02-23-2013-Weekend - Wise County Messenger

WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Saturday, February 23, 2013Coach: Ends 30-year careerContinued from page 1A11AJOE DUTY/WCMESSENGERSMOKE-FILLED SKY — A birdhouse dangles from the limb of an oak tree near the remains ofa man’s home destroyed by fire Friday morning.Blaze: Man lose all belongingsContinued from page 1a“He lost everything,” saidhis older brother Donny Alley,who also lives nearby.“Everything but the clotheson his back.”Alley’s father, Lonny Alley,first noticed the fire. Heinitially thought TommyU.S. Congressman MacThornberry announced thisweek that he will hold regionaltown hall meetings inthe district on Friday, March8.The meetings will be inJacksboro at 8:30 a.m., ArcherCity at 10:30, Knox Cityat 1:30 p.m. and Quanah atBY ERIKA PEDROZAepedroza@wcmessenger.comStorm-damaged docksat the Ben Hickey Marinaclaimed much of the timeat Tuesday’s Runaway BayCity Council meeting.To compensate residentialleaseholders who have nothad access to their marinaslips since microburst windsin excess of 65 miles-perhourblew through in August,the council authorizeda one-time $50 adjustmenton bills that will be sent outat the end of the month.“The way this is writtenout, if people want to donatetheir $50, then they don’task for a refund,” MayorRobert Ryan said. “If theydon’t want to donate $50 amonth, then they do ask for arefund of one month, or $50.”Because the council doesnot yet know how many tenantswill choose to donateand how many will opt forthe adjustment, a specifiedbudget impact was not readilyavailable.“If everyone asks for anadjustment — which I’mfairly certain is not going tohappen — we’re looking ata three-fourths of a cent taxrate (increase),” Ryan said.might still be in the home.“I grabbed a wet comforterand was going to go intothe home to see if I couldfind him,” Wise said. “That’swhen I saw the smoke wasso black inside you couldbarely see the flames at theback of the house.”It looked like it startedJAMES WOOD OFFERS YOU•On-Site Paintless Dent Repair•Conventional Body Repair•Glass ReplacementALLMAJORINSURANCEACCEPTEDWISE COUNTY940-627-7690690in the back of the housebut quickly spread andswallowed the structurein flames. All those nearbycould do was look on.Volunteer firefightersfrom Cottondale, Paradise,Salt Creek and Springtownresponded along with WiseCounty medics.Thornberry to hold town hall meetings“It’s really unknown, at thispoint, as to how that wouldaffect us financially.”City officials believe thepotential maximum increaseis enough.“We can’t expect the rest ofthe citizens of Runaway Bayto pay for the marinas,” JerrySt. John said. “For leaseholders,it’ll either be additional,higher fees to make up forthat shortfall, or continue topay the $50 fee.”City secretary Oneta Berghoeferadded that customerscan cancel their lease atany time and get a pro-ratedamount returned on what’sbeen paid.“Nobody’s come forwardto do that,” she said. “Theywant to hang on to their spot.We currently have a waitinglist of 30 people.”In November, the councilaccepted a $173,998 proposalfrom Basic IDIQ to repair themarina docks. However, additionalwork has since beenidentified. To fund that, thecouncil on Tuesday approveda financing agreement withGovernment Capital in theamount of $65,000. It will befinanced at $14,000-plus forfive years.However, the council willcheck to see if other partiesALL MAKES • ALL MODELSWRECK? HAILHAIL?FREE ESTIMATES • ESPAÑOLRUNAWAY BAY4.The Jacksboro meeting,the closest to Wise County, isin the Jack County DistrictCourtroom at 100 N. MainStreet. All the meetings areslotted to last an hour.“People have serious concernsabout the budget anddebt, gun control, healthcare,and national security,”Thornberry said. “They wanttheir voices to be heard, andthese conversations are oneway I can listen to their concernsand they can sharetheir ideas with me.”All citizens of the 13thCongressional District areinvited to attend.ing Neighbors’ contract,which would have been upfor renewal again Mondaynight.Chapman said the schoolhas posted the job to variouswebsites, including its own.He emphasized that theschool is searching for the“right” candidate, but saidhe hopes to have a recommendationby the March 18board meeting.Until the school has acandidate in its sights, girls’athletic coordinator EddieFortenberry will fill Neighbors’shoes.“Danny and I have beenfriends for a long time, andI’ve coached both his kids,”Fortenberry said. “I want todo what is best for Paradise,so I have to separate thetwo.”Fortenberry said he is notplanning on applying for theathletic director position,stating only that he will helpin any way he can. Rightnow, he said, he and the restof the athletic departmentwill concentrate on readingresumes and candidate recommendations.