Shelby County Today

October 13, 2020 - The Shelby Commissioners met with representatives of the Shelby County Historical Commission to consider issues they suggest need to be addressed at the Shelby County Historical Courthouse Annex building.

Rayford Copelin, Shelby County Historical Commission, addressed the court regarding abatement of asbestos in the Historical Courthouse Annex.

Copelin explained, the commission sought to discover if anything in the building posed a hazard and they enlisted the help of an environmental consultant firm, which in turn performed a survey of the structure.

"They found some mold, they found some lead and then they found some asbestos," said Copelin.

According to Copelin, the mold and lead aren't necessary to be addressed at this time since the lead is within the paint and the mold will potentially have a time to return if it's removed and the building then remains vacant.

"The asbestos is a different story, we need to take care of that, the only asbestos they found was in the floor tile and then in the mastic that holds the floor tile," said Copelin.

Copelin indicated for the commissioners different rooms within the building that have tile where there is asbestos. He explained the environmental consultant firm will act as consultants and acquire the necessary permits, monitoring, and insure whatever abatement contractor that is hired handles the work appropriately.

"Their fee is about $16,000 or so, it's not going to be that high, because it's not going to take that long," said Copelin.

Of the two bids received for the project, the Historical Commission recommended the low bidder HP Envirovision to handle the work.

Judge Harbison said the total amount they were looking at for the environmental consultant and the contractor is $25,769. Commissioner Tom Bellmyer asked if the money for the project has been budgeted.

"We had discussed earlier, before the budget was final, that we would make room for $25,000 to be in the budget knowing that we were going to have to do an abatement project," said Teddy Hopkins, Historical Commission Chairperson.

He didn't know if there was a line item for the abatement in the budget, but he said the expectation was for there to be up to $25,000 for the project in the budget.

Hopkins and Copelin agreed they expect the project to be somewhere between $16,000 and $20,000.

To confirm if the funding is already in the budget, a motion carried to table approving the project until the next meeting.

The commissioners previously approved going out for bids on tires and gravel for the county and since then are uncertain on the best course of action to accomplish seeking the bids.

A motion carried to rescind the previously approved motion, follow through on research and revisit the bid process again next year with a plan.

The commissioners considered putting rock on a private drive on County Road 3801. Commissioner Charles Barr stated the cirumstances involve a school bus turning around on the driveway, which he says is the last house on the road. 

According to Barr, a school bus had difficulty turning around at the location and it was requested of the commissioner to add gravel.

A motion carried to allow Commissioner Precinct 3 to put rock down on the private drive to help service the school system.

The meeting went into executive session at 10:35am and returned at 11:19am with no action taken. The meeting was then adjourned at 11:20am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.

2. Grant application for the 2021 Indigent Defense Formula Grant Program.

3. Resolution to apply for the 2021 Indigent Defense Formula Grant Program.

4. Donate salvage property from the Expo Center which includes boards and steel tresses to the Shelby County Expo Center.

5. Resolution regarding the transaction allowing Judge Harbison to sign all the proper documents pertaining to the Tax Sale of Property in District Court cause #18CV34348.

6. Rescind previous motion on bid process for tires, gravel, etc. and research further before next year.

7. Commissioner Pct. 3 to put rock on a private drive off County Road 3801.

8. Adjourn.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Recommendation by Shelby County Historical Commission to abate the asbestos in the Historical Courthouse Annex.

2. Tabled until 21st to see what the City of Tenaha does Tax Trust bid for Cause #19CV-23,303, Shelby County, Tenaha Independent School District and City of Tenaha VS. Heirs of Ann Evans, Deceased.

3. Table until 21st to see what the City of Tenaha does Tax Trust bid for Cause #08CV-30,130, Shelby County, Tenaha Independent School District and City of Tenaha.

October 9, 2020 - The Shelby County Constable 3 office was the scene of a break-in on Sunday, October 4, 2020 and during that break-in evidence is alleged to have been taken.

According to Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, he received a call his office located at 10726 Highway 84 East in Joaquin had a broken window in the entry door. Upon researching the scene, Constable Cheatwood discovered around four ounces of marijuana scheduled for destruction had been taken.

Through investigation Constable Cheatwood was able to determine, and track down his suspect at a location on Childress Street in Joaquin at 5:15pm Monday, October 5.

As Constable Cheatwood placed Aaron Brazzel, 23, of Joaquin in custody he states Brazzel admitted to having taken the marijuana. 

Brazzel was arrested on a previous warrant for burglary of a building, felony 4; and he was charged for the break-in at the constable office for burglary of a building, felony 4; and possession of marijuana, misdemeanor a.

Constable Cheatwood thanked the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Texas Rangers and DPS Trooper Keith Jones for their assistance.

October 7, 2020 - San Augustine Street in Center was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Tuesday night, October 7, 2020 after which the driver was arrested.

Center Police Department dispatched a reckless driver was entering the city from State Highway 7 West at 9:33pm onto San Augustine Street and Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers responded. 

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, as a white 2019 Ford Expedition driven by Jennifer Davlin, 44, of Stonewall, LA entered San Augustine Street it traveled off the roadway to the right. 

The Expedition traveled over a sidewalk before striking a road sign and then traveled over a telephone pedestal before returning to the roadway. 

When Troopers arrived, the vehicle was located around 300 yards away from the crash incident at the GMC dealership located on San Augustine Street just past Field Street. It had damage to the front of the vehicle, as well as two flat tires on the passenger side.

During investigation, Davlin was found to be intoxicated and she subsequently was taken into custody and transported to Shelby County Jail.

October 7, 2020 - (Updated 2:40pm) - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department has released information relating to the incident, and it is as follows: Deputies with the SCSO responded to a residence on CR 3801 in Joaquin in reference to a gunshot wound sustained by a juvenile on Oct. 6, 2020. 

Investigation into the incident revealed that the weapon was fired accidentally by the juvenile and a single bullet entered the juveniles left shoulder. 

The juvenile was transported by EMS to the Center ER where he received treatment for injury and was released to a family member.

No further information is available.

Leah Chase, SCSO Media Relations

October 7, 2020 - The 1000 block of CR 3801 outside Joaquin was the scene of a shooting incident involving a teenager Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

Emergency personnel with Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Constable Precinct 3, Department of Public Safety, and Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the location at around 5:15pm.

While EMS were assessing an individual in an ambulance, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies cordoned off a location behind the residence with crime scene tape.

EMS transported someone from the scene at 6pm and deputies were seen interviewing neighbors.

Two DeSoto Parish Deputies later arrived at the scene. They advanced with their K9 Rex and other officers into woods located behind the house.

Information will be updated on this incident as it’s available.