COUNTY LIFE
Forestburg seaman killed at Pearl Harbor finally coming home to rest

James C. Solomon, Navy Seaman 1st class
By BARBARA GREEN
Seventy-seven years after his death aboard the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor, Navy Seaman 1st Class James C. Solomon, Montague County’s first casualty from World War II will finally be laid to rest in his hometown of Forestburg.
A funeral service for the seaman, including full military honors, will take place at 11 a.m. July 14 in Perryman Cemetery at Forestburg.
Solomon was originally interred in Hawaii where service members who could not be identified were buried as “unknowns.” He was officially accounted for on Sept. 26, 2017 following extensive testing based on DNA evidence.
On Dec. 7, 1941 Solomon was serving on the battleship USS Oklahoma, moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The American fleet along Battleship Row was decimated in the surprise attack.
The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo attacks as the Japanese used dive bombers, fighter bombers and torpedo planes to sink nine ships including five battleships and severely damage 21 ships. There were 2,402 U.S. deaths from that attack and 429 were from the USS Oklahoma battleship.
While the crew attempted to fight back, during the first 10 minutes of the battle, eight torpedoes hit the ship and she began to capsize. A ninth torpedo would hit her as she sunk in the mud.
Meet this Forestburg High School graduate who left home to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps and later went into the Navy to serve his country one year before Pearl Harbor in your mid-week News.
COUNTY LIFE
Virtual meeting to address New World screwworm
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Montague County is inviting livestock producers, landowners and wildlife managers to participate in an upcoming online educational meeting focused on the New World screwworm, a parasitic pest that can have serious impacts on livestock and wildlife health.
The virtual meeting will be at 9 a.m. on June 23, via Microsoft Teams. Organizers say the session is designed to provide timely information about the biology of the pest, prevention strategies and best management practices for producers in the region.
The New World screwworm is known for its destructive larvae, which infests open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Left untreated, infestations can cause severe tissue damage and even death. Although the pest had been eradicated from the United States in the past and has now entered into Texas. Continued awareness and preparedness remain important for early detection and rapid response efforts.
“This program is intended to help producers and land managers better understand the threat and what steps to take if cases are suspected,” said Justin Hansard, from the Extension Service.
The meeting will cover several key topics, including, how the New World screwworm spreads; general livestock management practices; wildlife monitoring and surveillance considerations, participants will also have the opportunity to learn practical strategies for maintaining herd health.
How to Join the Meeting
The session will be conducted entirely online using Microsoft Teams, and participants can join in one of two ways by joining the directed link (recommended) or by copying and pasting the following link into a web browser and follow the prompts:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/275071149431328?p=mOH2bhAqSVgo3AgtMK
Join using Meeting ID and Passcode:
- Meeting ID: 275 071 149 431 328
- Passcode: u84hq3qX
Participants may join from a computer, tablet or smartphone. No Microsoft Teams account is required; users can select the option to join through a web browser. Attendees are encouraged to log in a few minutes early to ensure their device audio and video are working properly.
More information and fact sheets, can be obtained at our Texas A&M Agrilife Extension website: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/new-world-screwworm.
The program is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which continues to provide research-based education and outreach to agricultural communities across Texas.
COUNTY LIFE
Water supply corp. board to meet
The Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on June 23 at the office located at 607A Lindsey in Bowie.
Public comments and consent agenda open the meeting.
Discussions will include: Review of member notification of rate increase postcards and PUC letter regarding the increase; president’s report on employee unsigned contracts of employment; review of all expenses and update of scanners for meter reading, office systems and software.
An executive session is slated for a discussion of employees, followed by a return to open session for any action.
COUNTY LIFE
Montague Commissioners meet on June 22
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on June 22.
The agenda includes: Montague County Historical Commission to receive a distinguished service award; discuss returning unused funds to the state from the county attorney, district attorney and sheriff’s office; open sealed bids for base rock and budget workshop.
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