SHOOTING VICTIM DIES — A man who was shot at a home near Paradise early Sunday morning has died from his wounds, according to the sheriff’s office. Elias Torres, 33, died Sunday afternoon at John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said Monday. Torres was a resident of South Wise County. The suspect in the case, Jose Diaz-Martinez, 33, remained in the Donley County Jail in Clarendon Monday. Akin said Diaz-Martinez was originally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but that charge is expected to be changed to murder. The shooting happened around 4 a.m. Sunday at a home on Private Road 3459 west of Paradise. Diaz-Martinez was arrested by Texas Highway Patrol near Clarendon a few hours after the shooting. Read more online here.
1 CRITICALLY INJURED IN WRECK — One person was critically injured in a two-vehicle wreck Monday afternoon near Rhome. The wreck happened around 4:20 p.m. in the northbound lanes of U.S. 81/287 just south of the Farm Road 407 exit in a construction zone. A Dodge Ram pickup ran into the rear of an 18-wheeler with an empty cattle trailer, according to Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger. Initial reports from first responders indicated the pickup sustained major damage, and the driver was trapped in the wreckage. Wise County EMS and New Fairview Fire Department responded and were able to extricate the patient. A helicopter ambulance was dispatched to the scene, but the male driver was taken by ground ambulance in critical condition to Medical City Decatur, Preuninger said, because the patient was too critical to fly.
WEATHER-BASED BURN BAN IS BACK — Wise County Commissioners activated the county’s previous, weather-based burn ban Monday. Under the ban, burning is prohibited on red flag and high-risk fire days as outlined by the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth. Wise County was under the condition-based burn ban before it was replaced with the stricter, 90-day ban that was subsequently rescinded after substantial rainfall last week. To check burn ban status, call 940-627-5870 ext. 4. You can also log a burn by visiting wcmess.com/burnlog2024.
COUNCIL DISCUSSES ROAD NAME CHANGE REQUEST — The Decatur City Council took a nonpartisan position Monday night in response to a Republican-led effort to rename Airport Road after former President Donald Trump. No action was taken, with the agenda item designated solely for discussion. However, the recent attention on city street naming appears to have prompted the City of Decatur to consider developing procedures for how it will name and rename city streets in the future. The issue came before the council twice in August after Wise County Republican Party Chair Rick Lifto and Alvord resident Rick DeVito shared their desire for the city to change Airport Road to Trump Way. During public comment Aug. 26, Lifto asked the council to consider renaming Airport Road themselves, or approve action to place renaming the street after Trump as a referendum on a future ballot. Following Lifto’s comments at that meeting, Decatur Mayor pro tem Melinda Reeves requested to place the issue on a future agenda. When that agenda item came up during Monday’s meeting, Reeves was the first to speak, clarifying that her request was made so that the council could address Lifto and DeVito’s comments in a public forum. Reeves, Mayor Mike McQuiston and council members Jake Hayes and Eddie Allen all commented that the council should avoid partisan decisions. Citing Decatur City Attorney Pam Liston, Decatur City Manager Nate Mara said city resources being used to rename the road after Trump could lead to legal and ethical issues, considering Trump’s current candidacy for president. Read more in the Thursday print edition of the Messenger.
BRIDGEPORT APPROVES CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT — The Bridgeport City Council Monday approved a Chapter 380 agreement with LZ Development Bridgeport, LLC, often referred to as “The Reserve,” for its project to build 141 single-family lots and 91 townhomes south of the Greystone Inn along 16th Street. The agreement details that the city will reimburse the developer $323,000 for previously instituted sanitary sewer impact fees for Phase 1 and 2A of the project. The city will also cover the off-site drainage and utility easement for The Reserve on the Greystone Inn property, an expense of $20,000. As part of the economic incentive agreement, the developer is required to complete construction of infrastructure improvements for Phase 1 of the development within a year of the contract’s execution. The council also awarded a bid and approved a construction agreement with Excel 4 Construction for two improvement projects at the East Area Sanitary Sewer Basin, a cost of $1,798,178.
BOOK CLUB FOR TWEENS — Decatur Public Library will hold a Book Club for tweens, ages 8-12, today and Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. to discuss “The Wild Robot.” Registration is required and can be done by visiting the library’s Facebook page. Call Carolyn Davis at 940-393-0290 to reserve your copy if needed.
9/11 BREAKFAST — Decatur Medical Lodge has partnered with local healthcare providers to offer a complimentary breakfast for first responders and veterans 9 a.m. Wednesday at the facility, 701 W. Bennett.
4-H CLOVER CRAZE — Wise County 4-H will launch a new year with Clover Craze 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Wise County Fairgrounds Women’s Building in Decatur. Learn about the available community clubs and project groups and learn more about 4-H. Call 940-627-3341 or email karly.west@ag.tamu.edu.
VOLLEYBALL — Northwest jumps back into District 4-6A play with a home battle against LD Bell tonight at 5:30. Decatur travels to Gunter for a non-district match at 6 p.m. Bridgeport continues searching for its first win in a home match against Azle at 5:30 p.m. Boyd wraps up non-district play with a road test against Peaster at 6 p.m. Paradise returns home to face off against Krum at 7:30 p.m. Alvord heads to Saint Jo at 5 p.m. Chico hosts a dual battle against Ponder and Petrolia beginning at 4:30 p.m. VCA travels for a TAPPS 2A District 2 showdown against Wichita Christian School at 5 p.m.
DEBATE WATCHING PARTY — The Wise County Democratic Party will host a Presidential Debate Watching Party 6-9 tonight at the Fairfield Inn & Suites main meeting room in Decatur.
SUICIDE AWARENESS WALK — The Center for Emotional Wellness in Decatur will host a Suicide Awareness Walk 6:30 tonight at Renshaw Park in Decatur.
FUNERALS — Service for Anna Louise Herring, 87, of Alvord is 11 a.m. Monday at First Methodist Church in Bridgeport with burial at Alvord Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
FUNERAL for Cecilia Ann Lisby, 82, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hawkins-Decatur with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
FUNERAL for Lossie Larue Langford Whitehead, 98, of Decatur is 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hawkins Chapel in Decatur with burial at Aurora Cemetery.
NO SERVICE is scheduled for Clayton Woodruff, 57, of Decatur. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
SERVICES for Patricia Gage, 78, and Gary Vandeventer, 75, both of Decatur are pending at Hawkins-Decatur.
MEMORIAL service for Walter Leroy Johnson Sr., 84, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Saturday at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Roanoke. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Joel Diaz Estrada, 32, of Bridgeport is pending at Hawkins-Bridgeport.
FUNERAL for Geneva Galloway, 91, of Boyd is 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Boyd with burial at Dixie Cemetery in Sadler. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
NO SERVICE is scheduled for LeDeva Chitwood, 85, of Newark. Hawkins-Boyd is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Elias Torres, 33, of Paradise is pending at Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport.
