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Faith Community Health System opens Bowie ER for patients today

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Shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday the new Faith Community Health System Bowie emergency room went “live” and began accepting patients.

That announcement was greeted with loud applause as a reverential dedication ceremony for employees, families and community leaders came to an end. Frank Beaman, chief executive officer for Faith Community, turned to the ER director and said it was a go everything was ready.

The return of emergency medical care in Bowie has been a major concern for businesses and citizens who have been without immediate ER care in the city since Feb. 4, 2020 when Central Hospital closed its doors. The property was in an out of the bank’s hands many times and up for sale on the courthouse steps before it landed with investors who worked with Faith Community to establish a new ER in the former hospital. Bowie has been without a fully operational hospital since Nov. 16, 2015 when Bowie Memorial Hospital closed after nearly 50 years of service to the community. BMH was purchased and reopened as Central Hospital in May 2017, but it never really got its footing and closed in early 2020. Bowie emergency care has relied on Nocona General Hospital and Wise Health Care in Decatur.

It was a major undertaking as the building had been left to waste after it closed. Rain, freezing weather, thieves and neglect took a drastic toll by the time Faith launched the renovation and announced its intention to open an ER in August 2021. The last two years have been fraught with delays and unexpected costs many caused by the pandemic and post-pandemic business environment.

Top photo – Faith Community Rural Health System Medical Director Shawn White welcomed guests to Sunday’s ceremony.

(Left) Frank Beamon, chief executive officer of Faith Community Health System, shows Toni Cunningham, Mayor Gaylynn Burris and State Rep. David Spiller around the new ER after it opened Sunday. (News photo by Barbara Green)
(Left) Bowie Fire Chief and EMS Director Doug Page talks with Dr. Matt Whitaker, ER director at the new Faith Community Bowie ER Sunday. (News photo by Barbara Green)
Bowie EMS crew members got their first look at the renovated and reopened emergency room at the former Bowie hospital Sunday when the ER went live for patients. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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Wednesday car fire has no injuries

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A Wednesday morning rollover on State Highway 59caused a vehicle to catch fire but had no injuries.

Montague County Public Information Officer Sgt. Aaron Randle said the call came in around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of SH 59 and Nobile Road. When Montague Volunteer Fire Department firefighters arrived, the 2008 Chevy pickup had rolled over and was fully enguled in flames. The17-year-old adult driver was out of the vehicle.

Brandle said the fire was under control at 8:06 a.m. Bowie Emergency Medical Services was also on the scene.

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City of Nocona receives Opportunity Zone nomination

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The City of Nocona has been nominated as a rural Opportunity Zone by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor Christopher Nunneley said they will begin “pitching” this federal tax angle to potential businesses.”
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference Nunneley, Donna Culpepper, executive director for the Nocona Economic Development Corporation and Michelle Page of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce announced the nomination and offered a brief overview of the federal tax incentives that can become available.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

Michelle Page, Nocona Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Christopher Nunneley and Donna Culpepper, executive director Nocona Economic Development Corporation at Tuesday’s press conference.(News photo by Barbara Green)
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Patriot Day

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Remember Sept. 11 2001, 25 years later

While history will remember Sept. 11, 2001 among the darkest days in America’s history, it also is a day marked not only by tremendous heroism and bravery by first responders, but also every day Americans from all walks of life who showed the world our country would not be intimidated by terrorism.
There were 2,996 people killed during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York city police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. Tens of thousands more suffered in the aftermath due to exposure to chemicals and industrial debris.

The Bowie News editor asked some local lawmen, firefighters, a pilot and two retired FBI agents their memories of this tragic day and how their jobs were impacted by the events. We thank them for sharing their reflections.

Read the full feature in your Thursday Bowie News.

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