SCHOOL NEWS
Bowie, Nocona marching bands start rehearsals

Alyssa Perry, member of the Mighty Marching Maroon, was one of the students having a uniform fitting on Monday and Tuesday. (Photo by Dani Blackburn)
Montague County’s two high school marching bands are hard at work already preparing for the upcoming season.
Bowie High School’s Mighty Marching Maroon began preparations under the new leadership of Director Kendel Hickenbottom. The Pride of the Tribe Nocona High School Band enters its second year under Director Patrick Flaniken.
This week Bowie students are undergoing uniform fittings and regular practice. On Aug. 4-5, students practice 3 to 5 p.m. inside and 6 to 8:30 p.m. outside.
The band will play at Meet the Rabbits at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Jackrabbit Stadium. Football, volleyball and cross country teams will be introduced along with the band.
From Aug. 9-12 and 15-19, band practice will be 3 to 5 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m. Hickenbottom said he is excited to be leading the band and looks forward to the season. The show will be “Carmen.”
During the past two weeks, the Nocona band has conducted rookie camp and a leadership camp for band members. From Aug. 1-5, music rehearsal will be 2 to 4 p.m. with marching rehearsal from 6 to 8 p.m.
Flaniken said there will be no marching rehearsal on Aug. 11 due to “Fish Camp.”
Meet the Indians is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 4 at Jack Crain Stadium.
Rehearsals from Aug. 8 to 12 also will be 2 to 4 p.m. for music and 6 to 8 p.m. for marching.
This year’s halftime show for the Indians is “Jolly Roger: A Pirate’s Tale.” The music was composed by retired band director Barry Hurt, whose music has been featured in numerous performance at the University Interscholastic League State Marching Contest during the last several years.
SCHOOL NEWS
Gold-Burg grad serving NASA internship
By Andy Newberry, MSU Texas
Midwestern State University junior Rykir Evans is not only building his skills during a NASA internship—he’s creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Evans has been a remote student at MSU Texas this semester while completing the internship. During that time, he had the opportunity to meet American naval aviator and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, as well as NASA Chief Flight Director Gene Kranz.
“It definitely has been an amazing experience thus far, and meeting all of the super inspirational figures in flesh and blood was definitely surreal,” Evans said.
Read the full story in Thursday’s Bowie News.
(Top photo) Rykir Evans had a chance meeting with Reid Wiseman NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II lunar fly-by mission. He also met famed NASA chief flight director Gene Kranz, who directed the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11.

SCHOOL NEWS
Chamber music concert May 18
Join the Bowie High School Band for a chamber music concert featuring state solo/ensemble qualifiers at 6 p.m. on May 18 in the junior high auditorium.
This concert is an opportunity for these state qualifiers to showcase all their hard work, talent and dedication. It also is their final change to take the state to build confidence and shake off those last minute nerves before heading to state competition.
SCHOOL NEWS
BISD trustees meet April 20
Bowie Independent School District Trustees will discuss personnel issues including possible action on hiring a new high school principal when it meets at 5:30 p.m. on April 20.
An executive session is scheduled for that topic and other personnel updates as the school nears its end.
Last month the high school principal and assistant superintendent resigned as did the head boy’s basketball coach. The new coach was named this week
The regular agenda opens with recognition of high school students and staff.
Superintendent Donna Hale will provide informational updates for enrollment and attendance, intruder detection and audit report, operations reports and parent and community forum meeting comments.
The Montague County Tax Appraisal District annual financial report will be reviewed. There also will be a discussion on open enrollment for pre-kindergarten for the 2026-27.
Under action items the board will determine the financial feasibility to comply with the Texas Transportation Code regarding school bus seat belt requirements. Possible action on applying for two waiver days for missed instructional days due to snow.
Monthly reports and financials wrap the agenda.
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