COUNTY LIFE

Domestic Violence Awareness Month brings attention to widespread issue

Published

7 years ago

10/13/2018

“All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.” – Edward Burk

One in three women in Texas will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the Texas Council on Family Violence. October is the month for Domestic Violence Awareness as purple is displayed in hopes of bringing awareness to a far too common problem.

“People want to say it’s not my business and I am not going to get involved, but we have to stop that. If we want to see a change, everyone wants it to go away and it not be true, but we can’t stop it if it is not addressed,” said Ginger Johnson, Community Educator and Bilingual Advocate for Wise Hope.

The Wise Hope Crisis Center, located at 1123 Highway 59 North in Bowie, opened its doors in April to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Montague County.

“We hit the ground running. With a new office, I anticipated trying to get the word out to everyone that we were here, but that hasn’t been the case,” said Johnson. “It is very pleasing to me because living here in Bowie I knew there was a need. You just have to read the newspaper and talk to people to know it’s there.”

Wise Hope has served the Jack and Montague County areas in the past but advocates were only able to be in the area one day a week. A grant from the region out of Wichita Falls changed all that, allowing Wise Hope to place an office in both Jack and Montague counties, giving them the ability to better serve those communities.

Not only does it operate the two offices, but also the main Outreach Office in Decatur, a thrift store and a 15-bed shelter in Bridgeport. The shelter is not just for victims in Wise County, but for victims in all the communities, and if a victim needs to get to safety quickly, a cot can always be pulled out.

The dual agency helps not only domestic violence victims, but sexual assault victims as well. It operates a 24-hour crisis hotline at 940-626-4855. No appointment is necessary for immediate face-to-face crisis intervention and advocacy services.

Read the full story in the weekend News.

COUNTY LIFE

Jim Bowie Parade entries now being sought

Published

2 days ago

06/12/2025

bowienews

It’s time to start working on your entry for the 2025 Jim Bowie Days Parade.
The theme is “God Bless Texas.” The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on June 25. Entry forms are available at jimbowiedays.com.
There are four categories for the parade: Youth organization or sports team, civic organization or church, riding club and business.
Kids are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade, and those with antique cars, trucks or tractors should give them a shine. For cowgirls and cowboys bring your horses to town and ride them on the route.
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
Coming in the June 19 Bowie News see the full calendar of events program for Jim Bowie Days and plan all your family’s activities during this western week of fun.

COUNTY LIFE

Free Music in the Park Festival arrives Saturday

Published

2 days ago

06/12/2025

bowienews

The Music in the Park Festival organizers welcome guests to enjoy a day under the beautiful oaks of Pelham Park to hear an array of music on June 14 in Bowie.
This free music festival is hosted by the Bowie Community center and R&K Sound Company.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day.
Live acoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corben Wolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee), axe throwing and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Prior to the musical events there will be a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavilion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847. In case of rain the event will be moved into the center.

COUNTY LIFE

Nocona Library welcomes youngsters for summer fun

Published

2 days ago

06/12/2025

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Nocona Public Library is celebrating summer with lots of activities for kids.
On June 6 the Friends of the Library hosted a Rhyme Time story time. Marcia Williams read “Nothing Rhymes with Orange” by Adam Rex to the children. Lory Hunt helped the kids burn off some energy with a hopping rhyming activity.
Friends of the Library will be hosting its annual summer reading program in July. Check the Library Facebook page for details. Children can pick up reading logs at the library and start reading now.
The Library Advisory Board is having a new program this summer for children in grades 1-5. The Great Summer Adventure is at noon on Mondays in June and July.
Each adventure day begins with a story read by Lory Hunt and is always followed by a surprise. On June 9 the kids were surprised with Taylor Watson’s Petting Zoo. A blind cow named Helen, Pearl the white pony and a white goat named Bell all visited the library. The children had lots of fun petting the animals. Parents can sign children up for this program at the library.
Nocona Public Library is open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(top photo) The Taylor Watson Petting Zoo was a big hit at last week’s summer reading program at Nocona Public Library. (Courtesy photo)