2022 Welcome to Wise by Fox Press

e m o c l e to Wise Wise to W

FIND YOU PER FEC R T SP OT WISE COUNTY MESSENGER NEWCOMERS/VISITORS GUIDE 2022

REFINANCING FHA/VA/USDA/CONV HOME IMPROVEMENT BRIDGE LOANS

NEW CONSTRUCTION LOT LOANS JUMBO LOANS PORTFOLIO LOANS

• Construction to Perm Loans

Combined financing for construction with permanent financing in place upon completion of the home.

• Purchase/Renovation Loans

Great location but not the perfect house? Buy and improve if it’s not exactly the home of your dreams.

• Doctor/Professional Loans

Specialty program designed for professionals in medicine, dentistry, finance and law.

FREE Screenings in Wise County

Free mammograms and Pap tests for women without insurance and those who qualify: Mammograms for women 40 and older Must be at least 1 year since last mammogram

Funding for screenings provided by Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and

Pap tests for women 21-64 years old

Texas Health and

If you have current breast or cervical problems, please consult your physician or call 800.405.7739

Commission (HHSC).

Human Services

Your health and safety are our top priority. To ensure a safe screening environment, we take all necessary precautions in accordance with the CDC.

MON C R I E F.CO M

ON THE COVER

PICNIC IN THE PASTURE PHOTOS BY AUSTIN JACKSON/WCMESSENGER COVER DESIGN BY HANNAH KING/WCMESSENGER We found the perfect family with the perfect location to represent our perfect picnic spot on the cover of “Welcome to Wise 2022”. Cody and Christina Duncum with their children Reagan and Sterling are shown enjoying a picnic in a pasture on their family’s land near Decatur. In addition to a number of items meant to represent what local businesses have to offer (see more on page 10), we also included a few items representing different parts of the county. Can you spot them? Answers are found below. A: Fishing pole, Lake Bridgeport and lakes on the LBJ Grasslands; Watermelon, Alvord’s annual Watermelon Festival; Dominoes, often played at the Greenwood Store

COMPASSIONATE SKILLED NURSING / REHABILITATION & LONG TERM CARE

“Experience the Difference” Rapid Recovery Program - Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy - Large state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym - Interdisciplinary rehabilitation plan designed for each guest - 24-hour licensed nursing care - IV Therapy - Out Patient Therapy - State-of-the-art modality equipment

Guest Amenities - Complimentary Wifi and phone services - Complimentary flat screen TV and cable - Private dining room available - Barber shop / beauty salon services - Daily social activities - Personal laundry services - Therapeutic diets

In-House Therapy Staff Including .

PHYSICAL THERAPY . OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY . SPEECH THERAPY

940-626-2800 . 701 WEST BENNETT RD . DECATUR, TX

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Introduction

Cities

Schools

On the Cover....................... 5 Cover Spotlight .................. 10 Welcome ........................... 14

Alvord ............................... 40

Alvord ISD ........................ 80 Boyd ISD........................... 81 Bridgeport ISD................... 84 Chico ISD .......................... 85 Decatur ISD....................... 86 Northwest ISD ................... 87 Paradise ISD...................... 90 Slidell ISD ......................... 91

Aurora .............................. 41 Boyd ...........................42–43 Bridgeport ...................44–45

Features

Chico ................................46

Travel the Outlaw Road.......... ......................................... 18 Events You’ll Only Find In Wise ................................... 30–31 Taking Education to the Ne t Level ........................... 74–75 New Center Takes Flight......... ....................................... 127 Outdoorsman’s Paradise ........ ................................130–131

Decatur .......................50–52 Lake Bridgeport ................. 56 New Fairview .................... 57 Newark ............................. 61 Paradise ............................ 62 Rhome .............................. 65 Runaway Bay .................... 66 Local Communities .......68–69

I Welcome Home ......... 97–103 Finding Your Fit........ 106–107 Preserving Local History ....110 Serving the Public ..... 114–117 Helping Our Neighbors.......... ............................... 120–123

940-626-1406 940-627-7700 robinstoutandco.com

WEDDING PLANNING . COORDINATION . FULL SERVICE FLORIST

JOIN US AS WE FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS Pastor Doc and Cheryl Dennis

Sundays Bible Study Worship Service

9:00 am 10:30 am

STOP

OF TEXAS

We Offer Brea fast, unch Dinner unch and Evening Specials Fish Served FRIDAY All Day & Evening

Wednesdays 7:00 pm

Sunday Brunch Buffet Homemade Desserts • Fresh Salads

Office: 940-627-1544 / 940-389-8871 Website: fullarmorfellowship.com

FULL ARMOR FELLOWSHIP 1982 E Hwy 380 •Decatur, TX 76234 Full Armor Fellowship / Biker Friendly

• Groceries • Wine • Live Bait & Tackle • Cold Beer — 28 degrees • Gifts & Boutique

Shopping LOCAL makes a BIG impact!

• Janitorial Supply Promo • Printing • P Apparel • Logo Appa

R H 1010 W. Bus. 380 Decatur 940.627.9000

Lakeview Dining

US H A

T P

T O

www.martinmarietta.com Your Best Source in the Metroplex For Quality Construction Aggregates, Cement and Ready Mix Concrete BRIDGEPORT QUARRY • 972-647-7200 • 1795 South Hwy 101 • Bridgeport, TX NORTH BRIDGEPORT QUARRY • 960-644-5080 • 125 N. Bridgeport Lane • Chico, TX ur mission statement e plains our co pany s reason for e istence t descri es ho e are and hat e do t supports our ision and co unicates our purpose and direction to all of our sta eholders s a leadin pro ider of natural resource ased uildin aterials artin arietta pro ides the foundation upon hich our communities i pro e and ro

ur vision statement descri es our co pany as it ould appear in a future state t dri es our co pany s decisions and oals and challen es and inspires our e ployees ur oal is to uild a world-class organization co itted to the lon ter success of our e ployees co unities and other sta eholders

ur values descri e our eliefs and eha iors hey uide our decision a in and esta lish standards upon hich e can assess our actions hey create a oral co pass in our usiness dealin s for oth the co pany and its e ployees hey support the ision SAFETY e re nc pr i in in r c r pe p e n the c nit INTEGRITY e i do the right thing ine princip e

it ent t the safety and health f herin t

r c re

n ethic

EXCELLENCE e re c itte t ein r e e thr h re p n i e innovation and continuous improvement. COMMUNITY r tren th n cce i eri e fr our people n the relationships the i ithin r nei h rh n citie STEWARDSHIP r re p n i i it i t make the world better t n f r f t re ener ti n

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Here are a few examples:

onations to ity ar s and Recreation and ocal Fire epart ents ions lu and nited ay ponsors e er of local ha er of o erce Hosted educational field trips for schools in the area and First Responders for the county onated as ets for the enior Reha center patients in rid eport

MARTIN MARIETTA WELCOMES YOU TO WISE COUNTY

JOIN US OR WATCH LIVE S U N D AY S - 9 A M | 1 1 A M W E D N E S D AY S - 7 P M

4 0 0 W H W Y 3 8 0 D E C AT U R , T X . V I C T O R Y F A M I LY C H U R C H . C O M 9 4 0 - 6 2 7- 5 8 2 0

COVER SPOTLIGHT

COVER SPOT I HT

The Perfect Spot For Your Pet to Stay

The Perfect Spot For Local Wine

e m o c l e W

The Perfect Spot For Your Building Needs

to Wise Wise to

The Perfect Spot For Finding A Home

The Perfect Spot For Keeping Cool

FIN PER D YOU FEC R T SP OT WISE COUNTY MESSENGER NEWCOMERS/VISITORS GUIDE 2022

C The Perfect Spot For Grocery Savings

The Perfect Spot For Phone Repair

The Perfect Spot For Legal Advice

All Your Insurance Needs

Life on the Ridge on the Ridge Let’sLife Have Some Fun!! Let’s Have Some Fun!!

Independent Living offered Independentand and Assisted Assisted Living offered Studio andand One-bedroom ready for move in Studio One-bedroom apartments apartments ready for move in a call and setup up a a time time tototour your newnew home! Give Give us aus call and set tour your home!

Decatur, TX

TX License# 000362

Decatur, TX

TX License# 000362

Who Should You Trust With Your GYN Care? Decatur Women’s Health Center Offering a Full Range of Gynecological Care for Women at Every Stage of Life.

Deca

www.sbcinsurance.net 940-627-8888 Decatur

Your health and well-being as a woman are our concern. We offer a full range of gynecological care. Our emphasis is on making you feel comfortable, confident and reassured. Call today to schedule your next appointment

940-627-4216

Welcome to Alvord

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROUDLY PRESENTS

ALVORD BUILDING CENTER

Construction DOWNTOWN Repair DONUTS Improvement E F S

122 E. ELM • ALVORD • 940.427.5655 • MON. - FRI. • 7 AM - 5 PM

940-427-2016

Boutique - Hair - Pedicures

TANNING

Monday - Saturday

110 Franklin St. • 940-427-5575

940-399-0579

www.legend-bank.com

107 W. Franklin St.

DANNY HODGES Warren Insurance 106 N. WICKHAM

940.393.1339 MON - SUN 7 AM - 9 PM 303 W. FRANKLIN ST.

109 N. Wickham St. - 940.427.7463

Medicare Supplement • Wealth Transfer Planning Tax Deferred Annuities • Long Term Care • Life Insurance

Catering by SAGEBRUSH Full Service, professional, caterer offering a broad range of menu selections. At your chosen location or at Rock Court in Alvord, Texas.

940.427.8591

Gaye Houston 940.393.5007

SALON & GIFTS

Paula Woisard 940.393.1089

107 N. WICKHAM ST.

ALVORD FARM SUPPLY FEED • SEED • FERTILIZER • WATER SOFTENER PELLETS PET FOOD & PRODUCTS

200 West Elm • 940.427.5751 Hours: M-F 8:30 am - 6 pm • Sat. 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

201 North Wickham St. • Hours: 10 am - 9 pm Closed Sunday

COME GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH US

Alvord Medical Clinic - 940-427-2175 Alvord Travel Center - 940-427-8142 Best Rate Automotive - 940-427-2384 Brushy Creek Vineyard - 940-427-4747 Culpeppers Trading Post - 864-621-6324

Grilled Bisquit & Cafe - 940-427-2170 Marker Cellars Winery - 214-632-0383 Subway - 940-427-2541 Red Rooster LLC - 940-427-2101 Wise Building Depot - 817-988-7032

WELCOME

No matter where we are from or where we are heading, people seem to have at least one thing in common: the desire to find a place they belong. That was the idea that inspired this year’s “Welcome to Wise”, as we encourage visitors and newcomers to find their own perfect spot.

Wise County Messenger Staff Roy J. Eaton

Micah McCartney

Donna Bean

President/Publisher

Sports Editor

Classi eds

Kristi Bennett

Jenifer Kozlowski

Hannah King

General Manager

Editorial

Richard Greene

Amy Neal

Editor

Editorial

Graphic Artist

Jim Bob Hampton Subscriber Services

Lori White

Mack Thweatt

Advertising Manager

Editorial

Austin Jackson

Laura Belcher

Assistant Editor

Advertising Sales

Subscriber Services

Brian Knox

Sandy Crump

Special Projects Manager

Advertising Sales

Bill Bowyer

David Sherman Subscriber Services

Tony Grimes

It could be as simple as a family traveling through Wise County finding a perfect spot to have a picnic, as our cover demonstrates, or finding a place to call home. Throughout this issue, we’ve included some suggestions on finding your perfect spot for a variety of business, recreational, educational and residential opportunities. For history buffs, we included a new feature this year — “Road Trip Through History” — which provides information on a number of historical places or events in Wise County. This year’s “Road Trip” theme is about famous outlaws and their ties to the area. This year’s edition also includes feature stories on a newlyrevitalized activity center for seniors, new opportunities available at Weatherford College Wise County, a look at what Wise County has to offer the outdoorsman and five events you’ll only find in Wise. As always, you’ll find information on our local towns, schools and the county in our information guide. We encourage you to find your own perfect spot to enjoy reading this year’s “Welcome to Wise”.

Subscriber Services

Brian Knox

Special Projects Manager Wise County Messenger

Celebrate Life 888-376-5274

FIRST HERE, BEST HERE, STILL HERE

Called the oldest business in Wise County, Wise County Abstract Company was established in 1878.

1602 Halsell St, Bridgeport 940-683-3581

405 Park West Court, Decatur t S 0 in t 940-627-3581

Wise County Title Company Provides Speedy Service

Reader’s Choice Wise County Messenger

2022

We’re HERE for You! S

K ARL

KLEMENT S T S

•

Nestled on 15 acres of rolling Wise County prairie, Karl Klement Ford offers you the best automotive experience available. Our customers consistently rely on our dedicated sales and service staff to satisfy their travel needs and you can too. From America’s best selling F-Series trucks and Ford Ranger to the all new Bronco Sport to the family friendly Explorer and Expedition along with the economical and versatile Escape and Ecosport models the Klement experience is ready and able to satisfy your travel demands. Come see us soon and learn why our customers trust us to satisfy their automotive needs year after year.

Ranger Cre Cab

Bronco Sport

E plorer

-1 0 Super Cre

FEATURE

ROAD TRIP THROUGH HISTORY

TRAVEL THE OUTLAW ROAD By Brian Knox

It’s 2022. Face it, we all thought time travel would be invented by now, didn’t we? Alas, it has not. But that’s OK. There are still ways to revisit the past, if you know the perfect spots to look. Here is a Wise County road trip you can take to revisit some infamous local history.

Machine Gun Kelly

You’ll find one of the country’s most notorious outlaws in Wise County: Machine Gun Kelly. The 1930s gangster, not the current rock/ rap/movie star. Specifically, you’ll find his final resting place in the Cottondale Cemetery. Kelly kidnapped Oklahoma City oil tycoon Charles Urshchel July 22, 1933, wielding — as you might have guessed — a machine gun and brought him back to his in-law, Robert “Boss” Shannon’s farm near Paradise where he was held for $200,000 ransom. After the money was delivered and Urshcel returned home, he was able to provide details about where he was kept captive, despite being blindfolded the entire time. It’s an interesting story that includes weather conditions, airplanes and a keen sense of time. Read more at the link below. Kelly was arrested and convicted in the plot later that year and died 21 years later in Leavenworth serving his prison sentence. His family in Illinois wouldn’t claim his body, so he was instead claimed by the Shannons and buried in their cemetery plot. The cemetery is on County Road 3571. You’ll find a historical marker at the front gate, and the simple gravestone (with the name misspelled “Kelley”) is in the northwest quarter of the cemetery Read more

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Jesse and Frank James Going back even farther in the old time machine, a historical marker east of Decatur marks the spot of an old campsite of frontier outlaws Jesse and Frank James.

The marker notes that their gang had numerous campsites stretching from the Rio Grande to their home state of Missouri where they would hide stolen horses until posses could be thrown off the trail. These camps were sometimes known to settlers, who either feared or befriended the bandits. A 1956 Messenger article says the local Renshaw family claimed the James brothers and other members of the future James/ Younger gang were laying low on the Renshaw place during the last year of the Civil War. Perhaps that later became their hideout. You can find the marker on U.S. 380 about 5 miles east of Decatur. Read more

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Bonnie and Clyde The perfect spot to end your trip, especially if it is around lunchtime on a week day, is at one of the county’s most iconic locations: the Texas Tourist Court in Decatur. While the Petrified Wood Station with antique gas pumps out front reminds us of a time when gas was under $1, it is the cabins back behind it where, local legend has it, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow once stayed a couple of nights not long before they met the end of their road in Louisiana, so to speak. There are no guest logs to confirm this story, so it could just be a tale locals made up. But standing at this spot, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s not hard to imagine the outlaws using one of these cabins as a temporary hideout. The property, near the corner of Hale Street

and U.S. 81/287 South Business, also includes the Whistle Stop Cafe, located in the same building that served as a lunch room when the cabins were in use in the 1930s. In other words, you can have a hamburger and slice of pie in the same spot Bonnie and Clyde may have once enjoyed a meal. Just make sure you pay your bill so you don’t find yourself an outlaw as well. Read more

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SHELLY SESSUMS TAX SERVICE

IRS E-Provider Accredited Through the BBB

Serving Wise County Since 1906

Decatur • 940-627-5959 Bridgeport • 940-683-2211 Boyd • 940-433-5310

Evening Appointments Available ALL YOUR BOOKKEEPING & TAX NEEDS YEAR ROUND Serving Wise County Since 1996

• Preventive heart and vascular care • Adult congenital cardiac defect • Coronary artery disease (CAD) management with medication, prevention and stenting • CHF diagnosis and management • Arrythmia diagnosis and management

Hospital Affiliation • Pulmonary hypertension Irfan Hameed, MD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI

• Pulmonary embolism Denton:

Decatur:

Wise Regional Hospital

Heart Hospital Denton

• Venous disease and ulcer

Alliance:

Who we are?

Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM

Alliance Office

worth: • Limb ischemiaFort Medical City FW (Plaza)

Medical City alliance

Baylor All saints • Valvular heart disease

(MCAL) THR Alliance

Parkway Surgical Center

• Carotid Stent

Decatur Center

I would like to thank you for allowing me to take care of your patients and family members. It has been a great journey since I started my practice in Wise and Tarrant counties in 2013. My passion is HEART & VASCULAR care and your trust & confidence motivates me to do better every day. It gives me a great pleasure to announce my new practice EPIC HEART and VASCULAR CARE with two convenient locations.

Get In Touch With us

ADVERTORIAL

ARTISTIC VENTURES

BEST PLACE TO EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY

More than just Wise County history lives at the old Texglass Inc. Warehouse in Decatur; opportunities to express your creative side and support local artists radiate throughout the building. Since 2005, Ben and Lynne McCall have worked to revitalize the artisan community by providing a broad range of creative endeavors and commercial processes to the area. In addition to the private label manufacturing shops that are the lifeblood of the property, the couple has created a retail store, studio classroom and artisan market that helps local artists gain interest from the community. Sharing access to their production assets allows these individuals to make their art a production which saves them time and increases their profitability. “We do really whatever the artist needs, we print paintings on aluminum, we laser engrave items, print T-shirts and put artists’ designs on signs,” Ben said. In many cases, the merchandise that the McCalls help an artist create, is sold in their store or is featured at the artisan market To nurture the growth of local businesses, the McCalls launched the first Decatur Artisan Market in April 2022. The market takes place once a month at the facilities at 205 N. Newark. The success of the market has inspired growth and the event will take place bi-monthly beginning in September 2022. Vendors provide a range of shopping options, with an emphasis on handmade and home-grown items. Previous markets have featured live music, puppet shows, taco trucks, bounce houses and many other unique highlights. “Whatever we do that can help Decatur and the artistic community in particular, helps us,” Ben said. “So many artist markets or stores you go into have the same thing that they did last time. We are constantly looking for new things that will continue to offer an experience.” The McCalls plan to create incubator spaces on the property where makers can work on building their business with the benefit of sharing resources and access to materials. The space will allow makers to effectively operate their business from the production, promotion, sales and staffing stages. “We are looking for people around Decatur that want to do more but have kids or a job or do not have space and sit down with them and figure out how we can help them,” Ben said. A selection of creatively fashioned merchandise is also available at the store, which is open every WednesdaySaturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Special items include vintage memorabilia from the 1960s and 1970s as well as handcrafted small collection pieces. One of the biggest attractions that appeals to visitors is the creative outlet that is offered in the classroom. People of all ages and backgrounds have an opportunity to create signs, jewelry sets, knives and candles at the DIY Studio. “The big difference between us and the other DIY businesses

is that if they do not have anything booked they are closed,” Ben said. “They also may have a minimum number of participants. If you walk in telling us that you want to do something we can make it happen.” With equipment available in the workshop area of the building, creating custom artwork in the classroom is a common practice. “At least 50 percent of the people that come in here do not select from something we already have made,” Ben said. “As soon as you sign up for a class we are going to send you an email back that lets you know that class goes a lot smoother if you know up front what you want to do. Then we will immediately start doing artwork and if you give us a design we will send you the artwork right back.” The studio offers weekly events and is a great place to host parties or group activities. The goal is for everyone to leave the class with something they are proud to display or carry with them. The studio is open for appointments and walk-ins from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m Wednesday-Saturday. “I want people to come in here for two or three hours and leave here with something they can be happy with,” Ben said.

Vis

TheFun SideofTown

DIY Classes and Parties

ENERA A I ENTISTR INC U IN

• Endodontics • Fixed Hybrid Restorations • Implant Restorations • Implant Supported Dentures • Smile Makeovers • Sedation Therapy • Invisalign • Snore Therapy

E PHASIS ON

Home Decor and Gifts

• Infection control • Preventative Care • Esthetics • Comfort

P o e

Decatur

0 2 2

Rail Yard

0 E De t

205 N Newark, Decatur Texas

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Legendary SERVICE Our history is built on the relationships we have with our customers and communities. We provide personalized service and a genuine interest in helping you reach your goals.

