COUNTY LIFE
3 jailed in Archer County murder case
Casey Polhemus, 97th district attorney reports that on May 2, Saconn Renea Ayala, Charles Ray Hunter and Lee Alfredo Villalpando were each charged with murder for their role in the death of John Lewis Helms on April 19.
The body of the 24-year-old Helms was discovered on Half House Road in Archer County about 9 p.m. on April 19.
The extensive investigation revealed Helms suffered multiple blunt force injuries to the head and body, with multiple stab wounds to the back.
Each of the suspects were in custody on other charges when the murder complaint was filed by the DA’s staff on Saturday.
Ayala was arrested on April 26 for drug and theft charges in Wichita County; Hunt was arrested on April 27 for drug charges, also in Wichita County, while Villalpando was arrested in Young County on May 2 on felony assault out of Tarrant County.
“I am very proud of the teamwork that led to the arrests in this case,” said Polhemus.
“It was a multi-jurisdictional effort that included the 97th District Attorney’s investigators, the Texas Rangers, the Wichita Falls Police Department and the Wichita County DA’s office investigators. They all worked tirelessly to find Helms’ killers and bring them to justice,” she concluded.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint