NEWS
State fire inspection of courthouse cites lack of second fire exits
By BARBARA GREEN
Montague County could face a major remodel of its 104-year-old courthouse if it is unable to obtain a variance related to the lack of a second approved fire exit off the top two floors.
In mid-July, County Judge Rick Lewis received a Fire Safety Inspection Report from James Scott McAnallen, deputy state fire marshal, citing 14 violations of the Life Safety Code. The county was given 30 days to respond to the state office detailing its intentions to correct violations, and a timeline for their completion.
The fire marshal’s office conducted an investigation into a complaint filed on the doors of the courthouse being chained and locked during business hours. Lewis said he asked about the specific complaint, but the inspector would not provide any details.
The only recent event during which the courthouse was limited to one entry point occurred during the June 29 criminal trial of Ricky Howard. All doors are closed with signs noting the only entry is through the basement where each person goes through a metal detector. There was no confirmation if this was the event where the complaint occurred.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
Pictured: The fire escape slides that extend from the third floor of the courthouse to the ground. There are two slides on the building. (Photo by Barbara Green)
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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