Contact Us Today! Lorie Pack COMMERCIAL LENDER, VP | Brennan Williams BRANCH PRESIDENT, SVP | Melissa Mitchell SVP MORTGAGE LENDING, NMLS 525091 Kallie Bilby BRANCH MANAGER, AVP | Sarah Haberman MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER, NMLS 2317576

1706 FM 51 South | Decatur, TX 76234 | 940-627-1553 | www.legend.bank Equal Housing Lender All loans subject to credit approval. NMLS 481267 Member FDIC

ADVERTORIAL

COMFORT AND FUN ARE COMMONPLACE

AT BLOOMOON PET RESORT THE PERFECT SPOT FOR YOUR PET TO STAY

BlooMoon Pet Resort has offered quality service and individualized treatment to pets across Wise County for more than 17 years. BlooMoon is on 3.66 wooded acres near Chico. The 10,000-square-foot facility is climate controlled. Brenda Howard started the business with her husband after raising and showing bloodhounds in competition for many years. They often traveled and felt there were no boarding options locally that offered the kind of attention their pets required. “We built the facility based on what we thought would be the best for our own dogs,” Howard said. The resort not only offers a welcoming place to stay for any type of pet but it also offers grooming services and training classes. Treating your pet to a haircut or a stimulating new skill could increase their quality of life. “We offer board and train where dogs can stay with us while we work with them and then we review everything at the end of that stay with the owner,” Howard said. The resort also offers group classes and individual class sessions for training. Owners can also have their pet boarded for the day if they need to run an errand or want to briefly travel into the Metroplex. BlooMoon specializes in seeing the uniqueness of each animal and understanding their needs. Oftentimes, the resort cares for unconventional pets

like birds, rabbits and reptiles. “We are very skilled at what we do and we literally care for every animal like it is our own,” Howard said. BlooMoon’s team goes above and beyond by ensuring that pets establish a comfortable routine while also offering owners the option to provide their animal with fun experiences. “There are all kinds of things that we can do with the pet,” Howard said. “We offer ball toss, frisbee, tunnel time, swimming and more.” Additionally, canine visitors also have the option to take part in supervised group play, kong time and ice cream snacks. “Even if they do not add a single additional thing,” Kennel Manager Carol Ward said “that pet is going to get a lot of one-on-one time and quality care from the kennel techs.” BlooMoon Kennel Manager and Trainer Elizabeth Lyons emphasized the resort’s commitment to consistency. “We have the same routine everyday and it helps [the pets] get used to it because they know what is coming next,” Lyons said. “Our kennel techs are almost always back there with the animals either cleaning, feeding, or doing activities. There is a lot of human interaction.” The BlooMoon team strives to serve pets and their owners as much as possible. If a pet needs to be separated from other animals the staff are prepared to accommodate the pet’s

preferences. Some facilities choose not to board larger or more aggressive breeds but BlooMoon understands that all pets deserve a welcoming environment. “We try not to be prejudiced against a certain breed,” Howard said.“We evaluate each dog on its own merits. If you have a dog that likes people but does not like being around other dogs, we have a way of handling that.” Overall animal health is a priority at the resort so Howard and her team have worked to establish vaccination requirements as a preventative measure. Required vaccinations include distemper, parvo, parainfluenza, bordetella, canine influenza and rabies. “We are going to err on the side of caution for our safety and for the safety of the animals that board with us,” Howard said. Owners can request a reservation for their pet at bloomoonpetresort.com or by calling the facility at 940-644-2722. BlooMoon also offers tours to interested visitors at any time during their normal business hours. Scheduling a reservation in advance is the best way to secure a comfortable stay for your pet. “We are busy all year long and we are going to book up for the holidays well in advance. Reserve your space as early as you can,” Howard said. “We strive to make sure that people and their pets are given excellent service and that is what keeps us busy.”

BISIDAS

Entrust Your Pets Safety, Comfort & Happiness with the Best in Boarding, Training & Grooming Climate controlled boarding in clean spacious runs with frequent off-leash “potty” breaks in large grassy yards. Cat and small pet boarding too! Positive Reinforcement Obedience Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs-group classes, private lessons or Board ‘N Train.

ATER

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First in Service Because We Put Service First

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Professional grooming by appointment.

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riller

940.644.2722 Chico, Texas

MasterCard • Visa • Discover

Open 7 Days a Week

940-627-3858

bloomoonpetresort

www.bloomoonpetresort.com

DECATUR

2200 S. FM 51, Suite 300 206 W. Main St.

BOWIE

1616 E. Wise Street Suite C

940-627-9040

For more information about us and our listings, visit

parkerpropertiestexas.com

HA SE IXTLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Framing Memories Branda Thomas

Sally Vaughn

1012 Halsell St. Bridgeport, TX 76426

940-626-4459

STREET Classic Florist

Gifts & Boutique Celebrating with Flowers since 1996

framingmemoriesdecatur@gmail.com facebook.com/framingmemoriesdecatur Custom framing for Art, Photography, Mirrors, Needlework, Memorabilia and More

914 al ll St. . 940la i ri t.n t

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910 Halsell St. • Bridgeport, TX 76426

940-393-2567 • 909 HALSELL

1117 al ll St

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S lt r nt r

i . r 940-683-4741

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9 4 0 -7 9 9 - 8 9 8 0

9 0 1 H A L S E L L & 1 3 0 5 1 0 T H S T. T H E H AY H U R S T B R OT H E R S .CO M

inancial Advisor 1028 Halsell St, Suite 100 Bridgeport, TX 76426 940-68 -6790

EDIE C. MCDONALD, CPA CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

edie@cmccpa.com

W. RAY COOK JR., CPA, CFF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

ray@cmccpa.com

940-683-5583 • 940-627-5611 • Fax 940-683-5550 1008 Halsell Street, Ste 100 • Bridgeport, TX 76426

BRIDGEPORT BRIDGEPORT 1109 Halsell St. 1109 Halsell St.

940.683.8100 940.683.8100

1210 Halsell St Bridgeport, TX 76426

AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE & REPAIR

940-683-0209

B D

940.683.2411 7 42

940-683-1704 • hudsontorres.com 1401 Halsell St. • Bridgeport, Texas

BRIDGEPORT

THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET CENTER and

Texas Main Street certify that

Bridgeport Main Street Program has been recognized as a

2022 Main Street America Accredited Program for meeting the standards of performance in 2021

Patrice Frey

President & CEO National Main Street Center

Matthew Wag Wagner, PhD

Vice President of Revitalization Programs National Main Street Center

ADVERTORIAL

RHINE REALTY DELIVERS AWARD-WINNING SERVICE

After founding Rhine Realty, a full-service brokerage firm in Wise County, Christie Rhine injected a splash of color to Wise County’s real estate scene. Hot pink Rhine Realty signs in front of commercial, residential and farm and ranch listings are hard to miss around the county. With a flare for standing out, and a work ethic that’s followed her since her childhood as a cowgirl taking care of animals and volunteering at the Bridgeport Riding Club, Rhine has made an unmistakable impact on her community. That impact goes beyond branding and helping her customers through her awardwinning brokerage. Last year, Rhine was named the Decatur Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year for her dedication to the community, and countless hours spent volunteering and serving on various boards. “It meant so much. I cried,” said Rhine. “I was not expecting my name to be called.” Rhine has served as a Chamber board member, including a stint as president in 2017-18. She also started the Chamber’s ambassador program. Under her leadership, the Chamber launched the Eighter from Decatur Food Truck Challenge. She co-founded the Glitzy Girls Trailer Park on the Decatur Square to raise money for local nonprofits. She has been a member of the Decatur and Main Street Boards and served as president of the Area Business Women’s Network. She also belongs to several realtor groups,

including the Greater Denton/ Wise County Association of Realtors. Through her commitment to the community that’s brought people together and helped the business climate in Wise County flourish, Rhine has carved out a successful real estate career, despite the long hours and non-traditional work schedule. “It’s not 9-5, and it’s not Monday through Friday. It’s a lot of hours and it’s a lot of weekends,” she said. Twelve years ago, Rhine got her real estate license, starting a new venture after establishing herself in the banking industry. At the time she was resistant to the idea, but a family member knew Rhine could successfully create her own path in the crowded, competitive field. “She was after me for five years to get into the real estate business, and I fought her for five years. I was like, ‘why?’ It seemed like everybody had a real estate

license,” Rhine recalled. “She told me, ‘You work hard, you’ll be different.” Eventually, Rhine got her license and proved that family member right, starting a firm that has established itself through a hyperpersonalized approach that Rhine describes as a boutique brokerage. Rhine’s calm demeanor and professional approach has helped guide clients through those big, life-changing purchases and sales, leading to several people finding their dream homes and awards for Rhine Realty. Rhine won the 201718 Wise County Messenger’s Reader’s Choice award for Best Realtor. In 2018, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce named Rhine Realty the Small Business of the Year. You can contact Rhine Realty, 940-626-9770, or reach Christie by cell, 940-393-5070. For information on Rhine Realty, visit rhinerealtytx.com.

Now you can find us in the of

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Shelly

Gina

Christie

Colleen

Kannan

HARRISON

CLARK

RHINE

WALKER

MOORE

Broker

“Your Local Real Estate Team” 109 S. Trinity St. • Decatur, TX

940-626-9770

www.rhinerealtytx.com

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50 S M

•

• 940-627-25 4 C

Our Products Hanson Aggregates – Bridgeport Quarry produces aggregates (crushed stone and sand) that are an essential part of our daily lives. These products are vital to a healthy, growing local and regional economy.

About Bridgeport Quarry In 2016 Hanson Bridgeport quarry won the pinnacle awards for an aggregate producer. We were presented the gold award for community relations by the National Stone and Gravel association. Hanson Aggregates is an old neighbor in Bridgeport, but boasts one of the most modern and innovative aggregate operations in the country. Although the plant has been operating in Wise County since 1956, a totally new plant was completed in 2006, boosting Hanson’s production capability, and giving the facility a unique combination of environmental controls which sharply control dust and water pollution. The plant, located approximately three miles north of Bridgeport on State Highway 101, is looked upon as a model in the industry, and has drawn the attention of aggregate operations across the country.

* They are in nearly all residential, commercial and industrial building construction and in most public works projects including roads, highways and bridges; railroad beds; dams; airports; water and sewage treatment facilities and systems; and tunnels.

Economic Impact · Bridgeport Quarry is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Wise County, employing 130 full-time workers. · In addition to being the largest taxpayer in Wise County, comprising a signicant percentage of the county and schools operating budgets each year, Bridgeport Quarry operations pump millions of dollars into the local economy. · Because of transportation costs, it’s important for construction aggregates to be readily available near major markets. Aggregates are most commonly used within 50 miles of their place of extraction. That means that communities near quarries benefit from lower prices on construction of homes, buildings and roads than those that need to transport aggregate from other areas.

In Our Community As one of the area’s leading companies, Bridgeport Quarry is committed to its role as a leading corporate citizen.

· There are more than 10,000 aggregate quarries nationwide and 70 percent of all counties in the United States produce aggregates, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.

Here are a few examples: • Donated a new Veteran’s Memorial to the people of Chico • TItle Sponsor for WC Challenger Charities BBQ Challenge • TItle Sponsor for Wise County United Way Golf Tourney • Sponsor of Eighter from Decatur Food Truck Challenge • Sponsor of Bridgeport Chamber Skeet Shoot • Supporter of Project Graduation events in Wise County • Supporter of Local Booster Clubs and Youth Teams • Supporter of 1000 Miles Til Home organization for Wounded Warriors • Active Member in several area Chambers of Commerce • Provide educational field trips to schools in Wise County as well as in the DFW Metroplex • Supporter of Wise County Youth Fair and Local Buyer’s Club

CONTACT:

Hanson Aggregates Bridgeport Quarry 1443 S Hwy 101 • Chico, Texas 76431 Aggregate Sales 972-653-3744

FEATURE

EVENTS YOU’LL FIND ONLY IN WISE

By Brian Knox

Wise County has a number of annual events which draw people from near and far. Here are our top five “Uniquely Wise” events you’ll want to pencil into your calendar.

1. Old Settlers Reunion The granddaddy of Wise County events is not only the oldest recurring public event in the county, it’s arguably the most popular. Reunion is a one-of-a-kind, week-long mix of family, friends, food and fun held the last week of July. Cabins, which often have been in the family for multiple generations, are decked out in their colorful (and often humorous) best, providing the perfect spot to sit and visit. The Reunion Grounds are at Joe Wheeler Park off Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. Admission is free, but there is a charge for parking and carnival rides. Visit Wise County Old Settlers Reunion on Facebook for information.

What makes it uniquely Wise? Mix in two cups family reunion, one cup class reunion, six spoonfuls of camping, a teaspoon of carnival and a dash of live entertainment baked at mid-summer temperatures and you have the recipe for a Wise County tradition that’s been a staple for 140 years. You might also like: Butter eld Stage ays in Bridgeport in May. Online: BridgeportChamber.org

2. Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games Wise County turns into the Scottish Highlands for one weekend each spring. One of the highlights is watching men and women compete in traditional Scottish Highland athletic competitions, including the caber toss, hammer throw, weight throw, weight toss, sheaf toss and putting the stone. Enjoy live musical performances and sample a variety of Scottish delecacies at the food court. Dozens of Scottish clans are represented in the Clan Village, providing the perfect opportunity to find out more about your Scottish heritage. The festival is held in early May at the Wise County Fairgrounds on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. Visit TexasScots. com for admission prices and a full schedule of events.

What makes it uniquely Wise? One word: haggis. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. You might also like The ighter From ecatur Food Truc Challenge in May. Online: EighterFoodTruckChallenge.com

3. Decatur Swap Meet Thousands of people from as far away as Minnesota travel to Wise County each year to attend this event, which has been held for nearly 50 years. It’s the first major automotive swap meet of the season in the south central United States. While a variety of items are available, 80 percent of a vendor’s items must be automobile-related. The swap meet is held the last weekend of February at the Wise County Fairgrounds on Farm Road 51 South in Decatur. Visit wcaac.com/dsm.htm for information.

What makes it uniquely Wise? Looking for that hard-to-find part for that classic auto you’ve been restoring? Chances are one of the more than 3,000 vendors will have it. You might also like: The Chisholm Trail Antique Farm Equipment Show in May. Online: Chisholm Trail Antique Farm Equipment Club on Facebook

4. 4th Fest The place to be on the Saturday closest to Independence Day is Runaway Bay. The day includes the Firecracker Scramble golf tournament at the beautiful RB Golf Club and Resort — the only 18-hole golf course in the county — along with a car show, kids activities, a golf-cart parade and fireworks after dark. Our advice: get there early for the best viewing spot. Runaway Bay is on U.S. 380 along the southwestern shore of Lake Bridgeport. Visit Greater Runaway Bay Alliance on Facebook for information.

What makes it uniquely Wise? We can almost guarantee you’ve never seen more patriotic golf carts paraded through town. The fireworks over the lake are pretty awesome as well. You might also like: The Kid Fish events at Lake Bridgeport and Black Creek Lake in June.

5. Christmas in July Jeep Festival Bridgeport has become an off-roader’s paradise thanks to the 300-acre Northwest OHV Park. One of Wise County’s newest annual events celebrates all-things Jeep with a downtown parade and show along with live music, food and vendors. Proceeds from the event benefit the Bridgeport Police Department’s Santa Cops program which delivers toys to local kids in need. Jeep staging will be at the Northwest OHV Park at Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park, 279 George Mitchell Pkwy., and the parade will end on Halsell Street where the festival will take place. Visit CityofBridgeport.net for details about the event and how to participate.

What makes it uniquely Wise? When you need a little Christmas delivered not by a magic sleigh but an iconic vehicle with both on- and off-road capabilities, you’ve found the place. You might also like: The Wise County Toy Run in ecem er nline WiseToyRun com

ADVERTORIAL

CONTINUING A

LONGSTANDING LEGAL LEGACY

Carrillo|Sipes|Tibbels, PLLC continues a longstanding tradition offering clear advice and effective legal solutions for clients not only from Wise County, but from across Texas and the United States who find themselves needing legal representation in North Texas. Partners J. Michael Carrillo, Mary Lois Spain-Sipes, and Charles R. Tibbels joined forces in 2020 to create a dynamic, well-rounded team. “There is strength in numbers, and we have a solid team here,” said SpainSipes. “With various areas of expertise, different backgrounds and perspectives, our firm is diverse and will not only effectively represent all clients, but also be an empathetic source of support for individuals and their families.” Although the trio recently partnered, all are Decatur natives and their individual law practices were long established. Spain-Sipes began her legal career serving the Metroplex as an oil and gas attorney before returning home to join a local firm and then beginning a solo practice in the Woodruff and Wren building. In January 2019, she became a partner in Woodruff, Wren & SpainSipes, LLP. Carrillo began his career with a Decatur law firm before beginning a successful solo career. Tibbels joined him in 2013, forming Carrillo|Tibbels, PLLC. January 2020 brought changes to both firms, and they merged, creating Carrillo|Sipes|Tibbels, PLLC, providing clients with the same outstanding service offered by the firm since it was founded in 1905. “We have a mutual professional respect for each other and play off each other’s strengths,” said Spain-Sipes, “and we feel privileged to continue the legacy of a historic firm known for its powerhouse attorneys and quality representation.” The firm’s practice areas include: criminal (felony and misdemeanor charges), DWI, all drug possessions; probate law; wills; estate planning; civil

litigation; business and corporate law; guardianships; real estate; family law matters; oil and gas; and traffic tickets. Carrillo primarily practices criminal and civil litigation, as well as family law, while Tibbels focuses largely on business and corporate law, estate planning, real estate, and probate. Spain-Sipes uses her real estate experience to effectively serve clients with probate, guardianship, and real estate needs, as well as estate planning. She also practices family law. “A huge benefit is that we’re local,” said Spain-Sipes. “There is no reason why someone with a legal issue in Wise, Jack, or Montague County should hire an attorney from Fort Worth or Dallas.” Tibbels echoed the sentiment. “Local counsel is very important when clients are dealing with legal issues because whether you’re in Tarrant, Harris, or Denton County or any other county in Texas, having someone there who knows the field and the players serves as an advantage,” he said. “Clients certainly have an advantage with respect to an attorney’s knowledge

and ability to apply law, and we pride ourselves on our diverse legal knowledge. However, the law is the same across Texas; significant benefit is found by hiring attorneys who have a working knowledge of day-to-day local practices.” Carrillo|Sipes|Tibbels, PLLC wants to positively impact the community and provide representation for not only local citizens, but also those who find themselves in the local court system. “All types of people from different walks of life and from varying economic backgrounds need legal help,” said Spain-Sipes, “and when they walk through our door, we want them all to be treated equally and with respect. “That’s a big deal to us.” No matter the level of help needed, Carrillo|Sipes|Tibbels, PLLC is eager to consult with you and provide needed support. To consult with the attorneys or staff, call 940-627-0006 or drop by 100 N. Trinity St. on the Decatur Square. You can also learn more online at cstlawfirm.com.

