General holiday safety and prevention tips

Published

2 years ago

12/22/2023

bowienews

At Home

Make sure all doors and windows have secondary locks (window pins, deadbolts, dowels, etc.) and use them!
Don’t hide spare keys in mailboxes or planters, or under doormats.
Ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors.
Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows. Remember, overgrown foliage can provide a hiding place for criminals.
Place gifts where they can’t be seen from the outside.
Consider safe deposit boxes for coin and stamp collections, seldom-worn jewelry, stock bonds, etc.
Be sure to mail cards, checks or gift certificates from the Post Office or at a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box.
Lock your vehicle and remove all the valuables. Yes, even in your driveway.

Strangers at your Door
- Use caution anytime there is a stranger at your door.
- Be suspicious of unexpected sales calls or deliveries. Ask for identification.
- Be aware of scams that criminals commit to take advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays.
- Investigate charities before making donations. Ask how the funds will be used.
Leaving for the Holidays
- Ask a trusted friend, neighbor or Neighborhood Watch member to watch your home.
- Use timers for lights and radios while you’re away.
- Remember to make arrangements for mail and newspapers.
After the Holidays
- Don’t advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in black garbage bags for pick-up.
- Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item’s make, model, serial number and other information.
- Engrave new items to help identify them in the event they are stolen.

Texas summer heat fires up mid-week

Published

15 hours ago

06/17/2026

bowienews

Hot and humid conditions will build on Wednesday and peak on Thursday, with widespread triple digit heat indices forecast. Those spending extended time outdoors will be susceptible to heat illness. Take appropriate precautions to avoid heat illness!

NEWS

BISD superintendent annual evaluation, contract set for agenda

Published

7 days ago

06/11/2026

bowienews

Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.