Phillip Klein claims he was falsely accused by Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office for placing Brown’s cellphone at Lake Marvin

The joint statement last week that Texas Attorney General's Office, the FBI and the Texas Rangers have suspended their investigation on the death of Tom Brown, the Canadian teenager who disappeared on Nov. 23, 2016, after dropping off two of his friends, sent a shock wave through the Panhandle community.
On Facebook, hundreds of people, including respected Panhandle newspaper columnist Jon Mark Beilue, indicated they were completely sideswiped by the AG Office's released statement, in particular, the sentence that stated, “There is no viable evidence that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that foul play led to the death of Thomas Kelly Brown.”
Brown's remains were found in early January near Lake Marvin, a wilderness area near Canadian, by a deputy from the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office.
“How could you not come to the conclusion that it had to be foul play?,” Beilue wrote on his Facebook page. “The AG and law enforcement must think there's a whole lot of stupid in the Texas Panhandle and we hitched a ride up here on the first turnip truck to believe this absurd conclusion.”
In contrast to the reaction of hundreds — if not thousands — of people who have been following the case, Phillip Klein, whose firm Klein Investigations and Consulting was hired to conduct a private investigation, had a more measured response when interviewed by the News-Herald on Monday.
Asked if he agreed with the AG's conclusion, Klein said, “The simple answer is we are not there with the AG yet.”
Klein said that as law enforcement agencies they must come up with probable cause and intent that someone killed Tom Brown.
Klein said he attended the meeting in Pampa at the 31st District Attorney’s Office where the decision was made to suspend the investigation.
“They didn't come up with any logical conclusions on homicide or suicide,” Klein said. “All we have is a body and we are back to square one. We feel horrible for the AG because they have busted their butts off.”
Klein emphasized that the case is not closed.
“We want everyone to understand that we are going to take a breath and go over what we've done,” he said. “It's not over, not even close to being over. We are continuing our side of the investigation.”
Klein said that as of Monday afternoon his office in Nederland near Houston had received 17 tips in the past 96 hours.
Then Klein repeated the mantra he has stated in the press and on social media so many times, “If you know something, say something.”

'Anomalies'
Klein said there are several “anomalies,” most of which are connected to the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office, that perplex him.
“We have always investigated this as a questionable death and there are some anomalies we are looking at,” he said. “(In an investigation like this) you tend to go to the nefarious side. We did a search with 300 or 400 people and found books, a back pack, a small gun case other items we are not discussing.”
Another thing that was found, Klein said, was a cellphone in pristine condition.
“We didn't know it at the time, but it was Tom Brown's. The FBI was able to open it it was in perfect condition. That led us to believe it was placed outside there the night before the search. The public knew there was going to be search.”
The second anomaly — which likewise puzzled Beilue and many others — was that Brown's body was found 15 miles away from his vehicle, a Dodge Durango.
“How do kill yourself or be a homicide and your car is 15 miles away?” Klein said.
The third anomaly, Klein said, are the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Brown's body.
Klein said that a Hemphill County deputy, Pyne Gregory, stated that he found Brown's remains out on Lake Marvin Road at mile marker 12 while looking for deer antlers or deer scat while on duty.
“Why would a deputy of Hemphill county be on duty in his patrol car looking for antlers and find a body?” Klein asked rhetorically.
Additionally, Klein said that on the day that Lake Marvin was searched by 300 or 400 people, that same deputy was parked on Lake Marvin Road at mile marker 12.
“It is our understanding that he (Gregory) parked at the same Mile Marker and was walking a path when he came across remains,” said Caroline Gear of Klein Investigations on the observation of Gregory later discovering remains near the same place he had parked months earlier.
The fourth anomaly, Klein said, is that a picture of Brown pumping gas the night he disappeared was in the case file at the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office.
“It magically disappeared and Hemphill County (Sheriff's Office) swears they don't remember that piece of evidence but two on my staff and Tom's mother swear they saw it.”
And it is perhaps the last anomaly that bothers Klein the most.
( … the parents were brought into Sheriffs Office and the sheriff suggested to them that I, Phillip Klein, or someone on my team placed the phone there (at Lake Marvin). They also told that to AG's office.”
He said that suggestion was a lie.
Klein said he was summoned to Waco to take a polygraph and the test showed “no deception.”
“Klein (Investigations) arrived on the scene after the cellphone was found and I was shocked and angered by that suggestion,” he said.
Klein said that Gregory no long works at the Sheriff's Office.
In April, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that the Texas Rangers was conducting an investigation of Gregory and Hemphill County Sheriff Nathan Lewis, but did not provide specifics.
The investigation has since been turned over to the Texas AG's Office, a spokeswoman for DPS said Tuesday.
Neither Lewis nor the AG's Office could be reached for comment.

Brown's two friends and suicide note
The News-Herald asked Klein if he knew the names of the two friends riding with Brown on the night he disappeared. Klein answered yes, but said that since they were minors at the time that precluded him from disclosing their names.
The News-Herald also asked if he had read a suicide note written by one of the fathers of Brown's two friends. Klein said he has seen the note, but only would say that there is no evidence at this time that Brown's disappearance and the suicide — which occurred about two days after Brown's remains were discovered — were somehow connected.

Secrets of Hemphill County
Klein said he has investigated over 1,800 missing person cases in his 31 years in the field.
His company is one of the most sought-after missing-persons investigation firms in the nation and many of his cases, including the Tom Brown disappearance, have been featured in the national media.
He said what makes the Tom Brown disappearance different from most of his other cases he has is the small-town mindset of Canadian and Hemphill County.
He called it “the secrets of Hemphill County.”
“They don't like to talk about the bad things,” he said. “They like to talk about the good things — oil, football — but they don't like to talk about a crime, but there is evil and evil needs to be dealt with.”
Not long ago, yard signs in Canadian that stated, “Justice for Tom. There is a killer among us” where vandalized. The words “There is a killer among us” were ripped out. Since then, hundreds of signs have been placed in yards across the nation to raise awareness about cloudy circumstances surrounding Brown's death.
In a local news media interview in the days following the discovery of Brown's remains, Klein said that there was a monster in the community. And when a story covering a memorial service for Brown at Canadian High School in early February was linked to Facebook, someone commented that the killer was likely inside the gym attending the service.
“But along with the bad, there is a lot of good in Canadian, Klein said.
Through his visits to Canadian, Klein said has met about “50 percent” of the community.
“So many people have come up to me and said, 'Thank you. Don't give up.'”

