COUNTY LIFE
Virus hits retail, service industries hard; business future unknown
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the United States has lead to the shutdown of businesses, schools and entire communities who have been ordered to “shelter in place.”
While many offices had altered their hours and operations more than two weeks ago, Thursday’s closure of restaurants for dining in, gyms and other similar businesses has put a massive financial burden on the owners, employees and the communities.
Within Bowie the business development entities are doing all they can to assist and encourage small and large businesses to keep calm and carry on. In local media the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, Bowie Chamber of Commerce and Bowie Community Development Board put together a list of food businesses that would continue or institute drive-through, call-ahead or delivery services. That list of firms has since been shared across social media outlets.
Janis Crawley, executive director for the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, said all three offices are pulling together to help local firms “think outside the box,” to keep their business viable during this pandemic.
“We have sent out resources about small business loans and programs, along with other resources that could assist them. We have not had a board meeting yet, so we have no formal plan in place right now, we just want to keep people informed on what the state and federal government is doing,” said Crawley.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News. See how large manufacturers are developing strategies to cope with the crisis.
Make plans to come out and honor Bowie High School state tennis champions Heidi and Willow Siebert on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the Nocona City Council will meet for a regular meeting at 5 p.m. on May 12 in council chambers.
A public hearing on an ordinance annexing adjacent and contiguous territory to the city will be offered. This relates to two small tracts of land at the front and back of the Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum property. It does not involve providing any services, but clarifies the property in the museum’s tract. Any action would follow in the regular agenda.
Mayor and council reports on items of community interest follow along with public comments.
Items slated for the agenda include the following: Discuss bid to mow and weed-eat the Nocona Cemetery; discuss bids to furnish a 180,000-200,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water; three requests from the Nocona Economic Development Corporation – Type A and B boards funding a grant for signage at the American Legion at $2,300, both boards fund a grant for Tales ‘N’ Trails to enclose the east win of the barn for $18,000 and both boards to grant the Chisholm Trail Art Association $2,000 to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
Other council topics will be consider repair of the water found at Enid Justin City Park; discuss public nuisance code violations; hear request from David Yowell to purchase water for the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss appraised value, setting price and conditions for sealed bids on 19.5 acres of city-owned land adjacent to the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss slide on upstream water side of dam and discuss changes to rental agreement for H.J. Justin Community Room.
The majority of these items will be considered for action during the regular agenda following the workshop agenda.
Present for the Bowie Community Development proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9 made by Mayor Gaylynn Burris were volunteers and staff: Matthew Hunt, Cindy Roller, Brittany Barnes, Sylvia Henning, Mildred McCraw, and Joe Barnhill. Community Development focus is on beautification and tourism for the City of Bowie. The group focuses on tourism through its many festival and events, welcoming people to the community. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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