NEWS
Nocona makes tourism push in 2016; county works to wrap up road grant
By BARBARA GREEN
For Montague County 2016 is all about roads as the commissioners enter the final year of a three-year grant program funding road repairs from energy production, while Nocona is working to improve its festivals and continue to bill itself as a tourism destination.
Along with the infrastructure grant, the court is still waiting on the federal disaster assistance funding to be finalized to help repair more than $7 million in repairs from the May and June 2015 floods.
When asked what 2016 has in store for county government, County Judge Rick Lewis said they will be “digging in” to get the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund grant work completed in its final year. They also await the arrival of federal disaster relief money to make additional road repairs.
Over in the City of Nocona, city officials are still trying to make recovery from multiple years of drought and declining sales tax payments. The Nocona Chamber of Commerce has turned its primary efforts to tourism growing its festivals, which draw thousands of people to town. It is paying off as the Mardi Gras Nocona Style, now in its sixth year. Read the full story on the new year and what it may bring in the weekend News.
(Left) Red River Station Inn open in late 2015 and the new pizzeria restaurant next door is under construction. (Photos by Barbara Green)
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
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NEWS1 year agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
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NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
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NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
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NEWS1 year agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
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Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
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