WCMessenger.com » Breaking News

Cooling station opened at Alvord Middle School

Erika Pedroza — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:44:43 +0000

Officials from the city of Alvord and Oncor established a cooling station at Alvord Middle School, 328 Farm Road 1655, for those affected by the power outages caused by a fire at a nearby Oncor substation Tuesday.

In addition, the city of Chico opened the community room at City Hall.

Power was restored on the Chico side within three hours, but customers in Alvord are expected to be without electricity until about midnight Wednesday, Oncor area manager Sabrina Easley said.

Although no cause has yet been determined, the failed transformer was damaged beyond repair, making necessary a replacement. Work crews transported in a mobile unit for the interim.

Substation fire causes power outages in Chico, Alvord

Erika Pedroza — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:02:11 +0000

Oncor customers in Alvord and Chico may experience lengthy power outages as a result of a fire at a substation near Chico.

Oncor area manager Sabrina Easley said there is no estimated time of restoration for the outages. The piece of equipment that caught fire is damaged beyond repair and will require replacement. She anticipates a mobile substation will be brought in in the interim.

The cause of the fire, which was reported just after noon Tuesday, is unknown.

The city of Chico has opened the community center at City Hall as a cooling station for anyone affected by the power outages.

In addition, officials from the city of Alvord and Oncor established a cooling station at Alvord Middle School, 328 Farm Road 1655, for anyone needing “to escape the heat and humidity.”

One injured in highway shut down

Brandon Evans — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:44:46 +0000

Both lanes of Highway 51 were shut down for nearly an hour around 8:30 a.m. Thursday north of Slidell after a motorcycle slid off the road trying to avoid an oncoming 18-wheeler.
Barbara Larock Schofield 47 of Granbury clipped her riding partners bike, Larry Wynn of Weatherford, when Lynn slowed down in front of her.
According to state trooper Jeff Johnson, Schofield lost control of her motorcycle when she hit the back of Wynn’s motorcycle and then came to a stop a few yards from the 18-wheeler.
Jesse Shaffer, the driver of the oversize load hauling a nose section for a C-117, was attempting to pass a bridge in front of the two riders, where he was taking up both lanes of traffic.
Schofield was transported to Denton Regional Hospital with a broken leg.
Texas Department of Public Safety, Wise County Medics and Slidell-Greenwood Fire Department all responded to the wreck.

Wreck victim identified as Alvord man

Brian Knox — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:35:08 +0000

Investigators of yesterday’s fatal crash near Alvord have identified the victim as Donald Lee McDiffett, 51, of Alvord. According to DPS Trooper Shawn Younger, a 2010 Chevy HHR driven by McDiffett was crossing from the northbound lane of U.S. 81/287 attempting to turn left onto County Road 1596 when he pulled out in front of a southbound 18-wheel tractor-trailer and was hit broadside in the passenger side. The two vehicles skidded together for about 100 yards until the car veered off to the right, and the truck turned over on its passenger side. McDiffett died at the scene. The trucker, Jose Garcia of Houston, was not injured

Man dies in collision

Kristen Tribe — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:45:07 +0000

Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

A grinding collision on U.S. 287 just north of Alvord claimed the life of a man just after 4 p.m. Tuesday. According to DPS Trooper Shawn Younger, a 2010 Chevy HHR was crossing from the northbound lane attempting to turn left onto County Road 1596 when the driver pulled out in front of a southbound 18-wheel tractor-trailer and was hit broadside in the passenger side. The two vehicles skidded together for about 100 yards until the car veered off to the right, and the truck turned over on its passenger side. The driver of the car died at the scene. The trucker, Jose Garcia of Houston, was not injured, although he was attended to by Wise County EMS. Alvord Fire Department units also responded to the accident, which backed southbound traffic up for several miles. Troopers asked that the victim’s name be withheld until next of kin could be located and notified.

