COUNTY LIFE
Saturday appointment still available at DL offices

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding Texans that many driver license (DL) offices across the state continue to offer appointments on Saturdays — and appointments remain available at offices statewide. Saturday appointments are specifically for customers to renew or replace Texas driver license (DL) and identification (ID) cards. Saturday appointments also include services to renew or replace Election Identification Certificates (EICs).
Saturday appointments will be offered through Dec. 19, with the exception of Nov. 28 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are many Saturday appointments available at offices across the state, and Texans are encouraged to book their appointments online today.
Saturday appointments were added to address the number of customers needing services due to offices closing earlier this year because of COVID-19. Nearly 700,000 Texans had their DLs/IDs expire while DL offices were closed due to the pandemic. Of those, 300,000 still have not come in to a DL office to renew. Continuing to offer Saturday appointments through the end of the year for renewals, replacements and EICs will give customers additional opportunities to handle their DL-related transactions.
Scheduling an appointment
DPS launched a new appointment solution when DL offices reopened in May, and all services are now conducted by appointment only. This method is designed to provide additional convenience, reducing the time Texans wait in line. Customers can now book appointments for a specific day and time, up to six months in advance, and show up 30 minutes or less before their scheduled appointment. Customers can check-in using the kiosk inside the office or from their mobile device.
To schedule an appointment or check availability, visit the online appointment scheduler. If you are unable to find an appointment at the office of your choosing during the week, check back for availability at that office or other locations nearby. Please check often as availability does change.
A reminder, if you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please cancel ahead of time. Customers not showing up for appointments has become a major issue statewide. From May 26 through Sept. 30, approximately 25% of people were no-shows for their appointments.
To help combat that issue, many offices are offering customers without an appointment a spot on a “standby” list. These customers are required to wait in the office and are assisted in the event of a cancelation or no-show. The number of standby appointments available is limited to ensure all customers who are placed on the list will be served by the end of the day. Additionally, a limited number of same-day appointments will be available at each DL office. These appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers who book these appointments can leave the DL office until their designated appointment time.
DL offices have implemented several COVID-19 protocols to ensure a safe environment.
Extension remains in place
If your Texas DL/ID/CDL/EIC expired on or after March 13, 2020, it is covered by the Disaster Declaration waiver and will remain valid for 60 days after DPS issues public notice. At this time, the 60-day notice has not been issued and Texans still have time to conduct their renewal transactions. Customers can download a copy of the Verification of Driver License Expiration Extension (PDF) notice to carry with them.
COUNTY LIFE
Storms causing major damage to city streets

Spring storms have been creating dangerous conditions for the past two weeks, and Mother Nature continues to douse North Texas with rain this week.
For January through April the City of Bowie water plant staff recorded 14.56 inches of rain, including a whopping 11.76 inches in April alone. For the first six days of May the rain has totaled 1.55 inches.
Nocona received a bit more rain for this period, a total of 19.28 inches according to Texas Mesonet. In April it recorded 9.89 inches and in March 3.25 inches. For the first six days of May 4.36 inches was recorded.
Lake Amon G. Carter is still more than 100% full and threatening to go
over the emergency spillway when it reaches 927 msl. The lake is considered full at 920 msl and as of May 6 it was 924.47 msl.
Last week, the city sent out flood warnings for those downstream in the path of water that could flow out of the lake across this spillway. One month ago the lake was full at 920.06
City Emergency Management Coordinator Kirk Higgins said Monday as of now no water has come out of the spillway, but he does not expect that to continue if the rain does not stop. The lake continues to be closed due to flooding.
Lake Nocona was at 828.44 msl on May 6 and is considered full at 827.5 msl. Just one month ago the lake was 88.4% full at 825.60 msl. Its boat ramps were closed briefly last week due to flooding, but have since reopened.
Last week’s heavy rainfall continues to plague city streets and low-lying areas. While not unexpected the creek that flows in the Nelson Street area east toward Pillar was raging full of storm water last week topping the creek bed going into the streets and under nearby houses.
Public Works Director Stony Lowrance said a section of Rock near Pillar has been closed, although Pillar remains open. A section of the curb and road on the creekside has broken away and fallen into the ditch creating hazardous road conditions. A small part of the street had been coned off as a small section had caved in last month.
Lowrance said they are keeping a close eye on this area as rains continue, noting this is not an unexpected problem as the Rock and Pillar Street has been debated in the city council as being the next major capital project for the city. Nearby Nelson Street drainage was completed in late 2024 and while it alleviated flooding issues in that area, it also is sending more water down to an intersection where the culverts are in the same deteriorated and eroded conditions as those were under Nelson Street that were replaced.
Top photo: A section of the curb and street near Pillar and Rock has collapsed into the creek bed following last week’s rains. (Photo by Rosie Cole)
COUNTY LIFE
Chisholm Trail Rodeo gears up for 73rd year

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.
COUNTY LIFE
Commissioner’s to meet May 12

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.
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