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Licensed to practice in all areas of law by State Bar of Texas since 2010

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FEBRUARY

Antique Auto Swap Meet

MARCH

Wise County Youth Fair

APRIL

Glitzy Girls Trailer Park

MAY

Cruise Nights on the Square Eighter Food Truck Challenge Texas Scottish Festival

JUNE

Juneteenth Gathering Cruise Nights on the Square

JULY

Summer Concert on the Square Wise County Reunion

AUGUST

Taste of Wise

SEPTEMBER

Cruise Nights on the Square Eighter Bicycle Rally

OCTOBER

Cruise Nights on the Square National Night Out Paint the Town Pink Boo Bash

S 940-399-9558

NOVEMBER Decatur Swirl

Lucky 7 Shopping Small Business Saturday

DECEMBER

Lighted Christmas Parade Moonlight Madness Wise County Toy Run Woman’s Club Tour of Homes Breakfast with Santa

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ADVERTORIAL

KEEPING A COOL LEGACY

From Day 1, Ary Co AC & Heat has emphasized the value of customer service. Established in 1982 by Aboud Ary, the business has since grown into a successful operation by maintaining its focus on treating customers like a member of the family. “Ary Co was started by my father,” owner Mark Ary said. “He passed away in 2010, and it’s an honor to carry on his name.” Beginning his training in the shadow of his father at 3 years old, Ary learned valuable lessons that have stuck with him over almost four decades. “One of the most important things I learned from my dad is how important relationships are,” Ary said. “I watched him take care of the relationships he built over the years. He always kept in touch with people. I learned that business is built on relationships, and that’s something that we’re still focused on today.” Customers clearly appreciate those relationships, as they’ve honored the company with six Wise County Messenger Reader’s Choice awards — including a streak of five consecutive years (2018-22). “We have hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, but we’ve also had a lot of happy local customers which shows in our business being continuously named a Reader’s Choice business,” Ary said. “It’s an honor because I know we’re doing our job — serving the people. It lets me know we’re keeping our customers happy, and we’re going to keep doing it the same way because it works. “From the time our customers call the office to schedule an appointment, they are kept up to speed about the status of their repair. They’ll get a call letting them know the technician is on the way. Our billing is flat-rate, so the customer knows what they’re going to pay to fix the problem after we diagnose it. It’s pretty cut-and-dry with no hidden charges.” A growing North Texas population increased the demand for HVAC work in the past decade, which has led to an expansion of the business. Ary Co opened a larger state-ofthe-art facility in 2020. “In 2015, I had three employees and two trucks, and I was officing out of the back of my house,” Ary said. “Fastforward to 2020, we now have a 12,000-square-foot facility and 25 employees. “With our growth, we’re able to provide more prompt and professional service to our customers. Our business is now staffed with the office workers and management that it needs. I feel we’re able to provide better service than any other HVAC company in Wise County.” Ary Co AC & Heat services and installs HVAC systems for both residential and commercial customers, including

air conditioning, heating, ductwork, thermostats and refrigeration/ice machines. The company services all major makes, models and brands of systems, and has been recognized as a TRANE Comfort Specialist, and a Reliable Top Contractor with an A+ Accredited Business ranking with the Better Business Bureau. “We make it simple by adhering to a strict policy that promises 100 percent customer satisfaction, no matter what,” Ary said. They serve customers in Wise, Montague, Cooke, Parker, Clay, Jack, Denton and northern Tarrant counties. Ary Co AC & Heat is located at 1721 North U.S. 81/287 Business in Decatur. To schedule an appointment, call 940-627-5882.

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CITIES

ALVORD Government

Jim Enochs is Alvord’s mayor. The city council also includes Brian Hatzenbihler, Heather Redder, Shane Raney, Dawn White and Dewayne Sherwood, who is mayor pro-tem. The city council meets 6 p.m. the third Thursday at City Hall, at 215 W. Elm St. City administrator is Clint Mercer. City secretary is Pam Gregg, and city bookkeeper is Susan Raines. Public works director is Doug Baker. ~ 940-427-5916

alvordtx.gov ~

Services

The Wise County Sheriff’s Office provides police protection for the city. ~ 940-627-5971, or call 911 for emergencies ~ The city is served by the Alvord Volunteer Fire Department. Sam Hahn is fire chief. ~ 940-427-3361, or 911 for emergencies AlvordFire@hotmail.com ~ The Alvord Public Library, at 106 W. Franklin St., is open Wednesday through Saturday. ~ 940-427-2842

alvord.ploud.net ~

Parks and Recreation

Alvord’s Elm Creek Park, 1078 E. Business U.S. 81/287, includes a tennis court, pavilion, baseball fields and upgraded playgrounds, including one covered in a shade canopy. The Alvord Area Veterans Memorial Park is also at Elm Creek Park. The Oak Hill Raceway, 1636 County Road 1270 near Alvord, is equipped for dirt bikes and other ATVs. The track is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. ~ 940-577-2225

oakhillmx.com ~

Local Points of Interest

Brushy Creek Vineyards and Winery, 572 County Road 2798, is open noon to 6 p.m. daily. ~ 940-427-4747 brushycreekvineyards.com ~ Marker Cellars Family Winery, 1484 County Road 2585, is open noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, and Thursday by appointment only. ~ 214-632-0383

markercellars.com ~

Annual Events

~ Easter Eggstravaganza Alvord Watermelon Festival Alvord Hometown Christmas Market ~

Education

The Class 2A Alvord Independent

School District has three campuses: elementary, middle school and high school. School board members are Jim Looney, Lance Thweatt, Russell Rice, Daniel Ruddick, Mark Gose, David Warren and Shane Rasmussen. Superintendent is Dr. Randy Brown. Administration office ~ 185 S. Mosley Lane 940-427-5975 ~ Alvord High School ~ 1049 W. Bypass U.S. 81/287 940-427-9643 ~ Alvord Middle School ~ 328 Farm Road 1655 S. 940-427-5511 ~ Alvord Elementary School W Stadium rive 940-4272881 alvordisd.net ~

Government Bryan Dolan serves as mayor. The city council includes Bill McCurdy, Amy ynn Crites Reynolds, Kristin Cline, Deb Terrell, Jason Pria us and Ron Pellegrini. City council meetings are p.m. the second and fourth Mondays, held at the temporary location of Boyd Community Center, 20 E. Morton Ave. Interim city secretary is ynnell Day. aurorate as gov

N S The city is protected by the C S O

CITIES

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CITIES

BOYD Government

Rodney Holmes serves as mayor, and Mark Culpepper is mayor pro tem. Council members include Jimmy Young, Randy Adams, Jeff Leavell and Jeff Clark. The council meets 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays at Boyd Community Center, 420 E. Morton Ave. City hall is at 731 E. Rock Island Ave. Dwayne Taylor is city administrator, and city secretary is Sherrie Dast. ~ 940-433-5166

cityofboyd.com ~

Services

The Boyd Police Department employs seven full-time officers. Josh Compton serves as police chief. ~ 940-433-8400 ~ The Wise County ESD No. 1/Boyd Fire Department provides protection

Parks and Recreation

The 4,280-square-foot Boyd Community Center, 420 E. Morton Ave., includes a full-service kitchen, banquet tables and chairs, a stage and space to accommodate up to 300 people. ~ 940-433-5166 ~

Yellowjacket Park, at the corner of West Dunlap and North Evans, includes a basketball court.

The Boyd Senior Citizens Center at 420 E. Morton Ave. opens at 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. ~ 940-433-5166 ~

to the city and surrounding areas. Jason Paradise serves as fire chief. ~ 940-433-2085, or call 911 for emergencies ~ Boyd has three city parks.

James Snodgrass Park, 501 W. Hobbs Ave., includes a playground, volleyball court, walking trail and a pavilion. The R.T. Brooks Youth Sport Complex, 601 W. Hobbs Ave., includes a baseball field, softball field, T-ball field, walking trail and picnic tables.

The Boyd Raceway, 376 Raceway Lane, south of the city, hosts races every Friday night mid-March through August. The quarter-mile, semi-banked dirt track hosts races with stock cars, modified cars, sport modified cars, hobby stock cars and mini stock cars. ~ 817-229-0287

boydraceway.com ~

River Valley Motocross, 733 County Road 4757 near Boyd, offers an outdoor dirt track and a kids/beginner track. ~ 817-932-3333 facebook.com/rivervalleymx ~

Local Points of Interest

The Wild Animal Sanctuary Texas, formerly International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, 3901 Texas 114 between Boyd and Aurora, provides a permanent home for animals such as tigers, bobcats, cougars, lions and bears. The sanctuary is no longer open to the general public, but active financial supporters of the organization are welcome to visit on special days or weekends by appointment. ~ 940-433-5091 wildanimalsanctuarytexas.org ~ TF Vineyard and Winery, 162 Private Road 4689, is open Thursday through Saturday. ~ 940-535-5622

tfvineyard.com ~

O The Class A four campuses school.

Education

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CITIES

BRIDGEPORT Government

Randy Singleton is Bridgeport’s mayor. City council members include Austin Ince, Brett Wade, Susan Coffman, Sylvia Ramirez and Linda Vassar. Council meetings are held 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays at city hall, 900 Thompson St. Jean Dwinnel is city secretary. ~ 940-683-3400 cityofbridgeport.net ~ The Bridgeport Police Department includes 19 officers (including two school resource officers, the chief, two lieutenants, three corporals and one detective), five dispatchers, one animal control officer, one code enforcement officer and two civilian support staff. Steve Stanford is Police Chief. ~ 940-683-3430 ~ Fire protection and first responder services are provided by the Bridgeport Fire Department. Travis Nokes is fire chief. ~ 940-683-3446, or call 911 for emergencies ~ The Bridgeport Municipal Airport, 299 L.V. Selz Rd., provides alternative transportation to the general aviation public. Paul Walsh is the city contact. ~ 940-683-3430 ~ Bridgeport Public Library, 2159 10th St., has 36,000 books, magazines, audiobooks, newspapers, DVDs, and videos available for use by the public. Computers with internet access are available to the public. Marisol Cano is library services director. ~ 940-683-3450 ~

Parks and Recreation

The Bridgeport City Pool, 1106 8th St., offers a place to cool off during the summer. It has been recently updated with new amenities. Hours for summer 2022 are noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. ~ 940-683-3480 ~ The city operates four public parks.

Harwood Park, 707 Hovey St. near downtown, includes playgrounds, picnic tables, pavilion, a walking trail, lights, barbecue grills, open play area, horseshoe pits, a six-hole disc golf course and restrooms. The pavilion may be reserved for events. ~ 940-683-3480 ~ Payne Park, 409 W. Cates St., features a covered skate park, picnic tables, playground equipment, open play area and restrooms. Lawdwin Ball Fields, 1102 Lawdwin Ave., consists of 13 acres including two baseball fields, one softball field, a small multi-purpose field, and a multi-purpose field used for spring soccer and fall football. Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park, the home of the Northwest OHV Park is north of town off of Texas 101 at 279 George Mitchell Pkwy. It includes

an ATV park and hiking and biking trail system. Hiking and biking trails are open seven days a week. The Northwest OHV Park is open Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter. ~ 940-683-3480 cityofbridgeport.net/ northwestpark ~ The city has two facilities that host various community events and can be rented by the public for events of up to 200 people: the Bridgeport Community Center 1102 Lawdwin Ave., and the Arcadia Theater, 1009 Halsell. ~ 940-683-3480 ~ The Bridgeport Country Club, 250 Farm Road 2123, features a spacious 5,983-yard, nine-hole golf course with Bermuda greens. It is open seven days a week. ~ 940-683-9438 facebook.com/ BridgeportCountryClub/ ~

Visiting

The Bridgeport Visitor Center, 812 Halsell St., provides information on local attractions and history. It also serves as the home of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce and the Bridgeport Heritage Museum. The center also showcases the replica Abbot & Downing Concord Coach, which represents the city’s history and its title as “Stagecoach Capital of Texas.” ~ 940-683-2076 ~ Bridgeport is a Texas and National Main Street City, and the program sponsors special events throughout the year that promote economic development and chronicle the community’s colorful history. ~ 940-683-3404 ~ The Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce’s motto is to serve the economic growth of their members while advocating for business advancement, economic growth and job creation for

the benefit of Bridgeport. The chamber is staffed by Executive Director Nathan Byers and Accounting Manager Vanessa Arnold. Membership luncheons are held 11:30 a.m. every third Thursday at Weatherford College Wise County. ~ 940-683-2076 ~

Local Point of Interest

The mission of the Center for Animal Research and Education (CARE) provides for the rescue, rehabilitation and holistic nurturing of sick, injured and abused big cats. CARE is home to snow leopards, cougars, leopards, lions, tigers, a bobcat, ring-tail lemurs and llamas. CARE, 245 County Road 3422, is also dedicated to efforts to learn from the animals’ natural behaviors, instincts and habitats and to learn and practice techniques to enhance the quality of life for big cats in captivity. ~ 940-683-8115 carerescuetexas.com ~

CITIES

BRIDGEPORT Annual Events

~ Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce Banquet Southern Rock Bouncing addy aughter ance St. Paddy s ay on Halsell Easter Eggstravaganza Cinco e ayo Celebration Butter eld Stage ays other aughter Tea Party Christmas in July Jeep Festival Middle School Pool Party Taste of Bridgeport Heritage on Halsell Spooktacular Fall Festival Suit Up and Say Boo Santa and the Stagecoach Lights on Halsell Christmas Parade Holidays on Halsell Breakfast with Santa ~

Seasonal or recurring events ~ Girls Night Out Hollywood on Halsell ~

Education

The Class 4A Bridgeport Independent School District has a high school, middle school, intermediate school, elementary school and alternative learning campus. School board members include Jim Bost, Charles Mauldin, Duane Sutherland, Kailynn Hudson, Scott Hiler, David Lawson and Richard Vidal. Administration office ~ 2107 15th St. 940-683-5124 ~ Bridgeport High School ne aroon rive 940-683-4064 ~ Bridgeport Middle School ~ 702 17th St. 940-683-2273 ~ Bridgeport Intermediate ~ 1400 U.S. 380 940-683-5784 ~ Bridgeport Elementary lementary rive 940-6835955 ~ Bridgeport Alternative Learning Center ~ 1101 17th St. 940-683-1830 bridgeportisd.net ~

CITIES

CHICO Government

Colleen Self serves as mayor. The city council includes Jimmy B. Counts, Jack Souther, Bart Weatherly, Hannah Avants and Ronnie McGuire. The council meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday at city hall, 400 S. Hovey. Rhonda Richey is city secretary. ~ 940-644-2435 ~

Services

The city has a small police department and is also served by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office. ~ 940-627-5971, or call 911 for emergencies ~ The Chico Volunteer Fire Department provides service to the city and surrounding areas. Joshua Richey serves as fire chief. ~ 940-644-5302 ~ The Chico Public Library, 106 W. Jacksboro St. on the historic town square, offers programs and activities for people of all ages year-round. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. ~ Contact: Michelle Slonaker 940-644-2330 chico.ploud.net ~ The Chico Chamber of Commerce meets the second Tuesday at the Chico Senior Center with an executive/business meeting at 10:30 a.m. followed by the regular meeting at noon with lunch and a speaker. It also sponsors the annual Chico Fest and provides scholarships to graduating Chico High School seniors. ~ Chico Texas Chamber of Commerce on Facebook, wisecountychamber. com/chico/ ~

Parks and Recreation

M. Robinson Park, at the corner of West Sherman and Buffalo streets, includes a play area for kids, two gazebos, skate park and a basketball court.

Jewel Park, on Farm Road 1810, features baseball fields. Tucker Park, behind city hall at 400 S. Hovey, features a playground. Wise County Park, at 372 County Road 1638 on the north end of Lake Bridgeport and west of Farm Road 2952, offers three, two-lane boat ramps with ample parking, restrooms, handicap access, picnic areas, RV hookups, fishing, tent camping, playground and walking/nature trail. ~ 940-644-1910 co.wise. tx.us (under the “Public Works” heading) ~ The Chico Senior Center is at 201 S. Buffalo St. ~ 940-644-2218 ~ The Chico Veterans Memorial, which honors those who have served our country, is taken care of by local 4-H students and is located on the town square.

Local points of interest

O.G. Cellars, 704 County Road 1895, is a boutique winery in the rolling hills of Northwest Wise County. It is open Thursday through Sunday. ~ 940-867-7669

ogcellars.com ~

Annual Events

~ Easter Egg Hunt ~ ~ Chamber of Commerce Banquet ~ ~ Classic Car Show ~ ~ Chico Spring Fest ~ ~ Chico Fest ~ ~ Trunk or Treat ~ ~ Reverse Christmas Parade ~

Education

The Class 2A Chico Independent School District has three campuses — an elementary, junior high and high school. School board members are Tim Raley, Steven Cox, G.A. Buckner, Barbara Kay, Doug Bowyer, Jada Grooms and Kyle Grimes. Randy Brawner is superintendent. Administration office ~ 503 W. Sherman St. 940-6442228 ~ Chico High School ~ 263 Farm Road 2952 940-644-5783 ~ Chico Middle School ~ 1205 W. Sherman St. 940-6445550 ~ Chico Elementary School ~ 1120 Park Road 940-644-2220 chicoisdtx.net ~

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We provide care, because it s personal for us it s about our patients and their families, our community and our employees. We are passionate about the care e provide, because e care deeply about the people receiving it. Jason Wren

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Over the last fe years, Wise Health System has been orking to ards establishing a frame ork for our foundation of excellence ith the intent to become a better organi ation. This ourney to excellence re uires long term commitment at every level. Guided by our mission and vision, e are continuously seeking to improve the uality of life for our community.

Our Core Values Our core values are those ualities on hich our organi ation stands and operates. These values are a re ection of our culture and our character. Our

employees are the source of our strength and our success. We encourage and support their involvement and gro th to uphold these values as the foundation of excellence.

Our culture is vitally important to our success. Certain core values drive ho e provide this care. We take seriously our obligation to build and protect our culture. We use the acronym Be W.I.S.E. to remind ourselves that ho e deliver care is as important as the care itself. We are excited about this ourney and looking for ard to the future serving our community.

CITIES

DECATUR be provided by Lasater by appointment. In addition to providing information on the city and the surrounding area, the center also regularly hosts art shows put on by the Wise County Art Association. ~ 940-399-9558

decaturmainstreet.com ~

The Decatur Chamber of Commerce office is at 106 S. Trinity. Misty Berry serves as executive director. Meagan Hood is president. The Chamber holds membership lunches at 11:30 every fourth Tuesday except June, July and December at the Decatur Conference Center. ~ 940-627-3107

Government

Mike McQuiston serves as mayor, and Melinda Reeves is the mayor pro tem. Council members are Eddie Allen, Darlene Hilton, Jake Hayes, Debra Jackson and Will Carpenter. The council meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Monday at Decatur City Hall, 201 E. Walnut St. Nate Mara is city manager. City secretary is Asucena Garcia. ~ 940-393-0200

decaturtx.org ~

Services

The Decatur Police Department provides 24-hour protection for the city. Police Chief is Delvon Campbell. ~ 940-393-0300 ~ The Decatur Fire Department is the only full-time fire department in the county. Deroy Bennett serves as chief. ~ 940-393-0230 ~ The Decatur Municipal Airport has been in existence since 1914, making it the oldest airport in the state. One mile north of town on Farm Road 730, it features a 4,200-foot by 60-foot runway

with a 17,000-pound dual wheel weightbearing capacity. ~ 940-627-2855 ~ Decatur, Wise County and the surrounding area is served by Wise Health System, 609 Medical Center Dr. ~ 940-627-5921 wisehealthsystem. com ~ The Decatur Public Library, 1700 S. Farm Road 51, offers a mix of education, literature, technology and collaborative experiences for all ages. It is open Monday through Saturday. ~ 940-393-0290 decaturpubliclibrary.com ~

Visiting

The Decatur Visitors Center, 106 South Trinity Street, is a great place to begin your visit to town. Located in a historic, refurbished post office, the building houses the Decatur Main Street office of Manager Frieda Lasater. Tours of the historic courthouse can also

decaturtx.com ~

The Decatur Conference Center, 2010 U.S. 380 W., is a 27,000 squarefoot multi-use facility that hosts a variety of events large or small. The center offers both on-site and off-site catering. The newest addition, which opened in May 2018, is the 107-room Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott located at the DCC site, allowing the center to host multi-day events and conventions. ~ 940-393-0280 decaturconferencecenter.com ~

Parks and Recreation

Decatur has six parks that provide a place to play, relax or reflect.

Kenny Renshaw Park, off FM 51 South, features two softball fields, two soccer fields, a pavilion, a playground and a concrete walking trail. Harmon Park, at the corner of East Mill and South Church streets, features two youth baseball fields, a large playground and a skate park. Hollis and Sue Jones Park, at the end of Country Club Road, is the largest of the city’s parks and includes two basketball courts, a baseball field, softball field, playground, soccer/football field and an 18-basket disc golf course.

P , at the corner of North Arthur and Brown streets, features a playground, sandbo , swing set and picnic tables. P , at the end of Melba Doyle Par Road off Chico Road, features a si bas et disc golf course, swings, picnic tables and shade trees. The C V P , at the corner of E. Ash and N. Trinity streets, is lined with bric pavers that hold the names of 1, 00 veterans. It also features a pavilion and the “Path of Sacrifice and Valor” commemorating American conflicts. The par hosts numerous veterans events each year. The C features a nine hole course that is mostly open with trees lining the outside of a few fairways. The club at 211 Country Club Dr., is open si days a wee (closed Mondays). decaturgolfclub.com ~

BUSINESS. TEXAS STYLE. A LOCATION WITH BENEFITS In the heart of Wise County, located 25 miles from Interstate 35 and Alliance Airport, and 45 minutes from DFW International Airport at the intersection of Hwys 287 and 380, Decatur boasts nonstop access to the global marketplace. Low real estate costs combined with a business friendly attitude makes Decatur a wise choice for manufacturing and distribution. A large Opportunity Zone plus a 162-acre fully developed Industrial Park will help your business grow in Decatur.

