NEWS
LOCAL BOATING: Carter ramps closed
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net
A pair of boat ramps at Lake Amon G. Carter remain closed according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Chase McAninch.
“There’s still water in the houses around the lake,” McAninch said.
McAninch said there’s also debris in the water boaters wouldn’t be able to see with the naked eye, and that’s another cause for concern.
There are two boat ramps in Bowie: Selma Park and Big Sandy Creek located off Farm-to-Market Road 1125. Selma Park is located off Texas Highway 59, following FM 2583.
Both ramps typically accommodate all boat types.
It was reported boat ramps have been closed since Friday, May 8, when massive rains overflowed Lake Amon G. Carter.
As of Monday, according to the website waterdatafortexas.org, Lake Amon G. Carter was 5.62 feet above the conservation pool at 925.62msl.
Water has subsided roughly 1.5 feet since a week ago, but not nearly enough to allow boat traffic at the lake.
Meanwhile, Nocona City Secretary Revell Hardison reported all three boat ramps at Lake Nocona are currently open.
There are three boat ramps serving the lake: Weldon Robb, Boone and Benton. Weldon Robb is located in the southwestern part of Lake Nocona. Benton is near the dam itself. Boone can be found in the northeastern corner of the body of water.
Barrels leading to the ramps have been removed, Hardison reported.
“Water has receded,” Hardison said. Read more in the mid-week Bowie News.
The dock at Big Sandy Creek in rural Bowie was nearly submerged in this May 14 photo. Both Bowie docks are closed, according to city officials and Game Warden Chase McAninch. (News photo by Barbara Green)
NEWS
Commissioners to consider budget, tax rate
Montague County Commissioners will adopt a budget and tax rate when they meet at on Aug. 24 in the courthouse annex.
The budget hearing will be at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 24, followed by a public hearing for the proposed tax rate at 8:45 a.m.
During the regular meeting at 9 a.m., there will be one final budget workshop for any last minute tweaks or changes, followed by adoption of the 2026-27 budget and 2026 tax rate.
The proposed tax rate is .4961 cents per $100 in property value, which is the same rate as 2025. Due to the increase in property values despite the same rate, the total tax levy on all properties will see a 3.64% increase.
A copy of the proposed budget is available on the county website at https://www.co.montague.tx.us/.
Several other financial related items are on the agenda. Accumulated comp time in the sheriff office and jail will be discussed. The commissioners also will consider any year-end expenditures utilizing any or the budget year contingency funds.
Other items on the agenda will include: Acceptance of the District Attorney’s 2023- 2024 and 2025 Chapter 59 asset forfeiture reports and authorize DA Katie Boggeman to sign them; imposition of optional fees from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for 2027; House Bill 3834 cybersecurity and AI training certification for state and local governments compliance reports; interlocal cooperation agreement between the Department of Public Safety and the county court and district court; review the sherif office application for sheriff immigration law enforcement grant program Senate Bill 8; consider distribution of state grant HB 3000; and consider using Real Estate Station LLC Agent Denise Thurman to sell 5.9 acres on the corner of U.S. 81 and State Highway 59.
NEWS
Heat taking its toll on lakes, no rain since June
It should be no surprise, the month of July is recorded as the hottest month on record for the country.
July wrapped up with seven straight days of 100 degrees or higher July 25-31. August also opened hot with the first 100-plus degree day on Aug. 3 and it has topped that marked through Aug. 19. On Tuesday the high was 107 degrees at the water plant, but in town thermometers recorded 108 and 109 degrees.It was expected to top that mark on Wednesday.
There was no rainfall recorded in July or in August. Bowie has only 21.71 inches for the year so far and Nocona has 22.35 inches.
Lake Amon Carter
Aug. 19 –
917.22 msl, 80.2% full
July 19 – 918.10 msl, 86.1%
Aug. 19, 2025 – 919.84 msl, 98.8% full
Lake is full at 920msl
Lake Nocona
Aug. 19 – 823.48 msl, 76.3% full
July 19 – 824.41 msl, 81.05%
Aug. 19, 2025 – 826.878 msl, 95.85%
Lake full at 827.5msl
NEWS
Incumbents fill area election ballots
Municipal and school board election filings came to an end on Aug. 17 with almost all ballot positions filled with candidates.
Listed here are those who have filed in the respective races. Write-in candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit that paperwork. If there are no contested races, the entity may cancel its election.
See the full list of candidates in your Thursday Bowie News.
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