NEWS
Volunteers far, near step up to help Bowie clean up
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Volunteers have converged on the storm-ravaged areas of Bowie this week helping the community clean-up and clearing debris so it can see the full extent of damage from the May 22 F1 tornado.
The hum of chainsaws and heavy equipment fills the southside neighborhoods while nearby in downtown debris removal and damage assessment continues as they all try to find a path forward.
City officials report power has been restored throughout the city’s storm area. Those who had their electric service torn directly out of their house and cannot afford to hire an electrician also are receiving assistance from city-hired electricians. Other communication companies also are busily working on restoring their services.
City Manager Bert Cunningham reported Friday morning all the streets that may have been blocked by debris have been cleared, however, there are still limbs along the curb which will be picked up. City and Texas Department of Transportation crews continue to collect and clear debris.
Vegetation will be accepted at the Bowie Business Park from 8 a..m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be closed Sunday.
All citizens across Bowie and the county who received any type of storm damage are encouraged to take part in the disaster survivor assistance survey.
As of Friday there were 358 damage reports submitted. Of those 72 were businesses and 286 were residence. There are 34 who report they cannot reside in their homes due to the damage.
Links are available on the city website at: cityofbowietx.com and the city Facebook page. This survey, which takes a brief five minutes to fill out, will be used as part of the damage assessment report the city will use when applying for disaster relief funding. It does not matter whether or not you have insurance, own or rent.
Volunteers
From the morning after the storm throughout the rest of this week, Bowie has been filled with local volunteers and many from out of town who traveled with organized groups.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
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.
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.
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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