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By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com Bowie County leaders have taken the first step in the direction of what they see is the most viable way to protect our most valuable resource, as they have approved a resolution to join with other counties across Texas to form a Regional Water Conservation District. At last Monday’s meeting of the Bowie County Commissioners Court, the county leaders approved a resolution that will see the county join with neighboring counties to ask the Texas legislature in January to create the district. State Representative Cole Hefner spoke at the meeting and is scheduled to introduce the bill needed to create the district when the legislature convenes in January of 2027. Republican frontrunner for Texas House District 1 State Representative Chris Spencer told the West Bowie Post, “Our region needs a Groundwater Conservation District. No one wants government overreach, but this is an example of a true public necessity. Protecting our groundwater from entities deep drilling into the aquifer and diverting for profit. I am grateful for Representative Cole Hefner's leadership in this legislative initiative, and as State Representative I will co-sponsor this legislation in the next session.” The enacting portion of the approved resolution reads, “The Commissioners Court of Bowie County hereby supports the creation by the Texas Legislature of a regional groundwater conservation district encompassing appropriate portions of Northeast Texas overlying the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer…The proposed district should be structured to provide for responsible regional groundwater management, conservation, monitoring, and protection of the aquifer utilizing sound science, local representation, and regional cooperation…The Commissioners Court supports a user-funded structure for the district utilizing production fees, permit fees, and other lawful revenue sources authorized under Texas law, with no ad valorem property tax imposed by the district.” Precinct 4 Commissioner Mike Carter told the West Bowie Post after the meeting, “I thought the meeting went really well. Everyone was very supportive of forming it, with most seeing it as a way of stopping these data centers. It could mean a small charge to individual water users but will not mean any new taxes on local citizens.” Carter has joined the ranks of Bowie County citizens who have grown very concerned about the negative impacts of proposed AI data centers, most notably, the potential for them to use millions and millions of gallons of water and be a drastic strain on the aquifers that lie beneath Bowie County lands. Carter also said of the data centers, “I will not vote to wave ad valorem taxes for these data centers. They need to pay their fair share.” The measure is directly related to the fact that much of NE Texas is one of the few places in the state to not have a water conservation district and counties have no control over their groundwater. So, what is groundwater, and what will the proposed district do to protect it. As its name suggests, groundwater is water found in the ground. It is not like a lake or a river, but rather water that lives in the various layers of the soil like sand, gravel and porous rock, like the water in a sponge. In Northeast Texas, while there are many minor aquifers, the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer is one of the nine major aquifers in the state, and it replenished itself with the rainfall that naturally occurs across the region. The counties joining together to hopefully create this district for Northeast Texas see it as a way to provide a framework to protect the groundwater in the region from those who would want to drain millions of gallons daily from the aquifers for industrial use, like a data center. The push for a district is not without opposition. Across the state, lawsuits and opposition to water conservation districts is based on the belief that a district is a direct attack on private property rights, especially farmers and ranchers that need access to water for irrigation purposes and to water their livestock. In the State of Texas, what is known as the “rule of capture” basically says that if the water is beneath your land, it is yours and you have the right to pump as much of it as you need or want. Thus, private landowners often oppose water conservation districts and their restrictions and need for permits based on the belief that they violate the constitutional rights of land ownership. One such lawsuit involves ranching operations to the east of our area where Dallas area billionaire Kyle Bass is suing the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District based on its moratorium on large scale water extraction projects. Bass owns two separate ranch properties that had asked for permits for 43 water wells that could pump billions of gallons of water in the future out of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. Similar lawsuits across the state pit water districts against private landowners in a debate over who actually owns the groundwater, and who has the right to control its use. Cass County Judge Travis Ransom, who is at the forefront of the effort to create the Northeast Texas Regional Water Conservation District says, “By working together, Northeast Texas counties can share technical expertise, administrative costs, scientific resources, and legal guidance. Regional cooperation creates economies of scale while ensuring that decisions remain close to the people who depend upon the resource every day.” Much like the data centers that connect industry and water, the district is an ongoing story. We will look at other facets of the issue in an upcoming series on the subject in future issues of the West Bowie Post.

