County officials approved a ban on outdoor burning effective on Jan. 12. The official order with the ban stipulations should be released later this morning.

Members of the Bowie City Council will meet for their first session of 2026 at 6 p.m. on Jan. 13.
Numerous items of new business fill the agenda including a resolution offered by the Bowie Economic Development Corporation to administer and fund an equipment purchase and installation project supporting a private capital investment exceeding $170,000 at 203 N. Mason. This is the location of Milano’s Pizza which has recently undergone a complete remodel.
The council will award a bid to Legend Bank as the city depository and a re-appointment will be made the Bowie Library Board. A memo of understanding with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas Emergency Management Assistance Teams participating jurisdiction will be examined.
The final item is an ordinance abandoning a portion of the alley right-of-way connected with the sewer line replacement project in the Wilbarger Street area. The second reading of an ordinance also connected to this site also is listed.
City Manager Bert Cunningham will report on the downtown sidewalk project, the Rock and Pillar Street project and the substation work.

Montague County Commissioners will consider implementing a ban on outdoor burning when they meet at 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.
Conditions for dangerous wildfire continue to grow as the county has not received significant rainfall since early December. Unseasonably high temperatures also contribute to dry conditions.
Other agenda topics will include: A resolution allowed selected trustee properties to be resold through a public online auction; accepting unanticipated revenue of $2,000 in the sheriff’s office; notice of election for the 2026 join primary elections in March; consider applying for the rural ambulance grant program; precinct four request to use an auction company to sell surplus items; precinct four request to clear a fence line on Carpenter Road and consider going out for fuel bids.