NEWS
COVID cases still growing; 1 new fatality in county
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
As the COVID-19 virus surge continues across the country, Montague County is not immune to its ravages as the county health authority reports four patients in the local hospital and one passed away Sunday night.
In Texas the year 2021 ended with 10,892 new cases confirmed in Texas and 90 new fatalities according to the Department of Health Service COVID dashboard. In Montague County there were 84 active cases, 476 probable cases and 99 fatalities.
Dr. Chance Dingler, Montague County health authority, said Friday there has been a big increase in sick people and positive tests the last few days. He feels this will only increase in the next week due to the number of positive tests they are getting back.
The doctor said he also gets questions daily about the need for a booster vaccine, but also on the need to get vaccinated. He emphasized the statistics are clear the vaccine prevents serious sickness and everyone should get vaccinated.
Montague County continues to have the lowest vaccination rate in the North Texas region at 36.12% being fully vaccinated age five and up and 2,067 have received the booster dose.
“I don’t understand that at all. People act like this is some big political conspiracy yet all living Presidents – Republicans and Democrats – have been vaccinated, Trump included. He also received his booster because he knows this isn’t political. Covid doesn’t care what political affiliation you are, what religion you are, what ethnicity you are, or what your socioeconomic status is. It just attacks people and gets them sick and then tries to kill them. Period,” exclaimed Dingler.
Read the full story in the mid-week 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)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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