NEWS
Blaze burns across attic-roof of Bowie home
Bowie firefighters battled a large house fire at the corner of Rock and Wise Saturday afternoon where the attic blaze essentially burned the roof off of the home.
The fire call came in at 4:54 p.m. on May 2 for a fire at 201 Rock. The home is owned by William Murray III. Fire Chief Doug Page said when they arrived there was heavy smoke coming from the attic.
“The residents were home when the fire started and someone knocked on the door telling them about the heavy smoke and they needed to leave,” said Page.
As of Monday the cause of the fire was still undetermined.
The fire spread across the top of the house. The chief said there was no fire damage inside although there was significant water damage.
Traffic was diverted as the fire trucks filled that section of Wise Street. Page added it was a very hot and humid day creating steamy conditions for the firefighters.
A young neighbor from around the corner who followed the smoke tried to assist the family. Gracie Vahle, 13, and her mother, Elizabeth, live with her parents one block over at 702 E. Tarrant. Gracie is an eighth grader at Bowie Junior High.
Belinda Vahle, Gracie’s grandmother was outside mowing when she saw the neighborhood filling up with smoke. She called Gracie and told her to get out of the house uncertain of the fire’s location.
Going out into the backyard Gracie saw the fire and when she got to the scene the residents had just come outside, but they were trying to get items they needed from inside. The family had been able to assist their 93-year-old mother out of the house.
“I tried to help them with what I could. They were worried about their photos. The firefighters were able to get some of their photos. I told them everything would be okay,” said Gracie.
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Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
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