COUNTY LIFE
ICF creates affordable, energy-efficient homes, developer saw a market need in Bowie
By BARBARA GREEN
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Kenson Vance is a shrewd businessman, but he also has a desire to develop affordable housing for a community as well as help serve those with special needs.
Vance calls himself a realtor and developer. Making his home in Alvord, he has been working in Bowie the past several years first doing several house “flips.” Two years ago he put in one of the first tiny house projects on the corner of South Mason and Clay Streets. He and a silent partner operate under the name Dynamic Duo.
Bowie was not new to Vance as he grew up enjoying a family home on Lake Amon Carter. In 2020 as the tiny home project was completed, Vance told The Bowie News he feels like he has been part of Bowie all his life, and he loves it. He said trying to do small developments and affordable housing, sale or rental, in Wise County had become cost-prohibitive, especially in Decatur. He has found Bowie to be very open and accommodating.
“We did a couple of flips here, and then when the tornado came we had some bigger ideas. I came up and volunteered for a few weeks, and so did Dana Kilgore, my property manager. Being in real estate I would take people with certain budgets and try to find them something, but we could only find junk, so we started building houses,” explained Vance.
His most recent building projects are using a material not that common in small-town Texas for residential homes, insulated concrete forms.
Dave Cougston oversees Vance’s local construction, and he has been working with ICFs for more than 20 years. Cougston had been building large mansions which are not appropriate to the primary market in Bowie, but these two men see ICFs as a strong alternative to “stick houses.”
“I don’t know why anyone is building houses out of wood anymore,” explained Cougston. “This is such a superior product as far as safety, going greener and creating a healthier home.”
Vance also is working closely with Evergreen Life Services to develop a new facility in Bowie that can assist people with special needs, something that is very close to his heart.
Read the full feature in the weekend Bowie News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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