Nocona is saddling up for the 73rd annual Chisholm Trail Rodeo May 9-10 at the rodeo grounds in Nocona.
The rodeo will be nightly at 7:30 p.m. with a parade on Saturday at 3 p.m. Rodeo gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance.
Along with the traditional rodeo events including bareback riding, saddle bronc, ranch bronc, bulls, ladies barrels, tie-down roping, ladies breakaway roping, steer wrestlers and team roping, there will be a calf scramble nightly for ages 8 and under and 9-12. Winners receive buckles. Friday night there will be an FFA calf scramble benefiting participating FFA chapters.
Mutton bustin’ will be conducted for those age eight and under at 7 p.m. nightly. The top five are back to performance. Enter onsite by 6:30 p.m. each night. Entry fee is $20 with buckles to the winners.

Read the full story and meet the rodeo queen and princess candidates in the Thursday Bowie News.

The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 12.
A brief agenda of business awaits the court in its regular session.
The court will consider approving the Law Enforcement Support Office application.
Consider applying to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a scrap tire facility permit.
Discuss precinct one removing excess dirt and debris from bar ditches and giving it to Gary Brewer, Rickey Joyce and David Steadham.

For the children of Tia Hutson a guilty verdict for the man who killed their mother is a complicated feeling, but it has restored their faith in the legal system as they try to move forward.
On May 1, after almost two weeks of testimony, a jury returned a verdict of guilty on Gregory Bell in the beating death of Tia Hutson. It only took 25 minutes for the jury of eight men and four women, to return a maximum term of life in prison and fine of $10,000.
The 58-year-old Bell handed over his sentencing to the jury if he was convicted. Assistant District Attorney Paige McCormick urged the jury to show Bell how they feel about what he did and sentence him to life.
The trial lasted one day shy of two weeks as the jury went out to deliberate May 1. Bell was charged with the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, Saint Jo.
His former girlfriend, Hutson was found beaten and raped inside her home on Aug 5, 2022. Six days later she died from her injuries never regaining consciousness. Bell was accused of using a large flashlight to beat her.
It has been almost three years since Trevor Riley and his sister Kami Taylor lost their mother Tia Hutson. They remained fearful for their family as no arrest was made for 15 months. Then after the arrest the time ticked away until the trial.
Both of them testified in the trial and sat through it day after day waiting for a verdict. Riley says they really didn’t have a choice but to take it day by day, adding the new team at the district attorney’s office was very accommodating and understanding, and their support made it easier.
“Our family would like to express our gratitude to the people that helped us find justice. Their compassion and professionalism was an indescribable comfort in our time of need,” explained Riley.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.