CAT CAUSES CHAIN REACTION WRECK – A driver distracted by a pet cat inside the vehicle started a chain reaction wreck early this morning. According to Lt. Lonny Haschel with the Texas Department of Public Safety, a passenger car was northbound on U.S. 81/287 in the Rhome area around 12:15 a.m. when the driver, apparently distracted by the cat, hit the guardrail on the inside shoulder. The car pulled to the right and stopped. The guardrail was damaged and partially in the left lane of northbound 81/287. A truck was approaching the car involved in the first crash and moved to the left lane. That driver did not see the guardrail in the lane of traffic and struck it, which caused the driver to lose control. The truck jackknifed and crossed into the southbound lanes of 81/287 where it was struck by a southbound Honda SUV. Both the truck driver and the SUV driver where taken to Wise Health System in Decatur by ground ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Haschel. The driver in the first car was uninjured. The northbound lanes were closed for about two hours.
1 HURT IN ROLLOVER WRECK – One person was injured in a rollover wreck Tuesday night on U.S. 380 between Bridgeport and Decatur. The female driver of a white pickup was eastbound on the road just west of the intersection with Farm Road 1655 when she left the roadway and then tried to steer back onto the roadway, causing the vehicle to roll several times, according to officers on the scene. The driver, whose name was not available at the scene, was trapped and had to be extricated by the Bridgeport Fire Department before she was transported by ambulance to Wise Health System in Decatur. A 5-year-old passenger who was in a car seat was not injured. The wreck happened around 6:30 p.m.
FIRST BABY OF 2018 – Maisie Michelle Ray became the first baby born in Wise County in 2018 Monday. She arrived at 6:21 p.m. on New Year’s Day at Wise Health System in Decatur to parents Gregory and Carla Ray of Springtown. She weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long.
WARMING UP TODAY – Temperatures are starting out in the teens again this morning, but we should finally see non-freezing temperatures by this afternoon. Today’s afternoon high is forecast to be in the mid-40s. Temperatures have remained below freezing since Saturday.
BRIDGEPORT MOVIE – Bridgeport Box Office presents “Despicable Me 3” at 1 and 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arcadia, 1009 Halsell St. This movie is free, and doors open 30 minutes prior to the movie. Concessions will be on sale. Call 940-683-3480.
FOOD PANTRY OPEN SATURDAY – The Decatur Cares mobile food pantry will be in the parking lot of the Decatur ISD Administration Building, 309 S. Cates St., at a new time of 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday. It’s open to anyone in the community who needs help with groceries. The 18-wheeler full of food comes to Decatur the first Saturday of every month throughout the year.
TRASH COLLECTION CHANGE – This week trash and recycling pickup in Decatur has been shifted forward by one day due to the New Year holiday. Normal Monday and Thursday trash collection will instead be Tuesday and Friday. Normal Tuesday and Friday trash collection will instead be Wednesday and Saturday. Recycling collection will take place on Thursday instead of Wednesday.
FUNERALS – Services for Jesse Coker, 94, of Rhome and Carol Rosas, 51, of Decatur are pending at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
SERVICE for Willis “Bill” Knight, 88, of Decatur will be held at a later date. Hawkins-Decatur is handling arrangements.
FUNERAL for Mildred Joe Tredenick, 89, of Decatur is 10 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Decatur with burial at Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at Hawkins-Decatur.
GRAVESIDE service for Margaret Orsak, 78, of Bridgeport is 1 p.m. Thursday at West Bridgeport Cemetery. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.
SERVICE for Dennis V. Walton, 94, of Azle is 11 a.m. Friday at Azle Church of Christ with burial at Azleland Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
MEMORIAL service for Norma Aline Parrish, 81, is 2 p.m. Saturday at Morrison Funeral Home Chapel in Graham. She was the mother of Keith Cornell of Decatur.
