NEWS
SO, DA receive funding for cell phone forensic lab, digital fingerprinting system
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioners approved a request Monday to join four programs that can assist in crime-fighting for the sheriff’s office and within the 97th Judicial District.
Staff from the sheriff and District Attorney offices made the presentation requesting funding to access a trio of cell phone forensic tools and a biometric identification system helping bring needed modern technology into criminal investigations.
District Attorney Casey Hall and DA Investigator Chris Hamilton, along with Chief Deputy Jack Lawson and Deputy Ethan Romine made the presentation to set up their own forensic lab for cell phones.
Hamilton opened by telling commissioners investigations into major crimes have changed in recent years and the importance of accessing digital evidence such as material from a cell phone is vital. The sheriff’s staff has done some training in this area, but most suspects won’t share their passcodes so the investigators have to move up to the state or federal levels to get help to access them. And while both are willing, the backlog is vast up to a year or year and a half, which can stall out a case.
“I pulled a few strings to get a phone to ICAT and the Wichita Police helped in the Helms murder, Wise County also helps, but those departments can’t do it all the time,” said Hamilton.
The officers would like to utilize programs that are available to help unlock cell phones and decipher their data whether it be actual calls, texts, messages, search history or location data.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Supertunia Tiara duo debuted in 2025 and in this brief amount of time has become the darling of the landscape. The love and admiration from gardeners across the country including my area of West Georgia and East Alabama has been nothing short of wow.
As much as gardeners treasure their Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunias, Supertunia Pink Tiara and Blue Tiara are here to say look at me! Oh yes, and both are building a trophy case with awards.
At first, it would seem the Supertunia Tiara Petunias were designed with the artist gardener in mind. While that could be true it is most likely that these petunias are so unique and beautiful that any combination or application you try simply looks ready for canvas.
Read the full Garden Guy column in your Thursday Bowie News.
The Bowie City Council approved a $950,000 project to improve the walking path at Pelham Park on Oct. 27.
Bowie Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Janis Crawley said the upcoming project will repave 26,277 square feet of pathway in concrete, spanning about 0.6 miles in length.
The work covers the trail section northeast of the Blade, curving past the soccer fields and toward the swimming pool.
Another section goes around the pool and sport courts, then back down toward the Blade. The project will also widen the trail section to eight feet and add a new 36-foot bridge.
Read the full story in your Thursday Bowie News.
Montague County voters joined the rest of the state with a tremendous turnout in Tuesday’s elections.
The elections administration office reported with all 10 precincts counted a turnout of 56.01% or 8,732 casting ballots. There are 15,591 registered voters in the county.
While there were no county contested races, there were two city council and two school board elections.
The Bowie City Council has three places on the ballot. Laura Sproles, incumbent, was not challenged for her place two.
Levi Bailey won the precinct one seat with 925 votes. Valerie Thomerson received 328 votes.
In precinct three, Terry Gunter won with 1,027 votes and Glenda Durham was second with 383
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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