NEWS
F1 tornado hits Bowie Friday, massive damage to buildings
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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
An F1 tornado tore through the heart of Bowie on May 22 damaging or destroying more than 106 businesses and 316 residences. Throughout the weekend citizens started picking up the pieces with the help of neighbors and a barrage of state and area resources.
Graduation day
Last Friday was an exciting day in Bowie as the high school senior class was celebrated with a huge down town parade providing a new tradition to what has been a non-traditional graduation season thanks to COVID-19. With everyone looking forward to commencement at 8 p.m. at Jackrabbit Stadium, no one had any idea things were about to change for the community.
Graduation was cancelled about an hour before tornado sirens started going off at 8:28 p.m. as emergency communications teams and the weather service issued the tornado warnings.
One funnel was seen outside Bellevue at the edge of Montague County and other swirling formations were being watched as the system moved closer. The F1 tornado arrived in the midst of heavy rain, straight line winds and hail of varying sizes.
Read the full storm on Friday’s tornado and the resulting damage in your mid-week Bowie News.
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NEWS
Election poll books decertified
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Montague County is one of more than 60 Texas counties that find themselves waiting to see if issues with electronic software can be repaired and certified by the Texas Secretary of State in time for the May elections.
Back in mid-December the Secretary of State decertified the poll books from Elections Systems and Software after problems arose during the November general election in Dallas County.
Ginger Wall, Montague County elections administrator, said she received a letter from the secretary of state on Dec. 23, 2024 explaining the decertification of the ES&S pollbooks.
Wall said she then was contacted by the vendor that indicated they would be submitting a new version for certification testing in March.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
NEWS
Montague County finalizing plans to operate shelter
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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Montague County Animal Rescue centered on establishing an animal shelter and providing associated animal rescue services for Montague County.
At its Monday session, County Judge Kevin Benton reported there were only two additions that were needed to the memo before any vote. They are provisions for the county to provide general liability insurance for the property and wi-fi service for the office operations.
County officials have been working with the newly formed non-profit group to help organize and establish the new shelter that is located west of Montague. A building was renovated on the property to house the dog kennels and a portable building placed nearby to house the office operations.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
(Photo – The kennel building at the new Montague County Animal Shelter is nearing completion. (Courtesy photo)
NEWS
Ex-DA’s trial date moved to March 17
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The felony theft trial of former 97th District Attorney Casey Hall has been rescheduled from Feb. 17 to March 17.
It was a change in legal counsel by Hall that prompted the change. On Dec. 30, 2024 an order was filed to substitute Abe Factor with Heath Hyde. A motion for a continuance was requested on Jan. 14 and three days later the 9 a.m., March 17 trial date was set.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Shawhan is prosecuting for the state and the Honorable Lee Gabriel of Denton, retired appellate court judge, was assigned to preside.
Hall was indicted by the Montague County Grand Jury on two counts of theft of property $2,500 to $30,000 on July 8, 2024.
Read the full story in The Thursday Bowie News.
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