COUNTY LIFE
PV valedictorian won’t be defined by life’s circumstances
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It’s hard enough to become valedictorian of your senior class when you are living in a traditional family, but where does a teenager find the fortitude to strive for that goal without that family support or a home to call her own?
Veronica Gutierrez says she drew on the adversities of her life to drive forward toward what she hopes will be a successful life. The 18-year-old led the graduates of Prairie Valley High School as they received their diplomas on May 20. She was very nervous about giving her speech but laughs she only got a little teary-eyed and didn’t break down and cry.
Since her junior year this honor student has been virtually “homeless,” as she left her mother’s house in Wichita Falls after some difficult circumstances for herself, a sister one year older and a little brother age 13. Local friends have helped out by providing places for her to stay and continue going to school.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Bowie Community Development presented awards to the window decoration contest during the Candy Cane Sip & Stroll. Gaylynn Burris of the BCDB presented Rustic Wings/Belle Rose Boutique with the first place award. Second place went to Rustic Rose Furniture and Treasures. Studio 81 Tattoos and Hwy 59 Boutique were third and fourth place winners. The contest is sponsored by Bowie Community Development.
See photos of all the winners in the weekend Bowie News.
Jan. 1, 2025 is the first day of a new elected term for many Montague County officials. There will be a swearing-in ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 in the courthouse annex.
The public is invited to attend with refreshments to follow.
Officials being sworn in are: Sheriff Marshall Thomas, County Attorney, Commissioner One Roy Darden, Commissioner Three Mark Murphey, Constables Jerry DeMoss and Harvey Johnson and Tax Assessor Kathy Phillips.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Captain Kent Stagg of the Bowie Police Department recalls a friend told him, “I was a cop before I was cop” looking back to a childhood where he always played the cop for cops and robbers, and his bicycle had a siren.
It makes him smile as he recalls being something of a “geek” who always knew he was going to be a lawman. More than 30 years later as he retires from a career in law enforcement, including the past 20 at Bowie PD, he looks back on a life of service in the only career he wanted.
At the age of 56, Stagg ends this part of his working career on Dec. 31, but he is looking forward to new opportunities and spending time with his dad, Lowell, who has battled some significant health issues in the last year, but is doing much better ready to enjoy time with his son.
Stagg grew up in Alvord the adopted son of Lowell and the late Wanda Stagg, who passed in October 2022. He graduated from Alvord High in 1986 and spent much of his teen years running around Bowie. Lowell worked as a purchasing agent for Southland Corporation in Dallas. This veteran lawman had various influences when he was growing up including friends and family who were in law enforcement.
“I think just seeing the officers in their uniforms and being around them brought home to me the notion of what the police did. I watched all the TV cop shows and they were entertaining but maybe not true,” recalls Stagg.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
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