NEWS
BBB warns about Valentine scams
This Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the National Retail Federation, which suggests that total consumer spending may reach $27.5 billion.
As you prepare to celebrate, there are a few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether hoping to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware of these three scams regularly reported to BBB.
Impostor websites
Consumers should always be alert for impostor websites, from fake jewelry sellers to online dating sites. Scammers can easily lift official photos, sale promotions, and logos directly from the website of a popular jewelry brand. With professional graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website that looks eerily similar to the real thing.
Similar methods may be used to build fake online dating platforms, often used to steal personal data and credit card information. Read our guide to smart shopping online for more tips to spot fake websites.
Red flags:
- Products are available at extreme discounts.
- The seller requests customers pay withcash transfer apps or cryptocurrency.
- Customer service is unreachable.
Romance scams
Romance scammers often target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal–money.
Falling victim to a romance scam can be particularly devastating. Victims can lose thousands of dollars, and they’re often left feeling heartbroken and betrayed because they believed they’d found a good partner. Read more about romance scams for safe online dating advice.
Red flags:
- The relationship moves very fast.
- You never meet in person.
- They ask for money.
Wrong number scam
Responding to a text message from someone who messaged the wrong number might seem harmless. It might even seem like the polite thing to do if they say they’re looking to reconnect with a potential match.
The text message, however, is bait to lure you into a conversation. If you keep chatting, they eventually try to get your personal information by directing you to sign up for an adult site. Learn more about wrong number texts and scam bots.
Red flags:
- The messages don’t stop.
- The sender directs you to sign up for a website.
- They try to get your personal information.
Fake florist scam
Ordering flowers for Valentine’s Day? Don’t procrastinate or you may end up falling for a scam. BBB has received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering flowers from an online florist… but either got nothing at all, or a disappointing arrangement. Don’t let phony florists ruin Valentine’s Day.
Red flags:
- The business has no reviews or bad reviews (always check BBB.org!)
- You can’t find a return policy or satisfaction guarantee.
- The deal is “too good to be true.”
What to do if you encounter a scam
If you encounter a suspected romance scam, cut off all contact with the perpetrator by blocking their accounts and phone number. Then, report your experience to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Dating site users should also report suspicious activity to the platform so they can take action against the scammer’s account.
For more information about romance scams, visit BBB.org/romance.
NEWS
BISD trustees meet on Oct. 19
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the board room.
The meeting opens with several recognitions including teacher April Word and her theater students, junior high cross country girls, district champs and BJH boys runner-up.
Superintendent Donna Hale will report on attendance and enrollment, the intruder detection audit results, Jack County Appraisal District 2027 final budget allocation and monthly operational report.
Director of Student Service Jason Childress will offer the annual emergent bilingual report, followed by monthly reports from administrators.
In action items, a memo of understanding with the City of Bowie for use of the community center as a reunification location during emergencies will be reviewed. An emergency transportation agreement with Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Bowie also will be considered along with the 2026 tax roll totals.
An executive session also is scheduled.
NEWS
Data shows tornado alley is moving eastward
It appears tornado activity is shifting heightening risks in the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau 2025 was one of the nation’s most active tornado seasons on record, with approximately 1,559 tornadoes — 27% higher than the 30-year average from 1991–2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The number of tornadoes not only grew but shifted eastward during that period: tornado activity decreased in the west by 25% and increased in the east by 12%. This shift is especially concerning because tornadoes are now increasingly affecting southern states with a large concentration of mobile home communities.
The National Weather Service reports mobile home residents are 15 to 20 times more likely to be killed in a tornado than those living in site-built housing.
Tornado activity isn’t only shifting eastward – it’s breaking out of the traditional late-spring-into-summer season, now stretching into winter and early spring. Between 1950 and 2009, tornado activity was strongly concentrated in the spring months, when nearly two‑thirds of all tornadoes occurred between April and June.
From 2010 to 2025, tornado activity expanded, with higher tornado counts in January through April, and notable increases in October and December (Figure 2).
Summertime tornado activity dropped compared to 1950-2009. The tornado season now begins earlier, ramps up more gradually, and extends later into the year.
This growing threat of near year-round tornadoes is most pronounced in the South, particularly the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, where moisture-rich air creates an uninterrupted, seven-month tornado season in the cooler months.
Read more on this data and risks to certain communities at census.gov/ccontent/dam/Census/library/stories/2026/10/tornado alley.


NEWS
County grand jury returns 38 cases
The Montague County Grand Jury reviewed a total of 38 cases during its September session that included two no bills, nine indictments that remain sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
The no bills indicate the grand jurors did not believe the case supported the charge. The cases were for evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance 1-4 grams.
The sealed cases cover a large gambit of charges including arson of a habitation/place of worship, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, indecency with a child sexual contact, cruelty non-livestock animals: kill/poison/serious bodily injury; injury to a child/elderly/disabled person with serious bodily injury mental, abandon/endanger a child criminal negligence, and sexual assault of a child.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
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