NEWS
Sparks fly in debate over soda pops

By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
While the burn ban was a hot topic, sparks flew in the courtroom Monday as commissioners argued about the policy that does not allow the county to buy soda pops for employees.
Commissioner Roy Darden raised the issue after an invoice he submitted was rejected by the auditor who reportedly told him the county is only allowed to purchase Gatorade and water. He asked what about tea, milk, coffee and orange juice, if those were allowed. Auditor Jennifer Essary said that has been the policy for the precincts.
Darden wanted to know where the rule came from whether it was a state mandate, court approved or from the auditor. Commissioner Bob Langford, senior member of the court, said they have always had to watch where they spend money and he had been “called on the carpet himself” for a wrong item.
“It is not a rule that is hers trying to make it hard on you or the county. There are only certain things you can and can’t do. I don’t know what is such a big deal. I understand where you are coming from, but we have to take care of what we spend and justify it,” said Langford.
County Judge Kevin Benton interjected they have to keep in mind, “This is not our money.”
Darden responded the problem is when she rejects a ticket it comes out of his pocket.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
NEWS
Texas Treasure Business Award presented to White’s Magneto & Supply

Mayor Gaylynn Burris and members of the Bowie Community Development Board presented White’s Magneto & Supply with the Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission. Current owners Eddy and Gina Robinson accepted the award. Eddy was a longtime employee before buying the business in 2021. It was founded in 1948 by Albert E. Si White and his wife Sallie and has continued to evolve through the years to meet the needs of the greater Bowie area. (Photo by Barbara Green)
NEWS
Former DA’s trial cancelled, no new date set

Less than a month before her trial for theft of property former 97th district attorney Casey Hall received an amended indictment changing it to theft by a public servant and adding a count of misappropriation of fiduciary/financial property.
The court’s legal filing also reported the pending March 17 jury trial was cancelled, but as of Tuesday no new date was stated. After the new indictment a motion was filed for a continuance as the state investigates some possible new allegations.
Hall was indicted last July on a single count of theft of property $2,500-$30,000, a state jail felony, related to a pair of allegations that she allegedly deposited a state voucher for an employee’s salary supplement into her personal account instead of the office account between May 31 and Oct. 4, 2022.
The two deposits were $9,116.97 each, which is $18,233.94. The vouchers were requested from the AG grant funds used for salary supplements in the DA’s office.
The amended indictment was filed on Feb. 11. Theft by a public servant is a third degree felony and misapplication is a state jail felony. A fiduciary includes a trustee, guardian or administrator who handles property he holds as a fiduciary or property of a financial institution in a manner that involves substantial risk of loss to the owner of the property or to the person for whose benefit the property is held.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
NEWS
‘Brutal’ news on water system needs

By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
One Bowie City Council member called the infrastructure facts presented by the public works director as “brutal,” as he outlined more than $20 million in estimated needs from the water plant to the old lake line that serves customers along U.S. Highway 81.
Councilors met for a workshop Tuesday night to discuss infrastructure problems and water rates that could help fund the costs. Public Works Director Stony Lowrance and Water Plant Director Jerry Sutton both made presentations, afterwhich finance director Pamela Woods offered rate suggested based on consumption that meter readings.
Sutton referred to a May 2024 inspection from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality staff where they found the raw water pumping capacity to be non compliant and directed the city staff to add one more pump. The plant “should be” doing 2,724 gallons per minute or 3,923,000 gallons per day based on TCEQ criteria, but it is doing 2,100 gallons per minute with 3,240,000 gallons per day, which is 80% of its capacity.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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