ALVORD SCHOOLS LOCKED DOWN AFTER THREAT — Alvord ISD campuses were placed on lock down Thursday afternoon after the school received a call about a person with a weapon possibly in route to a school in the district. Alvord ISD Police Chief Tony Vo said in a message posted on the district’s Facebook page that a staff member received a phone call at 3:40 p.m. from a person who said “an active threat was on their way to a school in Alvord to inflict imminent harm to our students and staff.” Vo said officers with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office were immediately dispatched to the schools to secure all the campuses. The multi-agency response also included DPS troopers, Texas Rangers, federal law enforcement agencies, Wise County EMS and Alvord Fire Department. Through investigation, officers decided to initiate a controlled release of students, who were transported by buses to First Baptist Church in Alvord where parents could pick them up. “At this time, we are confident there is not an immediate threat to our campuses and Alvord ISD,” Vo stated in a post at 9:39 p.m. Thursday, adding that additional law enforcement presence will be on campuses today, and counselors and staff will be on hand to help students navigate yesterday’s incident. Due to the incident, the district canceled a scheduled band performance which is expected to be rescheduled, according to the district.
ELECTION DAY IS SATURDAY — Polls will be open at eight locations around the county 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. The ballot includes contested school board races in Boyd, Decatur and Northwest; contested city council or mayor races in Boyd, Decatur, Lake Bridgeport, Rhome and Runaway Bay; school bond elections in Boyd, Bridgeport and Chico; city bond propositions and a tax rollback election in Rhome; a sales and use tax election in Wise County Emergency Services District No. 1; and director elections in two water districts: Walnut Creek SUD and Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1. A full list of voting locations is featured in this week’s Wise County Messenger and online (free access) at wcmessenger.com. Results of Saturday’s elections will also be posted online when they are available.
BYNUM CLAIMS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP — Bridgeport’s Aislee Bynum cleared 6-08 to win the gold in the 4A boys high jump Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, setting a new Bridgeport High School record. Bridgeport’s Anna Green tied for sixth in 4A girls high jump with Sanaa Allison of Carthage at 5-04. Decatur’s Keaton Goode threw 51-1 on his first attempt for a sixth-place finish in 4A boys shot put. Decatur’s Ellie Ware ended her career with a ninth-place finish in 4A girls pole vault (11-00). Decatur’s Dylan Thornton, Mildred Medina, London Gilbreath and Hope Escobar ran 48.97 to finish eighth in the girls 4×100 relay. Thornton and Escobar, along with Allie Watkins and Grace Knight, placed ninth in the girls 4×200 relay in 1:44.44.
PLAYOFF SOFTBALL RESULTS — Decatur (13-18-1) was trailing Snyder 13-2 in the fourth inning when play was suspended Thursday. The game will resume at 3:30 p.m. today at Hanner Sports Complex in Clyde. Boyd (27-10) ended its season after being swept by Emory Rains following a 13-2 Game 2 loss. Paradise (19-15-1) suffered a second-round series-opening loss to Gunter, 4-3.
PLAYOFF BASEBALL RESULTS — Decatur (23-9) claimed a 4A bi-district title with a pair of wins over Wichita Falls Thursday at Henrietta High School, 4-3 and 4-3. Boyd (29-4-1) started its 3A title defense with a pair of home bi-district shutouts against Duncanville Village Tech, 19-0 and 11-0. Paradise (21-10) grabbed its first gold glove trophy by defeating Palmer 5-0 in a 3A winner-take-all bi-district battle at Castleberry High School. Alvord (18-5) earned a 12-1 win in Game 1 of a 2A bi-district series against Petrolia at Bowie High School.
WEEKEND STORM CHANCES — After slight chances of storms today and tonight, storm chances will increase to 50 percent by Saturday afternoon and 80 percent by Saturday evening. Main threats will be flash flooding, strong winds, hail and frequent lightning, according to the National Weather Service.
BOYD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION — The annual meeting of the Boyd Cemetery Association is 2 p.m. Sunday at the cemetery.
DECATUR SQUARE TO BE CLOSED SATURDAY FOR CAR SHOW — Roads around the Decatur Square will be closed beginning midnight early Saturday morning until the conclusion of the Cruise Nights on the Courthouse Square car show Saturday evening. The closure came at the recommendation of the Decatur Police and Decatur Fire Departments. Registration for the car show is 4-6 p.m. Saturday, $15 per vehicle.
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY — The Decatur Cares Mobile Food Pantry is Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Food for 225 families will be distributed 8-9 a.m. There is typically fresh fruit and vegetables, along with a dairy item and other foods as available from the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Cars can line up in the parking lot at Miller and Pecan Streets, east of the Church. Volunteers are also welcomed 7-9 a.m.
