Update for Tuesday, August 2, 2022

TEMPORARY AURORA CITY HALL OPENS — The City of Aurora officially opened a new temporary city hall office in Boyd Monday. The city council approved leasing the office space located at 305 W. Rock Island Ave. during a July 11 meeting. Since then, the council and city staff have worked to make the space functional as a city hall. Mayor Bryan Dolan said the office is completely open to the public. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The temporary space is the first office opened to the public since the previous Aurora City Hall burned June 1, 2021.

WRECK VICTIM ASSAULTS EMERGENCY RESPONDERS — Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash around 3:45 Saturday afternoon near Slidell, and one could face charges of assault. Preliminary investigation indicates a Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Landon Langford, 21, of Nocona, was westbound on FM 455 when it failed to yield the right-of-way to traffic traveling on FM 51 and struck a Dodge pickup and a Uhaul vehicle, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Ricky Hunter. Langford and a passenger inside the Ford both had to be extricated from the vehicle and sustained injuries. Langford assaulted an emergency responder and attempted to flee the scene but was detained, Hunter said. Due to his injuries, Langford was transported to Wise Health System for treatment. His passenger was taken to Medical City Denton hospital with serious injuries. The occupants of the other involved vehicles sustained minor injuries that were treated at the scene. Charges including assault against an emergency responder and intoxication assault are pending for Langford, Hunter said.

BRIDGEPORT ISD DISCUSSES BUDGET — Bridgeport ISD will still face a deficit as it adopts its 2022-23 fiscal year budget, but following staffing changes and increases in property values, the shortage is less than originally anticipated. Finance Director Christy Stinson presented an update on Bridgeport’s upcoming budget Monday night. Bridgeport is projecting $21.2 million in revenues and $21.4 million in expenses, resulting in a $163,989 deficit. “It’s a big improvement over what we were anticipating,” Stinson said. During a budget preview in May, trustees were briefed on lower enrollment and average daily attendance ADA figures, forecasting an approximate $1 million deficit for the upcoming budget. Bridgeport’s property values increased 16 percent. Since May, the district also identified staffing inefficiencies to get closer to a balanced budget. The deficit will be paid out of Bridgeport’s fund balance. Additionally, Bridgeport will also likely have to pay approximately $578,000 out of the fund balance to recoup the state after its dip in ADA. To fund the upcoming budget, Bridgeport is eyeing a 1.06 cent per $100 valuation tax rate, remaining at the same rate as the previous year. The school board will host a public hearing to discuss the budget and proposed tax rate 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Bridgeport ISD administration building. Read more in the midweek Wise County Messenger.

PARK PLAYGROUND CLOSED — The Harmon Park playground closed Monday as City of Decatur park crews began tearing down the Crystelle Waggoner Community Playground. The demolition is in preparation of a new state-of-the-art plastic and metal playground expected to be installed in September. The installation of the new playground is expected to take 30 days. The skate park and ball fields at Harmon Park will stay open during the work. The playground area is barricaded off. In April, the city council approved a $817,701 contract with Child’s Play to replace the current playground built in 2005.

FIRE DANGER CONTINUES — Due to elevated fire danger, no outdoor burning is allowed under the county’s burn ban.

CHICO BACK TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES — Chico High School will hold orientation 9:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday for freshman and students new to CHS. Chico Middle School will host meet the teacher night and schedule pickup 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP — The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet 6 p.m. today at Wise Christian Counseling in the Prada Shops, 1650 S. FM 51, Ste. 400. Call Pam Hudson, 940-389-0642.

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 tonight. Learn from others and share your experiences. For information on how to participate in the meeting call Richard, 940-255-0244.

ALVORD ISD REGISTRATION — Alvord ISD will hold a registration fair at the high school noon-7 p.m. today and Wednesday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday. All students must register.

FUNERALS — Visitation for Ja’nice Clark, 60, of Fort Worth is 6– 8 tonight at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

SERVICE for Juventino Carrizales, 36, of Decatur is pending at Hawkins-Decatur.

MEMORIAL graveside for Bobby Jack Flanagan, 67, formerly of Runaway Bay is 1:15 p.m. Friday at DFW National Cemetery. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.

FUNERAL for Linda Haggard, 77, of Paradise is 10 a.m. Thursday at Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at Paradise Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

SERVICE for Dorothy LaVerne Walls, 75, of Sulpher Rock, Ark., is 3 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Boyd with private burial in Glen Rose.

SERVICE for Paul Matthew Hurtado, 45, of Weatherford is 2-8 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Wise County Event Center in Decatur.

SERVICE for Anita Marguerite Caraway, 86, of Cisco, formerly of Decatur, is 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Nazarene Church in Cisco with burial at 5 p.m. at Sweetwater Cemetery in Decatur.