Category: Howe News Bulletin

HOWE, Texas – Two convicted sex offenders living in Howe have been arrested and charged with not abiding by mandated registration requirements.

On August 6, Howe officers arrested 32-year-old Bryan Keith Smith after learning he had moved into Howe from Oklahoma. Smith has a long criminal history involving drugs and violence, and two previous convictions in Oklahoma for not properly registering as a sex offender. He was convicted in Murray County, Oklahoma, in 2006 for Lewd Acts or Proposals to a child under 16.

Richard Manuel Torres, 69, was convicted in 2006 in Denton County for Indecency with a Child after he victimized a 6-year-old girl. He was arrested at his home in Howe on August 21.

Individuals convicted of sex offenses are required to abide by a number of restrictions. These restrictions include where they may live and how often they must register with local law enforcement agencies.

According to Howe Police Sergeant Keith Milks, Torres and Smith moved into Howe without notifying the police department of their intent to live in the city.

Both men were booked into the Grayson County Jail on felony charges of Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements.

It’s time to purchase your Howe Bulldogs spirit wear and the Howe High School Cheerleaders have you covered.

Beginning immediately, the Howe ISD has changed phone numbers for all campuses. Please note the following numbers below:

Howe ISD Administration 
903-745-4000

Summit Hill Elementary
903-745-4100

Howe Intermediate School
903-745-4200

Howe Middle School
903-745-4300

Howe High School
903-745-4400

From July 15, 2019 to July 28, 2019, there were at least four reported suspicious fires that burned hundreds of bales of hay and a structure. The value is over $100,000 worth of property damage that has been caused. All of the fires were located in the Whitesboro area.

A citizen has pledged a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for these fires. There is also a reward of up to $5,000 being offered through Crimestoppers.

If you have any information regarding these fires, contact CrimeStoppers at 877-373-TIPS (8477) or the FREE P3 Tips Ap.

Weather permitting, prescribed burning will occur at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge beginning August 1, or as soon therefore after as possible. Fire management staff from Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma will work in coordination with local fire officials and personnel to accomplish the burns. Approximately 590 acres located within five tracts in the Harris Creek Unit are scheduled to be burned. The area will close to the public the day of and the day following fire operations to ensure safety.

If burning in the Harris Creek Unit is completed within the expected time frame, a portion of the Sandy Unit may also be burned. If this occurs, the Sandy Unit will close to the public for one to two days.

The purpose of controlled burning on the refuge is to improve refuge habitat for native wildlife and reduce the amount of vegetation available to sustain a catastrophic wildfire. Fire also helps reduce the number of unwanted eastern red cedar, honey locust, and mesquite trees that invade grasslands and return nutrients to the soils to create healthy habitats.

For more information, please contact the Refuge Headquarters at 903-786-2826.