JOB FAIR — Weatherford College Wise County will host a job fair in partnership with Workforce Solutions 10 a.m.-1 p.m. today at WCWC, 5180 U.S. 380 in Bridgeport.
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT — One Hope Village is having a pickleball tournament fundraiser Saturday at Cornerstone Bible Church in Decatur. Mens division will begin at 9 a.m., womens at 12 p.m. and mixed double at 3 p.m. Come out and cheer for your favorite teams. Concessions will be available.
SENIOR PROM NIGHT — Decatur High School HOSA is hosting a prom for all Wise County residents 55+ years of age 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday at the DHS Cafeteria. There will be dancing, light snacks, naming of prom king and queen, and prizes for best dressed and best dancer.
CHASE THE CHIEF — Bridgeport Police Department is hosting the annual Chase the Chief 5K/1 mile Saturday. Race time is set for 8:30 a.m. Registration is $35 for both races. All proceeds benefit the Sgt. Randy White Memorial Scholarship Fund and other community outreach programs. Visit wcmess.com/chasethechief24 to register.
CELTIC FESTIVAL — The second annual Decatur Celtic Festival is 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday at the Wise County Fairgrounds. The event features a full day of live music, food, drink, dance and activities to remember and honor Celtic cultural traditions of the past. Visit decaturcelticfestival.com for a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets.
DECATUR CLASS REUNION — The Decatur High School Class of 1959’s 65-year reunion is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Catfish O’Harlies in Decatur.
CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MEETING — The annual meeting of the Lone Star Cemetery Association is 10 a.m. Saturday at the cemetery.
STATE TRACK MEET CONTINUES — Northwest’s Levariya Pinder will be the first Wise County athlete to compete at the UIL track and field state meet today at the University of Texas at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium, competing in 5A girls long jump at 10:45 a.m. The Texans’ Cooper Lutkenhaus will run in the 5A boys 800 at 5:20, followed by the 400 at 7 p.m. and the 4×400 relay with Lamaah Carter, Sam Smith and Adam Thurston at 8:45 p.m. Pinder, Along with teammates Nia Betts, Lyric Butcher and Kynnedy Tatum, will compete in the 5A girls 4×200 relay at 6:40 p.m. Alvord’s Hailee Janzen is scheduled to run to 2A girls 100 at 6:05 p.m. and the 200 at 7:55 p.m.
PLAYOFF SOFTBALL SCHEDULE — Decatur will face Snyder in Game 2 of its second-round series 5 p.m. today at Hanner Sports Complex in Clyde. Game 3 will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2, if needed. Paradise will battle Gunter in Game 2 of its 3A area round series 5 p.m. today at Denton High School. If necessary, a tiebreaker is scheduled for 30 minutes after Game 2.
PLAYOFF BASEBALL SCHEDULE — Bridgeport (6-10) opens the 4A playoffs with Game 1 of a bi-district series against Burkburnett 2 p.m. today at Henrietta High School. Game 2 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday. If necessary, a tiebreaker will be played at 8 p.m. Saturday. Alvord will face Petrolia in Game 2 of its 2A first-round series 7 p.m. tonight at Petrolia High School. If needed, Game 3 is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday at Bowie High School.
FUNERALS — Memorial service for Steve A. Lillard IV is 11 a.m. today at Oaklawn Pavilion in Decatur. Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL visitation for Jonita Carol Morrow, 57, of Decatur is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins-Decatur.
MEMORIAL service for Gaylon Ray Love, 42, of Bowie is 2 p.m. Saturday at Hawkins-Decatur.
VISITATION for Nico Serrano Jiminez, 74, of Decatur is 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Hawkins-Decatur.
FUNERAL for Loretta Faye King, 83, of Alvord is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hawkins-Decatur with burial at Alvord Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
FUNERAL for Marlene Bell Branson, 75, of Slidell is 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Slidell with burial at Slidell Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Monday at the church. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Toni McMurtry, 80, of Chico is pending at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
FUNERAL for Bridget Teresa Thompson, 73, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Boyd with burial at Boyd Cemetery. Family visitation is one hour prior at the church. Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.
GRAVESIDE service for Kathy Harris, 72, of Rhome is 2 p.m. Tuesday at Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Monday at Hawkins-Boyd.
VISITATION for Donald R. Martin Jr., 79, of Boyd is 6-8 p.m. May 10 at Hawkins-Boyd.
MEMORIAL service for Randall Wayne Niblett, 66, of Boyd is 2 p.m. May 11 at Hawkins-Boyd.
SERVICE for Don Montgomery, 86, of Nocona is 2 p.m. today at Shady Grove Community Church in Nocona. Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for David E. Fowler, 80, of Decatur is pending at Hudson & Torres.
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