SPORTS

STORM CENTER: Giving bonds a pass

Published

8 years ago

07/20/2016

The sports editor knows our current economy isn’t completely sound.
However, several weeks ago, Nocona Independent School District voters turned out at the polls and defeated a proposed $15.1-million school bond.
On the May 7 election night scoreboard, there were 426 votes for passage and 552 votes against.
Overall, 978 votes were cast, and voter participation was affected by the fact the election took place on a Saturday.
On that same day, Nocona High School had prom – so, in my opinion, the election wasn’t first and foremost on the voters mind like it should have been.
It was the first time in 38 years Nocona had the opportunity to vote on a bond, which funded construction of Nocona Middle School.
The present Nocona High School was built in 1952, and the building has outlived its shelf life – especially when considering safety.
Superintendent Vickie Gearheart was encouraged, even though voters essentially sacked the school district for a loss.
“I am extremely encouraged to know that 426 people saw the need for a new high school and agreed it was worth the extra expense to pay for it,” she said, in a May 11 story written by Bowie News staff reporter Dani Blackburn.
The “Our Kids, Our Future” political action committee, which spearheaded a campaign to get the bond issue carried remains steadfast.
“We are going to continue until we get the bond proposal approved,” said the “Our Kids, Our Future” Facebook page.
The group has indicated it would like to try again either this November or possibly in May 2017. In my humble opinion, the bond election should take place next May. However, it should NOT take place on a Saturday. Read more from this column in the July 16 Bowie News.

Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.

Here’s the floor plan for the proposed high school in Nocona, which would be located on land near the former Nocona Boot Company not far from United States Highway 82. Nocona would like to pass a bond to build a new high school, which would be the first new construction since the 1970s. (High school floor plan by CADCO Architects, Abilene)

SPORTS

Bowie golf heads back to state for third time in four years

Published

18 mins ago

04/20/2024

bowienews

The Bowie boy’s golf team finished third at the regional tournament at Abilene this week to qualify for the state tournament for the third time. (Photo by Tiffany Egenbacher)

The Bowie boy’s golf team is heading back to state tournament after competing at the regional tournament this week.
The Jackrabbits finished third overall, shooting 630 total after two days of competing at the Diamondback National Golf Club in Abilene.
Bowie was trying to get back to state for the third time in the last four years and improve on its third place finish since it returned everyone, but knew it would be tough.
State-power Brock, which finished ahead of the Jackrabbits at state last year, had two teams competing as well as Lubbock-Cooper Liberty showing off the program’s depth. Wall was not far behind as well, nipping at Bowie’s heels.
The conditions were perfect and several players were shooting the best they have all season. Cy Egenbacher led the team shooting 74 the first day. Rayder Mann (77) and Zac Harris (78) joined him the 70s which is really good and the first time all season three Bowie players had done it in one round.
Andrew Sandhoff shot 81 to round out the team’s score to 310 which put the team in third place, three shots behind Brock in second place and seven shots back from Cooper Liberty in first place.
Blanco was six shots back from Bowie in fourth place.
Hunter Lea shot 83, but it did not count towards the team total since it counts a team’s four lowest scores.
The second day saw all but one of the Jackrabbits players shoot a bit worse. Harris was the only player to shoot better as he shot 75 to lead the team.
Egenbacher shot 77. Mann and Sandhoff both shot 84 to put the team’s total for day two at 320. Hunter Lea shot 88 on day two.
Unfortunately, with Bowie’s score increasing by 10 from day one, it did not leave the possibility for the Jackrabbits to move up in the standings.
Brock’s team repeated its score from day one while Cooper Liberty actually lowered its score by seven shots from day one.
Blanco’s team increased its day two total by 10 shots as well to leave the door open for Wall to jump in the standings as it lowered its second day total by two shots.
Still, Bowie finished six shots ahead of Wall to get the final state qualifying spot.
Egenbacher had the lowest total for the Jackrabbits, shooting 151 during the two days as he finished tied for sixth place individually.
Harris shot 153 and was tied for 12th place individually. Mann shot 161 and finished tied for 24th. Sandhoff shot 165 and finished 33rd while Lea shot 171 and placed 49th.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.