A tongue in cheek review of the news published this week regarding Wise County.
Normally posted every Sunday around 6:00 p.m.
(Note: To make sure you are receiving the most recent update, hold down the "Shift" key while you click on reload/refresh).
For the week ending 1/26/01:
The Story An election to incorporate the proposed city of Allison failed by a vote of 54-28. 
News worthiness  (on a scale of 0 to 5) **
The Spin Some voters alleged fraud claiming they thought "no" meant "yes" while others accidentally cast their vote for New Fairview.

The Story The Decatur bank ($335 million in assets) is sold to Denton's First State Bank ($2.1 billion in assets with 35 branches).
News worthiness ****
The Spin The Denton bankers pledge to work with the Decatur bankers. Let's hope the Decatur bankers are still around in two years.

The Story An application to open up a sexually oriented business near Alvord is withdrawn. The Wise County Sheriff's Office said the establishment would have violated four sections of the County Code regulating such businesses including "operating within 1,000 feet of a public park".
News worthiness ****
The Spin For those that remember Wise County scandals of the past, it is ironic to note that the park that would have prevented the shop from opening was "a roadside park on U.S. 81/287".

The Story Wise County residents Roberto Davila and Clovis Hodges were arrested in Oklahoma after allegedly stealing anhydrous ammonia. The substance is used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, typically for personal use, in the so called "Nazi labs". Both men are being held out of state on bonds that total more that $1.5 million. An Oklahoma law enforcement official said "[Texas residents] don't understand that Oklahoma has taken a hard stance on the manufacture of methamphetamine. A first time charge of theft of anhydrous carries a 20 year to life sentence in prison." 
News worthiness **
The Spin They also intend to crack down on moon shining.

The Story A former Wise County couple living in the mobile home park in Woodland Park. Colorado, innocently befriended prison escapee Larry Harper before he blew his brains out. The couple gave telephone interviews to Channel 8 while the siege was ongoing until the FBI blocked their phone. "People could call in, but we couldn't call out."
News worthiness  ***
The Spin It's good to see that the new Republican FBI interprets the Bill of Rights just like the old Janet Reno FBI. (By the way, doesn't the above quote sound oddly like the old Roach Motel ad?)

The Story Miss Wise County is crowned and, once again, she doesn't live in Wise County. This time it is Lindsay Kellum who resides in the high tone city of Southlake.
News worthiness *
The Spin In order to insure that all candidates have appropriate Wise County skills, an admission requirement should be added as follows: "All potential candidates shall travel to Walmart and locate one gallon of milk, one pair of black dress socks, and two AAA batteries. Asking for assistance from a store clerk is mandatory. Said candidates shall have a maximum of two hours to complete said task." That should weed 'em out.

See something in the local papers that struck you funny?  Then suggest a topic for The Spin.

View Last week's issue.

© 2001 Wise County on the Web. Contents or HTML representation and Graphics are Copyright 2001, and may not be
copied or mirrored without prior written permission.