COUNTY LIFE
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
“It’s not what you know, it’s what you do with what you know.”
Enid Justin
That quote epitomizes the drive of Enid Justin, who founded Nocona Boot Company in 1925 shocking her family who predicted it would fail, but stayed true to her vision creating a company that endured for nearly 75 years.
Author and historian Carol A. Lipscomb uses that quote to open chapter one of her new book, “The Lady Makes Boots,” the first biography of Enid Justin. Using archival material along with personal interviews with Justin family members and boot company employees, Lipscomb has created a multi-faceted story of a pioneering business woman who did things her own way breaking through societal norms to create a multi-million dollar corporation.
Lipscomb released her new book, in late November hosting numerous book signing events in the area. The wife of the late Nocona area businessman, Richard Lipscomb, the couple spent the last 20 years living in Fort Worth, but the couple raised their family in Nocona for nearly 20 years.
Richard grew up in Nocona and met Carol when they were in college. They married after graduation and after living in Arlington a few years moved to Nocona in 1979 when Richard purchased the Chevrolet/Oldsmobile/Buick dealership.
“We lived here 18 years raising our boys, Rik, Kelly and Clark. There are still so many people here I love and am happy to see when I visit,” said Carol.
While she had earned a degree in history, it was not until her boys went off to college she decided to return to school to pursue her PhD. Once completed she taught for a while at the University of North Texas, but then decided to become an independent historian to research and write on her own.
Miss Enid’s biography is not her first foray into being an author. She worked with well-known historian Robert S. Weddle to create “After the Massacre,” a historical review of the San Saba Spanish expedition.
Read the full feature including a few excerpts from the new book in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council gave its budget proposal a final once-over before setting a public hearing for it and the proposed tax rate for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m.
Council members also heard from Blake McNew who is against the recently approved fee and registration process for golf carts and related vehicles.
Last month the council approved an ordinance that set forth registration requirements for these vehicles with a $50 registration fee. After several close calls and complaints from downtown business people and citizens on near misses with ATVs and golf carts driving unsafely downtown the council took the step to add the ordinance.
City Secretary Revell Hardison said after some discussion the council asked for it to be back on next month’s agenda with possible consideration for repealing the fee. After some research she added a person can go through the state to obtain a license plate for these vehicles and the local sticker would not be needed.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The staff of Texas Education Agency on Aug. 14 announced the release of 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public school systems and campuses across the state.
Almost all of the school districts in the county saw their district ratings increase or remain consistent, along with some of their campuses.
There were 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses rated in 2026. Some 24% of both districts and campuses increased in rating compared to 2025.
Read the full story and see all the county ratings in your Thursday Bowie News.
2026 state accountability ratings
Bowie Independent School District – B, 80 of 100 points
Elementary/intermediate – C, 74
Junior high – B, 84
High school – B, 86
Bellevue ISD – A, 92
Forestburg ISD – B, 82
Gold-Burg ISD – C, 76
Montague ISD – A, 93
Nocona ISD – B, 86
Elementary – B, 80
Middle school – C, 79
High school – A, 94
Prairie Valley ISD – B, 88
Saint Jo ISD – B, 82
Elementary – D, 66
High school – A, 92
Friends of the Bowie Animal Shelter will host the annual Clear the Shelter event from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22.
The shelter is located at 1508 E. Wise. While this is a nationwide effort to recognize the work of animal shelters, their staff and volunteers, this also is a chance to support their efforts by attending the bake sale, silent auction and food vendors.
Adoptable dogs from the Bowie shelter as well as Easy Street Shelter of Saint Jo, Lucky Paws in Nocona and McCares of Montague will be present.
If your family is considering adopting a pet this would be a great time to visit with the animals and meet the volunteers who can tell you a bit about the animals. Prospective volunteers also are welcome, so ask your questions.
Staff from Cross Timbers Vet will be giving reduced price vaccinations.
There will be a prize drawing at noon for a bounce house and a Turtle Box speaker. Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win either prize. Drawing at noon.
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