SPORTS

FEATURE STORY: Game wardens always busy

Published

12 years ago

12/05/2014

By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

For Montague County Game Warden Chase McAninch, his future occupation unfolded before his very eyes.
“I rode along with game wardens while I was in college,” he said. “I was hooked.”
McAninch said being a game warden is a perfect career.
“I’ve always liked the outdoors and law enforcement,” McAninch said. “It was a perfect mix of both.”
McAninch, who lives in Bowie and married to Saint Jo Independent School District business teacher Shelly McAninch, is one of 532 game wardens patrolling all 254 counties in the Lone Star State.
A native of Lorena in McLennan County, McAninch graduated from Baylor in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
Before taking the position of game warden here in the county, McAninch worked for the Waco Police Department.
McAninch said every day is a challenge and no two days are exactly alike.
“There’s a broad area to cover,” he said. “There’s so much to do, and there’s so few of us. There are not enough of us to go around. Every day is something different. That’s what I like the most.”
McAninch reported the amount of game wardens assigned to a county are based on factors such as population, both hunting and fishing pressure and the bodies of water – which in Montague County’s case is both Amon G. Carter Lake and Lake Nocona. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.

Chase McAninch is shown here in front of his office at the Montague County Courthouse in Montague. McAninch is one of 532 game wardens stationed throughout the state. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)

SPORTS

Saint Jo volleyball beats Sam Rayburn

Published

2 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

Saint Jo hosted its own volleyball tournament Sept. 10-12.

In its first match, the Lady Panthers bested Sam Rayburn in a b est-of-three match 2-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-14.) In the opener, senior Tatum Morman staked the Lady Panthers to a 4-0 lead with help from Kamron Skidmore and Olivia Johnson kills. The Lady Rebels would come back and tie the game at seven.

Savannah Hill’s kill broke serve and allowed Abby Carter to string together seven points. An ace and a Hill kill helped keep the drive alive. Hill later rolled off six points in a row, helped by two aces, to go up 23-10. Sam Rayburn broke serve but Saint Jo finished the game with a single Morman point.

Sam Rayburn came right out of the gate firing in the second game leading 4-0. A single Carter point, thrown down by a Hill block, and Hill’s four-point skein put the Lady Panthers up 8-6. Sam Rayburn tied the game at eight.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Forestburg VB falls to Chico in four games

Published

2 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

Forestburg’s volleyball team gave visiting Chico a solid test Sept. 8, but the Lady Dragons rebounded from a third-set loss to pull out the 3-1 win (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 25-19).

The Lady Longhorns got out to a quick start with aces from freshmen Madi Wadsworth and Lacie Shotwell staking the squad to a 4-1 lead in game one. Wadsworth later broke a 4-all tie with a kill.

Addy Conway rolled off four straight points, helped by a Wadsworth kill to give Forestburg an 11-9 lead. Chico took a 16-14 lead but a Brenna Briles ace and Jocelyn Rich’s two points forced Chico into a timeout down 17-19.

The respite worked as it would be Forestburg’s last lead of game one, the Lady ‘Horns not having another serving point.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Lady Rabbits defeat Vernon Northside

Published

2 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

After splitting the first two games with Vernon Northside, Bowie’s volleyball team turned things out and wound with a 3-1 match win (25-17, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17).

Molly Enlow used two aces amidst a four-point string to give the Lady Rabbits a 5-1 lead in game one. Senior KP Rutherford’s pair of points extended the lead to 8-3.

Northside cut the deficit to 10-11 before Rutherford’s kill broke serve.

Bella Culwell’s point, aided by an Ellie Mowery kill, put Bowie up 13-10. Northside tied the game at 13 before Rutherford came through with another pair for a 17-14 lead. Lillie Maddox also had a deuce for a 20-15 lead and force a Lady INdian timeout.

Northside broke serve but a Sophie Maddox block and Lillie Maddox three-point string gave the squad game point at 24-16. The squads exchanged side outs to end the game.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.