NEWS
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It is one of those massive tragedies that touches the nation, the deaths of nine people in a two-vehicle accident; however, the loss of so many young lives came home to Nocona with the death of 2021 graduate Laci Stone in this crash.
The 18-year-old was attending the University of the Southwest and playing golf for the school. She along with six of her golf teammates from the girl’s and boy’s teams and the head coach, lost their lives in the crash outside Andrews, TX.
Two team members were hospitalized in a Lubbock hospital with critical injuries after being airlifted from the scene. Two people from the other vehicle, driver Henrich Siemens, 38, Seminole, and a 13-year-old boy also were killed.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a press conference Thursday reporting the 13-year-old boy was driving the Dodge pickup when it crashed into the van.
NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said the early investigation revealed the truck had a spare tire with a steel rim in place of its left front tire. That tire seemed to have failed, causing the truck to swerve in front of the van. The truck also was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed.
The NTSB staff noted several of the students in the van were not wearing seatbelts and at least one van passenger was ejected. Both vehicles caught fire and DPS reports several people tried to get people out of the van but the fire was too hot.
Those killed from USW included Coach Tyler James, 26; Laci Stone, 18; Mauricio Sanchez, 19; Travis Garcia, 19; Jackson Zinn, 22; Karisa Raines, 21 and Tiago Sousa, 18. The two surviving golf team members, Hayden Underhill and Dayton Price are recovering and stable at a Lubbock hospital according to USW officials.
Read the full story in the Saturday Bowie News as friends and former coaches remember Laci Stone.
The Laci Stone Memorial Fund has been set up at several local banks including First State Bank, Legend Bank and Wells Fargo. There also is a Venmo account set up under Chelsi Stone @lovelikelaci.
A gofundme account also has been set up as Laci Stone Memorial at https://gofund.me/c425161f.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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