Update for Monday, June 17, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 17, 2024
1 DEAD, MULTIPLE LOCAL TEENS INJURED IN WRECK — The Texas Department of Public Safety worked a fatality accident involving multiple Wise County minors early Sunday morning on U.S. 281, just north of Perrin. According to Texas DPS Sgt. Juan Gutierrez, the single vehicle accident occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. ”Preliminary investigation revealed [a 2001 Dodge Dakota] was traveling northbound on U.S. 281. The driver of [the vehicle] failed to negotiate a curve,” said Gutierrez in the wreck report. The report states that the vehicle left the roadway and struck several objects before coming to a rest on the driver’s side. One of the passengers, a 16-year-old Bridgeport resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three other occupants of the vehicle were injured, including the driver, a 16-year-old Paradise resident, who was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth with incapacitating injuries. Two passengers from Bridgeport, ages 16 and 14, were transported to Faith Community Hospital in Jacksboro with minor injuries.
Update for Friday, June 14, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 14, 2024
ALVORD HOME DESTROYED IN BLAZE — Several local fire departments fought the flames of an early morning house fire in Alvord Thursday. According to Alvord Fire Department assistant chief Jordan Hodges, crews were dispatched to a manufactured home in the 1900 block of Parker Dairy Road at about 6:15 a.m. Hodges said the two occupants of the home were able to get out, but one was taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital with a laceration on the arm. Two pets died in the blaze. Fire crews from Alvord, Decatur, Forestburg and Sunset responded to the scene, as well as Wise County EMS.
Update for Thursday, June 13, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 13, 2024
BRIDGEPORT APPROVES ROAD UPGRADES — Several roads around Bridgeport will soon see upgrades after the city council Monday approved a project for asphalt rehabilitation. Working from a street analysis performed by NEXCO Highway Solutions of America, a priority list was made for city streets. More than 50 streets have previously received work, and the new project will address 12 sections of streets the city has identified as having serious or very poor conditions. Sections of the following streets were approved for the project: Crittendon Street, Houston Street, Blocker and Third Street, West Cobb Street, WW Ray Circle, 11th Street, Butterfield Street, Lawdwin Avenue, Wootton Avenue, Edison Avenue and 15th Street. The city received one bid for the project, from Major Works LLC, at a cost of $1,518,122.65.
Update for Wednesday, June 12, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 12, 2024
PETITION STARTED TO CALL ALCOHOL ELECTION IN BOYD — A Boyd resident is gathering signatures to put a local option liquor election on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, which would allow for the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks, in the city. Last month, Sheril Rodgers applied for a petition with the City of Boyd. If it reaches the ballot and gains voter approval, it would allow the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages by restaurants and liquor “package” stores. Rodgers said she is coordinating the effort in hopes of boosting economic growth in the city. “We do have several major restaurants that want to come into Boyd,” Rodgers said. “But they will not do it unless they’re able to offer alcohol, which is a big part of their business.” In order for the measure to appear on the ballot, Rodgers must collect signatures of at least 35 percent of the 416 voters who voted within the city limits of Boyd in the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election. According to Boyd city secretary Daniel Bourgeois, the minimum number of signatures needed is 146. Bourgeois said the election must be ordered by Aug. 19.
Update for Tuesday, June 11, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 11, 2024
NEW EMS STATION TO BE BUILT IN ALVORD — Wise County is set to receive funding for the construction of a new EMS station in Alvord and several other county capital improvement projects today. In May, Wise County Commissioners approved the issuance of tax notes to cover the county’s $9.8 million capital funding plan. The tax notes, which do not require voter approval, will be paid over a five-year period with the county’s sales tax revenue. The county will gain access to the funds today. Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said that the county is planning to begin the construction of EMS Station 5 this year. The new station, which will be built from the ground up, will be located at U.S. 81/287 and Farm Road 1655, near the Alvord water tower. The station is expected to feature two bays that will house a full-time ambulance unit and a reserve unit. The station will also provide living quarters, an office, meeting space and room for future expansion.
