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.
The Bowie News will return to publishing one weekly print edition beginning Jan. 9, 2025.
The weekly newspaper also will go back to its original dateline of Thursday.
Michael Winter, owner/publisher, said the local digital audience continues to grow organically and The Bowie News is committed to allocating its resources to that growth. This change is one step in that evolution as The Bowie News moves into its 103rd year of publication.
“In 1967 when my dad, the late Jim Winter, added the second edition of the Bowie News there was really no other way to receive local news and information. Now, there is social media, the internet and the emerging world of artificial intelligence, so it only makes sense to combine the products.”
The Bowie News is followed by nearly 16,000 on social media and has more than 100,000 monthly visitors to bowienewsonline.com. In 2023 the Bowie News reached more than 24,000 major social media accounts including X, Facebook and Instagram.
Similar to our county’s school systems and government offices that now operate on a four-day week, Winter explains our audience’s weekends are starting earlier and people are busier than ever. As everyone’s lifestyle continues to be more mobile providing news and information quickly to those platforms is essential he adds.
This is not the elimination of one edition, but the combination of both papers to expand content for our readership. Some of those additions in the works include specialty pages for food and garden showcasing local columnists, plus business and entertainment. We welcome any suggestions on what you would like to see. Email [email protected].
Returning to one print edition each week will allow our award-winning news and sports staff to have time to report more in-depth in the print product while being more agile to post timely information to our website, our electronic edition and social media platforms. Through the efforts of our professional advertising and design staff, The Bowie News will continue to provide special coverage and promotions for activities across Montague County. Remember Bowie News readers pay to consume our coverage and research shows a community newspaper remains in a household for many days shared among the family.
The Bowie News will be available on newsstands and in your mailbox on Jan. 9. The electronic subscription will move to a Thursday morning email delivery.
For information on subscribing to The Bowie News call 940-872-2247. The Bowie News subscription is $40 a year, where it has remained for the past four years. The E-subscription is $25 a year.
A combination package is available for $52.50, which is great for families with kids a
The staff of The Bowie News welcome you to the new year in 2025. We send out blessings and good wishes for the incoming year.
The Farmer’s Almanac offers three lucky ways to usher in 2025.
- – Eat donuts and other ring-shaped food, it can supposedly bring fortune.
- – Be sure your cupboards are fully stocked to avoid a year of hardship.
- – Put your right foot down first when you get out of bed on New Year’s Day. If you touch the floor with your right foot upon waking, you’re paving the way for a year filled with good luck. (You’re quite literally starting the year on the “right” foot.)
- – Let the old year fly away. Opening all doors and windows at the stroke of midnight is a symbolic act of letting the old year escape.
- – Early bird gets the luck. A Polish tradition suggests that rising early on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the rest of the year.
- Lunar New Year 2025 (also known as Chinese New Year) begins on Jan. 29. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
Each year is represented by one of the twelve animal signs in the Chinese zodiac. According to Chinese legend, Buddha asked all animals to meet him on New Year’s Day and named a year after the 12 who visited him. - The Bowie News office will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but reopen Thursday ready to serve you in 2025.
Linzie Priddy (Right) was crowned Prairie Valley High School homecoming queen during the celebration. Her court included: Kennedy Stone, Renee Stout, Maloree Woodyard and Priddy. The school also inducted the first class of honorees for its new Hall of Fame. See those photos in the Dec. 28 edition. (News photo by Jordan Neal)
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