Brown was loved by all who knew him
Brown was born in Pampa on Sept. 13, 1998, and started school in Canadian in 2006. His mother, Penny Meek, lives in Canadian and his father, Kelly Brown, now lives in Perryton.
Brown was senior class president and active in the football and theater programs. Those who knew him, including church pastors in Canadian, said he had a caring heart and stood up for those who couldn’t.
Klein asked that anyone with information about Brown's disappearance contact Caroline Gear at 409-729-8798 x3 or email carolinegear@gt.twcbc.com.
Again, Klein repeated the mantra, “If you know something, say something.”

Dirk Vergaelen’s community involvement began in childhood, growing up in Belgium and becoming involved with the youth group, which is similar to Boy Scouts. Vergaelen attended university in Belgium and became a chemical engineer. “I’ve always had this interest in living and working internationally. It’s always been my aspiration,” Vergaelen says.
Through his work for Chevron Phillips, Vergaelen has been able to fulfill that dream, living in such places as Europe, the Middle East and the United States, meeting his wife in Port Arthur, Texas. Vergaelen says, “No matter where you live, people are similar. They have the same aspirations, the same goals. They want to be happy, make their families happy, provide for their families.
The cultural differences are sometimes interesting to experience and see.”
Vergaelen came to Borger in May 2017 and has spent the last t2 ½ years living in, and becoming involved with, the Borger community.
Vergaelen has taken part in the United Way Cook-off, the United Way Campaign, the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, judging the Borger High School Math Fair, the health and safety fairs and Leadership Borger.
“I think I integrated very well with the community,” Vergaelen says. “Through my work as the plant manager, I came in contact with the Chamber of Commerce. That was the basis for getting into the community and getting involved with different activities. I became a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. I was a board member and an actor with the Borger Community Theater. I also participated as a board member of the (Golden Plains Hospital) Jerry Waggoner Foundation. I enjoyed that very much. What I experienced here in Borger is people really form a community. I experienced it at the plant. People are very welcoming, sharing, and they even like a foreigner like myself. They want you to open up, share, and participate in these activities. I think that’s very important. Borger is a lively community. I’m happy to have been a part of Borger for the last 2 1/2 years. Borger is a really nice community. We have a lot of opportunities here, a lot of things that people don’t always appreciate or know about.
Being a part of the chamber and being a part of the community has helped me promote that a little bit. I think Borger leadership should do more of that.”
In the next few weeks, Vergaelen will be leaving Borger for Kansas City, where he will spend the next two years.
“I feel blessed that I’ve had a chance to live the way I live,” Vergaelen says. “I’m blessed with a good mind, am healthy, and have a wife who is willing to go with me like that. That creates an opportunity for me to live and work in different places.”

The Borger News-Herald has obtained the indictments from the 316th Judicial District Court on Freddie Duwayne Hutchinson, a 51-year-old Stinnett man who is being held at the Hutchinson County Jail on multiple counts of sex crimes on a child.
The News-Herald first reported on Hutchinson in the Aug. 27 edition before it was able to obtain copies of the indictments from the court. That story stated that Hutchinson had been indicted on 15 counts.
The two indictments, one filed Aug. 15 and the other filed May, 31, 2018, when Hutchinson lived in Skellytown, show a total of 13 counts.
In the most recent indictment, Hutchinson is charged for performing sexual acts on a child under 14 on or about the dates of March 1, 2017, Sept. 1, 2017 and Jan. 5, 2018. Six counts of aggravated sexual assault are listed in the indictment, which are first-degree felonies that carry prison sentences of 15 to 99 years.
The indictment also alleges that Hutchinson engaged in sexual contact with the same victim on those dates. Six counts of indecency charges are listed in the indictment, which are second-degree felonies that carry sentences of two to 20 years.
In the May 31, 2018, indictment, Hutchinson is charged with engaging in sexual contact with a child under the age of 17 by having her touch him. The victim in that indictment is different than the one in the Aug. 15 indictment, which lists 12 counts a single victim.
The Aug. 15 indictment shows a total bond of $110,000 while the May 31, 2018, indictment shows a bond of $100,000.
Both indictments show that Hutchinson was charged by the Borger Police Department.
Facebook comments to the first story about Hutchinson indicate that he has lived in several places in Texas and has victimized different people over the years for various crimes.
A story dated Sept. 17, 2007, on the NewsChannel 10 website in Amarillo states that Hutchinson was sentenced for hitting a Lefors woman with his truck and then dragging her for two blocks. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the website.

By TIM HOWSARE
Editor

A petition has started in Stinnett to change it from a “dry city,” which means no alcohol sales of any kind, to a “wet city,” which could open the way for package sales at stores like Allsup’s and Dollar General, and possibly the sale of alcohol at restaurants like Jesse’s Pizza.
Stinnett is a “dry city” in a “wet county.”
Borger is a “wet city,” and Fritch, which for formerly dry, is now wet.
Any changes in the intoxicating beverage laws in Stinnett would have to go before the voters who live within city limits, and the earliest that could happen is the May 2, 2020, municipal election.
Stinnett is the county seat of Hutchinson County with a population just under 2,000.
Toby Nutter, owner of Tribal Fitness in Stinnett, started the petition. The building that he owns also is the location of Jesse’s Pizza.
Nutter said he is part of a coalition called “Get Stinnett Wet,” which he estimates is comprised of about 15 people.
Nuder said he would like more people spend money in Stinnett, instead of driving out of town to buy beer. Nuder added that while they are someplace else buying beer, they are also buying groceries and filling up on gas.
“The reason I am pushing this is to see some tax dollars spent here,” he said. “We could have a better community and more things done with the tax dollars. Stinnett is just flatlined. It would help our restaurants to be able to have alcohol.”
Along with the Allsup’s convenience store, there is a CEFCO across the street.
The other retail stores are a new Dollar General on the south end of town and Market Square, a small grocery store not far from the Hutchinson County Courthouse.
Brenda Derrick and Jennifer Morang, both employees at Allsup’s, agreed the beer and wine sales would increase their business.
Morang said she was the first person to sign the petition.
Their manager, Sally Rice, said she used to work in Wellington when it was a “dry city in a wet county.” Wellington is the county seat of Collingsworth County.
When Wellington became a “wet city,” Rice said she saw an increase in business.
Tim Thurston is the manager of the Market Square in Stinnett.
Market Square has several locations through the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma.
Thurston said if Stinnett became wet, his store would likely sell beer and wine, as does the Market Square in Sunray.

