St., in Decatur weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, Nov. 13. For information, call Brittany at (940) 626-4585.
HEART GALLERY - The Heart Gallery of Wise and Jack Counties will be at Wise Regional Health System, 609 Medical Dr. in Decatur, through Oct. 29. The gallery is a photo exhibit of children available for adoption. For more information call (940) 393-5231.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS - Breast cancer survivors will be recognized before the Decatur High School varsity football game Friday. Survivors should sign in before 7 p.m. They will also be invited to form a spirit line.
FALL FESTIVAL - The Paradise PTO Fall Festival is 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the elementary school. The festival will include concessions and games.
TRADE DAYS - Decatur Trade Days is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Sheriff's Posse Grounds on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. Call Carla Tackett at (940) 390-9104 for information.
FUNERALS - Service for Helen Ewing, 61, of Decatur is 1 p.m. today at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery.
GRAVESIDE service for Vivian Margaret Montgomery, 93, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Oaklawn Cemetery. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
FUNERAL for James Roy Gatlin, 62, of Slidell is 2:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Slidell with burial in Slidell Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins.
FUNERAL for Donna M. Barclay, 80, of Alvord is 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Alvord with burial in Alvord Cemetery. Family visitation is 7-8 tonight at Coker-Hawkins.
SERVICE is pending for Idalia Gomez, 19, of Decatur at Coker-Hawkins.
