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.
Members of the Mighty Marching Maroon Band of Bowie High School crowned its royals during halftime ceremonies on Oct. 16. Band Sweetheart is Lilli Zilfo and Band Beau is Adam Hofbauer. Congratulations to the marching band for its work at UIL contest Saturday. While the band did not advance to area Director German Torres said he was very proud of their work this year.
Autumn has arrived in Montague County, and local school districts are gearing up for a full lineup of family-friendly fall festivals throughout the month of October.
From games to coronations, residents will have plenty of opportunities to support local students and celebrate the season.
Forestburg Independent School District starts its festival at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24, featuring games, a silent auction, gift baskets and a coronation of festival royalty.
Bowie Elementary will have its fall festival from 5 to 7 p.m on Oct 24. The event features both live and silent auctions along with carnival games.
Tickets are on presale at five for $1, or at the festival four for $1. Unlimited game wristbands also can be purchased for $20.
The seasonal celebrations wrap up on Halloween.
Saint Jo Elementary Parent Teacher Organization hosts its fall fest from 12 to 2 p.m on Oct. 31, in the Saint Jo Cafeteria, featuring various activity booths and local vendors.
Gold-Burg ISD follows from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31, on the GISD campus.
Attendees can enjoy games, a haunted house, food and a pie-in-the-face booth. Tickets may be purchased with cash or check only.
Other fall events include a family fun night hosted by Calvary Baptist Church at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, at 204 Decatur St. The event will include food and a trunk-or-treat.
The Bowie Independent School District Board of Trustees celebrated student achievements and reviewed a perfect school security audit at its Oct. 19 meeting.
The meeting opened with recognitions. High School Principal Dr. Dean Johnson recognized teacher April Word and her theater students, Adryana Torres, Aowyn Word and Lilliana Zilfo, for excelling at Theaterfest 2026.
Johnson said the students earned the title of featured performers, placing them in the top 15 performers in the state. Word also got an award for exemplary campus theater director at the event.
Read the full school board story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo- The school board recognized the Bowie Junior High cross country boy’s team after they won district runner-up at the recent meet. (Photo by Caroline Crain)
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