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October 18, 2021 - Early voting started, October 18, 2021 and will continue thru October 29, 2021, for the upcoming Constitutional Amendment Election. There are 8 propositions on the ballot this year. Hours for early voting will be Monday thru Friday, 8-4:40pm, at the Center Community House. Election day will be November 2, 2021, at your regular polling location, from 7am to 7pm. If you have any questions, you may contact the County Clerk's Office at 936-598-6361. If you have questions about your voter registration, please contact 936-598-5340.
The eight State of Texas Propositions on the November 2nd ballot are:
State of Texas Proposition 1 - "The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women's Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues."
State of Texas Proposition 2 - "The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county."
State of Texas Proposition 3 - "The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations."
State of Texas Proposition 4 - "The constitutional amendment charging the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge."
State of Texas Proposition 5 - "The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office."
State of Texas Proposition 6 - "The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation."
State of Texas Proposition 7 - "The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes or the spouse's residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person's death."
State of Texas Proposition 8 - "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty."
October 26, 2021 - State Highway 7 West was the scene of a three-vehicle versus cow crash incident Thursday, October 21, 2021.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene top help those involved in the incident and to locate the cattle involved, which were located on either side of the highway.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers Keith Jones and Daniel Dellenger, a silver 2009 Dodge pickup truck driven by James Darron Tyre Jr, 38, of Center was westbound with a nine-year-old male passenger when the truck struck a brown and white cow in the middle of the roadway.
At that time a black 2006 Jeep Compass driven by Kellie Marie Puckett, 43, of Center was also westbound and struck the same cow.
A white 2017 GMC Yukon XL driven by Yuliana Valadez, 34, of Center was eastbound at that same time when the Yukon collided with a black cow in the roadway.
All vehicles involved came to a stop on their respective side of the roadway and emergency responders with West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department helped to push one out of the roadway.
Drivers and passengers refused treatment at the scene by ambulance personnel.
All vehicles involved were towed from the scene. Both of the cows perished at the scene as a result of the incidents.
October 25, 2021 - A man who has been missing since March was located in Toledo Bend Sunday, October 24, 2021, by a dive crew.
Sheriff Kevin Windham shared Adventures with Purpose (AWP), Exploring with Nug and Chaos Divers, groups who specialize in underwater recovery were contacted by the family of Thomas Thornton, 73, of Town Bluff requesting their help. They began searching at 9am on Sunday.
They had information which indicated his last known locations in March to have been in Hemphill, in Center where he had used his credit card, on Boles Field Road (FM 2694), and in Huxley. The dive team looked at maps and decided to start the search where the last confirmed cell phone location had been at Huxley Bay.
According to Sheriff Windham, within 12 minutes of starting their search the AWP located a vehicle. They took the license plate off the vehicle, brought it up for identification since visibility was very low, and were able to confirm the vehicle was the 2017 Ford Edge of Thornton. After that a window was broken and it was confirmed he was still inside. The vehicle was at a depth of eight feet in the water and was 75 to 85 feet from the Huxley Bay boat ramp and the visibility was less than six inches.
"There's got to be a special reward for people like that who just volunteer," said Sheriff Windham.
Sheriff Windham remarked how good it is that through this discovery the family has been brought some closure.
Sonar was first utilized to locate the vehicles and divers then went down to confirm and locate the vehicle.
Divers even found pieces of the vehicle beside the boat ramp that they were able to identify as a piece of a grill from a Ford. Jacob Gross, Chaos Divers, commented on the operation to Adventures with Purpose on their Facebook.
"He's been brought home and thanks to Jared and all the AWP team and all you guys for helping us even get out there," said Gross. "It was an amazing thing and it was humbling to bring him home."
Jackie Kirkwood, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, was called to the scene to confirm death and Thornton's body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy.
Huxley Volunteer Fire Department was at the scene to help keep the scene locked down.
Adventures with a Purpose facebook can be found by clicking here Chaos Divers facebook can be found by clicking here and Exploring with the Nug can be found by clicking this link
October 20, 2021 - A Joaquin woman pleaded guilty on October 18, 2021, to the 2017 manslaughter of her husband.
According to court documents the case against Lisa Renea Cordova, 54, was heard before 273rd Judicial District Judge James A. Payne, Jr. with 123rd Judicial District Attorney for the State Karren S. Price and attorney for the defense Tom Tibiletti.
Cordova was originally arrested and charged with murder; however, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, 2nd degree felony, and as a result was sentenced to 10 years confinement in the TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division. Cordova received a total jail time credit of 18 days.
When Cordova was arrested in 2017, according to a report from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, she stated to officers her husband Michael Lane Cordova, 52, had kicked her out of bed when she grabbed a knife and stabbed it in her husband's direction multiple times in the dark bedroom.
Upon arrival, officers indicated Michael Cordova had multiple stab wounds to his body and Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, was called to the scene and pronounced him deceased.
Karren Price, 123rd District Attorney, provided some background details on what led to the final outcome of the case against Cordova which has spanned several years and two district attorneys..
"Ms. Cordova plead guilty in 2019 and the Court accepted the plea and the recommendation made by then District Attorney Shires and defense counsel, Tibiletti, and agreed to follow their plea agreement," said Price. "The sentencing was reset at that time due to an already scheduled surgery on the defendant’s shoulder. Shortly thereafter Covid hit and no Court of any kind occurred. I then scheduled it for sentencing and we concluded the case on Monday. This is a case I would have liked a longer prison time on personally but was bound to the prior plea agreement."
Judge signs proclamation recognizing Texas Extension Education Week. From left: Commissioner Roscoe McSwain, Peaches Conway, Annette Jackson, Ellen Manning, Bobbie Nutt, Judge Allison Harbison, Commissioner Stevie Smith, and Commissioner Tom Bellmyer.
October 19, 2021 - The Shelby County Commissioners made the decision to switch the county cell phone plans to Verizon Wireless after discussion of what available options there are during their meeting October 13, 2021.
Although the decision was made to go with the company, it wasn't based on best available service, it was instead the result of available time to switch from Cellular One to another service running short. The cut off date for Cellular One service to end is November 30, and the county has a large number of lines to make the transition.
A test phone was supplied to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, as mentioned at a previous meeting; however, it wasn't yet available for officers to try out until the day of the meeting. According to Lt. Tanner Peace, a deputy was testing the service provided while the meeting was in progress.
"They have been to Huxley, Rolling Hills, Joaquin, Haslam Strip, back down [State Highway] 7 East," said Peace. "Basically that side of the county there's no difference, it possibly is even worse than Cell One. There was a location I believe in Rolling Hills area where Cell One works, but Verizon phone could not."
Peace said the phone would be taken to the other side of the county to see what the service was like in those areas. He remarked the east side of the county where they first were trying the service is where the service historically isn't as good through Cellular One.
"It really doesn't matter, because AT&T didn't work either, correct?" asked Judge Harbison.
Peace confirmed what Harbison asked, and that service through Verizon did work in Joaquin.
"We're at their mercy, there's nothing we can do about, there's no way we can fix this okay. We're just going to have to do what's best at the time," said Judge Harbison.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, stated it would be Verizon and indicated whoever is finding out what contracts are available would just need to confirm the old Cellular One numbers would be transferred to the new service. Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, noted a private individual who has switched and was able to keep his number.
Blackwell gave a preliminary rate received from Verizon Wireless of $49 a line. Judge Harbison clarified the majority of the phones they are switching will be Sheriff's Department, Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, and Constable phones.
"That's something that needs to be moving on. November 30th will be here before you know it," said McSwain. "Everybody that wants a phone, they need to get [Ann Blackwell] a list of numbers, how many phones they want, everybody that's gonna do it let's get on with it."
A motion carried to transition county cell phones to Verizon Wireless.
Following the motion Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, brought up other communication issues that still plague Shelby County.
"We have not heard from our radio expansion in months, and it was supposed to be up and operating by the end of July, first of August," said Bellmyer. "Can you get Tracy [Rook, Texas Premier Communications, LLC] back here, because if we can get the radios working across the county some of this cell phone stuff might go away if all the radios within the Sheriff's Office, the constables, and road crews would work I'll get rid of some of my phones."
Bellmyer explained that's the reason he has phones, because he can't get his radios to function. Once the radio system is functioning on the microwave system, Bellmyer says Rook will work with the local fire departments to make sure everyone has capability of communication.
"I'm holding up on Bobcat coming and working on my equipment until we get it up and going," said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer reiterated he wants an update in court since the last update two to three months ago was equipment was still coming from overseas.
McSwain asked about the water tower in Shelbyville, since Rook originally was unaware of space limitations when they gave their proposal, and Judge Harbison said the tower would be ok, "he could make it work."
Ellen Manning addressed the court on behalf of the Homemakers Club regarding Texas Extension Education Week.
"We meet once a month to have education things, which we receive when we go to state conference, we just did that in September." said Manning. "Texas A&M comes and presents different things on topics having to do with home keeping."
Manning explained the group keeps track of their volunteer hours, money spent and they present that to their agent and president of the organization. In the past, Manning mentioned the group has received awards for their volunteerism and financial donations made; however, they did not this year.
"In a couple more years we're going to celebrate 50 years being in business," said Manning. "At some times there were 20-30 members that were working, but now we have a difficult problem getting young people and people that are working, a lot of people work."
Manning said a couple years ago the AgriLife Extension Agents signed up 20-30 participants in the Women on the Go program.
Judge Harbison stated hopefully the world would be right again by the time the group reaches its 50th year and it could be honored with a large gathering of people.
Judge Harbison read a proclamation aloud in recognition of Texas Extension Education Week (Click here to view proclamation).
A motion by the commissioners carried to approve the proclamation as read.
Other members of the group present with Manning were Peaches Conway, Bobbie Nutt, and Annette Jackson.
Karren Price, 123rd District Attorney, spoke with the commissioners about the need of county constables to have body cams.
"I realize that you probably know already that everybody who is working in law enforcement needs to have a body camera on these days," said Price. "Somehow we've managed not to provide those for constables and I frankly didn't know they had already approached you about it."
During discussion it was determined Josh Tipton, Constable 5, does have a body cam which he purchased himself.
Price elaborated on the issue of safety for the officers, accountability factor, and liability for the county if anything were to go awry, and then evidentiary value should a case be presented in court and the video be useful as evidence.
"Law enforcement is the most dangerous job you can have, I think more dangerous than being a soldier in the United States Army," said Price.
Price mentioned the possibility of grants to fund the purchase the cameras, aside from the county making the purchase outright.
"They need it, we need it, and folks on the ground need it. They need to know their guys are protected as we can make them when they're out there in the middle of the night doing their jobs," said Price.
Sheriff's Department Captain Tanner Peace was asked to speak with the WatchGuard representative who worked with the Sheriff's Department in acquiring their cameras.
A motion to table the purchase of body cams for the constables until further information can be gathered was considered, but then passed until the next meeting.
House Bill 929, also known as the Botham Jean Act, was passed earlier in 2021 mandating the establishment of body worn camera policies for law enforcement agencies implementing a body worn camera program.
"I guess I'm going to bring up something that I brought up last year. Today is the 13th of October, we started out new budget year on October 1st," said Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4. "We went through several workshops and budget meetings, and budget discussions, and that's why I was curious if this was a mandate that just came out of the latest legislature."
Bellmyer stated this is his third year through budget time and he said that every year within the first 30 days of being into the new budget high dollar items become apparent, outside of emergency situations. He encouraged everyone operating on the county budget to bring needed expenses to budget discussions during June and July to prevent having to come up with unexpected funding once again.
District Attorney Price discussed the new legislative mandate for a Sexual Assault Team that has to be in place by November 1, 2021 in Shelby County.
"They have billed us a requirement, every county to have a adult sexual assault response team that look very much like a Child Advocacy Center multi-disciplinary team," said Price. "They have legislated that the felony prosecutor's office will be represented, the sheriff will be represented, I read in that that the county judge is the chairperson of this committee and you all have to appoint some other members to this committee that serves as a multi-disciplinary team."
Price explained the team is to meet at least quarterly to discuss cases involving sexual assault of adults. She said she isn't certain what the goal of the legislature is beyond accountability to the county governing board to move the cases through the system.
"It's December 1 y'all are supposed to have a resolution in the court that you're forming one and then we have a whole year to draft protocols for the team reaction and should be for everybody involved in the team how we address ongoing issues of sexual assault of adults," said Price.
She said a report would have to be submitted every other year by commissioners' court to the state.
"I'm gonna guess that at some point down the road when they have enough data collected from the counties, they're going to tie that to some kind of money," said Price. "I don't know what kind of money they're going to tie it to, but there's going to be an accounting at some point, they're just gathering data right now to justify some kind of grab from the counties for expenditures."
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of September 1, 2021 Special meeting, September 8, 2021 Special meeting, September 8, 2021 Public Hearing, September 15, 2021 Regular meeting, September 22, 2021 Special meeting, September 29, 2021 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses with the exception of a bill from Fish and Still to confirm non-warranty repairs. 3. Current payroll. 4. Officers reports. 5. Proclamation for Texas Extension Education Week. 6. Transition the cell phone contracts to Verizon Wireless. 7. Adjourn. Passed 1. Contract for the American Rescue Plan Act Administrative Services between Shelby County and Grantworks, Inc. 2. Body cams for the constables
October 19, 2021 - In order to complete system reliability improvements, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative will have the following planned outages. These outages are necessary to ensure the safety of our crews while working. We apologize for the inconvenience during these times. All members of these substations will receive an automated call the day prior to their outage. There is no need to report your outage during these times. Should you have any questions, please call 936-229-4000, option #2.
Thursday, October 21st beginning at approximately 8:30 until 10:30 AM
- Center South Substation – areas of Highway 7 W, FM 138, Loop 500, Hwy 96 S of Center, Arcadia, Spann Chapel, Goodhope, Short, Shelbyville, and the areas surrounding these locations. *Please note that the Shelbyville ISD School circuit will be rerouted to provide power to the school during this time. The school WILL NOT experience the outage.
Friday, October 22nd beginning at approximately 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM
- Hurstown Substation – areas of Patroon, East Liberty, Dreka, Brinson Marina, North of Lout Town, and the areas surrounding these locations
Friday, October 22nd beginning at approximately 8:30 AM until 9:30 AM and a short blink at approximately 11:30 AM
- Huxley Substation – areas of Rolling Hills, Huxley Bay Marina, Doyle English Marina, and the areas surrounding these locations
Saturday, October 23rd beginning at approximately 7 AM until 10 AM
- Center Substation – areas of: Campti, Sardis, 699 toward Paxton, Hwy 7 E toward Joaquin, 96 N, 87 N, Enterprise, Fulstom Chapel and the areas surrounding these locations
The water on N.E.W. WSC no longer requires boiling.
October 18, 2021 - On October 8, 2021, 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 October 18, 2021.
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.
October 8, 2021 - Due to a break in the line at Plant 2, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation PWS # 2030034 to notify all customers on FM 1751, Grapevine and Chinquapin 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.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can also be reached at 512-239-4691.
October 15, 2021 - Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports the arrest of Ethan Hendricks, 19, of Timpson.
On Saturday, October 9, 2021, a deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence on FM 138 in Timpson in regards to a burglary. Once on scene, the deputy met with the homeowner and was informed that the property had been burglarized and several items, including power tools and a four-wheeler, had been removed without permission.
Investigator David Haley, Constable Taylor Fanguy and Constable Josh Tipton arrived on scene and went next door to a residence to see if the homeowner had noticed anything suspicious. The homeowner stated Hendricks had been staying at her property and granted officers to look in her residence. Officers were able to locate several items on the homeowners’ property that had been stolen.
During the course of the investigation, officers traveled to another residence in Timpson where Hendricks was known to frequent. Officers made contact with Hendricks and he confessed to burglarizing the property and stealing multiples items, along with the four-wheeler. Officers also located the four-wheeler on site when Hendricks was arrested.
Hendricks was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail. He was charged with Burglary of a Habitation (F-2) and currently remains in custody on a $10,000 bond. The property recovered was returned to the homeowner.
The SCSO would like to thank Constable Tipton and Constable Fanguy for their assistance with this situation.
October 14, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, today 3 new cases, 4 new estimated recoveries, and 2 new deaths were reported.
The estimated active cases is 121.
In total, October has had 11 new deaths reported, 117 new cases reported, and 143 estimated recoveries reported.
October 14th Numbers: (Changes since Oct. 13)
Confirmed Cases - 1,659 (1 new)
Probable Cases - 1,248 (2 new)
Fatalities - 107 (2 new)
Active Cases (Estimated) - 121
Recovered (Estimated) - 2,681 (4 new)
October 13th Numbers: (Changes since Oct. 12)
Confirmed Cases - 1,658 (3 new)
Probable Cases - 1,246 (4 new)
Fatalities - 105 (3 new)
Active Cases (Estimated) - 125
Recovered (Estimated) - 2,677 (15 new)
October 13, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, overnight 7 new cases, 15 new estimated recoveries, and 3 new deaths were reported.
The estimated active cases is 125.
In total, October has had 9 new deaths reported, 114 new cases reported, and 139 estimated recoveries reported.
October 13th Numbers: (Changes since Oct. 12)
Confirmed Cases - 1,658 (3 new)
Probable Cases - 1,246 (4 new)
Fatalities - 105 (3 new)
Active Cases (Estimated) - 125
Recovered (Estimated) - 2,677 (15 new)
October 12th Numbers: (Changes since Oct. 5)
Confirmed Cases - 1,655 (15 new)
Probable Cases - 1,242 (62 new)
Fatalities - 102
Active Cases (Estimated) - 133
Recovered (Estimated) - 2,662 (75 new)
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