How to help with Oklahoma tornado victims

Brian Knox — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:44:31 +0000

While Oklahoma first responders and National Guard members were searching through the rubble left by Monday’s devastating tornado, Wise County residents were already searching for ways to help. Jody Adams, director of the Decatur Economic Development Corporation and a trained disaster volunteer, said individuals are being asked not to just show up and volunteer to help.
“I’ll bet it’s at least four or five days before you can even get in there,” he said. “The residents aren’t even being allowed back in at this time.”
Adams said his group, SGSO (Serving God by Serving Others) will likely go in for the cleanup operations once all the victims have been recovered. Trained groups of volunteers are usually allowed in only after a disaster area is opened back up. Individuals and those who have not had disaster relief training are discouraged from just showing up to help.
For those with friends or loved ones in that area, officials were encouraging people to text rather than call, as most phone lines are at capacity or still down.
The Red Cross set up a “Safe and Well” program where those with loved ones in the affected areas may search for those who have listed themselves as “safe and well.” For more information on that program, visit www.safeandwell.org.
A reunification site was set up at St. Andrews Church, at the corner of SW 119th and S. May in Oklahoma City, and a triage center is in place at Warren Theater in Moore, the community hard-hit by the tornado.
Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger said those who are interested in making donation can contribute to several organizations that already have “boots on the ground” helping in the recovery effort:

News 9 Headquarters
Text FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 in storm relief
Accepting gloves, masks, toiletries, clothes & blankets (and other items) via mail to 7401 N. Kelley Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Red Cross
Text RED CROSS to 90999 to donate $10
To donate via phone, call 1-800-RED-CROS (1-800-733-2767). Please make sure to donate to “Disaster Relief.”
To donate online, visit www.RedCross.org. Please make sure to donate to “Disaster Relief.”

Salvation Army
Text STORM to 80888 to donate $10
To donate online, visit www.salvationarmyokcac.org

Feed the Children
To donate online, visit www.feedthechildren.org/disaster

Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Help
To donate online, visit www.okdisasterhelp.com

Garbage truck wreck injures two, shuts down ramp

Brandon Evans — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:19:19 +0000

A garbage truck northbound on Farm Road 51 tried to take too a turn too fast onto Texas 114 East Monday morning. It wound up spilling refuse, injuring two and shutting down part of the road. The driver locked the brakes, rolled and came to a rest upside down on the ramp. The wreck occurred at 8:40 this morning, and the on-ramp from 51 North to 114 East is expected to be closed until at least 11:30 a.m. as emergency responders try to clear the mess. Drivers northbound on FM 51 needing to turn east onto Texas 114 should turn right onto County Road 4599 and follow it until it runs into Texas 114. The driver of the truck, which is owned by Midwest Allied Services, suffered serious injuries in the wreck. Joan L. Hatten, 46, of Weatherford, was flown from the scene to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth. The cab was crumpled in all around her after rolling. A passenger in the cab, Monterrea B. Finley, 32, was transported by ground to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur for non-life-threatening injuries. The pair had been running an early morning trash pick-up route in the Briar area.

Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

Assessing the damage

Brian Knox — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:00 +0000

Emergency management personnel and sheriff’s officers are out checking out the damage from last night’s storms. Photos taken by Messenger photographer Joe Duty and submitted from area residents are below. Waves of strong thunderstorms swept through Wise County Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rain, wind, hail and even reports of tornado touchdowns. Damage reports seemed to come mainly in the north end of the county, from near Crafton, north of Alvord, the Sycamore community and the Greenwood area. According to the police radio, several homes were damaged or destroyed. Trees and downed power lines littered roadways, and many residents, particularly in those areas that saw the most damage, lost power. Sabrina Easley with Oncor reported that at the peak of the storm, 2,000 customers were without power due to trees in the power lines. As of 7:45 a.m., only about 50 customers remained without power, Easley said. Power is expected to be restored to those customers by noon today. She added that the damage they saw indicated rotational winds. Hail reports from across the county ranged from pea-sized to golf ball-sized. Storm spotters reported several tornado touchdowns, but it is unclear if any of the damage reported by residents was caused by those tornadoes. There were no reports of injuries. Rain totals included 4.4 inches in Greenwood, 2.6 in Alvord, 2.25 in Rhome, 1.9 in Aurora, 1.68 in Decatur and 1 in Chico.

