COUNTY LIFE
Restoring the bloom to the Greer House, gardens
This beautiful iris popped up this spring in the Greer garden. The house is in the backdrop. (Courtesy photo)
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
For those who love gardening there is nothing better than sharing bulbs, cuttings or seeds with a friend. Seeing them bloom and color someone else’s world is a special feeling.
A local couple hopes to revitalize what for years was a local tradition, the Bowie Iris Garden Bulb Sale, at the home of the late Bobbie Inez Greer and her husband Arthur “Bot” Greer. Their gardens located around their home at 1111 Belcherville were a showcase of color each spring as irises of all varieties bloomed.
Inez tended the gardens with loving care shipping them all across the country and local folks also came to the sale searching for a new color for their gardens. Her iris gardens became her passion, but she also cultivated roses and lilies.
Courtney and TJay McEwen purchased the Greer house in January with plans to restore it, but they have become somewhat enamoured with the Greer’s history and place in the community. It led them to plan an Iris Garden Bulb Sale from noon to 7 p.m. on Aug. 3 at the garden.
When they bought the property, family members and people in the community began telling them stories about the couple. Courtney said the sale, which was known far and wide, is a way to honor Mrs. Greer’s memory and all she cultivated through the years.
Walking through the gardens which were grown up after years of neglect, one can see the small silver markers noting the variety. Many of the irises have grown together and have not bloomed, while others popped up this past spring and summer.
“They need to be thinned and separated, so they bloom. The ones we were able to identify when they came out have a photo and their name on the bag, but others are just a grab bag of miscellaneous. The first one that came up was Coffee Royale, which was maroon, eggplant and a light purple. I have never seen irises like this,” explained Courtney.
Read the full feature in the mid-week 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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