Update for Tuesday, May 21, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 21, 2024
NEW PRINCIPAL NAMED AT CHISHOLM TRAIL — Northwest ISD has promoted Jennifer Higgins to become principal of Chisholm Trail Middle School. She is currently assistant principal at the campus. Higgins has been a teacher and administrator in her more than 25-year career in education, according to Northwest ISD. For the past seven years, Higgins has served as an assistant principal within Northwest ISD, for six years at Eaton High School and the past year at Chisholm Trail. Prior to joining Northwest ISD, Higgins served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal for the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity program in Germany from 2003 to 2017. She also has experience as a teacher in Killeen ISD and Arizona’s Tombstone Unified School District.
Update for Monday, May 20, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 20, 2024
EARLY VOTING FOR RUNOFF BEGINS — Today is the first day of early voting in next week’s primary runoff election. In Wise County, the only runoff is on the Republican side, with two races left to decide: for State House District 64 Representative, between Andy Hopper and Lynn Stucky; and sheriff, between Cary Mellema and Craig Johnson. Early voting in the Republican Primary runoff election will take place 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily today through Friday. The primary runoff election day is Tuesday, May 28. Early voting will be held at four early voting locations: Wise County Fairgrounds (Women’s Building), 3101 S. Farm Road 51 in Decatur (note that this is a different early voting site from the March primary); Alvord City Hall, 215 W. Elm; Boyd Community Center, 420 E. Morton Ave.; and Bridgeport Community Center, 1102 Lawdwin Ave. If you voted in the Republican Primary on March 5, or if you didn’t vote in either the Republican or Democratic Primary, you can vote as long as you are registered. If you voted in the Democratic Primary, you cannot vote in the Republican Primary runoff.
Update for Friday, May 17, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 17, 2024
RAINFALL REPORT — Yesterday’s storms brought less than an inch of rain to most parts of Wise County. Rainfall totals included 0.42 of an inch in Decatur and 0.4 in Alvord and Greenwood. Today’s forecast includes patchy fog this morning with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon. Today’s high will be around 79 degrees. Temperatures will continue to rise through the weekend, with highs Saturday and Sunday around 90 degrees under sunny skies.
Update for Thursday, May 16, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 16, 2024
FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT — Storms were rolling into Wise County this morning, bringing threats of heavy rain, hail and damaging winds. Wise County is included in a flood watch through Friday morning. According to the National Weather Service, excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Rainfall amounts could be 1 inch or more. Several accidents had already been reported as of 8 a.m. due to slick roadways in the county. Rain is expected to continue throughout the day into this evening.
Update for Wednesday, May 15, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 15, 2024
3 CHILDREN AMONG 4 KILLED IN CHICO WRECK — Three children were among four people reportedly killed in an early morning wreck Tuesday near Chico. Brandy Nicole Price, 32, of Chico, along with three minor children ages 3, 7 and 10 were pronounced dead at the scene by Wise County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Kim Redman. According to a preliminary crash report provided by Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Tony De La Cerda, the wreck occurred 5:35 a.m. Tuesday on Farm Road 1810 near County Road 1340 east of Chico. A preliminary investigation indicated a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Price was westbound and attempted to pass in a no-passing zone. Price’s Equinox struck an eastbound 2022 Mack P164T towing a tanker trailer driven by 41-year-old Mark Clark Jr. of Runaway Bay head-on, and then caught fire. Clark was transported to Medical City Decatur with non-life threatening injuries, according to the report. DPS is continuing to investigate the wreck, along with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Transportation. The wreck caused the closure of the roadway for six hours. Superintendent Randy Brawner confirmed in a post on the district’s Facebook page that two of the deceased were students at Chico Elementary School. Brawner said counselors were made available to students and staff on Tuesday, and will remain available as needed.
Update for Tuesday, May 14, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 14, 2024
BOARD VOTES TO END 2-WAY DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM — The Decatur School Board Monday voted 4-3 to end Rann Elementary’s two-way dual language program after a lengthy discussion on the topic. The elementary is home to a two-way dual language immersion program, where native Spanish and English speakers receive instruction in both languages. The school will continue to offer a one-way dual-language program for native Spanish speakers. Several issues — including declining participation, academic performance, a growing budget deficit and staffing issues — led to a recommendation to end the two-way program. A motion by Jeremy Duncan to phase out the kindergarten through fifth grade two-way program failed by a 4-3 vote, with Nate Bayless and Scott Koehler voting in favor of that option. A second vote to dissolve the two-way program was made by Delvon Campbell, with Matt Joiner, Stan Shults and Sandra Schneider voting in favor of that option.
Update for Monday, May 13, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 13, 2024
LACKEY NAMED ACTING DISD SUPERINTENDENT — Decatur High School Principal Lyle Lackey will serve as acting superintendent as the district seeks the next person to lead the district. The school board on Friday voted 4-3 to name Lackey to the interim role, after a vote to name DISD Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Michelle Wooten failed by the same vote. Lackey will continue serving as DHS principal while helping out as needed with superintendent duties. In another split vote, Stan Shults was elected board president by a 4-2 vote. Matt Joiner was elected vice president and Sandra Schneider secretary. The board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 tonight at the DISD Administration Building. The agenda includes possible action regarding the two-way dual language program at Rann Elementary.
Update for Friday, May 10, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 10, 2024
BUTTERFIELD STAGE DAYS — The 41st annual Butterfield Stage Days Festival is returning to Downtown Bridgeport 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. The event includes a kids zone, food, bingo, vendors, entertainment and free train rides hosted by the Lions Club. The Seventh Annual Cook-off starts today. The annual festival pays homage to the town’s legacy on the Butterfield Stage Overland Main Route.
Update for Thursday, May 9, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 09, 2024
POSSIBLE SUPERINTENDENT ACTION ON FRIDAY’S DECATUR BOARD AGENDA — A special meeting of the Decatur School Board has been called for Friday afternoon with an agenda that includes the seating of newly-elected board members, election of board officers and naming of a superintendent or an interim superintendent. Following the canvassing of the May 4 board election, new board members Delvon Campbell, Matt Joiner and Nate Bayless will be sworn in. After a public forum, the board is scheduled to go into closed session to discuss board officers. The vote for president, vice-president and secretary will then be taken in open session. The board is then scheduled to return to closed session to discuss personnel issues related to the superintendent, including discussion of applicants for the superintendent position; consultation with an attorney related to employment of superintendent, possibly naming a superintendent emeritus and naming an active superintendent; and discussion of employment of superintendent, possibly naming a superintendent emeritus and naming of acting superintendent. Those same items are then listed as action items in open session. Friday’s meeting is at 5 p.m. at the DISD Administration Building, 307 S. Cates St.
Update for Wednesday, May 8, 2024
By Messenger Staff | on May 08, 2024
ERCOT ISSUES WEATHER WATCH — Unseasonably warm temperatures today across Texas has prompted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to issue a Weather Watch for today. ERCOT said high temperatures along with high levels of expected maintenance outages during the spring shoulder months and the potential for lower reserves led to the warning. Grid conditions are expected to be normal, and no action from customers is requested at this time. In Wise County, the temperature is expected to top out around 90 today under sunny skies with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Slightly cooler temperatures and a chance of rain is in Thursday’s forecast.
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