A tornado on the ground was photographed by Jerry Klein near Sunset Wednesday night.

A collapsed barn sits on top of an 18-wheeler flatbed at the home of Danny Taylor near Greenwood. Messenger photo by Joe Duty.

Strong winds knocked down trees and powerlines throughout the county. This damage on Greenwood Road a few miles north of Decatur shut down the road. Messenger photo by Joe Duty.

This funnel cloud was seen around 6:25 p.m. Wednesday off FM 2265 about a mile from Texas 101 between Chico and Alvord. Submitted photo by Delia Hernandez.

Storm clouds pass overhead 3 miles north of Alvord on FM 1655 at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Submitted photo by Brad Faglie.

Pea sized hail was reported in Paradise. Other areas of the county reported hail the size of golf balls. Photo submitted through Facebook by Ashley Waylon Wiley.

Areas just north of the Wise County line received even bigger hail. This baseball-sized hail fell near Bowie. Photo submitted through Facebook by Anita Farley Edwards.

Storms pummel Wise County

Brian Knox — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:17:40 +0000

Waves of strong thunderstorms swept through Wise County Wednesday evening, bring heavy rain, wind, hail and even reports of tornado touchdowns. Damage reports seemed to come mainly in the north end of the county, from near Crafton, north of Alvord over to Greenwood. According to police radio, several homes were damaged or destroyed. Trees and downed power lines littered roadways, and many residents, particularly in those areas that saw the most damage, lost power. Hail reports from across the county ranged from pea-sized to golf ball-sized. Storm spotters reported several tornado touchdowns, but it is unclear if any of the damage reported by residents was caused by those tornadoes. There were no reports of injuries.

A tornado was spotted around 6:25 p.m. on Farm Road 2265 about a mile from Texas 101. Photo submitted by Delia Hernandez.

Details emerge in murder case

Brian Knox — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:42:46 +0000

Kirk Alan Heithecker assaulted his 75-year-old mother, killing her, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by a open records request from the Messenger. The affidavit states that the daughter of Nancy Heithecker went to her mother’s house for Mother’s Day and asked Kirk Heithecker where she was. Kirk, 49, responded that she was dead and “under the trash.” The daughter called the sheriff’s office and deputies were sent to the home at 710 County Road 4270. Kirk told deputies he “killed his mother with his heel” and was “sending her to hell,” according to the affidavit. Investigators found a large pile of trash in front of the home and found Nancy’s body underneath. When investigators asked Kirk what happened, he said his mother was sitting in the loveseat in the living room and he kicked her and hit her. He then took his mother’s body outside, “placed his black robe on her that was the process of going to hell” and then threw trash on her because he could still see her. The Southwest Institute of Forensic Science performed an autopsy Monday and determined that the cause of death is homicidal violence including blunt force trauma and strangulation. Heithecker has been charged with murder and remains in the Wise County Jail with bond set at $1 million.

Kirk Alan Heithecker

Son charged with murder

Brian Knox — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:48:10 +0000

According to information posted on the Wise County Jail website, Kirk Heithecker, 49, has been charged with the murder of his mother, whose identity has not yet been released by police. According to the jail website, Heithecker is listed as being a resident at the home where the body of his mother was found late yesterday afternoon at 710 County Road 4270 south of Decatur. Heithecker had been detained at the scene Sunday night and taken to the Wise County Jail for questioning. The body of his mother has been sent to the Dallas County Medical Examiners Office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. More information will be posted at WCMessenger.com as it is available. Read an earlier post here.

Kirk Alan Heithecker

Son detained in connection with mom’s death

Brian Knox — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:22:20 +0000

The Wise County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a Decatur woman, and her son is being detained for questioning in the case. He has not been charged with a crime. Captain Kevin Benton with the Wise County Sheriff’s Department said a member of the woman’s family had called the sheriff’s office asking officers to check on the woman’s welfare late Sunday afternoon. Officers arrived and found the body of an unidentified elderly white female outside a home at 710 County Road 4270 a few miles south of Decatur. The woman’s son was detained at the scene based on his statements to officers, Benton said, and later taken to the Wise County Jail for questioning. Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Terri Johnson pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Her body will be sent to the Dallas medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. Benton said the autopsy should be performed Monday, and they should know more on the cause of death at that point. Police continued to work the crime scene late into Sunday night. More information will be posted in this developing story at WCMessenger.com as it is available.

Man jailed after firing gun in residential neighborhood

Brian Knox — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:55:22 +0000

A Newark man was arrested early Sunday morning on multiple charges involving a shooting in his neighborhood. Officers responded to the 400 block of Country Living Drive in Newark just before midnight late Saturday night in response to a complaint about a man with a gun. When officers arrived, they reported hearing gunfire. The suspect, Kenneth Carl Carlton Jr., 38, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping, burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit another felony and deadly conduct according to the jail’s website. After Carlton was detained, medics were called to check him out due to the fact he was “tazed multiple times,” according to police radio. An officer at the scene said no one was injured in the shooting. More information will be posted at WCMessenger.com as it is available.

City and school election results

Brian Knox — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:56:40 +0000

Voters have made their choices in local city and school elections. In Decatur, Wade Watson won Place 1 with 330 votes over Tony Mooney, who received 240. In the Decatur City Council race, Randy Bowker retained his Place 6 seat by a 163-42 vote over Peter Rivera. In the Chico School Board race, Paul Cantrell was the only incumbent to retain his seat. He received 140 votes in Place 3 while challengers Greta McDaniel received 126 and Victor Gonzales 67. Donald Clark defeated Noel Ruddick 170-161 for Place 4. Bill Hand won Place 5 by a 178-154 vote over Craig Moss. Three at-large seats in Rhome were won by Louis Godfrey (89 votes), Charles Pennington (75 votes) and Ronnie Moore (74 votes). Also receiving votes were Cole Blanche (54), Chris Graves (50) and Pattie Mitchell (19). Anne Davis-Simpson was elected to Place 3 on the Northwest School Board with 937 votes. Kyle Morris received 470 votes and Edward R. Mergenthal Jr. 95.

Teen injured in ATV wreck

Brian Knox — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:03:52 +0000

A Decatur teenager was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth early Saturday morning following a wreck in the Decatur Acres neighborhood south of Decatur. Department of Public Safety Trooper Gary Reid said Elizabeth Susan Roberts, 18, of Decatur was operating an all terrain vehicle, going eastbound on River Road when she didn’t make the curve at the intersection with Mockingbird Lane, left the roadway and crashed head on into a tree. Neighbors found Roberts passed out and called for help. A helicopter ambulance was dispatched and landed on Mockingbird Lane in the residential neighborhood. Reid said Roberts was flown mainly for precautionary reasons, and he did not believe the injuries were life threatening. The accident was reported shortly after 2 a.m.

Student rams car with pickup in parking lot rage

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:33:12 +0000

In what appears to be a case of parking lot rage a student at Decatur High School used his pickup as a battering ram after lunch Thursday. According to witnesses, Josh Cummings, 17, plowed his pickup into the back of a car that had parked in a spot he wanted in a student parking section at the high school. The impact shoved the parked car completely over the curb in front of it and caused extensive damage to the back end of the vehicle. High school senior Reid Metcalf, 18, and another passenger were still seated in the car when Cummings crashed into it. There were at least three other people in the pickup. There were no serious injuries reported, but Metcalf did go to Wise Regional for an evaluation after suffering back pain from the incident. “We’re still looking into whether it was intentional or not,” said Police Chief Rex Hoskins. “We don’t think it was an accident … But it’s still early in the investigation and there are a lot of witnesses we still need to talk to.” Since many students were returning to class after lunch the parking lot was crowded, and students gathered around the wreckage. If investigators find the wreck was intentional Cummings could face a charge ranging from criminal mischief to aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, both potential felonies.

