NEWS
Attorneys discuss county possibly joining national opioid suit
By BARBARA GREEN
Montague County was asked to consider joining in a nationwide consolidated lawsuit against opioid drug manufacturers and distributors or pursue its own lawsuit within the state during Monday’s commissioner’s court meeting.
Members of the court heard from two law firms pursuing these suits in response to the nationwide opioid addition crisis sweeping the nation. No action was taken by the court in possible participation in a lawsuit.
Opioid drugs are primarily used for pain management and originally were carefully prescribed to cancer patients and in hospice care. However, in the last decade they have been prescribe more commonly for other types of pain management such as following surgery.
U.S. deaths from drug overdoses skyrocketed 21 percent last year. According to the Center for Disease Control two-thirds of last year’s drug deaths, bout 42,000, involved opioids, a category that includes heroin, methadone, prescription pain pills like OxyContin and fentanyl.
Fatal overdoses that involved fentanyl and fentanyl-like drugs doubled in one year to more than 190,000 mostly from illegally-made pills or powder, which is often mixed with heroin or other drugs.
Heroin was tied to 15,500 deaths and prescription painkills to 14,500 deaths. The CDC reports the balance of the overdose deaths involved sedatives, cocaine and methamphetamines. More than one drug is often involved in an overdose death.
Two attorneys made presentations from two separate firms. Matthew Vinson spoke for Ferrer, Poirot, Wansbrough of Dallas explaining the firm is involved with litigation against the producers of these powerful pain meds. Both firms operate on a contingency basis fronting all costs until a settlement is attained.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
NEWS
May 4 ISD bond election results
Bowie ISD –
For – 477
Against – 1308
Forestburg ISD
Prop A – For 98, against 59
Prop A – For 86, against 72
All results preliminary until formally canvassed
NEWS
Gold-Burg High one-act prepares for public show on Sunday
The cast and crew of Gold-Burg High School’s state-bound one-act play “Interview,” will present a public show at 4 p.m. on May 5 in the Bowie Junior High Auditorium.
Admission is $5 and there will be a bake sale to raise funds for travel and other OAP expenses. The show is directed by Linda Fitzner.
The group will travel to Austin to perform on May 13 for the state title. This is the school’s first time to take a play to the state contest.
Pictured above: Cast of “Interview” in rehearsal this week. (Courtesy photo)
NEWS
Voters decide today on two ISD bonds
Voters in Bowie and Forestburg Independent School Districts will have their say Saturday as both entities offer up bond issues to improve infrastructure.
Early voting came to an end on Tuesday with a total of 1,230 people casting their ballots.
On election day the polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at three locations: Bowie Senior Citizens Center, Forestburg ISD Library and Sunset City Hall. Voters can cast their ballots at any of these locations due to countywide voting.
Read more about both bond proposals in your weekend Bowie News.
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