NEWS
Volunteers far, near step up to help Bowie clean up
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Volunteers have converged on the storm-ravaged areas of Bowie this week helping the community clean-up and clearing debris so it can see the full extent of damage from the May 22 F1 tornado.
The hum of chainsaws and heavy equipment fills the southside neighborhoods while nearby in downtown debris removal and damage assessment continues as they all try to find a path forward.
City officials report power has been restored throughout the city’s storm area. Those who had their electric service torn directly out of their house and cannot afford to hire an electrician also are receiving assistance from city-hired electricians. Other communication companies also are busily working on restoring their services.
City Manager Bert Cunningham reported Friday morning all the streets that may have been blocked by debris have been cleared, however, there are still limbs along the curb which will be picked up. City and Texas Department of Transportation crews continue to collect and clear debris.
Vegetation will be accepted at the Bowie Business Park from 8 a..m. – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be closed Sunday.
All citizens across Bowie and the county who received any type of storm damage are encouraged to take part in the disaster survivor assistance survey.
As of Friday there were 358 damage reports submitted. Of those 72 were businesses and 286 were residence. There are 34 who report they cannot reside in their homes due to the damage.
Links are available on the city website at: cityofbowietx.com and the city Facebook page. This survey, which takes a brief five minutes to fill out, will be used as part of the damage assessment report the city will use when applying for disaster relief funding. It does not matter whether or not you have insurance, own or rent.
Volunteers
From the morning after the storm throughout the rest of this week, Bowie has been filled with local volunteers and many from out of town who traveled with organized groups.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The Bowie News office will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday, and Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
There is an early deadline of 4 p.m. on Dec. 27 for the Jan. 1 Bowie News for all news and ad items.
Your Jan. 1 edition will be delivered to the mail and racks one day earlier due to the New Year’s holiday. We hope you have a great Christmas week.
Your Bowie News staff wishes you the blessings of a wonderful Christmas as you enjoy time with family and friends. Our offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the holiday.
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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