NEWS
Lawyer blames BISD board for suicide
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
A civil rights attorney reportedly representing the late Justin Kuecher gave the Bowie Independent School District Trustees a scathing rebuke accusing the district of actions that led to the “suicide” of Kuecher last week at his home.
C.J Grisham, an attorney from Temple, spoke to the board during public comments on Aug. 26, following a pair of public hearing meetings on the budget and tax rate and just as the board was going into a virtual training meeting. Board President Jacky Betts allowed him to speak with a five-minute time limit noting his topic was abuse of public office.
In an Aug. 18 meeting the board voted to pursue criminal charges against Kuecher who allegedly illegally recorded conversations with district staff without their knowledge or permission. Following an executive session with the district attorney the board voted to move forward with filing a charge related to unlawful interception by electronic device. Trustees Jeff Jackson and Angie Christmas abstained from the vote.
Bowie Police received a personal complaint from administrative secretary Kelli Ragsdale on Aug. 8, as she said Kuecher used a cell phone to record parties who were unaware they were being recorded. Kuecher had been filling out paperwork to run for place three on the board.
run for place three on the board and had his phone on recording the process, when he had to go outside to his vehicle to get his driver’s license. Police reported Kuecher then posted the recordings on social media.
Lt. Bob Blackburn of the Bowie Police Department said this type of offense is a second degree felony. He said a warrant had been obtained for the case, but Kuecher had not yet been arrested.
Jack Lawson, chief deputy with the Montague County sheriff’s office, said that office received a call about the death on Aug. 21 after someone in the family found Kuecher’s body at his home in the Sunset area. Lawson said the preliminary cause of death appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but the investigation is still pending.
Grisham said he mostly focuses on first and second amendment issues, but he represents Justin Kuecher, whom he says the board voted to have charged with “a fake and bogus crime.”
“I am not sure what it was, what I do know is you guys have blood on your hands. My client, Justin, is dead, he committed suicide because he was facing a bogus felony charge from this board,” said Grisham.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH WESTERN MONTAGUE COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELED. HOWEVER, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING (BELOW) HAS BEEN ISSUED.
BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
733 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Southwestern Montague County in north central Texas…
Northwestern Wise County in north central Texas…
Northeastern Jack County in north central Texas…
* Until 830 PM CDT.
* At 731 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Newport, or
16 miles southwest of Bowie, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD…Tennis ball size hail and 70 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE…Trained weather spotters. At 729 PM CDT, 70 mph winds was
reported by Jacksboro Fire at Highway 148 and the Jack-
Clay County line.
IMPACT…People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to
mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near…
Newport around 735 PM CDT.
Lake Bridgeport around 810 PM CDT.
Chico around 820 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Wizard
Wells, Cundiff, Park Springs, Postoak, Crafton, Fruitland, and
Vineyard.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central
Texas.
For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from
windows.
Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Move indoors immediately. Lightning can kill.
THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT…CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT…RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE…2.50 IN
WIND THREAT…OBSERVED
MAX WIND GUST…70 MPH
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
709 PM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a
* Tornado Warning for…
Southwestern Montague County in north central Texas…
Northeastern Jack County in north central Texas…
* Until 800 PM CDT.
* At 708 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 10 miles east of Windthorst, or 21 miles south of
Henrietta, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD…Tornado and tennis ball size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT…Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Montague and northeastern Jack Counties, including the
following locations… Postoak.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.
TORNADO…RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE…2.50 IN
Emergency Communications Team Montague County
rondstSepoc08a4c1i95325ml95t7u1cl28u0c02679fuaght5ga25h2209f ·
4/25/26–1752
RADAR UPDATE
Montague County remains under a Tornado Watch until 11pm tonight. Please remain weather aware.
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