In honor of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson reminds Texans there is still time to register to voter ahead of the November General Election. 

“Texans have just a few short weeks left to register to vote, and I want to ensure all eligible Texans who want to make their voices heard are registered and prepared to do so,” Secretary Nelson said.

Eligible Texans are encouraged to make a plan for voting. Directions on how to register to vote and how to update existing voter registrations can be found at VoteTexas.gov. Texas voters must be registered to vote at least 30 days before an upcoming election date, and voters do not have to declare a party affiliation when registering. Registered voters can check their status on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal website. 

To be eligible to vote, you must be: 

· A United States citizen 

· A resident of the county where you register 

· At least 18 years old on Election Day 

Important dates to remember this election season include: 

· Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote 

· Oct. 21: Early voting begins 

· Oct. 25: Last day to apply for ballot by mail

· Nov. 1: Early voting ends 

· Nov. 5: Election Day 

For official information, including registration and vote-by-mail deadlines, please visit VoteTexas.gov or call 1-800-252-VOTE. 

By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Just when everyone thought there was light at the end of the tunnel on the Nelson Street drainage project, City Manager Bert Cunningham said new problems arose last week and the contractor also asked for the rain days reportedly owed per the contract.
In the works for almost a year and closing a major thoroughfare at the same time, the city council was updated at its Monday night meeting. The city manager said it was found the culverts that run from Houston Street to the drop box at Mill and Nelson and from the drop box to the bridge culverts have come loose and must be repaired before any more work can be done at the intersection.
Also, the drop box does not have the correct elevation so water will not enter the drop box under normal rainfall circumstances. Cunningham said problems with the drop box continue to be a sore point after previous questions on incorrect soil compaction that also caused delays.
“The project will not be finished until the contractor gets everything fixed at the box and concrete is poured at the intersection. There are other items that need to be addressed, but the drop box is our main concern,” said the manager.

Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.

Pictured above: Concrete pour on Nelson Street back in July. Courtesy photo

By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A little more than a dozen people attended the public meeting Wednesday night to review sidewalk replacement plans for a one-block section of Smythe Street.
This project is funded through a Downtown Revitalization grant of $450,000 and a 15% match of $67,000 from the City of Bowie.
Lisette Howard of Public Management and Brandon Dusenberry, design engineer with Hayter Engineering, reviewed the project that will replace the west sidewalk on Smythe from Wise to Montague Street.
In addition to the sidewalk there will be new curbing and some brick repair, including some section on Smythe at Tarrant, which have been damaged. There also will be a few new lights, a hydrant will be moved and a “ramp to nowhere” on the opposite side of the street will be torn out and smoothed out to a sidewalk.
City Manager Bert Cunningham said there also are a few places where the brick has been damaged by trash trucks, and those will be replaced with concrete because the brick cannot hold up to the weight.

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

(Top photo) Lisette Howard of Public Management points out some specifics on the Smythe Street sidewalk replacement project at Wednesday’s public meeting. (News photo by Barbara Green)