SCHOOL BONDS PASS IN BOYD, CHICO; FAIL IN BRIDGEPORT — Voters in two-of-three Wise County school districts with bonds on the ballot voted to approve the referendums in Saturday’s election. Boyd ISD’s $20 million, single-proposition bond passed by a margin of 405-360 (53 to 47 percent). It includes $11.644 million for infrastructure and plans, $5.356 million for HVAC improvements throughout the district and $3 million for land purchase, the latter which covers the district’s recent purchase of 76 acres on Cemetery Road at a cost of $2,867,655.35. Chico ISD’s $12 million, two-proposition referendum was also passed by voters. Proposition A ($10.5 million) was approved 191-136 (58 to 42 percent) and Proposition B ($1.5 million) 181-144 (56 to 43 percent). Prop A addresses maintenance and security, including HVAC replacements at all academic campuses; window replacements at the middle school; roof replacements at all academic campuses; secured entry control systems at all academic campuses; and new buses and district vehicles. Prop B is geared toward athletics, with proposed projects including track surface replacement; updating the field sprinkler system; grass replacement; replacing weight room equipment; updating sidewalks to ADA standards; and athletic field maintenance equipment. For the third time in two years, voters in Bridgeport ISD decided against a school bond. The district’s $26 million referendum was voted against 719-629 (53 to 47 percent). With a drastically reduced price tag from the May 2023 ($185 million) and November 2023 ($145 million) bonds, the package aimed to address three general areas: safety and security ($1.8 million), buses/SUVs ($2 million) and capital improvements/land purchase ($22.2 million). Read more online here.
JOINER, BAYLESS ELECTED TO DECATUR SCHOOL BOARD — After being targeted by a series of partisan attack ads funded by a political action committee, Decatur School Board candidate Matt Joiner defeated HollyAnn Petree for Place 6 on the Decatur ISD school board by a wide margin. Joiner gained 69 percent of the vote in the May 4 school board election, winning the race by a margin of 1,251 to 554. Nate Bayless defeated Brad Rieger for Place 7 on the Decatur School Board. Bayless received 71 percent of the vote. Decatur Police Chief Delvon Campbell was unopposed for Place 5. Read more online here.
RHOME BONDS, TAX ROLLBACK PASS — After a series of failed bond elections, Rhome voters passed all three propositions of a $17.5 million bond package to address aging and at-capacity infrastructure. Voters passed Proposition A (dealing with water wells) 163 to 116 (58 percent), Proposition B (dealing with a wastewater treatment plant) 163 to 116 (58 percent) and Proposition C (sanitary sewer system upgrades) 168 to 113 (59 percent). Voters approved rolling back the city’s tax rate, 190-83 (69 percent). The passage will reduce the adopted rate 43.7815 cents per $100 valuation to the voter approval rate of 33.5372 cents. Read more online here.
FULL ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE — Full results from all Wise County elections on Saturday can be found online here.
1 INJURED IN HOUSE FIRE — One elderly female was injured in a structure fire that broke out in the 300 block of Latham Lane in New Fairview Friday morning. At approximately 8:30 a.m., the fire started in the bedroom of a manufactured home. The female patient, who was disabled, was able to escape from the flames into the living room but unable to exit the structure under her own power due to a locked front door. According to Wise County EMS Administrator Randall Preuninger, a neighbor saw the flames and opened the door, but could not safely remove the victim because of heavy smoke and fire. “Medic 4 arrived on scene and went in and found her in the living room. Both guys on Medic 4 were able to get ahold of her and drag her out of the house,” Preuninger said. She was taken to Medical City Plano’s burn center in critical condition, Preuninger said. New Fairview Fire Rescue, Rhome Fire Department, Decatur Fire Department and Wise County EMS worked the fire. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Wise County Fire Marshal’s Office. A PayPal account has been set up to help the family with recovery efforts here.
LUTKENHAUS, WOODSON EARN STATE TITLES — Northwest freshman Cooper Lutkenhaus claimed his first gold medal at the UIL 5A track and field state championships Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, setting a new freshman national record in the boys 800 in 1:49.84, breaking the record set by former Texas A&M runner Brandon Miller at the 2017 AAU Junior Summer Olympics (1:49.87). Lutkenhaus also placed seventh in the 400 (48.82) and ninth with the Texans’ 4×400 team of Lammah Carter, Sam Smith and Adam Thurston (3:27.53). On Saturday, Slidell junior Khari Woodson set a new 1A state record with a jump of 45-09 in boys triple jump to secure the gold medal. Alvord senior Hailee Janzen took bronze in the 2A girls 200 (25.41) Friday. Wise County remaining results from Friday and Saturday were Levariya Pinder, fifth, 5A girls long jump (18-03.50); Janzen, fifth, 2A girls 100 (12.38); Woodson, fifth, 1A boys long jump (20-08.50) and Northwest’s Nia Betts, Lyric Butcher, Kynnedy Tatum and Pinder, 5A girls 4×200 (1:41.32). See all Wise County results online at wcmessenger.com.
PLAYOFF SOFTBALL — Decatur (13-20-1) was knocked out of the 4A playoffs after falling to Snyder in Game 3 a best-of-three area series Saturday, 6-2. The Lady Eagles forced the tiebreaker with a 6-5 win in Saturday’s Game 2. Paradise (20-16-1) ended its postseason run with a 7-6 walk-off loss in Game 3 of a second-round series against Gunter Friday. The Lady Panthers earned a 3-1 win in Game 2 Friday.
PLAYOFF BASEBALL RESULTS — Bridgeport (6-12) fell out in the first round of the 4A playoffs after being swept by Burkburnett in a best-of-three series Friday and Saturday, 10-0 and 8-3.
RAIN REPORT — Weekend rainfall totals included 1.46 inches in Bridgeport, 1.45 in Alvord, 1.4 in Decatur, 1.1. in Cottondale and 1 in Greenwood.
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP — If you care for, or care about, someone with Alzheimer’s, the Wise Alzheimer’s Support Group will have a virtual meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday. Learn from others and share your experiences. For information on how to participate in the meeting call Richard, 940-255-0244.
EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER — Maverick Fuels in Decatur will hold a “Pennies from the Pump” fundraiser for the Decatur Education Foundation today through Friday. A portion of the proceeds from each fuel purchase will be donated to DEF to fund first year teacher supplies and classroom grants.
SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING — A suicide prevention training called “Let’s Taco ‘Bout QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer)” will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday at Fit-N-Wise Cafe in Decatur. Learn the warning signs, offer hope and get help. Register at jordanharrisfoundation.org/events/tacowisecounty as space is limited.
BOYS STATE GOLF — After claiming gold medals at the District 22-A and 1A Region III tournaments, the Slidell Hounds’ team of Dax Davis, Riddik Davis, Zayne Browning, Caden Luig and Paxton Peacock will play in the 1A state championship tournament today and Tuesday at Crystal Falls Golf Course in Leander.
GIRLS STATE GOLF — Decatur’s Tori Gardner and Paradise’s Zoey Martinez will participate in their second straight UIL state golf tournaments today and Tuesday. Gardner will tee-off at the 4A state championship tournament at Legends Golf Course in Kingsland, while Martinez battles in the 3A state championship tournament at ShadowGlen Golf Club in Manor.
FUNERALS — Service for Loretta Faye King, 83, of Alvord is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur with burial at Alvord Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight 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 tonight at the church.
FUNERAL for Bertie Frances Moose, 72, of Bridgeport is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at County Line Cowboy Church in Sunset. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
FUNERAL for Toni McMurtry, 80, of Chico is 11 a.m. Thursday at Morris Memorial Methodist Church in Chico with burial 2 p.m. Friday at Texline Cemetery in Texline. Family visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church. Hawkins-Bridgeport is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL service for David Tejral, 71, of Bridgeport is 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport.
MEMORIAL service for Sonya D. Phillips, 53, of Runaway Bay is 11 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins-Bridgeport.
SERVICE for Ann S. Henderson, 91, of Decatur is pending at Hawkins-Bridgeport.
GRAVESIDE service for Kathy Harris, 72, of Rhome is 2 p.m. Tuesday at Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
VISITATION for Donald R. Martin Jr., 79, of Boyd is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hawkins-Boyd with burial at 10 a.m. May 13 at Bluebonnet Hills Cemetery in Colleyville.
MEMORIAL service for Randall Wayne Niblett, 66, of Boyd is 2 p.m. Saturday at Hawkins-Boyd.
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