Update

COLLEGE ACCEPTS DONATION OF BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL — A former hospital in Bridgeport may soon find new life as a training ground for Weatherford College students interested in pursuing healthcare careers. On Thursday, the Weatherford College Board accepted a gift document for the former Doctor’s Hospital in Bridgeport from Medical City Healthcare. The $7 million donation, if finalized after a 90-day due diligence period, would be one of the largest the college has accepted. “Weatherford College is greatly appreciative of this exceedingly generous gift,” Weatherford College President Tod Allen Farmer said in an email. “It will allow us to educate additional nurses and better meet the healthcare needs of the citizens of Wise County and beyond.” The three-story, 100,000-square foot hospital sits on 16 acres near U.S. 380 in Bridgeport.

ACREE SENTENCED TO 42 YEARS IN MURDER CASE — Decatur resident Austin Acree was sentenced to 42 years in prison Wednesday for the 2023 murder of 19-year-old Matthew Brown. Acree, 20, was sentenced by 271st District Judge Brock Smith at a hearing nearly two weeks after Acree was found guilty of murder in the case by a Wise County jury May 30. Brown had gone missing March 5, 2023, and his body was found two weeks later in Deep Creek near Aurora. During the jury phase of the trial, evidence was presented that Acree and his friend Aiden Theberge took Brown to Deep Creek where they both shot him in the head and buried him in a shallow grave. At Wednesday’s hearing, evidence was presented that Acree, Theberge and Justin Carl, who are all charged with murder in the case, had been involved in a drive-by shooting in Big Spring with the same gun in November of 2022.

PRELIMINARY TAX VALUES SWING UP — New construction, rising property values and a more muted dip in the oil and gas industry are projected to push Wise County’s tax rolls to a new high this year. Wise County Appraisal District data shows the county’s preliminary taxable values increasing to $14.64 billion for the 2025 tax year, up from $13.83 billion in 2024. Last year’s downtown was driven by a sharp drop in mineral values, with taxable values decreasing from 2023 despite population growth. Although mineral values are down again, their decline has stabilized — and when combined with rising real estate values and roughly $641 million in new construction, Wise County’s 2025 taxable values are projected to reach an all-time high. Certified values, which local governments will use to set budgets and tax rates, are expected to be released by July 25, said Wise CAD Chief Appraiser Deidra Deaton. The Wise CAD released its preliminary estimates last month.

NEWSOM INDICTED ON NEW SEX CRIME CHARGE — A former Bridgeport High School athletic trainer has been indicted on a new sex crime charge involving a child. Billy Newsom, 61, of Bridgeport was indicted May 22 by a Wise County grand jury on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a disabled person, a first degree felony offense, and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second degree felony offense. The latest indictment lists a single victim on all five counts, a male under the age of 17. The alleged sexual assaults happened in 2002, according to public court records. The indictment was unsealed following Newsom’s arrest on the new charges June 4. Wise County jail records show Newsom posted $50,000 bond and was released the following day. Last October, Newsom was indicted on five counts of online solicitation of a minor under 14.

1 INJURED IN ROLLOVER WRECK — A man was airlifted to a local hospital after sustaining injuries in a single-vehicle rollover wreck Thursday near New Fairview. According to emergency radio, the wreck occurred around 8 p.m. near the intersection of Farm Road 2264 and County Road 4431. Wise County EMS Administrator Randall Preuninger said a sedan rolled over and struck a tree. The injured man was flown to Medical City Denton by Lifeteam 68 with critical injuries. The identity of the man was not released.

STORMS IN WEEKEND FORECAST — Wise County could see one or even two rounds of storms this weekend. Some storms may be strong to severe with primarily a damaging wind and hail threat according to the National Weather Service. Rain chances are 30 percent Saturday night and 80 percent Sunday night. Otherwise, it will be sunny and warm this weekend with highs in the lower- to mid-90s with overnight lows in the mid-70s. Parts of Wise County saw a little rain on Thursday, with 0.06 of an inch recorded in Decatur.

ROY COOPER DEATH, HOUSE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE — Investigators are continuing their inquiry into the death of Roy Cooper following a fire at the rodeo legend’s Wise County home April 30. Wise County Fire Marshal Jeff Doughty confirmed to the Messenger Wednesday that both the death and fire investigations remain active. “We’re still investigating, [but] we’ve got more information now,” Doughty said. “It still looks accidental, but we’re not going to release more until we’re positive.” The fire was reported shortly after 7 p.m. at the ProRodeo hall of famer and former all-around rodeo world champion’s home in the 600 block of County Road 3051. A memorial service for Cooper was held last week at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, bringing together family and friends such as country music legend George Strait, country singer Tanya Tucker and bull riding world champion Ty Murray. Country music legend Reba McIntire also recorded a video honoring Cooper’s life.

SENATE BILL COULD CLOSE LOCAL BUSINESS — Consumable hemp products containing THC may soon be outlawed in Texas under Senate Bill 3, unless the legislation is vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott. While products used recreationally are the target of the ban, the owner of a local CBD store believes SB 3 has side effects that will put her and many other CBD shops out of business.

MAN INJURED IN POWER LINE ACCIDENT — A Sanger man was flown to a Metroplex hospital in critical condition Monday after a power line accident near Bridgeport and Alvord. Justin Rushing, 25, of Sanger was working on the electrical line in the 400 block of Farm Road 1655 before the accident occurred, according to the Wise County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). First responders and utility company personnel responded to the scene at around 10:39 a.m. “[He] was working in the bucket of his work truck on the power line and accidentally touched the power line,” said Eric Debus, WCSO chief deputy. Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger said the patient suffered critical injuries. Air Evac LifeTeam 68 flew Rushing to the burn unit at Medical City Plano. He was alert minutes after the accident, Debus said. Bridgeport Fire Department and utility personnel from Oncor also responded to the scene. The utility company was called to ensure the power was shut off. The work trucks at the site belonged to Revolution Power, LLC, an electric company based out of Whitesboro.

ACREE FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER — A Wise County jury Friday found 20-year-old Austin Acree of Decatur guilty of murder in the 2023 death of 19-year-old Matthew Brown. Brown had gone missing from his Decatur home March 5, 2023, and his body was found two weeks later in Deep Creek near Aurora. Sentencing for Acree, who could face up to life in prison for the first degree felony offense, is set for June 11 in 271st District Court in Decatur. During three days of testimony, prosecutors laid out their case against Acree, saying he helped plan the death of Brown and took him to Deep Creek where Brown was shot twice in the head and buried in a shallow grave.