NEWS
Bruce Barker, age 65, barely escaped a fire that destroyed his mobile home and pickup late Monday afternoon.
Bowie Rural Fire Department was called to a fully involved fire at 271 Maple Road in Frontier Shores about 4:10 p.m. on Monday. The heavily wooded area and narrow roads were a tight fit for fire trucks and equipment.
The single-wide mobile home and addition was the residence of Barker and his pet dog. His daughter Brittney Nichole Barker said her father had been napping when she called and told him she and her daughter, age four, were coming over.
As they were walking up to the trailer she saw smoke at a cable hanging over the house and then immediate flames possibly from a nearby electric pole. She added it appears the dog woke him up due to the fire.
Bowie Rural was assisted by the Sunset Fire Department. Five trucks were on site and Brittney said it took about an hour to get the fire out.
Brittney said her father has lived at the home the past 21 years. She lives in Stoneburg. He lost everything including his pickup parked next to the mobile home.
Barker worked in carpentry most of his life and has been on disability the last several years due to a heart condition.
The daughter says while he only received minor injuries it has been very traumatic to face the loss of everything. They will be attempting to figure out the next steps including setting up a relief account at a local bank.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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