NEWS
First COVID-19 vaccines arrived 1 year ago; county residents still ‘vaccine hesitant’
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Dec. 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID vaccine that was given in the United States.
The first dose was given to a New York nurse it was heralded as a “game-changer” and “savior” around the world as the global pandemic was about to enter its second year.
However, one year later the national vaccination rate is only at 61% and the U.S. has the largest death toll in the world as it topped 800,000 this week. More than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available virtually free across the country.
The U.S. accounts for about four percent of the world’s population, but some 15% of the 5.3 million known Coronavirus deaths around the world since the pandemic began in China two years ago. The actual death toll is projected to be much higher due to cases that were overlooked or concealed.
As the global pandemic nears the end of its second-year known virus cases rose above 50 million and cases are rising again with many hospitals across the U.S. stretched to their limits with COVID patients as well as the uncertainty of the new variant.
More than 1,200 people in the country are dying from COVID each day according to the Center For Disease Control. The pace of deaths has picked up and is moving faster than at any time other than last year’s winter surge.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
NEWS
Commissioners to meet on Dec. 23
Montague County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23.
The court will consider obligating $276,961.84 of American Rescue Plan funds to completing the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex. Commissioners have been working on this project much of the year.
Montague County will apply to the Nortex Regional Planning Commission for a solid waste disposal grant to purchase a tire cutter for use by all four precincts.
Developers for Kingdom Estates Phase 2 subdivision will offer a plant for lots 6-10, 16.06 acres located in precinct two.
A cooperative agreement between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the county will be presented, along with a non-exclusive license and service agreement between Local Government Solutions and Justices of the Peace one and two.
Annual bonds for seven elected officials will be offered, along with the county attorney’s 2024 Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report.
NEWS
New storm shelter grants available
Montague County has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist individuals with the purchase and installation of a residential storm shelter.
The shelter must be FEMA-approved and individuals must install and pay for the shelter. After installation and passing an inspection, the individual could be eligible for 50% reimbursement of the cost of the storm shelter up to a maximum $3,000 reimbursement.
The initial program allows for financial assistance for the installation of up to 100 storm shelters. Visit the Montague County website at co.montague.tx.us and click on “Safe Room Program,” and under quick links to see the qualifications and requirements for participation in the program.
There is no deadline to apply, but only 100 applicants will be accepted
COUNTY LIFE
First day of winter arrives
It’s here, the first day of winter marked by the winter solstice at 4:21 a.m. on Dec. 21.
The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight throughout the year, making it the “shortest day” of the year. Thankfully, after the winter solstice the days begin to grow longer and longer again and until the summer solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year
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