COUNTY LIFE
Forestburg Watermelon Festival kicks off Saturday
The citizens of Forestburg invite everyone to come celebrate the annual watermelon festival on Aug. 8 enjoying a variety of activities for the entire family.
Festivities include a parade, barbecue lunch at the community center, homemade ice cream, baked goods and crafts at Life church, dunking booth and snow cones and free watermelon at the log cabin following the parade.
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and is open to floats, riding clubs, individual horse riders, businesses, antique automobiles and antique farm equipment. Parade participants are asked to meet at the school parking lot from 8:30-9 a.m., check in and then participants will be lined up by 10 a.m.
Locals will be available at the log cabin with information about Forestburg history. The Forestburg Historic Museum also will be open following the parade so you can learn the rich history of this community.
A barbecue lunch including beans, coleslaw, potato salad, dessert, drink and all the trimmings will be available for purchase at the Forestburg Community Center after the parade.
The Kountry Kitchen and Kraft store will feature an assortment of home baked goods, homemade crafts and other items. The store will be located at the LifeChurch and is open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free water provided.
Take part in the popular salsa contest at the LifeChurch. To enter bring a quart or two pints of your homemade salsa between 9-10:30 a.m. on Aug. 8.
Tasting begins right after the parade until 2 p.m. Winners will be selected by popular vote. Salsa pickup is at 2 p.m. Prizes are awarded to the top three winners.
Other events include a free waterslide, arts and crafts booths among 30 vendors, homemade ice cream after the parade on sale at the Methodist church, dunking booth and snow cones at the Baptist church. Enjoy gospel/country music at 1 p.m. at the Methodist church.
The Forestburg Riding Club will host its annual rodeo Aug. 7-8 beginning at 8 p.m. each evening. It will feature all the traditional rodeo events across two nights of action. A new rodeo queen also will be crowned.
The Forestburg community members welcomes visitors to come and enjoy small town, wholesome fun with family and friends.
Top photo from a past festival, Bowie News file photo.
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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