COUNTY LIFE
County sheriff’s team running fully staff
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
For the first time in more than a year, the Montague County Sheriff’s office is operating at full strength with a complete slate of budgeted officers, which makes Sheriff Marshall Thomas breathe a sigh of relief as they move forward with other issues to modernize the office.
Filling all the jobs in a law enforcement department has been an ongoing battle for police and sheriff’s offices across the state and nation. A lack of applicants has always been a problem for all small agencies as they struggle to compete with higher wages and benefits offered in neighboring larger counties.
The sheriff also has high standards for his officers and he looks for “the right fit,” for his team. Thomas emphasizes while he does not begrudge an officer wanting to advance his career, he knows a smaller office is a place where you can gain a lot of different experiences.
“It is great to find local guys to work for you because if they have their home in the county you are taking care of your people. They also tend to be loyal and that helps retain them,” said the sheriff.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint