Shelby County Today

July 13, 2020 - The March Primary Election ended with three County races and two State/Federal races left to be decided on the ballot in the July 14th Primary Runoff Elections since none of the candidates in these races received over 50% of the votes. Election day is Tuesday, July 14th with voting starting at 7am and closing at 7pm at the Republican and Democrat polling locations.

In the County races, which are on the Republican ballot, the yet to be decided candidates are in the Sheriff, Commissioner Pct 3, and Justice of the Peace Pct 3 races. The candidates in the Sheriff's Runoff race are Newton Johnson, Jr. and Kevin Windham. In the County Commissioner Pct 3 race the runoff is between Stevie Smith and David Cheatwood. Justice of the Peace Pct 3 is the final race in the runoffs with Melba Rodgers and Darrell Alford.

On the Democrat Ballot two races for State/Federal positions in the runoff are United States Senator and Railroad Commissioner. The winners of the Democrat Primary election runoff will appear against their opposing party in the November Election.

Shelby County Republican Runoff Election Ballot

Shelby County Democrat Runoff Election Ballot

​July 13, 2020 - The Shelby County Emergency Management office reports as of 8:30am on Monday, July 13, 2020, TxDSHS has reported 6 new cases; however, the state reported 1 more death which brings the total death count to 14 for Shelby County. 

The total of cumulative cases of COVID-19 is 294 for Shelby County.

According to the state's algorithm to determine recoveries, 7 new recoveries were reported bringing the total to 246 recoveries. Shelby County has 34 active cases.

Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages:

Active Cases in each zip code: (Change in Data)

Center (75935) - 19 (-6 cases)
Joaquin (75954) - 5
Shelbyville (75973) - 3 (2 New)
Tenaha (75974) - 5 (2 New)
Timpson (75975) - 2

Cumulative Cases in each zip code:

Center (75935) - 210 (3 New)
Joaquin (75954) - 15
Shelbyville (75973) - 18 (1 New)
Tenaha (75974) - 30 (2 New)
Timpson (75975) - 21

Ages of Confirmed Cases:

Ages 1 to 20: 27 cases (1 New)
Ages 21 to 40: 93 cases (1 New)
Ages 41 to 60: 93 cases (4 New), 4 death
Ages 61 to 80: 48 cases, 4 death
Ages 81 to 100: 28 cases, 6 death (1 New)
Age unknown: 5 cases

July 11, 2020 - The Tenaha City Council was bombarded by statements of Tenaha residents unhappy with their law enforcement during their meeting held June 22, 2020 following statements made by the police chief via social media.

Although Statements were made directed toward the police department and its activities, no representative of the department was present to address any of the voiced issues.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several individuals addressed the council about their concerns over policies in the police department and statements made on social media. Attempts were made to confirm statements made on social media but could not be corroberated as some posts were removed.

The statements made during the public meeting are that of the speakers and not necessarily of Shelby County Today.

Desmond Steadman

"I don't know who hired him to be the police chief of Tenaha, but he is not accepted and with the words he put on facebook," said Desmond Steadman. "You know, I got grandkids and y'all look at your grandkids too, if you got any grandkids look at your grandkids with what he said he didn't mind shooting them. I think he don't need to be around our kids. You know, it comes to me you're here to protect us, you're not here to kill us."

Ja'Mon Moore
"It's easy to post on Facebook, it's easy to talk in a group, but most people won't man up and come say straight up take the stand," said Moore. "Like the man from Joaquin said, we've got so many police cars, you come through they're not even used cars these are brand new cars. When you've got a town, where you're in Tenaha, I'm just asking why we've got that many policemen." 

Moore said he would like to see more improvements in parts of Tenaha rather than more police cars.

"I feel like kids should be able to grow, have a park like Center Portacool Park, put some goals down there. We can start doing something. I saw a few guys a couple years ago cleaning up the park," said Moore.

Susie Crawford
It bothers me when I see someone who is in a position of authority, who number one doesn't bother to show up for the meeting so that is an issue. You said what you said on Facebook and you were proud of it, because not only did you make one post you continued on to post on other websites," said Crawford. "It is a disgrace, and it is a poor representation of what the community of Tenaha stands for."

She continued by suggesting there is discrimination involving law enforcement in Tenaha and minorities who travel through the city.

"I will not stand for black kids to be afraid in their own community," said Crawford.

