COUNTY LIFE
Voters facing 14 Texas Constitutional Amendments
Texas voters will go to the polls on Nov. 7 to consider 14 constitutional amendments that impact everything from your groundwater to your homestead exemption.
Early voting begins Oct. 23 and continues through Nov. 3 at four locations across the county including the courthouse annex community room in Montague, Nocona City Hall Council Room, Saint Jo Civic Center and Bowie Senior Citizens Center.
The centers will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, but there will be extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 at the Montague location only.
Voters may cast their ballots at any of these locations due to countywide voting. Sample ballots are available on the county website at co.montague.tx.us.
In the weeks leading up to the election, The Bowie News will provide information on the Texas Constitutional amendments, the City of Bowie Council elections and the Bowie and Nocona School bond elections.
Constitutional amendments
State lawmakers will send 14 amendments to voters. Many of the proposed amendments would create or alter funds to support higher education research, water infrastructure, gas-fueled power plants, broadband infrastructure, maintenance and creation of state parks.
Several others would address taxes by raising the homestead exemption for homeowners from $40,000 to $100,000, creating some tax exemptions for medical equipment and child-care facilities and banning lawmakers from imposing “wealth taxes” without voter approval.
Read the full list of all the amendments with brief explanations in your weekend Bowie News.
Musicians from around the area attended the New Year’s Eve jam for Jammin’ at the Justin. There was a variety of musicians and singers to entertain the big crowd, that also enjoyed lots of great good-luck foods served up by guests and the jam organizers. Along with the music groups played games and a few folks danced. (Photos by Barbara Green)
The new year opens with the first county-wide event this week, the 2025 Montague County Youth Fair, Jan. 8-11 at various locations.
It should be a strong show with 1,160 entries across all the categories and 333 students represented. Here is the basic schedule of activities.
Leadership Day
This year’s contests will be at the Montague County Cowboy Church.
Competition day starts with check-in between 7-8 a.m. for speaking events and the robotics contest. Categories will include junior and senior prepared speaking, plus junior and senior Montague County ag. advocacy speaking. Robotics contest also takes place that morning.
Contestants sign in for the skill-a-thons from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed by the beef and horse skill-a-thons. Sign-in for the barbecue cooking contests is from 1-2:30 p.m. with the contest starting at 3 p.m. Judging follows at 4 p.m. Awards will be given to the top two individuals for each division of the contest.
Home economics
Home economics entries can be dropped off at the Nocona Community Center from 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 7-9 a.m. on Jan. 8.
Judging will be from 10 a.m. to noon with results posted by 6 p.m. Public viewing is 8 a.m. to noon on Jan. 9. Home economics is a massive competition covering food, fabric and artworks.
Read the full schedule in your weekend Bowie News.
Top photo:A Nocona student works on a welding project for the 2025 youth fair. (Courtesy photo)
Gus Clark and the Least of his Problems Band entertained at the Bowie Community Center New Year’s Dance this past week. Guests enjoyed black-eyed peas, cornbread, dancing and music to welcome the year.
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