The Decatur ISD trustees approve $200 bonus for all employees on the April check. Total cost to district $99K. “It’s a way to say thank you and families...hopefully it’ll help support local businesses,” said Superintendent Joseph Coburn.
Shaquille O’Neal and Mandrae Collins came to Paradise to spread joy after hearing about the recent deaths of two Paradise students, Athena Strand and Kennedy Handley.
While in Paradise, the NBA Hall of Famer donated $20k to foundations in honor of the two girls, also giving
MISSING CHILD — Multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for a missing 7-year-old girl last seen in Paradise Wednesday night.
Athena Strand was last seen at the 200 block of CR 3570.
If you have any information regarding Athena's whereabout call the WCSO, 940-627-5971.
Senator Ted Cruz visited Decatur Wednesday night to stump for Texas House District 64 candidate Andy Hopper. Hopper, who is in a runoff against Incumbent Lynn Stucky, also addressed the standing-room only crowd, along with U.S Congressional District 26 candidate Brandon Gill.
Primitivo "Primo" Sierra, owner of Primo's Taqueria in Decatur, died last night from injuries sustained earlier that day in a 2-vehicle crash in Decatur.
BREAKING: Bridgeport's soccer coach has resigned amid an investigation into the use of a BISD credit card at a Houston strip club.
Police say the coach is accused of charging $5,435 at The Men’s Club of Houston while at a coaching clinic in July.
In just his second start at Double A, Decatur’s Bryce Elder threw seven hitless innings as part of the Mississippi Braves’ combined no-hitter Saturday.
BREAKING: The manhunt is over. Royce Wood and Tiffany Caswell were brought into custody by the U.S. Marshall’s this morning in Batesville, Arkansas, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said.
ESPN is listing Decatur’s Bryce Elder as the starting pitcher for Atlanta Braves tonight against the Washington Nationals. Still waiting on roster move to make official.
Nine local seniors were awarded $10,000 Character Counts Scholarships at a banquet in their honor Thursday night. Winners include Kaitlyn Reynolds; Abby Hays; Erica Blackburn; Christian Hand; Anahi Aldape; Tanner Forsyth; Kayla Rudd; Kinly Walker; and Kellyn Evans.
BREAKING: ARREST MADE IN MISSING CHILD CASE: A man has been arrested for capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, according to Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin. He also confirmed the body of 7-year-old Athena Strand has been found about 6 miles from Cottondale.
Decatur quarterback Jed Ross threw for 258 yards and recorded seven total touchdowns in the Eagles' 56-14 4A Region I area victory over Andrews Thursday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.
PERSON OF THE YEAR - Decatur ISD Child Nutrition Director Shelly Laaser, who also oversees food service at five other districts in the county, is the 2020 Messenger Person of the Year.
Read more:
Longtime Decatur sideline staple Coy O’Neal received his very own letter jacket from the school last week.
O’Neal spent 70 years running the chains for the Eagles and only missed a few games in over half a century of work.
Full story:
ALL-STAR NOD — Bryce Elder being recognized as one the top players in baseball was hard to imagine after he was optioned to Triple-A to start the season.
With a 2.44 ERA through 16 MLB starts, he went from earning a spot in the Braves' rotation to being selected to the NL
BREAKING: A Wise County jury late Wednesday afternoon found Johnny Armstrong, 38, of Bridgeport guilty of murder in the death of 20-year-old Ruben Dunlap. He has been sentenced to life in prison.
The Boyd Yellowjackets (40-5) claimed their first state championship with a 6-4 win over Wall in the 3A state title game Saturday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
FREE ACCESS:
Boyd ISD trustees approved upgrades to the existing baseball and softball fields, putting in artificial turf, net backstops, renovating the dugouts and replacing side fences. The fields are expected to be ready for the teams’ district openers March 12. Cost is $1,081,391.
Decatur lineman Keaton Jordan is back on the field now, but in July, the junior was fighting for his life in a Colorado hospital.
How Jordan overcame a fatal condition and worked his way back to the team.
Full story by
@WCM_RGreene
:
Despite a few injuries to key players, the Paradise Panthers rallied around their depth on both sides of the ball to take down Bushland 36-14 and bring home the regional round trophy Friday night.
Maddi Waskom will not only be the first person in her family to go college, she is also headed for the Ivy League.
The Decatur senior was recently accepted into Harvard.
Full story by
@RaceyBurden
:
In the summer of 2012, Ubaldo and Ashleigh Garcia watched as their 2-year-old son, Camden, battled medulloblastoma – a rare brain cancer with only a 20 percent recovery rate.
Now six years later, Camden is cancer-free.
Full story by
@WCM_RGreene
:
WEAR PINK — Wise County will wear pink Monday to share support for Athena Strand’s family as the community grieves. Judge J.D. Clark also invited the community to gather at the courthouse 6:30 p.m. Monday to pray for Athena and her family.
ART OF THE CURVE — Growing up in small-town Nebraska, baseball was everything to first-year Boyd High School art teacher Chris Brown.
