PROSECUTORS BEGIN THEIR CASE IN HORNER TRIAL — Moments after Tanner Horner pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to the murder of Athena Strand, prosecutors began laying out their case in the punishment phase of the trial, including showing jurors a photo of the two in Horner’s delivery truck. The jury heard from four witnesses on the first day of the trial, including Strand’s first grade teacher at Paradise Elementary, Strand’s stepmother who discovered the 7-year-old missing on Nov. 30, 2022, former Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin and an FBI special agent who looked into information that Horner had delivered a package to the Strand’s Cottondale home around the time the child went missing. The agent said he questioned Horner, who said he saw a green van leaving the scene around the time he made a delivery to the home. Prosecutors argued this was the first of many lies Horner told to deflect attention away from him. A striking image from the first day included an image taken from a video camera inside Horner’s delivery truck showing Horner in the driver’s seat and Strand standing next to him. Jurors will decide between giving Horner life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. The trial continues this morning in Fort Worth. Follow full coverage of the trial at wcmessenger.com.
LADY PANTHERS ADVANCE TO REGIONALS — Paradise senior Zoey Martinez shot a 2-round 156 (79-77) to garner the individual silver medal, as Paradise placed second at the District 10-3A tournament last week with 713 (359-354), earning the league’s second regional ticket. Martinez finished 5 strokes behind district champion Gracie Walker of Callisburg, who shot 151 (72-79). The Lady Panthers finished 28 strokes behind district champion Callisburg (337-348). Ponder scored 793 (385-408) to take the team bronze. In addition to Martinez, freshman Emery Lavery climbed the leaderboard in her first district outing, placing fourth with 170 (83-87). The Lady Panthers tacked on two more top 10 finishes. Junior Braylea Dunlap carded a 2-round 193 (97-96) to place seventh — 1 stroke ahead of freshman Addilynn Cowling (100-94—194), who finished eighth. Paradise sophomore Paisley Vaughn rounded out the Lady Panthers’ roster, carding a 207 (106-101) to finish in a 3-way tie for 17th with Ponder’s Taelynn Harrison and Valley View’s Jacey Thomas. Read more online at wcmessenger.com.
SOFTBALL RESULTS — Boyd (25-2) improved to 9-0 in District 10-3A following a 17-2 blowout win over Callisburg Tuesday. Bridgeport (2-21, 1-9) suffered a 13-0 7-4A shutout loss to Springtown. Paradise (22-4-1, 7-2) clinched a 6-4 non-district victory against Wichita Falls Memorial.
BASEBALL RESULTS — Decatur (15-6-1, 7-0) claimed the first District 7-4A Battle of Big Sandy matchup with a 3-0 victory over Bridgeport (8-14-1, 3-4) Tuesday. In 10-3A, Paradise (19-3) improved to 7-0 thanks to an 8-1 victory over Pilot Point. Alvord (14-6, 3-2) climbed above .500 in 10-2A after a 16-0 shutout win over Era. Chico (1-12, 0-5) was blown out by Lindsay, 14-2. VCA (1-9) dropped to 0-6 in TAPPS 2A District 2 following a 6-5 loss to Mercy Culture Prep.
COMMUNITY SEND-OFF FOR BULLS SOCCER — A community send-off for the Bridgeport Bulls soccer team is 11:20 a.m. today at Champions Park before they head to the state championship game Thursday. The team will drive down Halsell Street and then head to Champions Park.
SCHOLARSHIP BOOST — The Decatur Fire Department Foundation Tuesday doubled the number of $2,000 scholarships to be given to Decatur High School students who want a career in the fire service.
DECATUR CARES — Decatur Cares Mobile Food Pantry is 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church of Decatur. Registration begins 7 a.m. in the east parking lot. Fruit, vegetables, protein items and other food for 225 families will be distributed. Volunteers are needed 7 to 9:30 a.m. for setup, distribution of food and cleanup. Visit the Decatur Cares Facebook page.
TRASH CLEAN UP — Volunteers are needed for the Greater Runaway Bay Alliance Highway 380 Trash Clean Up at 9 a.m. Saturday. Meet in the Norma Coble Civic Center parking lot. Golf carts recommended but not required.
SPRING CLEAN UP — The City of Aurora will host a Spring Clean Up event 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 320 Derting Road. Aurora residents can dispose of household and oversized garbage. No paint/household hazardous materials will be accepted. Proof of residency is required.
MEET THE K9 UNIT — Wise Republican Women will meet 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wise County Fairgrounds and provide an opportunity to meet the Wise County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit and their handlers. Reign and Sgt. Moran, Ghost and Deputy Fry, and Prime and Deputy Simpson are scheduled to attend and perform a demonstration. Call or text 214-289-9857.
FUNERALS
SERVICE for Donna Kaye Currie, 73, of Ranger is 11 a.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur with burial at Aurora Cemetery.
MEMORIAL service for Edward Elsmere, 77, of Decatur is 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Alvord. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL service for GH Smith, 83, of Aurora is 1 p.m. Saturday at Lifepoint Fellowship Church in Haslet. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
MEMORIAL service for Mike “Pup” Jones, 74, of Decatur is 1 p.m. Sunday at Oaklawn Cemetery Pavilion. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Jimmie Rice, 72, of Shawnee, Okla., is pending at Hawkins-Decatur.
GRAVESIDE service for William A. Scarborough, 85, of Newark is 2:45 p.m. today at Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation is 1-2 p.m. today at Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
FUNERAL for Bobbie Gay Colvin, 67, of Aurora is 11 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins-Boyd with burial at Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation is one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
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