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Update for Monday, April 20, 2020


SCHOOLS TO STAY CLOSED FOR REST OF YEAR – Wise County schools will remain empty for the remainder of the school year. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Friday shutting the door on the possibility of schools reopening this spring. “The team of doctors advising us have determined that it would be unsafe to allow students to gather at schools for the foreseeable future. As a result, school classrooms are closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year,” Abbott said. “That includes all public, private and higher education institutions. Teachers will be allowed in the classroom for video instruction if they choose, for administrative duties or to clean out their classrooms. For public education, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath will soon provide more details about proceeding and explore how to conduct graduation ceremonies.” Wise County schools have been closed since March 13 with the governor’s previous executive order keeping campuses shuttered until May 4. Districts have been conducting at-home instruction through online and paper resources in recent weeks. Most districts froze class ranks at the end of the fall semester and are assigning pass/fail grades for the spring semester. Read more in the weekend Wise County Messenger or online at WCMessenger.com.

NEW CASE CONFIRMED FRIDAY – The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed Friday another positive COVID-19 case and another recovery. The newly confirmed positive case is in the 76023 ZIP code, which includes Boyd and Briar. Positive cases in Wise County now total nine, five of which are active. Three positives were confirmed in 76431 (Chico/Crafton), two in 76234 (Decatur/Slidell), and one each in 76073 (Paradise/Cottondale), 76078 (Rhome, New Fairview, Aurora) and 76426 (Bridgeport, Runaway Bay). Two patients have now been designated as recovered by DSHS, and there have been two COVID-related deaths. Of the 696 total tests administered at various local facilities, 584 are negative, 79 are pending and 24 are inconclusive. This information was released Friday in a joint statement from the Wise County Office of Emergency Management and Wise County Emergency Medical Services.

1 ARRESTED FOLLOWING WRECK – A teenage driver was arrested and two people were injured in a late-night wreck last Thursday near Alvord. Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Ricky Hunter said the crash occurred about 11:15 p.m. on County Road 1380, east of County Road 1370. A 2013 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Trinity Volmer, 18, of Euless, was traveling west on CR 1380, when it veered off the roadway into a ditch and struck a tree. Eight people, including two people riding on the roof of the vehicle, were involved in the accident. The two on the roof, as well as a 16-year-old passenger inside the vehicle, were ejected. Hunter said the 16-year-old and a 20-year-old who was riding on the roof had non-life threatening injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. No other passengers were injured. Volmer was arrested at the scene and booked into the Wise County Jail on one charge of deadly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor.

TRUSTEES TO GET UPDATE FROM ARCHITECT – Architects from Corgan, who was hired by the district last month, will give a timeline for the McCarroll Middle School and Decatur Intermediate School projects to Decatur ISD trustees at tonight’s meeting. Trustees will also take action freezing the class rank at the fall semester and consider a memorandum of understanding with Midwestern State University for scholarships. The meeting will start at 6 with a closed session. It will be streamed on Facebook.

NEW FAIRVIEW TO ANNEX LAND – The New Fairview City Council plans to annex 723.822 acres at Farm Road 407 and South County Line Road tonight. The land will be assigned the zoning of planned development. Royal Crest Properties is planning a mixed-use development, Constellation Lake, with approximately 2,100 homes. The council will also consider the public improvement district assessment for each lot. At its last meeting, the council was presented an estimated assessment of $19,452 per lot.

ROAD WORK – The northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 81/287 near New Fairview and Rhome will be reduced to one lane daily today through May 1 for pavement repairs at various locations between County Road 4421 and the Tarrant County line. The repairs will take place from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. In Alvord, Farm Road 2265 will be reduced to one lane west of Farm Road 1655 at various times from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays, starting today, for driveway construction. The project is expected to last until May 20. TxDOT said flaggers will help direct traffic, and motorists should expect delays.

WEATHER FORECAST – Today’s high is expected to reach 74 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Tonight’s overnight low will be 59 degrees.

FUNERALS – Graveside service for Imogene Hesteande, 92, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Grove No. 3 Cemetery in Chico. Open visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

SERVICE for William Slagle, 80, of Decatur is pending at Hawkins-Decatur.

FUNERAL for Seth Keener, 23, of Newark is 2 p.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport with burial at East Bridgeport Cemetery.

GRAVESIDE service for Charles “Chuck” Blanks, 84, of Chico is 11 a.m. today at Chico Cemetery. Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.

SERVICE for Mary Bentley, 65, of Weatherford is pending at Hudson & Torres.

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