Shelby County Today

April 9, 2019 - Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies Josh Tipton and Jimmy Wagstaff, while on routine patrol, observed a suspicious vehicle parked in a car wash stall in Timpson on Monday, April 8, 2019 at approximately 12:45 p.m., .

As officers approached, a male subject exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away. While walking away, Deputy Tipton observed the subject throw an object in a trash can. Deputy Tipton detained the subject, identified as Phillip Lucas, 31, of Mt. Enterprise. The driver was identified as Ashley Phillips, 30, of Timpson.

Drug paraphernalia was identified in plain view in the vehicle. Through a further search of the vehicle and discarded item officers located 8.5 grams of methamphetamine, 2.05 grams of pills listed in Penalty Group 2 and over four (4) ounces of marijuana. The paraphernalia found included scales and small bags for distribution.

Lucas was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 with Intent to Deliver (F-1) $150,000 Bond; Possession of Marijuana with intent to Deliver (SJF) $10,000 Bond; and Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 3 with intent to Deliver (SJF) $10,000 Bond.

Phillips was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 with Intent to Deliver (F-1) $500,000 Bond; Possession of Marijuana with intent to Deliver (SJF) $10,000 Bond; and Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 3 with intent to Deliver (SJF) $10,000 Bond.

The SCSO would like to thank the Timpson Police Department for their assistance.

April 6, 2019 (Photos- Album1, Album2) - For the second year in a row and the fourth time Oley Willis, All Smoked Up cook team, was the Overall winner of the Shelby County Grill Fest barbecue cooking competition held for the first time at the Shelby County Expo Rodeo Arena and sanctioned by Lone Star Barbecue Society, Saturday, April 6, 2019. All Smoked Up clinched the grand champion bragging rights by winning first place in the Chicken and the Ribs divisions and fourth place in the Brisket division. Willis won Grand Champion in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1 was the reserve champion in the overall results. Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1 was tied for overall points with 3rd place team Tiger BBQ; however, their first place in Brisket gave them the lead. The team also placed 2nd in the Chicken Division, 5th in Ribs, and 10th in Beans. Tiger BBQ took overall place with a 2nd place title in Ribs and in Brisket and 4th place in Chicken.

Overall Team Results:
Grand Champion - All Smoked Up, head cooker Oley Willis
Reserve Grand - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1, head cooker Shawn Moore
3rd Place - Tiger BBQ, head cooker David DePriest 
4th Place - Tipsy Texans, head cooker Joshua Campbell
5th Place - Farmers State Bank, head cooker Joey Lawson
6th Place - Slab Doctors, head cooker Tyson Johnson
7th Place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cooker Robert Harris
8th Place - Belrose Real Pit BBQ, head cooker Tim Belrose
9th Place - East Texas Smokers, head cooker Scotty Bryce
10th Place - Late Nites BBQ, head cooker Kenneth Toney, Jr.

People's Choice - Shelby County Outlaw Cookers, head cooker Rachel Moorman

Chicken Division:
1st Place - All Smoked Up, head cooker Oley Willis
2nd Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1, head cooker Shawn Moore
3rd Place - Tipsy Texans, head cooker Joshua Campbell
4th Place - Tiger BBQ, head cooker David DePriest 
5th Place - Farmers State Bank, head cooker Joey Lawson
6th Place - Late Nights BBQ, head cooker Kenneth Toney, Jr.
7th Place - Belrose Real Pit BBQ, head cooker Tim Belrose
8th Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 2, head cooker Lisa Moore
9th Place - Slab Doctors, head cooker Tyson Johnson
10th Place - Ray Jones Chevrolet, head cooker Marlin Jones

Ribs Division:
1st Place - All Smoked Up, head cooker Oley Willis
2nd Place - Tiger BBQ, head cooker David DePriest 
3rd Place - Farmers State Bank, head cooker Joey Lawson
4th Place - Tipsy Texans, head cooker Joshua Campbell
5th Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1, head cooker Shawn Moore
6th Place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cooker Robert Harris
7th Place - Belrose Real Pit BBQ, head cooker Tim Belrose
8th Place - Smoking Tugs, head cooker Jason Haynes
9th Place - Shelby County Outlaw Cookers, head cooker Rachel Moorman
10th Place - Ray Jones Chevrolet, head cooker Marlin Jones

