Bowie Library’s Summer Reading program opens at 10 a.m. on June 9 at the Bowie Community Center with a bubble truck party.
Come prepared to get soapy and wet as this popular series kicks off the summer. This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” with a focus on prehistoric items and dinosaurs.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12 and these free programs will be at the Bowie Community Center at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in June and July excluding June 23, July 14 and July 21 when it will be at the library.
Children will be given a reading log to bring with them to each program. Each child also receives a book at the end of the series.
The program will include the following activities: June 16, Bright Star Theater Group; June 23, Read and Go take home craft; July 7, dinosaur exhibit; July 14, Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum program; July 21, Read and Go take home craft and July 28, Creature Teacher.
‘Tween and Teen
There will be a summer reading program for this age group of those 11 to 18. Programs at are 2 p.m. June 11, 18 and 25 all at the library.
Youngsters can do dinosaur scratch art, air-dry clay diffuser disc and take part in an escape room.

Top photo- Summer reading art activity from 2025. (News file photo)

June has opened so it must be time to start making plans for the 60th Jim Bowie Days Celebration June 19-27.
It will be a golden anniversary for the western festival that offers fun for the entire family. From a barbecue cookoff to pet parade, rodeo and pickleball, don’t miss any of the action.
Activities get underway with the 2nd annual Smokedown BBQ Cookoff which welcomed 24 teams during its first outing. The cooking competition will be June 19 and 20 in the Pelham Park area and community center.
Registration will be on the day of the event. Friday night will feature the steak challenge and on Saturday the contest has beans ($20 entry fee), chicken, pork spare ribs and brisket ($200 entry fee).

Read the full schedule of events in your Thursday Bowie News.

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Directors of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation continue to dig deeper into operational records and finances when they met on May 26.
Carla Swofford, secretary, said it was a very productive meeting as they found out important information about an outstanding loan and discussed a water rate hike.
Additional research on the original U.S. Department of Agriculture loan that finance installation of the water system many years ago, found the loan terms were different than they believe. It was thought to be a 30-year note with a balloon payments, however, after talking to USDA officials in Abilene it was found to be a 40-year note with no balloon. Its payout is in 2039.
Swofford said that was a big relief to know there was no balloon payment hanging over the corporation.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.