Brown's devastating slider carried him to college and professional baseball. But the ballplayer had a second love in his life: art. For the last
PINK FOR ATHENA — People in Wise County and beyond are wearing pink today in memory of Athena Strand. The Messenger would like to highlight the community support.
You can send photos of your group wearing pink to class
@wcmessenger
.com
A constant presence in the Boyd Yellowjackets' dugout is bat boy Ryan Rogers, a Boyd Middle School student with Down syndrome, whom coach Brad McIntire credits as a key component to the team's success.
First responders are investigating reports of downed power lines and some damaged buildings in Wise County.
A metal building along Private Road 4185 off Farm Road 730 between Boyd and Decatur was damaged in the storm that triggered a tornado warning.
STUDENTS DETAINED WITH GUN AT NHS — Northwest ISD officials confiscated a handgun from a student and detained another Tuesday morning. More details at link.
Catherine Foerster named Decatur volleyball coach. Foerster led Hereford to the state tournament this past year. She was the TGCA Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 35-15 record.
Wise County EMS released additional details on the condition of the 14 patients in the Alvord area wreck. Three patients have died, three are in critical condition, six have serious injuries and two had non-serious injuries.
Join us in celebrating the Decatur Lady Eagles' fifth volleyball title. The Messenger's eight-page special section is on newsstands now and available online.
Bridgeport ISD trustees approved a $1 million district employee compensation plan 6-0.
It includes a 3 percent general pay increase for all employees based on 2021/22 salary, a $1k retention check in Nov 2022 and increased monthly contribution for employee health insurance.
The Wise County Sheriff's Office confiscated 677 pounds of marijuana with a value of more than $2 million during a traffic stop Sunday. Read more in today's Update.
Boyd coach Brad McIntire will coach the Yellowjackets in their first trip to the state baseball tournament this weekend with his son, Braden, and nephew, Houston, on the team's roster.
Trailing by 4 late in the fourth quarter Friday, Northwest quarterback Leddie Thompson tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cooper McComas to claim a 5AI bi-district win over Midlothian — the Texans' first playoff victory since 2018.
BREAKING: One person was killed when a plane crashed just south of Decatur Friday afternoon. The crash happened off County Road 4127 less than a mile from U.S. 81/287 just after 3 p.m.
The Bridgeport Bulls returned home after winning the program’s first 4A boys golf title Tuesday night, as family, friends and supporters gathered in the high school parking lot for a championship celebration, which included a victory spray-down by the Bridgeport Fire Department.
WISE UP, EP. 10 | BRYCE ELDER
Atlanta
@Braves
pitcher and Decatur graduate Bryce Elder shares how a bet on himself led to a career in Major League Baseball.
The MLB All-Star and former Longhorn also shares the message he's been delivering to local athletes and students this
RICHEY WINS STATE - Bridgeport’s Jacob Richey won the 4A copy editing contest at the UIL Academic state meet over the weekend. Richey also took second in editorial writing and fifth in feature writing. Tony Howerton finished third in headline writing.
Decatur's Bryce Elder will be on the mound tonight pitching for the World Champion Atlanta Braves.
The former University of Texas pitcher will make his debut against the Washington Nationals at 6:20 p.m. at Truist Park.
BREAKING: All Wise County schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
This includes Decatur, Bridgeport, Boyd, Paradise, Alvord, Slidell and Chico ISDs. Northwest ISD previously announced it would be canceling classes Thursday and Friday.
BREAKING: Chico ISD will move to a 4-day school week for next school year following action Thursday by the school board. The board voted 6-1 in favor of the change, making it the first district in Wise County to move to the 4-day school week.
Meet our new reporter, Jillian Nachtigal (
@jillnachtigal
)
The recent UNT grad developed a passion for covering news and sports at the North Texas Daily and Denton Record-Chronicle. Now, she's ready to share the stories of Wise County.
Read more:
Decatur (10-4) claimed a 38-35 come-from-behind win over Brownwood in the 4A Division I regional final Friday at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, punching the Eagles’ ticket to the state semifinals for the second consecutive season.
When Cynthia Alvarez researched local resources for her elderly clients dealing with isolation and depression, she realized there weren't any designated for Wise County’s Spanish-speaking seniors.
Now, there are around 50 seniors in Abuelitos Unidos de Wise del Condado. They
Scott and Jeff Smiley grew up attending football games coached by their uncles, and then found their way onto the sidelines themselves.
Friday, the two close brothers will lead their teams against each other when Alvord and Knights play.
The Bridgeport Sissies moved into the semifinals of the Whataburger Tournament with a 50-27 win over Brock.
Jade Hall scored 12 points. Emily Vidal and Zoe Hall had 10 apiece.
Bridgeport (15-2) takes on Idalou in the tournament semifinals at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Saginaw HS.
We could all use a little pick-me-up during this stressful time. Please share a good deed or act that you've seen recently with us. We are all in this together and will get through it with a little kindness. Thank you to all our readers and advertisers.
#nicewise
Lia Jones was abandoned at hospital in China as a baby. Her birth parents couldn't afford to treat her heart condition.
In May, Jones will graduate from Decatur High School. She plans to become a cardiologist — so she can help children just like her.