Other public statements made to the council were by Mike Cummings, Jr., Joaquin City Councilman, and Tenaha resident Cliff Lloyd.

Cummings reiterated from a previous meeting the interest of the city of Joaquin in purchaing one of the city of Tenaha patrol units. Lloyd is still looking forward to seeing activity on property donated for the city to use as a park.

Regarding the items included in those items listed as Consent Agenda items Amanda Treat, City Secretary, described the nature of these items. 

A Certificate of Deposit renewal was upcoming as it matured on June 18, 2020 with a balance of $185,179.85

Three notes were due at the First National Bank of Wichita Falls. These notes were due June 15, 2020 and were for three of the Tenaha Police Department vehicles. The first of these was for $16,491.50; the second $16,914.99; and the third $16,914.99 for a total of $50321.48 due.

Treat stated, according to the records of 1st National Bank of Hughes Springs June 25, 2020 will be the city's last payment on a loan for a tractor.

The Tenaha City Office was scheduled to be closed Friday, July 3, 2020. 

In addressing employee vacation time, Treat explained for the council the item was included on the agenda to help make the council aware of when certain employees would be off work.

One employee for the city was seeking the week of the 6th to the 10th off. Treat explained the anniversary of his two-year employment would be on July 1, he would be eligible for two weeks, but he only wanted to take one.

Durand Steadman, alderman, disagreed with him having two weeks after only being employed with the city for two years and he questioned how that was correct. Treat referenced the city employee handbook. Elizabeth Swint, after having been employed by the city for 10 years, is eligible for three weeks vacation and requested two days. Steadman said she should take a whole week and not split it by days, because that would be difficult to keep up with.

Treat acknowledged she also was seeking to take two days; however, she realized by that time the council was not going to accept her request. Steadman said they wouldn't be splitting up vacation time in that way unless there was some kind of emergency.

"We're not going to split it up like that," said Steadman. "We're losing track of this vacation, their just taking vacation days."

A motion carried to table the employee vacation days until a later time.

The City of Tenaha received one bid for the construction of a pumper truck and a brush truck for the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department. The only bid received was from Deep South Fire Trucks. A motion carried to award the contract for the construction and delivery of a pumper truck and brush truck through CDBG FAST Grant 7219256 to Deep South Fire Trucks.

Discussed at length during the meeting was the potential purchase of a backhoe from the police department by the General, Wastewater, Water and Street Departments. With the police chief being absent from the meeting, Stacy Cranford explained more in detail the circumstances surrounding the backhoe.

"The police department's been given a backhoe and after that one year period that they got it from Red River Depot, the army depot, it becomes their property," said Cranford.

According to Cranford, the police department does not want the city departments to use the backhoe because it's the property of the police department. Cranford said the city was using a backhoe, which is very used, and already belongs to the city to move rock in their yard. The city was then using the police department backhoe to perform patchwork on streets in the city.

"Some of the hands said they come in to load and the backhoe was locked up, the keys were out of it and the chief said, 'no one was to use the backhoe, that it didn't belong to the city it belonged to the police department,'" said Cranford. "He said, 'if we want to use it we could buy it from the police department.'"

Treat reitereated to the council the city has three notes to pay on police cars which were due on June 15. 

"If the other departments could purchase that, that would give me the money to pay for those three units," said Treat.

"They're basically wanted us to pay on their note, because they're in a bind," said Cranford.

Steadman stated the chief told the council the city would be given the backhoe after a year and Cranford agreed the original plan was for the old backhoe would be given to the police department so they could auction it off as part of that exchange.

"We need to purchase a backhoe, I have no problem with that part, I would rather purchase it and be done with it and we have a backhoe we don't have to ask permission to use," said Cranford.

Steadman asked how much the police department was asking for the backhoe and Treat said "$45,000."

Lee Gibbs asked Cranford what the backhoe is worth and he said it is probably worth around $35,000. He said he had commented to Chief Pope when the machine was acquired by the police department what a great deal they had gotten and that it was worth $30,000 to $40,000.

"It's a good machine we've actually spent the money to fix it, because it had several issues whenever they received it and my department has actually packed the cylinders on there and got everything fixed to where it's in usable shape," said Cranford.

Cranford said around $2,000 has been spent on those repairs. The old machine is still usable; however, it's only useful for nominal tasks. If the city doesn't have the $45,000, Cranford asked how the notes would be paid on the patrol units.

