By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Jack McGaughey, 97th district judge, has decided to leave his office at the end of May and will submit his formal resignation to the governor’s office later this month.
This past week, the longtime judge informed certain officials across the three-county 97th District about his decision to step down on May 31. McGaughey said Thursday he has been talking with the staff at the governor’s office about the process. His present term concludes at the end of 2024.
“I thought about it last year and felt this was the best time. I still enjoy the job, but I reached the point where my stamina is not what it once was. There is a lot of office work no one sees and it can be exhausting,” McGaughey told The Bowie News Thursday.
In his letter to district officials, the judge said his decision to step down at this time was based on a number of factors.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

The Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Jan. 30 for its last session of the month.
Much of the agenda focuses on grant updates from City Manager Bert Cunningham and Emergency Management Coordinator Kirk Higgins. The EMC has been working on a federal grant for generators, a Homeland Security grant program and a federal individual safe room grant.
In the city manager’s report, he will discuss the grant applications he

has been submitting, the Texas Water Development Board sewer line project and the status of the Ameresco discussion.
In new business, the council will consider reappointing Bill Calabretta and Bradlee Summers to the planning and zoning commission.
The annual racial profiling report from the Bowie Police Department will be reviewed and the council will discuss awarding a proposal to lease 57 acres of city property at Old Bowie Lake.
A resolution authorizing the filing of a grant application with Nortex for a regional solid waste grant also will be examined.
Whit Cross, new liaison officer with the Texas Department of Emergency Management, will be introduced. The owner of Hilltop Tire also will be recognized for a donation they made.
The quarterly financial report, minutes and uncollected utility accounts and library fines will wrap up the agenda

It was a long night for the Bowie Independent School District Trustees as they tackled a lengthy agenda Monday.
The board spent almost four hours covering a variety of topics from the facility repairs after the winter freeze, to the district’s annual report and the superintendent’s mid-year evaluation.
The meeting opened with recognition of the board members for National School Board Recognition Month. The members received goodie bags thanking them for their “commitment,” as it featured “mint” items.
Trustees then were introduced to students who received grand or reserve champions in the recent Montague County Youth Fair.
Executive session
Trustees conducted the superintendent’s mid-year formative evaluation. Enlow said no action was taken as the board indicated they felt like things were on track as they work on board and district goals.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.