EXTREME COLD WATCH ISSUED — An extreme cold watch is in effect from Saturday evening through Monday morning due to wind chills as low as 5 to 10 degrees below zero possible. The advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday until noon Monday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Temperatures that cold could result in hypothermia or frostbite on exposed skin if precautions are not taken, according to the NWS. “Extreme cold will become life threatening and likely damage unprotected pipes and put livestock at risk,” the NWS message stated. This watch is in addition to the previously issued winter storm watch in effect from noon Friday to Sunday morning. Moderate to heavy mixed precipitation is expected. As of Thursday, NWS projections show possible ice accumulation totals ranging from a quarter-inch to half-inch in the area. Total snow and sleet accumulations around 3 and 5 inches are possible. Read more in this week’s Wise County Messenger on newsstands and online at wcmessenger.com today.
FORMER DECATUR PTO OFFICER ARRESTED — A former PTO officer at a Decatur school has been arrested, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the non-profit organization. Elfy Nerys Farrell of Chico was arrested Jan. 15 on a charge of theft of property $2,500 to $30,000, a state jail felony offense, according to Wise County Jail records. Farrell previously served as PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) secretary for the STEM Academy at Enis Elementary in Decatur, according to the arrest affidavit in the case. She is accused of stealing more than $18,000 from the organization during a period of Sept. 9, 2023, to Jan. 14, 2024, according to the affidavit. Read more in this week’s Messenger or online at wcmessenger.com.
5 APPOINTED TO ESD NO. 4 BOARD — Wise County commissioners appointed five representatives to govern Wise County Emergency Services District No. 4, a newly formed taxing entity approved by voters in the Nov. 4 election to provide a dedicated funding source for the Alvord, Chico, Crafton and Sand Flat volunteer fire departments. The board members were selected from a field of 24 applicants and will serve staggered one- or two-year terms expiring Jan. 1, 2027, or Jan. 1, 2028. Appointees include John Yovanovitch of the Alvord fire district, serving a two-year term; Jimmy Counts of the Chico fire district, serving a one-year term; Tim Raley of the Crafton fire district, serving a two-year term; Michelle Craighead of the Sand Flat fire district, serving a two-year term; and Monty Nivens, serving at large for a one-year term
WATER TANK REPAIRS DELAYED — The City of Rhome is postponing the repairs to a water tank that would have resulted in a boil water notice, originally scheduled for Saturday, for one week. The water tank will not be taken offline this weekend, and the city will not turn off water. Updated information will be posted by the city after the winter storm.
ONCOR COMPLETES TRANSFORMER WORK — Oncor Electric completed transformer replacement projects near Bridgeport and Slidell Wednesday evening. The work — which required a scheduled outage that affected roughly 1,500 customers in Paradise, Cottondale and Slidell — was fast-tracked to be completed before the arrival of Winter Storm Fern Friday.
GIRLS SOCCER — Decatur (2-5) battles Lake Dallas in a non-district match 5:30 p.m. tonight at Eagle Stadium.
GIRLS BASKETBALL — Decatur (25-4, 8-0) will host Bridgeport (19-11, 6-2) in the teams’ second District 7-4A Battle of Big Sandy rivalry game 5 p.m. tonight. Boyd (11-16, 3-4) welcomes Ponder for a 10-3A battle at 6:15 p.m. Paradise (24-4, 7-0) looks to stay unbeaten in league play with a road battle against Valley View at 6 p.m. Slidell (14-12, 3-5) is the visiting team in a 13-2A matchup against Wise County rival Alvord (0-27, 0-8) 6:30 p.m. at Alvord High School. Chico (16-12, 3-5) takes on Tioga 5:45 p.m. at home.
BOYS BASKETBALL — Bridgeport (12-14, 2-4) is the road team for the team’s first District 7-4A Battle of Big Sandy matchup against Decatur (8-14, 2-4) 6:15 p.m. tonight at Decatur High School. Boyd (15-12, 2-3) ends the first round of 10-3A with a home battle against Ponder at 7:30 p.m. Paradise (24-2, 5-0) takes on Valley VIew in a first-round finale 7:15 p.m. at Valley View High School. Alvord (10-13, 1-5) looks to snap a 5-game 13-2A losing streak in the team’s matchup against Wise County rival Slidell (19-6, 6-0) 7:45 p.m. at Alvord High School. Chico (14-11, 2-4) suits up for a league battle against Tioga 7 p.m. at Chico High School.
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP — A stroke support group meets 5:30 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Cornerstone Caregiving, 301 E. Main Street in Decatur.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING — The Wise County Historical Society will meet noon today at Grace Baptist Church in Decatur. Bring your lunch.
CHAMBER LUNCHEON — The Decatur Chamber of Commerce Luncheon is Tuesday at Decatur Conference Center. RSVP by today. The luncheon will include welcome and installation of the 2026 chamber board of directors and incoming president, Nikki Mowery-Moody.
PAPER DELIVERIES TO BE DELAYED — Delivery of the Thursday, Jan. 22 edition of the Wise County Messenger will likely be delayed one day due to equipment issues at the printing press. The E-Edition of Thursday’s paper is available now at wcmessenger.com. The paper will be available on newsstands and our office today.
SERVICE for Paul Milligan, 72, of Denton is 2 p.m. Friday at Rise Church in Decatur. Visitation is noon-2 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE for Howard Freitag, 98, of Decatur will be at a future date in San Angelo. Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur is handling arrangements.
NO SERVICE is scheduled for John Robert Debono, 80, of Aurora and Charles Dodds, 74, of Decatur at this time. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL for Benita Gonzalez, 67, of Bridgeport is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Baptizer Catholic Church in Bridgeport with burial at East Bridgeport Cemetery Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport with Rosary at 7 p.m.
SERVICE for Lorenzo Garza, 81, of Bridgeport is 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at The Mexican Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
SERVICE PENDING for Timothy Schmidt, 72, of Chico. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL service for John McNamara, 61, of Highland Village is 6 p.m. Monday at Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Visitation is at 5 p.m. prior to the service.
SERVICE for Joseph T. “Teddy” McKinney, 74, of Decatur is pending.
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