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Energy appraisers review wind farms value impact

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Clay County Judge Kenneth Liggett and several members of the commissioner’s court attended the Tuesday meeting that featured (standing) John Rutledge, assistant district manager with Pritchard & Abbott, valuation consultants. (News photo by Dani Blackburn)

By DANI BLACKBURN
As wind farm developers consider Montague County for potential sites, officials from several counties gathered in the courthouse annex Tuesday for a presentation by Pritchard & Abbott in an attempt to further understand the business and its impact on property values.
Officials attending included six Montague County school district superintendents, the full county commissioner’s court, Clay County Judge Kenneth Liggett, several Clay County commissioners, visitors from Baylor and Seymour Counties, and school board members from Bowie and Forestburg.
“Most of us are dependent on energy in our tax bases. I know I’m brand new in this business, as are a couple others of us, and recently with the interest in the wind farms coming in people ask questions I can’t answer. I thought it was in our best interest to sit down and try to learn as much of this stuff as we possibly can,” explained Montague County Judge Rick Lewis.

Read the full story on valuations for wind farms in the weekend News.

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BISD superintendent annual evaluation, contract set for agenda

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Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.

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As heat rises, take precautions to be safe

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Six county fire departments earn forest service grants

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Six Montague County volunteer fire department have received grants from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.
Nocona Hills Volunteer Fire Department received a $300,000 grant for a water tender vehicle. Montague and Sunset VFDs each received $45,000 for a slip-on unit, and the Nocona rural, Nocona city and Saint Jo VFDs each received $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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