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November 2, 2020 (Printable sample ballot) - Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open for 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., November 3, 2020, for voting in the general election to elect Members of Congress, Members of the Legislature, and state, district, county, and precinct officers.
Locations of the Polling Places
- Precinct 1 N (Center) at First United Methodist Church, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SO (Center) at Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SE (Center) at Panola College Center, 3600 Loop 500, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SW (Center) at Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 W (Center) at JOI Ranch Building, 5198 FM 2026, Tenaha, Texas 75974
- Precinct 2 (Aiken) at Excelsior School, 11270 St. Hwy 7 W, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 3 (Sardis) at Campti Pentecostal Church, 6153 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 4 (Huxley) at Lydia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 14998 FM 139, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 5 (Joaquin) at First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
- Precinct 6 (Dreka) at Dreka Pentecostal Church, Fellowship Hall, 1193 FM 2427, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 7 (Shelbyville) at First Baptist Church - Shelbyville, Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 South, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 8 (Tenaha) at First Methodist Church - Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75974
- Precinct 9N (Timpson) at American State Bank, 830 N. 1st Street West, Timpson, Texas 75975
- Precinct 9S (Timpson) at Timpson School Gym Foyer, 836 Bear Drive, Timpson, Texas 75975
Application for ballots by mail must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3, 2020 by 7:00 p.m. and received no later than Wednesday, November 4, 2020 by 5:00 p.m.
November 3, 2020 - The Center Police Department is once again investigating the vandalism and attempted theft of a local bank automated teller machine (ATM) as of Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Center Police Department Officers were at the scene of the incident around 5am just off the Center square at Citizens Bank where the ATM had been ripped from the concrete base it was once located on in the drive-through of the bank.
The badly damaged ATM was left nearby at the entrance to the drive-through.
Located behind a car dealership off Houston Street was a red 2000 Ford F-350 with a chain attached to it that apparently had been utilized in the incident. The truck also appeared to have been damaged enough in the attempted theft the would-be thieves left it behind.
It’s unclear at this time if the vandalism resulted in a theft; however, it did appear to have resulted in a great deal of expensive damage.
A similar attempted theft occurred at Shelby Savings Bank on October 17, 2020 just over a block away from Citizens Bank.
This information will be updated once more information is known from the Center Police Department.
Related Article:
Center Police Officers Foil Bank ATM Theft (Update Oct. 22)
November 2, 2020 - As of Sunday, November 1, 2020 the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports Shelby County now has a cumulative case count of 554. The largest COVID-19 cases increase over the past 2 weeks fell on October 27th with 5 new cases reported. The total increase over the two week period was 15 new cases.
October 19th - cumulative total 539
October 20th - 0 new cases (cumulative total 539)
October 21st - 3 new cases (cumulative total 542)
October 22nd - 0 new cases (cumulative total 542)
October 23rd - 0 new cases (cumulative total 542)
October 24th - 0 new cases (cumulative total 542)
October 25th - 0 new cases (cumulative total 542)
October 26th - 2 new cases (cumulative total 544)
October 27th - 5 new cases (cumulative total 549)
October 28th - 1 new case (cumulative total 550)
October 29th - 3 new cases (cumulative total 553)
October 30th - 1 new case (cumulative total 554)
October 31st - 0 new cases (cumulative total 554)
November 1st - 0 new cases (cumulative total 554)
DSHS also reports 1 new death for Shelby County due to COVID-19 for a cumulative count of 31.
November 2, 2020 - The Shelby County Clerk's Office will be closed Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, due to the General Election. We will be in the office to answer any elections questions you have. You may call us at 936-598-6361. However, we will not be open for any other business these two days.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
October 30, 2020 - Football Scores Week 10
Friday Night Games
Center 13 - Jasper 41, Final Score
Joaquin 0 - Timpson 63, Final Score
Shelbyville 27 - San Augustine 6, Final Score
Tenaha 57 - Overton 8, Final Score
October 30, 2020 - Shelby County Clerk Jennifer Fountain reports early voting for the General Election ended at 4:30pm today and a total of 6,288 voters early voted!
If you missed out on early voting, you can vote Tuesday, November 3, 7am until 7pm, at your regular polling location.
October 20, 2020 (Printable sample ballot) - Early voting for the upcoming General Election will begin Tuesday, October 13 and end October 30, at the Center Community House.
- Mondays, Oct. 19 and 26, 7am to 7pm
- Saturday, Oct. 24 10am to 2pm
- Sunday, Oct. 25, 12noon to 4pm
- All other days 8am to 4:30pm
Remember, there is no longer Straight Party Voting on the ballot. You will have to mark each individual you wish to vote for. Please allow for time to mark your ballot completely.
