Update for Friday September 9, 2022

COUNTY SHATTERS SALES TAX PROJECTIONS — Wise County shattered all expectations for sales tax collections with the final disbursement from the Texas Comptroller for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The county’s September disbursement is $605,701 off its half-cent levy. The county finished the fiscal year with approximately $6.7 million in sales taxes. The county’s sale tax collections grew by almost $1.4 million from last year’s total of $5.3 million. Read story in weekend Messenger on newsstands now.

WEEK 3 FOOTBALL — Decatur (0-2) will play reigning 4A Division I state champion Stephenville at 7 tonight at Tarleton State University’s Memorial Stadium. Bridgeport (1-1) hosts Castleberry at 7:30 p.m. Boyd (1-1) welcomes Fort Worth Country Day, while Paradise (2-0) battles Godley at Panther Stadium. Alvord (0-2) will welcome Era. Chico (0-2) is at Tom Bean. VCA (1-1) hosts Saint Jo JV at 7 p.m. Northwest (1-2) dropped its District 3-5A Division I opener Thursday to Aledo, 49-20. Read full recaps in All Around Wise posted at wcmessenger.com Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL MATCHES — Decatur (13-17) goes to Prestonwood Christian Academy at 5 p.m. Bridgeport (8-17) hosts Anna at 6 p.m. Boyd (19-8) opens District 10-3A at S&S at 4:30 p.m. Paradise (19-10) battles Valley View in their league opener 4:30 p.m. at Valley View. Alvord (8-17) hosts Lindsay, while Chico (12-7) welcomes Graford. Northwest (24-8) opens its 5-5A at home against Saginaw at 5:30 p.m.

SUNNY WEATHER — Wonderful Wise will be splashed with bright sunshine over the weekend, with high temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s. Lows will be in the mid 60s. The September full moon, the Harvest moon, is Saturday.

COMMUNITY COALITION — The Wise County Community Coalition will meet noon Monday at Villa Grande Ranch in Decatur. Guest presenter this month will be Mary Walker-George, a representative of the NAACP.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LUNCHEON — The Wise County Chamber of Commerce will discuss emergency preparedness at its luncheon 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday at Weatherford College Wise County. Wise County Emergency Management Coordinator Cody Powell and Emergency Management Planner Jennifer Klemke will speak. Visit wisecountychamber.com to purchase tickets.

TAILGATE PARTY — The First United Methodist Church of Bridgeport will hold a Tailgate Party 5:30 p.m. until kickoff today. Free hot dogs or fresh fried fish will be available.

CHANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR KENNEDY — A candlelight vigil to honor the life of 7-year-old Kennedy Marie Handley is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Paradise High School football field. Handley was killed in an accident in Rhome Saturday.

SPECIAL NEEDS BASEBALL — Made2Thrive Special Needs Baseball for all handicapped persons age 3 and up begins with Meet and Greet Saturday and Opening Day Sept. 17. Apply now for a form at Mimiannduffy@gmail.com.

PATRIOT DAY PRESENTATION — The Patriot Society of Boyd will hold a Patriot Day Presentation to honor local veterans and first responders in remembrance of 9/11 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Boyd. Water and Gatorade donations will also be collected to assist fire departments.

MZ CRAFT BEE — The MZ Craft Bee will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 615 County Road 1280. Call or text Donna, 940-393-8662 or call Jeannie, 940-427-5941. Follow MZ Bee Facebook page for updates or cancellations.

FUNERALS — No services are planned at this time for James B Ketchersid, 86, of Alvord and Sara Babineaux, 66, of Decatur at Hawkins-Decatur.

SERVICE is pending for Cindy Henderson, 37, of Decatur at Hawkins-Decatur.

FUNERAL for Donna Gay Swain Fippinger, 70, of Bridgeport is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Grace Fellowship Church in Paradise with burial in Thomas Cemetery in Bridgeport. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.

MEMORIAL service for Claude “Butch” Coble Jr., 76, of Chico is 3 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Decatur. Family visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church. Hawkins-Bridgeport is handling arrangements.

SERVICE is pending for Leta Harvill, 89, of Chico at Hawkins-Bridgeport.

GRAVESIDE service for Ethel Louise Duke, 90, of Boyd is 1:30 p.m. today at Pleasant Grove No. 2 Cemetery in Keeter. Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd is handling arrangements.

GRAVESIDE service for Ellsworth John Miranda, 93, of Runaway Bay is 10 a.m. today at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.

NO SERVICE is scheduled for Teresa Ensley, 58, of Newark. Hudson & Torres is handling arrangements.

SERVICE for John Costner, 88, of Montague is pending at Hudson & Torres.

MEMORIAL service for Don Frank Ross, 68, of Alvord is 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at Heritage Baptist Church in Haslet.

FUNERAL for Roy Calvin Rhoades, 82, is 10 a.m. today at Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro with burial at Hicks Cemetery.