COUNTY LIFE
Fireworks shows planned in Montague County

For Montague County residents there are several great options for July 4th fireworks shows.
Lighthouse Church, 2998 State Highway 59, will host its Summer Shindig at 7 p.m. on July 3. There will be hot dogs, kick ball and fireworks.
The Nocona Lions Club continues hosting its fireworks show at Lake Nocona in Weldon Robb/Jaycee Park on July 4th.
Those wishing to shoot fireworks at the lake may do so at Benton Park, Boone Park or on their private property. Everyone is encouraged to take extra precautions with fire danger, clean up your trash and protect your pets from the loud noises.
Prior to the fireworks show there will be a decorated boat parade on the lake. It starts at 6:30 p.m. at Weldon Robb/Jaycee Park on July 4.
The parade will travel north on the west coastline to Benton Park and circle the lake in clockwise direction to Boone Park (Oak Shores), follow coastline south to Nocona Hills and Lake Estates and finish back at Weldon Robb.
The Lions will accept donations to help defray costs, please contact any
member or check the club’s Facebook page. Fireworks start at dusk.
The Henley family also has a fireworks show at their homes on Lake Nocona on July 4, and while they do not take donations, they do invite those who wish to donate to the Nocona City or Nocona Rural Fire Departments.
Saint Jo Firefighters host their Fireworks Spectacular on July 4th in Boggess Park.
The day opens with the Old Jo’s Firecracker 5K on the town square. The run starts at 8 a.m. This is the 16th year for the run that is chip-timed on a certified course. On-site registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at the gazebo on the square. Enter on the 5K Facebook page.
July 4th Activities will start at 3 p.m. and run through 8:30 p.m. in the park around noon with basketball, kickball, horseshoes and volleyball plus a slip-N-slide. The bounce house requires a $5 armband.
Enjoy free watermelon starting around 3 p.m. until it runs out, plus snow cones and concessions that will start serving at 5:30 p.m. There will be face painting at various fees. Tyler Cook will provide live music. Bring your lawn chairs.
COUNTY LIFE
Nocona firefighter collect blood, raise funds

Give blood to save lives and at the time help the Nocona Volunteer Fire Department on March 24.
The blood drive will be from 1-6 p.m. in the H.J. Justin Building in downtown Nocona. First time donors generate $100 in funding and returning donors generate $15 per blood donation.
Go to the Nocona Firefighters Facebook page to scan the QR code to pick a time.
COUNTY LIFE
County high schools prepare for one-act play contests

Gold-Burg High
Gold-Burg High School’s one-act play “Lady Precious Stream,” by S.I. Husung will be presented at district competition on March 19 in the Graham Auditorium.
The performance order will be Saint Jo, Prairie Valley, Universal Irving, Forestburg, Universal-Flower Mound, Gold-Burg and Bellevue. Plays begin at 10 a.m.
Nocona High
Nocona High School will be competing in the district one-act play competition on March 27 at Seymour High School.
Chrissy Shubert, theater arts teacher, said they will perform “Antigone in Munich: The Sophie Scholl Story,” by Claudia Haas produced by Stage Partners.
There will be a public performance of the play at 6 p.m. March 13 in the Nocona School Auditorium.
The plays will begin at 10 a.m. and Nocona is the sixth play of the day.
Prairie Valley High
Prairie Valley High School will present “Wild Strawberries” by Jerry Ayers for its University Interscholastic League one-act play contest on March 19 in Graham Memorial Auditorium.
PV will compete in 1A-District 18. The play is directed by Jesse Kincy. It is a comedic farce set in Italy during the Renaissance.
Read the full stories on these productions in the Thursday Bowie News.
COUNTY LIFE
Two marble panels fall, shatter at courthouse

Two marble panels collapsed and shattered at the Montague County Veteran’ Memorial on the courthouse square March 4 due to high winds.
This is the second time the monument has been damaged by high winds.
On Nov. 10, 2021 a panel fell over breaking into pieces and another panel shifted. It was a long process to get the slab replaced as the black marble came from India.
County Judge Kevin Benton recalls in 2021 there were delays first in finding the specific marble that was needed and then the first panel broke as it was being worked on and the artists had to start again.
Then the panel had to be shipped to its new home. It was an expensive proposition costing about $16,000. The panels are very large with the small ones weighing in at one ton.
Benton and Commissioner Bob Langford said Monday the wind deductible for the insurance is very high at $50,000. When that first panel was replaced county officials opted to have dowels placed in the panel that went into holes in the base to create a more secure attachment.
Langford said at that time they looked at possibly resetting the whole monument with dowels, but it was cost prohibitive at more than $30,000. He added the installers also indicated they really didn’t want to tackle something like that due to the possible liability if the panel is damaged.
Benton said they are talking to a company to see what is the best way forward with the repairs and what the costs could be to replace them.
Pictured: A precinct crew was removing the broken marble panels on Monday. (Photo by Barbara Green)
-
NEWS2 years ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS1 year ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS2 years ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint