NEWS
Commissioners table action on speed limits, stop signs
It took Montague County Commissioners less than 15 minutes to take care of its brief agenda on Monday morning.
Several of the items related to traffic signage were tabled to allow more research into the requirements. Commissioner Roy Darden of precinct one asked to add a 30 mph speed limit on Rosston Road, a 35 mph speed limit on Pleasant Hill Road and stops signs on Roth Road at Denver Road and Huddleston Road also at Denver Road.
While fellow commissioners indicated they had no qualms with the changes, Bob Langford and Mark Murphey both said the state has process for both signs, but they were not exactly sure what it is.
Langford said he recalls it can be 30 mph in a subdivision and 40 on a road. Someone also added the highway code sets the speed limits, which is 60 on a regular road unless posted otherwise. Sheriff Marshall Thomas added from what he read the process is rather vague.
Commissioner Darden said the problem on Rosston is he has no bar ditches and people going too fast is a hazard he wants to address. Murphey agreed a change may help and he thought a stop sign required a public hearing, but they want to make sure and do things right so it is enforceable. Langford added he has a few speed limits he would like to change also, so they can research the steps and go it right. Darden’s motion to table to allow for research was approved.
Members of the Montague County Historical Commission were approved for new two-year terms. The panel includes Beckey Scott, chairperson and Tommie Sappington, cemetery chairman and members Gale Cochran-Smith, Calvin Durham, Marjorie Hess, Robert Howington, Linda Mesler, Sheree Roberts, Robert Terry, Dan Watson, Wayne Wood, Margaret Woodyard and Larry Veale.
Payment was approved for Texas New Mexico Power for $10,113,63 from American Rescue Act Funds for a new power line to the wastewater treatment plant. County Judge Administrative Asssistant Angelia Richardson was named to serve as Nortex Regional Planning Commission Proxy.
And Sheriff Marshall Thomas presented his office’s annual Chapter 59 asset forfeiture report.
Bowie fire and police emergency personnel responded to this structure fire call around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. No details were available at this time on a possible cause, possibly from trash inside the station or inside a vehicle. (News photo by Barbara Green)
Gregory Bell, 58, Saint Jo, was found guilty of the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, also of Saint Jo after less than an hour of jury deliberation Thursday afternoon.
She was found beaten and raped in her home in August 2022 and six days later never regaining consciousness. The jury also deliberated Bell’s sentence giving him the maximum life in prison and a $10,000 find. It took them less than half an hour to make the decision. A deadly finding also determined a large flashlight was used as a deadly weapon.
As the jury left the courtroom some members were seen hugging Trevor Riley, Tia Hutson’s son. His sister Kami Taylor, read a powerful victim’s statement to the court.
Staff and volunteers at the Bowie Mission continue to be plagued by people who dump their unwanted furniture and other items at their gates and doors. Despite having signs stating this is illegal and that there are surveillance cameras on scene, dumpers don’t seem to be phased.
This past week several large pieces of furniture were dumped right in front of the gate where the trailer used to go pick up food bank items is stored. Cynthia Brewer, director said most of the volunteers are older and it is difficult to get these large items moved out of the way. She is at her wit’s end trying to get people to stop dumping and while she hesitates to file police charges the situation is getting untenable as people continue to violate the policy.
Anyone who observes illegal dumping at the mission is urged to call the police 872-2251.
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