BREAKING NEWS - STRUCTURE FIRE - Bridgeport, Paradise, Lake Bridgeport and Decatur Fire Departments responded to a structure fire in Bridgeport at the Wise County Tax Services on Texas 114 at Texas 101 around 5:15 a.m. Thursday morning. Initial reports suggest the fire started on the backside of the building, possibly outside, working in and toward the roof. As of 7 a.m., firefighters were still working to extinguish the last of the flames and recover any undamaged records from the building.
NEW ELEMENTARY - Work on Decatur's third elementary school could begin in less than two weeks. Last night, the Decatur School Board approved a guaranteed maximum cost of $18,687,809 for construction of the school. A representative with Charter Builders, the construction manager for the project, said work will be completed by July 6, 2010. The school will be located on County Road 4191 off Farm Road 51 in south Decatur. Funds for the project were approved in the May 2008 bond election.
25th ANNIVERSARY - Terry Everett is celebrating 25 years with DACTU Credit Union, all in Wise County, today all day at the Decatur branch. The public is encouraged to stop by and say hello.
COURTHOUSE PLANS - Monday Commissioners hired Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects to design plans for a new courthouse. The work will take 10 to 12 months and will cost $231,000, which will be paid in monthly installments. The firm worked for 14 months with county staff to determine space needs and presented commissioners with a stacking diagram and basic design ideas at a special June 4 meeting. Read more in Thursday's edition of the Messenger, on newsstands now.
FORMER PASTOR SENTENCED - Steve Richardson, former Boyd First United Methodist Church pastor, was sentenced Monday to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in March to two charges relating to child pornography. In addition, Richardson will be forced to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervised release. Richardson, 36, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents Sept. 24, 2008, after a 10-month investigation. Richardson was serving as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Royse City at the time of his arrest.
WELL REGISTRATION - Today is the deadline for registering existing water wells with the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. Exemptions include wells used exclusively for domestic use, watering livestock or poultry or agricultural irrigation. Wells not capable of producing more than 25 gallons per minute, or two or more wells tied into a system not able to produce more than 30 gallons a minute are also exempt. All groundwater wells drilled on or after Jan. 1, 2009, must be registered with the district, regardless of whether the well qualifies for an exemption. For more information, call UTGCD at (817) 523-5200.
ABWN - The Area Business Women's Network meets at noon Thursday, July 9, at the Decatur Civic Center. Reservations are due noon Thursday, July 2. E-mail LauraShaffer@marykay.com.
SOFTBALL TOURNEY - The Andy Mattison Memorial Softball Tournament (The "Mo-Morial") is Saturday, July 18, at Kenny Renshaw Park in Decatur. The cost is $200 a team, but no team will be turned away. There will be a men's division and a co-ed division, as well as a home run derby and horseshoe and washers tournaments. All proceeds will benefit Mattison's family. For more information, call Michael Loucks at (940) 389-1508.
BLOOD DRIVE - The Decatur Rotary Club will sponsor a blood drive 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday at the Decatur Public Library. No appointment is necessary.
CLASS OF 1999 - The Bridgeport High School Class of 1999 will have its 10-year reunion Sept. 11-12. If you have not been contacted, e-mail bridgeport1999@hotmail.com.
FUNERALS - Service for Glinn Morrow, 83, of Chico is 10 a.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial in Cumby Cemetery. FUNERAL for Nelda Davidson, 77, of Bridgeport is 2 p.m. today at Pleasant View Baptist Church with burial in Thomas Cemetery. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements. FUNERAL for Robert Weesner, 43, of Boyd is 3 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Visitation 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. GRAVESIDE service for Ralph Chilton, 86, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Thursday at Thomas Cemetery. Visitation 6-8 tonight at Hawkins Bridgeport. FUNERAL for Juanita Spencer, 84, of Boyd is 10:30 a.m. today at Christian-Hawkins Chapel with burial in Boyd Cemetery. SERVICE is pending for Gene Derting, 85, of Aurora at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd. FUNERAL for Faye Singleton, 86, of Decatur is 11 a.m. today at Coker-Hawkins Chapel with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery. GRAVESIDE service for Abner Woods, 45, of Chico is 10 a.m. Friday at Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Coker-Hawkins is handling arrangements. FUNERAL for Lanny Terrell, 56, of Chico is pending at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
