Roll up your sleeve and support your local first responders by giving blood with Our Blood Institute at a local Boots & Badges blood drive.
Our Blood Institute will host a blood drive with Nocona Boots and Badges from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 13 at the Justin Building, 100 Clay St, Nocona. With your blood donation you’ll receive a free ticket to the theme park of their choice, including Frontier City or Hurricane Harbor.
Donors also will receive a limited-edition Boots & Badges T-shirt, while supplies last.
“Our first responders see the daily need for blood first-hand when the people they rescue require life-saving treatment,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and chief executive officer of Our Blood Institute. “We can’t say enough about the service these local heroes provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available in emergency situations.”
This blood drive is a Donable cares blood drive supporting the Nocona VFD. Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Donation typically takes only about an hour and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are also welcome.
•16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.
Our Blood Institute is the seventh-largest independent blood center in the nation with 17 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. OBI is the nonprofit blood provider for patients at more than 280 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances across all three states.

Members of the Nocona City will meet in regular session at 5 p.m. on July 14 in the council chambers at 102 Clay Street.
The meeting opens with mayor and council reports on items of community interests and public comments, along with the consent agenda of minutes and bills.
In the workshop agenda a trio of Nocona Economic Development Board requests will be examined: A and B boards to fund $2,300 for signage at the American Legion, $18,000 for Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum to enclose the east wing of the barn and $2,000 for the Chisholm Trail Art Association to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
The council will discuss submission of the application to the Texas Water Development Board for a water system improvement grant.
The Nocona Chamber of Commerce will request closing Clay Street for Small Town Christmas activities on Dec. 5. An estimate on replacing the asphalt with concrete at the intersection of Cooke and Willow will be examined, along with consideration of new solar lights and volleyball nets at Enid Justin City Park.
Chief Kent Holcomb will make a report on the public nuisance code and the related warnings and tickets that have been issued. He also will offer amendments for the code of ordinances for golf carts and utility vehicles.
Other topics include placing four-way stop signs at Grayson and Pine, Fannin and Pine and Cooke and Pine; repair and replacing golf cart sheds at Indian Oaks Golf Club; hear progress reports from the staff on the 2026-27 budget and review lease agreement with the Montague County Youth Fair Committee for use of the show barn.
There is one top for the council acting as the building commission, considering a request from Isabella Hernandez Walker to install a 2025 manufactured home at 1211 Grayson.
All the workshop topics will return on the regular agenda for voting action.

See lots more photos sent in from our readers from weekend celebrations in your Thursday Bowie News.

Top photo – Nocona Lake boat parade.(Photo by Brendan Dunn)

Henley family fireworks at Lake Nocona. (Courtesy photo)