The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on April 14 in the courthouse annex.
Items on the agenda are listed as follows:
Consider reappointing Mike Berkley to the Upper Trinity Groundwater Water Conservation District Board to a four-year term.
Consider 2025 Texas Association of Counties ARTS renewal agreement, along with the TAC HEBP interim COBRA administrative agreement.
Consider reallocating $5,627 of American Rescue Plan Act funds from septic system to the radio upgrade category to cover cost increases in support, warranty, freight and power supply cords.
Consider purchasing an InstaAlert 24 variable message sign for $11,572.21 to be paid out of the county’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds.
Discuss the county precincts purchasing crushed concrete being crushed on I-35 and being sold by the contractor.
Consider releasing the site improvement performance bond of $1,338,484.70 for Stonebridge Estates in precinct two.
Request from the precinct four commissioner to enter the Cory Thames property on Starkey Road to clear a fence line.
Consider going out for sealed bids for emulsified asphalt and prime oil.

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bowie City Councilors continue to battle among themselves about a proposed water rate increase as the second reading of the ordinance failed Tuesday night only to be vetoed and further debate later in the meeting and set for action on April 22.
At the March 11 meeting the rate proposal, which has been under negotiations for several months, passed on a 7-1 vote.
The increased usage rate applies to all rate categories for the average residential customer who uses 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month would see an increase of $2.50 to $7.50 a month depending on their location inside the city or outside. The base rate would not change, but the usage rate would increase.
In the previous vote Brandon Walker was the lone no vote; however, on Tuesday, Councilor Stephanie Post was absent with Laura Sproles and Laramie Truax jumping ship to vote no. Mayor Gaylynn Burris exercised the veto which allows the topic to be placed on the next agenda for consideration. The April 22 meeting had previously been canceled, but is now back on the board for the regular meeting.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News. Also in next week’s paper watch for coverage of the outside audit for the City of Bowie presented this week and a list of plat approvals recommended by the planning and zoning commission.

A West Virginia man’s internet relationship with a 16-year-old Bowie girl lead to his arrest for online solicitation of a minor.
Montague County Chief Deputy Jack Lawson said this was one of the more unusual cases they have dealt with that centered on interactions between the pair across the internet.
He explained that Dylan Ray Riffle, 24, Walkersville, WV was arrested on April 4 after he reportedly arrived at the home of the teenage girl to whom he reportedly married over the internet. The pair supposedly first came into contact through a virtual reality program.
Riffle said the girl told him she was 20 years old. Riffle has no criminal history said Lawson and the pair had never met in person.
“They supposedly got married on the internet, he even had a ring, but they skipped the license and age. He was supposed to meet her in Galveston, but then when she could not get there he went to Bridgeport and then took an Uber to the girl’s residence in the Bowie area. A neighbor contacted the girl’s father and when he came home they were outside. Riffle was arrested,” explained Lawson.
Bond for Riffle on a third degree felony, was set at $20,000.