PLEASE NOTE: There is NO CAMPAIGNING inside the polling place, meaning no shirts, caps, face masks, etc containing any name or party on the ballot may be worn inside the polling place, or within 100 feet of the front door. This has always been the law. You will be asked to remove anything political before you may vote.
We will be practicing social distancing and sanitizing tables between voters to ensure your safety.
If you have any questions or need to request a ballot by mail, please call the Shelby County Clerks Office at 936-598-6361.
October 28, 2020 - A new communications console for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department has been OK'd by the County Commissioners, and at an even lower rate than originally projected during their emergency meeting held Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
The original inflated proposal had the commissioners looking at an almost $70,000 price tag for a complete replacement of a system that was absolutely going to need a repair since it was completely down, and that repair was going to cost in the neighborhood of $26,000.
"The difference in the cost of that and fixing the old stuff is just over $29,000 difference, so I think we're looking at spending instead of $55,000 we need to consider that we're only going to be spending a little over $29,000," said Charles Barr, Commissioner Precinct 3.
Judge Allison Harbison remarked the county is doing 'OK' regarding money as there was a lot left over from the previous year's budget.
"On the 4th we'll have SRA, they're going to be coming and giving us a grant of $50,000, so I mean we have some wiggle room," said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison said the funds to pay for the radio console replacement are likely to come out of the Sheriff's budget.
A motion carried by Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, for estimate 1175 in the amount of $54,160 for the console and estimate 1178 in the amount of $1,600 for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) bringing the total to $55,760. Barr seconded the motion.
"I'd like to add that the money, whether it's in the Sheriff's budget or whatever, it belongs to the people in the county. It's their money, and I can't think of a better way to use it than for the safety of the people in our county and the police officers," said Barr.
Aside from Timpson VFD, who did not have representation, all other fire departments were present for the meeting including West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (Bradley Wilburn); Center Volunteer Fire Department (Rodney Mathews); Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department (Mark Odum); Huxley Volunteer Fire Department (Craig Hendricks); Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (Chris Koltonski), and Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (Perry Pugh, Jeremy Boyett, and Jessie Griffith).
All of the fire departments, with the exception of Center, will be dispatched from one channel unless they want to pay $5,800 to have their own channel connected to the dispatch console. Timpson VFD is the only channel that currently is dispatched through their own channel by the Sheriff's Department and with the new console changes, they will instead be dispatched through the general fire channel. Any departments that have their own channels, will then be expected to communicate with one another on their own channel after their initial dispatch from the Sheriff's Department.
Not all departments have an alternate channel which they utilize.
During the meeting Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, asked again if Timpson handles their own dispatch, or if it is handled through the Sheriff's Department. Timpson ceased handling their own dispatch in August 2013 partly to reduce expense of paying for two dispatchers since the county has a dedicated dispatch. A that time the City of Timpson issued the following statement (click here to view).
The meeting was adjourned at 11:08am.
Related Articles:
- Commissioners Consider Potential $70,000 Emergency Expenditure
- Analog Radio System Shutdown Affects Local Fire Departments
- County Enters into Long-Term Lease Agreement for Radio Tower Use
- Commissioners Grill Ambulance Service on Procedures; Have Round-Table Discussion on Radios
- Inmate Allegedly Assaults Jailers; Sheriff Commends Jail Staff
October 28, 2020 - The missing 15-year-old from Timpson has been found and reunited with his family Tuesday night.
According to a Sheriff's Department update, Demetrice Edmond was arrested Tuesday, October 27, 2020 by SCSO Deputies. She was charged with Harboring a Runaway Child (M-A) and was released on a bond per JP 1, Donna Hughes.
This case is still under investigation and nothing further is available at this time.
October 27, 2020 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking the whereabouts of Ahsiyah Terril Patton, 15, from Timpson. Patton is described as a black male, 5’5” and weight 120 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Patton was last seen in Timpson on October 20, 2020 with his biological mother, Demetrice “Damitriyunna” Edmond.
If you have information in regards to Patton or Edmonds, or if you know there whereabouts, you are urged to contact the SCSO at 936.598.5601.
October 27, 2020 - Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on US 59, approximately 2.5 miles north of the city of Garrison in Rusk County at 7:15am this morning, October 27.
