Texas Trifecta

Ok, enough fire talk. Here's the story on these three.

My internal criminal justice system is getting overloaded on this one.

Ok, the guy in the middle has got to go to jail. I really didn't even read the facts on his case but he's a male charged with a sex crime so obviously we need to lock him up, brand him a sex offender, and possibly parole him to Boonesville for the rest of his life.

The first girl definitely gets probation. Those pouty lips almost bring a tear to my eyes. And she kind of looks like the freaky little sister from Six Feet Under so we can't send her to jail.

The last one is a tough case. She looks a little rough but who among us has looked good in our book-in photo after being arrested for a crime that put into jeopardy our status with the Wise County Singles Club? But I think a few weeks at Curves and at Richard's Salon here in Decatur would probably whip her into shape. After several minutes of deliberations (and re-reading I Corinthians 13), probation it is.

Next case.

Video From Paradise Fire

Starts a little slow, but kind of dramatic at the 1:05 mark and on.

Chico Fire

It's a little small, but a faithful Chico reader sends in this pic and his thanks to the firefighters who stopped the flames before it reached his house.

Edit: The Star Telegram had a pretty good pic . . .


And the Star Telegram has posted a video taken from a helicopter.

Under The Radar

A Decatur High School teacher is running for the Texas House as a Libertarian? (Thanks emailer)

Rumor Mill

A Liberally Lean reader sends along this all caps email:

"THERES A FIRE LOOKS LIKE IN CHICO AGAIN...NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE JUST A HEADS UP!!"

Courting The Goat Farmer Vote?

The Messenger has a slideshow of pictures taken yesterday here (check it out so they won't yell at me for stealing the above photo.)

Anyway, that's our County Judge saving a goat and, according to a commenter on another post who tipped me off to this, that's our Sheriff in there as well. But I can't tell if that's actually David Walker.

Post Fire Pick Me Up

"The Answer, My Friend, Is . . . "

The National Weather Service has released the speed of the peak wind gusts from yesterday:

Probably More To This

But this overturned car in the median on 287 south of Rhome was causing traffic to be diverted to a service road this morning

Star Telegram Front Page

It's not Wise County, but a heck of a picture.

Edit: As some of the posts have questioned, has that picture been photoshopped to some extent to make it appear the flames are greater than they actually were? I don't know. I would hope not. But it sure has me thinking.

Let's Get Artistic

Sheesh, the local affiliates all have brief coverage of the Paradise Fire of 2008 but there's nothing really new to add. But I did find this pic in on the Dallas Morning News web site taken by Vernon Bryant.

Place your bets on whether the Messenger's Joe Duty tops it tomorrow.

Paradise Lost

Channel 8 . . .

. . . has posted two videos of the "devastating scenes" from the Wise County fires here this afternoon. I would describe them but I can't get them to play. Sometimes I hate the Internets. Edit: WBAP has updated the fire damage to 640 acres and 16 structures.

Can't Tell Much . . .

. . . but this pic was sent in by a reader who saw the fire near Bridgeport's uncomfortably named "Mexican Cemetery."

Other Fire News From WCSO

There is a fire reported on the Wise County and Parker County line at New Hope Road area. Another reported fire is in the area of Knob Hill Road in Parker County. Another area that has a reported fire going on is on the edge of the City of Bridgeport on CR 1658 By the Mexican Cemetery and State Highway 380 area. In the Chico area another fire was reported at Farm Market 1810 and County Road 1650. At this time area fire departments are working to extinguish the fires and there have not been injuries reported. The command post is set up at the ball park east of the Paradise. Paul Cunningham, the Wise County Fire Marshall/Emergency Management Coordinator is the coordinating all activity from the command post. (Thanks emailer)

Looking Towards Paradise from 51 Southbound (Past CR 3259)

Northbound 51 (Shortly after noon)

From 114 (About A Mile From Paradise) Facing North/Northwest Shortly Before Noon