“It’ll be a lot of studyingand a lot of review and a lotof resumes and being diligent,”Fortenberry said. “It’sa very important process.We have got to hire the rightperson, and there is a lot ofpressure in that.”An Alvord native, Neighborsends a 16-year careerwith Paradise ISD. Prior tobeing athletic director, hecoached at Alvord, Bridgeportand Decatur.“I’m not going to sit stillfor very long,” NeighborsMarina talk dominates council sessioncan also be held accountableand thus help with the expense.“There be may be somenegligence on the part ofthe insurance company orthe contractor,” CouncilmanNeil Peters said. “We needto look into that.” Peters saida contractor was asked tocome work on the docks, andpromised to do so, but saidhe was “too busy.”Councilman Berry Whitesupported efforts to collectfrom other parties but saidthe city needs to go aheadand start on the repairs.“We can always come backand make the adjustment.”he said.The financing agreementoriginally included funds toadd 10 slips to the “b docks”and generate additional revenuefor the city, as discussedat a work session Feb. 13.That would’ve necessitateda $150,000 loan that would,in turn, require a three-centtax-rate increase for fiveyears to pay off.Given that financial burden,and taking into accountthe additional repairs thatcame with the change orderalong with the number ofyears it would take beforethe city realized any profit,the council decided againstadding the slips.“In light of the fact thatwe’re going to need fundsfor other capital outlayitems, as well as waterand sewer issues that we’llbe exposed to, hopefullywithin another 30 days, asa result of our water studybeing completed ... I don’tfeel like the return on thoseadditional slips was importantat this time,” MayorRyan said.“For sure we’ve got to dothe repairs if we’re going tooperate the marina. I wouldhope we wouldn’t want to obligateourselves for that additionalamount of money inlight of the other things thatwe know are coming down.”Councilman White agreed,adding, “It would not be theprudent thing to do economically.”Work at the marina startedin the last week.“Hopefully we’ll see thatcome together in the nexttwo or three months,” Berghoefersaid..15th Annual Hunting Heritage BanquetCROSS TIMBERS CHAPTERNATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATIONFriday, March 1Opening 6 p.m. • Dinner 7:30 p.m.Decatur Civic Center • 2010 W. U.S. 380 • DecaturDoor Prizes, Live Auction, Silent Auction, Raffles(Guns, hunts, outdoor gear, wildlife art)Single Ticket..................................................................$55Couples Ticket...............................................................$70JAKE Ticket (Kids 17 & Under)....................................FreePurchase tickets by Feb. 26 and be entered in an Early Bird raffle!Tickets Available At:• U.S. Forest Service •940-627-5475• 2-K Pawn & Gun •940-627-7800or call 940-393-8908jbarrow1994@gmail.comVisit Our Web site at www.nwtf.orgWCMESSENGER/ARCHIVELAST SEASON — In this photo taken in August 2012,former Paradise ISD Athletic Director Danny Neighborstalks to the Panthers’ varsity football team.said. Although he will drawretirement, he said he planson working, too — he justdoesn’t know where, or atwhat.“It’s funny,” he said. “Youwork 60 to 70 hours a weekfor 30 years, and you don’tknow what to do with yourfree time.”Chapman said the schooldistrict will likely have otherlocal applicants for the position,but that is not a priorityon who will be hired.“We are looking for a highlymotivated and successfulperson,” Chapman said. “Wewant the person that we putwith our students to helpwith not only athletics, but,also, growing in life.”KAREN GARRETTBUICK CHEVY GMCHYUNDAI PRE-OWNEDjameswood.com 940-627-2177RICK’S METALRECYCLING3280 S Hwy 101 • Bridgeport, TX940-683-3770• #1 Short Iron $220/ Ton• Long Iron $190/Ton• Tin $190/TonI AM GRATEFULTO SERVE AS YOURSALES CONSULTANT• Car Bodies w/title $190/Ton• #1 Copper $3.05/lb• Aluminum Cans 65¢/lbMon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.IF YOU DIED TODAY, WHO WOULDTAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY?Don’t wait another day to protect your family.Kim PeytonBRIDGEPORTIRON & METALWE PAYTOP PRICESFOR ALL METALSState Certified ScalesAccurate WeightsMONDAY - FRIDAY8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Property, Casualty Specialist104 N. 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