NEWS
Governor Abbott activates state emergency resources ahead of severe winter weather

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe winter weather expected to impact the state this week.
“The State of Texas is working around-the-clock to ensure Texans have the resources and support needed as severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As temperatures begin to drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that everyone remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials. Texans can find the warming center nearest them at tdem.texas.gov/warm. I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to help Texans prepare and stay safe during this winter weather.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures at or below freezing are expected across large areas of the state. Some areas may face disruptive snow, ice, and freezing rain, causing potentially hazardous travel conditions through the rest of the week.
Over the weekend, more than 700 Texas Department of Transportation personnel prepared for winter weather by pre-treating roads, bridges, and overpasses with over 500,000 gallons of brine and approximately 800 cubic yards of granular material.
At the direction of Governor Abbott, TDEM has activated the following state emergency response resources to support winter weather response operations:
- Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
- Texas Division of Emergency Management: Incident Management Teams; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw crews; motor graders and personnel to assist with snow/ice clearance
- Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel responding to support stranded motorists
Additionally, the following state emergency response resources have been placed on standby for deployment as needed:
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
- Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
- Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster assessment and recovery agents
- Texas Animal Health Commission: Coordinating animal/agricultural resource needs
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
- Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
- Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
Texans are urged to monitor local forecasts, check road conditions before traveling on roadways, and follow instructions from emergency officials.
Texans can access winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, locate warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.
NEWS
Food truck permit rule draws conflict

Bowie City Councilors heard complaints about the recently approved food truck ordinance during last week’s meeting and were updated on damage from recent flash flooding.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris also presented a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week, as members of the local EMS team were presented with the proclamation.
In his city manager’s report, Bert Cunningham said there were numerous problems with excessive rainfall during the last few weeks, with the most significant at Rock and Pillar where the rusted washed out culverts have been deteriorating for several years. Portions of Rock have collapsed near that intersection closing part of the street.
Another less traveled street had a sinkhole which the city crews have repaired, and two crews have been out trying to fill potholes and make street repairs as they can.
Cunningham told the council they have to figure out a way to pay for the new culverts on Rock and Pillar, and he has been meeting with a pair of engineering companies to get some preliminary estimates that are close to $1,000,000. He also has been talking with the city’s financial advisor to discuss options for financing repairs.
Read the full story in the May 22 Bowie News.
Photo – Mayor Gaylynn Burris presented a proclamation from the City of Bowie for National EMS Recognition Week. Several members of the Bowie EMS team were present: Daniel Fogle, Enrique Roman, Fire Chief Doug Page, Chad Gerlach, Marco Sandoval and Luke Waltersheid. (Courtesy photo)
NEWS
Single-vehicle crash kills Seymour woman

A 30-year-old female from Seymour was killed in a one-vehicle crash south of Bowie on U.S. 81 on May 17.
The accident occurred at 9:20 a.m. as local emergency personnel were called to the scene. Staff of the Department of Public Safety report the deceased driver is Faye Penner who was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado.
A preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle was traveling south on the U.S. 81 service road attempting to merge onto the main highway. The report states Fenner was driving at an unsafe speed and traveled off the roadway to the right. The driver took faulty evasive action and overcorrected to the left.
The pickup traveled back across U.S. 81, went into the bar ditch and collided into a concrete bridge pillar.
Two vehicles were involved in a separate major accident that happened on May 16 on State Highway 59 involving a semi-truck and a pickup at 4:56 p.m.
The DPS report states Bradley Henscheid II, 26, Muenster, was driving a 2016 Freightliner towing a trailer south on State Highway 59 near Haney Road.
The second vehicle was a pickup driving by Gage Ice, 17, Saint Jo, who was traveling behind the large truck.
Henscheid was attempting to make a right turn. Ice was reportedly distracted and when he looked up saw the semi-truck’s brake lights.
The pickup driver took faulty evasive action and veered onto the right improved shoulder to avoid hitting the back of the semi’s trailer. Ice’s pickup then struck the Freightliner as it turned right.
Neither of the drivers were injured.
NEWS
Water board meeting breaks down into screaming match

By BARBARA GREEN editor@bowienewsonline.com
Tuesday night ’ s meeting of the Lake Amon Carter Water Supply Corporation disintegrated into yelling and name-calling leading to no resolution on providing water to a developer asking for service.
With two items on the agenda the meeting lasted only one hour and ended abruptly as Chairman John Halbrook stood up while a board member was arguing with audience members exclaiming, “We’re done here folks.”
In a late April meeting, subdivision developer Daniel Deweber and two of his residents came to the board asking why they were being denied water when the nearly 30 lots are located within the corporation’s service area. Questions also arose about the board allegedly violating open records and open meeting’s laws by not allowing people to attend some of their meetings or posting meetings.
Board members have told Deweber he needs to file a new non-standard application based on their information from the Public Utilities Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Deweber counters the PUC has indicated he is a qualified applicant and does not have to file again. There also is a dispute whether he has to apply under The new tariff that was adopted in May 2024 or the previous one in place when he originally applied. Deweber said he has been told by thePUC staff not to reapply as he as the original
tariff applies.
Read the full story in the May 15 Bowie News.
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