ANIMALS LOST IN BARN FIRE -- Several animals and a barn with living quarters were lost to a structure fire Tuesday east of Decatur. The fire was reported in the 500 block of County Road 4004 shortly after 5 p.m. Jeff Smith, operations chief with Decatur Fire Department, said the barn was engulfed in flames as first responding units arrived. "It's unknown what started it," said Wise County EMS Chief and acting Fire Marshal Randall Preuninger. "...[Witnesses] heard a boom -- they thought someone may have been shooting. They came out and the barn was on fire" A cow, multiple dogs and several goats did not survive the fire, Preuninger said. The apartment inside the barn was not currently occupied, and no people were injured. The owners were not on the property when the fire started. The investigation into the cause of the fire was complicated by structural stability concerns, with a portion of the roof bowing drastically between a pair of beams. Preuninger said the compromised section was likely the origin point of the fire. Decatur Fire Department, New Fairview Fire Rescue, Bridgeport Fire Department, Krum Fire Department, Ponder Fire Department and Wise County EMS contained the fire to the structure. A Department of Public Safety unit also responded to the scene. The level of response was due in part to wildfire conditions in the region, Smith said, with several tankers and engines providing water supply to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes. Crews cleared the scene of the structure fire at 7:40 p.m. See full story at wcmessenger.com.
BURN BAN ACTIVE AS WINDY DAYS CONTINUE -- Wise County's burn ban is in effect today due to the elevated fire threat. Wise County will also be under a Wind Advisory until 9 p.m. The National Weather Service anticipates winds from 20 to 35 mph and gusts up to 45 mph until late tonight.
SLIDELL ISD TO ACT ON TRANSITION -- Slidell ISD will lay out plans to find its next district leader Thursday night. The Slidell School Board is expected take action on its superintendent search and name an acting superintendent who will lead the district through the transition at their upcoming meeting. The board will also vote on accepting superintendent Taylor Williams's resignation. Williams, who has led Slidell since 2018, was hired as Decatur's new superintendent last week. Williams is expected to begin her new role March 24. Read more at wcmessenger.com.
NONE INJURED IN 18-WHEELER WRECK -- A wreck involving two tractor trailers Tuesday afternoon snarled traffic after shutting down a major thoroughfare south of Decatur, but it resulted in no injuries. The wreck was reported at about 1 p.m. at the intersection of Farm Road 51 and County Road 4196, between Decatur and Paradise. According to Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger, one of the trucks attempted to turn onto County Road 4196, but was hit by another 18-wheeler traveling on Farm Road 51. Additionally, another vehicle drove through a ditch and into a fence in an effort to avoid crashing. Names of the drivers involved were not immediately released. The wreck caused the closure of Farm Road 51 in both directions for more than 90 minutes, as emergency responders cleared the scene.
SOCCER RESULTS -- The Bridgeport Sissies (6-12-1) suffered a 1-0 playoff warmup loss to Wichita Falls Legacy Tuesday at Wichita Falls ISD's Memorial Stadium.
SOFTBALL RESULTS -- Decatur (9-4, 3-1) suffered its first District 7-4A loss in a 7-4 home defeat to Eagle Mountain Tuesday. Paradise (11-5-2) fell to 2-2 in 10-3A play after losing to Whitesboro, 5-1. Alvord (4-6, 0-1) dropped its first 2A matchup in 10-2A in a 15-0 run-rule loss to Muenster. Chico (10-7, 0-1) was run-ruled in its league opener by Lindsay, 15-0.
BASEBALL RESULTS -- Trailing 1-0, the Decatur Eagles (6-11-1, 2-0) exploded for 11 runs in the final two innings to claim an 11-1 win over Aubrey in the teams' non-district series opener Tuesday. Bridgeport (0-12, 0-1) was shut out in its District 7-4A opener to Eagle Mountain, 10-0. In 10-3A, Paradise (2-5-2, 1-0) blew out Ponder in its league opener with a 15-5 win. Chico (0-10) remains winless after suffering an 18-1 non-district loss to Poolville.
DFD TO CELEBRATE FLEET ADDITIONS -- Decatur Fire Department will host a traditional "wet down" and "push in" ceremony for Brush 115 and UTV 115, the newest additions to the DFD fleet, 4 p.m. Thursday, March 20n at the station. The public is invited to meet DFD crew members and assist with the "wet down" before firefighters push the truck into the station, marking its ceremonial entry into service. The station is at 1705 South State St.
FIRST RESPONDERS BREAKFAST -- Decatur Medical Lodge, 701 Bennett Road, will hold its annual drive-thru breakfast for first responders 9 a.m. until gone Friday. Contact Bobbie at 940-626-2800.
DECATUR CHAMBER LUNCHEON -- The Decatur Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly luncheon Tuesday, March 25 at the Decatur Conference Center. James Cross, chief experience officer with the Energy Worldnet, will speak on "AI in the Business World." RSVP to the chamber by noon Thursday.
SOUTH WISE REPUBLICAN MEETING -- Wise County Sheriff Cary Mellema will be guest speaker at the South Wise Republican Club Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Friday at Big Tony's BBQ, 3527 Texas 114 in Rhome.
SERVICE for ANNA JO WINN, 92, of Bridgeport is 10:30 a.m. Saturday Balsora Baptist Church with burial at Thomas Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.