COUNTY LIFE
Montague County celebrates its veterans with program
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
During Monday’s Montague County Veteran’s Service Office Veteran’s Day program, Everett Ruddick, veteran of the Vietnam War, shared his unique story of surviving the service only to fight for his life when he returned home and was burned almost 80 percent of his body in an oil fire.
While Montague County experienced its first dose of wet and cold winter weather Monday, a small crowd of guests attended the program in the courthouse annex community room.
After the National Anthem sung by Marjorie Hess and the invocation from Pastor Joe Caballero, Ruddick was the guest speaker. Born in Port Lavaca, TX on May 28, 1946, the fifth of 13 children, he later served in the U.S. Army in 1965 going to Eislingen, Germany before going to Vietnam. His enlistment ended at Fort Hood in 1968 when he married his wife Debra.
Within months of getting out of the Army, Ruddick was dumping trash at a private dump site when he was set on fire after some diesel fuel canisters exploded. He was burned across 80 percent of his body with some of the injuries down to the bone. At that time burns more than 50 percent were considered fatal; however, Ruddick tells the tale of his battle to survive and how God and his faith brought him through it.
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the County Courtroom at the Courthouse Annex in Montague.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider issuing a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month within Montague County.
The court also will consider accepting $850 in unanticipated revenue for the sheriff’s office generated during National Night Out activities, alongside interlocal cooperation contracts between the Texas Department of Public Safety and Justices of the Peace for Precincts 1 and 2.
An executive session is scheduled to discuss personnel matters pertaining to sewer/septic inspector for the county. Any action would be taken back in open session.
The Oct. 9-11 Art of the Song Music and Art Festival opens Friday night for three days of art and entertainment in downtown Nocona.
The festival opens on Oct. 9 with a Chisholm Trail Art Association Preview Party from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the H.J. Justin Building.
Come see all the entries for the adult show, which formally opens at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10.
Live music will be played by Full Circle Band.
Also on Oct. 9 enjoy a Nocona Nights Street Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. with the Mark Murphey and Highway 82 Band. Cost is $10 per ticket and $200 for a table seating eight. Bring your lawn chairs.
Read the full schedule of events for the festival in your Thursday Bowie News.
These students are nominees for the 2026 homecoming court at Gold-Burg High School. Homecoming royals will be crowned in pre-game ceremonies before the Bears take on Throckmorton at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Pictured are: Freshmen: Kenzley Foster and Jackson Allen, freshmen; Yareli Aguirre and Jojuan Grace, sophomores; Zara Andrade, junior and Brayden Odom, Kaylie Duncan, both seniors. Not pictured: Caleb Epperson, junior and Keelyn Case, senior.
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