NEWS
Valentine’s Day sees a 21 percent hike in spending
by Niall McCarthy, Feb 13, 2020
If that Jennifer Lopez classic “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” booms over the airwaves at any stage this week, people intent on embracing Valentine’s Day might get a little bit frustrated. Nearly two decades after that song was released, love certainly does cost a thing and people need especially deep pockets on February 14th. Even though Valentine’s Day isn’t as popular as it used to be in the United States, participants are actually spending more than ever.
In total, the National Retail Federation has forecast that Americans will fork over a total of $27.4 billion on cards, flowers, chocolates and candlelight dinners. That’s a record level of spending and represents a steep percent increase on 2018’s planned spending figure of $20.7 billion. A decade ago, the share of Americans taking part in romantic activity on February 14th was 60 percent and it has now fallen to 55 percent. Nevetheless, people who are actually taking part in the day of love are taking things more seriously than ever judging by spending levels.
This year, average spending per person is expected to be $196, a 21 percent spike on planned spending levels of $162 back last year. That certainly illustrates that love doesn’t come cheap these days with participants saying they will spend $101.21 on spouses and significant others, $30.19 on other family members, $14.69 on friends, $14.45 on children’s classmates or teachers, $12.96 on co-workers, $12.21 on pets and the rest on other categories.
After nearly three months of no rain, Mother Nature brought the showers this past week.
Downtown Bowie rain reports varied from 7 to 8 inches, while the Saint Jo area reported a 10-inch total. The city water plant in Bowie reported 5.55 inches on Sept. 30 with 1.6 Oct. 1-3.
Nocona saw a total of 6.31 inches of rain across Sept. 26 to Oct. 3.
On Oct. 6, Lake Amon G. Carter saw a level of 917.39 mean sea level rising to 81.31% full. Just one week earlier the lake was 73.6% full, while one year ago it was 94.01%. The lake is full at 920msl.
Lake Nocona was 73.7% full at 823.02 on Oct 6. One week earlier it was 70.41% full and one year ago it was 92.41%. The lake is full at 827.5 msl.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
One Montague County City has joined the battle against any data centers being built in this county and there is a petition drive underway to urge the commissioner’s court to keep data centers out of Montague County.
At a Sept. 28 called meeting of the Saint Jo City Council, officials unanimously approved a resolution stating its opposition to the “siting, permitting, construction or operation of data centers and similar hyperscale computing facilities within the city limits or the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.”
City Secretary Debbie Dennis said several citizens approached Councilor Jack Dunn about their data center concerns and he helped prepare a resolution. The council gave unanimous support.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
Montague County Judge Kevin Benton has signed an order lifting the outdoor burn ban effective Oct. 7.
Persons are still urged to be cautious when they are out working in the countryside to avoid any spark that could cause a wildfire.
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