The investigators preliminary report indicates that the driver of a 2020 Kenworth towing a semi-trailer was traveling north on US 59 in the outside lane of traffic slowing to turn right into a private drive. At the same time, the driver of a 2006 Freightliner truck towing a trailer was also traveling north on US 59 and struck the rear of the trailer the Kenworth was towing.
As a result of the crash, the driver of the Kenworth, Jessie Dale Cashion, 40, of Lancaster and his co-driver Robert Allen Cain, 48, of Nacogdoches were transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
The driver of the Freightliner was identified as Salvador A. Oliva, 65, of Edinburg, was pronounced at the scene by Judge Jackie Risinger and was taken to Laird Funeral Home in Nacogdoches.
The crash remains under investigation.
October 27, 2020 - Shelby County Commissioners addressed the dire need of replacement radio dispatch equipment during an emergency session held Monday, October 26, 2020.
Representing the Sheriff's Department was Chief Deputy Kevin Windham and he was accompanied by Tracy Rook and Jody Brown with Texas Premier Communications, LLC (TPC) to explain the current situation with communications.
Judge Allison Harbison stated Sheriff Willis Blackwell contacted her on Friday, October 24 and informed her the communications console was not operational, and Judge Harbison confirmed with Chief Windham her understanding is there have been ongoing problems with the console before this time and the hope was to "piecemeal" it together and hopefully the radio system would work for a while at a cost of $20,000.
"He told me that a whole console would be around $60,000," said Judge Harbison.
With such a great need and expense, Judge Harbison called the emergency meeting to discuss with the radio technicians what is needed. To give further information, Chief Windham addressed the court.
"Our radio has had issues since December, three years ago," said Chief Windham. "Our dispatchers are unable to reach our officers. A lot of times we prefer to go through the radio to dispatch our calls. You know, that's an officer safety issue and so we prefer to use our radio to dispatch calls. And, a lot of cases that is not possible so therefore they have to be dispatched by the telephone."
Chief Windham explained what a safety issue for officers that creates when they are on a scene and status checks can't be accomplished by dispatch, because they're unreachable.
"This is a problem that's been going on for at least three years that I know of," said Chief Windham.
Rook and Brown with TPC presented the likely cost of installing a new console and a microwave link. Rook stated he installed the console that has been in use at the Sheriff's Department 15-17 years ago and it's usefulness is running out due to age. He could fix the current unit for a little over $26,000; however, there's no guarantee something else wouldn't break down since it's at "end of life."
The cost of replacing the console and adding a microwave link, which would allow for radio technicians to diagnose and even possibly fix a problem, is estimated around $70,000.
The commissioners were discussing possible ways to reduce the cost of the console, and a potential way to reduce cost is to reduce radio connections running through the console at a cost of $3,000 each. A consensus was then to potentially dispatch all fire departments from one channel and as a result the commissioners decided to meet with all fire chiefs at another emergency session Wednesday, October 28.
"To answer the courts question concerning dispatching for our volunteer fire departments, I mean I'm willing to commit to that, communications and paging our fire departments through the radio system. Of course I cannot speak for Sheriff Blackwell at this time," said Chief Windham.
Judge Harbison said her goal is for everyone to work together for a common good.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, confirmed costs with the radio technicians of potentially $70,000 and then he directed his questioning to the Sheriff's Department regarding budgeting.
"Deputy Windham, you made a comment early in your discussion that this radio system has been a problem for three years, it's 15-17 years old and has been a problem for three years. We are in the first month of the 2021 budget, and I never heard a word, or at least I don't recall a word about the radio system needing upgrade or to be replaced when we went through several budget meetings," said Bellmyer. "I don't mind telling you that I'm aggravated that we have an emergency meeting on a machine, granted it broke down Friday, but we never heard anything. We could have budgeted a new piece of equipment, and now we're in an emergency for a non-budgeted item."
Windham responded, "I understand your frustration, I truly do, but it has been an issue."
Bellmyer reiterated his frustration over the radio system having been a problem for years and not being brought to the attention of the commissioners during budget discussions to help prepare instead of having an emergency situation and having to come up with money from somewhere.
"I agree, but I don't make those decisions," stated Windham.
"That's it, you're not the Sheriff," said Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1.
Chief Windham agreed there needs to be good communications.
Jimmy Lout also stated, "I'd like to say one thing, he's not the Sheriff. He's elected Sheriff, but he don't take over till January 1."
A motion carried by the commissioners to table repairing or purchasing a new radio console for the Sheriff's Department until the next emergency meeting held Wednesday, October 28 at 10:15am.
The meeting adjourned at 12:13pm.
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