The civil investigators in the Tom Brown case, Klein Investigations & Consulting (KIC), confirmed that someone made an audio recording at the Aug. 21 closed meeting in Pampa in which the criminal investigators in Brown’s death agreed to suspend the investigation.
In a statement posted on Facebook over the weekend, KIC stated: “Two weeks ago there was a meeting of the family, investigators in LE (law enforcement), investigators in PSB (Private Security Board), legal counsel for the state (district attorney and his assistant), the Texas Ranger for the area and friends/family of the Brown/Meek family. In such, the meeting was a closed meeting and information was given to the room. In such, it was a private meeting and the AG (attorney general) who hosted the meeting asked that the information be kept private.”
Although the FBI took part in the criminal investigation, no one from that agency was at the meeting, said Caroline Gear, an investigator with KIC.
In an email sent to the News-Herald on Tuesday, Philip Klein, CEO of KIC, said, “We have seen a transcript and have had reports from the community of Canadian that the meeting was audio recorded and transcribed. We are very disappointed in whomever did that — we did not record it or transcribe it.”
In the Facebook post, KIC stated “ … ‘if’ it was someone in Law Enforcement, we publicly call upon them to resign their commission and job. No excuses — do the right thing and resign. You have hurt the family, you have hurt the case and frankly, you have hurt the public at large.”
The post continued: “This is a very sad move in this case by someone that really does not have ANY interest in solving the Thomas Brown case. We smell politics — but we are not ready for that yet. If it is rebroadcasted or given out as unconfirmed transcribed released to the public — we will root out who it was and will publicly tell you who it was.”
The News-Herald has not seen the transcript and has no intention of publishing it or posting it to social media should it become available.
On Nov. 23, 2016, Thomas Kelly Brown, a senior at Canadian High School, was last seen in Canadian, at approximately 11:30 p.m. by several of his friends. Brown, who played football, was involved with theater and was known as a devout Christian, was reported to have missed his curfew and was subsequently reported missing. The Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report, and an attempt to locate Brown was initiated. 
His remains were found near Lake Marvin, a wilderness area 12 miles from Canadian, in early January by Deputy Pyne Gregory of the HCSO. Gregory was fired in April for an issue not related to the Brown investigation.
KIC is continuing its civil investigation and has emphasized that the criminal investigation is not closed, only suspended.
The Facebook post concluded: “Again, as Mr. Klein told you all, we are working hard on this case to find out what happened to Tom. Hang in there with us, pray hard for everyone in both PSB and LE, and whomever you are that recorded it — do the right thing.”

BORGER – Eadie Bradford of Panhandle has been hired as the new Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health agent for Hutchinson County, effective Sept. 1. Bradford, however, is no stranger to the agency or its programs.
A Spearman native, she said she knew after she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University, she wanted to someday be an AgriLife Extension agent and be a part of the 4-H program she grew up with.
But soon after graduating college, Bradford received an offer from the Vernon school system and that set her on a path in public education for 27 years. She has worked the past 21 years for the Panhandle school district as a fourth-grade teacher and a family and consumer sciences teacher, after working as an elementary teacher in both the Vernon and Aspermont school districts.
“I feel like I have always been a part of AgriLife Extension as the wife of an agent and a 4-H mom for 20 years, with one child still in high school,” she said, adding her husband, Jody Bradford, is the agriculture and natural resources agent for Carson County.
“When an AgriLife Extension opening arose in a neighboring county, I saw it is an opportunity to bring my career full circle and fulfill a college dream,” she said. “It is a fantastic way to close one chapter in the classroom, but still get to keep teaching and get back to my roots in 4-H.
“I want to continue to teach family and consumer sciences, and while I love kids, I look forward to reaching out to the adult population as well. I want to work with people of all ages and am excited about the many AgriLife Extension programs we can offer.”
AgriLife Extension has previously recognized Bradford twice with the Carson County Distinguished 4-H Leader Award.
“We are thrilled to have someone with Eadie’s skills and experience join the North Region team,” said Brandon Dukes, AgriLife Extension district director, Amarillo. “She will be able to use the skills she has developed in her career to reach 4-H members and adults in Hutchinson County focusing on nutrition and healthy living.”

University Interscholastic League (UIL) coaches at Borger High School recently met to discuss events for the upcoming year.
BHS offers UIL Academic Competition to its students. UIL offers the most comprehensive literary and academic competition in the nation.  The program provides more than any other UIL division in terms of activities, with 23 high schools and 19 elementary and junior high contests.  More than a half-million students participate in the UIL academic events.
These activities, which exist to complement the academic curriculum, are designed to motivate students as they acquire higher levels of knowledge, to encourage students to confront issues of importance, and to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of specific skills.  Students are challenged to think critically, exhibiting much more than knowledge and comprehension.  
Events include Interpretation Events, One Act Play, Speech Events, Robotics, Journalism, Computer Science, Accounting, Computer Applications, Spelling and Vocabulary, Social Studies, Current Events, Mathematics, Ready Writing, and Literary Criticism.
If any BHS student is interested in competing in UIL Academic events, contact Brenda Wilson, coordinator, or Cody Duncan, speech.

The public is invited to hear State Rep. Four Price speak at the next Hutchinson County Republican Women's regular meeting at noon on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Opportunities Center, 900 Illinois St. in Borger.
Charlotte Martin, president of the Hutchinson County Republican Women, said Price will likely talk about the 2019 Texas legislative session, which recently came to a close.
A fourth-generation Texan from Amarillo, Price advocates for constituents residing in five Texas Panhandle counties that comprise District 87 — Hutchinson, Carson, Moore, Potter and Sherman.
In 2018, Price was re-elected to his fifth term with no opposition in the general election after winning a contested primary by garnering more than 78% of the district-wide vote and with over 80% voter support in his home county of Potter.
Having been born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Price brings to the Texas Capitol a strong sense of conservative values and a deep love of the Lone Star State, Martin stated in an email. As a young man, he learned the importance of one's word and the value of a dollar by working on area farms and ranches. These character traits of integrity, hard-work, and results-oriented leadership define Price's advocacy for his constituents at the Texas Capitol.
In January, Price was appointed to chair the House Calendars Committee, which is responsible for determining which items of proposed legislation are scheduled for debate in the Texas House Chamber. Price also was selected to continue his service on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Public Health Committee. Additionally, Price was selected to serve on the House Redistricting Committee. He continues to co-chair the Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee. Price has served on numerous other committees throughout his tenure.
For his legislative work, Price has been recognized by many diverse organizations, including being named to the 2017 Top Ten Best Legislator List by Texas Monthly magazine. Among his recent honors and awards are:
• 2019 Telemedicine & Health Information Recognition, Texas HIMSS.
• 2019 Family Champion Award, Texas Council on Family Relations.
• 2018 Champion for Children Award, Texas Coalition of Homes for Children.
• 2018 Courageous Defense of Life Recognition, Texas Alliance for Life.
• 2018 Patient Advocacy Award, Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
• 2018 Guardian of Small Business Award, NFIB Texas.
• 2018 M. Diane Allbaugh Texas Heroes for Children Award, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children/Texas Office.
• 2018 Carmen Miller Michael Mental Health Advocate Award, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas.
• 2018 Public Policy Award, Texas Suicide Prevention Council.
Price is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.B.A. degree in finance and a graduate of Saint Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. Price has practiced law for more than 20 years. He currently is a vice president and trust officer for an Amarillo financial institution. Price was raised from childhood in the Texas Panhandle and graduated from Amarillo's Tascosa High School. He and his wife, Karen, live in Amarillo and are the parents of four adult children and active members of a local church.
Women can join Hutchinson County Republican Women as full members and men can join as associate members. The organization meets at noon on the first Thursday of every month at the Opportunities Center.
For more information, call Charlotte Martin at 806-273-8363.

Five firefighters from the crew at Phillips 66 in Borger took part in a stair climb Saturday, Sept. 7, in Oklahoma City to honor the firefighters who perished in terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Altogether, 343 firefighters and 61 law enforcement officers from across the nation climbed 110 flights of stairs to memorialize the first responders who sacrificed their lives on that fateful day and to keep alive the promise, “We Will Never Forget.”
The Pentagon also was attacked and another commercial jet crashed in a rural area of Pennsylvania.
“It was more demanding than I thought it would be,” said Brent Newcomb, an operator at Phillips 66.
Newcomb said they were dressed in full gear, which weights about 65 pounds.
The stair climb was held in the Chase building, which is 33 stories, he said.
They first climbed 31 stories, then 25, then went to the basement and also climbed on an escalator that was turned off, Newcomb said.
The other firefighters from Phillips were Tracy Young, Kevin Bass, Rodney Kerbo and Landon Gabaldon.
Each firefighter and police officer taking part in the climb carried the name of a firefighter or police officer who died in the attacks. Newcomb carried the name and picture of Angel L. Juarbe Jr., Ladder 12, FDNY.
With today being the 18th anniversary of the attacks, it is possible for someone born on that day to now legally be an adult.
Newcomb said he is planning to attend the climb next year and hopes the memory of 911 will not fade over time.
“We need to make sure everybody remembers that day,” he said. “It was a tragic day for the whole country.”

Deborah Hartman, whose father Johnny Bennett served in the Army during the Vietnam War, said that when her dad flew back from Vietnam, he and all the other servicemen had to sit in the back of the airplane with a sheet draped in front of them so the other passengers couldn’t see them.
Then, when the plane landed on U.S. soil, all the other passengers exited first before the servicemen. Again, this was done so they wouldn’t be seen by the civilian passengers.
On Thursday, Bennett and his brother, Harley Bennett, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, had a much different experience when they flew from Amarillo to Baltimore as members of the Texas Panhandle Honor Flight.
When the Honor Flight from Amarillo landed in Baltimore, the Bennetts and 83 other military veterans were met at the terminal by a warm welcome and a corps of bagpipe players.
Their take off and landing was covered by NewsChannel 10 and videos were posted on Facebook.
Hartman said she told her father before he left, “This is the way for you to be honored in the way you are supposed to be honored.”
The Honor Flight program raises money throughout the year so veterans can fly to Washington D.C., with all expenses paid, to visit the memorials that are meant to honor them. The cost to take each veteran is around $1,600.
Started in 2008, the first trips of the Texas Panhandle Honor Flights were filled with World War II and Korean War veterans. Now, the flights include more recent conflicts, such as Vietnam.
Hartman said the veterans will stay in Washington D.C. until Saturday. They will visit the Vietnam, Korean and WWII war memorials. They also will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at watch the changing of the guard at the tomb. Further, the veterans will meet with U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry and his staff.
Hartman said her father’s trip was paid for by Phillips 66. Harley Bennett’s flight was paid for by Ben E. Keith Co., which is a food and beverage distributor in Amarillo.
Hartman spoke to the News-Herald about her father and uncle with her brother, Dillon Bennett. The siblings live in Borger.
Both of the elder Bennetts volunteered for the service, they said.
Johnny Bennett was 17 when he joined in 1963. He served in the 25th Infantry until 1969. He received a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal, they said.
The brother and sister told a funny story about how their uncle wound up in the Navy.
They said he was skipping school in Pampa. As he walked out of a business, he saw his mother walking out of another business across the street. Not to be seen, he ran into the business next door, which turned out to be a Navy recruiter office.
Hartman said her uncle was one of the youngest men at that time to serve as a quartermaster on a submarine.
After the service, Johnny Bennett joined the Borger Police Department and Harley Bennett, who now lives in Amarillo, became a deputy with the Hutchinson County Sheriff’s Office.
The brother and sister said that both men felt a calling to continue to serve the public after the war.
In contrast to the way Vietnam soldiers were treated poorly when they first returned to civilian life, Hartman said of their long-overdue recognition: “I’m proud for them to be honored in this way.”

Editor's note: The Borger City Council approved at its Sept. 17 meeting the tax rate of $0.863490 per $100 of property.

The City of Borger provided to the Borger News-Herald a PDF of the budget presentation it made to the public on Sept. 3.
The 37-page color document includes lots of pie charts, bar graphs, dates and figures.
In this article, the News-Herald will highlight some of the details from that document.
Public safety (police and fire) accounts for 55% of the City of Borger’s general fund expenditures, while public works accounts for 22% and other governmental expenses accounts for 23%.
For the Water/Sewer Fund, which brings in substantial revenues for the city, industrial water sales account for 54% of funding; retail water sales, 24%; sewer sales, 19%; and 3% for other sources.
Expenditures by category for the Water/Sewer Fund are 47% for water; 19% for sewer; and 34% for debt service.
Significant expenditures are $449,952 for personnel services; $1,447,044 for equipment fund purchases; $270,000 for the comprehensive plan; $70,000 for Big Keeper playground equipment; $167,000 for a new refuse side loader; $210,500 for a wheel loader; and $181,000 for 2018-19 budgeted fire apparatus.
General fund capital projects include the master drainage plan (MDP), $230,000; MDP reimbursement grant -$172,500; Fifth/Seventh drainage project (CDBG), $725,000; CDBG reimbursement grant, -$269,588; downtown revitalization (parking) $530,000; DTR reimbursement grant, -$350,000; downtown; and Cofield/Huber gazebo, $30,000.
Project totals are $1,515,000 with a net of $722,912.
Water/sewer capital projects include Main Street water/sewer, $496,250; McGee sewer, $468,490; Bulldog lift station, $400,000; West Well Field Tank/Pump Station, $500,000; for a total of $1,864,740.
According to numbers provided by the city, the taxpayer impact for home values for FY2019-20 will stay the same as the current year. The current rate for a $50,000 home, which is an average value in Borger, is $431.75 and the proposed rate for FY2019-20 is $431.75.
At the high end, the rate for a $200,000 home will stay the same at $1,726.99.
Refuse rates for FY2019-20 will see small increases. The solid-waste collection rate will go up from $25.50 to $26 and the solid-waste tipping fees will go up from $50 to $51.50.
Water rates per meter size also will see small increases. The rate for ¾ meter will stay the same at $16.50. The rate for 1 meter will go from $17.74 to $18.98, 1.5 meter, $22.69 to $28.88; 2 meter, $27.64 to $28.78, or an increase of just over $11. The per 1,000 gallon rate will go down from $3.20 to $3.15.
The base rate for sewer will stay the same at $17.50. The per 1,000 gallon rate will go up from $3.10 to $3.25.
At is regular meeting on Sept. 10, the City Council approved first reading for the adoption of a combined tax rate of $0.863490 per $100 of property.
The City Council will hold the last reading on the tax rate and vote on its approval at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, at City Hall, 600 N. Main St. Meetings are streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, where they also can be watched after the meetings. For more information, call 806-273-0900.

Patrick Viles, a lifelong Borger resident and 2003 Borger High School graduate, is the Volunteer of the Year for this year’s Best of the Best contest.
Viles, who is great with children and the elderly, says, “One day, I was just sitting at home, and I thought I’d get up and go find something to do.” Viles heard about volunteering at the hospital, so he went there and completed the application. He began volunteering in 2006.
Viles volunteers at the hospital two days a week, four hours a day. In this position, Viles answers phones, delivers papers to the various departments and provides directions. Viles’ father, Michael, says, “He loves being part of the volunteer groups and being part of the hospital. He loves being at the desk when someone comes in, recognizes him and talks to him.”
At the hospital, Michael Viles is known as Patrick’s dad.
When Viles was asked what sets him apart from the other nominees, he says, “I’m the youngest and can get around quicker. I love seeing the people.”
His father says, “I think it’s because everybody likes him. He’s such a sweet kid.”
Viles enjoys attending the hospital parties and banquets. At one of the annual banquets, the volunteers are served and recognized for the number of hours they work.
When Viles is not volunteering at the hospital, he enjoys singing, listening to country music — especially George Strait, Blake Shelton and Johnny Cash — spending time with friends, playing pool, watching TV and reading. He is a huge football fan and also loves rodeo.
“I’m just an everyday person,” Viles says.

By TIM HOWSARE
It’s a good bet that at least three generations of students have passed through the hallways of Borger High School, which was built in 1947.
While many school districts have opted for replacing an old building with a completely new one, Borger ISD decided it would renovate the old building and add on a new wing for freshmen.
Money for the renovation at BHS and other schools came from the $41 million bond that was passed by voters in 2017. Perhaps the centerpiece of the bond projects is the new Bulldog Stadium.
Yesterday, the high school held an open house and meet and greet to give parents the opportunity to meet some of the teachers.
The entrance to the freshman wing is framed with wood from the old gym floor, Principal Matt Ammerman said.
About an hour into last night’s open house, which went from 4 to 7 p.m., Associate Principal DeDe Conaway said there had been a lot of parents coming through.
“We are excited about the renovations and are looking forward to the final result,” she said.
Thomas Hodge is a math teacher whose classroom has a whole new look.
On one wall is a huge smart TV with white boards on either side. Also, an entire wall is a white board. And, if needed, the screen of the smart TV can be used as a white board. That’s a good thing for a math teacher who writes lots of equations.
Hodge teaches 10th through 12th grades and dual-credit students from Franks Phillips College.
The external wall still has the glass block window that was popular with mid-2000th century construction. But on either side of the glass blocks are new windows with new blinds.
Michael Benton’s classroom has row after row of computers.
Benton said he teaches everything from engineering, to robotics to video game technology.
He said there’s nothing new in his classroom this year, but he is starting a UIL robotics team this year.
“I’m excited about it,” he said. “We’ll jump in and see where we land.”
Borger Middle and Intermediate schools are hosting an open house today from 4 to 7 p.m.

