RODEO LEGEND ROY COOPER FOUND DEAD AFTER FIRE — Rodeo legend Roy Cooper was found dead Tuesday night after his home on County Road 3051 near Decatur was destroyed in a fire. The ProRodeo hall of famer and former all-around rodeo world champion was 69. The fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m. in the 600 block of County Road 3051. The large, one-story home was fully engulfed when Wise County EMS and Decatur Fire Department crews arrived on scene. Details on what led to Cooper’s death have not been released, with the investigation into a fire at his home continuing Wednesday. “It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of our Dad, The Super Looper, Roy Cooper,” said Cooper’s son, Tuf Cooper, in a statement on his Facebook page. “We’re all in shock and at a loss for words from this tragedy at the moment.” The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) also released a statement late Tuesday night sharing their condolences. “The PRCA and rodeo community mourns the passing of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper in a house fire this evening,” it said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” The Wise County Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the fatal fire. The Tarrant County Arson Task Force has been brought in to assist. The Tarrant County team is assisting due to the scale of the incident, officials said. Read more online here.
CHANGE-IN LANES — An 18-wheeler hauling millions of freshly minted dimes overturned across the southbound lanes of U.S. 81/287 early Tuesday morning, shutting down the highway for 14 hours near Farm Road 1655 in Alvord. The driver veered off the roadway and overcorrected, causing the 18-wheeler to roll onto its side, said Sgt. Tony De La Cerda, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger said crews were dispatched to the scene at 5:34 a.m. The driver and passenger were transported with non-life threatening injuries to Medical City Decatur, according to DPS. A DPS trooper at the scene said there were reportedly 8 million dimes in the load. Clean-up crews were using vacuums leading into a special truck to dredge up the loose change, also sifting through the dirt by hand to account for the approximately $800,000 payload. The scene was cleared and the highway was reopened at around 7:30 p.m. Read more online here.
FORMER FIRE CHIEF INDICTED FOR THEFT FROM DEPARTMENT — Former New Fairview Fire Rescue chief Arne Wissmann has been indicted by a Wise County grand jury for theft of property $150,000 to $300,000 enhanced. According to court records, Wissmann, 53, was indicted on the first degree felony offense Thursday. Investigators say they found evidence Wissmann stole more than $156,000 from the fire department for personal use over a nearly four-year span. Wissmann was arrested Jan. 8 and released the same day after posting $50,000 bond. Read more online here.
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOODING? — Flood warnings have been issued for both the Big Sandy Creek near Bridgeport and the West Fork Trinity River near Boyd for Thursday due to expected rainfall over the next couple of days. All of Wise County also remains under a flood watch through Thursday morning as excessive rainfall could lead to flooding in rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone areas. As Update was going to press, a strong storm was moving into the county from the west. As of 11 a.m., Decatur had received nearly 1.5 inches of rain.
PAINT COMPANY PLANS EXPANSION, RELOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS TO DECATUR — Cardinal Paint and Powder plans to bring its corporate headquarters to Eagles Landing Business Park after opening a manufacturing facility in Decatur in 2021. Cardinal Paint and Powder Chairman Steve Silverstein told the Decatur City Council Monday the immediate expansion plans include constructing a second facility that will boost production, create jobs and allow for the relocation of its corporate offices from Nevada to the Decatur Economic Development Corp. (DEDC) business park off Farm Road 2264 and U.S. 81/287. DEDC is promoting this project with a new performance agreement that includes a total of $280,000 reimbursement if all benchmarks are reached. Read more online here.
EARLY VOTING TOTALS — The last day of early voting in Saturday’s local elections was the busiest as 828 votes were cast Tuesday, bringing the seven-day total to 3,250. Election day voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
PLAYOFF SOFTBALL RESULTS — Boyd (26-4-2) opened its 3A Division II area series with a 1-0 Game 1 win over Mount Vernon Tuesday. Pitcher Abby Atkinson finished with 12 strikeouts, and plated the winning run on a sacrifice hit in the first inning. Game 2 is 7 p.m. Thursday at Ennis High School. If necessary, a tiebreaker will be played 7 p.m. Friday at McKinney Boyd High School.
STATE GIRLS GOLF RESULTS — Paradise’s Zoey Martinez carded her third consecutive state top 10 finish Tuesday at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin. Martinez shot a two-day 165 (81-84) to tie for 10th with Odessa Compass Academy’s Hannah Lopez and Ingram Moore’s Tierce Zipp.
CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MEETING — The annual meeting of the Boyd Cemetery Association is 2 p.m. Sunday at the cemetery. If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, send to: Boyd Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 1923, Boyd, Texas 76023.
CHAMBER LUNCHEON — The Wise County Chamber of Commerce luncheon is 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at Weatherford College Wise County. LocalCraft BBQ will cater the luncheon. Purchase tickets by noon Thursday at wisecountychamber.com/event-tickets.
FUNERALS — Service for John Michael Bell, 74, of Decatur is 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Johns Baptist Church in Decatur with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
MEMORIAL service for Darlene Nelson, 75, of Boyd is noon Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
FUNERAL for Mike Hamblin, 66, of Decatur is 2 p.m. Friday at Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport with burial at Eastside Cemetery.
FUNERAL for David “Paperboy” Leon Smith II, 34, of Bridgeport is 1 p.m. today at Hudson & Torres with burial at Paradise Cemetery.
SERVICE for Susan Jeannette (Cole) Boston, 69, of Springtown is 2 p.m. May 17 at Alexander’s Midway Funeral Home in Springtown.
SERVICE for Sidney Wren Schutze, 75, formerly of Decatur is May 17.
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