COUNTY LIFE
South Korean teen enjoyed Texas experience in Nocona
By BARBARA GREEN
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The past year has been a cultural whirlwind for Taike Jang, a 16-year-old exchange student from South Korea who spent the last 10 months with three different families in Nocona.
Going from one country to another is a big enough change, but throw in a worldwide pandemic and things jump up to another level. Jang comes from Seocheon, a city on the west side of South Korea with about 50,000 in population. His father works in labor law and his mom is a college student considering a career in social work. He lives in an urban setting where there are not a lot of kids his age.
Jang’s consideration to become a Rotary International Exchange Student began earlier last year when his English teacher approached his parents about the program. Jang says his teacher encouraged his parents that it would be a good experience, but also help improve his English.
“It sounded fun, and I wanted to learn reallife English, that was the motivation,” he explained.
In Rotary Exchange the students pick their three countries, but then it’s random where they go. America was his top choice and Germany was second.
“When they told me I was coming to Texas I had no idea what was going to happen. I looked it up on Google maps, but I had no preconceived ideas. I was surprised when I saw cows and horses, and found out people ride them,” laughs Jang.
Read the full feature in the weekend Bowie News.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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