By TIM HOWSARE
Editor

The Aluminum Dome is perhaps as iconic to Borger as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, but on a much smaller scale, of course. The metal structure with brick skirting has stood the test of time for 62 years, or a little more than two thirds of Borger’s existence as a city.
The city seal has included an image of the dome – to the right of an oil rig, the rambunctious industry that founded the city, and underneath the familiar star that symbolizes Texas — for around 40 years.
These curious-looking aluminum structures, called geodesic domes, where built by Kaiser Aluminum and designed by an architect named Richard Buckminster Fuller, who designed the famous Expo 67 dome in Montreal.
But the Kaiser Aluminum Domes were only built for about a year, said Garrett Spradling, Borger’s assistant to the city manager, because Henry J. Kaiser, patriarch of the huge Kaiser corporation, and Fuller had a falling out.
Spradling said the city hasn’t been able to confirm how many Kaiser Domes besides the one in Borger still exist, if any, but he does know that Borger’s was among the first to be built. There was a Kaiser Dome in Hawaii, but it was torn down in 1999.
For anyone familiar with World War II history, Kaiser is an important name because Kaiser Shipyards built “Liberty Ships.” Using the most advanced production methods of the time, Kaiser Shipyards could build a vessel in two weeks or less.
In 2018, the dome was deeded over from Hutchinson County to the City of Borger.
The city is now proposing a major renovation project that would maintain the dome’s integrity as a historical icon while making it a destination that could bring more convention and special-event business to the city.
Originally, the dome was not an enclosed structure as it is now, Spradling said. The brick skirting was added later. In its glory days, the dome was host to some big events like the annual Magic Plains Oil Expo.
It’s still used for events here and there, of course, like the Altrusa Market that was held last weekend. But with the lack of air conditioning and fans, makeshift lighting and a bare cement floor, the dome would likely be a hard sell on the convention market, either statewide or nationally.
Despite its present lack of amenities and faded appearance, Spradling said the city sees potential far beyond the occasional car show or arts and crafts fair if the investment was made for an ambitious expansion and renovation. The interior space is 17,000 square feet, comparable to the enormous Heritage Room at the Amarillo Civic Center, which is about 20,000 square feet.
Spradling pointed out that the Phillips plant has around 800 employees, and there isn’t a place in Borger big enough where all of them can get together — possibly with their spouses and family members — at the same time.
The city is proposing two options. Option 1 is a dome renovation with an annex that would include a new entry, lobby, office, a catering kitchen, two conference rooms, new restrooms and mechanical storage areas. The cost of that plan would be nearly $6 million. Option 2 would include everything in Option 1 along with a large event space divisible into two-medium sized rooms or two small rooms and one medium-sized room. The estimated cost of that plan is $10,271,515.
Spradling said that with either plan everything would be new except for the dome itself. The metal has not corroded and is expected to last for another 50 years, he said, but what is needed is a sealant to fill in the seams between metal pieces. Based upon the findings of an engineering assessment, the dome is in “serviceable condition” and a waterproofing system should effectively seal all open joinery between the aluminum panels.
The floor, the electrical system and the restrooms are all on the list for replacement, he said.
Spradling said renovation and expansion could be paid for through the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) which adds a 7% tax to hotel room rates. This money is “dedicated revenues” and can only be spent on projects that promote tourism and the convention industry. It cannot be diverted, let’s say, street repairs.
According to information provided by the city, there is nearly $6 million in funding available that includes hotel occupancy funds of $3,571,429.
In addition to HOT, Spradling said the city can add an additional 2% tax to hotel rooms — or $2 for a $100 room — to raise funds for the project.
His expectation is that the costs would be paid for by visitors to Borger — like contractors and workers brought in by local industries — and not by residents through additional property taxes.
He said the goal is to put the venue tax on the May ballot for the voters to decide.
If the expansion and renovation becomes reality, Spradling sees the possibility of a domino effect.
As more visitors come to Borger and stay at local hotels, more revenues will be brought into city coffers through the HOT and venue taxes, and consequently create an even bigger pool of money that could fund future projects.
More information on the dome proposal is available on the city’s website at borgertx.gov/Dome.
Following is some more history on the dome from that website:
In the late mid to late 1950s, Borger and Hutchinson County were experiencing an economic boom during the post-war years and the community began pushing for an event center. Following the failure of a $425,000 bond election for the construction of a civic center, Borger Mayor L.D. Patton and Chamber of Commerce Manager Dave Moore saw a commercial on TV for a Kaiser Aluminum Dome. The duo felt the dome could be a cheaper alternative to the failed civic center.
After a petition of 707 signatures was submitted to the Hutchinson County Commissioners Court, the Court called for a Bond Election (of $125,000) on July 2, 1957. The vote passed with 598 votes for and 378 against. The opponents of the project blamed the record-high temperature of 100 degrees (remember, there was no air conditioning in 1957) on that date for low voter turnout.
Construction finished later that year and the Hutchinson County Dome became the first Kaiser Aluminum Dome in the continental United States.
“This would gives us back our identity as a city,” Spradling said of the proposed project.

The barbecue Kick Off Cook Off on Sept. 14 was not just for fun and to satisfy hungry bellies. For the past five years, the popular event has marked the start, or kick off, to the Hutchinson County United Way campaign which runs through the end of November.
Each fall, local United Ways across the nation take part in organized campaigns to raise money for their partner agencies, and the HCUW, headquartered at Borger Bank, is no exception.
This year’s fundraising goal is $775,000, which was the same as last year.
Last year, HCUW raised just over $765,000 said Julie Winters, executive director.
“We lost a couple of companies that had held employee campaigns,” she wrote in an email. “Some company campaigns were up, some were down. We were pleased with the generosity of the community!”
Winters said most of their donations come through payroll deductions during company campaigns.
But if you wish to make a direct contribution, checks can be mailed to HCUW, P.O. Box 1430, Borger, TX  79008, and online donations can be made at hutchinsoncountyunitedway.org  
The HCUW’s current partner agencies are: Borger Area Learning Center, Boy Scouts - Golden Spread Council, The Bridge, Buttercup House, Connect Community Services, Epilepsy Foundation of Texas, Girl Scouts of the Texas Oklahoma Plains, High Plains Helping Hand, HutchCares Living At Home, Hutchinson County Crisis Center, Jerry Waggoner Foundation, Living Water Benevolence Ministries, Opportunities, Inc., The Salvation Army and Texas Panhandle Centers.
Additionally, HCUW funds its own two initiatives: Day of Caring and Back to School Fair, Winters said.
The local board of directors (officers) are: Dave Madden, president; Keegan Neil, vice president; Beth Raper, secretary; Summer Covington, treasurer. Along with those officers, board members are: Theron Baker, DeDe Conaway, Jennifer Crittenden, Tony Dugat, Jimmy Gowdy, Michelle Griffin, Randy Meek, Sherri Sniker, Derek Thompson and Hayli Young.
Volunteer opportunities include the Day of Caring, the Back to School Fair and the Kick Off Cook Off.
Winters said that “Hutchinson County Residents are the best!”
“The generosity of our community is overwhelming,” she said. “The willingness to help someone in need is seen day in and day out in our three communities. Please continue to support Hutchinson County United Way. We can’t do this without our many donors! Please help us reach our goal of $775,000.”

During its regular meeting Sept. 17, the Borger City Council unanimously approved a combined tax rate of $0.863490 per $100 of property for FY 2019-20.
City Manager Eddie Edwards said the tax rate has remained the same for the past three years. No one spoke during the public hearing or had questions about the tax rate.
Also approved at the meeting was a fee schedule for 2020.
Edwards said that unlike the FY2019-20 budget and tax rate, which both begin on Oct. 1, the new fee schedule would not take effect until Jan. 1.
Altogether, Edwards said, the fee schedule is about 25 pages long, and that most of the fees have remained the same.
“Some went up, some went down,” he said.
Joe Price, assistant to the city manager, added that while some of the structure to the fee schedule had been changed, there were not many changes to the fees themselves.
The council also approved a request to rezone a property from commercial to residential.
The rezoning request had been recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, Assistant Director/Building Official Larry Byrd told the council.
The next City Council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at City Hall, 600 N. Main St. Meetings are streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, where they also can be watched after the meetings. For more information, call 806-273-0900.

