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.
Young ladies interested in competing for Miss Jim Bowie Days 2024 are invited to attend a mandatory pre-contest meeting at 4 p.m. May 18 at the Bowie Rodeo Arena (highway side).
This annual contest is open to girls ages 14-21 for Miss Jim Bowie and those 13 and under for Little Miss. An application and contestant photo will be due at that time. There is an application fee of $50 and a sponsorship fee of $100 (name of sponsor will be placed on their sash).
The Miss JBD contest will be on June 28 with horsemanship at 8 a.m. at the arena. A brunch will follow and time will be allotted to change clothes.
Contestants also will be required to ride Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the grand entry and rodeo; Saturday morning parade at 10:30 a.m. and attend every festivity during the festival.
Queen prizes will be a saddle certificate from Teskey’s, a $500 college scholarship, clothing allowance and more. Little Miss prizes include a saddle certificate from Teskey’s, clothing allowance and more.
For application forms or those with questions may call Rilla Brock, 817-228-6914 or Shalee Rater at 254-979-5780.
With a wet April already in full swing and more storms expected in the coming months, the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District staff is here to provide tips and tricks on creating your very own rainwater harvesting system.
Nearby counties received between 24-28 inches of rain last year, and just a fraction caught from roofs and barns can sustain landscaping, livestock, or family homes.
Rainwater harvesting helps alleviate stress on local groundwater systems, preserves streets and roadways, and can even slash your monthly utility bill. View our recommendations below and consider a harvesting system today.
The district recently named the five finalists for the 2024 grant program for rainwater harvesting system.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
May 8 is the deadline to honor your graduate in the 2024 Keepsake Graduation section. It is the only section where you will see senior photos of every high school in Montague County and Bellevue.
If you want to honor your graduate with a special ad call 872-2247 or print a copy of the submission form at bowienewsonline.com. The section will publish on May 22.
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