NEWS
City of Bowie sees massive damage from Friday night’s storm believed to be tornado
Shortly after 8 p.m. Friday night a storm believed to be a tornado, swept through Bowie causing massive damage through downtown and in the south side of town.
Emergency responders from all over the county converged on the Bowie to help rescue people who were pinned in their home from collapsed roofs or where trees had fallen into their homes. Power was out across the city and while it came up for parts of the city around 4 a.m. it was out again after 6 a.m.
Bowie Police Chief Guy Green said Saturday morning as far as they know there have been no major injuries or fatalities. Citizens are urged to check in with friends and family to make sure they are safe and accounted for.
City officials were already meeting with state emergency management officials early Saturday to initiate a response.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris said early estimates show at least 50 businesses damaged and at least that many houses. She expects that number to escalate.
Here are are some preliminary basics:
National Weather Service personnel were expected Saturday to examine the storm damage and make a determination if it actually was a tornado.
The Texas Department of Emergency Management is in the city helping coordinate activities. They are sending instant management teams who will help coordinate things like removing debris.
Bryan Texas Utilities is sending six crews to assist electric crews to restore power. The initial estimate has about 400 power poles damaged. People on the south side of town are not expected to have power within the next 48 hours at least due to the damage.
Debris – Citizens are asked to place there debris such as tree limbs at the curbside near the street and they will be collected.
Lake Amon Carter is closed. The lake is at 926.04, more than six feet above full level.
A press conference is planned for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The City of Nocona has been nominated as a rural Opportunity Zone by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor Christopher Nunneley said they will begin “pitching” this federal tax angle to potential businesses.”
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference Nunneley, Donna Culpepper, executive director for the Nocona Economic Development Corporation and Michelle Page of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce announced the nomination and offered a brief overview of the federal tax incentives that can become available.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Remember Sept. 11 2001, 25 years later
While history will remember Sept. 11, 2001 among the darkest days in America’s history, it also is a day marked not only by tremendous heroism and bravery by first responders, but also every day Americans from all walks of life who showed the world our country would not be intimidated by terrorism.
There were 2,996 people killed during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York city police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. Tens of thousands more suffered in the aftermath due to exposure to chemicals and industrial debris.
The Bowie News editor asked some local lawmen, firefighters, a pilot and two retired FBI agents their memories of this tragic day and how their jobs were impacted by the events. We thank them for sharing their reflections.
Read the full feature in your Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Looking toward the future, the Bowie City Council Tuesday night voted to add an assistant city manager position promoting Public Works Director Stony Lowrance to the job.
The agenda listed an executive session to discuss evaluation of the city manager. Councilors went to closed session at 6:30 p.m. and 15 minutes later asked City Manager Bert Cunningham and Lowrance to come in. After 15 minutes they left the session and a few minutes later the full council came back to open session.
Councilor Brent Shaw, in making the motion for the assistant city manager, pointed to expanded duties the manager has undertaken. Councilor Boyd Hulstine made the second as the vote received unanimous approval.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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