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2A WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Saturday, November 24, 2012Cooper brothers ...Continued from page 1Ahis final run of the regularseason. He dominated. Hecaptured the first prize pursewith a smoking time of 7.5seconds. The $1,818 was justenough to leap Clif into theelite top 15.“It was the last rodeo andlast run of the year. I wantedto be the last one to go so Iknew what time I needed tobeat. We rodeo all year long.It’s a long year and a longseason. It’s crazy it camedown to one run.”The win gave him $66,369and just enough to squeakinto 15th place in tie-downroping. He ended the regularseason with a mere $298more than Ace Slone of Cuero.“I experienced the entirerange of emotions,” Coopersaid of that final night. “Igot tested, and I got pulled,strained, but I kept my faithand it worked out for me thisyear. It was amazing.”The 24-year-old Decaturcowboy will make his thirdconsecutive trip to the NationalFinals Rodeo in LasVegas. The finals run Dec.6-12 at the Thomas and MackCenter. Only the top 15 in theworld PRCA rankings earn ashot at the world championships.“The NFR is the SuperBowl of rodeos,” Clif said. “Everybodywho is in the industryis there. Your emotionsget amplified. I like the bigstage. I like the bright lights.I like the butterflies in yourstomach and having to suppressthat and then going toperform.”Clif won’t be alone on thetrip. Besides his wife andbaby girl, Seattle, his youngerbrother Tuf is looking to seizeback-to-back world championshipsin the tie-down competition.Tuf, 22, also of Decatur, sitsat second in the world withTHANKSGIVING LUNCHES— For a second year,Bridgeport Middle SchoolStudent Council servedfree lunches to studentsand parents daily Mondaythrough Friday during theirThanksgiving break atHarwood Park. The sacklunch included a hamsandwich, chips, fruit,a drink and homemadedessert. (right) AmandaRuvalcaba of Bridgeporthands a bag of grapes toKaren Marie Ruvalcaba.More than 200 people wereserved, double the amountfrom last year.Messenger photos by Joe Duty• Buy reprints at wcmessenger.com/reprints$124,421. With 10 days torope in Vegas, he’s well withinreach of the top spot currentlyheld by Justin Maassof Giddings, who goes into theNFR with $144,001 in winnings.It’s the fifth time Tuf hasqualified for NFR. He’s finishedin the top four in theworld every year since hefirst joined the ProfessionalRodeo Cowboys Association(PRCA) in 2008. After finishingsecond in 2009 and2010, he stole the show andcaptured the tie-down worldchampionship in 2011. Nowhe’s headed west again to defendhis crown.“These next weeks are goingto be a lot of hard work,”Tuf said. “I want to go intothe finals to win it, and that’snot going to be easy.“It’s the best 15 in theworld that year. There’s notmuch room for error. But I’mstill roping for myself. I justtry to go out and make thebest throw I can. All I’m worriedabout is doing my job.”After slipping in the rankingsmidway through the season,Tuf found his stride atjust the right time.“The winter was good,” Tufsaid. “It was a little rough inthe middle of the year. I gotthings going again here at theend. I’m not going into the finalsin first. I haven’t been inthe lead all year. But I want towin the average and the worldchampionship.“It’s one calf, one run, anight. It’s the biggest 10nights of your life. If you canget into a zone you can win alot of money.”His older brother is a bitmore of a long shot, but he iseyeing the same prize.“The main goal is to win thegold buckle,” he said. “I alsowant to win the average at theNFR. And I want to show theworld what I’ve got. I’ve kindof got a chip on my shoulderbecause I haven’t performedas good as I can yet. And soI’m ready.”But tie-down roping is suchan individual sport, competitorstend to focus more onthemselves than the otherguy — even if it’s their ownflesh and blood.“At the NFR it really getsbrought to the point,” Clifsaid, “but when I’m roping Ijust try to do the best I can do.I don’t try to beat just one specificperson or a specific time. Ijust try to be as fast as I can beon the calf that I draw.“Roping you have to kind ofdo it by yourself. But I try topractice with Tuf as much aswe can so I can feed off of himand try to get to that level ofcompetition.”As Clif talks, calves bellowin the background in theirdad’s dusty arena. Located inthe rolling hills just outsideDecatur, the arena providesthe perfect breeding groundfor today’s rodeo stars.Their father, Roy Cooper, isan eight-time world championhimself. He qualified for theNFR a staggering 32 timesand has been in the Pro RodeoHall of Fame since 1979.“My dad’s the Michael Jordanof calf roping so it’s hardnot to be around it,” Clif said.“I’ve been roping ever sinceI was in diapers,” Tuf echoed.“I remember getting startedtracking a slow calf aroundthe arena on a slow horse. At6 years old I’d just track a calfaround in circles.”Growing up and riding withthe best seems to bring outthe best. The family arena isin the shadow of living legendTrevor Brazile, who’s on trackto win a monumental 10th allaroundworld title.“I’ve got the best ropersin the world that live in thesame place I do,” Clif said. “Igot to put down my pride andlisten to what they have to sayeven if it’s not what I want tohear.”“At a young age I knew if IMessenger photo by Joe Duty • Buy reprints at wcmessenger.com/reprintsALL IN THE FAMILY — Brothers Tuf (left) and Clif Cooper ofDecatur prepare for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas,which starts Dec. 6. This will be Tuf’s fifth appearance at theNational Finals and Clif’s third.wanted to be the best at somethingin the world, it was goingto be roping,” Tuf said. “Iknew I had the best resourcesin the world. It’s exciting tosee the best in the world isyour family. It motivates youto go work hard and be betterthan them.”Texas and Decatur ropersdominate going into the tiedowncompetition at NFR.Ten of the 15 ropers that qualifiedare from the Lone StarState, but Decatur is the onlytown with more than one cowboymaking it.Overall, four Decatur cowboyswill compete in NFR.Others include Brazile, whoenters the event ranked firstin team roping, and K.C.Jones, who is ranked 10th inthe world in steer wrestling.“I always saw myself at theNFR,” Clif said. “I’ve workedreally hard at it, and I’m justwaiting for the fruits of my laborto pay off. Rodeo is a hardway to make an easy livingis what my dad says. There’sthe ups and the downs, thehighs and the lows. You’vegot to stick with it and ridethe course and be strong.”Right now, he and Tuf areexperiencing the highs. Andinstead of stepping out of theshadow cast by their fatherand Brazile, they are expandingit — and helping castDecatur’s shadow over theentire rodeo world.Email Brandon at bevans@wcmessenger.com.PARADISESchooldeals withsewageissuesBy JIMMY ALFORDParadise ISD trusteeswere confrontedwith a foul situation atMonday’s school boardmeeting. The district’swastewater treatmentplants are partiallydown, and repairs won’tbe completed for anothermonth.Superintendent MontyChapman said thedistrict’s sewage treatmentplants have incurredmechanical issuescaused by volumeand capacity limitations.The district hastwo 15,000-gallon-perdaywastewater treatmentplants, with onecurrently down formaintenance.While the systemsaren’t completely down,the decrease in servicehas forced the district topay to have waste solidstrucked away for disposalin Glen Rose.“I guess one plant being26 years old and theother being 13 yearsold, we are going tohave some mechanicalissues,” Chapman said.“But that leads to lookingdown the road towhat we need to do.”Chapman said theboard will eventuallyContinued on page 3ARoy J. EatonPresident & PublisherP.O. Box 149115 S. TrinityDecatur, TX 76234940-627-5987Fax 940-627-1004www.wcmessenger.comnews@wcmessenger.comMark JordanVice President/General ManagerKelly GuessAdvertising SalesMark JordanVice President/General ManagerBob BuckelExecutive EditorBrian KnoxSpecial ProjectManagerBrandon EvansErika PedrozaEDITORIALKristen TribeNews EditorClay CorbettSports EditorJimmy AlfordMack ThweattJoe DutyPhotographerBUSINESS OFFICEKristi BennettBusiness ManagerTeresa MayberryADVERTISINGLisa DavisAdvertising ManagerKen RoselleSenior Account ExecutiveLori White Laura BelcherKelly GuessCLASSIFIEDSDonna BeanPRODUCTIONTodd A. GriffithProduction Manager/WebmasterAndrew MayVideographerPierre MouaPeter FrancoSUBSCRIBER SERVICESRoger WeberDale JamisonBrenda JewellCirculationKristen TribeNews EditorPeter FrancoGraphic ArtsJesse MathenyJames CraftSUBSCRIPTIONS$37 a year In-County$43 a year Out-of-County$49 a year Out-of-State$25 Digital Subscriptionwww.wcmessenger.com/subscribe________________________________Name________________________________________________________________Address________________________________City St. Zip________________________________Phone________________________________EmailMail to:Wise County MessengerPO Box 149, Decatur, TX 76234or call 940-627-5987TIP LINE:E-mail:tips@wcmessenger.comSUBMIT NEWSSubmit News, Sports, Letters tothe Editor, Lifestyle, Obituaries andUpdate items onlinewww.wcmessenger.com/submitADVERTISINGContact Lisa Davis, Lori White,Kelly Guess or Laura Belcherat 940-627-5987www.wcmessenger.com/advertisingUSPS Publication No.688940ISSN 0746-8679The Wise County Messenger (ISSN 0746-8679) is publishedWednesday and Saturday by Wise County Messenger, Inc.,P.O. Box 149, 115 S. Trinity St., Decatur, Texas 76234-0149.Periodicals class postage paid at Decatur, Texas. Subscriptionrates: one year in Wise County $37; one year out of county $43;one year out of state $49.An erroneous refl ection upon the character, standing orreputation of any fi rm, person or corporation, which appearsin the columns of this paper will be corrected upon due noticegiven to the publication at the Messenger offi ce.Postmaster: Send address changes to: Wise County Messenger,P.O. Box 149, Decatur, Texas 76234-0149. 940-627-5987.http://www.wcmessenger.com. E-mail: news@wcmessenger.com.© 2012 Wise County Messenger
NEWARKSon savesmom’s lifeWISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Saturday, November 24, 20123ABy BRANDON EVANSEleven-year-old Graysonoore was born blue.The fifth grader at SevenHills Elementary wasn’t expectedto survive long afterbeing deprived of oxygenduring his birth.“He was born three weeksearly, and they didn’t give usmuch hope,” said his motherMilissa Moore. “He was blue.He had to go into intensivecare at Harris Methodist forthree weeks.”But there was somethingspecial about Grayson. Despitebeing born three weekspre-mature, he alreadyweighed 9 1/2 pounds. Hisfather Scott and his momstayed night and day at thehospital until Grayson stabilized.“He’s meant to be here,”Milissa said. “He has a purpose.”Earlier this month, Graysonproved at least part ofhis purpose when he helpedsave his mother’s life.“My mom went outsideto take out the trash,” saidGrayson. “I was asleep in theDECATURBike wreck injures 1living room. But I woke upafter I heard a noise outside.”Milissa was in the grip ofviolent seizures. She’d fallennear the front steps of herhome in Newark. Her headwas heaving uncontrollablyup and down onto thewooden surface near thesteps. While some peoplemight have been too scaredor shocked to act, Graysonreacted with certainty andpurpose.“The first thing I did wasroll her onto the grass becauseit was a softer surface,”Grayson said. “I thenbrought her a pillow to putunder her head and a blanketbecause it was cold, and Icalled my dad.”His father, who was workingthe late shift, called 911and rushed home. In themeantime, Grayson continuedto remain calm and carefor his mother.“He kept count of howmany seizures she had, so hecould tell that to the medicsand firefighters when theyarrived,” Scott said.Moments later, membersof the Newark VolunteerA motorcycle operator was seriously injuredin a pre-dawn wreck Friday in Decatur.The accident happened at U.S. 380 and the onramp to U.S. 81/287 North in Decatur around5:40 a.m. when the motorcycle operator lostcontrol and struck a guardrail.The patient was taken to Wise RegionalHealth System and then flown to a Fort Worthhospital.The motorcycle operator’s name and conditionwere unavailable at press time Friday.Fire Department and WiseCounty medics arrived onthe scene.