Effective Dec. 1, the City of Bowie is collaborating with Medical Access & Service Advantage (MASA) to bring residents an emergency transport protection plan, automatically enrolling all residents with a voluntary $7.75 monthly contribution added to city water bills.

City Manager Bert Cunningham explained while the new fee automatically applies to all bills, residents can avoid the charge entirely by submitting an opt-out form by Nov. 10. Additionally, he noted that anyone who opts out within the first 90 days will receive a bill credit covering any previous months they were charged. Residents can still opt out at any time after the first 90 days to stop future charges, though no refunds will be provided for past months.

Residents who already carry MASA coverage, those on Medicaid or anyone who simply prefers not to participate can opt out of the monthly contribution and plan by completing the form at cityofbowietx.com/FormCenter/MASA-16/MASA-OptOut-Form-63.

QR code for opt out form

To help residents navigate the upcoming change, the city is hosting a public town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29, at the Bowie Community Center, 413 Pelham St.

Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Oct. 19 and continues through Oct. 30.
Ballots may be cast by early voters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 19-Oct. 23 and Oct. 26-Oct. 30. Voting locations are at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center, 501 Pelham; Montague County Courthouse at Montague; H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay in Nocona and the Saint Jo Civic Center, 101 E. Boggess in Saint Jo.
Elections Administrator Ginger Wall said there will be early voting extended hours, but only at the courthouse annex location. Voters may cast their ballot 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 26.
Election day voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Voting by mail applications are due to the elections office by Oct. 23. Visit the county webpage, click elections for a form and additional details on delivering it to the election office or mailing it.
Local elections
All the county elected positions on the ballot are uncontested, however, there are four city and school district races.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

The Bowie City Council appointed Bob Blackburn as a reserve officer at its regular meeting Oct. 13.
Blackburn served with the Bowie Police Department for 25 years and is retiring this month.
Police Chief Guy Green requested the council to “bless by name”, as required according to law, Blackburn for the reserve officer position.
Bowie currently has no reserve officers, although they are allowed up to 10, so Blackburn will be the only one serving in the city.
Green said the role can help fill any position, such as when an officer is out sick, and it would be a great benefit to the department.
“If y’all would bless this, it would bless us,” Green said.
When working as a reserve officer Blackburn will earn an hourly rate for the hours he works.
Also during the meeting councilors accepted a new business resolution authorizing submission of a 2027/2028 Community Development Block Grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The last grant from the TDA was used to work on the waterline on Wichita Street. City Manager Bert Cunningham discussed the new grant, which increased from last year’s $350,000 to now $750,000, would be used to continue work on waterlines down Hutchinson Street.
In executive session councilors conducted an annual review of city secretary Sandy Page and Municipal Court Judge Darla Cordell.
No action was taken by the council back in open session.