NEWS
Rail car emergency class planned
The City of Bowie Office of Emergency Management will host a free rail car incident response for crude, ethanol and other flammable liquids on Sept. 30 at the Bowie Community Center.
This free program is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 30. Training is provided free by the Center for Rural Development and the University of Findlay’s All Hazards Training Center on behalf of a U.S. Department of Transportation grant award.
Who should attend? Firefighters including neighboring departments, other first responders, community emergency management personnel and other community stakeholders including railroad representatives.
The registration deadline is Sept. 16. Contact Kirk Higgins, emergency management coordinator at emc@cityofbowietx.com or call 940-841-0188. Deadline is Sept. 16.
As more and more rail traffic transports cargo, including hazardous materials, it is important the responder community become educated about the dangers and unique hazards presented with rail cars carrying these commodities. The information presented here will enhance the ability of emergency responders to assess the scene of a rail car incident, understand the resources needed to remediate the emergency situations, including how the railroad will play a critical role.
Hands-on scenarios using a rail car simulator are conducted to emphasize the objectives of the training including identifying the design, construction, components and markings of rail tank cars that carry crude-flammable liquids; recognizing and identifying the chemical being transported and properties to consider in an emergency, assessing the scene to determine potential hazards to people, property and the environment, recognizing mitigation strategies including offensive, defensive and non-intervention strategies for fire and/or spill incident and identifying key resources in the rail/freight industry as well as federal, state and private resources for response assistance.
NEWS
Commissioners to meet on May 11
Members of the Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 11.
After the consent agenda and public comments, the court will discuss an interlocal agreement between precinct two and the Bowie Sports Association for the baseball complex.
Precinct three will ask for a line-time budget adjustment of $15,000 from operating expenses to part-time.
The court will open and consider accepting sealed bids for emulsified asphalt and prime oil, all on a 90-day contract.
The consent agenda of minutes, bills and reports also is slated.
NEWS
Suspicious man jailed near BHS
A 44-year-old Bowie man was arrested Monday morning at the lake next to Bowie High School after he was acting suspiciously and ran from police.
At 7:28 a.m. May 4 Lt. Bob Blackburn saw a man trespassing at the school lake. Nearby there was a vehicle parked on the service road belonging to the suspect, Zane Huntley. The license plate on the vehicle had been concealed using tape.
“My immediate first thought was someone was here to hurt my kids. Covering up your plates is something criminals do,” said the officer.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
NEWS
Overall preliminary values up 8.1%
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Staff of the Montague County Tax Appraisal District sent out 15,815 preliminary property value statements for the 2026 tax year.
An additional 3,500 mineral notices and 90 business personal property notices were sent out by Pritchard & Abbott.
Overall total preliminary values for the county went up 8.1% when compared to certified values from 2025 reported Chief Appraiser Kim Haralson.
Property values have undergone many changes in the last few years based on actions from the Texas Legislature, subdivision developments and energy.
Last November, Texas voters approved an increase in the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 which affected last year’s values and taxes.
Ongoing development of subdivisions throughout the county and fluctuations in the oil and gas industry also are having an impact.
Values were determined as of Jan. 1, 2026, so any activity after that date such as recent upheavals in energy due to the war in Iran have not impacted the numbers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years agoSheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News








