NEWS
Dry conditions fueling grass fires across north Texas
During the weekend north Texas firefighters battled several wildfires that damaged thousands of acres, structures and shut down major highways due to heavy smoke and fire.
Concerns about potential fire conditions this week led the governor’s office to preposition two large air tankers regionally to be available to respond quickly to fire danger.
This past two Friday two major wildfires threatened towns and property in this region. Firefighters from across a 120-mile area responded to the fires including numerous firefighters from Montague County departments.
The Electra complex fire began about 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 and is believed to have started on Hwy. 25 near the hospital. Wichita County Sheriff David Duke reported it was likely power lines crossed in the high winds which may have sparked the fire.
Some 2,300 acres were impacted by the fire and Electra School District, residents along U.S. Highway 287 and locations along Business 287 were called to evacuate. U.S. 287 also was closed down for a time period due to heavy smoke
and fire. Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom approved a disaster declaration for this fire area Monday. The fire was not fully contained until Sunday.
That same afternoon a grass fire started in Clay County south of Jolly. Called the Arrowhead fire, it eventually covered more than 6,300 acres in Clay County.
The fire jumped U.S. 287 and split into two fires as the high winds pushed the fire north. It also was not fully contained until Sunday. Evacuations also were being considered for several small towns and communities in the fire line.
A Dec. 11 fire in Young County burned across more than 500 acres.
Conditions around much of Texas are dry and forecasts are calling for winter weather to be warmer and drier than average.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of the High Plains, West Texas and East Texas are in extreme drought to abnormally dry. West central, central and coastal parts of the state are not experiencing drought.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie officials were on hand to inspect the emergency electrical generators that were delivered last week.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris and City Manager Bert Cunningham inspected one of three emergency electrical generators purchased as part of an ongoing Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant. They also talked with Jay Evans, head of the city electric department, and Jerry Sutton, director of the water treatment plant about the next step for installation of the generators.
This grant provides funding for one 150 kW and two 250 kW generators for use at the water treatment plant.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris talk with the electric and water department staff about the new generators. (Photo by Cindy Roller)
No action was taken on a legal issue after members of the Bowie City Council met in a called closed session at 4 p.m. on July 12.
City Secretary Sandy Page said the council met for almost one hour for “consultation with attorney – Midwest Waste Services LLC vs. City of Bowie.
This lawsuit goes back to August 2019 when Midwest sued the city for its action requiring those who receive city water outside the city limits to use the designated waste collector, which is Waste Connections. This was shortly after the city signed a new long-term contract with WC.
The suit was dismissed in June 2020 on two points in the suit, but City Manager Bert Cunningham said a third point remained in mediation.
The Department of Public Safety has provided information on an auto vs. motorcycle accident that reportedly occurred on July 4.
James Lee Hilton, Nocona, was driving a 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Daniel Parra, Chico, was driving a 2018 Ford Fiesta. Both vehicles were north on State Highway 101 outside Sunset with the motorcycle behind the car.
Parra was attempting to turn left on Farm-to-Market Road 2265 when the motorcyclist attempted to unsafely pass to the left states the report. The bike struck the left side of the Fiesta. Both vehicles came to rest off the roadway on the northwest corner of SH 101 and FM 2265.
Hilton was transported to Denton Medical City with
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