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CITIES The OWLS (Organized Wise County Lunches for Seniors) Activity Center, formerly the Decatur Senior Center, 1200 N. Miller St.. The center hosts free lunches for anyone 60 or older Monday through Friday. Activities include bingo, 42, quilting events, arts and crafts and a book club. They also host exercise events, feature guest speakers and occasional live music. ~ 940-27-5329 MealsOnWheelsWiseCounty.org ~

DECATUR Annual Events

~ Decatur Swap Meet DaddyDaughter Dance Easter Brunch Glitzy Girls Trailer Park Event Eighter Food Truck Challenge Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games other s ay Brunch Juneteenth Celebration Summer Concert Put Yo Money Where Yo Mouth Is Washer Tournament Eighter from Decatur Bicycle Rally National Night Out Paint the Town Pink Chamber of Commerce Auction Boo Bash Holiday Open House Decatur Swirl A Touch of Rust Vintage Craft Show Thanksgiving Day Brunch Turkey Trot Lucky Seven Courthouse Christmas Tree Lighting Moonlight Madness ecatur Woman s Clu Tour of Homes Breakfast with Santa Santa on the Streets Radiance! Holiday Lights ~

Seasonal or recurring events ~ Cruise Nights Saturdays on the Square Girls Night Out ~

Education

The Class 4A Decatur Independent School District has four elementaries, a middle school and a high school. Superintendent is Dr. Chad Jones. School board members are Jennifer Wren, Kristy Campbell, Dylan Barnes, Melonie Christian, Scott Koehler, Stan Shults and Jonathan Ross. Administration office ~ 307 S. Cates St. 940-393-7100 ~ Decatur High School ~750 East Eagle Summit Dr. 940393-7200 ~ McCarroll Middle School ~ 1201 West Thompson St. 940-3937300 ~ STEM at Enis Elementary ~ 1200 Eagle Dr. 940-393-7475 ~ Carson Elementary School ~ 2100 Bus. 81/287 South 940-3937500 ~ Rann Elementary School ~ 1300 Deer Park Rd. 940-393-7600 ~ Young Elementary School ~ 379 Buchanan Road 940-393-7400 decaturisd.us ~

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CITIES

A E

EPORT Nic Bilby serves as mayor, and Earl oster is mayor pro tem. Other council members include Andy Smith, Jeff Davis and Chris oe. Wanda Vic is city secretary. City council meetings are held at p.m. the rst Tuesday at city hall, located at 01 S. Main St. cityo a e ridgeport com 940-683-2700 cityl port gmail com S Water service is provided by the S U . The V serves the city and surrounding area. Willie Garrett is re chief. The O city.

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AIRVIE Government John Taylor is mayor. The city council includes Harvey Burger, John issette, Steven King, Jimmy Royston and Walter Clements. Council meetings are held p.m. every rst and third Monday at City Hall, Illinois ane. City administrator is John Cabrales Jr. City operations administrator is Joshua W. Barnwell, and city secretary is Broo e Boller.

Phone or call for emergencies The E serves the New airview area. Jim Blac ney serves as re chief. Phone E New airview students attend either C A IS or C A N IS .

ne fairvie org Services The city is protected by resident deputies from the C S O .

CITIES

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Government

Parks and Recreation

The mayor is Crystal Cardwell. The city council includes Mayor Pro Tem Chris Raines, Taylor Burton, Richard Sidebottom, Jennifer Hill and Melanie Payne. The council meets 7 p.m. every third Thursday in the council chambers at city hall, 209 Hudson St. City secretary is Jenni Moore.

The Delora Doughty Royal City Park, at the corner of Central Avenue and McCanne, directly across from the Newark Fire Hall, features a gazebo and barbecue grill.

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South Wise County Park, west of the city on County Road 4873, features a public boat ramp, picnic tables and lots of shore line for bank fishing.

Services

The Wise County Sheriff’s Office responds to law enforcement calls within the city. or call

Newark Town Square Park is outside city hall, 209 Hudson St.

CITIES

NEWARK Annual Events

Ne ar Crusin

ays

Education

Newark is in the multiple high school Northwest Independent School District. Administration office Te an rive ustin nisdt org

for emergencies

The Newark Volunteer Fire Department serves Newark and the surrounding areas. Jerry Taylor is fire chief. ne ar vol redept com The Godfrey Pegues Public Library, 207 Hudson St., is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and offers a variety of educational services to the community. ne ar te aspu licli rary ee ly com The Newark Community Center is in the city hall building 209 Hudson St. Phone

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CITIES

PARADISE

Government Amanda Black serves as mayor. City council members include Cody Anderson, Leland Whitsitt, Frances Prindle, Michael Boyer and John Ward. The council meets 6 p.m.

every fourth Monday at city hall, 218 Main St. Teresa Moody is city secretary. ~ 940-969-2114 ~

Services The Wise County Sheriff’s Office responds to calls in the city. ~ 940-627-5971, or call 911 for emergencies ~ The city is served by the Paradise Volunteer Fire Department. John Neal is fire chief. Parks and Recreation The Paradise Veterans Memorial Park is downtown. Annual Events ~ Paradise Main Street Festival ~ Education The Class 3A Paradise Independent School District has four campuses — an elementary, intermediate, junior high and high school. School board members are Homer Mundy, Shannon Caddell, Landon Smith, Scott Cox, Renea Remmele, Heath Smith and Russell Read. Interim superintendent is Ron Townsend. Administration office ~ 338 School House Rd. 940969-2501 ~ Paradise High School ~ 337 School House Rd. 940969-5010 ~ Paradise Junior High School ~ 334 School House Rd. 940969-5034 ~ Paradise Intermediate School ~ 340 School House Rd. 940969-5032 ~ Paradise Elementary School ~ 360 School House Rd. 940969-5046 pisd.net ~

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Government

Patricia Mitchell is mayor. The city council includes Josh McCabe (mayor pro tem), Michelle Tye, Elaine Priest, Kathy Konegni and Patrick Meehan. The council meets 6 p.m. the second Thursday and fourth Thursday at the Rhome Community Center, 261 N. School Rd. Cynthia Northrop is the city administrator. Shaina Odom is city secretary. City Hall is at 501 S. Main St. cityofrhome com

Services

The city is served by the full-time Rhome Police Department, 400 B.C. Rhome Ave. Eric Debus is police chief. The Rhome Volunteer Fire Department serves the city and surrounding areas. Interim Fire Chief is Michelle Pittman Di Credico. or call

for emergencies

Parks and Recreation

The city is home to two parks. The Rhome Veterans Memorial Park is at the corner of Virginia Lane and Second Street. Rhome Family Park, 400 S. Virginia Lane and Stirling Lane, includes a basketball court, walking trail, playground, grills, picnic tables and a butterfly garden. The Rhome Community Center, 261 N. School Road, regularly hosts both community meetings and events and can also be rented for private functions. Call city hall for rental rates and availability. Right next door at the same address is the Rhome Senior Center. Kam Kartway, at 4746 Texas 114, is an oval 1/8-mile kart racetrack that is consistently rated as a top 15 track in the nation by readers of RacingIn. com. It hosts events throughout the year.

Rhome is home to the longest-serving library in Wise County. The Rhome Community Library, 265 W. B.C. Rhome, opened in 1960 and includes books, DVDs, audio books, public computers and programs for all ages year-round.

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Annual Events

Rhome Splash ays Trun or Treat Christmas Tree Lighting Santa Sightings

CITIES

RHOME Education

Rhome is part of the 5A Northwest Independent School District. Most students attend Prairie View or Seven Hills elementary schools, Chisholm Trail Middle School and Northwest High School. School board members are Steve Sprowls, Mark Schluter, Judy Copp, Lillian Rauch, Anne Davis-Simpson, Jennifer Murphy and DeAnne Hatfield. David Hicks is superintendent. Administration office Te an rive ustin

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CITIES

RUNAWAY BAY Government

Herman “Berry” White is the mayor of Runaway Bay. The city council includes Carolyn Moody (mayor pro tem), Richard Griffin, Steve Holt, Todd Low and Christopher Petty. The council meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday at Norma Coble Civic Center, 51 Runaway Bay Dr. ~ 940-575-4745 runawaybaytexas.com ~

Services

Law enforcement is provided by the Runaway Bay Police Department. Steve Reynolds is police chief. ~ 940-575-2200 ~ The Runaway Bay Fire Department serves the city and surrounding areas. Fire Chief is James Gates.

Parks and Recreation

The city owns a marina on the north side of U.S. 380 that features 144 lighted boat slips in a wind shielding cove. Public boat ramps are also available. The Norma Coble Civic Center, 51 Runaway Bay Dr., is available to city residents for social and community activities. ~ 940-575-4745 ~ Three parks are located in the town. Charles Todd Park, 698 Runaway Bay Drive, features a sports court and relaxation benches. Cricket Ridge Park on Runaway Bay Drive next to the Norma Coble Civic Center features a playground. The Park at Runaway Bay on Blue Bird Lane features a walking trail, playground and picnic areas. The Runaway Bay swimming pool, 938 Port O Call at The Park, is open throughout the summer. ~ 940-626-9046 ~

Chupacabra Point Paddling Trail on Blue Fathom Drive is the launching point for three trails: Boons, Willow and Coal Creeks. tp d te as gov sh oat oat paddlingtrails/inland/runawaybay_ chupacabra ~ The Runaway Bay Public Beach is located next to the causeway connecting Rattlesnake Island to the mainland. It features a designated swimming area and covered picnic tables with cookout grills.

Local Points of Interest

RB Golf Club and Resort, 400 Half Moon Way, features an 18-hole golf course consistently rated as one of the best in Texas, as well as a driving range and banquet facility. ~ 940-575-2225

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Bay Landing/Thousand Trails/ NACO Preserves, 2305 W. U.S. 380 across the bridge from Runaway Bay, features an RV campground on the southeast shore of the lake. Cabins are also available for rent. ~ 800-388-7788 (for members) or 888-481-6348 (for non-members) thousandtrails.com/texas/bay-landingrv-campground ~ The Sid Richardson Boy Scout Ranch, 2282 Longhorn Drive northwest of the city, is a summer camp tradition for members of the Boy Scouts of America. It includes 15 miles of shoreline and offers a variety of amenities. ~ longhorncouncil.org/campsproperties/boy-scout-camps/sidrichardson-scout-ranch ~

Visiting

The Greater Runaway Bay Alliance works to promote the town and make the city a wonderful place to

live, work and play. It hosts the annual 4th Fest around Independence Day. Deborah Lewis is president. ~ grballiance.com greaterraballiance@ gmail.com ~

Annual Events

~ 4th Fest Lighted Christmas Golf Cart Parade Chili Cook Off ~

Education

Runaway Bay is part of the Class 4A Bridgeport Independent School District. Administrative offices ~ 940-683-5124 bridgeportisd.net ~

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CITIES

LOCAL COMMUNITIES SLIDELL

Slidell was officially established in 1884. Because most of the original settlers were southerners, they named the new community in honor of John Slidell, a Confederate diplomat. Located about a mile south of Farm Road 51 on Farm Road 455 just before you enter Denton County, Slidell is home to the Class 1A Slidell Independent School District. School board members include Tim Fletcher, Kim Dunlap, Brian Moore, Johnny Zuniga, Trumanell Maples, Steve Pruett and Alex Markel. Taylor Williams is superintendent. Administration office ~ No. 1 Greyhound Lane 940-5355260, ext. 235 ~ Slidell High School/Junior High ~ 940-535-5260, ext. 235 ~ Slidell Elementary School ~ 940-535-5260, ext. 224 slidellisd. net ~ Slidell is just a few miles from a couple of popular Wise County attractions. The Eagles Canyon Raceway, at 7629 N. Farm Road 51 between Slidell and Decatur, is home to the area’s premiere road racing club. Its track is a 2½-mile road course that features 15 turns, more

than 200 feet of elevation change and a 2,200-foot-long back straight. ~ 817 583-9476

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Located across the road from Eagles Canyon is Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds. Thousands of sportsmen a year sight in rifles, hone pistol skills and shoot clays at Fossil Pointe. The course is spread over expansive acreage that includes rolling hills, plenty of trees and wildflowers. Fossil Pointe also hosts a variety of events and allows several organizations like the Boy Scouts, 4-H, law enforcement and others to use the facility. ~ Phone: 940-393-6402 fossilpointe. net Maryam@ FossilPointe.net ~

GREENWOOD One of Wise County’s hidden jewels is Greenwood. You might feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you pull off Farm Road 1204 onto a tree-lined county road that leads into “downtown Greenwood.” Greenwood had its beginnings when two cowboys, named Hart and Greenwood, camped in the area and decided to begin a new settlement. The creek nearby was named Hart’s Creek and the town became Greenwood. The Greenwood post office was established in 1877. In 1892, Greenwood built the Greenwood Male and Female Normal College, which lasted until 1908. At the heart of the community is the Greenwood Store, a popular lunchtime stop known for some of the

best hamburgers and homemade pie in the county. The place is usually packed on Saturday nights when catfish and live music are on the menu. During the week, it’s not uncommon to see people sitting on the front porch playing dominoes or whittling. The community hosts a couple of festivals each year. The Greenwood Fall Festival held each October usually includes a parade, vendors and beans and cornbread. The festival is put on by the Greenwood Extension Education Club. The Greenwood-Slidell Volunteer Fire Department usually holds a fish fry fundraiser in conjunction with the event. The Greenwood Homecoming takes place in June with a potluck dinner and visiting at the downtown pavilion. The fire department includes fire stations in both Greenwood and Slidell. The fire chief is Adam North. ~ Online: gsvfd.us ~ Students in the Greenwood area attend Slidell schools. Annual events ~ Greenwood Homecoming Greenwood Fall Festival GreenwoodSlidell olunteer Fire epartment Fish Fry ~

PARK SPRINGS Parks Springs is in northwest Wise County. Park Springs derived its name from a grove that surrounded a series of fresh-water springs in the area. The first community was known as Pringle and later changed to Park Springs. The post office was established in 1893. Postal service ended in 1915. The development of Park Springs was created by the arrival of the Rock Island Railroad. Park Springs had a thriving community in 1900, but by the end of World War I, its population was in decline. In the early 1900s, the town included three grocery stores, a bank, a feed store, an icehouse, a blacksmith shop and a school. While all of it is gone now, current and former residents of Park Springs meet in the tiny community each year on the Sunday before Labor Day for the Park Springs Homecoming. The nearest towns are Sunset in Montague County, Chico and Alvord. Students in the Park Springs area attend Alvord or Chico schools.

CRAFTON In the northwest corner of Wise County is Crafton. The formation and naming of Crafton is very straightforward. George R. Craft was an early settler who purchased 160 acres. In 1883, the town was laid out on Craft’s land, and the community adopted the name Crafton. The first post office was

established in 1878 and discontinued in 1917. Amon G. Carter Sr. was born Giles Amon Carter in Crafton in 1879. The community once boasted six churches, a school complete with a library and auditorium, various drug and dry goods stores, cornmeal and flour mills, a cotton gin and a gas station. Today the area is served by the Crafton Volunteer Fire Department. Craig Cowley serves as fire chief. Another nearby fire department also provides mutual aid to the area. Andy Sabo serves as fire chief of the Sand Flat Volunteer Fire Department. The nearest town is Chico, and students in the area attend Chico schools.

COTTONDALE Cottondale is a few miles south of Paradise on Farm Road 2123, about three miles west of Farm Road 51. Cottondale, as a community, existed as early as 1860, but it didn’t receive its name until 1875. When the community petitioned for a post office, they were so impressed with one settler’s cotton crop, they asked to name the town Cotton Valley. They were informed by the postal service that Cotton Valley was taken but suggested Cottondale, which suited them. The post office was discontinued in 1912. The community prospered with the help of railroads and the Bridgeport coal mines. However, rail service was eventually lost in

CITIES

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Cottondale when the Rock Island track was laid from Fort Worth to Boyd, before turning to Bridgeport. The Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department offers fire protection for the community. Fire chief is Duane Boone. The nearby Salt Creek Volunteer Fire Department often provides mutual aid. Ken Vise serves as fire chief.

BOONSVILLE/BALSORA Located on Farm Road 920 southwest of Bridgeport, Boonsville started as a community of families on Boon’s Creek, which was named for Stephen Boon, a pioneer settler. It was moved to its present site in 1882. It continued to grow, and by 1914, it had a population of 200, along with two general stores, a school, bank and steam gristmill. The Boonsville post office closed in 1965. Nearby on FM 920 southwest of Bridgeport, Balsora was originally called Wild Horse Prairie because of the herds of horses once found there. When the post office was established, it was given the name Balzora, but an old settler who couldn’t make a “Z” asked it to be changed to an “S.” The post office was established in April 1894 and discontinued in February 1896. It was reopened in April 1900 and discontinued again in October 1924. The area is served by the Boonsville/ Balsora Volunteer Fire Department. Jimmy Goodwin is fire chief.

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TAKING EDUCATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL Weatherford College Wise County offers new programs By Amy Neal Opportunities abound at Weatherford College Wise County. New WCWC Executive Dean Kristin McLaughlin wouldn’t have it any other way. Throughout her time as an educator, she has held one belief about education — one size doesn’t fit all. “You can’t make decisions for folks. You have to present them with the opportunities, and we have a lot of opportunities here and I’m excited about that,” McLaughlin said. WCWC is offering new programs to provide local students with degrees and certifications that they can use to further their education and career. The college is one of 15 community colleges in the state that gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. Three bachelor’s degrees are

available, with two more expected to start in the coming semesters. Currently, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, nursing and medical and health services management. “If I had a young person in my family going to college for the first time, I definitely would steer them in the direction of [Wise County] rather than into the Metroplex,” McLaughlin said. “We save our students so much money with our bachelor’s degrees.” Additionally, the college anticipates adding a bachelor’s degree in robotics and automation engineering as well as in early childhood education with a certification in English as a second language. “We will be one the first community colleges to offer a bachelor’s in engineering,” McLaughlin said, “Which is a huge feat.” The college is seeking to accommodate

students interested in pursuing an associate degree too. After noticing a continuous wait list over the course of several semesters, officials at WCWC decided to expand their associate degree in nursing program by adding an evening and weekend cohort. “We have filled the day program at the school, so now because we know there is a high demand, we are opening up a weekend and evening program,” McLaughlin said. “We are going to start it with 20 additional students for the first year to get it going and then we will build up to 44 students.” The college is not simply focused on helping students obtain degrees. Progress is also being made in workforce programs. WCWC is partnering with Bridgeport Medical Lodge to allow aspiring nurse assistants to get certified from their hands-on experiences. “The state has allowed their employees who are given a waiver to work as nurse

FEATURE

“We have all the things that the big four-year schools have. However our classes are at a fraction of the price, and we are here right in your own backyard.” — WCWC EXECUTIVE DEAN KRISTIN MCLAUGHLIN aids without passing the state certification exam,” said Workforce Education Coordinator Tracy Butler. “This offers these individuals a way to get certified by using their work experience instead of going through a program.” Taking it a step further, the college is partnering with local school districts to certify high school students in various fields before they graduate. “For the first time, we are going to partner with Bridgeport ISD to run a patient care tech and EKG program,” Butler said. “It is a year-long program and we have four interested students. By the time they finish school next year, they will have their PCT and EKG certification.” Butler said that WCWC is interested in partnering with other districts to offer the program to more Wise County residents. Similarly, the college’s welding program certified several high school students involved in shop classes.

With a variety of opportunities, WCWC is focused on increasing accessibility to local students. McLaughlin said that the cost of attendance of WCWC is not easily matched by other colleges and universities. “We have all the things that the big four year schools have,” she said, “However our classes are at a fraction of the price and we are here right in your own backyard. Our student faculty ratio is 17-1, but a lot of our classes are smaller than that. We know who our students are, and you are not just a number here.” McLaughlin said the college is working to increase enrollment and interest in their programs through the use of student ambassadors. These students serve as leaders on campus that also help recruiting efforts by sharing their experiences with potential newcomers. “I want young people to go to schools and tell potential students why our

campus is really cool,” McLaughlin said. “I am committed to convincing parents and students that this is a great place to start, a great place to build their confidence and then transfer to wherever they want or end their educational career here.”

