COUNTY LIFE
Montague County election officials feels confident about mail-in voting
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
With all the election pandering surrounding mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election, Montague County Elections Administrators Ginger Wall said she feels confident they will be able to process the ballots in a timely fashion; however, she encourages those planning to apply to do so as soon as possible before the Oct. 23 deadline.
As many states still battle high COVID-19 infection rates, citizens wonder if they can safely go to the polls and vote in November. In turn, if they vote by mail, will their ballots arrive in time if there are slowdowns in the post office?
Before the pandemic struck in March within the United States only five states – Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington – conducted their elections using a vote-by-mail system. Though all states allow voters to vote by mail in certain circumstances, before the pandemic, 16 states required voters to provide reasons for their preferences before the application was approved.
All voters in at least 43 states will be able to vote by mail in the November elections as absentee voting was expanded for safety reasons during the pandemic. Some 34 states had absentee voting prior to the pandemic, allowing any voters to vote by mail without requiring an excuse. An additional nine states have either dropped the excuse requirement or added concerns about COVID-19 to be a valid reason.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton informed county election officials in June fear of contracting COVID-19 is not a valid disability for the purposes of receiving a ballot by mail.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News. Also read a story about the history of voting in America that began with a voice vote at the courthouse and now often uses a digital tablet.
It’s time to start working on your entry for the 2025 Jim Bowie Days Parade.
The theme is “God Bless Texas.” The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on June 25. Entry forms are available at jimbowiedays.com.
There are four categories for the parade: Youth organization or sports team, civic organization or church, riding club and business.
Kids are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade, and those with antique cars, trucks or tractors should give them a shine. For cowgirls and cowboys bring your horses to town and ride them on the route.
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
Coming in the June 19 Bowie News see the full calendar of events program for Jim Bowie Days and plan all your family’s activities during this western week of fun.
The Music in the Park Festival organizers welcome guests to enjoy a day under the beautiful oaks of Pelham Park to hear an array of music on June 14 in Bowie.
This free music festival is hosted by the Bowie Community center and R&K Sound Company.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day.
Live acoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corben Wolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee), axe throwing and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Prior to the musical events there will be a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavilion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847. In case of rain the event will be moved into the center.
Nocona Public Library is celebrating summer with lots of activities for kids.
On June 6 the Friends of the Library hosted a Rhyme Time story time. Marcia Williams read “Nothing Rhymes with Orange” by Adam Rex to the children. Lory Hunt helped the kids burn off some energy with a hopping rhyming activity.
Friends of the Library will be hosting its annual summer reading program in July. Check the Library Facebook page for details. Children can pick up reading logs at the library and start reading now.
The Library Advisory Board is having a new program this summer for children in grades 1-5. The Great Summer Adventure is at noon on Mondays in June and July.
Each adventure day begins with a story read by Lory Hunt and is always followed by a surprise. On June 9 the kids were surprised with Taylor Watson’s Petting Zoo. A blind cow named Helen, Pearl the white pony and a white goat named Bell all visited the library. The children had lots of fun petting the animals. Parents can sign children up for this program at the library.
Nocona Public Library is open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(top photo) The Taylor Watson Petting Zoo was a big hit at last week’s summer reading program at Nocona Public Library. (Courtesy photo)
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