COUNTY LIFE
Crayon upcycle project earns state, international honors
Team RABBITS, Reusing Articles Bringing Better Imaginations Toward Success, a group of Bowie Intermediate students, recently competed in the Junior Division of Texas Future Problem Solvers – Community Problem Solving Component.
Team RABBITS won champion at large, junior division, which qualifies them to showcase their project and receive medals at the State Bowl in San Marcos on April 12-14 with the possibility of advancing to International Conference in Amherst, MA in June.
While touring their own campus, students decided on an area of concern, developed a plan of action and implemented the plan.
Students focused on art supply waste, primarily crayons. Students researched crayon waste and repurposing, learning that it takes more than 100 years for a crayon to decompose in a landfill.
These students decided they could make a difference and took action. Crayon recycle bins were made and distributed around town.
Team RABBITS collected more than 56 pounds of crayons to upcycle. One pound of crayons is about 112 crayons.
Students developed a process for melting, molding and reforming those crayons to make stress relief packets containing the new crayons and a mini coloring book to distribute to areas of need in the community.
The packets were delivered to The Bowie Police Department, The Bowie Fire Department, Helen Farabee Center, Central Hospital of Bowie and the Bowie Public Library.
Team RABBITS extended their project to create fun-shaped crayons with silicone molds for children.
In addition to identifying a need and developing the solution, the team submitted documentation in a six-page paper, a scrapbook and a six-page addendum for the competition. The team learned it qualified for the international conference in Massachusetts. The district will support the trip but additional fund raising is planned.
Bob Blackburn has fondly been called “Officer Bob,” for many years and it is a moniker he is happy to carry, spending more than 30 years working with the schools through local law enforcement.
Officer Bob has a heart for service he has shared through a total of 34 years in law enforcement, a lengthy career that comes to an end Oct. 30 as he retires after 25 years with the Bowie Police Department. He will continue as a reserve with the BPD and also wants to substitute teach.
“It’s time. I want to enjoy my kids and grandchildren, picking them up at school and going to games. I have loved working here and there has been an honest effort to get me not to retire, but I am in a good spot,” explains Blackburn one week from retirement.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
(Top photo – Bob Blackburn hugs Mayor Gaylynn Burris as he receives a Bowie Knife plaque at his retirement party Oct. 30.)
The Bowie City Council approved a $950,000 project to improve the walking path at Pelham Park on Oct. 27.
Bowie Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Janis Crawley said the upcoming project will repave 26,277 square feet of pathway in concrete, spanning about 0.6 miles in length.
The work covers the trail section northeast of the Blade, curving past the soccer fields and toward the swimming pool.
Another section goes around the pool and sport courts, then back down toward the Blade. The project will also widen the trail section to eight feet and add a new 36-foot bridge.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
Bowie High School will honor veterans at 8:45 a.m. on Nov. 11 in the high school gym. Staff and students invite area veterans to join them for a veteran’s breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by a ceremony where each veteran will be recognized for their service to the country.
Veterans are asked to register at: https://bit.ly/VeteransDay2026RSVP.
The staff of the Montague County Veteran’s Service office is partnering with the American Legion Post 220 for its Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the post home at 801 W. U.S. 82. Veterans and their families are invited to join a complimentary lunch.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS4 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS4 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death