By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com A chance visitor at the office last week spurred a conversation with an old friend and it was nice to just sit and talk for a few minutes with someone else who truly cares about the community of Bowie County. People are so busy these days just trying to keep paddling that it is a rare thing to have a few minutes in the still to just sit and talk, but it was definitely a surprise pleasure for yours truly when my buddy Tommy Crouch came by for a few minutes. It was a fairly deep conversation for a couple of old country boys like us, and it left me with a lot of thoughts bouncing around in the ol’ noggin’ and a few questions to pose to all of you. Our conversation centered around change. Change can be a good thing, and it can also be hard. And change is often what we need the most. When people talk about change, it is often about changing our leaders in government. Whether it be on the national level, or the local, one way to impact real change is to change those who call the shots. We are a government by the people and for the people, so when our elected leaders aren’t listening to the people, we have the ability to get new leaders. The problem with that these days is there is a pretty shallow pool of people to choose from when it comes to those willing to step up and be a leader. We have become a society filled with followers, not leaders. Even worse, we have so many in our world who want to criticize and rail on those who are in a position of leadership, while they hide behind a keyboard on social media. Tommy and I spoke about all kinds of changes. With all of the info flying around about data centers, water concerns, and a mixed bag of other things, the question of whether we need some changes in local leadership are valid. Here in Bowie County, we have had the benefit of having a really good county judge for several years in Bobby Howell. He has done well for the people he was elected to serve. In January, a new judge will step in, and I believe, in fact, I know Josh Davis will continue that trend. As far as county leaders and city leaders around the area, perhaps there are some changes that need to be made. My thoughts on that are to sit back and see how they handle the issues that are at the forefront these days. Personally, while data centers seem to be at the front of the line, I believe protecting our water, both on the surface and under the ground, should be a top concern. If we sit back and let folks take our water, whether it be Marvin Nichols Reservoir or a water starved cooling tower, water is going to be like liquid gold in our very near future, even more than now. Now, let me say this about my friend Tommy, and is family. There has been a lot said recently about our prized FSJ going up for sale on the real estate market. This has definitely been a subject for keyboard warriors, and I am going to share my opinion about that here. Anybody that believes Tommy and Ashley, along with Ted and Suzanne, have not earned a break from the 16-hour days, day after day, week after week, year after year, then you are quite simply ill informed. Unless you are one that does what they do and have done it for the 40 plus years that they have, then you just don’t know. As one who has devoted himself to his chosen craft for years, at often the expense of missing things with family, there is no doubt to me that all of those folks at the Junction have served our community diligently for decades, and if anybody around here deserves a chance to step back, take a break, and enjoy life for a change. Now, let me say, I will definitely miss a perfectly fired ribeye from Tommy’s grill, or maybe the amazing goodness of rattlesnake pasta, there are other places to get a good steak. Who knows, maybe the new owners will make an even better one. (nah, not likely) Regardless, change is inevitable. We can do all we can to help the changes that come to our advantage, and we can work to make lemonade out of them all. That is always up to us.

By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com The day is fast approaching for the annual Glow Walk in New Boston, scheduled for September 19, 2026. A plethora of fundraising activities are underway for this year’s event, and organizer Stephanie Hawkins says that this is again a year “where every story matters.” One of those fundraising activities is labeled Pie for a Purpose, and it is exactly as it sounds. A long list of volunteer contestants has signed up and the donation jar that earns the most money will be the recipient of a whip cream pie in the face from each of the other contestants. Each contestant has a jar inside Hawkins’ hair salon and at 82 Marketplace where you can go and support the effort by donating into the jar of your choice, with 16 volunteers hoping to raise the most for the cause and take their pie in the face. To date, over $2,000 has found its way into jars for the cause. Currently leading the way, with over $500 raised in his jar, is Kyle Edwards. Hawkins notes, “While it certainly brings laughter and excitement to our community, there's a much deeper reason behind it. Kyle's family has been personally impacted by cancer. His wife recently shared with me that when Kyle's father was battling cancer, there weren't organizations like Glow Walk Foundation to help families through that journey. She also shared how our community came together to support Clay during his battle with brain cancer. This year, Kyle is walking not only in honor of his dad, but also in memory of Clay. Clay Dews is the son of DeKalb restaurant owner Yoli Aguilon, who lost his battle with cancer last October after being an inspiration to all that knew and loved him. Hawkins goes on to say, “Stories like these are exactly why Glow Walk Foundation exists. Every dollar raised helps us support local families facing cancer because no one should have to walk that road alone. Kyle recently became the first participant to reach our $500 fundraising milestone and is now closing in on the $600 Club. While we're celebrating his fundraising success in a fun way, what truly deserves recognition is the heart behind his participation and the mission it represents. Hawkins wants the entire community to see that behind every laugh, every fundraiser, and every pie thrown, there is someone fighting, someone remembering, and someone being helped.” This year’s Glow Walk will once again take place at T&P Trail Head Park Pavilion in downtown New Boston. The event this year will include over 60 vendors and food trucks. The day will kick off with a Shop Before You Glow time from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by a live pie auction at 4 and then prize and raffle drawings at 6 p.m. The highlights of the day will include survivor recognition, battle of the teams, battle of the teas, the memorial walk and then close with the glow walk. For more information on this year’s Glow Walk New Boston or if you would like to volunteer or donate, you can check out their Facebook page or call organizer Stephanie Hawkins at 903-933-9793.