"That's the point I'm getting to. We bail them out this time, who's going to bail them out next time. That's the point I'm getting to right there for him to come set a bid for $45,000," said Steadman. "Then after [Pope] said they were going to give it to us at first after the year was up, that was the agreement on that."

Cranford remarked the cost of the machine is around half of what a new unit would cost and the city could get 20-25 years of service out of the one from the police department.

Treat remarked she felt comfortable with the $35,000 and that there is $18,799.38 in the police department "Rainy Day Fund" and the city is under on projected fines.

A motion carried to table the purchase of the backhoe.

The meeting went into executive session at 6:30pm and returned to open session at 8:25pm. The council then explained the outcome on discussion over items in executive session.

"Regarding item 14, with Ms. Treat's annual evaluation of course she passed everything with gold stars and we have tabled the discussion on the sale of the Tahoe until we some more update on what's owed against it and what have you," said Florance Adams, Alderman.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1.  Appoint Municipal Judge. The Municipal Judge is selected by the Governing Body. The Municipal Judge is for two years. (Local Government Code Section 29.004 b and 29.005)

2. Consider approval of the Minutes from the Regular Meeting held on May 26, 2020

3. Award contract to Deep South Fire Trucks for the construction and delivery of a pumper truck and brush truck through CDBG FAST Grant 7219256.

4. Financial Statements for the month of May 2020.

5. Make amendment to section 7.13 (Timing) in the Employee Handbook to add the following statement: A performance appraisal will be conducted annually at each employee’s anniversary date.

6. Renew Employee benefit coverage with TML Health for 2020-2021.

Items tabled during the meeting include:
1. a. Appoint Mayor Pro-Tem to perform mayor’s duties during the mayor’s incapacity or absence. The mayor pro-tem is selected by majority vote of the council from among its own membership. The mayor pro-tem is for two years. The mayor pro-tem retains the right to vote on all matters before the council (and not just to break a tie) while performing duties of mayor (Local Government Code Section 22.38 and 23.027)

2. Renting the Community Room(s) at the City Hall.

3. The General, Wastewater, Water and Street Departments purchasing a backhoe from the Police department.

Update: July 8, 2020 - According to the East Texas Center for the Missing, the suspect in this investigation, Zenas Montre Whitaker, was located in Alto, Tx by Cherokee County Sheriff's office and is in custody.

Amber Alert Issued for Abducted Center Girl (Found)

July 7, 2020 - The Center Police Department is currently seeking a suspect in an alleged kidnapping which occurred at the intersection of Arcadia Road and Stephens Street at around 12:30pm Tuesday.

Officers and an ambulance responded to the scene and the ambulance left with one individual.

Center Police Department detectives cordoned off the location and began their investigation.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers later located the vehicle which was being sought following the incident in Center. While Center Police Department officers were in town, Texas DPS Trooper Dustin Ramos tracked down the suspect vehicle, a GMC Denali Envoy, on Lake Pinkston Road where it had been left.

At that time the suspects were not at the scene and most likely fled in another vehicle.

Garrison Police Department Chief Tim Barton responded to the scene and utilized K9 'Maddox' to help search for clues. The scene was eventually cleared and Hughes Wrecker Service towed the vehicle to the Center Police Department.

According to a press release issued by the Center Police Department on Friday, July 10: The Center Police Department responded to a possible aggravated assault and child abduction, which occurred at 173 Arcadia Rd. on July 7, 2020. The Center Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit was assigned the case. 

The adult victim, Enedina Akins, in serious condition was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging Center by EMS. She had apparently been severely beaten with a blunt object. Akins’ informed Officers that the father of the child and suspected assailant, identified as Zenas Whitaker of Nacogdoches, had taken her two-year-old daughter when he left. An Amber Alert was initiated which included the child and abductee’s information. Agencies from around the East Texas area relentlessly searched and followed leads throughout the rest of the day, night and into the following day.

With great assistance from these other agencies, the suspect and child were located in Cherokee County near Alto. After a brief stand-off, the suspect surrendered the child to authorities and gave himself up without further incident.

At this time, the suspect is being held in custody (without bail) for the following charges: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Family Violence) (Felony 1); and Aggravated Sexual Assault (Felony 1).

The Center Police Department would like to extend much gratitude to first and foremost, the Center Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit for never giving up, Alto Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Garrison Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department CID, Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Thanks to the combined efforts and teamwork of surrounding agencies and the public’s assistance, the missing child was located and returned unharmed within 17 hours of the initial call.