COUNTY LIFE
‘Mr. V’ excited to see little kid’s excitement in coming to school
By BARBARA GREEN
For Steven Valkenaar his career in the classroom almost became a career in an operating room as he was on the path to medical school.
“Mr. V,” as the students call him is the new Bowie Elementary School principal.
Valkenaar, 32, hails from Chicago, IL, but he grew up in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford area after his father was transferred to Dallas working for Santa Fe Railroad. They spent the first year in Texas at Arlington, but then moved to Hurst, where his parents still reside. He is a graduate of L.D. Bell High School in 2002.
The young man was considering a medical career either as an orthopedic surgeon or anesthesiologist. He earned his bachelor of science degree in exercise science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2007.
Valkenaar and his wife, Britini, who were married in 2006, learned they were going to have a baby, so they decided years of medical school and education loans was not what they wanted.
Read the full story on the new principal in your weekend News.
Local libraries wrap up their children’s summer reading programs this week.
The Bowie Public Library brings the popular Creature Teacher with all their spectacular animals for the final event on July 23 at the Bowie Community Center.
The program begins at 10 am. The children also will receive their prize books for their summer logs.
The Nocona Public Library ends its program at 10 a.m. on July 24 at the H.J. Justin Building at 100 Clay Street. The program will be “Our Own Action Heroes -” Nocona fire, police and EMTs.
Top photo – Smokey Bear visiting Bowie last week at summer reading.
Rachel and Roger Whitaker gave this metal storage container a fresh look with this colorful mural at the Bowie Animal Shelter. (Photo by Barbara Green)
Swim lessons for youngsters of all ages were conducted the past two weeks at the city pool. It was a good place to be during this summer heat. See more photos in the weekend News. (Photos by Barbara Green)
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint