NEWS
COVID cases still booming; schools hope the worst may be behind them

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The Texas Department of Health Service announced on Jan. 15 it would no longer report the number of COVID-19 cases in the state that are considered recovered or active.
Looking at the new statistics as of Jan. 17 Montague County had 107 new confirmed cases. That reporting change went into effect Jan. 14 along with several other updates to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, which has been the primary database for county case counts since the pandemic began.
DSHS reported it had revised case totals to account for final numbers from 2020, which the agency reported to the Center for Disease Control. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic in Texas, 1,620,499 were confirmed and 182,983 probable cases were reported.
Montague County Health Authority Dr. Chance Dingler said the local medical community has been pushed to its limits as medical staff members got sick and the clinics were inundated with patients.
County schools also are grappling with the high COVID numbers and routine winter-time illnesses with staff and students.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
NEWS
Bubble truck kicks off library summer reading
A bubble truck began the 2025 Bowie Public Library’s summer reading program, “Color Our World,” with free programs continuing through July 22.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12 and these free programs will be at the Bowie Community Center at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in June and July excluding July 1. Children will be given a reading log to bring with them to each program. Each child also receives a book at the end of the series.
June will be filled with artsy projects. On June 10 there will be bubble painting and baking soda painting and June 17, noodle and pom picture frame art. On June 24 they will make beaded wind chimes.
July 1 will have movie day at the library. This is the only program not to be at the community center.
July 8 enjoy fruit loop sand art, followed by a glow in the dark paint party with Alicia Betts on July 15. The summer reading series concludes with the popular Creature Teacher bringing a variety of animals for all to enjoy on July 11.
NEWS
Convicted DA Hall appeals her conviction

Former 97th District Attorney Casey Hall has filed an appeal in her May 13 conviction for misuse of Montague County grant funds.
The appeal was filed with the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth on May 15, the day after her sentencing where the jury found her guilty of misapplication of fiduciary property and theft by a public servant. The trial had been moved on a change of venue.
On May 14 Hall’s sentence was decided by the same jury and it sentenced her to one year in state jail for the misapplication charge and six years probation for theft by a public servant.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
NEWS
4B Board moves forward with pickleball court plans

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Following approval of the Bowie City Council this past week for construction of new pickle ball courts at Pelham Park, the countdown to a public hearing and the bid process begins.
Ward Wallace, chairman of the 4B Economic Development Corporation, made the presentation to the city council outlining the proposal to build four covered courts in an area west of the Bowie Knife and south of the soccer fields. Along with the courts there will be parking and a portion of the walking trail will be redone. All the new additions also will be handicap accessible.
The 4B board’s request was to spend up to $1.2 million of 4B sales tax funds for the entire project, however, Wallace said they did not anticipate it would be that high as the estimates are running around $880,000.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The red outlined portion on the lower right of the map shows the future location of the pickleball courts near the Bowie Knife. (Courtesy 4B Board)
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