NEWS
Missing swimmer’s body found Monday
The body of Bowie man was found in off the point of Selma Park on Lake Amon G. Carter after he went missing while swimming out to help his children who appeared to have gotten too far from shore due to the winds.
The search for Randall Carpenter began around 1 p.m. Sunday following a 911 call. He was reportedly swimming out to get his two children ages eight and 13, who had drifted too far from shore and could not get back. A 911 call about swimmers in danger went to the Montague County Sheriff’s office and Bowie Police also responded. First responders were able to get the attention of some two boaters who assisted and got the children out of the water and back to shore. They were taken by ambulance to Decatur Medical City and were treated for inhaling water.
An afternoon search for the father continued with high winds creating large white caps and dangerous boating conditions. Boats were pulled out around around 4 p.m. due to those concerns, however, Police Chief Guy Green said they continued to search the shoreline and the sheriff’s staff sent up a drone to search. At dark the search was halted, but resumed Monday morning around 8 a.m. with a Wise EMS rescue boat and two parks and wildlife boats with sonar searching for the missing man.
Sonar found the man on the bottom of the lake and divers from the Wichita Falls Police Department recovered Carpenter around 10 a.m. Monday.
(Pictured at top) Wise EMS and Texas Parks and Wildlife boats were on Lake Amon Carter Monday morning continuing the search for a missing swimming that began Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The Montague County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in sophisticated scams involving individuals falsely claiming to be law enforcement officers. These criminals use fear, intimidation, and urgency to convince victims to send money through cryptocurrency
kiosks, Bitcoin ATMs, or digital wallets.
Scammers often identify themselves as deputies, investigators, or federal law enforcement officers and falsely claim the victim has an outstanding warrant, failed to appear for jury duty, or is involved in an ongoing criminal investigation. Victims are then instructed to make an immediate payment using cryptocurrency to avoid arrest or resolve the alleged issue.
The Montague County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public:
We will never demand payment over the telephone.
Deputies will never instruct anyone to pay fines, bonds, or fees using cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers.
Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not threaten immediate arrest if payment is not made
over the phone.
Scammers frequently “spoof” official phone numbers, making calls appear to come from
legitimate government agencies or law enforcement offices.
If you receive one of these calls:
Hang up immediately.
Do not provide personal or financial information.
Do not send cryptocurrency or any other form of payment.
Contact the Montague County Sheriff’s Office using a verified telephone number to report the
incident or verify the caller’s claims.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized by this scam is encouraged to contact the
Montague County Sheriff’s Office immediately. Prompt reporting can assist investigators and help prevent additional victims.
The sheriff’s office is available at 894-2871.
Press release provided by the Montague County Sheriff’s office.
Montague County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on July 13.
Items on the agenda include the following: Approve bond for deputy clerk tax assessor-collector; reappoint Jan Ward to the Helen Farabee Center Board; approve line-item budget adjustment of $6,650 from election judges to election supplies for the purchase of a NeuraScanner; approve election judges, alternates and clerks for 2026-27 election year; consider enrollment with the Texas Association of Counties certified AI course; consider naming a private road Berkley Lane off of Farm-to-Market 1655; replat in precinct four and final plat for Twin Acres subdivision; review sealed bid for base rock and budget workshop for fiscal 2026-27.
Members of the Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on July 14 in regular session.
The city manager’s report from Bert Cunningham opens the meeting.
He will report on the Coffield to Roberts Streets waterline; budget preparation; status of the Texas Water Development Board grant application and a new water line on Session Street from Coffield to Roberts.
In new business, the council will consider a medical access and service advantage program, an ordinance calling the Nov. 3 election and an amendment to the finance department’s cash handling policy.
The city manager will make the presentation of the proposed 2026-27 budget, followed by setting a public hearing and budget workshop.
In old business, there will be the second reading of an ordinance updating the office of emergency management along with an update on an agreement for automatic aid assistance between the City of Bowie Fire Department, Sunset Volunteer Fire Department and Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department.
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