By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com A 6th grade student at Hooks Junior High has made it her mission this year to make the world a better place with simple acts of kindness. Katelyn McElroy was crowned earlier this year as Young Miss Hooks and she has decided to use her platform as a member of the Miss Hooks court to help her community and bring it together by simply being kind. Katelyn says, “When I became Young Miss Hooks, I wanted to do something to help people by spreading kindness. I want to bring our community together by helping each other.” And Katelyn will kick off the effort in earnest in August when school returns, with a series of themed months that will run through next March when she hands her crown to the next Young Miss Hooks. In August, Hooks Hearts will focus its attention on school staff of all kinds with plans to include teachers, cafeteria workers and many others. Katelyn will get the community involved by asking Hooks residents to offer kind words for Hooks ISD staff and then she will take those comments and place them on some kind of keepsake that can be given to those staffers at the end of the month. After August, McElroy plans to include a different group each month to include senior citizens, first responders, neighbors down the streets of Hooks and various other groups to be focused each month through March, with each month labeled with its own heart theme. Katelyn told the West Bowie Post this week that she is inspired to do things like Hooks Hearts by those she loves most-her family. The family includes mom and dad, Rashad and Hali McElroy and Katelyn’s big sister, Kadence. Rashad works at Red River Army Depot and Hali is an account manager for a marketing firm. Katelyn notes, “My family inspires me most. They taught me to always be kind, especially my sister.” Katelyn’s sister Kadence is a 16-year-old junior at Hooks High School who was herself Young Miss Hooks in 2022, the same year Katelyn was Little Miss Hooks. The two joined together that year as they served on the court to hold a school supplies drive to help fellow students and families, with all of the supplies and funds donated going to help students across all of the campuses at Hooks ISD. While this year’s Young Miss Hooks is going into the 6th grade, she does have plans for the future and hopes to one day be an orthodontist. Mom Hali says of her daughter, “She has been involved in pageants for several years and It is always her decision and her initiative to do something other than just wear a crown and to actually do something for people while she serves. From a young age she has always been about serving other people and showing kindness, and she finds ways to do that all on her own. As an 11-year-old she prefers to help other people always and use her pageant titles as a way to show kindness, and that impresses me. It has always been just who she is. We are really proud of her.”

