decatur - Wise County Messenger

VOLUME 130 - NO. 58 SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 DECATUR, TEXAS 26 PAGES IN TWO SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS 75¢to beat the heat series,Fred Wade of Decaturdelivers something thatnever goes out of style inthe summer - ice.See story, page 2AWednesday will be abittersweet day for formerDecatur resident RonnieGage as he will beinducted into the TexasHigh School CoachesAssociation Hall of Honorin Austin.his plane crashed in SouthWise County Tuesday.DecaturMansfieldNews Briefs ..... 3AOpinion ........... 4ALifestyle .............8ASee page 1BWatch video of Thursday’stwo-vehicle accidentin Rhome at www.wcmessenger.com/video.See story, page 13AWith construction ofDecatur’s new elementaryunder way, now we need tocome up with a name. Wetell you how to submit yoursuggestion.Sun7/1994/71See page 4ASee page 18APartly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm.Sports ...............1BClassifi eds .........3BWise Business 12AWise County MessengerP.O. Box 149115 South TrinityDecatur, Texas 76234Messenger photo by Joe DutyLESS, NOT MORE — Winemaker Les Constable observes damage to his grapevines in Alvord. A pair of frosts, a hailstorm and most recently contamination by a drifting herbicide called 2,4-D has Constable worried about his Augustgrape harvest. Below, a grape leaf affected by 2,4-D on the left shows the chlorophyl damage. A healthy leaf isadjacent in the wine glass.By BRANDON EVANSWhen winemaker Les Constablefirst considered the idea of growinggrapes in Texas, he thought heatwas his highest hurdle to producingquality wine in the Lone StarState.“When I first started I was underthe impression you couldn’t makegood wine here,” Constable said. “Ithought it was too hot. But it’s aboutthe variety of grape you grow.”Since his initial planting in 1996,Constable has found more thanenough grape varieties suitablefor North Texas summers. He nowgrows 36 types of wine grapes atBrushy Creek Vineyards in Alvord.The heat has proven to be theleast of his concerns. Instead, a chemical menaces hisflourishing vines. This growing season his vineyard washit hard with a widely used herbicide called 2,4-D.“We get a little bit of it every year,” Constable said.“But this is the worst I’ve seen it in five years.“We’ll start harvesting in August, but I don’t knowwhat we’ll have this year.”The herbicide 2,4-D is a broadleaf weed killer. GrapesBy PHIL MAJORIt was good news, badnews for a pair of projectsof the Decatur EconomicDevelopment Corp.Thursday.Plans to help UnitedRotorcraft with a newbuilding for expansion atthe Decatur airport took ahelpful turn when a nearbybuilding came available.EDC Director MartyContinued on page 16Aare a broadleaf plant and arehighly susceptible to its effects.It’s presence in the region andthroughout the state is ubiquitous.It’s used by farmers growinggrasses, coastal hay, corn andwheat. Maintenance crews workingon railroads and highways use it toclear weeds from alongside tracksand rights of way. Cattle ranchersalso use it to clear thistles frompastures.From a research lab in Lubbock,Ed Hellman is busy conductingresearch on the effects of 2,4-Don grapevines. There is still littlescientific literature on the subject.Hellman is a professor ofviticulture with Texas AgrilifeExtension Service. Viticulture isthe science dealing with the study and production ofgrapes.“It’s a herbicide that has been around for a longtime,” Hellman said. “It kills all broadleaf weed species.So it kills a lot of different things. It’s very effective.Homeowners even use to it to kill dandelions in theirContinued on page 10AMessenger photo by Joe DutyMAJOR ACCIDENT — Tyler Huffman was seriously injured in an accidentIt may be the most belovedof all local events – the WiseCounty Old Settlers Reunion– and it starts Sunday.Each year during the lastfull week of July, people flockto the Reunion Grounds inDecatur to enjoy the mostsimple of all occasions: thefellowship of family andfriends.To help celebrate the eventwe’ve put together two anda half pages of Reunion coverage. You’ll find a map ofthe grounds, a complete listof nightly events and photosfrom Reunions past. We alsoasked some cabin ownersquestions about Reunion totest their knowledge. We’veprovided you with the answers to those questions andmore. See pages 5A-7A.By MANDY BOURGEOISWhile a cold front hasgiven Wise County a shortreprieve from consecutivedays oft r i p l ed i g i ttemperatures, thehot dayswill likely returnDuringthose 100degreeRICHARDSON d a y speopleshould take special precautions before workingoutside, said LeeAnn Cummings, director of emergency services at Wise Regional Health System.Cummings said that thehospital’s emergency roomContinued on page 16ABy MANDY BOURGEOISA Rhome man was flown to JohnPeter Smith Hospital after a two-vehicleaccident on Farm Road 3433 inRhome Thursday afternoon.Tyler Huffman, 27, suffered leg injurieswhen his passenger car collidedhead on with a truck driven by JackieDilleshaw, 72, of Newark.Huffman was southbound on 3433less than a mile south of Rhome whenhis car had a blowout as Dilleshaw’svehicle neared. The vehicles collidedsending Dilleshaw’s truck off the roadand into a ditch on the west side ofthe roadway. Huffman was extricatedfrom the vehicle and flown by Life-Star from the Wells Fargo parking lotDilleshaw was treated for minor injuriesat the sceneCarrier RoutePresortBULK RATEU.S. POSTAGEPAIDDecatur, TXPermit No. 88THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2009WISE COUNTY MESSENGERHERE’S WHAT YOUMAY HAVE MISSEDIN LAST SUNDAY’SNORTHWESTIN NEWS...■ Dying on the vine■ Reunion is back■ Summer danger■ Head-on wreckseriously injures one■ EDC receives goodnews on projectIN SPORTS...■ Local paint horsestars shine bright■ Hall of Honorinduction■ Cowboy is returningto national spotlightINSIDE ...ICE IS NICEIn part two of our cool jobsIN SPORTS ...COACHING HALLOF HONORON THE WEB ...THURSDAY’SWRECKINSIDE ...PLANE CRASHOne man was injured whenIN OPINION ...NAME THATSCHOOLAREA DEATHSAND FUNERALSRALEIGH MILLERLONA JEANBOUNDSWEATHER...INDEXWISE COUNTYDying on the vineWind-blown herbicides are hurting local wine makersDECATUREDC receivesgood newson expansionprojectWISE COUNTYReunionis backWISE COUNTYSummerdangerTake precautionswhen dealing withextreme heatRHOMEHead-on wreck seriously injures oneSUBSCRIBE TODAY!www.wcmessenger.com/subscribeMessenger photo by Joe DutyGRAND OPENING — While crews are putting the finishing touches on Byron Nelson High School, the school is hosting several tours for students, parents andcommunity members. The school, which will open to freshmen and sophomores in August, is the second high school in Northwest ISD and will serve studentson the east side of I-35. The 500,000-square foot building has three stories, 90 classrooms, a 1,400-seat competition gym and an 800-seat performing artscenter. 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