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.

NEWS
Amon Carter Lake Board to meet
Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.
NEWS
Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal
The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.
Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.
NEWS
City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair
The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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