“No new supply agreements, reservation capacities or participation contracts have been made beyond those already existing with the Member Entities.” By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com With the organized opposition to the construction of proposed AI data centers in Bowie County, much has been said about where the water will come from to supply the water thirsty cooling towers that come with them. Opposition leaders have raised the issue of water consumption and water costs repeatedly and say that their questions have fell mostly on deaf ears, under what they have considered a veil of secrecy with many calling for county and state leaders to step in and legislate a moratorium on data center development until answers to their questions are forthcoming. In an effort to lift that veil of secrecy and get answers to the questions concerning water usage, the West Bowie Post spoke with Riverbend Water Resources District Executive Director Kyle Dooley. Last Thursday, on a day that saw Riverbend receive approval of an additional $248M in funding from the Texas Water Development Board to advance their new Johnny Branson Water Treatment facility, Dooley took great pains to answer some of those burning questions posed by the data center opposition, and by local water customers. Dooley told the West Bowie Post, “In recent months, Riverbend Water Resources District, just like everyone else, has recognized the community conversations and concerns surrounding data centers and water use in Northeast Texas. It’s clear that everyone is passionate about preserving and protecting our region, but we’ve also noticed some confusion or misunderstanding on this issue that warrant further discussion. Citizens deserve clear and transparent access to facts about their water and other community resources.” Many in the area are unaware of Riverbend’s purpose and mission and Dooley addressed that by noting, “Riverbend is a conservation and reclamation district, and as such our top priority is to deliver a clean and reliable water supply to our participating Member Entities (Local Communities and Water Supply Corporations) and their local end users. We are charged with ensuring adequate supply is available to meet our region’s growing water needs now and for many decades to come. Sustainable water supply management takes intentional planning. That’s why our Strategic Plan included the Riverbend Regional Water System Improvements Program to assess, plan and provide for the current and future water needs of our growing region. The program’s proposed system updates have been designed to expand our ability to deliver treated water to participating Member Entities and their users.” Dooley then answered one of the most burning questions posed by Bowie County residents in regards to data centers and their water requirements, while also clarifying that Riverbend had no current contracts or finalized agreements with any of the proposed developers. Dooley sated, “Some citizens have expressed concern that private customers, like data centers, might get inequitable access to our region’s water or favorable rates at the expense of local water customers. It’s important to clarify that no such agreements or commitments have been or will be made. Riverbend has Water Supply Agreements with our participating Member Entities that specifically outline safeguards to protect and benefit the members and their customers. Member rates are calculated based on the direct capital, operating and maintenance expenses required to meet their capacity requirements. Additionally, the raw water that would be required by these industrial customers cannot be delivered within the current infrastructure. System upgrades have been designed with future development options, including raw water capacity. However, capital projects to distribute raw water would be fully funded by the requesting private customer. The cost would not fall to the Member Entities or their local end users.” In addition, Dooley answered questions about the future of water in the Northeast Texas counties that Riverbend serves and painted a clear and optimistic picture of their ability to meet the water needs for the region for many years to come, while also confirming again that Riverbend has not entered into any supply agreements with incoming industrial developers. Dooley said on the future, “With our Regional Water System Improvement Program, we are moving toward sustainable water infrastructure in the region. For that reason, Riverbend often receives preliminary inquiries into supply capacity and raw water rates from private entities exploring development in our region. These discussions have been strictly informational, and standard practice is to provide factual response as part of routine economic development. These discussions are not binding or contractual in any way. Riverbend serves under the direction of our Member Entities, and any new water supply agreement must follow due process as outlined by the district’s bylaws and state requirements. No new supply agreements, reservation capacities or participation contracts have been made beyond those already existing with the Member Entities. We invite citizens to visit our website, www.rwrd.org, for full access to district policy documents, meeting minutes, rate projections, infrastructure updates and other resources.” Dooley finished by declaring, “We appreciate the community’s active interest in ensuring Northeast Texas is a thriving, sustainable region for generations to come. Riverbend remains committed to fostering collaborative relationships with our Member Entities and providing transparent, accurate information for their local end users every step of the way.” While more questions remain as to the actual water requirements will be for the proposed data centers, and what local entities like TexAmericas have discussed with those developers, Dooley’s remarks do answer the questions of who will foot the bill for those water needs and that there are currently no agreements to provide that water. TexAmericas’ Scott Norton has said in previous statements that the Project Big Pine developer has committed to a closed-loop water system, but the specifics on exact water usage would not be available until there was an end user. With the push now on for Governor Gregg Abbott and Texas lawmakers to legislate a moratorium on data centers until their impact can be more transparent, questions will remain. Look for more on this continuing story in next week’s issue of the West Bowie Post.

By Rylee Freeman Welcoming an exchange student into the family can create lifelong relationships while introducing new cultures to both the student and the host family. Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG) was founded by former Brazilian exchange student Mazi Cunha and his American host mother. Local coordinator Laura Shaw recruits host families willing to welcome an exchange student during the school year and treat them as part of the family. Shaw manages both families and students through monthly reports and check-ins during the school year. Shaw brings 10 years of experience in exchange student management and has hosted 11 students of her own, all of whom still return to visit. FLAG's mission is to give exchange students and host families the opportunity to experience each other's cultures. Shaw described a great host family as “somebody that loves kids, that is willing to take one and just treat them like their own.” Whether a family's ideal evening is watching movies and eating pizza or traveling together, Shaw said anyone with a servant's heart and a love for young people can become a host family. Families interested in hosting begin by completing an application and passing a background check. The organization then conducts a home visit and takes photographs before the student's school approves the placement. Shaw said host families receive training, orientation and ongoing support throughout the process. Hosts are responsible for three meals a day, while students arrive with spending money and their own health insurance. Shaw said hosting an exchange student often feels like gaining another child. “They become family, and then you have a lifetime friend,” Shaw said. Beyond cultural exchange, Shaw said that the program is a Christian ministry. “You get to show these kids the love of Christ,” Shaw said. For more information about hosting, contact Laura Shaw at (903) 701-5320 or lshaw@flag-intl.org.

By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com In these dog days of summer, many are in the middle of preparing for another school year, and that is surely the case for the folks at Plentiful Harvest in New Boston as the efforts are in full swing for their 9th annual Back to School Bash. This year’s event is set for Saturday, August 1, from 11 a.m. til 2 p.m. at the church, located at 500 N. Merrill. As always, the much anticipated event will bring the community together to provide essentials for students that will be returning to area school campuses in August. The event will include free haircuts, shoes, clothes, school supplies and backpacks for area school children, plus fun activities for all ages. Activities will include face painting, balloon art, a bounce house and free food for all who attend. There will also be an opportunity to help the community, as the Lifeshare Blood donation bus will be on hand, along with various information booths hosted by local businesses and organizations. A new feature this year includes a partnership with the New Boston Juneteenth organization. New Boston Juneteenth Presidet Patricia Thompson told the West Bowie Post, “When you work together it is not about I or me, it is about us. It allows us to make a bigger impact than we can alone. When we saw an opportunity for the organizations to unite, we just knew it was the right thing to do. It is about putting the needs of the children first. Every child deserves to start the new year with purpose and dignity. We are all in this together.” Thompson stated that the partnership is an opportunity to show the community who we are. Our mission is to create opportunities and to foster unity in the community. When we come together, instead of competing, it shows community unity and benefits the children. The New Boston Juneteenth organization hopes to partner with other community organizations like Glow Walk, Let’s Battle Cancer Together and the local Jeep Club, to do more for the community and bring the community together. Plentiful Harvest’s Beth Little told us, “This is about the kids, and we get kids from all over our area/ We would love for churches and organizations from around the area to come be with us and share their ministries or what they do to minister to our area children. We want to help all that we can, and the more that join with us, the more we can help.”

By Allyson Pebsworth allyson@westbowiepost.com There’s no crying in baseball, a quote most people are familiar with. However for some people it’s more than just a quote the way playing ball is more than just a game, regardless of age. Harper Hankins, daughter of Jacey and Michael, has been playing ball since she was 5 years old, starting with t-ball and quickly jumping up to play on teams with kids much older than herself. Watching the Women's College World Series with her mom, Harper expressed her desire to play saying “she wanted to be like that.” At only 6 years old, Justin Arsenault with the New Boston Youth Sports Association, was putting a team together for district 44 to play in the State Tournament. Several members from the t-ball team and some of Harper's best friends played together and won the championship. Although she had started out playing in the outfield, she was transitioned to third base during the tournament and from there her in-field play began. She started taking pitching lessons and played throughout the summer while she was six and seven years old. Even getting the opportunity to get some field and batting help from the softball team at Texas A&M University - Texarkana as her pitching coach was an assistant for the team at the