NEWS
Texas becomes national ‘hot spot’ for COVID-19
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Despite Texas becoming one of the nation’s “hot spots” for COVID-19 cases, the needle hasn’t moved for Montague County’s vaccination rate as it still hovers just under 31% of those 12 and up fully vaccinated.
While the vaccinations have gone up only 25 people since July 27, the active cases of the virus continue to increase with 23 active cases as of Aug. 2.
Last Tuesday it was 21 cases. This time last year the county had less than 10 active cases. The county also recently saw its latest fatality on July 22, a man in his mid-40s with no underlying health conditions. County fatalities are listed at 73 with DSHS.
Nearby counties also are experiencing more active cases. Cooke County has 66; Wichita, 335; Clay, 15; Wise, 118 and Jack, 13.
Dr. Chance Dingler, Montague County health authority, said Monday there are four patients in Nocona General Hospital, adding there also have been a lot of positive tests in the last week.
Montague County Chief Deputy Jack Lawson responded to a rumor the county jail was possibly going to close due to a rise in inmate COVID cases.
Lawson said Monday that is incorrect. The front office was closed after two deputies and the administrative assistant became ill or were positive.
As of Monday Florida and Texas had accounted for one-third of all new U.S. coronavirus cases the prior week.
The Centers For Disease Control reported Monday Florida broke a national record reporting 21,000 new cases, the most for one day in the state since the pandemic began in early 2020.
As of Aug. 2, there are 6,853 people hospitalized with the virus across Texas with 1,694 of those in North Texas. The state reported 66,014 more cases in the last week, including 53,727 confirmed cases and 12,287 probable cases. There also were 257 COVID-19 deaths during the last week raising the state fatality toll to 52,110.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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