COUNTY LIFE
Nocona City Council meets on July 14
Members of the Nocona City will meet in regular session at 5 p.m. on July 14 in the council chambers at 102 Clay Street.
The meeting opens with mayor and council reports on items of community interests and public comments, along with the consent agenda of minutes and bills.
In the workshop agenda a trio of Nocona Economic Development Board requests will be examined: A and B boards to fund $2,300 for signage at the American Legion, $18,000 for Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum to enclose the east wing of the barn and $2,000 for the Chisholm Trail Art Association to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
The council will discuss submission of the application to the Texas Water Development Board for a water system improvement grant.
The Nocona Chamber of Commerce will request closing Clay Street for Small Town Christmas activities on Dec. 5. An estimate on replacing the asphalt with concrete at the intersection of Cooke and Willow will be examined, along with consideration of new solar lights and volleyball nets at Enid Justin City Park.
Chief Kent Holcomb will make a report on the public nuisance code and the related warnings and tickets that have been issued. He also will offer amendments for the code of ordinances for golf carts and utility vehicles.
Other topics include placing four-way stop signs at Grayson and Pine, Fannin and Pine and Cooke and Pine; repair and replacing golf cart sheds at Indian Oaks Golf Club; hear progress reports from the staff on the 2026-27 budget and review lease agreement with the Montague County Youth Fair Committee for use of the show barn.
There is one top for the council acting as the building commission, considering a request from Isabella Hernandez Walker to install a 2025 manufactured home at 1211 Grayson.
All the workshop topics will return on the regular agenda for voting action.
The Nocona City Council gave its budget proposal a final once-over before setting a public hearing for it and the proposed tax rate for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m.
Council members also heard from Blake McNew who is against the recently approved fee and registration process for golf carts and related vehicles.
Last month the council approved an ordinance that set forth registration requirements for these vehicles with a $50 registration fee. After several close calls and complaints from downtown business people and citizens on near misses with ATVs and golf carts driving unsafely downtown the council took the step to add the ordinance.
City Secretary Revell Hardison said after some discussion the council asked for it to be back on next month’s agenda with possible consideration for repealing the fee. After some research she added a person can go through the state to obtain a license plate for these vehicles and the local sticker would not be needed.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The staff of Texas Education Agency on Aug. 14 announced the release of 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public school systems and campuses across the state.
Almost all of the school districts in the county saw their district ratings increase or remain consistent, along with some of their campuses.
There were 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses rated in 2026. Some 24% of both districts and campuses increased in rating compared to 2025.
Read the full story and see all the county ratings in your Thursday Bowie News.
2026 state accountability ratings
Bowie Independent School District – B, 80 of 100 points
Elementary/intermediate – C, 74
Junior high – B, 84
High school – B, 86
Bellevue ISD – A, 92
Forestburg ISD – B, 82
Gold-Burg ISD – C, 76
Montague ISD – A, 93
Nocona ISD – B, 86
Elementary – B, 80
Middle school – C, 79
High school – A, 94
Prairie Valley ISD – B, 88
Saint Jo ISD – B, 82
Elementary – D, 66
High school – A, 92
Friends of the Bowie Animal Shelter will host the annual Clear the Shelter event from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22.
The shelter is located at 1508 E. Wise. While this is a nationwide effort to recognize the work of animal shelters, their staff and volunteers, this also is a chance to support their efforts by attending the bake sale, silent auction and food vendors.
Adoptable dogs from the Bowie shelter as well as Easy Street Shelter of Saint Jo, Lucky Paws in Nocona and McCares of Montague will be present.
If your family is considering adopting a pet this would be a great time to visit with the animals and meet the volunteers who can tell you a bit about the animals. Prospective volunteers also are welcome, so ask your questions.
Staff from Cross Timbers Vet will be giving reduced price vaccinations.
There will be a prize drawing at noon for a bounce house and a Turtle Box speaker. Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win either prize. Drawing at noon.
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