NEWS
F1 tornado hits Bowie Friday, massive damage to buildings
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
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.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A public hearing has been scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on May 28 for the Montague County Commissioner’s Court to present the updated subdivision regulations that have been in the works for several months.
That date was set during Monday’s court session, where a development officer also was named and a state-required notice was approved. The 89-page draft of the subdivision regulations are available on the county website co.montague.tx.us/page/montague.home.
It was August 2019 when the regulations were adopted by the commissioners after much debate among water well drillers, groundwater district staff and directors, realtors and land developers.
During those original discussions water issues lead the way as many counties especially around heavily populated urban areas are experiencing water shortages and possible contamination due to an inadequate number of houses and wells or even the use of a public water system in the rural areas.
Charley Lanier, who has been working as a grant officer for the county, was named to be the subdivision development officer. After a brief 10-minute executive session, the court named Lanier who they said would be the “initial contact” for all developers who will accept all paperwork and plats.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie water and street crews repair a broken water line in the area of Walnut and Smythe last week, along with repairing a large pot hole in the same area. (Photo by Barbara Green)
Bowie Intermediate School students, staff and families enjoyed a “STAAR” Party on April 18 celebrating the hard work of all preparing for STAAR testing as well as other year’s successes. There were about 200 students and parents attending to enjoy the activities that included telescopes provided through the 3Rivers Foundation. It was a clear night perfect for star gazing, there also was an outdoor movie and other activities. (BIS courtesy photos)
-
NEWS1 year ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS5 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS1 year agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS9 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS12 months ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS1 year ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint