Shelby County Today

April 1, 2020 - Hope Community Medicine would like the public to know that we are an active testing site for COVID-19 and are seeing all patients.

We ask that you call our office first to determine what precautions to take to ensure you are treated correctly, and with the utmost safety to yourself and others. We do have protocols in place to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.

We ask that you call our office to get tested if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever above 100.4
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

Call us immediately if you have the symptoms above and meet the criteria below:

• have been in close contact with a Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset
• have a travel history from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset

Please be patient as we are in daily communication with the CDC and the Texas Department of Health and protocols, for testing and treatment may change as this current crisis unfolds.

If you have severe difficulty breathing or are in serious distress, please go straight to the Emergency Room. (Call ahead to let them know you are on your way.)

3 locations to better serve you! Tenaha (936) 248-4673, Center (936) 598-2716, and San Augustine (936) 275-4420.

April 1, 2020 - The Shelby County Commissioners met April 1, 2020 and addressed several regular items for consideration. Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, stated before the meeting she had spoken with medical representatives in Nacogdoches who have indicated Shelby County would be getting a testing facility for COVID-19 and additional information is forthcoming.

"The one they're doing in Nacogdoches is, you call in and you're screened, and if you meet the criteria then you're given an appointment," said Judge Harbison. "We're hoping it's the rapid tests that are 24 hours."

Judge Harbison then called the meeting to order for the 1st day of April. She welcomed guests at the meeting and invited Bro. Rob Merriman to say a prayer. 

Harbison suggested they put off the bid presentations by bidders - one was having to drive from Houston. They have three and all three have different types of roofs they are offering. They passed on the item until a future meeting.

Judge Harbison read aloud a Proclamation Declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month to the commissioners' court.

Whereas during the month of April 2020, Shelby County Advocacy Center will observe National Child Abuse Awareness Month to raise awareness of child abuse neglect and create strong communities to support the strengthening and healing of abused children and their non-offending family members.

And Whereas, each year hundreds of Shelby County children are confirmed victims of child abuse and neglects, and its prevention is a community-wide responsibility. 

And Whereas, Shelby County's Children's Advocacy Center serves hundreds of abused and neglected children, as well as their non-offending family members each year.

And Whereas, it is important to remember that children are our future. We must nurture and protect them and provide a safe environment in which they can grow and prosper. 

Now therefore, be it resolved, that the Shelby County Commissioners' Court hereby recognizes and proclaims April 2020 to be Child Abuse Awareness month in Shelby County, Texas and urges all citizens to work together to help significantly reduce child abuse and neglect in our community.

A motion then carried by the commissioners to approve recognizing April 2020 as Child Abuse Awareness Month.

"I want to make a statement that how much I appreciate the advocacy center here in Shelby County. I think that we have a great, great center and I'll put it up against anybodys in the state, in the nation," said Judge Harbison.

Precinct 1 and 2 commissioners have been discussing the 6-month lease of a 2020 belly dump trailer. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, explained each of the two precincts would be paying $3,000 into the lease agreement for a total of $6,000. 

A motion carried to approve the contract with Brazos Trailer Manufacturing L.L.C and the payment of $6,000.

Discussions have been ongoing for the rental of space for the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace and Constable. A contract has been approved by Gary Rholes, Shelby County Attorney, and Judge Harbison explained the contract could be re-negotiated at the end of the year. 

A motion carried to approve the contract for the rental.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:46am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Current payroll.
3. No public comments.
4. Venders bidding on roof repairs - Tabled.
5. Proclamation declaring April as “Child Abuse Awareness Month.”
6. 6-month lease between Commissioner Pct. 1 and Commissioner Pct. 2 with Brazos Trailer Manufacturing L.L.C for a 2020 Belly Dump Trailer.
7. Rental space for Justice of the Peace and Constable for Precinct 3.
8. Adjourn.

March 31, 2020 - Just over two-and-a-half miles south of Center on U.S. Highway 96 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 3:50am on March 31, 2020 a grey 2015 Hyundai Sonata driven by Michael Blake Higgenbotham, 19, of San Augustine was northbound on U.S. 96 when he fell asleep while traveling to work. 

The Hyundai left the roadway to the right, struck a mailbox and traveled through the barrow ditch before returning to the roadway. The vehicle then crossed the highway before coming to rest on the southbound side of the road.

Center Fire Department firemen were dispatched to the scene where they cut Higgenbotham free of the vehicle. As the firemen worked, they did so with respirators for the protection of themselves and those around them.

Higgenbotham was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He will be issued a citation for failure to maintain a single lane.

Center Police Department Officers also assisted at the scene.

TEXAS COVID-19

The CDC website shows Shelby County has 2 cases of COVID-19; however, County Judge announced early today it has 4 cases.

March 31, 2020 - The Texas Department of State Health Services is tracking cases of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. DSHS will update the state case count each day by noon Central Time. Numbers are current as of 8 p.m. the day before reporting.

On March 19, 2020, Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, declared a public health disaster in Texas, because COVID-19 “has created an immediate threat, poses a high risk of death to a large number of people, and creates a substantial risk of public exposure because of the disease’s method of transmission and evidence that there is community spread in Texas.”

Read the full text of the declaration.

Why are these case counts different from what local jurisdictions are reporting?

The numbers include confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported by local and regional public health jurisdictions to DSHS and are listed by the person’s county of residence. They do not include residents of other states who were repatriated from China or a cruise ship on a U.S. government flight to JBSA-Lackland in San Antonio.

The numbers reported here may differ from what’s being reported at the local level for two reasons. Local jurisdictions receive the initial laboratory results and may report them publicly before reporting those cases to DSHS. Some jurisdictions may report cases diagnosed or treated in their area, even if the person lives in another county.

Occasionally, a county’s case count could go down. This would happen if a person was initially reported by one county, but the disease investigation determined they are actually a resident of another county or state.

How can Texans slow the spread of COVID-19?

• The next two weeks are critical in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Texans must act now.
• Stay home as much as possible, especially if you are sick, older, and/or have a medical condition.
• If you are sick, stay home except to access medical care. If you are able to take care of yourself, stay home. If you need to see your doctor, call ahead.
• Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and non-essential trips into public.
• Cancel events of more than 10 people.
• Limit close contact (at least six feet) with other people. Employers should allow alternative work options as much as possible.

What else can people do to protect themselves and others?

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Who is at highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19?

Minimizing exposure is especially important for people who are 65 or older or who have an underlying health condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. People in those groups have a higher risk of developing severe disease if they do get COVID-19, and the safest thing for them during an outbreak will be to stay home as much as possible and minimize close contact with other people. To get ready, they should talk to their doctor about getting additional prescription medications and have enough household items and groceries on hand to stay home as needed.

DSHS has additional information on the COVID-19 for the public, health care professionals, health departments and labs at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus.

Please note concerning data below: "County of Residence" - the patient may be undergoing treatment in facilities in other counties. "Number of Cases" - does not include repatriation cases.

County of residence totals are as follows:

• Angelina County - 4
• Atascosa County - 2
• Austin County - 2
• Bastrop County - 6
• Bell County - 36 (1 Death)
• Bexar County - 168 (5 Deaths)
• Blanco County - 1
• Bowie County - 9
• Brazoria County - 79
• Brazos County - 46 (2 Deaths)
• Brown County - 3
• Burleson County - 1
• Burnet County - 2
• Caldwell County - 1
• Calhoun County - 3
• Cameron County - 26
• Cass County - 2
• Castro County - 8
• Chambers County - 8
• Cherokee County - 2
• Collin County - 160 (1 Death)
• Comal County - 11
• Coryell County - 1
• Crane County - 1
• Dallas County - 549 (11 Deaths)
• Dawson County - 3
• Deaf Smith County - 2
• Denton County - 191 (2 Deaths)
• DeWitt County - 3
• Eastland County - 3
• Ector County - 7
• El Paso County - 46
• Ellis County - 16 (1 Death)
• Erath County - 1
• Falls County - 1
• Fannin County - 1
• Fayette County - 2
• Fort Bend County - 119 (1 Death)
• Franklin County - 1
• Gaines County - 1
• Galveston County - 92
• Grayson County - 7
• Gregg County - 5
• Grimes County - 3
• Guadalupe County - 15
• Hale County - 1
• Hardin County - 12 (1 Death)
• Harris County - 563 (4 Deaths)
• Harrison County - 1
• Hays County - 24
• Hidalgo County - 38
• Hill County - 1
• Hockley County - 7
• Hood County - 6
• Hopkins County - 2
• Hunt County - 4
• Jackson County - 1
• Jefferson County - 18
• Johnson County - 8 (1 Death)
• Karnes County - 2
• Kaufman County - 3
• Kendall County - 7
• Kleberg County - 1
• Lamar County - 3
• Lamb County - 1
• Lavaca County - 1
• Leon County - 1
• Liberty County - 2
• Limestone County - 2
• Llano County - 3
• Lubbock County - 77
• Lynn County - 2
• Martin County - 1
• Matagorda County - 13 (1 Death)
• Maverick County - 1
• McLennan County - 39
• Medina County - 3
• Midland County - 13 (1 Death)
• Milam County - 2
• Montague County - 1
• Montgomery County - 81
• Moore County - 1
• Morris County - 1
• Nacogdoches County - 2
• Navarro County - 3
• Nueces County - 31
• Oldham County - 2 (1 Death)
• Orange County - 5
• Parker County - 4
• Polk County - 4
• Potter County - 5
• Randall County - 6
• Robertson County - 2
• Rockwall County - 5
• Rusk County - 3
• San Jacinto County - 1
• San Patricio County - 1
• Shelby County - 2
• Smith County - 32 (1 Death)
• Starr County - 2
• Swisher County - 1
• Tarrant County - 175 (1 Death)
• Taylor County - 11
• Terry County - 4
• Tom Green County - 6
• Travis County - 206 (1 Death)
• Upshur County - 2
• Uvalde County - 2
• Val Verde County - 5
• Van Zandt County - 2 (1 Death)
• Victoria County - 9
• Walker County - 3
• Waller County - 3
• Washington County - 8
• Webb County - 37 (1 Death)
• Wharton County - 6
• Wichita County - 30
• Willacy County - 2
• Williamson County - 42 (1 Death)
• Wilson County - 3
• Wise County - 1
• Young County - 1