time. “They really slowed down and helped her. It was really inspiring.” They met Coach Mike Simpson, who has now become more of a family member than a coach, and he saw her potential. Playing a huge hand in Harper’s softball journey so far, Coach Mike would even be there for the family off the field when they needed it. The next spring, Harper competed in travel ball and built really great relationships with all the girls and their families, many of which were from New Boston and DeKalb. When she turned eight, she was looking forward to playing with the 8u team, however the team didn’t have enough players, so she was then placed with the 10u girls team. During her time playing, was was at one point on multiple teams during one season. Playing with the 8u teams, the Wildcats of Texarkana and the Ballers of New Boston, one team went undefeated in district while the other got second. “She showed up to play ball that day, she didn’t strike out all day…the girls were like a well oiled machine,” Jacey said with pride when speaking of Harper’s time on the field. However, when she was nine, a slam in the car door took Harper out of the game for a few weeks due to a broken thumb. She was out of lessons and had to go to a specialist in Tyler, but after her release was excited to return to the field. Kevin Grady, who is Harper’s pitching coach now, told Jacey that with the holidays approaching and cold weather incoming, drills would resume after the first of the year (January 2026). Then the flu hit in November and caused a bit more of a wait. Close to Christmas, Harper contracted conjunctivitis in her eye. One night while having dinner at Harper’s Sassy’s (Paula Cole) house, the family was looking at Harper and noticed her eye was a bit swollen and protruding from the socket. Jacey made an appointment with the eye doctor, who Jacey says later was one of the main reasons Harper can see today, and the doctor informed her that more testing was needed and to seek care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. At 4:30 a.m., the world changed for the Hankins family, as the emergency room doctor told them that Harper had a silver dollar mass behind her eye. “It was just a mass at that point, but all sense of rationality goes away when you hear something like that.” Harper could tell something was wrong, but her parents tried to shield her as much as possible. The anxiety set in. Harper, diagnosed with ADHD as a young child struggles with anxiety and has found a saving grace in her service dog Maggie. Maggie is a black german sheppard who is trained to notice Harper’s anxiety set in before even Harper does. Maggie was able to stay with Harper during the majority of her hospital stays, testing and appointments. Once admitted, Harper saw the mass doctor at Children’s and they conducted a “rabbit hole” of testing. On Christmas eve morning, the family got the news that it was not cancer, however it was a large hemangioma sitting behind her eye. The family got home at 6:15 Christmas eve night with a whole new journey on the horizon. Her first appointment with the Ophthalmologist, Dr. John Pemberton at UAMS was in January 2026 and the testing showed that the mass was not cancerous, but still growing and for unknown reasons. Harper was immediately put on a high dose of steroids for treatment and was told the worst news for a nine year old softball player, no strenuous activity. No running. No playing. No pitching. No anything other than sitting and being careful with everyday life. For any child, this would be near impossible, but for Harper who was used to being active 24/7, this was devastating. When speaking of her time at home, Jacey said it was “Very hard to watch the downhill and not just the physical but the emotional and mental.” She continued getting worse and steroids weren’t making things better, instead she was overrun with a multitude of new symptoms from the medications. “When you are so used to being at practice or games, or keeping up with siblings and animals at home, then you have to literally do nothing. It’s heartbreaking.” Then in April, something was even more wrong. The optic nerve went from the size of a needle to the size of a No. 2 pencil in the span of four weeks. Pressure levels were high and color vision was dropping. When she could normally see a 10 out of 10, Harper could now only see 4 out of 10. She couldn’t read anything out of her eye and the mass was close to the nasal cavity causing her to not be able to turn her eye. “It hurt so bad.” Her eyelid wouldn’t even close all the way. The doctor said she needed to come back, it’s getting bigger and she has the possibility of going blind. It was a Thursday and they quickly scheduled her to come to the hospital the next Monday. Going back for appointments every four weeks then such a quick turn around for admittance, the family leaned on each other and other family members like Mike and Holly Foster, to help take care of the other children and animals. There were always many people helping behind the scenes and one quote Jacey hung onto through the experience was said by her supervisor “Although we are in the dark, there is one person that will never be in the dark about anything that is going on in your life.” Being on the Oncology floor during her time in the hospital made the experience much more humbling. While there, the teams were perplexed because Harper could still see and there was functionality in her eye but the mass was growing. The infectious disease team came in and ran an abundance of tests to no avail. The amount of tests, pokes, information, and