NEWS
County judge issues new executive order; clarifies it’s not a shelter in place order
Montague County Judge Rick Lewis issued an executive order Thursday afternoon declaring the county’s emergency management plan was activated and ordering those who may be sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 stay home.
Some read the order as a directive for all to stay home, but in a clarification letter on Friday Lewis said it was not the case.
As with similar orders from the federal and state level, the intent is to protect the physical health and well-being of county citizens, as well as protect their financial health. The focus is to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible, while “safeguarding the Constitutional liberties of Montague County citizens by utilizing the least restrictive means possible and encouraging the highest level of personal responsibility.”
The order stated during this period of emergency all resources within the limits of Montague County and its municipalities, both publicly and privately owned, will be used when deemed necessary by local government officials and upon orders of the county judge under the authority of Texas Government Code 418.017.
Some confusion may have been based on the last sentence in the section related to people who may have symptoms or already sick. Some took the last sentence to mean everyone should remain at home. The judge said
no that was not the intent, and while he was not ordering “at risk” groups to stay home it was highly encouraged.
As for business the order outlines recommendations for them to remain open, but take all precautions. Lewis’ Friday letter states he encourages all businesses to work to keep their doors open and the work space safe for employees. He also asked residents to support local stores and restaurants while maintaining a safe distance.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News. See the full March 26 order and the March 27 letter below.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A petition was filed mid-week with the 97th District Clerk seeking the removal of 97th District Attorney Casey Hall for “incompetency or official misconduct.”
The document was filed by Tim Cole, former DA and longtime area attorney, on July 17. Texas law allows any resident of the county where the allegations occurred to file such a petition on any elected official.
As of Friday noon, no judge had been assigned and Hall had not been served notice of the filing per the district court.
A recent example of this type of petition occurred in Clay County in January 2023 after Sheriff Jeff Lyde was arrested on charges of official oppression. Former District Judge Frank Douthitt filed that petition and the state was represented by Hall and the Clay County attorney Seth Slagle.
Casey Hall, DA for the three-county 97th District since 2016, was arrested on July 8 on a grand jury indictment for theft of property $2,500 to $30,000, a state jail felony. She was released on a $5,000 bond. The allegations stem from misappropriation of state grant funds with the investigation conducted by the Texas Attorney General’s staff.
Removal action
The removal action is directed to David Evans, judge of the 8th administrative judicial region, which has jurisdiction in this case. It seeks to have the officer removed for incompetency or official misconduct, acts or omissions while in the performance of her duties as the district attorney.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
A missing person’s alert has been issued for Bryce Dingler, who was last seen July 16 at his parents’ home in Nocona around 10 p.m. as he left going home to his apartment in Plano.
The 29-year-old is the son of Dr. Len and Waynette Dingler of Nocona. According to missing person circulars posted by the Clay County Sheriff’s office and Put Me First, Dingler’s vehicle, a 2015 white Ford F150 lifted with large tires and Dallas Cowboy’s star on the tailgate was found on the side of U.S. Highway 287 in the early morning hours of July 17. His ID and phone were left in the truck.
The initial SO posting stated Dingler was at the courthouse Tuesday to midday, and he told his parents that night was he was heading home to Plano. His family tried to call him throughout Wednesday, but he never answered. It states his last known location was near Butler Road, 1 mile west of Jolly on U.S. 287. Those with any information are urged to call the Clay County Sheriff at 940-538-5611. Case #24010013.
The Put Me First circular stated a license plate reader picked up Dingler’s truck around midnight in Plano. He was wearing a light color T-shirt, dark grey athletic shorts and tennis shoes. He has a left lower arm sleeve with pine trees, leaves and a wolf. He is 5-foot-6-inches tall, 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
It continues the truck was spotted July 17 around 6:30 a.m. on the westbound side of U.S. 287 by Duck Creek. Put Me First states Dingler had a “promising job interview” the day he went missing, noting this is “not normal behavior.”
As of 2 p.m. Friday Dingler was still missing.
The regular meeting of the Bowie City Council for July 22 has been cancelled. City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris will be attending the Texas Public Power Association conference.
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