COUNTY LIFE
Education, shooting: Couple combines their passions to assist others

By DANI BLACKBURN
Michael Higgins and his wife, Melinda Branchini, of Forestburg found a way to ingeniously unite their two passions — education and shooting — in a way that gives back others when they created the Higgins Branchini Shooting Foundation.
The HBSF is a national charitable organization providing funds to collegiate students competing in clay target shooting sports.
“We don’t have any children and we wanted to give back,” explained Branchini. “I’m interested in academics and my husband is interested in shooting, so we blended the two.”
HBSF is possibly the only organization of its kind giving grants to individual collegiate shooters rather than groups and teams. Since its creation, the organization has given $120,000 to students at 42 different universities in 22 different states from California to Connecticut.
Higgins began shooting at nine-years-old with rifles, before trying a shotgun with moving targets. He eventually grew tired of clay targets and discovered Helice in the early ‘90s. He was hooked.
“I thought moving targets were more fun than stationary, and I’m a capitalist at heart and realized I could compete and make money. I mostly paid for college doing that, I went to the Olympic stuff, I didn’t make the team, but got close,” recalled Higgins.
Read the full feature in the mid-week News.
COUNTY LIFE
JBD Bass Tournament postponed

Due to high lake levels at Lake Amon G. Carter, the Jim Bowie Days Association organizers announced Friday the tournament has been postponed and a new date will be named soon.
COUNTY LIFE
AgriLife Extension hosting preserving the harvest workshop

Texas AgriLife Extension will host a July workshop on July 26, Preserving the Harvest, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County, 300 W. Nelson.
This four-part series will teach and review the food preservation processes including water bathing, pickling, dehydrating and pressure canning. This program will have both education and hands-on activities with take-home practice.
Seating is limited so call the extension office to register at 894-4831.
COUNTY LIFE
Cantwell to lead Pioneer Court

The 2025 Pioneer Court will be led by Joan Cantwell as the pioneer queen, with Duchesses Bill Ann Jones and Sue Swint.
A coronation of the court will be at 2:30 p.m. on June 27 at the Bowie Community Center. The public is invited to attend the crowning followed by a reception hosted by the Amity Club of Bowie.
Meet the ladies of the Pioneer Court in the Thursday Bowie News. Coming next week the young ladies competing for Miss Jim Bowie Days and Little Miss.
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