STINNETT — Jury selection was completed and an opening statement made on Monday by the district attorney in a trial against Myron Stiles, a former second teacher at Gateway Elementary School accused of an improper relationship with a former student.
Though there were originally three indictments, one for each of three female accusers, Stiles will only be tried on one, which was filed on May 31, 2017.
Stiles was 47 on the dates of the alleged incidents.
However, all three girls are expected to testify in court.
Stiles entered a plea of not guilty in the 316th District Court on Monday shortly after seven women and five men were selected for the jury. Two alternates also were chosen.
Judge James Mosley is the presiding judge and Mark W. Snider, district attorney for the 84th District, is the prosecutor. Stiles’ defense attorney is William Taylor of Amarillo.
Snider told the juries that although they will decide whether Stiles is innocent or guilty, Mosley will decide the sentence.
All eight of the alleged incidents by the three juveniles occurred between Feb. 12, 2013, and Oct. 1, 2015.
In the case being pursued by the state, Stiles is accused of intentionally and knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a victim who was a child younger than 17. He is also accused of doing so to gratify his sexual desire.
The first alleged incident occurred on Feb. 12, 2013, and the second on March 26, 2013.
Snider said the girl is now a freshman. He said that the jurors can consider the testimony of the other two alleged victims.
Taylor said the state must prove “intent” in both parts of the indictment. First, that Stiles intentionally and knowingly touched the girl in a sexual manner and, second, that his intent was sexual arousal.
The charges are second-degree felonies, which carry sentences of two to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
There were about 70 jury candidates in the courtroom, and while addressing them, Taylor took issue with a question and a computer-screen image that Snider had used earlier while questioning the candidates.
Snider had asked what a “child molester” looks like, and several potential jurors agreed that it could be a man or a woman of any age. At the same time, the words “child molester” were displayed on a screen with a sentence under them.
“What bothers me is when ‘child molester’ was displayed on the screen,” he said. “That was highly prejudicial.”
Taylor said there had been no evidence presented so far against Stiles and that the jury should make their decision “based upon the evidence and nothing more.”
In his opening statement, Snider said that three girls who were different ages and who had never met were making the same accusations.
Snider said the girls had all testified that they were touched by the same defendant at the same school and on the same area of their body in the same manner.
Snider also said that the girls testified that the incidents occurred in the classroom when Stiles called them over to his desk to talk with them.
Taylor reserved his opening statement. The trial is scheduled to reconvene at 9 a.m. today.
Stiles had been placed on administrative leave by BISD on Oct. 21, 2016. Stiles was employed with Borger ISD from Jan. 11, 2013, to March 28, 2017.
The case was investigated by the Borger Police Department and the Texas Rangers.
Stiles bond was set at $100,000. He was arrested on March 23, 2017, and held at the Hutchinson County Jail until he was released on April 10, 2017.

By JESSICA OZBUN
Staff Reporter

The Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23 at the Heritage Meetin,g Room, located in the Administration building in Stinnett.
Stinnett business owner Terri Rice attended the meeting to discuss the sale of her business, The Tee Pee Hut. The Tee Pee Hut is an iconic, mom-and-pop shop that has been serving lunch to West Texas students for generations. Rice leases the land that the business and building sit on from the school district. She wanted to address the school board to find out if she sold the building whether the same lease agreement that she had with the district would still be an option to the new owners.
“I would seek the boards approval before selling,” Rice said. “I would choose someone with good moral standing.”
Another option would be for Rice to sell the building and have it moved.
Board Trustee Tammy Hamby asked, “Do you think people would be interested in the building without the land?”
Rice answered that she had a couple of people interested in moving the building off the land, but that she would prefer to leave it there.
Board Trustee Toby Nutter said, “It gives the kids an option (for lunch) that’s needed here.” School Superintendent Bill Wiggins added that selling the land is not the best thing “because you never know when you might need that land.”
It was decided that the Wiggins would draft a couple of lease agreements for the board to look over at the next meeting.
The 2019-20 Bid for Milk was also passed at the meeting. Wiggins said that they had received one bid from Market Square, the local supermarket. Market Square would deliver milk three times a week, and could restock if the schools needed more.
The board also voted to nominate Randy Heston and Rodney Franklin, school board members, to the Hutchinson County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
It was reported that enrollment in the district was down from last year. Wiggins discussed that most of this was from Pre-K enrollment. Wiggins said that last year there were 717 students and this year 697.
Wiggins also announced to the Board of Trustee’s that on Oct. 5 the school district would be hosting a marching band festival and Oct. 19 the marching band would participate in the UIL marching band contest at Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo.
The next Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips CISD Board of Trustees meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 in the Heritage Meeting Room at the Administration building.w

By SARAH HARRIS
Staff Writer

Katie Lingor has been in Borger since her days as an elementary-school student and has always called Borger her hometown.
She is now executive director of the Borger Economic Development Corp., or Borger Inc., where she has served since 2007.
“I have worked for mostly small businesses, either in accounting and finance or in marketing roles. Being familiar with Borger and Borger’s economy, I was drawn to the position of executive director of the Borger economic development corporation,” Lingor says. “And I thought I could have a chance to use some of the skills that I’ve learned working in private industry and bring that to government and nonprofit work that is aimed at growing our economy.
“The position appealed to me because Borger is a big enough town that I think there’s a lot of opportunity here. We have an incredible amount of industry, but it’s also small enough that I think a small group of people can really make a difference in a community this size. If I’m going to be doing this kind of work, I want to be in a place where I can make a real difference.”
The role of an economic developer is two-fold, to help the community maintain and grow its economy. This is done through the small business incentive program and the commercial building and improvement program. In the small business incentive program, the economic development corporation partners with existing or start-up small businesses, helping them improve their facilities.
The commercial building and improvement program targets vacant properties and works with developers to renovate and restore them, bring a new business into town, or take an existing business and help it expand. However, Lingor says, potential businesses “don’t have to fit inside a certain mold. Any business that is viable, that has the potential to succeed here, and has a driven person who is willing to put in the work, we’re happy to hear those proposals. We want to keep the businesses, particularly the larger employers, in Borger, and help them retain what they currently have and also to look for opportunities for them to expand and to grow in the community and add additional jobs. That’s about 80% of our focus. The other 20% of what we do is look for new business opportunities for industries that are a good fit for Borger.”
To persuade new businesses to come to Borger, the economic development corporation tells the story of Borger’s strong industrial economy. Borger is also unique in that many of its industrial businesses’ main headquarters are outside the United States in such places as Canada, Belgium and Tokyo.
“That really puts us on the map,” Lingor says.
Lingor says about her job as executive director, “I like that no two days are the same. I really like sitting down and meeting with business owners in our community, hearing them, what’s working for them, and what we can do to make Borger a more business-friendly place. That’s my favorite part — sitting down, listening, taking that information, and working with other parties to try to find a solution.”
Annually, the BEDC develops a plan of work, summarizing what it hopes to accomplish over the next year. Lingor encourages everyone to attend the city council meeting on Oct. 1, where this year’s plan will be presented. In addition, last year’s accomplishments will be summarized. Information can be found on the Borger economic development corporation’s website, which is www.borgeredc.com.
And, if a potential business owner would like to meet with someone to discuss ideas, that can be done by meeting with Spencer McElhannon, who is available at the Borger EDC office at 1111 Penn St. every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge for this service.

STINNETT — Defendant Myron Stiles facial expression was solemn as he walked through the doors of the 316th District Courtroom on Tuesday morning. Stiles, a former second-grade teacher at Gateway Elementary School in Borger, is accused of an inappropriate relationship with one of his former students.
Stiles was employed by Borger ISD from Jan. 11, 2014, to March 28, 2017. He was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 21, 2016, and arrested on March 23, 2017.
The case by the state accuses Stiles of intentionally and knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a victim who was a child younger than 17 and doing this to gratify his sexual desire. Originally, three indictments were handed down against Stiles on May 31, 2017, but only one indictment will be heard in the trial. However, testimony by two other juvenile female witnesses who claim they also were victims will be used in this case.
A 12-member jury was picked on Monday consisting of seven women and five men, along with two alternates, a man and a woman. Stiles entered a plea of not guilty on Monday afternoon. Snider gave his opening argument at this time as well.
Court started on Tuesday morning with the witnesses for both the state and defendant being sworn in by presiding Judge James Mosley. The judge told the witnesses that they were being placed under a rule that would keep them from discussing the case with anyone until they are released from the rule. The witnesses were then escorted out of the courtroom.
At this point, Mosley called for the jury to be brought into the courtroom.
The state called the alleged victim to the stand to testify first. The girl took her place on the stand for nearly an hour. District Attorney Mark Snider asked her if she knew why she was there. She answered because she was sexually assaulted by her teacher. These alleged incidents occurred in February and March of 2013.
The alleged victim said that Stiles was her second-grade teacher at Gateway Elementary School in Borger. Snider asked her if she could identify Stiles, and she pointed to him and named the color of shirt that he was wearing. Snider then asked her how old she was when the alleged incidents happened and she said, 8. He then asked how old she was now and she responded, 14.
Snider stated to the girl that she had waited sometime to tell what had happen. It was nearly three years before she had talked about the incident with anyone.
“What made you tell?” Snider asked the girl.
She answered that she had a friend that told her a secret about cutting herself, so she decided to share her own secret with her friend. Shortly after discussing it with her friend, she decided to tell her mother. Snider asked her why she decided to tell her mother at this point. The girl exclaimed that she was tired of carrying the burden on her shoulders.
Snider asked the girl how many times the alleged abuse happened. She answered twice that she could remember.
The girl’s emotions were overwhelmed as Snider asked her to recount what allegedly had happened to her in the classroom. Snider asked her to describe the second encounter. She stated she went to Stiles desk to ask a question on an assignment. She said she walked to the side of the desk where Stiles was seated.
She said she proceeded to ask her question and at this time Stiles pushed her toward him by putting his hand on her thigh and pushing her forward. They were then face to face and knees were touching. He then took his hand and pushed forward harshly on her vaginal area in a cupping motion, the girl told Snider. She said Stiles did this through her clothes and there was no skin-to-skin contact.
This lasted just a short time, approximately 10 to 15 seconds in her opinion, and they continued on visiting about the assignment. She says at this time he asked her “if I would give him a kiss.” She told him no, and returned to her seat. She said the touching made her feel “uncomfortable and weird.”
Snider asked if a few days after this incident if she had developed a rash in her “private areas” and that her mother brought the girl some cream to school. The girl answered, “Yes that she (her mother) did bring her some cream.”
The alleged victim said that on the first encounter the same thing had happened but she was not asked for a kiss.
Snider then asked her if other kids in the classroom could see what had happened. She said no because of the way Stiles’ desk was positioned in the corner of the room.
Snider then listed the names of two other witnesses and asked if she knew them or had ever heard of them. The girl answered that she did not know them and never heard of them.
The court-appointed defense attorney, William “Bill” Taylor from Amarillo, then cross-examined the alleged victim. He asked her a few questions about the classroom, such as the position of the desk, and if she could remember anything about the decorations in the classroom.
Taylor asked, “You say you felt it was wrong when Stiles asked for a kiss but why didn’t you say anything about the touching? Why didn’t you tell him to stop?”
The girl responded she didn’t know.
Taylor then asked the girl, “It’s reported in your Bridge (a child advocacy agency in Amarillo) interview thatw your mom had asked you (in second grade) if anyone had touched you inappropriately and you told her no. Why did your mom ask you this?”
The girl replied, “because I had a rash.”
Taylor then asked her if she remembered what she told her interviewer from The Bridge about why she had told.
She answered, “Because my conscience was bothering me.”
Next, the mother of the alleged victim was called to the stand. She was asked by Snider when she found out about the incident and what she did. She said she found out on her daughter’s 12th birthday and that she notified law enforcement.
Texas Ranger Phillip Ditto was then called to the stand. He presented audio evidence about an interview that he had done with Stiles after he was alerted about the case by Texas Department of Public Safety Officer Oscar Esqueda. Ditto was on the stand nearly three hours, as the interview was played for the court and then as he was questioned by the state and the defense.
Following Ditto’s testimony, two young female witnesses were both called to the stand, individually. They both gave similar accounts of abuse by Stiles as the alleged victim in this case did. The dates of these alleged incidents were between 2013 and 2015. Snider made it a point to announce to the court that none of these young girls knew one another or had visited with one another. All were students in Stiles classroom in different years.
The day ended with Borger ISD Superintendent Chance Welch being called to the stand. Welch provided the court with records showing that the three girls had attended BISD and when. Classroom rosters were also provided to the court that listed the girls as students in Stiles’ class. Testimony ended at 5 p.m.