COUNTY LIFE
First day of school dates vary across the county
The countdown has begun as the hours until the first day of school near in just under three weeks.
This year school schedules across the county will be different as every district has adopted some modified form of a four-day school week. Some take off Friday, some take off Monday and some won’t take any days off until a few months into the school year.
With all those varying schedules it was a surprise to see six of the eight school districts The Bowie News covers will start within a day or two of each other Aug. 7, 8 or 9, with Saint Jo the odd one out beginning on Aug. 16.
While the News staff will provide additional details on school start events such as Meet the Teacher nights as they are announced, this story outlines the start dates.
Bowie Independent School District starts on Aug. 7, along with Gold-Burg, Nocona and Prairie Valley. Forestburg starts Aug. 8 and Montague on Aug. 9.
Saint Jo opens on Aug. 16, as does Bellevue in neighboring Clay County.
Bowie will host Meet the Teacher on Aug. 3. There will be a Back to school fair at 9 a.m. on July 29. It is hosted by the district and the Pregnancy Resource Center at the high school campus.
The event provides free school supplies, hair cuts, eye exams, school information, online registration help, resources for community organizations and fun for the kids.
Prairie Valley will have Meet the Teacher on Aug. 3. The traditional pep rally will open the year at 5:30 p.m. in the gym. Families can visit with teachers and tour the school until 7 p.m. The district’s Title 1 meeting and special programs’ information will be presented.
Montague School will have Meet the Teacher from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Aug. 7. Students can meet the staff, drop off supplies, decorate lockers and tour the schools. Schedules for those in grades fourth-eighth will be in their labeled locker.
Nocona Middle School will have Meet the Teacher 4:30 – 6 p.m. on Aug. 4. Families also can drop off supplies and pick up schedules.
A Bellevue Back to School Bash will be at the Bellevue Methodist Church from 2-5 p.m. on July 30. There will be free school supplies, hot dogs and bounce houses.
The Bowie News will publish event information as soon as they are made available.
Make plans to enjoy a leisure Saturday in the park at the Music in the Park Festival on June 14 in Bowie’s Pelham Park.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day hosted by the Bowie Community Center and R&K Sound Company.
The day opens with a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavillion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. Enter at the QR code on the Clear Choice Facebook page or email fourseasonsraceseries@gmail.com.
Live accoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corbin Woolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee) and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Members of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce celebrated their past year during the annual awards banquet Monday night surrounded by theme of “Roaring ‘20s.”
A beautiful array of tables welcomed guests to the annual event in the H.J. Justin Building in downtown Nocona. Longtime chamber member and local businessman Larry Lemons welcomed the group and shared his tale of the benefits of being in the chamber of commerce in humorous verse.
“If you love seeing deliberate strides in your community,” you may want to be a chamber member. He pointed to the chamber’s efforts to promote the town, welcome visitors and promote business members.
Hobie Meekins of Wells Fargo Bank was named Chamber Citizen of the Year.
Read the full story and see more photos in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo: The Carpenter Shop was named Organization of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce.
For the 12th year in a row Nocona celebrates the automobile with Cruisin’ Nocona on June 6-7 with a slate of events across downtown.
This event, hosted by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce, made the move from May to June in 2025, but the activities remain the same.
The festivities kick off Friday morning with registration and check-in from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay Street. That will be followed by a breakfast burrito fundraiser (by donation) benefiting Nocona Lucky Paws from 9 to 10 a.m. It is open to everyone, even those not participating in the cruise.
Chamber organizers explained due to state regulations the cruise can no longer be called a “poker run,” but it will contain a “game component” that will have the same spirit of fun as prior events as everyone enjoys the spring countryside. There will be case prizes of $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third places.
At 11 a.m. the cruise and game begin, followed by a barbecue lunch at 1 p.m. prepared by the Nocona High School BBQ Team, also at the Justin Building. The cruise resumes at 2:20 p.m. and concludes at Nocona Beer at the Brewery by 4:15 p.m., with game winners announced at 4:30 p.m.
The evening wraps up with the Dark of the Moon Lighted Truck Convoy at 8:30 p.m., traveling down Clay Street and back to the brewery.
June 7 begins with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Justin Building, featuring pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. The breakfast is by donation and open to anyone in the community, benefiting American Legion Riders Chapter 220.
At 10 a.m. registration opens for the Car, Motorcycle, and Working Truck Show, with judging beginning at 1 p.m. Kids can join the fun during the Power Wheels Races at 2 p.m. (vehicles must be unmodified and child-operated). The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m. followed by a live concert by Tin Rivers.
Additional highlights on Saturday include local vendors, food trucks, shopping, and the Trucking Thru Time Rolling Truck Museum, making this a full day of fun for all ages.
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