NEWS
Bowie councilors to discuss new city attorney, closed session with finance dir.
The Bowie City Council will swear in its three members during the 6 p.m. Nov. 14 meeting after the election was canceled due to no contested races.
Incumbent Councilors Kristi Bates, precinct two, Terry Gunter, precinct three return to the panel, and former Council member Laura Sproles joins from precinct one. A mayor pro tem also will be elected.
A pair of personnel topics are on the agenda. City Manager Bert Cunningham will ask the council how it wants to proceed with selecting a new city attorney. Che Rotramble was elected Wise County Attorney and will work through the end of December.
An executive session for personnel matters related to the finance director is scheduled. The agenda lists discuss appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline and dismissal. Pamela Woods was named finance director in November 2021
On Thursday when asked if Woods was leaving her job, Cunningham said no, and he would not elaborate.
In new business, a resolution for a grant on the portable radio communications project will be presented.
Recommendations from the planning and zoning commission on replat requests for lots at 700 N. Mason and 211 E. Riley will be reviewed.
A interlocal agreement for Fire Chief Doug Page to participate in the North Texas Tri-County Child Fatality Review team will be offered, along with a resolution approving a general warranty deed on a .23 acre tract.
In the city manager’s report Cunningham will discuss an emergency operations center exercise, the Enterprise Fleet program, grant applications and report on the Association of Rural Communities in Texas meeting.
A 44-year-old Bowie man was arrested Monday morning at the lake next to Bowie High School after he was acting suspiciously and ran from police.
At 7:28 a.m. May 4 Lt. Bob Blackburn saw a man trespassing at the school lake. Nearby there was a vehicle parked on the service road belonging to the suspect, Zane Huntley. The license plate on the vehicle had been concealed using tape.
“My immediate first thought was someone was here to hurt my kids. Covering up your plates is something criminals do,” said the officer.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Staff of the Montague County Tax Appraisal District sent out 15,815 preliminary property value statements for the 2026 tax year.
An additional 3,500 mineral notices and 90 business personal property notices were sent out by Pritchard & Abbott.
Overall total preliminary values for the county went up 8.1% when compared to certified values from 2025 reported Chief Appraiser Kim Haralson.
Property values have undergone many changes in the last few years based on actions from the Texas Legislature, subdivision developments and energy.
Last November, Texas voters approved an increase in the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 which affected last year’s values and taxes.
Ongoing development of subdivisions throughout the county and fluctuations in the oil and gas industry also are having an impact.
Values were determined as of Jan. 1, 2026, so any activity after that date such as recent upheavals in energy due to the war in Iran have not impacted the numbers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
A total of 15 cases were returned by the Montague County Grand Jury in its April session.
Six of those cases are sealed awaiting the arrest of suspects reported the staff of the 97th District Attorney’s office. The sealed cases are for charges of burglary of a building, unauthorized use of a vehicle possession of a controlled substance, prohibited substance in a correctional facility, indecency with a child sexual contact and injury to a child/elderly/disabled person with the intent of bodily injury.
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 story in your Thursday Bowie News.
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