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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
It is one of those massive tragedies that touches the nation, the deaths of nine people in a two-vehicle accident; however, the loss of so many young lives came home to Nocona with the death of 2021 graduate Laci Stone in this crash.
The 18-year-old was attending the University of the Southwest and playing golf for the school. She along with six of her golf teammates from the girl’s and boy’s teams and the head coach, lost their lives in the crash outside Andrews, TX.
Two team members were hospitalized in a Lubbock hospital with critical injuries after being airlifted from the scene. Two people from the other vehicle, driver Henrich Siemens, 38, Seminole, and a 13-year-old boy also were killed.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a press conference Thursday reporting the 13-year-old boy was driving the Dodge pickup when it crashed into the van.
NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said the early investigation revealed the truck had a spare tire with a steel rim in place of its left front tire. That tire seemed to have failed, causing the truck to swerve in front of the van. The truck also was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed.
The NTSB staff noted several of the students in the van were not wearing seatbelts and at least one van passenger was ejected. Both vehicles caught fire and DPS reports several people tried to get people out of the van but the fire was too hot.
Those killed from USW included Coach Tyler James, 26; Laci Stone, 18; Mauricio Sanchez, 19; Travis Garcia, 19; Jackson Zinn, 22; Karisa Raines, 21 and Tiago Sousa, 18. The two surviving golf team members, Hayden Underhill and Dayton Price are recovering and stable at a Lubbock hospital according to USW officials.

Read the full story in the Saturday Bowie News as friends and former coaches remember Laci Stone.

The Laci Stone Memorial Fund has been set up at several local banks including First State Bank, Legend Bank and Wells Fargo. There also is a Venmo account set up under Chelsi Stone @lovelikelaci.
A gofundme account also has been set up as Laci Stone Memorial at https://gofund.me/c425161f.

Laci Stone, 2021 graduate of Nocona High School. (Courtesy photo)
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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.

Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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