COUNTY LIFE
3 jailed in Archer County murder case
Casey Polhemus, 97th district attorney reports that on May 2, Saconn Renea Ayala, Charles Ray Hunter and Lee Alfredo Villalpando were each charged with murder for their role in the death of John Lewis Helms on April 19.
The body of the 24-year-old Helms was discovered on Half House Road in Archer County about 9 p.m. on April 19.
The extensive investigation revealed Helms suffered multiple blunt force injuries to the head and body, with multiple stab wounds to the back.
Each of the suspects were in custody on other charges when the murder complaint was filed by the DA’s staff on Saturday.
Ayala was arrested on April 26 for drug and theft charges in Wichita County; Hunt was arrested on April 27 for drug charges, also in Wichita County, while Villalpando was arrested in Young County on May 2 on felony assault out of Tarrant County.
“I am very proud of the teamwork that led to the arrests in this case,” said Polhemus.
“It was a multi-jurisdictional effort that included the 97th District Attorney’s investigators, the Texas Rangers, the Wichita Falls Police Department and the Wichita County DA’s office investigators. They all worked tirelessly to find Helms’ killers and bring them to justice,” she concluded.
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the County Courtroom at the Courthouse Annex in Montague.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider issuing a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month within Montague County.
The court also will consider accepting $850 in unanticipated revenue for the sheriff’s office generated during National Night Out activities, alongside interlocal cooperation contracts between the Texas Department of Public Safety and Justices of the Peace for Precincts 1 and 2.
An executive session is scheduled to discuss personnel matters pertaining to sewer/septic inspector for the county. Any action would be taken back in open session.
The Oct. 9-11 Art of the Song Music and Art Festival opens Friday night for three days of art and entertainment in downtown Nocona.
The festival opens on Oct. 9 with a Chisholm Trail Art Association Preview Party from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the H.J. Justin Building.
Come see all the entries for the adult show, which formally opens at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10.
Live music will be played by Full Circle Band.
Also on Oct. 9 enjoy a Nocona Nights Street Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. with the Mark Murphey and Highway 82 Band. Cost is $10 per ticket and $200 for a table seating eight. Bring your lawn chairs.
Read the full schedule of events for the festival in your Thursday Bowie News.
These students are nominees for the 2026 homecoming court at Gold-Burg High School. Homecoming royals will be crowned in pre-game ceremonies before the Bears take on Throckmorton at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Pictured are: Freshmen: Kenzley Foster and Jackson Allen, freshmen; Yareli Aguirre and Jojuan Grace, sophomores; Zara Andrade, junior and Brayden Odom, Kaylie Duncan, both seniors. Not pictured: Caleb Epperson, junior and Keelyn Case, senior.
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