COUNTY LIFE
Nocona cop pens book exploring how police duties, Christian faith merge
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The seeds of public service were planted within Matthew Poole at the tender age of 13 as he wrote letters to his father who was serving overseas in the U.S. Air Force.
He looked up to his father and public service was a prominent value within his family. As he grew up, Poole knew he wanted to continue that in some fashion whether it be in law enforcement or the military.
Matt and his twin brother, Andrew, used to joke as kids they would become “smoke jumpers.” Matt laughs he soon decided jumping out of plane into a fire was not for him.
After the pair graduated from Nocona High School, Matt decided to attend police academy and graduated in 2003. His brother Andrew went to firefighter training and EMT school before turning to law enforcement himself.
The brothers each protect different parts of Montague County as Matt is a captain in the Nocona Police Department and Andrew is the school resource officer for the Bowie Police Department.
“I got my first police commission in February 2004 and job in Nocona. After academy I worked as a jailer at the county jail because I was not yet 21 and could not carry a gun,” recalls Matt.
From 2006-09 he left the job to work at Pioneer Drilling during the shale boom, but returned to NPD where he serves as a captain. With 15 years of patrolling his hometown under his belt, Matt stepped off into a new venture this past year writing a book released in the fall. Its pages explore the often difficult and painful task of being a police officer and a Christian man. The new author hopes people may come to understand the fine line these public servants walk, a journey that can impact every aspect of their lives.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
There is no reason for anyone to spend Thanksgiving alone or go without a holiday meal as organizations in Bowie and Nocona hosts free community meals.
First Methodist Church of Bowie members will host the Bowie community Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is located at 1515 Jefferson.
Church members invite you to come as you are to share a meal in fellowship hall or call for delivery or carry-out.
Delivery orders will be taken until noon on Nov. 27. Call the church office at 940-872-3384. Calling to report pick-up meals is helpful, although not necessary. There is no charge for dinner.
There will be a free hot meal on Thanksgiving Day at First Baptist Church of Nocona from 10-11:30 a.m. The church is at 511 Cooke and the meal of traditional favorites will be served in fellowship hall.
Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on Nov. 25.
Members will consider an anti-fraud policy and adding it to the personnel policy. The annual liability renewal with the Texas Association of Counties Risk Pool will be reviewed.
Montague County officials will be enrolling in the TAC 2025 certified cybersecurity course required by the state for all employees who use county computers.
Other topics for Monday will include the bond for the county treasurer, review an account application with Schad & Pulte Welding Supply, Inc and consider raising the road hand clothing allowance from $500 to $1,000.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It was family night for the City of Bowie Fire Department as members gathered for the annual pre-Thanksgiving awards dinner this week.
Firefighter of the Year awards, service awards and officers and firefighters were pinned with their new badges.
Fire Chief Doug Page opened the evening with a remembrance of a fallen firefighter, James Dunham who died 25 years ago on Nov. 18. This Saint Jo firefighter was responding to a car accident at Forestburg and after he arrived suffered a heart attack. Page noted his daughter is auxiliary member Renee Hart.
Chad Long, member of the department for one year and one month received the Firefighter of the Year Award. Kelly Tomlin, nine-year member, was selected by the volunteers to receive the Roy Gene Williams Award.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo- New lieutenants Michael Burrows and Chad Gerlach received the oath from Mayor Gaylynn Burris. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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