NEWS

Nocona makes tourism push in 2016; county works to wrap up road grant

Published

11 years ago

01/23/2016

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)

COUNTY LIFE

Montague County sees 56.1% voter turnout in midterms

Published

36 minutes ago

11/05/2026

bowienews

Montague County voters joined the rest of the state with a tremendous turnout in Tuesday’s elections.
The elections administration office reported with all 10 precincts counted a turnout of 56.01% or 8,732 casting ballots. There are 15,591 registered voters in the county.
While there were no county contested races, there were two city council and two school board elections.
The Bowie City Council has three places on the ballot. Laura Sproles, incumbent, was not challenged for her place two.
Levi Bailey won the precinct one seat with 925 votes. Valerie Thomerson received 328 votes.
In precinct three, Terry Gunter won with 1,027 votes and Glenda Durham was second with 383

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

NEWS

Nocona teen dies after apolice chase

Published

43 minutes ago

11/05/2026

bowienews

A 15-year-old Nocona boy was killed in a crash following a law enforcement pursuit just after midnight on Nov. 1.
Sgt. Aaron Brandle, public information officer with the Montague County Sheriff’s office, said the crash occurred on Nov. 1 at around 12:21 a.m.
The vehicle in the pursuit crashed in the 3600 block of Cardwell Road in Montague County. The juvenile was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was ejected as a result of the crash.
The release states responding law enforcement personnel immediately initiated life-saving measures at the scene. The juvenile was subsequently transported to Nocona General Hospital, where despite continued life-saving efforts, he was pronounced deceased.

While the authorities have not publicly identified the deceased, several community efforts have been launched to assist the family of AR “Mando” Alcantar, a sophomore at Nocona High School. Students and staff also have taken steps to remember the popular young man.

A Gofundme account also has been sent up under the name Small Town, Big Hearts – Help support the Alcantar Family. It was organized by Kelsey Cabrera.

(Top photo – AR “Mando” Alcantar)

Read the full report in the Thursday Bowie News.

The Bowie News staff apologizes for the error in spelling of the the young man’ s name in the print edition. It stated “Mondo” and that was incorrect. We did not find the error until after press time.