COUNTY LIFE
Warming center houses a dozen without power
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
About a dozen people stayed at the Bowie Community Center warming station which was set up Monday morning to provide a place for those without power or heat.
Throughout the week all across Texas families suffered through the cold as electric power went off due to rolling blackouts or storm damage.
The blackouts initiated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas were reportedly suppose to cycle in 15-20 minute blocks, but many parts of the state lost power for days.
In Montague County there were electrical outages throughout the rural countryside, as well as the rural communities around Sunset. The outages came on nights where weather records were broken as the temperature dropped to below zero ranging from two below to nine below.
Several county churches provided assistance where possible, but when the outages continued into Monday two warming centers were established in Bowie and Saint Jo.
On Monday Mayor Gaylynn Burris and City Manager Bert Cunningham, along with city staff and volunteers began to set up the center to provide a warm refuge.
“The Montague County Emergency Communications team was getting word a lot of residences in the southern part of the county had no electricity and no place to get warm. We opened up the center, but also knew we may be on a rolling blackout list; which did not happen and we maintained power. Those who were helped were very appreciative and the volunteers and community were a great help providing three meals a day,” said Burris.
Saint Jo Independent School District opened its cafeteria as a center, but it was moved Tuesday to the Saint Jo Fire Hall. Fire Chief Scott Thomas said they had one family that stayed one night and they went to a motel the next afternoon.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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