NEWS
BISD calls $65.8 million bond election
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District called a bond election for Nov. 7 to consider a $65.8 million issue to build a new intermediate school, renovate the present intermediate to serve junior high students and improvements at the other two campuses.
Monday night the board met with its financial advisors Lewis Wilks with U.S. Capital advisors and Justin K. Hicks of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, bond counsel.
The building program was presented at the last board meeting by the facilities committee made up of community volunteers. Chairman Daniel Deweber explained their original task was to consider a new junior high, however, as they explored the issues a new intermediate seemed more plausible to the group with some changes at the present intermediate updating it. Other parts of the program would expand parking at the elementary and building a covered area for drop-off in the front. At the high school, a weight room would be added plus a public restroom at the baseball field.
The new intermediate would be built on the vacant lot next to the junior high and have capacity for 600 students with complete facilities within that building. It also would include storm shelter areas and meet all the new TEA safety requirements.
Renovations at the intermediate which would then be used for junior high students, would include a dedicated wing for sixth grade where the present administrative offices are located. There would be renovations to the career tech area, storm safety locations, new instructional gym with seating, a new main entrance moved to the back and renovations to meet Texas Education Agency requirements for instruction and safety.
Wilks reviewed the preliminary tax rate analysis bond issue noting the $100,000 homestead exemption is expected to pass in the Nov. 7 election, so that was considered in the finance scenarios and reduces the overall taxable value of the district. The taxable assessed valuation is $1,221,712,443.
With a $65.8 million bond issue the maximum tax rate would be 43.5 cents for the debt service portion of the rate. The present debt rate is 18 cents per $100 in property value.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
NEWS
BISD trustees meet on Oct. 19
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the board room.
The meeting opens with several recognitions including teacher April Word and her theater students, junior high cross country girls, district champs and BJH boys runner-up.
Superintendent Donna Hale will report on attendance and enrollment, the intruder detection audit results, Jack County Appraisal District 2027 final budget allocation and monthly operational report.
Director of Student Service Jason Childress will offer the annual emergent bilingual report, followed by monthly reports from administrators.
In action items, a memo of understanding with the City of Bowie for use of the community center as a reunification location during emergencies will be reviewed. An emergency transportation agreement with Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Bowie also will be considered along with the 2026 tax roll totals.
An executive session also is scheduled.
NEWS
Data shows tornado alley is moving eastward
It appears tornado activity is shifting heightening risks in the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau 2025 was one of the nation’s most active tornado seasons on record, with approximately 1,559 tornadoes — 27% higher than the 30-year average from 1991–2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The number of tornadoes not only grew but shifted eastward during that period: tornado activity decreased in the west by 25% and increased in the east by 12%. This shift is especially concerning because tornadoes are now increasingly affecting southern states with a large concentration of mobile home communities.
The National Weather Service reports mobile home residents are 15 to 20 times more likely to be killed in a tornado than those living in site-built housing.
Tornado activity isn’t only shifting eastward – it’s breaking out of the traditional late-spring-into-summer season, now stretching into winter and early spring. Between 1950 and 2009, tornado activity was strongly concentrated in the spring months, when nearly two‑thirds of all tornadoes occurred between April and June.
From 2010 to 2025, tornado activity expanded, with higher tornado counts in January through April, and notable increases in October and December (Figure 2).
Summertime tornado activity dropped compared to 1950-2009. The tornado season now begins earlier, ramps up more gradually, and extends later into the year.
This growing threat of near year-round tornadoes is most pronounced in the South, particularly the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, where moisture-rich air creates an uninterrupted, seven-month tornado season in the cooler months.
Read more on this data and risks to certain communities at census.gov/ccontent/dam/Census/library/stories/2026/10/tornado alley.


NEWS
County grand jury returns 38 cases
The Montague County Grand Jury reviewed a total of 38 cases during its September session that included two no bills, nine indictments that remain sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
The no bills indicate the grand jurors did not believe the case supported the charge. The cases were for evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance 1-4 grams.
The sealed cases cover a large gambit of charges including arson of a habitation/place of worship, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, indecency with a child sexual contact, cruelty non-livestock animals: kill/poison/serious bodily injury; injury to a child/elderly/disabled person with serious bodily injury mental, abandon/endanger a child criminal negligence, and sexual assault of a child.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
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