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January 6, 2024 - Gas Pipeline has been repaired and gas pressure is back at full capacity to all City of Huxley customers.
If you need assistance please call office (936)368-2266 or emergency line (936)368-2377.
January 5, 2024 - City of Huxley wants to notify our gas customers of a temporary gas outage; due to a line break on our gas suppliers pipeline.
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Unfortunately this is out of our control, however we are working diligently to get gas restored as quickly as possible.
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We appreciate your patience and understanding at this difficult time.
January 5, 2024 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers arrested a Shelby County man on Monday, January 1, 2024, on multiple firearm and drug charges following a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 96, south of Center.
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The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 2:42pm, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office informed officers to be on the lookout for a silver Dodge Dually pickup traveling south, that had run off the roadway and struck multiple construction barrels. Troopers located the pickup and conducted a traffic stop. A search of the pickup yielded one shot gun, two rifles, a handgun and multiple drugs, including mushrooms, methamphetamines, marijuana and amphetamine pills. A check of the driver’s license confirmed him to be a convicted felon and he was subsequently placed under arrest.
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The driver, identified as Brad Broussard, 42, of Shelby County, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful carrying of a weapon by a felon with conviction, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2, all felony offenses. Additional charges were filed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens.
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This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
The water on N.E.W. WSC no longer requires boiling.
January 5, 2024 - On December 29, 2023, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the N.E.W. Water Supply, #2030034, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
N.E.W. Water Supply has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes. We have also provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of January 5, 2024.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the office: 220 West Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp 936-201-5001.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call (512)239-4691.
December 29, 2023 - Due to a mechanical issue at Plant 1, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation PWS # 2030034 to notify all customers on FM 711, CR 202, CR 203, CR 205, CR 223, Harmony, Kellyville, Fountain Town and Woodland Acres Communities to boil their water prior to consumption (eg., washing hands/ face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received the notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation at 220 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 75972, or call 936-288-0489
or Charles Sharp at 936-201-5001.
January 4, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners discussed a larger than normal payroll, as well as the sale of an old truck, and purchase of a new one for Precinct 4 during their meeting held Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
The commissioners considered the payment of the current payroll and Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, commented there is a lot of overtime going through the Sheriff’s Department as well as Holiday pay.
Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, commented with pay increases over the past year and then holiday within a pay period the county would be looking at around $230,000, and if there isn’t a holiday it would be closer to around $221,000 - $222,000.
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“You can always tell when we’re going to have those holidays in there we’re going to be pushing $230,[000] or a little over probably every time,” said Porterfield.
A motion by Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, was made to approve the payroll as presented on the Payroll Earnings Register for the current period, and the motion was seconded by Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3.
The commissioners approve the salvage of a 2008 Ford F150 Truck for Commissioner Bellmyer’s precinct. Commissioner Bellmyer said the truck broke a timing chain about a month ago as it pulled into the precinct yard and it has around 300,000 miles on the odometer. He mentioned several things that have been stripped off the vehicle and confirmed with Auditor Porterfield the vehicle could be gotten rid of as salvage.
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“We have two options, if you deem an asset surplus that means it’s still usable,” said Porterfield. “If we were to dispose of it we would have to go out for bids, or sell it at auction, if we deem an asset as salvage that means it’s not usable and that opens us up to dispose of it any way we want. We could sell it to a scrap yard, we could junk it, use it for parts. There’s no stipulations on how we get rid of it.”
Commissioner Bellmyer moved that he has approval to submit the 2008 Ford F150 Truck VIN #1FTRX12WX8KF06087 for salvage, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. The motion was approved.
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Commissioner Bellmyer then submitted his desire to purchase another truck through the BuyBoard with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Bellmyer moved for approval to buy a work truck for Precinct 4 through the BuyBoard with ARPA funds. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion and it was approved.
The meeting then was adjourned.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Pay current Payroll. 3. Commissioner Pct 4. to salvage a 2008 Ford F150 Truck. VIN #1FTRX12WX8KF06087. 4. Commissioner Pct.4 to purchase a new truck through BuyBoard with ARPA funds. 5. Adjourn.
January 4, 2024 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, has announced County Road 4356 is now open for traffic as of 1pm on January 4, 2024.
The portion of roadway which was shut down for repairs over the holidays starting on December 20, 2023, and was scheduled to be completed by January 8, 2024.
December 18, 2023 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, announces the closure of a section of CR 4356 for road repair starting December 20, 2023.
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The section that will be closed is located between CR 4293 and CR 4314.
Road work is anticipated to be completed by January 8, 2024.
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January 3, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners moved forward with the purchase of tasers for the Sheriff's Department and County Constables during their meeting held December 29, 2023, and they heard updates on ARPA projects which they have previously discussed.
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The commissioners considered the weekly expenses as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, who commended Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, for work their crews did on qualifying gravel covered by a grant by the Forest Service.
An invoice which was in need of paying was for the Historic Courthouse Master Plan, and Blackwell explained a determination needed to be made of where the $22,500 was going to be sourced to pay the bill. The contingency fund had been considered before; however, it has no funds available to cover the expense. The total of the expenditure is around $90,000 and the initial payment would be 25% of that amount. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, encouraged the funds to be sourced from the Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) and he said that would relieve some funding from the Contingency Fund, and “put it in the black.”
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Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, moved in accordance with the statement of McSwain in reference to the Master Plan being paid from the LATCF and Commissioner McSwain added the motion is to pay all of the weekly expenses with the exception of the Master Plan on a normal basis, and Commissioner Lout seconded the motion.
The commissioners discussed an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects which have been approved and considered in the past. One of the most notable projects was a water well for the Huber Water Supply Corporation, which Ann Blackwell stated has been on the list for two years now, and it doesn’t seem to be moving forward. The original amount that was earmarked for the project was $280,000.
“We have an estimate now of $650,[000] plus $200,000, plus engineering fees,” said Blackwell, and she continued to elaborate, “That project’s almost two years old and it hasn’t moved anywhere.”
Commissioner Bellmyer remarked the Jackson, which came later that the Huber project, is almost ready to be up and running.
Commissioner Bellmyer gave an update on the project being performed on CR 4356.
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“The north side of the bridge has got all the piles driven, pile caps in place, welded out. All of the head walls are in on it,” said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer said he expects completion is going to be close to be ready for a school bus to be able to travel over the bridge by January 8th, but all of the materials are on site, and with the cooperation of weather the project is going to be close.
In reference to tasers for the Sheriff’s Department, the commissioners approved the issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County.
John Price, County Attorney, researched what options were available after the previous meeting.
“I did find an attorney general’s opinion that convinces me that this commission has the authority under 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to order an exemption or find an exemption based on the issue of preserving and protecting the public health and safety,” said Price.
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Price said this would make it so the county wouldn’t have to comply with the provisions of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code which references the bid process.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the issuance of the order and Commissioner Lout seconded the motions.
The commissioners considered a contract for the purchase of tasers in the amount of $60,350.40 and a motion was made by Commissioner Bellmyer to approve the purchase with funds from the LATCF and for Commissioner McSwain to sign the contract, a second was given by Commissioner Smith.
The IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 was considered by the commissioners and a motion by Commissioner Lout to approve the new rate of 67 cents a mile was seconded by Commissioner Smith.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. ARPA funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance finalized contract amount for the new pug mill from Pug Mill Systems including additional options wanted on the machine. 3. Issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County. 4. Purchase of Tasers for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Constables. 5. IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 of 67 cents per mile. 6. Adjourn.
January 2, 2023 - State Highway 7 West near FM 711 was the scene of a single-vehicle Crash on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, the vehicle was off the roadway in the westbound wood line. Emergency Medical Services personnel established the occupants of the vehicle were in stable condition before moving them to a waiting ambulance for transport.
According to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 8:05pm, a 2008 Toyota Scion driven by Timothy Westberry, 51, of Lufkin was traveling west. It is reported that Westberry traveled off the road to the right and struck a culvert.
Westberry, and his passenger Christy Barney, 48, were both transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
The crash investigation was led by DPS Trooper Josh Gradburg.
Submitted photo
January 2, 2024 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a major three-vehicle crash incident on U.S. Highway 96 South early January 2, 2024.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of the crash to assist those involved and to divert traffic while Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers investigated the incident.
According to DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos at 3:40am a yellow 2020 Freightliner truck tractor, leased by Penske Leasing and Rental, and driven by Weslie Pounds, 61, of Port Arthur, Texas was towing a 2011 Hill Holland Sand trailer northbound on U.S. Highway 96, near CR 1006, when for an unknown reason it left the roadway to the right and overturned in the roadway.
A white 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor driven by Roxie Knighton, 59, of Silsbee and hauling a 1968 trailer loaded with a chemical was also northbound behind the Freighliner and couldn’t initially see the Freighliner which was on its side in the roadway. The Peterbilt struck the 2011 Hill Holland Sand Trailer and subsequently traveled off the roadway to the right before coming to rest.
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Another vehicle, a 2007 Honda Civic driven by Diego Lopez, 25, of Liberty attempted to avoid a collision by traveling in between the trucks and was unable to avoid the collision.
Lopez and Pounds were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries. Knighton was not reported to have been injured.
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The location was under traffic control by TxDOT with only on lane of travel is being utilized until the scene was clear around 9am. Crews with Hopkins Wrecker Service and Sandhill Wrecker Service worked together to get the vehicles removed.
Trooper Ramos was assisted at the scene by Texas DPS Cpl. David Shields, Jr. The crash remains under investigation.
December 30, 2023 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Hurst Street and Wheeler Avenue on December 27, 2023.
When Center Police Officers and Center Fire Department personnel arrived at the location, one vehicle remained in the outside northbound lane of Hurst Street and the other vehicle involved was in a nearby parking lot.
According to the Center Police Department, a white 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Kristen Lee, 25, of Timpson was eastbound on Arcadia Drive when she entered the intersection with Hurst Street and was proceeding to Wheeler Avenue. At that time, a black 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gerald Hill, 61, of Center was southbound on Hurst Street and both vehicles entered the intersection and collided.
The Yukon came to rest in the outside southbound lane of Hurst Street and the Chevrolet came to rest in a parking lot after striking the stop light post.
Center Fire Department was requested to help free Hill from his truck and Emergency Medical Services transported both with non life threatening injuries to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department.
No citations were issued at the time of the crash incident. The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Jerry Payne.
December 29, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners Court held a special meeting on December 20, 2023 in the Shelby County Courthouse and discuss several financial challenges.
Paying weekly expenses was the first item on the agenda. County Treasurer Ann Blackwell drew the courts attention to the county receiving a last minute grant from the Texas Forest Service which has a deadline of having a report of all payments and receipts turned in by Friday, December 29. The notice of the $205,000 grant funds being available was received last Wednesday evening, December 13. As soon as the notice was given, the commissioners proceeded with using the funds to buy and haul gravel. The current bills ready for payment for Precinct 2 is with Timberwulf Lake Works for $102,303.68 and for Precinct 3 is with Texas Materials for $55,000.
A second item Blackwell wanted to bring to the courts attention was regarding the invoice for the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse. The plan had been approved to be paid out of contingency, however, the contingency account has been overextended. The current invoice is for $22,500 which is 25% of the total $90,000. The invoice is due January 10, 2024. Blackwell made a suggestion of considering paying the master plan out of L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
County Auditor Clint Porterfield gave a run down of the bills which have recently come out of the contingency account, "So let me just tell you what's in there and what's pending. As you know, we had three constable trucks that we outfitted, and I will tell you as of today we've spent about $28,000 on outfitting those three trucks which is I think to be expected because we, for insurance purposes, usually add anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 to vehicles." He continued, "We paid some past due invoices to Motorola for the Sheriff's Department - that was $43,000. Then we plugged in the $90,000 for the master plan." Porterfield then added an additional pending purchase of a vehicle for Constable 4 which would be $65,000 or more as well as an upcoming commitment of $910,000 for the obligation of the Emergency Water Shed Program. The county does have $900,000 set aside in two other accounts but will need to find $10,000 for the remaining balance. With current obligations he explained the contingency account has a deficit of about $22,000 which isn't including the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse or the remaining $10,000 for the Emergency Water Shed Program.
Porterfield referred back to Blackwell on her suggestions of where the master plan may be paid. After some discussion, the court decided to hold off on the master plan payment until it can be research to see if it can be paid from either L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
Discussion returned to the Texas Forest Service Grant. A motion was made to pay weekly expenses in addition to the invoices for the gravel associated with the grant as well as any further invoices connected to the grant and not pay the H.R.T.C. (master plan for the Historic Courthouse). The motion was approved.
Commissioner Precinct 4 Tom Bellmyer reminded everyone that County Road 4356 will be closed for bridge work and will reopen January 8th.
The commissioners then discussed the use of A.R.P.A. funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. Blackwell is scheduled to meet with the A.R.P.A. representative on Thursday, December 21. Commissioner Precinct 1 Roscoe McSwain said, "Today, I'm looking for approval to move forward with Grant works to go out for bids for a pug mill system for the county... Precinct 1 and 2 has always had the pug mill the last 12-13 years. I want to move towards buying a pug mill system that the county owns as a whole. It's not a precinct owned piece of equipment - its to benefit the whole county. I think it is a good opportunity for us to do it. The mill our precincts purchased 12-13 years ago is getting old. Things are going to keep happening to it as we go along and down time. And now that we are trying to make oil for the entire county instead of just our precincts [1 and 2] we don't have much down time because we have that four month window to make the product and we need a machine that's working."
The new pug mill would be all electric and not a hydraulic machine. A motion was made and approved to move forward with going out for bids pending approval from Grant Works.
The court discussed and voted to table the purchase agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff's Department and Constables and instead to seek bids due to the total being over $50,000. During discussion it was mentioned the county may be able to apply for Law Enforcement Senate Bill 22 Grant - which provides financial assistance to qualified sheriff's offices and prosecutor's offices in rural counties. Discussion also included looking into buy boards being an option as well as investigating options on how to pay for the taser.
The court entered into executive session at 10:42am and entered back into open session at 12:15pm.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison said, "The first issue that we discussed was a breeding sow that was picked by an estray officer. We are going to, I think, I need a motion to pay that person $500 for their breeding sow and they are going to sign a release with the county attorney." A motion was made and approved.
The second item discussed in executive session was the condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. The motion was made and approved.
Following the two items approved after executive session, the meeting adjourned with the next meeting being held on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Approved to pay weekly expenses including invoices connected to Texas Forest Service Grant and not to pay $22,500 invoice for Master Plan for Historic Courthouse. 3. Approved to pay current Payroll. 5. Approved moving forward with seeking bids for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. 7. Approve transferring 2024 Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy to Texas Association of Counties due to a $6,000 saving. 11. Approved paying $500 for a breeding sow. 11. Approved condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. Items tabled during the meeting included: 8. Purchase Agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff’s Department and Constables.
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