uncertainty were almost too much to bear at times, but Maggie was there to help ease the tension. Maggie is a true valued member of the family who although is trained to pick up Harper’s anxiety, had started tuning in to other family members during the hospital stays. Maggie cues in before overstimulation becomes a problem. The medical team ordered more testing that finally showed something they could do. The doctor called and said there was no blood flow to the mass, but then scheduled for surgery the next day. Only 42 minutes passed from walking into the room until the doctor came in to tell Jacey and Michael the surgery was a success. When they extracted the mass, they found it was bigger than her eye and her eye socket was overloaded, thus pushing the eye out. The doctors told them during recovery they had to wait and see if Harper would have blood flow to the eye and how her vision was. Harper was nervous, but glad to finally have answers and get the treatment she needed. They found out that the best medical opinion was that the mass was caused by a blood vessel behind her eye that got clogged and filled due to the conjunctivitis she had the previous year. Dr. Pemberton told the family, “Never in my entire career seen anything like this.” There were 43 people on her medical team and just two other people in the world have ever had something like this. Harper is the youngest patient on that list, and after some time will receive a book full of all her records. “The weight that was lifted, I can’t even describe the feelings. The whole week was so intense, then it was just relief.” Jacey was emotional when speaking about the experience and how she has witnessed her daughter go through very trying times and still come out with a positive outlook and determination to play ball. While the weight was lifted to a degree for the adults and all those around her, Harper said about it set in about a day later, she “cried I was so happy.” After the surgery, Harper experienced swelling and bruising, but had no vision issues or lasting effects. In May she was released from the doctor for light activity and just a month later she was allowed to pick her passion back up. July 7th, Dr. Pemberton fully released her to live life to the fullest as she was back within her pre-mass parameters. Jacey spoke of how the experience opened her eyes to how blessed the family is to have the support system they have, “I’ll forever be grateful to every single person who donated, prayed and thought of Harper throughout her journey.” Although there were some confidence issues after being off for seven months, Harper has now shown everyone that her resilience and determination are unmatched. She is already back to competing and taking pitching lessons only three months after a life-changing surgical event. The frustration and downheartedness most adults would be dealing with, Harper has dealt with at such a young age. Going through this experience, she has also proved God is watching over her and paired with her fortitude, she will be unstoppable.

By Kenny Mitchell kenny@westbowiepost.com Members of the community in Avery have come together for a common purpose, and that purpose is to honor those who have served our country in the armed forces. An effort is underway to honor and all of the veterans laid to rest in the Avery Cemetery by placing a special commemorative wreath on their final resting place for Christmas this year. The work being done now is to identify all of the veterans in the cemetery and that is where the organizers need the help of the community. Volunteers are working to identify and mark each veteran’s grave on a master map so that no one is overlooked. They currently have nearly 300 veterans listed, but believe there are more. Some graves are marked with military headstones or footstones, while others have no visible indication of service. Organizers of the effort are asking the community to come forward if you have a family member buried in the Avery Cemetery who served in the military, but whose grave is not marked as a veteran. They want to ensure that every veteran laid to rest at the cemetery is honored. Organizer Cheryl Megason told the West Bowie Post, “It just hit me as a burden, and I thought to myself that we ought to be able to do this here for our veterans. It is like Wreaths across America. It hits home with our generation I believe. When I was thinking about it I knew I couldn’t do this by myself so I reached out to several of them that I thought would help, and they did, and with their help we have already received some donations. Prayerfully it will come to pass, and we can do this to honor our veterans.” Megason and the other volunteers hope to get the project done late November and have the wreaths on each gravesite for Christmas 2026. With that many wreaths to place, donations are needed to support the effort, and they have several different ways to make a donation. An account has been established at State Bank of DeKalb and you can make a donation to the cause there by telling the bank your donation is for the Avery Remembrance Project Account. You can also make a digital donation via several options including CashApp, Venmo and PayPal with the following information: Cash App: $Sondrarustgray Venmo: @sondrarustgray PayPal: @sondrarust Lastly, if you choose you can mail in your donation to Cheryl Megason at P.O. Box 197, Avery, Texas 75554 The organizers also plan to have a booth at the upcoming 4th of July festivities in Avery, and you can learn more about the project, volunteer to help, or make a donation in person.