“They said everything hedid was textbook,” Scott said.They transported Milissato Wise Regional Health Systemin Decatur where theywere able to stabilize her.Milissa was diagnosedwith epilepsy about a yearago after a traffic accidentleft her brain damaged.Her life has permanentlychanged. Her frequency ofseizures makes normal lifedifficult. It has altered a lotof her behaviors, includingsleep patterns and memory.“A dog ran in front of me,and I swerved to miss him,”Milissa said. “I ran into alight pole.”Her seat belt was on, buther airbag failed to deployand her head hammeredagainst the steering wheel.“When I got to her afterthe accident, she was crying,”Scott said. “She saidnext time she will ‘hit thedarn dog.’”While she has tried tocope with epilepsy, her sonsGrayson and Hayden, 7,School deals ...Continued from page 2Ahave to discuss a bond issue.The district had hoped to tieinto the city’s sewer system, butthat may not happen for quitesome time as the city is lookingat its water system and puttingwastewater on the back burner,said Chapman.Future improvements couldinclude a new 50,000-gallonMessenger photo by Brandon Evans • Buy reprints at wcmessenger.com/reprintsLIFESAVING ACTION — Milissa Moore of Newark hugs her son, Grayson. The 11-year-oldrecently helped save his mom’s life when she went into a series of seizures outside theirhome.have learned a lot abouthow to care for people whohave seizures.“He’s seen and learneda lot,” Milissa said. “He’san amazing kid. For an11-year-old to keep so calm— it was awesome.”Grayson hopes to one daybe a doctor or scientist andmaybe help people who sufferfrom seizures like hismom does.“If anybody can learnanything from this I hopeparents just make surethey tell their kids how toreact when somebody needshelp,” Scott said. “Graysondid everything we told himto do.”plant to replace the oldest partof the system. That, coupled withnew filters that will be required,could cost $1 million, which thedistrict would have to raise.At its Dec. 17 meeting, theboard is slated to discuss bringingin engineers to assess thesituation.Email Jimmy at jalford@wcmessenger.com.Thanks to Grayson’s calmunder fire, his family enjoyeda happy Thanksgiving.Email Brandon at bevans@wcmessenger.com.BRIDGEPORTNewly installed bridge vandalizedDirect Satellite Internet & TV940-683-0090 • 866.571.0003www.dsit.usUp To 12 MBPS!!!By KRISTEN TRIBEThe newly-constructedbridge on County Road 3214,just outside Bridgeport, wasvandalized last week.The cement had been recentlypoured and was curingwhen someone drove a trackhoe around the site and intothe sides of the bridge, damagingit.Interim Precinct 4 CommissionerGlenn Hughes saidinspection revealed there isno structural damage to thebridge, just cosmetic.“We’ll have to replace theguardrails and things likethat,” he said.The track hoe had beentemporarily left at the site bythe construction company andwas being used as a roadblockuntil the road was re-opened.Hughes said the bridgeshould be open in the next fewweeks, and in the meantime,Sheriff David Walker saidthere will be increased patrolsin the area.This stretch of road hadbeen blocked to through trafficsince 1999, and it becamethe subject of controversy afterCommissioner Terry Ross,who has since been temporarilysuspended for unrelatedreasons, began work on theclosed portion of road in June.Sonny Tackel of Bridgeportfiled a petition askingcounty commissioners to keepthe half-mile section of roadclosed. He and his neighborstold commissioners that whenthe road was open, it was acommon site for parties thatinvolved drinking and druguse.Bridgeport resident DavidCarlton filed a cross-petitionasking commissioners to denythe first petition.Citizens on both sides ofthe issue attended the commissioners’July 30 meetingwhere after an hour-long discussion,the county officialsdecided to re-open the road,denying Tackel’s petition.Email Kristen at ktribe@wcmessenger.com.November 30,
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