NEWS
Tornado crosses Montague County, throttles Valley View
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The National Weather Service confirmed Monday the tornado that tracked through Montague County and into Cooke County Saturday night was an EF-2 with estimated peak winds of 135 mph; while the one that struck nearby Valley View in Collin County was an EF-3 with winds up to 165 mph.
While the emergency sirens came on three times in the City of Bowie Saturday evening, the community was spared any significant damage as the long-track tornado came east across the county. Nearby Clay County also had tornadoes spotted in the Windthorst area.
In Cooke County, the small community of Valley View, which is only 50 miles east of Bowie was hard hit. Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington reported on Sunday there’s “just a trail of debris left” in the town that lies along I-35 just south of Gainesville.
The sheriff said seven people were killed in this area including two children ages two and five in Valley View which only has a population of about 800. Two other children, ages 15 and nine were later confirmed to have also died. The bodies of three family members were found in one residence said Sappington.
Governor Greg Abbott in a Sunday news conference said at least 100 others were injured in the Valley View area and more than 200 homes and buildings were damaged along with 120 other structures in the area.
These powerful weekend storms left 15 people dead across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Another tornado tore through Denton County Saturday night damaging homes and knocking out power.
On Sunday the governor signed the state’s severe weather disaster declaration to add Denton, Montague, Cooke and Collin Counties, bringing the total number to 106. This tornado was rated an EF-3.
“As further assessments are made those death and damage numbers may increase. It has been a harrowing week with lives lost, property reduced to rubble and crushed hopes and dreams of those that owned homes or small businesses,” said Abbott.
The governor also encouraged those whose homes or businesses have been damaged to contact their insurance companies as soon as possible and to report damages at damage.tdem.texas.gov.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Top Photo – Brad and Rebecca Largent captured this photo of the tornado near Windthorst Saturday on Deer Creek Road in Clay County on FM 1883. They said it was about eight miles from their home.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It was a brief 15-minute meeting for the Bowie City Council this week as the 2024 tax rate was finalized along with budget amendments for fiscal 2023-24.
The 2024 tax rate will remain at the same level as the past three years at .5430 cents per $100 in property value. Councilors gave approval for the second reading of the rate ordinance.
Budget amendment
The only new item of business was a series of line items budget amendments for both revenue and expenditures that went over the budget. These will be adjusted in preparation for the outside auditor’s review this fall.
In the utility fund revenues surpassed the budget projections by $332,000. Interest rates continue to provide a boost going $160,000 above budget.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Concrete was poured around the large drainage drop box in the intersection of Mill and Nelson on Wednesday morning. The city has set Oct. 31 as the last day for the contractor to substantially finish the project before daily financial penalties begin.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A 35-year-old Crockett, TX man was arrested after aggravated assault using his “monster truck” in the early morning hours of Sunday to drive over people and vehicles.
Rednecks with Paychecks, located outside of Saint Jo on Farm-to-Market Road 3206, welcomes thousands of people who race, take part in contests, camp out and have a big party. There are two events a year.
Staff from the Montague County Sheriff’s office was called to the scene at 12:40 a.m. Sept. 22 for an aggravated assault in progress.
Chief Deputy Jack Lawson said the RWP security team had the suspect, Jonathan Reid, detained at the gate when they arrived.
“He apparently got into a verbal argument with multiple people at the park. Driving a very large monster truck he had struck several vehicles. He reportedly told people if it doesn’t have an eight-foot flag he can hit it, so he did,” said the chief deputy.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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