By Allyson Pebsworth allyson@westbowiepost.com Bringing a lifetime of restaurant experience to Hooks, Don Baughman and wife Cheryl, are excited to continue serving customers in the area, this time with a variety of bar-b-que and sweet treats. Born in Texarkana to parents Charles and Yeda Moore, Cheryl met Don during her youth while living in California. After building a life that grew to include daughters Jena Reis and Kalen Baughman, Don and Cheryl moved back to Texas to be closer to her aging parents six years ago. Don started his restaurant career unexpectedly over 45 years ago and has never looked back. Once relocated to Texas, Don’s passion for the kitchen turned into a showcase of good eating at their restaurant, the Pully Bone in Nash, Texas. Last year after five years of serving the community, the Pully Bone closed its doors leaving Don and Cheryl to determine what God had in store for their lives. “We enjoyed our time at the Pully Bone, then the Lord put this in our space,” Cheryl stated when speaking about their restaurant journey. Visiting Ramage Farm when their children were young and traveling to Texas on vacation, they have always loved the building and the atmosphere, not knowing one day they would have their own restaurant through the same doors. While running the Pully Bone, Don was approached on multiple occasions for opportunities at the Ramage Farm building. The building and its possibilities were a subject that came up regularly and when speaking about how God guided their journey to Clementine’s, Don said “It (Ramage Farms) kept popping up and if you want us out there, can you get the hurdles out of the way?” For several years, the timing was not right. Then in 2025, with the help of investors, the couple were able to turn their dream into a reality. The hurdles seemed to dissipate and the journey was just beginning. The Baughmans hope to continue jumping any hurdles that may come their way to serve the surrounding communities for years to come. Plans for expansion by next year will see Clementine’s become a full service restaurant with a gift shop, and there are even talks of a “Crawcuzzi” in the Silos for upcoming crawfish seasons. The restaurant is currently open for take out meals Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Plans to extend the dining area to include in house dining as well as a small gift shop are in the foreseeable future. Menu expansions are in the works, but for now diners can enjoy items such as bbq plates, loaded spuds, a variety of sides and homemade desserts. More information and updates can be found on the restaurant Facebook page.

DeKalb’s Zadie Kaye Bates came home with a long list of honors from the American Junior Simbrah Roundup held last week in Brenham, Texas. ZK earned Grand Champion in Public Speaking, Grand Champion in Skill-a-thon, Grand Champion in Sales Talk, Grand Champion in Livestock Judging, 3rd place in Cattleman’s Quiz, 3rd place in Showmanship, Reserve Grand Champion in her Division with her Simbrah show heifer and Overall High Point Junior. The future of FFA and 4-H is bright in Bowie County. Look for a monthly feature on area Ag students coming soon to the West Bowie Post.

By Rylee Freeman Reporter Whether in the mood for a hot coffee to start the day, a refreshing lemonade to cool off or an energizer for a midday boost, customers no longer have to drive miles out of town to satisfy the craving. The Hudson Roast brings familiar favorites to the Maud community, offering many of the same drinks found at larger coffee shops while providing the convenience and inviting atmosphere of a locally owned business. After living in Maud for 12 years, owner Felicia Hudson saw an opportunity to serve the community by opening a coffee shop. Though The Hudson Roast has been open for only two months, it already offers a wide variety of beverages for all ages. Customers can choose from iced and hot coffee, energizers, Alanis, lemonade, sweet tea, milkshakes, matcha and chai. Hudson values creating a welcoming environment and strives to make every customer feel at home. “People can walk in and I know who they are, and I know their drink order because they come in so often,” Hudson said. Those who enter The Hudson Roast can also expect greetings from Hudson’s younger children, whose friendly welcomes help make the shop feel like home. After years of balancing a full-time job and nursing school, Hudson said the most rewarding part of opening the coffee shop has been having her children by her side throughout the journey. Looking ahead, Hudson hopes to expand while maintaining the same hometown atmosphere. “If it does well enough in the first year, my husband and I have talked about opening up a second location in another small town,” Hudson said. She said any future location would continue to serve a small community, provide a gathering place for locals and be operated by members of that community. Encouraging residents to invest in local businesses, Hudson emphasized the impact community support can have. “Support your local shops,” Hudson said. “You’re literally pouring into your community when you stay local.” The Hudson Roast is located at 119 Main St. in Maud.