NEWS
OSBI calls missing Randlett, OK man a ‘suspicious disappearance’
Oklahoma law enforcement officers are still seeking information on a missing Randlett, OK man who was last seen nearly a month ago.
Grady Bruce Benson, 69, resides in Cotton County, OK, about 10 minutes outside Randlett. He was last seen on Nov. 9 before his family says he disappeared without a trace from his home off State Highway 70.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation and calls it a “suspicious disappearance.” They are assisting the Cotton County Sheriff in the investigation.
Benson is a lifelong resident of the Randlett area. According to his wife, Bruce was focused on family and farming. They went to vote on Nov. 8 and when they came home, Maxine was getting ready for a trip with friends to Branson, MO.
Texoma’s homepage reports Maxine said it didn’t phase her at first when he didn’t return her texts right away, but after several missed calls she called their son, Grady, to check on Bruce.
Grady told investigators his dad brought him dinner from a nearby fish restaurant and helped him fix a flat tire on his plow. That was the last time anyone in the family talked with him or saw him. That night they both came back to the house and to the barn.
When they couldn’t get in touch with him the next day, Grady searched the house and property, before calling the sheriff’s office. There was no sign of his father on the property.
Grady said everything was in place at the home, the doors were locked and garage door down. All his vehicles also have been located. His cell phone, keys and wallet were found sitting in the driver’s side of his unlocked pickup, which his family said he always locked.
A Silver Alert was issued on Nov. 12. Initially law enforcement agencies from a 15-mile area assisted with a massive search for Bruce. They used drones, airplanes, helicopters, troopers on horseback and in vehicles searching all the way to the Red River. Nothing was found. His wife said Tuesday searches continue in the area around the home.
The family is offering a $25,000 reward to anyone who knows how to find Bruce. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and worn Red Wing boots with the steel toe showing through.
Call the Cotton County Sheriff at 580-875-3383 or OSBI tipline at 800-522-8017 or [email protected].
NEWS
Water line costs through grant skyrocket
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Councilors accepted the low bidder to replace water lines in the area of Wichita and Hutchinson streets, approved the purchase of lighting for a pickleball court and a request for money out of the infrastructure fund to lay a waterline in Al Jo area.
Before getting into the agenda Mayor Gaylynn Burris presented Stony Lowrance, public works director, with an award from the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association for outstanding achievement in quality construction of asphalt pavement for the Bowie Municipal Airport when it received new runaways in 2022.
New business
As with many state grant projects the application process is a long way from the bid acceptance, and in this instance the price skyrocketed.
Michael Tibbetts, Hayter Engineering, explained the original application was made two years ago. The grant was not funded, but then some more money became available and it was funded. Bids were opened in February.
“We were concerned the bids might come in over budget. We therefore designed the project with seven stand-alone street segments to allow us to select a combination of segments that would come closest to our budget ($301,268), while still meeting Texas Department of Agriculture requirements for benefitting at least 51% low to moderate income residences,” explained Tibbetts.
Seven bids were received and their range was wide from $819,345.50 to $2,005,03.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
NEWS
Bowie Trustees will be asked about Johnson Lake’s future
Bowie Independent School District Trustees will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on March 18 in the board room at 404 E. Williams.
An executive session is scheduled to discuss purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Superintendent Blake Enlow said it has been several years since the use of the lake east of the high school property has been discussed, and there have been rumors and questions, so he would like to get some board input on the topic.
The property and its future may be on people’s mind as the Victron Company prepares to start construction on a convenience store and gas station, that will reportedly include a Starbucks and a Taco Bell. The store will be at the corner of Farm-to-Market 1125 and U.S. Highway 287 north, which is adjacent to that lake land.
In the past there have been discussions about it becoming a park, but a drowning of a high school student six years ago pushed the lake to the back burner. The school district may not be willing to take on as well as the cost of creating and maintaining a park.
There is only one action item, approval of the 2024-25 instruction calendar. The district is expected, based on public surveys going to continue with the four-day school week.
Assistant Superintendent Lee Ann Farris will provide information on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills certification, instruction materials, an interim assessment update and board goals update. Campus principal and the financial director will offer their monthly reports. Finance Director Paula Peterson will also provide information on funding, values and budget development.
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