NEWS
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie Senior Citizens Project hopes to reopen very soon as a major remodeling project winds down and the center is able to return to some of its activities cancelled by the pandemic.
It was March 23, 2020, when the center closed its dining room to guests, but still provided meals for pickup and Meals on Wheels. The center has been quiet with no one throwing down in 42 or walking on a treadmill in the exercise room. Transportation also was cut back and there were no special events hosted at the center.
Lynda Medley, longtime center director, has been involved in different capacities at the center for more than 25 years. The past year without those special interactions with all their seniors has been hard.
“I miss the people so much, it has been so hard to get excited about coming to work. They are my extended family and we lost so many of them this year,” explained Medley.
Renovation
Located at 501 Pelham since 1987, the senior center was formerly in an old church before moving to the city-owned property at Pelham Park, which previously was home of the Jim Bowie Rodeo Association. The original stone building was reportedly built by the Works Progress Administration. A small brass plaque located just outside the front doors of the center notes WPA, 1935-1937.
While the building underwent renovation when the center moved in and at different points through the years, an 86-year-old building has constant issues. Roof repairs have been a regular issue. There also needed to bring the building up to handicap accessibility standards.
Medley said thanks to the family of Phyllis Dodson the center is the recipient of a monetary donation for remodeling. Dodson, 89, passed away on Oct. 20, 2020, but she received home meals and used van transportation. She was a retired school teacher who also assisted her husband in his accounting practice.
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]
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]
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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