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April 7, 2020 - Shelby County Office of Emergency Management was notified by Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS) of another positive confirmed case of COVID-19 bringing the total case count for Shelby County to 13. 

Most of these cases have been reported by DSHS to have no travel history thus meaning they contracted it because of community spread.

According to DSHS reporting, 4 of these 13 cases are hospitalized. 

April 3, 2020 - Notice is hereby given that a Regular meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 8th day of April, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

“Pursuant to the Suspension Order by Governor Abbott, the Commissioners Court meeting will be closed to protect the public, staff and members from potential exposure to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The public may participate in the meeting through the following number.

1. Approve the minutes of the March 4, 2020 Special meeting, March 11, 2020 Regular meeting, March 18, 2020 Special meeting, March 25, 2020 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court.

2. Approve and pay weekly expenses.

3. Approve Officers Report.

4. Public Comments on Agenda item.

5. Discuss and possibly approve connecting the SO phones and internet to fiber. 

6. Adjourn.

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April 5, 2020 - TXDOT and Texas Department of Public Safety have limited east and westbound traffic to single lanes of travel at the Logansport bridge Sunday, April 5, 2020 in accordance with Executive Order GA-12 from Governor Greg Abbott limiting traffic to that which is essential from Louisiana.

As vehicles cross the bridge, Troopers wearing Personal Protective Equipment are checking for valid paperwork indicating the driver, and/or passenger are essential to travel into Texas. Such paperwork would have a business letterhead describing where the person works, and what their job duties will be while they're working.

Anyone seeking guidance on what defines an "Essential Worker," can find more information at cisa.gov

At this time the Joaquin Public Boat Ramp is closed, and those approaching with boats are being turned back. 

Providing necessary support to the Troopers at the bridge are constables with the Precinct 3 Constable office.

Travelers heading into Texas from Louisiana are advised to have paperwork ready indicating they are "essential" to facilitate a quick stop and not risk being turned back.

Troopers will remain at the border with Louisiana until further notice.


Although the store is making efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19, the parking lot was very full Friday afternoon.

April 3, 2020 - The Walmart in Center has issued two announcements recently that explain changes to store access and store services.

According to the announcement, the grocery entrance is the only way to gain entry to the store and a boundary line has been established across the front of the store to the grocery entrance to facilitate the 6 foot Social Distancing rules.

The other announcement from the store indicates Pharmacy Curbside pickup is now available. Customers are instructed to contact the pharmacy and park in between the General Merchandise entrance and the Garden Center entrance, where the pharmacy staff can meet you.

April 3, 2020 - On behalf of the Shelby County Office of Emergency Management and County Judge Alison Harbison, we are providing an update on the COVID-19 Pandemic as it relates to our county.

It was reported yesterday evening that we have 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County. One more case has been reported to us by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) bringing our current total to 9.

I would like to explain further the process of this reporting. We have been inundated with calls and messages from concerned citizens wanting to know the names of individuals that have been confirmed. DSHS contacts the County Emergency Management Coordinator and informs her of any and all new cases. Because of strict HIPPA laws and strict DSHS confidentiality policies the names of the individuals are not given out by DSHS to anyone, not to me, not to the Emergency Management Coordinator.

Once an individual is given a COVID- 19 positive test result, DSHS launches a case investigation on them. The individual is asked who they have been in close contact with and those individuals are then contacted by DSHS and are asked questions and based on their answers they are given instructions on self-care and isolating themselves or given information or a referral to their primary care physician for testing. Focusing on “who & where” at this point is useless .That is not to say those individuals testing positive can’t tell whoever they please about their diagnosis.

The names and locations of the individuals is not relevant. What is relevant is that there are 9 confirmed cases in our county at this time and only one of those cases is thought to be travel related (according to DSHS investigations) meaning the other 8 are community spread…meaning the virus is here in Shelby County & could be being spread anywhere. That is the reason a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order was enacted on Monday March ,30th. At this point, the best advice I can give is pretend you have COVID-19 and pretend everyone you come in contact with has it and please remember, this should not be a “witch hunt”.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all your concerted efforts in your attempts to help alleviate the spread of coronavirus in our community and sincerely ask that “you” continue to look after “you” and “you” take care of “you” by

  • Following the “Stay at Home, Stay Safe” order, 
  • Practicing social distancing, 
  • Washing hands thoroughly and frequently, or using hand sanitizer
  • Try to avoid touching your face
  • cleaning surfaces frequently
  • staying home if you’re ill 

Let’s keep in mind that we are all in this together and we will all get through this together. Please, stay home as much as humanly possible and stay safe.

April 3, 2020 - In efforts to help slow the COVID-19 outbreak, Shelby County announces a temporary closure to the public of county offices.

We will have staff in the offices to answer the phones and any questions that you may have. We apologize for any inconvenience but the safety of our staff and our county residents are a main concern at this point.

Each Elected Official has the discretion for their office and may set additional guidelines such as setting up appointments.

April 2, 2020 - Shelby County cases of COVID-19 have doubled from 4 to 8 total cases as of Thursday evening, April 2, 2020. The first confirmed positive case was announced one week ago on March 26th by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison.

Kerri Shofner, Emergency Management Coordinator, said "We have been informed by The Department of State Health Services of 4 more positive confirmations of COVID-19 cases in Shelby County. This brings the current total case count to 8 for our county. STAY HOME-STAY SAFE!"

April 2, 2020 - (Photos by Talia Matthews) - FM 417 west of Shelbyville was the scene of a single-vehicle motorcyle crash the afternoon of Sunday, March 29, 2020.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by Bradlee-Duane Hudson, 26, of of San Augustine was eastbound on FM 417 at an unsafe speed when the motorcycle traveled off the roadway to the left and came to rest in a ditch.

Hudson was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment and was later released. He was issued a citation for unsafe speed.

April 2, 2020 - The Nacogdoches County COVID-19 Call Center will continue to take calls from Shelby County residents. If you are experiencing these symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath

Contact the call center at: 936-468-4787 for screening and triage.

Individuals who call and are screened and meet the testing criteria will be sent to a testing site located in Shelby County.

April 1, 2020 - U.S. Highway 96 North just past Loop 500 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday, March 26, 2020.

Emergency responders with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department were alerted to the scene of the crash.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Justin Sikes, at just before 12-noon a black GMC Sierra was southbound on U.S. Highway 96 headed to the emergency room, when the driver stated he passed out due to a previous injury.

The GMC left the roadway to the right where it traveled over a culvert and flipped over before coming to rest on its top.

Fitzgerald was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment.

Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies directed traffic at the scene until the vehicle was clear.

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