Weatherford College Wise County 502 Big Sandy Court off U.S. 380 between Bridgeport and Decatur 940-627-2690 wc.edu

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With deeply-established roots in Wise County, helping their neighbors build their dreams is a source of pride for Jim and Sandy Lambert, owners of Jim Lambert Construction, Inc. The husband-and-wife team, along with their sons Jeremy and Robert, have built numerous structures over the past 42 years, building a reputation as one of the county’s top construction companies. “We have lived in Wise County all of our lives, and we’ve raised our sons here. Now, they’re raising their families here.” Sandy said. “We are vested in Wise County, and we’re proud to call this our home for generations and hopefully for generations to come.” Locally owned and operated at 430 West Rock Island Avenue in Boyd, the Lamberts have changed the landscape of the county with custom homes, as well as metal buildings and commercial structures. “We’re a one-stop shop for all of your needs,” Sandy said. “From small homes to large homes or buildings, we do it all. We start with our customers as a business relationship, and end with a friendship.” Using local partnerships, the crew at Jim Lambert Construction, Inc. has fostered relationships with other local businesses to bring a hometown touch to their projects. “We have had the privilege to work with many people through the years [with] business partnerships we maintain to this day,” Sandy said. “We try to use local businesses as much as possible.” Customer satisfaction is a goal for Jim Lambert Construction,

Inc. in every project the company undertakes. “We build you the home you want, period — no surprises or disappointments,” Sandy said. “We pride ourselves on being a builder who not only builds a quality home, but listens to the homeowner and their needs. We want to construct a home for our homeowners that they will love for many years. “If you can dream it, we can build it. We offer referrals to mortgage companies, architects, interim lenders and others that will help make your home building experience a pleasant one. We do not leave our customers unhappy.” For metal and commercial buildings, Jim Lambert Construction, Inc. helps projects reach the finish line thanks to their detail-oriented approach. “We have constructed many commercial projects in the North Central Texas area,” Sandy said. “These projects have been from small churches to large commercial buildings. “We are a ‘hands on’ contractor, not just a general contractor. We work on commercial projects just as we do all of our other projects. We want to help you succeed in your business by building you a building that will last your needs for the future.” The Lamberts have built two local houses of worship — First Baptist Church of Boyd and First Baptist Church in Newark — that are centerpieces to the local community. “Those are two projects we’re very proud of,” Sandy said. Jim Lambert Construction, Inc. is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and by appointment on Saturday. For more information, call 940-433-5639 or visit jlcboydtx.com.

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Alvord ISD is blessed with great students, a wonderful staff of educators and a supportive community. The academic and e tracurricular programs are very successful. The district has consistently received “A” academic ratings from the Te as Education Agency. State recogni ed programs include band, A, ag mechanics and archery. Of the 1 athletic teams elded by the district in the 2021 school year, 12 uali ed for the playoffs. One of the eys to success is the low student to teacher ratio of 1 . students per teacher. The district has an advanced safety and security program that it is continuously wor ing to improve. Parent groups from the elementary PTO to the high school athletic and band booster clubs and the riends of the A are very active and supportive.

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Boyd ISD provides intentional opportunities to empower learners and inspire leaders. The district serves more than Decatur ISD Paradise ISD 1,200 students in four schools. In addition to core academic courses, the elementary and intermediate student e perience includes STEAM, language and music classes as well as interest clubs li e Ve Robotics, Kindness, ego and Chess. At the middle and high school levels, students can ta e art, athletics, band, choir, agriculture, business, criminal justice, education, family and consumer science, health services and wildlife classes as well as participate in student organi ations such as A and CC A. Northwest In addition, Boyd High School’s Class of 2022 was ISD offered a cumulative total of ,2 0 in scholarships and grants, and Boyd Education oundation graciously Springtown supported teacher’s innovative projects with , 1 . 0 ISD of grant awards. urthermore, the th annual Big Event impacted the Boyd community through service more than 0 volunteers. inally, this past school year, Boyd ISD celebrated the rst student to graduate “Core Complete” with 2 hours of college credit, and entered into the Distinguished High School Partnership Program agreement with Tarleton State University which provides automatic admission for the top 2 percent of graduates. Among the accomplishments this past school year were chess champions CC A competing at state Weld Off winners “superior” ratings for the band A area leadership positions state cross country and trac meet competitors volleyball regional nalists regional uali ers from UI academics, powerlifting, golf and swim and ‘Quality Healthcare for the Whole Family’ bi district championships in baseball and softball.

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For the past seven years, taking care of customers and making their electronic devices work has been the Skinny’s Repair Shop business model, even when it doesn’t involve a profit margin. For minor things, like removing obstructions from a charging port, or teaching a customer how to use a new device, Skinny’s won’t charge, only asking for customers to tell a friend about the shop. The repair shop in Decatur has made a habit of surprising customers with a personal approach as they restore damaged phones, virus-clogged computers and those malfunctioning tablets and video game consoles. “Mike is incredible, he has an amazing perspective on business,” said Skinny’s Computer Technician Jonathan Kahn. “He cares way more about making customers happy than making money. I had a hard time in the beginning because to me, it’s like, we had to pay the bills. And he goes, ‘Happy customers are what’s important.’” The full-service tech shop at 301 Washburn Street has built a reputation with its clients. People trust Skinny’s and they keep coming back. Once again, Skinny’s Repair Shop was voted as the best place to buy or repair electronics in the Wise County Messenger’s 2022 Reader’s Choice Awards. “They have to trust you, and if they don’t, they’ll never come in,” Delavergne said. “That’s what relationship building with our customers is all about.” Skinny’s Repair Shop offers a broad scope of services. They fix cell phones, tablets, gaming consoles and computers. The shop also replaces screens, performs virus removal and repairs motherboards. In 2022, the shop started selling pre-owned cell phones to meet a growing need in the community. “When gas prices started getting really high, when they hit that $4 point, I had a lot of people coming in that were

looking to upgrade but didn’t have $1,500 to spend on a new phone,” Delavergne said. “When gas is $100 a tank, it’s hard. People are minding their budget. I think this is helping.” When the shop receives a shipment of pre-owned devices, primarily iPhones released within the last five years, their technicians inspect the phones to ensure they are 100 percent functional. The reasonably priced pre-owned phones come with a 90-day warranty. “If you have trouble with it in the first three months, we’ll fix it or replace it,” he said. “But if it lasts you three months, it’ll probably last you five years.” As tech evolves, the repair shop has invested in its own technology to keep up with industry changes, recently purchasing a laser machine that eliminates glue for seamless repairs. The shop also takes privacy very seriously, using extreme measures to make sure data is not only recovered and preserved when doing a computer repair, but in a secure, private location. “Their data and the privacy of their data is No. 1 on our priority list,” Kahn said. The team also provides consultation with customers, guiding them through how to use the device, set up accounts, change passwords and get the most out of the product. A lifetime warranty backs the majority of the work at Skinny’s. It’s another aspect that sets the business apart from its competitors. “What makes us different is we offer a lifetime warranty on most of our repairs, which doesn’t include breakage, but any other problem you have, we’ll fix it for as long as you have it,” he said. “Nobody does that. Another thing that sets us apart is we try to make every customer happy, even if we lose more money than we put into it. That doesn’t matter.” For information, or to get your devices back up and running, call 940-6260098 or visit skinnysrepairshop.com.

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SCHOOLS

EPORT IS

Jacksboro ISD

Decatur ISD

Paradise ISD Perrin-White ISD

F R E E D E L I V E RY • D R I V E T H R U

Bridgeport ISD is a welcoming community made up of e ceptional students and staff. Their motto, “Pride in Performance,” is e empli ed in everything they do whether in the classroom, on the eld or in the community. Bridgeport ISD has a comprehensive Gifted and Talented program with a continuum of services from indergarten through 12th grade. Their learners bene t from instruction that develops and challenges their uni ue capabilities while fostering creativity and productivity. High School students bene t from free dual credit courses, paid for by Bridgeport ISD, through a partnership with Weatherford College, Angelo State and the University of Te as OnRamps. Students e cel in agriculture, athletics, arts and UI academics. career and technical certi cation programs are offered in ag mechanics, animal science, horticulture, automotive technology, education and training, health science and robotics. Their “Pride in Performance” is evident by the number of students that were represented at state level competitions during the 21 22 school year UI state solo and ensemble, middle school and high school winter guard, girls cross country, boys golf, powerlifting, BB team, the Te as Association of uture Educators (TA E organi ation), and middle school and high school archery. Both winter guard and TA E students went on to compete at the national level.

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SCHOOLS

CHICO IS Chico ISD decided on a big change beginning for the 2022 2 school year as they start a four day school wee . This was implemented to help the district attract teachers to choose Chico ISD for employment. The district has already seen an increase in applicant pools and a slight increase in enrollment toward the end of last year. Chico ISD has added an English curriculum lead and promoted Dr. isa McDaniel to that role to help increase rigor and improve the uality of classroom time. The district has also promoted Preston uller, a 1 year dedicated employee, to transportation director for the district. At CMS, Heather Stephens will be the new campus principal after serving as the interim principal at the end of the previous school year. Stephens is bringing a fresh perspective, and the district is e cited to watch her grow in her new role as she leads the middle school campus. Chico ISD believes the four day school wee will allow more time to develop staff through professional development and give the community more time with their family. The district wants everyone who enters their buildings to feel li e they belong in the Dragon amily.

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SCHOOLS

ECATUR IS Alvord ISD

Decatur ISD Elementary Schools Carson Elementary Rann Elementary Young Elementary

Paradise ISD

After another successful school year, Decatur ISD has much to celebrate from the 2021 2022 school year. Preliminary data shows every campus with rd, th, th, th, th, th grade and English 2 showed improvement on English reading STAAR from 2021 to 2022. The data shows 100 percent of th grade Algebra 1 students passed STAAR with 2 percent at a masters level. It shows th grade social studies and EOC U.S. history both showed improvement in approaches, meets and masters on STAAR. And th grade science and EOC biology both showed improvement in approaches, meets and masters on STAAR. In athletics, the volleyball team won its second consecutive state championship and the fth overall for the program. The boys bas etball team nished as area champs, and the girls bas etball team were regional nalists. Softball and baseball both nished as bi district champions. The trac team nished third at the state meet, and the 200 meter relay team won gold. Students also uali ed for the state meet in powerlifting and swimming. DISD had 10 students earn 11 industry based certi cations. Three students earned more than 0,000 combined in scholarships through the Te as A Association. A had one student win a state championship, earning advancement to the national competition for A service learning project. The varsity men’s choir, varsity treble choir and varsity chamber choir all won the sweepsta es trophy at Region II concert. The Decatur band program earned sweepsta es A and a rst division rating in marching, concert and sight reading at UI competition.

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Northwest ISD, the fastest-growing school district in North Texas, looks forward to 81 DECATUR ISD 287 welcoming more than 28,000 students to school for the 2022-2023 academic year. As enrollment continues to climb, the DENTON ISD district is focused on empowering learners I35W and leaders to positively impact the world. The district is committed to providing all students with an education that prepares them for the future – whether in college, the workforce or military. Northwest ISD spans 234 square miles across three counties — Wise, Denton and Tarrant — and covers more than 14 municipalities. NISD operates 20 elementary schools, six middle schools, SAGINAW ISD three comprehensive high schools, an early college high school and a special programs center. The district’s three Wise County schools — Prairie View Elementary, Seven Hills Elementary and Chisholm Trail Middle School — continue to foster student development and learning opportunities. Prairie View and Seven Hills utilize the Leader in Me program, designed to teach leadership and create a culture of student empowerment. In the spring of 2021, voters approved a replacement school for Seven Hills as part of the 2021 bond, which is expected to open in time for the 2023-24 school year. Student “lighthouse leaders” from Seven Hills had the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process for the new school’s mascot. With the opening of the new building, the Seven Hills Stars will become the Seven Hills Wolves. Chisholm Trail continues to offer a variety of exciting opportunities to its students. For example, students can join the districtwide middle school musical or get a head start in STEM through Project Lead the Way courses like medical terminology and robotics I. Chisholm Trail recently updated their logo, which will be seen through the community starting next school year. Students can choose from seven academies and 16 additional programs of study as they enter high school. Northwest High School, zoned for most of Wise County, is home to the award-winning Creative Media Production Academy and STEM Academy. Built as the district’s flagship school in 1984, the campus is currently undergoing extensive renovations and additions to reunify the building and expand current academic programs. 114

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SUNDAY SERVICES 8:45 & 11AM 608 17th St., Bridgeport 940-683-2780 • www.fumcbridgeport.org fumcbridgeport@fumcbridgeport.org

ADVERTORIAL

SHOP O E S OR HO ETO N UA IT

When it comes to buying groceries, nothing beats a neighborhood mar et. With wee ly deals on a wide variety of tasty options, you’ll nd just the items you’re loo ing for to feed your family while not putting a strain on your wallet. In the meat department, their ground beef is ground fresh everyday. You’ll nd a great selection of uality hand trimmed cuts, and they can also cut to order and ll just about any special order for cuts they do not regularly carry. The produce department features the nest fruits and vegetables from around the world at competitive prices. The shelves are lled with a great selection of both national brand products as well as many of their private labels. owe’s also carries many specialty items and has an e ceptional selection of authentic Hispanic food items. And the owe’s private label offers great uality items at competitive prices. oo ing to bring home a delicious coo ed meal? Stop by the deli for favorites such as rotisserie chic en and BB ribs. The ba ery features mouth watering ba ed goods such as muf ns, breads, ca es and pies. owe’s Supermar ets got its start in the small west Te as town of Olton in 1 , when E.M. “Bud” owe and his son, Roger, founded the company on the principle of ta ing care of the community, their teammates and their family. That’s continued to be the company’s operating philosophy as it has grown to more than 1 0 neighborhood stores throughout Te as, New Me ico, Colorado, Ari ona and Kansas, including ve locations in Wise County Alvord, Boyd, Bridgeport, Chico and Decatur. ollowing Bud’s passing in 1 , Roger too the reins to develop the grocery stores into what they are today. His strong belief in God and the importance of family values are the cornerstone of owe’s success. Today, a third generation of the owe family carry on the family’s legacy, and their energy has helped the company become one of the fastest growing supermar et chains in Te as and New Me ico. owe’s also credits its success to the hard wor and top notch customer service of their dedicated teammates. The company strives to give their teammates the opportunity to grow personally, have good means for providing for themselves and their families and provide a rewarding career path. If you’d li e to join the owe’s team, you can apply at lowesmar et.com.

Trinity Lutheran Church W

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The fundamental mission of the Decatur Chamber Of Commerce is to generate more business activity for the community and local business owners. The Decatur Chamber initiates more business-to-business commerce and opportunities for networking and connecting local professionals than is available through most other local organizations. Whether you are a new or established business, we are here to support your business. It’s our goal to provide members with opportunities to develop their businesses and become more profitable. We are convinced that being involved and building relationships will result in the growth of your business. Your Success is Our Business!!

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ANNUAL EVENTS

• Eighter From Decatur Food Truck • Chamber Auction Challenge • Christmas Tree Lighting • Annual Golf Tournament • Moonlight Madness Parade • “Put Yo Money Where Yo Mouth Is” of Lights & Shopping Event Washer Tournament

“WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY” 940-627-3107 • 106 S. Trinity • DECATUR VISIT WWW.DECATURTX.COM

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SCHOOLS

PARA ISE IS Decatur ISD

Bridgeport ISD

Boyd ISD Springtown ISD

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Paradise ISD is a growing and uni ue PK 12 district serving 1,2 0 students through four campuses. Paradise is blessed with an ama ing staff where more than half of the staff has 1 years or more of e perience. Paradise High School offers multiple dual credit opportunities through Weatherford College and Te as Woman’s University. Certi cation programs are offered in ag mechanics, oral design and culinary. The class of 2022 earned more than 1, 0 ,000 in scholarship and nancial awards. Other achievements were a state champion in UI academics, state uali er in trac and eld, state uali ers in cross country, two A state CDE teams, and UI championships in elementary. Paradise High school had several other programs advance past district competition this year. Paradise ISD prides itself on maintaining a consistent and e cellent academic e perience for all students by eeping the staff to student ratio at 1 1. The district is very pleased with the overall state assessment results this year. Students and staff wor ed e tremely hard during a dif cult year.

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Slidell ISD is a fast growth, innovative PK 12 district serving students. More than half of the district’s highly uali ed teachers have more than 1 years e perience. Slidell ISD maintains a low student/teacher ratio to ensure every Greyhound receives an individuali ed, tailored instructional e perience. Slidell focuses on the holistic health of both students and staff offering a full time counselor and guidance counseling program as well as a wellness program for staff including healthy lunches, wor out programs and wellness spaces. The school believes in creative arts and has recently added music education for all grade levels in addition to art at the elementary level. Slidell has a no homewor policy for grades PK and offers four recesses/brain brea s every day for elementary students. It offers all ve endorsements for high school graduation plans. Within these endorsement areas, Slidell ISD offers ag mechanics/welding certi cation, computer apps, and education in training programs. The district believes in the value of peer mentor programs such as PA S and senior buddies to e pand involvement and mentorship of high school students with younger Greyhounds. Slidell ISD partners with Weatherford College for dual credit with many students graduating core complete at Te as institutions of higher education, allowing students to earn a high school diploma and graduate with an associate degree from Weatherford College. Historically, the school ran s in the top ve Class A

IS Forestburg ISD

Decatur ISD

SCHOOLS

S I E

Era ISD

Krum ISD

schools in the state for UI Academics/One Act Play with about 0 percent of students participating in these events. The district has had tremendous success in UI athletic events with athletes advancing to the state level in many sports. The highlight has been the boys bas etball team reaching the state nals in 201 2021 with a state championship and co champion title and earning two state championship titles in girls tennis. Slidell ISD was named the 2021 Class A UI Academic state champions and ran ed in the top 10 in the Class A one Star Cup standings. In 2022, Slidell High School nished th in the state for UI Academics.

ADVERTORIAL

111 BEEF REPUBLIC BRIDGES GAP BETWEEN RANCHERS, CUSTOMERS

There’s a unique connection between 111 Beef Republic and its customers. When families sit around the dinner table, either after picking out beef at the storefront location in downtown Bridgeport or having it delivered directly to their doorstep, customers know where their beef comes from, and they know the people who raised it. “We didn’t reinvent the wheel with beef production, we’re just turning it back a little,” said 111 Beef Republic Manager Marissa Drager. “We want people to get to know us. Through authentic connections both in person and via social media outlets we can show consumers what they commonly could see in the ‘good old days’, ranchers out doing our jobs – being stewards of the land and cattle.” 111 Beef Republic is a group of young, forward-thinking cattlemen. In 2017, owners Trey and Lexie Yates fell in love with the 5,000 acre ranch off Farm to Market 920. After securing the land and creating a team with the Drager Family, the ranch is now home to more than 1,000 head of females and ran by a dedicated group of employees. The herd is diverse, with the majority of the calf crop being geared toward the production of show cattle for

4-H and FFA youth. In 2019 the idea of breeding a select group of first calf Hereford heifers to low birth-weight, high-marbling sires created a set of Hereford steers with prime beef potential. Thus, the cattleman to consumer beef brand came into play in 2020, pre-pandemic. A simple process of delivering the grassfed, grain finished Hereford cattle to a third-generation butcher was established. The beef goes through a 28-day dry-aging process before being hand cut, packaged and delivered back to Bridgeport. With timing on their side, shipping product across the country direct to someone’s doorstep became a hot commodity. Customers from coast to coast have received the outstanding quality Wise County beef. With the innovative approach taking off, 111 Beef Republic opened its storefront in a historic building at 1304 10th Street in Bridgeport to make that connection between customers and their food even more accessible. It was always part of the vision for the business. The storefront allows customers to come in and grab a few select steaks or purchase beef in bulk – which is historically how consumers would have

to buy from a rancher. “We’re doing things differently, we’re telling the story of agriculture,” Drager said. “We’re promoting beef and we’re doing it all with a ton of local pride. For us, this is a passion project more than a dollar-making project. This is an opportunity for us to bridge the gap between consumer and producer, and the storefront has allowed us a really cool space to do that.” The neatly categorized beef is on display in freezers, where employees are there to educate customers about the product and how the ranch operates. The store also sells goods from local entrepreneurs that compliment beef. Inside, you can find various types of seasoning and handcrafted accessories, as well as other cool products, like an outdoor speaker that pairs nicely with that next steak or burger cookout. 111 Beef Republic is selling an experience with food. In Wise County, you can even find the product on the menu at The Trinity Street Roastaurant. For more information, visit 111BeefRepublic.com or follow 111 Beef Republic on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Wis Heal

Clinics

Primary and Specialty Care

Wise Health Clinics - Puttin our Patients First Your Comprehensive Health Care Team Each Wise Health Clinic offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We believe that you should trust your care provider and feel at ease when you visit any of our clinics. Wise Health Clinics gives you quality care close to home with our convenient locations throughout Wise County. Our staff is committed to building long-lasting relationships with our patients, giving us the ability to provide truly effective care. Each patient benefits from experienced and qualified physicians and staff with a patient-centered approach. At Wise Health Clinics, we are committed to providing We offer a full range of primary and specialty care services for all ages, including:

Family & Sports Medicine

Cancer Center

Gastroenterology

Cardiology

General and Bariatric Surgery

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Primary Care Pulmonology Robotic General Surgery Vascular and Bariatric Surgery

Internal Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance accepted at all locations

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LIVING IN WISE

WELCOME HOME

Sheriff’s Office The Wise County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement and promotes safety for the entire county. Divisions include administration, detention, patrol, special services (animal control, asset control, civil process, courthouse security, Crime Stoppers, criminal warrants, property and evidence, sex offender registration, transport and vehicle impound), specialized enforcement, communications, criminal investigations, crime scene investigation, school resource officers and boat patrol. Sheriff is Lane Akin. ~ 940-627-5971 sheriff.co.wise.tx.us ~

Emergency Medical Services Wise County EMS provides emergency pre-hospital care as well as critical care and non-emergency transfers for the entire county. It staffs four full-time MICU level ambulances, a rescue unit operated by a shift supervisor and a parttime MICU unit that’s in service Monday through Friday. EMS administrator is Randall Preuninger. ~ 940-627-2002, or call 911 for emergencies ems.co.wise.tx.us ~

Public Dumps The county operates five public dumps that accept household trash from Wise County residents. They are not for commercial use. The Boyd Dumpsite, 546 South Allen St., is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Chico Dumpsite, 2897 Farm Road 1655 South, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The Cottondale Dumpsite, 6465 Farm Road 2123, is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Slidell Dumpsite, 242 County Road 2820, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The Decatur Dumpsite, 127 Private Road 4195, is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Recycling

is available for clean cardboard, newspaper, paper, plastic, tin cans, aluminum cans, oil and oil filters and batteries. ~ co.wise.tx.us ~

199. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1749, Springtown, TX 76082.

Veterans Service Office

Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (WCID)

The VSO helps veterans acquire benefits through the Veterans Administration. Benefits include education, money, home loans and monthly compensation. Employees at the VSO serve as mediators who file claims and represent Wise County veterans. The office, 205 N. State St. in Decatur, is open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. ~ 940-627-2470 wisevets@co.wise.tx.us ~

Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District The Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District is a government organization that works to protect groundwater resources in the counties of Montague, Wise, Parker and Hood through the registration of water wells, observing aquifer levels and conservation education. The district office is in Springtown, 1859 W. Texas

~ 817-523-5200, or toll free TGC uppertrinitygcd.com ~

The Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (WCID) supports flood control and the conservation of natural resources. It’s a taxing entity, and its funds are used for projects such as floodwater retarding dams in the county, securing easements needed to build the dams, watershed projects and cost sharing with landowners in the district. The office is at 1604 W. U.S. Business 380 in Decatur. ~ 940-627-2942 ~

USDA Service Center Wise County farmers and ranchers are served by the U.S. Department of Agriculture service center on Business U.S. 380 West in Decatur. The center is home to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Farm Service Agency

(FSA) and Rural Development. The staff, headed by District Conservationist Darnell Willis, provides assistance to protect, develop and wisely use natural resources. The mission of the NRCS is “Helping People Help the Land.” ~ 940-627-2268, Ext. 3 ~ The Wise County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office, headed by Tracy Meadows, administers federal USDA farm programs locally. ~ 940-627-2268, Ext. 2 ~ Rural Development, headed by Area Director Allen Lambright, has a mission of helping the people of rural America develop sustainable communities and improve quality of life. ~ 940-627-2268, Ext. 4 ~

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service strives to improve lives through education. The Wise County office is in Decatur, 206 S. State St., Suite A. The Agriculture and Natural Resource programs are designed to reach agriculture producers as well as homeowners. The Family and Consumer Sciences programs offer practical information for families on raising children, eating well, managing money and staying healthy. Extension agents include: Marty Morgan, agriculture/natural resources; Tanya Davis, family and consumer sciences; and Karly Strickland, 4-H and youth development. Jacqueline Gonzalez is the program assistant for Better Living for Texans, and Dianne Meadows is the 4-H program assistant. ~ 940-627-3341 wise.agrilife.org ~

4-H 4-H has numerous projects, opportunities and learning experiences for youth. The organization encourages family members to work together on projects while instilling integrity, work ethic and a devotion to community service in its

members, ages 8 to 19. 4-H is open to all boys and girls regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. Children not yet old enough for 4-H can join Clover Kids. Designed as an introduction to 4-H, this informal education program is for children ages 5 through 8. If you are interested in joining Wise County 4-H, call Chrissy Karrer, County Extension agent – 4-H and youth development, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office in Wise County, 940627-3341. You can also find information on the Facebook Page: facebook.com/ WiseCounty4H. Alvord 4-H Club ~ Meets: 3 p.m. third Sunday Contact: Misty McMullen 817-659-8418 ~ Boyd 4-H Club ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesday at Trinity Baptist Church in Boyd Contact: John Moore 817-999-9255 ~ Bridgeport 4-H Club ~ Meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday at Farm Bureau f ce on ain Street Contact: Misty Morrow 940-393-2128 ~ Chico 4-H Club ~ Meets: 4 p.m. second Sunday at Chico Elementary School cafeteria Contact: Kelly Martin 940-210-2506 ~ Decatur 4-H Club ~Meets: 6 p.m. third Tuesday at NRS breakroom Contact: Sherri Fraser 208-530-0544 ~ Paradise 4-H Club ~ Meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday at Paradise Elementary School cafeteria Contact essica iffee 817-914-1834 ~ Slidell/Greenwood 4-H Club ~ Meets: 6 p.m. second Thursday at Slidell High School cafeteria Contact: Karen Vanover 940-367-8328 ~ Victory 4-H Club ~ Meets: 6 p.m. third Monday at Victory Christian Academy Contact: Brooke

LIVING IN WISE

WISE COUNTY INFO Stewart 940-393-3870 ~ Clothing and Textiles Club eets p m rst Tuesday at tension of ce Contact: Julia Haschke 817-690-4823 ~

Horse Club ~ Meets: 6 p.m. third Thursday at NRS Saddle Shop Contact: Haley Shurden 940-393-1685 ~ Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun Project eets Ri e and pistol a m or p m second and last Sunday at ecatur P shooting range shotgun meets at p.m. at Parker County sportsman club. Contact: Kristi Polone 940-320-9230 Facebook: Wise County 4H ~ Dog Project ~Contact: Janie Vawter

940-859-6520 ~

Photography Project ~ Meets: 5 p.m. third Tuesday at tension of ce Contact: Velvet Oberg 940-255-0808 ~ Vet Science ~ Meets: 5:30 p.m. second Monday at Weatherford College Contact: Suzanne Lindt 817-233-7584 ~

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LIVING IN WISE

WELCOME HOME

Goat Project ~ Meets: 3 p.m. third Sunday at Chico 4-H/FFA barn, 205 North Mount St., Chico Contact: Kelly Martin 940210-2506 ~ Poultry Project ~ Meets: meetings vary at Extension of ce Contact: Julia Haschke 817690-4823 ~ Clover Kids ~ Meets: 6 p.m. second Tuesday at the Women s Building Wise County Fairgrounds Contact: Andrea Clark 408-825-3392 ~ Rabbit Project ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. third Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church in Boyd Contact: John Moore 817-999-9255 ~ Livestock Judging ~ Contact: Todd Vineyard 254-9772045, email lmwashburn@ag.tamu.edu to get on mailing list ~ County Council ~ Contact: Karly Strickland Meets: 6 p m rst onday at tension of ce 940-627-3341 ~

LBJ National Grasslands For those looking for a break from the day-to-day routine, try spending time enjoying the natural beauty of the LBJ National Grasslands. The roughly 20,302 acres that make up the Grasslands in northern Wise County offers a recreation area at Black Creek Lake, which includes camping, picnic tables, restrooms and a boat ramp. TADRA Point offers one of the best trail riding opportunities in the area and also features a campground. The 75-mile LBJ Multi-Use Trail can be used for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking and has campsites along the way. Valley View Campground has 15 developed campsites, a restroom, water for horses and a pavilion with a grill. Some areas may require a fee for use. Start your escape to nature by visiting the National Forest Service office at 1400 U.S. 81/287 in Decatur. District ranger is Jeff Stoney. ~ 940-627-5475 fs.usda.gov/texas ~

Wise County Park Wise County Park at Lake Bridgeport offers fishing, picnic tables, swimming

and camping. The county has recently added two horse shoe pits, two rock fire pits and new lighting. Other amenities include a playground, boat ramps with piers, public restrooms, showers and a walking/nature trail. Wise County Park offers both reservations and spots that are firstcome-first-served basis. The park offers eight spots that are non-reservable, tent camping spots and RV spots with full hookups or water and electric hookups. Rough camping spots are $10 per night per tent. RV spots with full hookups are $30 per night. RV spots with electric and water hookups are $25 per night. Pavilions are also available for rent, $50 per day for the large pavilion and $30 per day for one of two small pavilions. RVs and tents are extra. The park is located at the north end of the lake, just west of Farm Road 2952. ~ 940-644-1910 co.wise.tx.us under Public Works heading ~

Weatherford College Wise County Weatherford College Wise County opened a permanent campus between Decatur and Bridgeport in the fall of 2012. General education classes include the Texas common core, which is 42 semester credit hours that are guaranteed to transfer to four-year public universities in the state of Texas. WCWC also offers courses of study in registered nursing and cosmetology. WCWC partners with all Wise County high schools to provide dual-credit courses in order for high school students to obtain college credit while still in high school. Noncredit, technical-oriented programs and classes in Workforce Education are also available, and the college has become a popular site for community meetings and special training sessions. The college is at 502 Big Sandy Court in Bridgeport. ~ 940-627-2690 wc.edu ~

Wise County Messenger

1300 S FM 51 Ste. 200

940-255-5255

The essenger also offers publishing services to outside businesses and entities. Our office is at 115 S. Trinity St. in historic downtown Decatur. cmessenger com

Annual events Wise County Youth Fair Wise County Health Fair Grasslands Trail Run Wise County Home and La n Sho Relay for Life a le e Pin nited Way Golf Tournament Youth Art Sho emorial ay Program Wise County lympathon Kids Fishing er y Son o er Camp Wise County ld Settlers Reunion Bi er Bash Wise Health Foundation Clay Shoot Taste of Wise County Patriot ay Program Reading of Constitution nited Way Golf Tournament Chisholm Trail Anti ue Tractor Clu Auction Wise County Pu lic Safety Fall Festival eterans ay Program Blue Ri on Bash A Touch of Rust intage Craft Sho Wise County Toy Run Wise County Cham er A ards

BANNERS

The Brand Behind Your Brand

We here at the Wise County essenger think everyone living in Wise ought to know what’s going on in the place we all call home. And the best way to do that is to read the Wise County essenger newspaper. We publish our national-award winning paper every Wednesday and Friday as well as a single-sheet Update daily Monday through Friday. Both are also available in digital formats. News, photos, advertising and more can also be found on our website, WCMessenger.com. Connect with us on social media through our pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In addition to our regular publications, the essenger produces a number of special sections throughout the year. Download the free Wise County Messenger app, which includes the daily Update, in-depth news coverage, captivating sports stories and up-to-the-minute breaking news, plus every edition of the print product. Push notifications ensure you’ll never miss the latest story.

LIVING IN WISE

WISE COUNTY INFO

EMBROIDERY

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LIVING IN WISE

FINDING YOUR FIT

4-H and Clover Kids ~ Contact: Karly Strickland 3341 ~

940-627-

Area Business Women’s Network ~ Meets: 11:45 a.m. second Thursday, usually e cept uly at the ecatur Conference Center, 2110 W. U.S. 380, ecatur T Reservations due by 11:45 a.m. Friday prior to the event. Online payments only. info@ abwn.org abwn.org ~

Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce ~ Meets: Membership lunch is 11:30 a.m. every third Thursday at Weatherford College Wise County. Contact ecutive irector Nathan Byers 940-683-2076 Location: 812-A Halsell St.; P.O. Box 1104, Bridgeport, TX 76426 bridgeportchamber.org ~

Bridgeport Lions Club eets Noon rst and third Wednesdays at the Bridgeport Lions Club Hall, 1107 8th Street Contact: Tonja Underwood 940-393-0484 bridgeportlionsclub.com ~

Bridgeport Women’s Club ~ Meets: Quarterly Address: P.O. Box 485, Bridgeport, TX 76426 Bridgeport Womens Club on Facebook ~

Chico Chamber of Commerce ~ Meets: Noon second Tuesday, except July and August, at the Chico Senior Center Contact: Rick Bowling 940-626-9143 Address: P.O. Box 533, Chico, TX 76431 Chico Texas Chamber of Commerce on Facebook ~

Chico Chapter No. 433 Order of the Eastern Star eets p m rst Tuesday at the Chico Masonic Lodge, 112 W. Jacksboro St., on the Chico Square Contact: Bobbie Morris 940-6442339 ~

Decatur Chamber of Commerce ~ Meets: 11:30 a.m. fourth Tuesday e cept une uly and ecem er at ecatur Conference Center Contact: ecutive irector isty Berry 940627-3107 decaturtx.com ~

Chico Masonic Lodge No. 508

Decatur Junior Woman’s Club

eets p m rst Thursday at the Chico Masonic Lodge, 112 W. Jacksboro St., on the Chico Square Contact: Tom Ferguson 940-3899879 ~

~ Meets: 7 p.m. second Monday September through May Contact: Tristyn Smith tristynismith@gmail.com eventsdjwc.com ~

Daughters of the American Revolution, John B. Denton Chapter ~ Meets: social at 9:30 a.m. followed by meeting at 10 a.m. third Saturday August through May in the parlor room of the First Baptist Church in ecatur Contact: Connie Brawley 940393-5971 jaogle45@gmail.com or conniebrawley@embarqmail.com ~

Decatur Lions Club ~ Meets: Noon Wednesday (except the fth Wednesday of the month at the Lions Club Building, 207 N. State St ecatur For building rental, call Anita Ross at 940-255-7636 ~

Decatur Rotary Club eets Noon Thursday at ecatur Conference Center, 2010 W. U.S. 380 decaturrotary5790@gmail.com decaturrotary.com ~

GFWC/TFWC Decatur Woman’s Club ~ Meets 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday Septem er through ay at Patti s Cantina Contact ee Ann Archer dejaa201@gmail.com 940-735-0361 ~

Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 70 ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. second Thursday at BF South ecatur Contact: Bobby Harris 940-389-1922 ~

First Baptist Church HOPE (Helping Others Practice English) ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday September through May at First Baptist Church ecatur Pres itt Rd. 940-627-3235 ~

Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority ~ Meets: Second Saturday September through May (except for March) Contact: Rachel Gasperson 940-2102452 ~

Greater Runaway Bay Alliance ~ Meets: As needed Contact: e orah Le is greaterraballiance@ gmail.com grballiance.com ~

Sons of Confederate Veterans - Albert Sidney Johnston Camp No. 983 ~ Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesday at the Wesley Center of the First United ethodist Church of ecatur Main St. ~

Veterans Support Group ~ Meets: Call for an appointment Contact: Karen Self 940-872-5947 karenandleroy.self@yahoo.com ~

Wise County Art Association ~ Wise County Art Association on Facebook diaczenko@yahoo.com ~

Wise County Chamber of Commerce eets a m rst onday (exceptions apply for legal holidays) at ecatur Luncheons onthly coffees networks and mixers throughout the year. See website for scheduled dates. Contact: Mende Hanley info@wisecountychamber.com wisecountychamber.com ~

Wise County Community Coalition ~ Meets: Noon second Monday at various locations St. John issionary Baptist Church in ecatur Contact: Mike Bell 940-799-1077 mbell4344@gmail.com ~

Wise County Democratic Party ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday at Fair eld nn and Suites in ecatur Contact: Chair Janet Amos 940-399-7352 wisedemocrats@ gmail.com wisedemocrats.com ~

Wise County Fossil, Rock and Mineral Society ~ Meets: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesday even numbered months at Pleasant ie Baptist Church in ecatur Contact: Tom Robinson 940393-9620 wcfrms@gmail.com wisecofossilrockandmineralsoc.weebly. com or Wise County Fossil, Rock, and Mineral Society on Facebook ~

LIVING IN WISE

RESOURCE GUIDE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Wise County Genealogical Society ~ Meets: 5:30 p.m. third Thursday January-May and SeptemberNovem er at ecatur Pu lic Li rary Contact: Patti Gillespie 940-3282104 gensearcherpatti@gmail.com ~

Wise County Quilt Guild ~ Meets: 10 a.m. third Saturday at Bridgeport Church of Christ Contact: Jo Ellen JsweetliteJ@yahoo.com ~

Wise County Republican Party ~ Contact: Chair Eric Marney wiserepublicans.com ~

Wise County Retired School Personnel ~ Meets: 11:30 a.m. (lunch), noon (program) fourth Tuesday except May and ecem er at ecatur Conference Center Contact: Ruby Quanz 817773-2941 Bunny Perry 940-3891889 ~

Wise County United Way ~ Contact: Martin Woodruff or Kim Lawson uwwise.ed@embarqmail. com wisecountyunitedway.org ~

Wise County Veterans Group ~ Meets: 8 a.m. Saturday for breakfast (see website for locations) qualitybob@earthlink.net wisecountyvets.org ~

Wise Health System Auxiliary ~ 940-539-8555 wisehealthsystem. com/support/volunteering ~

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LIVING IN WISE

PRESERVING LOCAL HISTORY

Resource guide for local historical societies and museums

Wise County Historical Commission The commission is responsible for initiating and conducting programs concerning Wise County and Texas history suggested by county commissioners and the Texas Historical Commission. It is responsible for collecting, preserving and making available to the public the historic archives at the Wise County Heritage Museum. It also reviews all applications for state historical markers before they are submitted to the THC. ~ Contact: Kerry Clower 940-627-5586 wisehistory.com wisemuseum@embarqmail.com ~

Wise County Historical Society The organization owns and operates the Wise County Heritage Museum, 1602 S. Trinity St. in Decatur. Its main focus is to raise money for the restoration and continued operation of the museum while maintaining and continuing to collect artifacts related to the history of Wise County and Texas in general. ~ Meets: Noon fourth Thursday except August and ecem er 940-6275586 wisemuseum@embarqmail.com wisehistory.com ~

Wise County Heritage Museum The museum, which housed the Decatur Baptist College prior to 1965, was built in 1892. The Lost Battalion Room serves as a tribute to local soldiers who were captured by Japanese soldiers as prisoners of war in the Dutch East Indies during World War II. They were held in forced labor camps for three-and-a-half years. Sam Woody’s cabin, one of the first structures built in Wise County, is now located in front of the museum. The museum also offers genealogy services to help people trace their Wise County family history back to the 19th century as well as an

extensive collection of artifacts on display for public viewing. The museum’s G.C. Rann Auditorium hosts monthly gospel opry sing-alongs as well as concerts, plays and weddings throughout the year. ~ Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday 940-627-5586 wisehistory. com wisemuseum@embarqmail.com ~

Paradise Historical Society Presentations of interest to the community are included in each regular meeting. One major fundraiser each year is the Paradise Main Street Festival, the last Saturday of September and free to the public. Funds are raised through local business sponsorships, auctions, car show and other activities. The money is used to maintain the Paradise Veterans’ Memorial Park, Paradise Museum and to support the local community. President is Jim Taylor. ~ Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesday January, March, May, July, September and November at the United Methodist Church in Paradise Contact: onna Weeden 940-859-3691 paradisemainstreetfestival@gmail.com paradisehistoricalsociety.org ~

Paradise Museum The historical museum, 216 Main Street opened in 2017 and features an exhibit on Machine Gun Kelly, a 19th century organ, exhibits honoring local veterans, railroad memorabilia, old Paradise school house photos and Paradise yearbooks from 19411999. Genealogical research is available. ~ Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday Contact: Gay Read 940-969-2021 ~

Bridgeport Historical Society The Bridgeport Historical Society operates a historical museum at 812B Halsell St. The Society’s primary purpose is to rediscover, perpetuate and preserve the history of the Bridgeport area.

~ Meets: 11:30 a.m. third Monday at Bridgeport Heritage Museum bridgeporttxhistorical.org ~

Bridgeport Heritage Museum Interactive exhibits and historic artifacts weave together to tell the story of Bridgeport’s history at the Bridgeport Heritage Museum. In the lower floor of the Bridgeport Visitors Center on Halsell Street, the museum features exhibits about the Butterfield Stagecoach days, oil and gas exploration and coal mining. ~ Hours: 1-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by request ~

Wise County Veterans Memorial Museum The museum, operated by the Wise County Veterans Group, opened in 2015 and contains exhibits that chronicle the history of wars and conflicts in our country, from the Alamo to the current War on Terror with emphasis on the “forgotten” wars of Korea and Vietnam. The museum makes special note of the role Texans, and particularly Wise County residents, played in our nation’s history. It’s at 1308 10th St. in Bridgeport. ~ Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday 940-683-1054 ~

Aurora Historic Preservation Commission The Historic Preservation Commission works to promote the history of the city, preserve the historic atmosphere of the district as it developed between 1850 and 1920, restore or reconstruct historic structures and sites within the historic district and encourage an active business climate which promotes the development of a diverse range of businesses compatible with the historic district. ~ Meets: Quarterly ~

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LIVING IN WISE

SERVING THE PUBLIC Elected Officials J.D. Clark

Danny Lambert

County Judge

Commissioner Precinct 3

P.O. Box 393 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5743 940-627-6926 (fax) cojudge@co.wise.tx.us The judge’s office is on the first floor of the county courthouse in Decatur.

