NEWS
Bowie Elementary Principal selected; BHS students advocate for math teacher
Steven Valkenaar has been hired to be Bowie Elementary School principal for the next school year.
The Bowie Independent School District Board of Trustees approved his selection at its Monday meeting. He will fill the vacancy left when Blake Enlow was reassigned to the junior high school and following Amy Murphey’s move to Nocona Middle School. Balkenaar comes to Bowie from Eastland High School, where he served as principal the last two years. A total of six candidates were interviewed.
A group of high school students also appeared before the board to urge the board to retain Karen Barnes, advanced math teacher at the high school. Barnes was not offered a contract.
Trustees also approved a sound and lighting proposal for the junior high auditorium that will bring state-of-the-art technology into the 100-year-old building allowing there to be many different types of performances on the state.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
Correction: Mr. Valkenaar’s name was misspelled in the print edition of the Bowie News, we apologize for this error. See your weekend edition for more about the new principal.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioner’s Court reluctantly returned money to the state connected to Senate Bill 22 in fiscal 2024.
During Monday’s regular session, County Auditor Charley Lanier explained the three transactions. SB 22 provided funding for prosecutor offices to assist with paying staff, and in the sheriff’s office for staff and equipment.
If all the money was not spent it had to be returned. Lanier explained the fund was approved in 2024, but it arrived after the fiscal year began and commissioners did not want to spend any of until the funds actually arrived in county coffers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Saint Jo City Council had a brief meeting on June 17.
The 2026-27 budgets for appraisal and tax collections from the Montague County Tax Appraisal District were approved. The tax collection budget faces a 3.71% increase and 2.2% in the appraisal budget.
The city’s payment for tax collections will go from $1,305 for the year down slightly from $1,445 last year. The appraisal portion for Saint Jo will be $9,526, up from $9,361 in 2026.
A municipal election for Nov. 3 was called. Places open on the ballot will be mayor, and the places filled by Melissa McPherson and Jack Dunn, who was appointed to fill out a term.
The council approved a resolution to apply for grants for water infra structure improvements through the Texas Water Development Board. The city is working with engineers from Corlett, Probst and Boyd of Wichita Falls on a proposed project.
The 60th anniversary Jim Bowie Days Celebration opened on June 20th with a full day of activities focusing on sports and a barbecue cookoff.
Festivities continue throughout the week highlight by rodeo, youth rodeo, kid’s activities and Pioneer Court. The second annual Smokedown BBQ Cookout began on Friday night with the steak and beans contests. Three other categories for chicken ribs and brisket followed on Saturday. There were 27 teams, four more than last year.
Conducted by Outlaw BBQ, the grand champion was Vinny McNamara, with 36 points. Steve Cumbie was reserve grand champion with 26 points.
Read about all the weekend’s winners complete with many photos in your Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – The first annual pickleball tourney drew 17 teams. Teams greet each other before they start play (Photo by Barbara Green0
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