Link to the past
1958 airplane collision This March will mark 62 years since perhaps the worst aviation disaster in Wise County history. On March 27, 1958, two Air Force transport planes collided in midair near Bridgeport, killing 18 servicemen. A Wise County Messenger story on the crash between a C-119 Flying Boxcar and a C-124 Globemaster called it “one of the nation’s worst air disasters of the year.” A Bridgeport Index article said, “Mr. W.J. Mann was riding a tractor plowing his field when an engine from the C-119 fell to earth
beside him and about 100 feet away. He said he looked up and saw airplane wreckage falling all around him.” Everyone aboard both planes died. The Index reported the Globemaster was flying from Kelley AFB in San Antonio to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City while the Flying Boxcar was headed from Carswell AFB in Fort Worth to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls.
Why is... ...Runaway Bay associated with the chupacabra? On January 13, 2010, Tony Potter, a groundskeeper at the Runaway Bay golf course, discovered an odd looking dead creature on the 14th hole. He and many others in the community couldn’t figure out what the hairless creature was, but many thought it might be the mythical chupacabra. While biologists would later identify the creature as a hairless raccoon, the legend quickly took hold. T-shirts were printed with a cartoon likeness of the creature. And the chupacabra’s name was used on several local items, everything from a burger at a local gas station to a Texas Parks and Wildlife paddling trail. Ten years later, the legend continues.
Good to know
Home winterization tips There are a number of ways to conserve water this winter. The Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District offers the following tips to save water and money: ♦ Repair indoor water leaks from toilets and faucets. Adding some food coloring dye tablets to toilet tanks is an easy way to identify leaks. ♦ Install water saving devices such as lower flow toilets, shower heads and faucets which can all significantly decrease your household water consumption. ♦ Make sure to check or install faucet coverings and insulation around all outdoor water fixtures. When temperatures drop below freezing outdoor fixtures can freeze which can cause pipes and faucets to crack or burst resulting in a huge headache for you as well as a tremendous waste of water.
♦ If you have a private water well, remember to avoid storing pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals left over from the spring or summer near your wellhead. Also, consider using items such as older towels or fabric to help insulate your wellhead and pipes. ♦ Start planning for the warmer months. Composting leftover food, those troublesome leaves that have littered your yard and other organic material for use in your garden or landscaping will help retain soil moisture and add much needed nutrients to your plants. And, don’t forget to add mulch to your landscaping once the temperatures start to rise. For more water saving ideas, visit the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District’s website, uppertrinitygcd.com or call the office at 817-523-5200. WINTER 2020
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