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Safe boating urged over the Labor Day

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AUSTIN – Game wardens will be out in force patrolling the waterways over the Labor Day holiday weekend to help ensure Texans make it back home safely. They’ll also be educating folks about Kali’s Law, the new mandatory ignition “kill switch” requirement for boat operators that goes into effect Sept. 1.

Kali’s Law was established in response to the fatality of Kali Gorzell, a 16-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a boat propeller near Aransas Pass in 2012. An ignition safety kill switch shuts off the boat motor automatically if the operator is thrown from the helm. The law requires operators of boats less than 26 feet in length that are equipped with an ignition safety kill switch to use it whenever the vessel is moving at greater than headway speed. Headway speed is defined as slow, idle speed, or speed only fast enough to maintain steerage on course.

The new law does not require the retrofitting of older vessels that are not equipped with a kill switch.. It does not permit the removal of a kill switch device that was originally installed on the vessel. Wireless kill switch devices are permitted for those with concerns about the lanyard style devices.

“Game wardens will be educating the public on the kill switch requirement,” said Cody Jones, Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

In addition to wearing a kill switch, TPWD stresses all boaters follow important safety precautions while on the water, like wearing a lifejacket, checking the weather before entering the water, and knowing the rules of the waterway by taking a boater education class.

Another main concern during holiday weekends is Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) – or operating a vessel with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent – which doubles the risk of being killed in a boating accident. BWI is strictly enforced and carries penalties similar to driving while intoxicated penalties, including possible driver’s license suspension.

Basic boating safety precautions like avoiding alcohol and wearing a lifejacket also extend to paddlecraft. Paddlers can find a free online safety course on the TPWD website, and for larger vessels, anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, must complete a boater education course to operate a personal watercraft or a boat with a 15 horsepower rating or more. Boater education courses are regularly offered in many locations around the state, or boaters can find a selection of online boater courses that can be taken anytime.

For more boating safety tips and information, visit the TPWD Water Safety page online or visit the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety page online.

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County subdivision regulations getting updates

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Updating Montague County’s subdivision regulations will be a major topic of discussion at the 9 a.m. commissioner’s court meeting on April 22.
As 2023 wound down the court named a committee to work with legal counsel to see what updates or clarifications were needed to the rules. The agenda list scheduling a public hearing on adoption of the revised rules, along with taking an impact assessment on the draft of the regulations.
An executive session is posted for discussion on the appointment of a development officer in conjunction with subdivision rules. This could be a new position or a present employee, there was no information available on Friday.
The court will consider appointing a local health authority for the county. Dr. Chance Dingler has been serving in that capacity.
The Montague County Historical Commission will ask to place a historical marker at the site of the old agriculture extension farm site outside of Montague.
In other topics they will consider a finance contract with Government Capital to finance the remaining balance of a 2022 Mac Truck for precinct four; allow precinct one to enter the Tyler Stark property on Lake Valley Road to address drainage issues on a proposed driveway entrance and tinhorn installation; precinct two going out for sealed bids to sell excess dirt; precinct three trading a loader; replat for two lots in Silver Lakes Ranch, phase seven in precinct two and a final plat for various lots in the Robb Addition.

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School bond early voting to open

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Early voting for the Bowie and Forestburg Independent School District bond elections begins April 22 at one central location at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center.
Early voting will be April 22-26, and April 29-30, all from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is only one location for early voting for both elections.
On the May 4 election day the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at these locations: Bowie Senior Citizen Center, Forestburg ISD library and Sunset City Hall.
Voters can cast ballots at any of these locations due to countywide voting.
Bowie ISD is asking voters to reconsider a $65.8 million bond issue, that was defeated in November 1,079 to 855, a shortfall of 224 voters.
There will be two town hall meetings this week where the superintendent will discuss the bond proposal on April 24 from noon to 1 p.m at the administration office, 404 E. Williams, and 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the junior high school.

Read more on the upcoming elections and the proposed bonds in the weekend Bowie News.

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Traffic stop may have been part of human trafficking

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More than a dozen men, believed to be illegal aliens who were being trafficked, fled from a traffic stop at the edge of the Montague and Clay County line early Wednesday morning.
As of Friday seven of the men who ran away from the van had been captured. The search for the men began at 1:05 a.m. April 17 when a Clay County Deputy made a traffic stop in the Bellevue area at U.S. 287 north of Tyson Road. The sheriff’s office announced approximately 11 to 14 suspected illegal aliens immediately fled out of the vehicle on foot into the surrounding countryside when the stop was made.

After a day long search seven were apprehended and the investigation indicates the men may have been taken for human trafficking. They had no ID, no money, no personal items and a couple had no shows.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

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