COUNTY LIFE
By BARBARA GREEN
Small town Texas may seem a far cry from small town France, but exchange student Maximillan Lenglet has found his niche in Nocona playing basketball, running track, fishing and all things Texan.
“Max” is attending Nocona High School and will finish out his year with his second host family. He began last August coming to live with Tammy and Steve Skinner in Nocona.
About three months later he moved in with the Tommy and Suzanne Storey Yowell family. There were plans for a third family, but that has changed and he will finish the year with the Yowells and also spend some time with the Skinners.
Lenglet hails from Lucheux, a town of just under 600 population in the northern France region of Picardie. His small town is a little more than 100 miles from the coastal cities of Calais and Dunkirk.
His parents are Stephane Lenglet and Virginiè, who both work in education. His mom is a history and geography professor, while his dad works in economics at the university. The teen is the middle of three boys. His oldest brother Clement is studying math and economics at college, and his younger brother Armand is a student.
Lenglet says he began thinking about becoming an exchange student when a friend returned from New Zealand and shared his experiences.
“I was very interested in learning a new language and a new culture, so I decided to do it. I didn’t know where, but I always liked America and wanted to come here and spend time,” he explains.
In considering locations, America was his first choice followed by New Zealand and Australia. When he was accepted for the program he first went to Florida, however, another change sent him to Texas.
His first thought about his future home, “Very, very happy.”
Read the full feature in the weekend News.
The Nocona City Council gave its budget proposal a final once-over before setting a public hearing for it and the proposed tax rate for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m.
Council members also heard from Blake McNew who is against the recently approved fee and registration process for golf carts and related vehicles.
Last month the council approved an ordinance that set forth registration requirements for these vehicles with a $50 registration fee. After several close calls and complaints from downtown business people and citizens on near misses with ATVs and golf carts driving unsafely downtown the council took the step to add the ordinance.
City Secretary Revell Hardison said after some discussion the council asked for it to be back on next month’s agenda with possible consideration for repealing the fee. After some research she added a person can go through the state to obtain a license plate for these vehicles and the local sticker would not be needed.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The staff of Texas Education Agency on Aug. 14 announced the release of 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public school systems and campuses across the state.
Almost all of the school districts in the county saw their district ratings increase or remain consistent, along with some of their campuses.
There were 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses rated in 2026. Some 24% of both districts and campuses increased in rating compared to 2025.
Read the full story and see all the county ratings in your Thursday Bowie News.
2026 state accountability ratings
Bowie Independent School District – B, 80 of 100 points
Elementary/intermediate – C, 74
Junior high – B, 84
High school – B, 86
Bellevue ISD – A, 92
Forestburg ISD – B, 82
Gold-Burg ISD – C, 76
Montague ISD – A, 93
Nocona ISD – B, 86
Elementary – B, 80
Middle school – C, 79
High school – A, 94
Prairie Valley ISD – B, 88
Saint Jo ISD – B, 82
Elementary – D, 66
High school – A, 92
Friends of the Bowie Animal Shelter will host the annual Clear the Shelter event from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22.
The shelter is located at 1508 E. Wise. While this is a nationwide effort to recognize the work of animal shelters, their staff and volunteers, this also is a chance to support their efforts by attending the bake sale, silent auction and food vendors.
Adoptable dogs from the Bowie shelter as well as Easy Street Shelter of Saint Jo, Lucky Paws in Nocona and McCares of Montague will be present.
If your family is considering adopting a pet this would be a great time to visit with the animals and meet the volunteers who can tell you a bit about the animals. Prospective volunteers also are welcome, so ask your questions.
Staff from Cross Timbers Vet will be giving reduced price vaccinations.
There will be a prize drawing at noon for a bounce house and a Turtle Box speaker. Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win either prize. Drawing at noon.
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