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Month in Review for October 2021


In the headlines

Voters turn down municipal complex

Rhome voters turned down the proposal for a new municipal complex and two other propositions on the ballot Nov. 3.

Proposition A, which would have allowed for the issuance of $5.76 million in bonds to renovate the former Rhome school building into a city services campus failed by a vote of 195 to 100, 66 to 34 percent.

The street improvements proposal failed by a vote of 209 to 88, 70 to 30 percent.

The Bywell neighborhood park improvements failed 198 to 98, 67 to 33 percent.

Paradise voters elected Amanda Black mayor.

In New Fairview, Prop. A, which would have created the New Fairview Municipal Development District with a sales and use tax of one-half of 1 percent, failed by a vote of 100 to 31, or 76 to 24 percent. City residents and residents in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) were eligible to vote for Prop. A.

New Fairview’s Prop B, which would have changed a city ordinance to provide a 3-year term of office for mayor and city council members with staggered terms, failed by a vote of 60 to 15, or 80 to 20 percent.

 

Bridgeport hires city manager

The City of Bridgeport hired Mike Murray to be its next city manager Nov. 9, ushering in a leader expected to steer the city through water quality issues, capital projects, development and growth.

Murray, who was Westworth Village’s city administrator, has 17 years of city management experience and 11 years of community/economic development experience. Westworth Village, a city of around 3,000 people, is in Tarrant County.

He also worked as city administrator in Clyde and city manager in Rusk.

 

Fires damage structures

Fire damaged GRod Construction in Boyd Nov. 11. Firefighters from Boyd, Rhome, Paradise, Newark and Briar responded to the blaze in the 800 block of East Rock Island Avenue.

Rhome, Newark, Boyd and Haslet firefighters battled a house fire shortly before noon Nov. 14 in the 400 block of Troxell in Rhome, which displaced a family.

Six people were displaced when fire destroyed a home in the 400 block of Green Meadow Drive Nov. 26. Boyd, Newark, Rhome, Paradise and Decatur firefighters battled the fire.

Fire damaged a double-wide trailer in the 100 block of Private Road 4443 in New Fairview Nov. 27. East Wise, Rhome and Decatur firefighters battled the fire.

 

Fatal accidents

Rualdin Gomez Archila, 25, died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 81/287 early Nov. 11. Around 5 a.m., a 2003 Toyota Corolla driven by Oscar Lopez Romero, 25, of Fort Worth was traveling northbound on U.S. 81/287 at a high rate of speed. According to Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Ricky Hunter, the Toyota passed a vehicle and traveled onto the inside shoulder of the roadway.

“The Toyota overcorrected, traveled into the barrow ditch and overturned,” Hunter said.

Glen Rhine, 84, of Decatur died after being injured in a tractor accident on County Road 1111 Nov. 22.

“He fell off his tractor and was run over,” said Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin.

First responders were dispatched to the accident in the 1600 block of County Road 1111 around 11 a.m. Rhine was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth by a medical helicopter.

He was in serious condition after sustaining the injuries. Rhine was pronounced dead at the hospital the next morning.

 

Man shoots brother

Kyle Brooks, 33, was flown to Medical City Denton Nov. 23 after he was shot in the abdomen by his brother, Cody Watts.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said Brooks was still in the hospital this week and could remain there for an extended period of time.

According to Akin, the shooting occurred after Brooks got into an argument with=Watts, 37, which escalated to gunfire.

The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. Nov. 23 in the front yard of a home in the 1000 block of County Road 1270 in Alvord.

“I know the brothers were arguing,” Akin said. “When we originally talked, it was a difference in perspective on lifestyles.”

Watts was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. He was booked into the Wise County Jail hours after the shooting. Watts posted a $20,000 bond the following day, Akin said.

There weren’t witnesses to the shooting, Akin said.

 

Champions again

Trailing Celina 22-18 in the opening set of the 4A state championship match, Decatur emerged from a timeout to score seven of the next eight points.

Decatur never relented from that point on, burying Celina in the next two sets on its way to its second straight 4A title with the 25-23, 25-10, 25-10 victory.

It’s the program’s fifth state title and third in four seasons for Decatur’s senior players.

“Winning a state championship anytime is a blessing,” said Jentry Lamirand, who earned her second straight 4A MVP honor. “Not many seniors get to end their season on a win.”

By the Numbers

111 years old Nina Robinson turned on her birthday Nov. 11.

5 state titles for the Decatur Lady Eagles after beating Celina in the 4A state final.

30 degrees was the low measured in Decatur Nov. 25, marking the first fall freeze. The high temperature for the month was 83 recorded Nov. 15. A total of 2.56 inches of rain was measured.

Quotable

“It was beautiful, very beautiful. I was not expecting this.”

– Maria Rodriguez, a Decatur ISD custodian after being surprised by Carson Elementary students waving American flags after passing her citizenship test.

“I just want to say ‘thank you.’ It was a pilot just like you who got me out. So I thank you for doing that. If I could find the pilot who was on my plane, I would thank them as well. You did make a difference.”

– Che Rotramble speaking to Bob Black, who was one of the pilots who took part in a mission to fly Vietnamese refugees like Rotramble to safety following the Fall of Saigon.

“Gratitude is being mindful of this day. This is what I have. If I’m going to go out, I want to go out celebrating, and I want to go out with gratitude.”

– Beverly Ross after battling breast cancer for a second time.

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