Update for Monday, June 10, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 10, 2024
STORM CHANCES RETURN — After a quiet weekend, storm chances return to the forecast for Monday. The National Weather Service says we have a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4 p.m. Otherwise it will be mostly cloudy today and cooler with a high near 81 degrees.
Update for Friday, June 7, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 07, 2024
WEST WISE SUD BOIL WATER NOTICE — West Wise Special Utility District issued a boil water notice Thursday after a water main was damaged. TCEQ has required the West Wise SUD to notify all customers to boil water prior to consumption. The West Wise SUD will notify customers when the water is safe for drinking or human consumption purposes.
Update for Thursday, June 6, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 06, 2024
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN APPROVED BY FEMA — Wise County has a plan when it comes to emergencies, and now it’s Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) official. FEMA recently approved Wise County’s hazard mitigation plan, with county commissioners formally adopting the plan last week after a lengthy development and approval process. The guiding document, developed through the Wise County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), will set up the county, as well as five participating cities, to access grant funding that would not otherwise be accessible. “It helps develop one cohesive strategy, so that we don’t help make just one city resilient to disasters, but potentially all the cities,” said Wise County OEM Mitigation and Recovery Coordinator Alayna Payne. “We didn’t have every [Wise County] city, which is fine and normal. But these municipalities will also be able to qualify for non-emergency disaster assistance.” The cities of Decatur, Bridgeport, Chico, Rhome and Runaway Bay also participated in the plan. The City of Paradise is currently in the process of developing its own hazard mitigation plan.
Update for Wednesday, June 5, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 05, 2024
DECATUR TEEN SELECTED FIRST OVERALL IN PBR DRAFT — Following a second-place finish at the 2024 Professional Bull Riding (PBR) World Finals, Decatur native John Crimber was selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 PBR Teams Expansion New Rider Draft May 29 in Nashville, Tenn. Crimber’s father, Paulo, serves as the team’s head coach. In the 2024 PBR World Finals May 18-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Crimber logged the highest-scoring ride of his career with 95 points atop Ricky Vaughn. For his efforts, Crimber also took home the Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award for best ride. Falling short in his quest to become the youngest gold buckle winner in history, Crimber finished second in the PBR Unleash the Beast standings with 1,591.83 points — 238.5 behind World Champion Cassio Dias (1,830.33) — and collected $595,165.33 in prize money. Crimber held a 43 percent riding percentage (29-for-66) in PBR’s elite Unleash the Beast competition. He won one premier series event and added five runner-up finishes during the regular season. Crimber’s first season with Florida Freedom will begin at the 2024 season-launch event July 12-14 in Oklahoma City.
Update for Tuesday, June 4, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on June 04, 2024
SUMMER MEALS FOR CHILDREN AVAILABLE — The Texas Department of Agriculture is offering free food for children and teens 18 years or younger, as well as enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old. There are five summer meal locations in Wise County: Rann Elementary, 307 S. Cates, Decatur; Bridgeport Elementary, 1408 Elementary Dr., Bridgeport; Boyd Intermediate, 550 Knox Ave., Boyd; Chisholm Trail Middle School, 583 FM 3433, Rhome; Prairie View Elementary, 609 FM 3433, Rhome; and Seven Hills Elementary, 654 FM 3433, Newark. Meals at Rann are served Monday-Thursday until June 27; breakfast is 7:15-8:15 a.m. and lunch is 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Bridgeport Elementary is serving meals Monday-Friday until July 26; breakfast is 7-8 a.m. and lunch is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Boyd serves meals Monday-Thursday until June 27; breakfast is 7-8 a.m. and lunch is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Chisholm Trail and Seven Hills serve meals Monday-Friday until June 30; breakfast is 8-9 a.m. and lunch is 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Prairie View is open for meals until June 30 Monday-Friday; breakfast is 8-9 a.m. and lunch is 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No reservations are required, and you do not have to show an ID. Visit wcmess.com/summermeals2024 or text FOOD to 304-304.
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