NEWS
MCTAD 2024-25 budgets try to contain costs

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The two proposed 2024-25 budgets for the Montague County Tax Appraisal District and its tax collections are making their way around the government entities that support and use its services, and Chief Appraiser Kim Haralson says these budgets have a focus on “cost-containment” and reduction in operating expenses where possible.
Appraisal budget
On the appraisal side there were significant increases for insurance and mineral contact services. Haralson also noted the last two years with the $60,000 increase in the homestead for schools, more of the burden of the appraisal budget has shifted to all the other entities.
In the appraisal budget there are 14 taxing entities included in the budget.
The MCTAD collects taxes for seven entities: Bowie, Gold-Burg, Montague, Prairie Valley and Saint Jo ISDs, and the Cities of Bowie and Saint Jo.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.

NEWS
Fire starts in transfer station building

Bowie fire and police emergency personnel responded to this structure fire call around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. No details were available at this time on a possible cause, possibly from trash inside the station or inside a vehicle. (News photo by Barbara Green)
NEWS
Bell receives life in murder of Tia Hutson

Gregory Bell, 58, Saint Jo, was found guilty of the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, also of Saint Jo after less than an hour of jury deliberation Thursday afternoon.
She was found beaten and raped in her home in August 2022 and six days later never regaining consciousness. The jury also deliberated Bell’s sentence giving him the maximum life in prison and a $10,000 find. It took them less than half an hour to make the decision. A deadly finding also determined a large flashlight was used as a deadly weapon.

As the jury left the courtroom some members were seen hugging Trevor Riley, Tia Hutson’s who had given a powerful victim’s statement to the court.
NEWS
Illegal dumping continues at Bowie Mission

Staff and volunteers at the Bowie Mission continue to be plagued by people who dump their unwanted furniture and other items at their gates and doors. Despite having signs stating this is illegal and that there are surveillance cameras on scene, dumpers don’t seem to be phased.
This past week several large pieces of furniture were dumped right in front of the gate where the trailer used to go pick up food bank items is stored. Cynthia Brewer, director said most of the volunteers are older and it is difficult to get these large items moved out of the way. She is at her wit’s end trying to get people to stop dumping and while she hesitates to file police charges the situation is getting untenable as people continue to violate the policy.
Anyone who observes illegal dumping at the mission is urged to call the police 872-2251.
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2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
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Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
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