NEWS
Panama Canal could boost coastal prosperity to Texas
By BARBARA GREEN
On June 26 a 984-foot Chinese container ship cleared the new massive locks of the Panama Canal becoming the first to officially pass through the expanded canal and sparking what what many are calling “a new dawn” for Panama and global shipping.
For those of us landlocked in North Texas one may wonder what the expansion of the 102-year-old canal means to our small bit of the Lone Star state.
Organized efforts are underway to help Texas ports and infrastructure get ready to be a major player in this new world of global shipping. Tex-21 Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century is spearheading a multi-faceted approach driving an opportunity for Texas to make its Gulf Coast the “third coast” as a major importer and exporter of goods.
That diverse approach includes not only creating ports that can accept the newer mega-ships, but infrastructure where cargo can be moved across the country and to the ports, state highways and rail line. Tex-21 was formed 12 years ago by a handful of public officials seeking ways to improve transportation.
City of Bowie Mayor Larry Slack recently was invited to talk about his city at a Tex-21 meeting in Decatur. Mayors from Grapeland, Decatur and Rhome also spoke.
Slack said the focus in north Texas is the future designation and development of U.S. Highway 287 as an interstate highway.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
The ceremonial swearing in of Katie Boggeman as 97th District Attorney will be at noon on Nov. 18 in the 97th District Courtroom.
While she has been serving as Interim DA since Aug. 9, Boggeman said she was contacted by the governor’s office on Nov. 11. A staff member asked if she wanted to be considered for the appointment after DA Casey Hall submitted her resignation on Nov. 1 for a term expiring on Dec. 31.
Boggeman said this was a surprise to her and she told that person she was already serving in the interim after Hall was suspended, and that she was the incoming DA following the Nov. 5 election.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Pictured above: Katie Boggeman when she took the oath of office after being named interim district attorney when Casey Hall was suspended. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The second community meeting on needs for an emergency room or hospital in Bowie is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Bowie Community Center.
This is the second meeting to discuss these needs following the closure of the Faith Community Health Center emergency room on Oct. 6, just shy of a year of operation. More than 200 people attended that first meeting, where discussion centered on the creation of a taxing district to support any sort of medical facility.
Citizens in the Bowie area are encouraged to attend and take part in these discussions.
Top photo) Fire hydrants east and west of the line break on Tarrant were opened to help alleviate pressure as the repairs were made on the line.
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