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COVID cases still growing; 1 new fatality in county

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By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
As the COVID-19 virus surge continues across the country, Montague County is not immune to its ravages as the county health authority reports four patients in the local hospital and one passed away Sunday night.
In Texas the year 2021 ended with 10,892 new cases confirmed in Texas and 90 new fatalities according to the Department of Health Service COVID dashboard. In Montague County there were 84 active cases, 476 probable cases and 99 fatalities.
Dr. Chance Dingler, Montague County health authority, said Friday there has been a big increase in sick people and positive tests the last few days. He feels this will only increase in the next week due to the number of positive tests they are getting back.
The doctor said he also gets questions daily about the need for a booster vaccine, but also on the need to get vaccinated. He emphasized the statistics are clear the vaccine prevents serious sickness and everyone should get vaccinated.
Montague County continues to have the lowest vaccination rate in the North Texas region at 36.12% being fully vaccinated age five and up and 2,067 have received the booster dose.

“I don’t understand that at all. People act like this is some big political conspiracy yet all living Presidents – Republicans and Democrats – have been vaccinated, Trump included. He also received his booster because he knows this isn’t political. Covid doesn’t care what political affiliation you are, what religion you are, what ethnicity you are, or what your socioeconomic status is. It just attacks people and gets them sick and then tries to kill them. Period,” exclaimed Dingler.

Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.

Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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