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COUNTY LIFE

ATFS helps families touched by trauma

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By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Affirming Texas Family Services was created out of a desire to help rural and underserved areas where victims of trauma often fall through the cracks.
Three years later ATFS is providing free counseling services across five counties helping put families and lives back together. Jenny Rizzolo is chairman of the six-member board that oversees the 501c3 non-profit organization that serves Montague, Clay, Jack, Stephens and Young Counties.
Settled in an office space provided by the Presbyterian Church of Bowie at 300 W. Nelson, Rizzolo and Counselor Tonya King-Smith discussed the needs and services addressed by ATFS.
The beginnings
The organization began three years ago when Joe Gambill, former church minister, offered up the idea and talked about it with a person studying to be a counselor. Rizzolo was pulled in to help with the paperwork.
“That first year we didn’t get the grant, but the church gave us a $20,000 donation so we could provide a part-time counselor the first year. The second year we got a grant and last year a slightly larger grant. We are very reliant on grant and fundraising activities. Luckily with our office spaces donated we don’t have the overhead to deal with at any of our locations. All the money goes to pay counselors,” said Rizzolo.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

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COUNTY LIFE

Jammin’ at the Justin makes temporary move

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The March 30 Jammin’ at the Justin makes a move to the Nocona Senior Citizens Center, 400 Boston due to a scheduling conflict.
Jammin’ begins at 6 p.m. Come out to play or sing, or just sit back and enjoy the music at the free show. Tips will go to the senior center.

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COUNTY LIFE

Bowie one-act advances to area

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Bowie High School’s one-act play, “A Monster Calls,” advances to area on April 13 in Clyde after a great showing at bi-district competition.
The production got second place and advances with Eastland and Early. Lia Meier and Corban Word received All Star Cast, and Owen Hofbauer received honorable mention All-Star Cast. The tech award went to Adamari Alonso for lights.
The show is directed by April Word. A time for the area performance will be announced as soon as it is released. There will be a public performance of the play at 6:30 p.m. April 7 in the Bowie Junior High Auditorium.
Area OAPs
Gold-Burg, Saint Jo, Forestburg and Bellevue High Schools take their plays to district contests on March 29 at North Central Texas College theater.
Bellevue will be the first play of the day at 10 a.m. The rest perform at about one-hour intervals with a break for lunch. Saint Jo is next followed by Forestburg and Gold-Burg.

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COUNTY LIFE

Nocona Easter Egg Hunt kicks off the week

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A large group of youngsters and families came out for the Nocona Easter Egg Hunt this past Saturday. Hosted by Nocona General Hospital and the Lions Club, it was a fun morning for the families.
A brightly colored inflated Easter Bunny was a great picture point for families. (Courtesy photos NGH)
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