Lane Akin Sheriff 200 Rook Ramsey Dr. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5971 940-627-3797 (fax) sheriff@sheriff.co.wise.tx.us

John Biff Hayes Commissioner Precinct 1 P.O. Box 899 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5810 940-626-2254 (fax) comm1@co.wise.tx.us

Kevin D. Burns Commissioner Precinct 2 P.O. Box 899 Decatur, TX 76234 940-427-4881 940-427-2210 (fax) comm2@co.wise.tx.us

P.O. Box 899 Decatur, TX 76234 940-433-5365 940-433-5511 (fax) comm3@co.wise.tx.us

Gaylord Kennedy Commissioner Precinct 4 P.O. Box 899 Decatur, TX 76234 940-683-4153 comm4@co.wise.tx.us

Sherry Lemon County Clerk P.O. Box 359 200 N. Trinity St. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3351 940-627-2138 (fax) countyclerk@co.wise.tx.us

Brenda Rowe istrict Cler P.O. Box 308 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5535 940-627-0705 (fax) districtclerk@co.wise.tx.us The district clerk’s office is on the first floor of the county courthouse in Decatur.

Elected Officials

LIVING IN WISE

RESOURCE GUIDE TO LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS Monte Shaw

Thomas Aaberg

Tax Assessor/Collector

County Attorney

404 W. Walnut Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3523 (tax office) 940-627-7237 (fax) 940-627-3304 (auto registration) monte.shaw@co.wise.tx.us

Katherine Hudson Treasurer P.O. Box 554 207 N. Church St. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3540 940-627-3573 (fax) treasurer@co.wise.tx.us

Appointed Through 2022

Wise County Court Building 306 W. Main St. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3321 940-627-7194 (fax) countyattorney@co.wise.tx.us

Brock Smith istrict udge County Courthouse Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3200 271st Judicial District, covers Wise and Jack Counties. The district courtrooom is on the second floor of the county courthouse in Decatur.

Greg Lowery Judge, County Court-at-Law No. 1 P.O. Box 901 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5005 940-627-4791 (fax) ccl@co.wise.tx.us The courtroom is in the Wise County Court Building at 306 W. Main St in Decatur.

James Stainton istrict Attorney County Courthouse Suite 200 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5257 940-627-6404 (fax) districtattorney@co.wise.tx.us

Stephen Wren

Jan Morrow

Judge, County Court-at-Law No. 2

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1

P.O. Box 250 Bridgeport, TX 76426 940-683-0268 940-683-0269 (fax) ccl2@co.wise.tx.us The courtroom is in the Wise County Annex Building at 1007 13th Street in Bridgeport, unless the court instructs otherwise.

P.O. Box 509 Wise County Court Center 306 W. Main St., Suite 105 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-2694 940-627-5417 (fax) jp1@co.wise.tx.us

LIVING IN WISE

SERVING THE PUBLIC Elected Officials (Continued)

Kim Redman

Larry Short

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2

Constable, Precinct 2

200 Rook Ramsey Dr. Decatur, TX 76234 940-626-4206 940-626-4243 (fax) jp2@co.wise.tx.us

Mandy Hays Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 P.O. Box 86 125 FM 730 North Boyd, TX 76023 940-433-2969 940-433-3062 (fax) jp3office@co.wise.tx.us

Willie Garrett Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 1007 13th St. Bridgeport, TX 76426 940-683-4244 940-683-3747 (fax) jp4court@co.wise.tx.us

Rex Hoskins Constable, Precinct 1 2901 FM 51 South, Suite 200 Decatur, TX 76234 940-273-7288 940-627-0120 (fax) constable1@co.wise.tx.us

2901 FM 51 South, Suite 200 Decatur, TX 76234 940-626-0027 940-627-0120 (fax) constable2@co.wise.tx.us

Charles Applewhite Constable, Precinct 3 P.O. Box 195 125 FM 730 North Boyd, TX 76023 940-433-5513 940-433-3062 (fax) constable3@co.wise.tx.us

Kevin Huffman Constable, Precinct 4 1007 13th St. Bridgeport, TX 76426 940-683-3750 constable4@co.wise.tx.us

State and U.S. Representatives Texas House District 61 Phil King, 817-596-4796 Texas Senate District 30 Drew Springer, 512-463-0130 U.S. Representative, Texas District 12 Kay Granger, 817-338-0909 U.S. Representative, Texas District 13 Ronny Jackson, 940-285-8000

Appointed Officials Wacy Beck

Randall Preuninger

911 Addressing

EMS Administrator

2901 S. FM 51, Bldg. 100 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-9332 940-627-6171 (fax) 911addressing@co.wise.tx.us

Diana Allen Asset Management 400 W. Walnut Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-3312 asset@co.wise.tx.us

Ann McCuiston County Auditor P.O. Box 899 207 N. Church St. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5744 940-627-3388 (fax) auditor@co.wise.tx.us

Chad Davis County Engineer 2901 S. FM 51, Bldg. 200 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-9332 940-627-6171 (fax) engineer@co.wise.tx.us

Sabra Srader Elections Administrator P.O. Box 1597 200 S. Trinity Decatur, TX 76234 940-626-4453/627-3656 940-626-4283 (fax) elections@co.wise.tx.us

LIVING IN WISE

RESOURCE GUIDE TO LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

1101 W. Rose Ave. P.O. Box 1509 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-2002 940-627-7521 (fax) rpreuninger@ems.co.wise.tx.us

Jeff Doughty Fire Marshal 206 S. State St., Ste. B Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5870 940-627-3017 (fax) firemarshal@co.wise.tx.us

Cody Powell Emergency Management Coordinator 206 S. State St., Ste. B Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-5870 940-627-3017 (fax) cody.powell@co.wise.tx.us

Beverly Kalisek

Joey Highfill Public Works 2901 S. FM 51, Bldg. 100 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-9332 940-627-6171 (fax) publicworks@co.wise.tx.us

Steven Melton irector of nformation Technology 101 N. Trinity, Ste. B 100 Decatur, TX 76234 940-626-2055 sysadmin@co.wise.tx.us

Blake Walls

Indigent Health Care

eterans Service

1101 W. Rose Ave. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-4203 940-627-7521 (fax) ihc@co.wise.tx.us

205 N. State St. Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-2470 940-627-3828 (fax) wisevets@co.wise.tx.us

Clint Summers

f cer

Cathy Sides

IT Coordinator

Wise County Animal Shelter

101 N. Trinity, Ste. B 100 Decatur, TX 76234 940-626-2055 dir@co.wise.tx.us

119 PR 4195 Decatur, TX 76234 940-627-7577 cathy.sides@co.wise.tx.us

ADVERTORIAL

ONE O

AR S THE TH ANNIVERSAR O ISE COUNT S EST EPT SECRETS

Mar er Cellars Winery, surrounded by the BJ Grasslands just outside of Alvord, will celebrate the big birthday in November. 2022 mar s the 10th anniversary of one of Wise County’s best ept secrets. Owned by Mar and Bec y Rogers, this is a tale of two passions that led to a small piece of paradise, which others might call the Wild Wild West. So how do horses and grapevines go together? Horses love to roam, eat grass, roll and swim in water, love to perform for their owners on the trail and are always curious about people. Grapevines love good, rich soil, water, sunshine but have disdain for late spring frost, hail and those occasional long bouts of sustained below free ing temperatures. Mar er Cellars marries these inhabitants on the 0 acre Mar er Ranch and Vineyard. When customers visit the winery, they are enamored with the rela ing and welcoming atmosphere, away from life’s burdens and giving them a chance to tal to the animals.

Bec y has loved horses her entire life. A competitive trail rider for 20 plus years, and becoming a recogni ed judge in her sport, the farm gives her direct access to the Grasslands and miles of horse and hi ing trails. Mar lives and loves the world of wine. What started as a hobby 2 years ago has grown into a true business with customers visiting from all over the country. Using both old and new world wine ma ing techni ues, Mar er Cellars has a reputation for ma ing e ceptional award winning reds, such as its ightning Cab, Mourv dre’ and Montepulciano. Three years ago, the winery started its own cidery ma ing a range of dry hard ciders, which satisfy the beer drin er customers. Mar er Cellars has also formed partnerships with local businesses E ra ion Cigars and Oa Eden Distillery. “We pride ourselves on the local partnerships we’ve formed enabling us

to mar et, promote and sell products made by others produced here in Wise County,” Rogers stated. Mar er Cellars participates in many Wise County events, including Decatur Swirl, Taste of Bridgeport, Chamber of Commerce functions, Taste of Wise, special fundraisers and private events at many local businesses. Mar er Cellers’ event center hosts many private functions. It held the retirement party for Decatur’s own Chief Richardson, and annually hosts the Wildfire Awareness Planning Meeting held and sponsored by the Alvord Volunteer ire Department in conjunction with the National orest Service. “Being part of the Wise County community has been a very rewarding e perience allowing us to ma e many friendships and give bac to the community,” Rogers said. To learn more, visit Mar er Cellars Winery at 1 CR 2 in Alvord, or go to mar ercellars.com. You can also call 1 or send email to info mar ercellars.com.

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We treat you like family so you can take care of yours. At First State Bank, family comes first in everything we do. For us, that starts with treating our neighbors like family. That means we’re there for you in day-to-day life, at milestone moments and everywhere in between. With our tailored services and dependable customer support, let us be there for you so you can build something extraordinary for them. 661 W. Thompson St. Decatur, TX 76234

FirstState.Bank

LIVING IN WISE

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS Abby’s Joy

American Red Cross

A foundation formed to help families find support and information while walking the path of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) ~ abyzjoy.com ~

Volunteers make up a disaster action team that responds to local disasters such as house fires and tornadoes.

Acts 4 Others Seeks to unite the community and all available resources to prevent homelessness and fight root causes of poverty stricken families in Wise County. ~ Contact: Jessica Sicking 940-222-6647 acts4others.org ~ Al-Anon A mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. ~ Meets: Monday and Wednesday 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 602 N. Business U.S. ecatur T Contact: Frances Stack 940-594-5087 ~ Alcoholics Anonymous International fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. eets aily at noon and p m at N Business S ecatur TX 76234 Contact: Larry Gober 940627-3800, 940-393-8669 ~ Wise Alzheimer’s (Support Group) Helping people who help someone with Alzheimer’s. eets p m rst Tuesday Contact: Richard Sides 940-2550244 ~ American Cancer Society Education, support groups ~ 1200 Summit Ave., Suite 320, Fort Worth, TX 76102 cancer.org 817737-9990 or 24-hour 800-227-2345 ~

~ Contact: Melvin Castleberry or regional of ce 4800 ~

940-

Area Agency on Aging Nursing Home Ombudsman Program Ombudsmen in Wise County help achieve the best life for residents in nursing and assisted living centers. ~ Contact: Tina Rider, Managing Local m udsman ecatur edical Lodge/Nursing Home; Heritage Place of ecatur Nursing Home The Hills Nursing & Rehabilitation/Nursing Home 817-695-9196 ~ CASA of Wise and Jack Counties Provides trained child advocates to serve as independent voices in court for abused and neglected children, as well as case management services for children in CPS care. Volunteer opportunities are available. Contact ecutive irector Elizabeth Randle 300 E. Pecan, ecatur T casawise.org 940-627-7535 ~ Child Study Center Provides diagnosis and treatment services to children who have or are at risk for developmental disabilities and related behavioral and emotional problems . ~ 1300 West Lancaster, Fort Worth, TX 76102 cscfw.org 682-303-9261 ~ Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas Responds to the crime of child abuse with victim advocacy and mental health services for child abuse victims and their families, and coordinates the investigation and prosecution of child

abuse cases with local partners. Also offers community and in-school education on the topic of child abuse recognition, reporting, and prevention. ~ Permanent building in Bridgeport opening Fall 2022 Mailing address: Cain r Le isville T cacnorthtexas.org 972-317-2818 ~ Communities in Schools of North Texas Provides drop-out prevention and stay-inschool services to at-risk and economically disadvantaged students in schools in Denton and Wise counties. ~ 217 South Stemmons Fwy, Suite 101, Lewisville, TX 75067 cisnt.org 972-538-9930 ~ Cornerstone Community Action Agency Headstart Provides educational and case management services to children and their families through Head Start and Early Head Start. Bridgeport Head Start ~ Contact: Nallely Arevalo 682-312-6514 ~ Decatur (Mulberry) Head Start ~ Contact: Jackie Ackerman ~ Center Supervisor (for Mulberry and Bridgeport) ~ Contact: Jackie Ackerman 682-312-6512 ~ Decatur Early Head Start ~ Contact: Analuisa Macias 940-641-3533 ~ Boyd Head Start ~Contact: Katie Lynch

940-400-0150 ~

Decatur MS Support Group Provides an opportunity for people living with Multiple Sclerosis to connect to others with similar life experiences.

eets p m second onday at airy ueen in ecatur Contact anet cCallum anetmccallum gmail com E

Total Diabetes Care at Wise Health System offers regular diabetes education classes intended to help those with diabetes better understand and manage the disease. Contact Haile

South F ecatur T logoscounseling com 817-

mhmrtc org H R

Treats speci c mental health issues. Services are also available for intellectual and physical disabilities. Adults and children are treated.

metroportmo org C

Provides fully funded mobile mammography for the uninsured in Wise County and the surrounding area. moncrief com

Delivers meals to residents of Aurora, Boyd, Justin, Newar and Rhome.

Offers counseling with fees on a sliding scale.

Provides opportunities for individuals and families with special needs.

Provides Early Childhood Intervention (E.C.S.) services to children birth to years of age who are e periencing developmental delays or disabilities.

Business helenfara ee C

ic Gilley and Brenda ECS

ecatur T org

IVIN IN WISE

RESOURCE UI E OR OCA HEA TH OR SOCIA SERVICE ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT

Bridgeport

made thrive org P

Provides free diagnostic and screening mammograms to low income, uninsured women in Wise County. Wise Health System ast Campus edical Center r ecatur T WiseHealthFoundation com marysgift

Par inson’s Disease support group for patients who have Par inson’s, their caregivers, family members and friends in Wise County and surrounding counties. eets First Tuesday each month at p m Location Wise Health System ecatur ast Campus old Fit N Wise Contact Pamela Hudson

LIVING IN WISE

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS Raquel’s Wings for Life

Provides free air transportation for cancer patients to the medical center they need. Airport Rd Bo 76234 940-399-9504 icloud.com ~

ecatur T a rad

Salvation Army Rental assistance, utilities, emergency support, emergency relief for travelers. Sponsors Christmas tree for Angels and WCCA Meals on Wheels clients. ~ Wise County Unit: WARM, 300 N. Trinity ecatur T 940-626-4676 (After hours, call ecatur or Bridgeport police department or Wise County Sheriff s f ce Social Security Office Although Wise County doesn’t have a Social Security Office, most business can be handled online or by phone. If an office visit is necessary, the closest office is in Denton. 76205

Colorado Blvd enton T ssa.gov 888-717-1530 ~ South Wise Services

Food pantry, clothing and other assistance as funds are available. ~ Trinity Baptist Church, P.O. Box 217, Boyd, TX 76023 940-433-5281 ~ Southeast Wise County Community Services Provides food pantry and limited emergency assistance to Rhome and Newark area residents in need. ~ P.O. Box 148, Newark, TX 76071 817-439-3973 ~ Southwestern Diabetic Foundation Rehabilitation and education training for boys and girls with diabetes through

residential summer camps at Camp Sweeney. ~ P.O. Box 918, Gainesville, TX 76241 campsweeney.org 940665-2011 ~ Stroke Overcomers Support Group ~ Meets: 6 p.m. third Wednesday at Wise Health System, 1000 Medical Center rive in ecatur Contact: Casey Rauschuber/Amber Everett 940-626-2457 ~ Susan G. Komen North Texas Funds breast health education, screening, treatment and patient services for medically underserved men and women in the North Texas service area, including Wise County. ~ 13770 Noel Road, Ste. 801889 allas T komennorthtexas. org 1-877-GO KOMEN info@ komen.org ~ TAPS Public transit service for medical, shopping, social, education, employment and more. Meals on Wheels clients ride free.

~ 3400 Texoma Pkwy., Sherman, TX 75090 tapsbus.com 844-6036048 ~ Tarrant Area Food Bank Mobile Pantry Working with local agencies, the food bank delivers food for distribution to area residents in need once a month to three locations in Wise County. Decatur Cares sponsored by First United Methodist Church in Decatur am

S iller St ecatur 8-9 rst Saturday 940-627-3362 ~

First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport ~ 608 17th St., Bridgeport 9-11:30 a.m. (or until food runs out) second Thursday 940-683-2780 ~ U-Turn World Ministries in Chico ~ 306 N. Texas 101, Chico 3-6 p.m. fourth Thursday Contact: Clover Alexander 940-644-5555 ~

Texas Neighborhood Services Community Services Assistance to low income households with utility payments, heating/cooling system repairs, energy education and budget counseling. N Trinity Suite B ecatur T 76234 940-626-4277 (Friday only) 522 Palo Pinto, Weatherford, TX 76086 817-598-5700 txns.org ~ Texas Ramp Project Builds wheelchair ramps for disabled or elderly people who cannot afford to buy one. ~ texasramps.org ~ Trinity Habitat for Humanity Builds quality, affordable houses for qualified low-income families. ~ 9333 N. Normandale St., Fort Worth, TX 76116 trinityhabitat.org 817-926-9219 ~ Wise Area Relief Mission (WARM) Provides food pantry, referral and information services, and limited financial assistance for utilities and prescriptions when funds are available. N Trinity ecatur T warmtx.org 940-626-4676 ~ Valor Ranch Home of the SHEROES - Serving, Honoring, Empowering, Restoring, Our Esteemed Service women ecatur T 682-283-1844 info@valorranchtx.org ~ VA/Decatur Community-Based Outpatient Clinic Serves veterans living in Wise, Jack, Clay, Archer, Baylor, Young, Montague and Throckmorton counties S F 940-627-7001

ecatur T northtexas.va.gov ~

Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center Provides pregnancy tests; ultrasounds; peer counseling for moms and dads; pregnancy, parenting, life skills and Bible study classes; baby necessities (diapers, clothing, formula, furniture, car seats, etc.); abortion pill reversal; STD/STI education and training; resource referrals N Trinity ecatur T mywisechoices.com 940-627-6924 or 940-393-6040 ~ Wise Coalition for Healthy Children Provides free Wise Parent Café: small, intimate settings where parents and caregivers discuss their families and parenting challenges, share ideas and learn proven parenting techniques. The coalition meets at noon the first Thursday every other month at First United Methodist Church of Decatur, 104 S. Miller, Decatur, TX. Marsha Waters with Cook Children’s Health Care System is regional coordinator. ~ 682-885-3069 centerforchildrenshealth.org ~ Wise County Christian Counseling Provides individual, couples and family therapy counseling services on a sliding scale basis. Jenny’s Hope is a free grief center for children and adults. S F Suite TX 76234 wiseccc.org 1618 ~

ecatur 940-627-

Meals on Wheels, Wise County (WCCA) Offers free congregate meals and daily activities for senior citizens (age 60 and older) 11:15 to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the OWLS Activity Center (formerly Decatur Senior Center) at 1200 N. Miller. Provides meals 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at

LIVING IN WISE

RESOURCE GUIDE FOR LOCAL HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE OR SUPPORT

Ascension & St. Mark Anglican Church in Bridgeport N Trinity Suite A ecatur T 940-627-5329 wisemeals.org ~ Wise Health Center Community Health Clinic Provides a medical home in Wise County for uninsured and underinsured. Provides basic access to health care on a reduced fee/sliding scale basis. S F Suite ecatur TX 76234 940-626-3888 healthywisecounty.com ~ Wise County Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention, counseling, referral and education to abusers of alcohol or drugs and their families. S Church ecatur T 940-627-3921 ~ Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center Emergency safe housing, resource referrals, counseling, legal advocacy and emergency response for victims of domestic violence. N Business ecatur TX 76234 wisehope.org 24-hour hotline 940-626-4855; Wise County utreach f ce Wise Kid Care Provides assistance to CPS in caring for abused/neglected children. Provides Christmas gifts to needy youth, as well as counseling and education services. ~ CPS Supervisor — 2000 W. Business S ecatur T 940-393-7830 ~

WALLACE PLUMBING COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, SERVICE, REMODEL, & CONSTRUCTION

ise

ount

ince 1979 nited ay of ise ounty nc o ced in ecatur exas has wor ed di igent y to support oca charities pro iding essentia hea th and human ser ices to ise ounty residents s a registered exas non-pro t corporation nited ay of ise ounty conducts annua fund-raising campaigns and in ests the proceeds to these oca charities on the asis of their need speci c ser ices pro ided num er of fami ies ser ed and other considerations B W

24-HOUR

EMERGENCY SERVICE TOMMY WALLACE LIC #M18757

214.680.4579

SERVING WISE COUNTY SINCE 1995

UWWC

CALL NOW FOR GREAT SERVICE VISIT US ONLINE AT WALLACEPLUMBINGINC.NET

- Ballet -

Partnering with North Texas Giving Day Thursday September 22 • Ask your employer about payroll deduction • Ask us about a workplace campaign

Ages 3 thru Adult Beginning Through Advanced Level Ballet, Tap, Pilates, Pointe, Contemporary / Modern

940-627-7777 940-626-1124 krsm272@aol.com 1300 N. Hwy. 287 • Decatur

Join Us,Call Today! Martin Woodruff EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

940-627-3684

or e-mail: uwwise.ed@embarqmail.com www.wisecountyunitedway.org Facebook.com/wisecountyunitedway Donations made here STAY HERE

Private lessons for Piano • Violin • Fiddle • Viola Call Austin Smith 940-395-2491

wiseballetandmusic.com

We pro ide all o t e ollo i g ser ices, a d uc ore • • • • • • • •

Co puter et ork Support Wired Wireless et orks Data oice Ca li g a aged Ser ices Cellular Boosters P o e S ste s Co sulti g Docu e t Sca i g S reddi g

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Shop and Play

TNRS

RANCH feed store

Event Center GUEST RANCH

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CENTER TA ES

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S ct ty enter for sen ors cele rates o en n By Austin Jac son The OW S Activity Center celebrated its grand opening in June, ushering in a revamped, collaborative approach to offering activities for seniors in Wise County. Under the leadership of OW S (Organi ed Wise County unches of Seniors) Activity Center Director Anna Co er, the grand opening represented a signi cant moment for seniors in the area, said Wise County Committee on Aging (WCCA) Director Amy Pegues. “ or the citi ens, it means some place to go that’s safe and economically viable for them, a place to have fun,” Pegues said. “It means somebody on a ed income can get out of their house and be active.”

The OW S Activity Center, formerly the Decatur Senior Center, changed hands in 2022 and is now operated through the WCCA. The purpose of the center is to help care for and enrich the lives of senior citi ens in Wise County through activities and fellowship. The activity center, at 1200 N. Miller St., in Decatur hosts meals and activities for Wise County seniors. The activities include bingo, 2, uilting events, arts and crafts and a boo club. They also host e ercise events, feature guest spea ers and occasional live music. All seniors are welcome, Pegues said. “This is not a cli ue. This is a building for everybody to come to,” she said. Since March, the center has grown from 1 to around seniors who regularly participate in activities at the center, which has created a different set

FEATURE

of problems, Pegues said. The activity center is growing but the building is not. “We too this over in March thin ing we would have a little time with that building before we outgrew it,” Pegues said. “We have already outgrown it.” The long term plan is to house the activity center, the WCCA and Meals on Wheels Wise County under the same roof in a larger facility. “We are in desperate need of donations for Meals on Wheels and the senior center, so we can buy our own building and have a really nice facility for seniors to grow with,” Pegues said. “Where I would li e to see WCCA go in the future is in a building where we could have all of our senior activities, our itchen, and our of ces all in one location.”

S ct ty enter ller St Decatur Doors o en at a m and lunch free to a es and u s ser ed a m onday throu h Fr day all ahead so enou h meals can e ro ded nl ne eals n heels se ounty or

S S

H F S

ADVERTORIAL

EETIN A OUR ACHINE NEE S

or more than three decades, Hendershot E uipment has been Wise County’s source for e uipment and tools to tac le big and small jobs around the house, farm or job site. The family owned dealership of Ron Hendershot, with his son Hunter Hendershot and daughter Jessica Miller, offers a full line of CASE IH, Vermeer, Rhino, GEH , JCB and others agriculture and construction e uipment from tractors, disc cutters, balers, mowers, augers and more for sale. Hendershot also can meet your short term rental job needs with bac hoes, boom lifts, light towers, mini e cavators, mini s ids, scissor lifts, s id steers, loaders, telescopic for lifts, trenchers and vibratory drum rollers for rent to help individuals and contractors. “Hendershot E uipment has always been family owned, with the owner coming twice a wee for 0 years,” e plained Hunter, who now is a constant presence at the Decatur location.

In the past 2 years as the county has grown and evolved with the types of farms, ranches and ranchettes, so has Hendershot to meet its needs, adding lines, products and services. “We are a family owned dealership committed to helping farmers, ranchers, homeowners and contractors,” Hunter Hendershot said. “We have evolved over the years to t the needs of the county as it has changed. We have added rental, more residential and commercial mowers, small tractors and more construction e uipment for contractors.” Hendershot remains committed to the county’s agrarian roots and to helping ranchers meet the needs of their livestoc and other hay producers with new and used round and s uare balers, wheel ra es and mower conditioners. “We also continue to heavily serve our hay customers as hay productions increases in Wise County,” Hunter e plained.

Signifying the public’s trust in Hendershot over the past 0 years, the dealership has earned many awards for manufacturers as a top dealer. But the service doesn’t stop with the sale of e uipment. Hendershot’s highly trained e uipment service technicians are dedicated to helping you get bac on the job uic ly. They go through hours of annual training to ma e sure they are e perts on your tractor, mower and e uipment. The service department recently received the CASE IH Pinnacle Service Award, signifying it as one of the top CASE IH service departments. Hendershot also has a large selection of parts and accessories on hand in its showroom and e perts to get you what you need to get bac to wor . ind Hendershot E uipment at 1 1 N. U.S. 1/2 in Decatur. The dealership is open 0 a.m. to 0 p.m. Monday through riday and 0 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Information is available around the cloc at hendershote uipment.com.

Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center

WE’RE

IN A BANK

604 N. Trinity St. Decatur, TX. 76234 www.mywisechoices.com Office: 940-627-6924 Cell: 940-393-6040

Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy? We are here to help moms & dads

Texas is strong, from all the ways we lift each other up. RHOME 800 U.S. Hwy. 287, Suite A, 817.638.5111

22_PTX18_WISECO_STRONG_AD.indd 1

1841 N US HWY 287 DECATUR, TX 76234

WWW.HENDERSHOTEQUIPMENT.COM

MEMBER FDIC

5/19/22 10:33 AM

FEATURE

OUTDOORSMAN’S PARADISE rasslands and a e Br d e ort offer recreat onal o ortun t es H

S D

By ayton Shelton Wise County is fortunate enough to boast a variety of outdoor recreational activities within its borders. rom hunting and hi ing on the yndon B. Johnson National Grasslands, to shing and boating on a e Bridgeport, there aren’t many counties that can hold a candle to the number of public opportunities Wise

holds. With more than percent of land in Te as being privately held, and less than 2 percent being open to the public, opportunities for outdoor activities are slim throughout the state. But, Wise County’s plethora of outdoor opportunities ma es it a perfect destination for those

outdoor enthusiasts loo ing to plant roots in North Te as. The largest attraction in the county is the BJ Grasslands. Split into units totaling more than 20,000 acres, BJ is the destination for thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every year. Trails for hi ing, horsebac riding and mountain bi ing

picnic areas for those looking for a relaxing day at the lake. The lake also offers six different public boat ramps for those looking to get out on the water. One of the lake’s main attractions is the fishing. Home to largemouth and smallmouth bass, along with large populations of white and hybrid bass, and of course an excellent crappie population, the lake is a local hot spot for those looking to wet a line. The smallmouth bass are a target for many anglers, as they traditionally aren’t found West of the Mississippi. However, Lake Bridgeport houses some lunkers, bringing in anglers from hundreds of miles away. For those outdoor enthusiasts looking to settle somewhere in North Texas, Wise County has to be at the top of the list. There aren’t many areas in the entire state that host an excellent and beautiful fishing destination like Lake Bridgeport. But if that isn’t enough, throw in the thousands of acres that the LBJ National Grasslands has to offer, and we can assure you you’ll never want to leave.

54 14

28 76

53 30

74 Cottonwood Lake

Legend Trail 22

Little Cottonwood Lake

21 34

Dan Pond

39 78 37

FEATURE

are all available throughout the grasslands, with trails near Cottonwood Lake and Black Creek Lake being some of the more popular. Other areas of the grasslands are perfect for hunting white-tailed deer, hogs, turkey and waterfowl. The mixture of pasture land and heavily wooded areas makes the perfect habitat for a variety of game. The landscape is also dotted with dozens of ponds and smaller lakes, with many containing bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The grasslands are extremely remote. In fact, the only area with dedicated camping spots is at Black Creek Lake, with seven primitive camp sites. The LBJ National Grasslands is truly a place for all outdoor enthusiasts to get out and do what they love. The second main outdoor attraction of Wise County is Lake Bridgeport. The 12,000-acre impoundment is known for its deep, clear waters and rugged surrounding terrain. On the northeast side of the lake you will find Wise County Park, which offers swimming and

Wise County Medical & Surgical Association a e

Monday - Thursday 8am - 5pm

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ports Physi a s

Wa -in Appointments A ai a e 5

ay Appointments

Most insuran e a

Family Medicine

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har a Car er, FNP-C

enise Casper,

Me an

Char es Ma a, M

Mary

Thomas te en, M

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Courtney Jones FNP-C Amy Lynd, FNP-C

Family Medicine with Obstetrics aines i e

ays in

Family Medicine

Je A in , M

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940-627-7440

Friday 8am - 4pm

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Mandy Peters, FNP-C

e ave ot er o ces avai a e or o r ea t care eeds 8

Gainesville Clinic Nea

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940-580-3070 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

http://www.wisedocs.com

• We buy land, cattle, homes, equipment antiques & furniture

Learn more at msutexas.edu

MUSTANGS AT CENTENNIAL HALL

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WICHITA FALLS MUSEUM OF ART

SUNWATCHER

W B

www.brightideastx.com

Enriching Lives

email:design@brightideastx.com

2 04 r il n a ir l ri rt 940-683-4325 -Fri 9 a -5 Sat 10 a -2

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES FOR WISE COUNTY Complimentary Pick Up and Return of your Cadillac following sales and service.

LOCATION Take Exit 462 off I-35 South Denton, Texas 76201 940.591.9663

www.JamesWoodCadillac.com

WISE

MARKETPLACE BOYD

M NN

BRIDGEPORT

P- A- - -A- D- - -R - -A

O PAR

112 . Ho ey t. • oyd

76023

940-433-2322

Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM • at 8AM-4PM

Munn s Ho e Ace

ard

are

DECATUR

Market Collection

EASY RENT

DECATUR

817-994-1020 . Was b rn t.

Decat r

The

o rs T es ri Vintage Goods, Vinyl Records, Record Players, Stereo Equipment

T ES F

S A

Tues - Sat 8 0 am - 6 0 pm • Closed Sun and Mon SAT

909 W. Bus. 80 • Decatur, TX 762 4 • 940-626-14 4 NEXT TO TACO CASA

DECATUR

MOVIE INE

940-627-5522 20 W T o De t T

E T TO O

• Living Room Furniture • Gas Ranges • Computers • Refrigerators • Dishwashers • Game Systems •Electric Ranges • Freezers • TVs • Mowers

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DECATUR Small Town Feel with Uptown Look so St 2

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2202 3 0 te 114 940-683-3819 Mon - at 6 am - pm

Auto

County Line Resale

AM L A

Consign ent tore

940-627-7774

02 -

0 A

-6

•S

E A 0

-4

SERVICE

www.wcmessenger.com

940-627-5987 ST

ONE RI HT

IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

CONTENTS

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Bee Republic................................ 93 1 Stop of Texas..................................... 7 st Choice Truck Lube Inc .................. 83 A Vintage Affair ................................. 24 Adam’s Furniture .................................11 Addie Cakes Lily Pies ....................... 63 All Rid Pest Termite Inc .................. 108 Alvord EDC ....................................... 13 Ary Co............................................... 37 Assurance Financial ........................ B&R Machining Services...................... 80 Belwave ............................................. 47 Best Value Renshaw Drug .................... 67 Bisidas Water Well Drilling .................. 23 Black Insurance................................... 84 Bless Your Mouth ................................ 24 Blessed Hands Garage........................ 24 Blonde AF State o ind ..................... 39 Bloomoon Pet Resort ........................... 23 BMG Auto Group ............................. 109 Bond Family Eye Care ......................... 60 Bridgeport Chamber o Commerce...... 112 Bridgeport EDC .................................... 2 Bridgeport eep Festival ...................... 53 Bridgeport Main Street........................ 25 Bright Ideas ...................................... 134 Brown’s Custom Boots Leather and Repairs ...........................................................63 Cannon Realty .................................... 79 Carillo Sipes Tibbels Attorneys at Law..... .......................................................... 33 Carol Ann Carson P C Attorney at Law... .......................................................... 39 CASA............................................... 134 Cat sh O’harlies ................................ 79 Century oey Duncan.................... 113 Century Sue Ann Denton................ 47 Century Sue and Trevor eek ....... 85 Chalet o ewelry ................................ 48 Charis Closet ...................................... 35 Chico Auto Parts ............................... 138 Christian B Helm Physical edicine Rehabilitation ......................................61 City o Bridgeport Parks Rec ......... 100 Classic Floor ..................................... 108 Classic Florist ...................................... 24 CLW Fitness Studio.............................. 63 Cook cDonald Company.............. 24 County Line Resale............................ 135 Daily Donuts....................................... 63 DATCU ............................................... 77 Decatur Chamber o Commerce ........... 89 Decatur Conference Center ................. 53 Decatur Dental ................................... 28 Decatur EDC....................................... 51

Decatur Eye Center ............................. 43 Decatur First nited ethodist Church...... ........................................................ 104 Decatur Garden Center ....................... 59 Decatur Heat & Air ........................... 139 Decatur Livestock Market .................... 55 Decatur Main Street ............................ 34 Decatur Medical Lodge ......................... 5 Decatur Public Library ....................... 134 Decatur Self Storage ........................... 72 Decatur Tires ...................................... 55 Decatur Town Square .......................... 35 Decatur eterinary Clinic..................... 86 Decatur Women’s Health Center .......... 12 DFT Sel Storage................................101 DIY Studio .......................................... 21 Don’s AC Service................................ 47 Dos Chiles .........................................112 Easy Rent ......................................... 135 Edge Crew Construction ...................... 24 Edward Jones ..................................... 43 Edward ones ay Craddock............... 24 Epic Heart & Vascular Care ................. 19 Episcopal Church of the Resurrection... 112 Excellent Dental .................................. 21 Fairway ortgage Tim Lambert .......... 83 Family Clinic ....................................... 81 Farmers Insurance Clay Patterson...... 134 Farmers Insurance Trey Horn Agency .. 58 Father’s House Church ........................ 65 Finish Line Ca ................................... 63 First Financial Bank ........................... 105 First National Bank....................... First National Bank ortgage................ 3 First State Bank Decatur .................... 119 First nited ethodist Church o Bridgeport .......................................................... 87 Fitt edicine....................................... 73 Flusche Auto Repair ............................ 85 Forever Teeth...................................... 79 Forty Seven Community Home and arden .......................................................... 24 Framing emories .............................. 24 Full Armor Fellowship ............................ 7 Giant Burger....................................... 80 overnor’s Ridge ............................... 12 uardian Title Company ..................... 57 Hanson Aggregates ............................ 29 Hawkins Funeral Home....................... 19 Hayhurst Brothers Homes .................... 24 Heart to Heart Hospice ....................... 96 Help Me Grow ................................... 38 Hemesath Podiatry.............................137 Hendershot.......................... Herbs ore .................................... 90

Holmes Auto Supply.......................... 105 Home Town Tees ................................. 63 Hudson & Torres ................................. 24 Ideal Flooring Design....................... 64 iO ce.................................................. 7 ames Wood Auto Park ..................... 134 James Wood Motors ........................... 60 im Lambert Construction..................... 77 Robs Per ormance Training................. 48 Just Like New.................................... 135 Justin Seed Co. ................................... 28 Karl Klement CJD................................ 53 arl lement Ford ............................... 17 en’s Appliances ................................ 39 enepela’s itchen ............................. 48 Kwik Kar ............................................ 72 Legend Bank....................................... 21 Little Caesars .....................................113 Locality .............................................. 24 Lowe’s Supermarkets........................... 89 Lowery Wholesale LLC ....................... 63 Main Street Antique Mall .................... 35 Mann Refrigeration ............................. 39 Marker Cellars................................... 119 Martin Marietta .................................... 8 ary ay Laura Sha er................137 ary’s i t ........................................ 77 cLaughlin Supply ........................... 104 McMaster New Holland ...................... 58 edicare Specialist ay and Clay Patterson .......................................... 134 Meals on Wheels ........................ oncrie Cancer Institute....................... 4 More Than Waxing ............................. 35 MSU Texas ....................................... 133 iss Twister Dance Company ............ 135 unn’s Auto Parts............................. 135 New Salem Free Will Baptist Church .... 73 No Boundaries Cowboy Church........... 53 North Texas Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation ..................................... 48 NRS ................................................. 126 OWLS ........................................ Panderia La Familia........................... 135 Paradise EDC ..................................... 63 Paradise Historical Society................... 63 Paradise Nutrition Energy ................ 63 Parker Properties .......................... Patti’s Hair Parlor................................ 41 Pinnacle Bank ................................... 129 Pla a Cinema ................................ 135 PrimeWest ortgage .......................... 67 uality R ....................................... 87 RB ol Club Resort ......................... 67 Reeves Automotive.............................. 39

Rhine Realty ................... Rit y lit y Photo Booth...... 125 Robin Stout Co ....................6 Rooster’s Roadhouse.............35 Rosenbaum Dental ................58 S Pharmacy ......................84 Salt Logi Technologies .........72 SDC Fine Arts Academy ........65 Serendipity On ............ 108 Serenity Oasis ......................63 Sewell Forbis.....................35 Shelly Sessums Ta Service.... 19 Silhouette Dance Company.... 61 Skin Body Works Spa ........ 81 Skinny’s Repair Shop ............83 Solaris Hospice..................... 14 State Farm Cary Bohn .........111 State Farm David Correll ......24 Stephens Bastian Cartwright Insurance ............................. 12 Sue Swint Realty ................. 133 Superior Lawn Landscape ..64 Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes ............35 Tarrant Regional Water District .. ............................................64 Taylor Septic Pumping Service ... ............................................73 Taylor Septic Do er ...........60 Te as Farm Bureau Insurance..... ............................................24 Te as I T Pros..................... TF ineyard Winery...........48 The Community Bank........... 113 The Hope Chest ....................24 The arket Collection ......... 135 The Orthopedic Sports edicine Institute............. 70-71 The Roo uy .......................53 The Shop............................ 103 The Tire Outlet .................... 109 Title Resources ......................55 Total Plumbing Solutions ...... 109 Trees Inc .............................111 Trinity Lutheran Church..........89 Trinity Realty im Sutton ........35

nited Way ........................ 124 pper Trinity roundwater Conservation District ............. 37 ictory Christian Academy .. 104 ictory Church........................9 ictory in Christ Lutheran Church ............................................58 incent Wealth anagement..... ............................................54 Wallace Plumbing .............. Watergate Irrigation ........... 101 Weather ord College ............ 16 William Rose Co ......... Wise ack Counties Catholic Communities .........................48 Wise Ballet usic Academy ... .......................................... 124 Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center.................. 129 Wise County Chamber o Commerce .......................... 105 Wise County Committee on Aging........................... Wise County Elections ........... 37 Wise County Heritage useum.. ...........................................111 Wise County edical Surgical Assoc ................................ 132 Wise County essenger............ .................................. Wise County Title Company... 15 Wise Electric Cooperative......58 Wise Family Practice .............78 Wise Health Clinics .......... 94-95 Wise Health Foundation ........77 Wise Health System Community Care Pharmacy.....................28 Wise Health System .................. ......................... Back Cover Wise Obstetrics ynecology .. .......................................... 138 Wise Wellness LLC ...............35 Yong’s orean BB ..............63 Young Tank Inc ...................90 Your CBD Store....................

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Advertise your business with the Wise County Messenger Contact 940-627-5987 or ads@wcmessenger.com for more information.

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Healing. Healthy. Happy. At Wise Health ystem, we re committed to providing exceptional care for you and your family through every stage of life. rom wellness appointments to welcoming newborns, we are here for you.