COUNTY LIFE
Saint Jo Council reviews Easy Street Shelter lease
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
While questions about a potential new business dominated much of the Jan. 10 Saint Jo City Council meeting, discussion also continued about updating a lease with Easy Street Shelter and the possible deeding of city land to the shelter.
At its January meeting the shelter volunteers asked for the city to update the lease as well as consider giving them the land, which could assist the group with applying for improvement and building grants, that require the non-profit own the land to apply. The item was tabled to obtain legal information about the issues.
Mayor Protem Carla Hennessey told the group per the city attorney even if the property is rezoned the shelter with its 50-year lease will still be able to operate under that new zoning of commercial. Nothing would change unless the shelter ceased to operate then the new one would apply.
As for deeding the property to ESA, Hennessey said the entire zoning process would have to start again with a new survey and hearings with that section pulled out. She also expressed her personal opinion that it is not a good idea to give away city property and it could set a precedent.
Cindy Castle of the ESS board said that still leaves the shelter in a quandary where it can’t grow and improve through grants without owning the land. She also has concerns about the city council at some point in time saying they want to terminate the lease and the shelter has to move.
Read the full story in the mid-week 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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