Shelby County Today

January 27, 2020 - State Highway 87 (SH87) South just before CR 2050 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash incident Monday, January 27, 2020.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the location just north of Shelbyville at 9am. Center Fire Department firemen were requested, as it was reported the driver was trapped and couldn't get her door to open.

When Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies arrived, they were able to help her out of the vehicle and extrication tools were not necessary.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jonathan Stinson, at 8:55am a blue Saturn Ion driven by Courtney Michelle Reierson, 29, of Center was southbound on SH87 when she failed to drive in a single lane, crossed over the northbound traffic lanes and struck a tree.

Ambulance personnel transported Reierson from the location of the crash to Nacogodoches Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches.

Reierson was issued citations for fail to drive in a single lane and no insurance 

Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies and Constables assisted at the scene with traffic control.

January 23, 2020 - The intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and 84 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash incident January 17, 2020. 

Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the location and Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers investigated the crash as it was during a time Timpson Police Department was closed. 

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 5:05pm a white 2014 Chevrolet driven by Micah Nutt, 55, of Timpson was southbound on U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson.

As the Chevrolet was passing U.S. Highway 84 a black 2011 Honda CR-V driven by Trevor Warren, 24, of Houston failed to yield right of way from a stop sign. As it crossed U.S. 59 into the path of the Chevrolet attempting to enter U.S. 84, the truck collided with the right rear quarter of the Honda.

The Chevrolet came to a stop in the southbound traffic lane of U.S. 59 and the Honda pulled into a nearby parking lot.

Nutt was transported by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of possible injiries.

Warren was issued a citation for fail to yield right of way - stop sign.

The location of the crash was the same spot where a fatal crash occurred on January 9, 2020, involving similar circumstances.

Timpson Volunteer Fire personnel diverted traffic around the crash scene while DPS investigated.

According to State statistics, there have been 24 crashes at the intersection over the past 10 years. Timpson Police Department investigated 20 of those crashes with one of them having been a fatal incident. Texas Department of Public Safety has investigated four crashes in that location with one of them also having been a fatal incident, which was the most recent.

January 20, 2020 - FM 2694 just east of Shelbyville was the scene of a single-vehicle crash January 14, 2020. 

Troopers were dispatched to the location at around 7pm. According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, a tan 1996 Cadillac driven by Precious Redmond, 24, of Center was southbound on FM 2694. 

The Cadillac was traveling at an unsafe speed when it left the roadway in a side skid, striking a culvert, and continued down the borrow ditch before coming to a stop.

Redmond and her passenger Ahmad Chumbley, 28, of Center were not reported to have been injured in the crash.

Citations were issued to Redmond for unsafe speed and no seat belt.

Shelbyville Fire Department firemen and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted by directing traffic around the crash scene.

January 15, 2020 - The Shelby County Commissioners accepted the resignation of Jacob Metcalf, Shelby County Constable Precinct 4, during their meeting held January 15, 2020.

Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, presented the letter of resignation submitted by Metcalf and read it aloud. The letter reads as follows: "It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Shelby County as their Precinct 4 Constable. Effective immediately, I am resigning my position as Precinct 4 Constable in Shelby County, Texas. It is my intent to not seek re-election in the upcoming March 2020 primary, however, I recognize that we are passed the deadline to remove my name from the ballot. As such, I would express my intent to the Commissioners' Court and the voters in Precinct 4 that should I be re-elected in spite of this resignation, I do not intend [to] accept this office and I would then again resign. 

"Furthermore, pursuant to Chapter 152 Government Code, I forfeit my salary, pay, benefit or otherwise for the remainder of my term. I do so in an effort to allow the Commissioners' Court to utilize their authority and budget to appoint my replacement. Respectfully, J Metcalf."

Gary Rholes, Shelby County Attorney, indicated for the knowledge of the court Metcalf would remain the Constable even following his resignation, until a successor is sworn-in and duly qualified.

"I don't like that, I'm going to be honest about it, it don't look right and it ain't right. Because, it takes away from the legitimacy of why he's resigning if the county allows him to remain as constable, I don't care if it's in word or name, or he's active or not active," said Roscoe McSwain, Constable Precinct 1. 

Judge Harbison suggested appointing another individual at the next meeting, and McSwain said that wasn't what he was wanting to do, but if that's the only way to remove any association of Metcalf from the office, then he will be for the appointment.

Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, asked with all of the other constables employed by the county, could they not be utilized to fulfill the duties of the Constable 4 office. 

"They could work over there, but that still doesn't get him out of office," said Rholes.

He explained they could still work the area, but not hold the office in place of another. 

Commissioners McSwain asked Rholes, "If we accept this resignation, and if things play out like we want or say if something went wrong with this picture down the road, by accepting this and the documentation we've read do we reserve any rights for future action or does this do away with our opportunity to have future action down the road, should we need it, like file charges?"

McSwain elaborated, the letter submitted by Metcalf's attorney indicates he considers the issue to cease once the commissioners accept the resignation.

"He does not have any blanket immunity, I can tell you that," said Rholes.

A motion carried to accept the resignation and affidavit waiving compensation.

Although the discussion had in court was relating to the Metcalf's resignation, there was no explanation during court as to why the commissioners decided on December 20, 2019 to withdraw Metcalf's office, vehicle and salary.

Following inquiries by Shelby County Today with several county officials unwilling to go on the record as to the circumstances, County Attorney Gary Rholes has confirmed the issues relating to Metcalf have to do with a document turned in for payment through the office of Constable Precinct 4.

Later in the meeting, the commissioners discussed a new reimbursement policy. Ann Blackwell described some of why these changes should be made. (Click here to view the policy)

"In light of some things that have happened, we work really hard in my office to try to make sure that everything that we pay is of a benefit to the county and a legitimate invoice and a legitimate expense," said Blackwell. "I'm certainly not saying that I think that people are giving me things that are not correct, I'm not saying that."

Blackwell said she would like to see an extra safeguard in place. She explained, a lot of times employees will make purchases out of their own pocket at locations where the county already has accounts, and as a result have to turn in receipts. Blackwell explained it would be a lot more efficient if the county could just purchase through the vendor, or establish a new account with that source.

A motion carried to adopt the new Shelby County Expense Reimbursement Policy.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:26am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Officers Report.
3. Accept Jake Metcalf Constable Pct. 4 resignation and affidavit waving any compensation.
4. Purchase of PC towers for Tax Office out of County Records Management funds.
5. Annual Service Support contract with Harris Govern.
6. Tax Abatement agreement between Tyson Farms QOZB, LLC and Shelby County. 
7. Resolution declaring Shelby County to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.
8. New Reimbursement Policy.
9. Adjourn 10:26am.

Related article:
Commissioners Strip Constable 4 of Office Amenities, Benefits