COUNTY LIFE
Family finds leap of faith to aid Vietnamese children rewarding
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
How does a professional design engineer living what he calls the “comfortable, American life” uproot his family and spend the next 10 years of their lives creating a children’s relief organization in Communist Vietnam?
For Brent and Stacy Tarr it was a journey of faith. The couple says God leaned on their hearts and pointed them in the new direction ultimately creating and operating Tiny Hearts of Hope. The Tarrs were back home in Bowie during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays visiting family and friends, along with sharing their story.
Brent, 44, is a 1992 graduate of Gold-Burg High School, and Stacy
Brent is the son of Peggy Tarr, who lives in Bowie, while Stacy’s family is in Wichita Falls and Oklahoma. They met in 1991 and became high school sweethearts marrying in 1995.
Brent graduated from North Central Texas College in 1996 with an associate degree in drafting and design and an associate of science degree. An internship in engineer/research and development followed at Bowie Industries after graduation. He has worked periodically for the Bowie firm when he has been home for longer periods.
His first job came in 1997 with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group in Everett, WA. He worked as a draftsman and then moved to
What followed was a career in the auto design industry that took him to Portland, OR with Freightliner Heavy Trucks; Volvo Trucks North American in Greensboro, NC; Siegel-Robert, Inc. St. Louis, MO and Honda R&D Americas in Raymond, OH. During his tenure with
The Tarr family grew with the birth of their first child, Addison, now 19, who is attending Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Alec, their 17-year-old son a senior in high school followed. Stacy graduated from NCTC with a cosmetology degree and worked in the field until they had their first child, at which time she stayed at home and later
It was the couple’s love of children that pointed them to Vietnam. In 2006 they began the process of adopting a little girl from that country. The next two years would change
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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