BOYD'S NOTE - On Monday night, Boyd's school board accepted a bid from SAMCO Capital Markets for a $3,050,000 maintenance tax note. The winning bid gave the district an interest rate of 3.45 percent on a 15-year note. The interest rate is locked and the district can pay the note in full in 2015 without penalty. The note will cost the district $260,000 per year. The note will free up general funds to help pay for Boyd's new football stadium, which is predicted to cost more than $7 million.
MAYOR WITHDRAWS FROM BALLOT - Rhome Mayor Mark Lorance withdrew his candidacy this week, saying he will not seek re-election. "I've done this for a while now," Lorance said. "It's probably good to have some new blood, some new ideas." Lorance first ran for city council 10 years ago and won. He's served as the town's mayor for the past eight years. Current council member and former mayor David E. Wilson has filed to run for mayor.
BOYD WINS - The Boyd Yellowjackets outlasted Pilot Point to win the Class 2A Region II bi-district title game 39-37 Tuesday night at Northwest Texan Gym. Boyd will play Melissa in the area round Friday at 7 p.m. at Denton Ryan High School.
SCHEDULE CHANGE - The Slidell Lady Greyhounds had their Class A Division II Region III quarterfinal game moved from last night to tonight due to snow south of the Metroplex. Slidell will play Trinidad at 7 tonight in Alvarado.
WRECK - Medics and the Paradise Fire Department were dispatched to a major wreck Tuesday just before noon on Farm Road 51 and County Road 4396. A Suburban slammed into the back end of a Fed Ex delivery truck. Both vehicles were traveling north on FM 51. The delivery truck attempted to turn left onto CR 4396 when the Suburban smashed into it at a high rate of speed. The two occupants in the Suburban, Aaron Graeber, 18, and sister Breezie Graeber, 21, both of Paradise, were pinned inside the vehicle. EMS workers used extrication tools to free them from the wreckage. The driver of the Fed Ex truck, Kent Mouser, 47, was uninjured.
BODY IDENTIFIED - The body discovered in the house fire at 173 Private Road 2897 Friday, Feb. 12, has been identified through dental records as Michael Thomas Williams, 67, of Alvord, according to the Wise County Sheriff's Office. The cause of death was listed as inhalation of smoke and carbon dioxide due to residential fire.
EARLY VOTING - Voting remained steady yesterday as 166 people voted early in the Republican primary and 11 in the Democratic primary. Early voting continues through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Decatur Civic Center. Regular voting is Tuesday, March 2.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY - The Wise County Historical Society meets at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Heritage Museum in Decatur. D.A. Sharpe will speak on making microfilms of the Wise County Messenger more accessible. The public is welcome.
HEALTH GROUP MEETING - The Wise County Health Group will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Decatur City Hall community room. The public is welcome.
UNITED WAY MEETING - United Way of Wise County's annual meeting is 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the Decatur Civic Center. Major donors will be recognized and new officers and directors will be elected.
OFFICE CLOSED - The Veterans Service Office will be closed Thursday and Friday for training.
SHOW SEEKS VENDORS - Limited vendor space is still available for the Wise County Home and Lawn Show March 13-14 at the Decatur Civic Center. A 10-foot by 10-foot booth space is $325 through Feb. 28 and $375 after that date. Crafters can reserve 5-foot by 5-foot booth spaces for $100 and will be responsible for tables, chairs and decorations. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 1-877-627-2764 or 940-627-6075 or visit www.wisecountyhomeandlawnshow.com.
SIGN UP, TEE UP - To sign up for the Oil Belt senior men's golf association, call J.E. Carson, (940) 627-2244.
FUNERALS - Service for Mark Hulsey, 55, of Azle is 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Chico. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
SERVICE for Virginia Joyce Davis, 78, of Fort Worth is pending at Hawkins Bridgeport.
FUNERAL for Brenda McCloud, 64, of Aurora is 11 a.m. Friday at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Boyd. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
MEMORIAL service for Kathleen Matheny, 65, of Sunset is 10 a.m. today at Living Word Assembly of God Church in Alvord. Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
FUNERAL for Gwendolyn Faye Hilton, 88, of Decatur is 11 a.m. Thursday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
MEMORIAL service for Prudence Thompson, 94, of Decatur is 2 p.m. Saturday at the Community Church in River Oaks. Coker-Hawkins is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Sue Brady, 70, of Decatur is pending at Coker-Hawkins.
