COUNTY LIFE

Nocona cop pens book exploring how police duties, Christian faith merge

Published

6 years ago

01/18/2020

Capt. Matt Poole holds his first book, “Salt & Light Being The Hands and Feet of Christ,” released in late 2019.

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
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.

COUNTY LIFE

Saint Jo City Council to meet June 17

Published

5 days ago

06/12/2026

bowienews

Members of the Saint Jo City Council will meet in regular session beginning at 6 p.m. on June 17 in the Saint Jo Civic Center.
Items on the agenda include the following: Public comments, discuss and approve the proposed 2026-2027 budget of the Montague County Tax Appraisal District; call the 2026 municipal election; consider resolution to apply for grants for water infrastructure through Corlett, Probst, Boyd; review minutes and monthly financials and reports from committee and department heads.

COUNTY LIFE

STEM club builds, launches rockets

Published

6 days ago

06/11/2026

bowienews

Members of the Montague 4-H STEM Club shot off basic rockets as they were sent skyward on May 30. Each youngster had packed their own rocket, went through safety meetings and then set up their rocket for lift-off. Club Coordinators Tammie and Pete Rohde made sure all the safety protocols were followed by all the youngsters saw their rocket fly skyward before they ran to retrieve them to pack for a second go. See more photos in Thursday’s Bowie News. (News photo by Barbara Green)

Elliot Woodworth, Pete Rohde and August Woodworth repack the basic rockets for a second launch. The rocket program was initiated by Izzabella Rohde, the couple’s grandaughter and president of the STEM Club. She has attended space camp in Huntsville, AL and shared her interest in rocketry with her fellow STEM Club members. They will move on to more complex rockets where they cut and install fins, along with bigger engines to go highers and possibly carry a payload.
(News photo by Barbara Green)

COUNTY LIFE

Bellevue Ex-Student’s annual reunion on June 13

Published

7 days ago

06/11/2026

bowienews

The Bellevue Ex-Student’s annual reunion will be on June 13 at the high school gym.
Events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts after registration. Visitation will continued until the scheduled events of the day.
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. by the FFA Alumni at a cost of $15, The reunion is the school gym which is currently receiving a make-over.
The Wall of Honor ceremonies will introduce and place this year’s new inductees on the wall. Other activities including door prizes, drawings and auction of several items including two baseball gloves and other memorabilia, adding to a fun-filled day.
Association members will conduct a short business meeting and recipients of the Ex-Student scholarships for 2026 will be recognized. Empty desks and class roll attendees also will be acknowledged.
All persons who have ever attended Bellevue high School and their families are invited to attend. All funds raised will go to the scholarship awarded in 2027 for Bellevue seniors.