Brisket Division:
1st Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1, head cooker Shawn Moore
2nd Place - Tiger BBQ, head cooker David DePriest 
3rd Place - Slab Doctors, head cooker Tyson Johnson
4th Place - All Smoked Up, head cooker Oley Willis
5th Place - Tipsy Texans, head cooker Joshua Campbell
6th Place - East Texas Smokers, head cooker Scotty Bryce
7th Place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cooker Robert Harris
8th Place - Shelby Saving Savings Bank, head cooker Will Lucas
9th Place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cooker Duane Anderson
10th Place - Smoking Tugs, head cooker Jason Haynes

Beans Division:
1st Place - Late Nights BBQ, head cooker Kenneth Toney, Jr.
2nd Place - Hound Dawg Harris, head cooker Robert Harris
3rd Place - Smoking Tugs, head cooker Jason Haynes
4th Place - Real Smoke BBQ, head cooker Duane Anderson
5th Place - Farmers State Bank, head cooker Joey Lawson
6th Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 2, head cooker Lisa Moore
7th Place - Blowin' Smoke, head cooker Adam Bradshaw 
8th Place - East Texas Smokers, head cooker Scotty Bryce
9th Place - Shelby Savings Bank, head cooker Will Lucas
10th Place - Chase-n-Moore Smoke 1, head cooker Shawn Moore

42 Tournament Results:
1st Place - Don Lovell and Royce Johnson
2nd Place - Louise Johnson and Lynn Johnson

In round one team Adam Pleasant and Troy Keele defeated Shelby Johnson and Evelyn Hufferd. Pleasant and Keele then felt defeat in round 2 against the tournament winners, Lovell and Johnson.

The Lovell and Johnson team defeated Will Lucas and Clay Blacksher in round 1 while Charles Hughes and Richard Livingston were defeated by Louise Johnson and Lynn Johnson. Johnson and Johnson team who played Mitchell Holloway and Walter Anderson in round 2 and defeated them to play in the finals.

Washer Tournament Results:
1st Place - B.C. Taylor and Toby Taylor
2nd Place - Josh Jones and Josh McAdams

Twelve teams completed in the washer pitching tournament. In the first round team Taylor Boys defeated Brian Dean and Joey Lawson and then out tossed Allen Loftin and Ronald Loftin to advance to round 3. The next team the Taylor Boys defeated was Jeff Adams and Bec Khan for a chance to play in the finals against Josh Jones and Josh McAdams, team J & J. Team J & J's road to the finals included defeating team Outlaw Cookers, Jody Matthews and Ed Moorman, in the first round and team MRE, Alanea Hooper and Collin Mathews in round two.

April 2, 2019 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) reports the arrest of Thomas Clyde Bryant, Jr, 21, of Tenaha.

On or about March 24, 2019, Bryant, utilizing a social media account, made contact with an underage female.

Bryant began making inappropriate communication, to which he believed was the underage female. The conversation was intercepted by the mother of the underage female and she contacted the SCSO.

An investigator with the SCSO took over the conversation and began communicating with Bryant. From March 24-28, 2019, Bryant sent pornographic images and explicit conversations to the social media account. Bryant asked the underage female to engage in various sexual activities with him.

Further research led the investigator to uncover the identity of the individual whom he believed to be Bryant. The investigator traveled to the home of Bryant at approximately 1 a.m. on March 29, 2019, to speak with him regarding the communications. Bryant agreed to let the investigator search his phone and at that time it was discovered the social media app used for the conversation was not installed on the device. The investigator stated to Bryant that he believed Bryant deleted the app, and Bryant admitted he did.

Bryant agreed to an interview at the SCSO with the investigator and during the course of the interview, Bryant was arrested and booked into the SCSO for Tampering/Fabricating Physical Evidence (F-3) $10,000 bond. District Judge James A. Payne, Jr. issued warrants and set bonds for Bryant on the following charges: Sexual Performance of a Child (F-1) $500,000 bond; Online Solicitation of a Minor (F-2) $300,000 bond; Sexual Performance of a Child – Criminal Attempt (F-2) $300,000 bond; Online Solicitation (F-2) $300,000 bond; Online Solicitation (F-2) $300,000 bond; Stalking (F-3) $200,000 bond;; Display Harmful Material (M-A) $5,000 bond; Harassment (M-B) $5,000 bond. 

Bryant was previously arrested June 15, 2017, for Sexual Performance of a Child (F-2). He was currently out on bond, awaiting the final disposition of his case. District Judge James A. Payne, Jr. issued an Order Revoking Bond for this charge. Bryant is not allowed to bond out on this charge.

Leah Chase, SCSO Media Relations

March 27, 2019 - The Shelby County Commissioners were addressed by Lori Oliver, Shelby County District Clerk, during their 9:30am March 20, 2019 meeting regarding the need of an additional staff member in her office due to many challenges the office currently is facing. 

The case load on the District Court level has increased greatly over time and two current employees are out of the office due to illness and injury, one being out for several months and the other more recently absent.

"We're down man power 40%. That's helpful, but I really think that's not even a true depiction of where it is because two of those people that are working are brand spankin' new," said Oliver.

Oliver explained, with the other two staff members out, the most experienced employee working for her currently has only been working for her for two years. 

Another issue, according to Oliver, proving difficult is dealing with efile which is a state mandated method to file court cases. She explained on some days the influx of customers and constant phone calls into her office have at times caused delays of other duties.

Staff members are also handling searches for state agencies like the Department of Public Safety and other governmental agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation so applicants can receive their concealed handgun licenses.

To attempt to gain additional time, Oliver described how she and staff members looked at what they could cut back on doing to free up time. In conjunction with this effort, one particular service offered by the District Clerk's office was no longer going to be able to be available.

"There's a lot of people upset with me over the passport things. Let me tell you about the passport, it's not like we just came in one day and said 'we're not going to do that anymore.' We got stopped and suspended from doing it because we didn't have time to go do the updated training. 

According to Oliver the training to be able to provide passport services is required every year. Until the training is completed, an agency can't provide the service.

Oliver says she realizes this has created a hardship for Shelby county residents; however, they will eventually be able to go to the post office to get the service.

"I'm not saying we won't ever start it back up, but unless something changes I don't know when it would be," said Oliver.

Allison Harbison, County Judge, elaborated on issues not being limited to Shelby County, and are statewide.

"This is just not Shelby County, this is happening all over the state through the District Clerk's offices, and the County Clerk's offices," said Harbison.

"The problem with Texas Efile, we didn't have similar to this when we were not integrated," said Oliver.

She described how an integrated system has caused a whole lot more difficulties for her office.

"They wanted us to be with an integrated program, that's why we came to y'all that time and had you sign the contract, because we were integrated so they could get copies, money to us and all that."

According to Oliver, Texas Efile has a problem carrying information forward to iDocket. This has resulted in attorneys being disturbed because their filings aren't appearing in the system as quickly as expected.

Judge Harbison and Oliver concurred Efiling has made it so attorneys can file at will rather than during just normal business hours. Oliver stated there are filings that show up at 2am and without the limitation of tangible documents they are filing sometimes the equivalent of reams (500 pages) of paper at a time.

Oliver stated her office is willing to do whatever it takes to make everything they have to do work. While they are getting the job done, Oliver explained they are having a hard time.

A motion carried to hire a person, at the advice from the auditor, as a part-time employee with a review time allowing for the District Clerk to return in 90 days to give the commissioners an update on the progress with the new employee and the employees which have been out on medical leave.

The meeting adjourned at 10:15am.

Sheriff Willis Blackwell told the commissioners during their March 13, 2019 meeting he spoke with Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, about using an additional officer on a seasonal basis as needed rather than on a part-time as was previously discussed in commissioners' court.

Sheriff Blackwell suggested he could use this person to monitor inmates as they mow from April until September, as needed. 
  
"In the winter there's just not that much we need the inmates out for to do anything. You know, every now and then, but the deputies can handle that," said Blackwell.

Jimmy Lout, Precinct 2 Commissioner, asked Blackwell if there would be time for inmates to pick up trash along the roadways. Sheriff Blackwell said they could; however, he said the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 is giving community service to people in that precinct.

"I don't know where they're doing their community service, but they can sure pick up trash," said Blackwell.

Lout said he was suggesting the possibility in all precincts, not just Precinct 2. Sheriff Blackwell stated such individuals in any of the precincts aren't required to be supervised.

Tom Bellmyer, Precinct 4 Commissioner, asked Sheriff Blackwell if he would have the funding in his budget to support hiring another officer for seasonal work.

"I think we probably do out of what we usually save every year on different items," said Blackwell. "Especially like, we haven't been using any of our budget on housing prisoners outside [the county], because the courts and I have worked together to make sure the population stays down low where we don't have to go to Carthage at $50 a day."

