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Early voting starts October 21, 2019 and ends November 1, 2019 between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm at the Shelby County Clerk's Office.
November 5, 2019 - In November 2019, Texas voters will decide on 10 proposals in a statewide constitutional amendment election. The first day of Early Voting is Monday, October 21, 2019 and ends Friday, November 1, 2019. Election day is Tuesday, November 5, 2019 with polls closing at 7pm.
- Proposition 1, Allows persons to serve as more than one appointed or elected municipal judge
- Proposition 2, Allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue up to $200 million in bonds
- Proposition 3, Authorizes temporary property tax exemption for disaster areas
- Proposition 4, Prohibits the state from levying an income tax on individuals
- Proposition 5, Dedicates revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods to parks, wildlife, and historical agencies
- Proposition 6, Authorizes the legislature to increase bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute
- Proposition 7, Increases distributions to the state school fund
- Proposition 8, Creates a Flood Infrastructure Fund
- Proposition 9, Authorizes property tax exemption for precious metals held in depositories
- Proposition 10, Allows for transfer of law enforcement animals to handlers or others if in animal's best interest
To learn more about the propositions, visit BallotPedia online at https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_2019_ballot_measures
November 1, 2019 - The Jury that was summoned for Monday, November 4, 2019, for the 123rd Judicial District Court, Honorable LeAnn K. Rafferty, presiding, has been cancelled.
All cases scheduled have been resolved or passed.
Anyone receiving a jury summons for this day is released until they receive a future summons.
October 30, 2019 - Precinct 4 Road and Bridge will be making repairs on Thursday, October 31 to the bridge at the spillway on E. Lake Timpson Road.
The repairs should be completed in one day. Travel will be restricted during some of the repair activities.
Wondering where your 2019 tax statements might be?
October 24, 2019 - Shelby County Tax office started collecting for the 2019 taxes as of October 8th, 2019.
Mail for our area was routed through the Houston distributing center but because of past flooding damage, our mail has been redirected to Shreveport or Dallas. This could cause some delay receiving your Shelby County Tax Statements.
We have 3 schools that offer a discount if taxes are paid early.
Excelsior ISD, Joaquin ISD and Shelbyville ISD - 3% in Oct, 2% in Nov, and 1% in Dec
We will be extending the discount for the convenience of our taxpayers.
3% Oct 8–Nov 15, 2019 | 2% Nov 16–30, 2019 | 1% Dec 2019
Options for viewing your tax statement:
1. You can view your account online to see tax amount due. https://propaccess.trueautomation.com/clientdb/?cid=73
2. E-mail with us the name on the account to be paid with your property ID #, we will email a statement back - shelbytax@co.shelby.tx.us
3. Call our office 936-598-4441 and we can get a duplicate statement out to you via mail or fax.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
By Credit Card
May make payments through www.certifiedpayments.net with Shelby County Bureau Code #1242857. *Please note a 2.5% convenience fee is charged.
By Mail
Make check or money order to:
Debora Riley, Tax Office
200 San Augustine St. Box C
Center, TX 75935
* Please include your Property ID number on check or money order.
Debora Riley, PCAC
Shelby County Tax Assessor Collector
October 23, 2019 - Shelia Harris, District Extension Administrator, accompanied by Lane Dunn, County Extension Agent, and Feleshia Thompson, County Extension Assistant, presented Thompson to the Shelby County Commissioners at their October 9 meeting as the new Family Consumer/Family Community Health Agent, which was the position previously held by Jheri-Lynn McSwain.
"Felishia for almost three years has been working in the Shelby County Extension Office with the Better Living For Texas Program as an Extension Educator," said Harris. "So I do present her as our finalist for that position."
Harris further stated Thompson is from the area, has roots in the community. She will also continue a lot of her previous duties as well as taking on additional 4-H programs as she works with Dunn and so many more people in the county.
"I'm just pleased to present Feleshia today to be approved as the new agent," said Harris.
A motion carried to approve Feleshia Thompson to her new position as Family Consumer/Family Community Health Agent beginning October 14, 2019.
"I will serve Shelby County, I will make y'all proud, I will continue some of the programs that Jheri-Lynn started and increase some things for Shelby County," said Thompson.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of the September 4, 2019 Public Hearing, September 4, 2019 Special meeting, September 11, 2019 Public Hearing, September 11, 2019 Regular meeting, September 18, 2019 Special meeting, September 25, 2019 Special meeting, and September 30, 2019 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Officers Report. 4. Nomination of Allison Harbison and Robin Connell as Board Members for the Shelby County Appraisal District. 5. Feleshia Thompson to her new position as Family Consumer/Family Community Health Agent beginning October 14, 2019. 6. 2020 Resolution for the Indigent Defense Grant Program. 7. Deed right away back to McAdams at CR 1039. 8. Adjourn Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Updating phone system
October 21, 2019 - The Jury that was summoned for Tuesday, October 22, 2019, for the 273rd District Court, Honorable James A. Payne, Jr., presiding, has been cancelled.