Injured motorcyclists recovering after Saturday accident

admin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:05:57 +0000

A married couple injured after their motorcycle collided into the side of a pickup early Saturday evening on US 287 south of Decatur are expected to make full recoveries. The driver, Roger Ferguson, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Justin, suffered several dislocated bones in the wreck. He was flown to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth. His wife Marla was ejected from the bike according to one witness. She has since been taken out of ICU at Wise Regional in Decatur and is now in stable condition. The couple was southbound on US 287 when a pickup pulled out in front of them near NRS Trailers. The motorcycle, which was traveling 55 to 60 mph, struck the rear driver’s side tire with such impact it tore the wheel off the truck and spun the pickup 180 degrees counter-clockwise, leaving it immobile and sitting in a ditch in the median. The driver of the pickup, Brandie Hood, and her husband, Jerry, both of Chico, were uninjured in the wreck. Three children were seated in the back seat of the truck. Two were taken to Cook Children’s in Fort Worth after they complained of soreness. Hood told DPS officers she didn’t see the motorcycle coming. Any potential charges, such as failure to yield, are still pending investigation.

Four injured after motorcycle broadsides pickup

admin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:51:56 +0000

Four people were injured, including two children, when a pickup pulled out in front of a motorcycle late Saturday afternoon on US 287 a couple miles south of Decatur. The pickup pulled out in front of the southbound motorcycle in front of NRS Trailers. Two people were on the motorcycle, including a female back passenger who was hurled off the cycle after it struck the driver’s side of the pickup. Amazingly, her injuries weren’t life threatening and she was transported by ground ambulance to Wise Regional in Decatur. “The male driver of the motorcycle took the brunt of the impact,” said state trooper Fred Thornton. Traffic was halted as an AirEvac Lifeteam helicopter landed in the southbound lanes to transport the man to a Fort Worth hospital for serious injuries. The female driver and male passenger of the pickup were uninjured. There were three children in the backseat. Two of them complained of neck pain and were transported by ground ambulance to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth.

Ross trial delayed for third time

Kristen Tribe — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:24:44 +0000

The trial for suspended Wise County Precinct 4 Commissioner Terry Ross is delayed again. Monday District Attorney Greg Lowery made the difficult decision to recuse himself after being reminded that he represented Ross in a criminal case 16 years ago.

A special prosecutor will be appointed by 97th District Judge Roger Towery, who is presiding over the case, and it will be rescheduled at that time. It could be months before the matter is brought before a jury.

After two previous delays, the trial was scheduled to start with jury selection Tuesday morning. Ross is facing charges of tampering with governmental records, theft of $500 to $1,500 by a public servant, and abuse of official capacity greater than $20 and less than $500. Read more in the midweek Messenger on newsstands Wednesday.

911 service is down

Kristen Tribe — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:58:08 +0000

Communications Manager Susan Gomez, with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, reported at 12:45 p.m. Monday that the county’s 911 system is down. She said CenturyLink reported a cut fiber near Decatur, and the outage stretches as far as Palo Pinto County. Many local residents may be without phone and Internet service at their homes or businesses.

Gomez said citizens can make a call from one landline to another or to one cell phone from another, but a call from a cell phone to a landline will not go through and vice versa. If you have an emergency and you’re calling from a landline, call the Sheriff’s Office at 940-627-5971. If you’re calling from a cell phone, call the dispatch cell phone number at 940-210-5406.

Bridgeport dispatch can be reached by cell phone at 940-389-4388.