The subject of the possibility of hiring an officer was first addressed in the March 6, 2019 Commissioners' Court meeting. At that time the possibility of inmates picking up trash was brought up and Blackwell agreed he would consider that if the inmates weren't working on another project at that time, they could pick up trash, because no one else is.

"When I called the highway department, they said they'll get to it when they need to," said Blackwell.

Bellmyer asked if the constables could be used to monitor the inmates doing work out in the county. 

"Well you could, but you'd have a lot of trouble getting them to come up here [to the courthouse], except a couple of them," said Blackwell.

Judge Harbison explained there has been some difficulty getting assistance with courthouse security from constables on busy court days.

"We've just had a couple that agreed to help and then you know they're working over in there section and it's just hard sometimes, but we could always ask," said Judge Harbison.

Blackwell agreed with Bellmyer if it were able to be coordinated with a constable on a particular day in their precinct, that could possibly work.

Sheriff Blackwell also stated he had two deputy positions currently open.

A motion carried to approve allowing Sheriff Blackwell to hire a single employee at beginning deputy pay on a seasonal trial basis.

Jennifer Fountain, Shelby County Clerk, informed the commissioners her office contains around 300 plats of which some are fading.

"They're not copying well, they're hard to see and a lot of the plats are huge," said Fountain.

Having to contend with very large plats means if someone comes into her office needing a copy of a large plat results in a job that has the potential to last for two hours.  

If the plats are digitized they can be uploaded into the county clerk's computer file software making it more easily accessible and more able to be printed quickly, as well as emailed. 

A motion carried to approve digitizing the plat records.

The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department has made plans to build a satellite station west of Joaquin on State Highway 7. 

Charles Barr, Precinct 3 Commissioner, said the fire department was donated some property and they will be needing to do some dirt work on the area to prepare for the new building.
 
Barr indicated the property is in between the Lone Cedar Community and Joaquin.

"What they were asking for was some assistance in helping haul the dirt into the foundation and that sort of thing," said Barr.

Barr said he inquired with the county attorney and a law firm who have all stated as long as the work is being done for the good of the public the county can assist in the project.

Jeremy Boyett, representing the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, spoke during the meeting and stated he needs 24 loads of dirt hauled for the pad and nine loads of iron ore for a driveway for the building. 

Boyett explained the new station has the potential to help insurance rates for those who have homes within five miles distance of the station.

"We have our ISO rating coming up in two or three years for the city and we're a six inside the city and an eight outside, but nine's the worst you can get," said Boyett. "So, we're trying to better the outside because we're working on this one and then we're working on maybe another one, [FM] 139 later on."

Boyett described the new station is expected to have a tanker truck, pumper truck and a set of Jaws of Life. The building will sit on two acres, allowing for a 50'x50' building and additional room for a training field.

A motion carried for Barr to assist the fire department when they are ready to move the dirt.

The meeting adjourned at 10:54am.

Agenda items approved during the March 6 meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Current Payroll.
3. Adjourn at 10:46am.

Agenda items tabled include:
1. Approve Sheriff’s office to hire a part time Deputy to supervise and stay with any trustee while work is done at Courthouse, Sheriff’s office, and other County offices. (3 days a week)

Agenda items approved during the March 13 meeting include:
1. Approve the minutes of the February 6, 2019 Special meeting, the February 13, 2019 Regular meeting, and the February 27, 2019 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court.
2. Pay weekly expenses.
3. Officers report.
4. Digitization of the Plat Records for the County Clerk's office, with funds from the County Clerk's Records Archive Budget.
5. Take sealed bids for a used Front End Loader for Commissioners Pct. 3 and Pct. 4. Bids to be opened on April 3.
6. Discuss and possibly approve Sheriffs office to hire a part time Deputy to supervise and stay with any trustee while work is done at Courthouse, Sheriff's office, and other County offices. (3 days a week)
7. Provide assistance to the Joaquin Fire Department by providing in-kind work for their new fire department building. 
8. Adjourned at 10:54am.

Agenda items approved during the March 20 meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Pay current payroll.
3. Approve hiring a person for the District Clerks Office, at the advice from the auditor, as a part-time employee with a review time allowing for the District Clerk to return in 90 days to give the commissioners an update on the progress with the new employee and the employees which have been out on medical leave.
4. Adjourned at 10:15am.