All cases scheduled have been resolved or passed.
Anyone receiving a jury summons for this day is released until the receive a future summons.
Update: US 59 from just south of Garrison to the city of Timpson has been reopened for travel following an early morning crash that resulted in a HazMat spill. Drive safely.
October 21, 2019 - US 59 North, just south of Garrison, is currently closed due to a crash and resulting HazMat spill. Emergency crews are on the scene. TxDOT crews are currently setting up a detour at US 259 in Nacogdoches and US 84 in Timpson. Motorists should prepare for lengthy delays as this scene clears. Reduce speed and stay alert for the detour and all traffic control in the area.
US 59 Closure: This closure extends from just south of Garrison to US 84 in Timpson due to a HazMat spill with evacuations. Please choose alternate routes or detour US 84 south from Timpson to maneuver around the closure. Traffic control is in place. This closure is expected to clear by 5 pm today. Motorists should prepare for delays.
According to a press release, The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a report of a hazardous material spill this morning on US 59, about three miles south of Garrison.
Preliminary information indicates at approximately 7:45 a.m., a 2007 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling north when the vehicle reportedly swerved to avoid a vehicle that had hydroplaned, causing two containers with approximately 600 gallons of Scavsol 75T, a hazardous material, to fall from the vehicle and spill onto the highway.
Multiple agencies have responded to the scene. A Haz-Mat Team is also responding to conduct clean-up efforts.
The substance is a corrosive chemical. Nearby residents have been evacuated for safety purposes, and a one-mile perimeter has been established until the scene has been cleaned up and determined to be safe.
No injuries were reported as a result of this incident. No additional information is available at this time.
October 17, 2019 - An investigation into the theft of a boat has resulted in the arrest of a Joaquin man.
Johnny Ray Taylor, 23, of Joaquin was arrested on charges of theft (DeSoto Parish), and criminal damage (DeSoto Parish) on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.
According to Constable Cheatwood, the boat was taken Friday night October 11, 2019 from Garrett park. Shelby Johnson, the owner, contacted Constable Cheatwood's office the following morning and a short time later the boat was found down river at Sand Isle.
Constable Cheatwood joined forces with the Desoto Parish Sheriffs Department, and launched an investigation to locate the suspect responsible for the theft of boat and its contents. Constable Cheatwood traveled to the residence of a suspect where he discovered the missing property.
Mike Armstrong, DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Department Investigator, was contacted and following interviews secured an arrest warrant for Johnny Ray Taylor.
Constable Cheatwood expressed his thanks to Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Ruth Gonzalez for helping apprehend Taylor, Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers, Texas Game Wardens, Sheriff Jayson Richardson, Investigator Mike Armstrong, Deputy Constable Newton Johnson, Sheriff's Deputy Josh Tipton, and Constable Jamie Hagler for their assistance in searching for Taylor.
October 16, 2019 - A pre-construction meeting was held last week in the Nacogdoches Area Office that signaled the beginning of a new construction project in Shelby County.
Work to reconstruct and widen the roadway will begin in coming days on FM 1645 from US 59 to SH 87. Motorists should remain alert to moving equipment and workers in and near the work zone. Traffic control will be in place during work hours.
Longview Bridge and Road, Longview, TX will serve as contractor for the $5.7 million project that is expected to be completed in December, 2021. Motorists are urged to obey all traffic control, prepare for delays and stay alert as they travel the area.
For more information on road conditions statewide, visit drivetexas.org. For more information on this and other Lufkin District projects, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
Update: The Texas Department of Public Safety has released the name of the driver of the van which perished in the fatal crash on Sunday to be Cedric Walker, 53 from Keithville, LA. No additional information is available at this time.
October 13, 2019 - State Highway 7 just west of Joaquin was the scene of a major crash which resulted in a fatality Sunday, October 13, 2019.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD), ambulance personnel and a Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputy all converged on the location to help those involved in the incident.
When the emergency personnel arrived, a white passenger van was in the middle of the roadway and a pickup truck with an RV trailer attached was on the eastbound side of the road.
JVFD firemen used Jaws of Life to extricate the driver of the van; however, he did not survive the crash.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers began investigating the cause of the crash at that time.
According to information released from the Texas Department of Public Safety, preliminary crash investigation results indicate at approximately 11:30am, a white 2017 Chevrolet van was traveling west when for unknown reasons the van crossed over the center of the roadway and into the eastbound lane where it struck a grey 2010 GMC pickup that was towing a 2018 Heartland Bighorn 5th wheel travel trailer.
The driver of the Chevrolet van was pronounced deceased at the scene by Tracy Broadway, Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5. At this time, the identity of the driver is not available pending notification of next of kin.
Michael Webb, 69, from Etoile who was traveling with his wife, was the driver of the GMC and they were not injured during the crash.
This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
DPS Troopers investigating the crash incident were Daniel Dellenger, Brent Murray and Keith Jones.
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