COUNTY LIFE
VFW in jeopardy – Aging post battles loss of members, financial strains
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Reddy-McClellan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8789 has been at the heart of the Bowie community for the past 75 years providing a haven dedicated to veterans, as well as a source of activities from Boy Scouts, banquets, bingo, concerts and more.
However, while the memories are long the post is struggling with an aging membership that lists more than 100 members, but has only about six who are considered “active.” Unless something changes, the post could soon be just a memory itself.
To help generate interest the post officers are presenting a membership drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 27 at the post home at 707 E. Nelson. It will be accompanied by a veteran’s outreach presented by the Montague County Veteran’s Service Office.
Stacy Smith, post commander, said young veterans are encouraged to attend, but all veterans with questions or concerns about benefits or programs offered through the federal government will be able to speak with a specialist. Please bring your DD-214 to discuss those programs.
The post
VFWs were created in the early 20th century to foster social camaraderie among soldiers who fought in overseas conflicts. Established in 1899 the VFW began as something of a fraternal service club comparable to Rotary or Lions. After WWII there was a flood of returning veterans eager to volunteer to build and operate these VFW halls.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Nocona is preparing for the 74th annual Chisholm Trail Rodeo May 8 and 9 at the Chisholm Trail Arena.
The rodeo will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nightly with the Ryan Ready Band playing for the rodeo dance afterward on Saturday night. Tickets in advance are $12 and $15 at the gate.
All the traditional rodeo events are planned along with non-sanctioned events of junior barrels for 16 and under. There is $250 added each night, a jackpot nightly and contestants have a $50 entry fee. Entries open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 4-5.
The new Chisholm Trail Rodeo Queen and Princess will be crowned during Saturday night’s performance. Read about these young ladies in your Thursday Bowie New.
Clara Anderson
TxDOT is hosting a virtual meeting to review projects included in the 2027-2030 Rural TIP.
The program is at 4 p.m. on May 6 and 11:59 p.m. on May 19, all online at https://bit.ly/4uhDwMG
The Rural TIP is a list of local projects to be funded during the next four years in the Wichita Falls District of the Texas Department of Transportation.
The counties included are Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Montague, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young. Transportation projects cannot receive federal funding unless they are included in the Rural TIP. This includes projects for private vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, public transport, and commercial vehicles.
A section of Roach Street has been closed for the last few weeks as a new sewer line was installed replacing old clay tile line. It is phase two of multi-phase sewer line project across the city funded through a Texas Water Development Board loan of more than $9.7 million. The project will replace nearly10 miles of aging lines. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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