Montague County Judge Kevin Benton reported Saturday morning he has found after talking with the local health authority and state health service officials the state is tracking 35 active COVID-19 cases in the county and there are likely some additional cases on on the list. This increase from Oct. 14 when the mask exemption was announced, now cancels the exemption. The Texas Department of Health is investigating probable origins of this increase in positive cases. Citizens are encouraged to follow the governor’s order urging face coverings in public locations.

Ultimate Stop in Montague was burglarized at approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 26 when cigarettes and a safe deposit box were stolen.

The burglary was reported when an employee arrived in the early morning hours to open the store, located at 10343 State Hwy 59 N., and discovered damage to the building.

Montague County Sheriff Investigator Joey Stewart said entry was made using a crowbar. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the unknown suspect had tampered with the alarm keypad and cut the phone wires. Once inside, cigarettes and a safe deposit box were stolen.

The store did have video surveillance; however, the burglar also took the digital video recorder containing any video that may have identified the suspect.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were no known suspects, but Stewart reported the department is processing evidence gathered at the crime scene and hope to identify a suspect soon. If you have any information regarding this crime, call the Montague County Sheriff’s office at 894-2871.

Seven guilty pleas were entered in 97th District Court last week. District Attorney Casey Polhemus also was informed a November 2015 case against a woman who left her five children home alone in filthy conditions will be dismissed due to her mental status. “Jessica Petroni has been found to be insane at the time, which is a bar to prosecution,” explained Polhemus. Read the full story in your mid-week News.