NEWS
Sheriff asks for 2 more deputies, 1 jailer, 1 communications officer, jail software

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Sheriff Marshall Thomas made a pitch for two more deputies, two more jail/communications officers, along with a new jail management software as county budget workshops got underway with the Montague County Commissioner’s Court Monday.
The county elections administrator and justice of the peace two also offered their budget requests to the court.
Thomas and Chief Deputy Jack Lawson offered the requests to the court, with county growth the primary factor for the two additional deputies. The sheriff presented a population-to-officer ratio for Montague, Clay and Archer Counties. The county has 938 square miles with about 20,000 in population. There are 12 sheriff’s deputies serving the county, plus 16 on the Bowie Police, three on Saint Jo Police and five on Nocona Police.
Clay County has 1,117 square miles with 10,500 in population with 18 sheriff’s deputies. Archer County has 925 square miles with 8,500 people. Twelve deputies serve the county, three Holliday police and two Archer City police.
In other figures he stated Bowie is 5.5 square miles with 5,075 people; Nocona, 2.8 square miles with 2,982 people; Saint Jo is one square mile with 863 people and the county has the remaining 928.8 square miles with 11,080 population.
“I ask for two more deputies that will help us maintain what we have, but with 11 subdivisions coming in there will be an increase in workload and at a certain point it is a safety issue. People moving in will see we are understaffed. I would not ask if I didn’t think it was necessary,” said Thomas.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
NEWS
Jury finds ex-DA Casey Hall guilty on theft by a public servant

The jury was seated on Monday and the opening day of testimony Tuesday only lasted four hours, before the panel went into deliberations about 2 p.m.
Two hours later the jury returned a guilty verdict on both charges. Wednesday morning the jury was set to begin discussion on Hall’s punishment at 8:30 a.m. with both sides offering evidence and testimony. Hall faces up to 10 years in prison.
The trial was moved to Denton County on a change of venue requested by Hall in March. After 16th District Judge Sherry Shipman read the verdict, it was reported Hall hung her head in disappointment and was later seen crying and emotional as she left the courtroom.
NEWS
Amon Carter remains closed due to high water
NEWS
Brief agenda awaits city council

Members of the Bowie City Council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. on May 13 in council chambers.
The meeting opens with a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week.
City Manager Bert Cunningham will report on recent rainfall problems, Smythe Street sidewalk project and the substation work.
There is only one item of new business an ordinance related to speed limits on specific streets. Public comments and approval of minutes wrap up the agenda.
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