NEWS
Montague County Sheriff’s files charge in local robbery
UPDATE 11:15 A.M. June 20, 2018
Montague County Sheriff Marshall Thomas has just reported he has filed a robbery charge on Melvin Bowling in connection with the robbery of the Ultimate Stop at Montague on June 14. Justice of the Peace Karen Reynolds set a bond of $250,000 in the case plus a condition that Bowling must wear a GPS tracking unit if he is released on bond.
Thomas said officials from Jefferson County will be coming to the sheriff’s office this afternoon to question the suspect in connection with the robbery at The Peach Orchard on June 12.
Watch for further updates in your weekend News.
By BARBARA GREEN
A 39-year-old man from Nederland has been detained as a suspect in a pair of robberies that occurred last week outside Montague and in Jefferson County, OK.
Montague County Sheriff Marshall Thomas said Melvin Mark Dewayne Bowling was arrested Sunday by the Cooke County Sheriff’s Office as they watched for a suspicious vehicle based on an alert sent out by Thomas’ office.
“He was arrested on a complaint of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and he had multiple firearms. We are working on search warrants for all his vehicles and residence,” said Thomas.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Ultimate Stop, 10343 State Highway 59, at 9:30 p.m. on June 14. The clerk was threatened by a man outside by the ice machine. He said he was there to rob the store and had a gun.
Two days earlier a robbery struck at Doug’s Peach Orchard, just across the state border in Terral, OK. Sheriff Thomas said they talked with officers in Jefferson County and believed there were enough similarities in the cases to possibly be the same suspect. The investigation is continuing and Bowling was arrested in Cooke County Sunday after an extensive search in Montague County.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioner’s Court reluctantly returned money to the state connected to Senate Bill 22 in fiscal 2024.
During Monday’s regular session, County Auditor Charley Lanier explained the three transactions. SB 22 provided funding for prosecutor offices to assist with paying staff, and in the sheriff’s office for staff and equipment.
If all the money was not spent it had to be returned. Lanier explained the fund was approved in 2024, but it arrived after the fiscal year began and commissioners did not want to spend any of until the funds actually arrived in county coffers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Saint Jo City Council had a brief meeting on June 17.
The 2026-27 budgets for appraisal and tax collections from the Montague County Tax Appraisal District were approved. The tax collection budget faces a 3.71% increase and 2.2% in the appraisal budget.
The city’s payment for tax collections will go from $1,305 for the year down slightly from $1,445 last year. The appraisal portion for Saint Jo will be $9,526, up from $9,361 in 2026.
A municipal election for Nov. 3 was called. Places open on the ballot will be mayor, and the places filled by Melissa McPherson and Jack Dunn, who was appointed to fill out a term.
The council approved a resolution to apply for grants for water infra structure improvements through the Texas Water Development Board. The city is working with engineers from Corlett, Probst and Boyd of Wichita Falls on a proposed project.
The 60th anniversary Jim Bowie Days Celebration opened on June 20th with a full day of activities focusing on sports and a barbecue cookoff.
Festivities continue throughout the week highlight by rodeo, youth rodeo, kid’s activities and Pioneer Court. The second annual Smokedown BBQ Cookout began on Friday night with the steak and beans contests. Three other categories for chicken ribs and brisket followed on Saturday. There were 27 teams, four more than last year.
Conducted by Outlaw BBQ, the grand champion was Vinny McNamara, with 36 points. Steve Cumbie was reserve grand champion with 26 points.
Read about all the weekend’s winners complete with many photos in your Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – The first annual pickleball tourney drew 17 teams. Teams greet each other before they start play (Photo by Barbara Green0
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