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.
The Nocona City Council gave its budget proposal a final once-over before setting a public hearing for it and the proposed tax rate for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m.
Council members also heard from Blake McNew who is against the recently approved fee and registration process for golf carts and related vehicles.
Last month the council approved an ordinance that set forth registration requirements for these vehicles with a $50 registration fee. After several close calls and complaints from downtown business people and citizens on near misses with ATVs and golf carts driving unsafely downtown the council took the step to add the ordinance.
City Secretary Revell Hardison said after some discussion the council asked for it to be back on next month’s agenda with possible consideration for repealing the fee. After some research she added a person can go through the state to obtain a license plate for these vehicles and the local sticker would not be needed.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The staff of Texas Education Agency on Aug. 14 announced the release of 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public school systems and campuses across the state.
Almost all of the school districts in the county saw their district ratings increase or remain consistent, along with some of their campuses.
There were 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses rated in 2026. Some 24% of both districts and campuses increased in rating compared to 2025.
Read the full story and see all the county ratings in your Thursday Bowie News.
2026 state accountability ratings
Bowie Independent School District – B, 80 of 100 points
Elementary/intermediate – C, 74
Junior high – B, 84
High school – B, 86
Bellevue ISD – A, 92
Forestburg ISD – B, 82
Gold-Burg ISD – C, 76
Montague ISD – A, 93
Nocona ISD – B, 86
Elementary – B, 80
Middle school – C, 79
High school – A, 94
Prairie Valley ISD – B, 88
Saint Jo ISD – B, 82
Elementary – D, 66
High school – A, 92
Friends of the Bowie Animal Shelter will host the annual Clear the Shelter event from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22.
The shelter is located at 1508 E. Wise. While this is a nationwide effort to recognize the work of animal shelters, their staff and volunteers, this also is a chance to support their efforts by attending the bake sale, silent auction and food vendors.
Adoptable dogs from the Bowie shelter as well as Easy Street Shelter of Saint Jo, Lucky Paws in Nocona and McCares of Montague will be present.
If your family is considering adopting a pet this would be a great time to visit with the animals and meet the volunteers who can tell you a bit about the animals. Prospective volunteers also are welcome, so ask your questions.
Staff from Cross Timbers Vet will be giving reduced price vaccinations.
There will be a prize drawing at noon for a bounce house and a Turtle Box speaker. Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win either prize. Drawing at noon.
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