NEWS
New Montague County Grand Jury panel seated
After several months of delays in grand jury deliberations due to COVID-19 restrictions, a new Montague County Grand Jury panel was recently selected and had its first deliberations Monday.
District Attorney Casey Polhemus said potential jurors were selected on Feb. 25 using a Zoom meeting for not only Montague County, but Archer and Clay in the 97th District.
The follow indictments were returned on March 8.
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.
Richard Camilo Vela Jr., 54, Round Rock, evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Aug. 21, 2020, $25,000 total bonds on the two counts.
Vela was arrested Aug. 21, 2020 after area law enforcement stopped him after an extensive chase that saw him speed into Bowie and back out only to finally be stopped on Highway 101 and Lawhorn Lane.
He was reported to be armed and dangerous, wanted in Travis County for aggravated robbery with a weapon. Polhemus said he was wanted for homicide in Austin after the victim reportedly died.
Brady Lee Baird, 20, Sunset, indicted on a charge of criminal mischief $2,500-$30,000, April 20, 2020 offense, $10,000 bond.
Dustin Suede Bell, 26, in jail, abandon/endanger a child criminal negligence, March 29, 2019, $5,000 bond.
Chelsea Marie Brown, 22, Bowie, abandon/endanger a child
See the grand jury indictment list in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
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)
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