NEWS
Active COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the county
Montague County’s active COVID-19 cases continue to rise, as does the fatality count for the area reported to be at 14.
As of Monday there were 87 residents of the county in active isolation or quarantine with 79 cases confirmed by a positive test and eight probable based on contact or exposure.
The Texas Department of Health Service COVID Dashboard which records figures for all aspects of the pandemic shows 14 virus-related deaths in Montague County, however, Dr. Delbert McCaig, county health authority, said he knows of at least six more deaths which have had death certificates processed by the DSHS. Seven of the COVID deaths are from Nocona with the seventh one reported last Thursday night by the family on social media.
The health officer repeated what has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic started, with delays and discrepancies in the daily report local officials receive conflicting with and the state dashboard.
It takes three to five days for a positive test result to show up on the daily spreadsheets, while death certificates are processed from 10 to 14 days from the date of the death before they are shown in the reports.
Since the pandemic began there have been a total of 502 confirmed virus cases and 63 probable in Montague County. Across the state of Texas as of Monday there had been 1,100,979 confirmed cases, 20,588 fatalities, 165,126 active cases and 917,739 recoveries.
Free drive-up testing is expected to continue through December located at the Nocona General Hospital parking lot.
Visit gogettested.com to register.
The Bowie News office will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday, and Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
There is an early deadline of 4 p.m. on Dec. 27 for the Jan. 1 Bowie News for all news and ad items.
Your Jan. 1 edition will be delivered to the mail and racks one day earlier due to the New Year’s holiday. We hope you have a great Christmas week.
Your Bowie News staff wishes you the blessings of a wonderful Christmas as you enjoy time with family and friends. Our offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the holiday.
Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS1 year agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS1 year agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint