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Update 11:55am: Roadway is back open. Be careful of dirt bump where the construction work was done.
July 12, 2017 - Partial Road Closure per City of Center Street Department on Nacodoches Street from Wheeler Street to Red lights on Hurst Street starting this morning Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 8:30 am.
Will update when road is open for traffic.
July 12, 2017 - Two fire departments have been dispatched to a structure fire at the top of the hill in Shelbyville at Southern Seasons. Please be alert and watch for emergency responders traveling to the scene. Use caution and slow down traveling through Shelbyville.
July 10, 2017 - The Shelby County Commissioners chose to appoint Melissa Crouch to the office of Justice of the Peace Precinct 1. The office was recently vacated following the resignation of Maxie Eaves.
After a 25-minute executive session, the meeting returned to open session and a motion made by Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, carried to temporarily appoint Crouch temporary Justice of the Peace of Precinct 1 until the public can elect a permanent JP whether that be the primary or general election, the temporary appointment will run until the public has chosen a duly elected Justice of the Peace through the election process. The appointment was set to take effect July 17 at 9am.
Jake Metcalf, Precinct 4 Constable, presented the commissioners with a proposal for a new vehicle for his precinct. The 2011 truck and even older model Dodge Magnum are reported to be in disrepair and in need of replacement.
"He inherited two vehicles that have needed a lot of work," said Judge Harbison.
She shared for the court the transmission and the motor in the truck are no longer functional and the Dodge has many needed repairs. A bid was received of San Augustine Motor Co. in the amount of $9,000 for the truck and $6,000 for the Dodge toward a trade-in.
Metcalf explained the Dodge sat for 10 years before he took office and it was actually sunk into the ground.
"The pickup truck had not been maintained or maintenanced in I can't tell you how long. When I took it, I took it and the oil changed and they said it was bad oil," said Metcalf.
He elaborated the Dodge is currently a safety hazard as everything underneath it is rusted.
Metcalf has looked at a 2017 Ford Explorer which a lot of law enforcement agencies are starting to use due to economical fuel mileage. The asking price on the vehicle is $34,180 and with a discount for the county it became $29,805. The trade-in allowance of $15,000 on the two vehicles then brings the price down $14,805.
Factoring in the Precinct 4 Constable office remaining budget of $3,800, a motion carried to approve $14,000 to be paid out of the county contingency fund, which currently has $142,115.
Bridge work has been ongoing on CR 4293 at Chicken Bayou Creek and as a result of the work, some tree clearing has occurred. A brother and sister own property on either side of the bridge and in exchange for trees removed and "property damage," the siblings request $1,000 each to cover their loss or they will not sign the right of way easement; thus, preventing the project from moving forward.
A motion carried to approve issuing a check for the siblings out of right-of-way funds in the amount of $2,000.
Precinct 3 and 4 commissioners are seeking to purchase a portable asphalt zipper.
"Bradley [Allen] and I have watched a couple of these machines work. The portable type machine, so they can be moved from one job location to the other. These come on a dual tandem axle trailer, they do as good a job as far as grinding and reclaiming the road," said Charles Barr, Commissioner Precinct 3.
Barr explained they would like to seek bids for a new or used with low hours machine.
A motion was carried to seek bids on the asphalt zipper. (Related article).
The meeting was adjourned at 10:27am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
Minutes of the June 12, 2017 Regular Meeting, the June 19, 2017 Special Meeting, and June 27th, 2017 Special Meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court.
Pay the monthly expenses.
Officers’ reports.
Purchase of a new vehicle for Constable Precinct 4, Jake Metcalf.
Payment for timber and damages for bridge work on County Road 4293 Chicken Bayou Creek.
Advertise for bids on an asphalt zipper for Road and Bridge Precinct 3 & 4.
Appoint Melissa Crouch Justice of the Peace Precinct 1.
Adjourn meeting at 10:27am.
Officers' report
Fees collected per office for June:
Deborah Riley, Tax Assessor/Collector, office: Property: $108,886.07; Motor Vehicle: $30,229.47 for a total of $139,115.54
Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk: $37,329.16
Lori Oliver, District Clerk: $13,607.99
Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1: $14,294.00
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2: $1,206.10
Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3: $6,900.00
Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4: $2,794
Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5: $4,316
Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1: $715
James Hagler, Constable Precinct 2: $0.00
Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3: $90.00
Jake Metcalf, Constable Precinct 4: $170
Robert Hairgrove, Constable Precinct 5: $270.00
Grand total: $219,562.79
Money Market CD#1 generated $245.79 total market value of $427,451.55
Money Market CD#2 generated $245.36 total market value of $426,714.60
Money Market CD#3 generated $244.95 total market value of $425,978.93
Money Market CD#4 generated $279.21 total market value of $485,566.21
Shelby County Money Market generated $5.15 for a total value of $25,043.21
Total Interest earned on investments $1,020.46
Total investments of $1,790,754.50
July 9, 2017 - Emergency first responders were dispatched to a vehicle which had reportedly been swept of a roadway and an individual was still inside Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Upon arrival of Center Police Officers and Center Fire Department firemen just over five miles from the Center city limits, the driver was able to escape the vehicle which remained halfway submerged due to heavy rain leading up to the incident.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Richard Hill, at 7pm an orange 2014 Dodge Dart driven by Brittney Thomas, 21, of Joaquin was traveling toward Center on FM 699. The vehicle hydroplaned, due to water on the roadway, and left the roadway to the right and into the barrow ditch where a steady flow of runoff water was traveling.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
Thomas was issued a citation for failure to control speed.
Trooper Hill was assisted with the investigation by Trooper Taylor Buster.
July 8, 2017 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas, Southwestern Shelby County in eastern Texas, Northwestern Angelina County in eastern Texas, Northwestern San Augustine County in eastern Texas, and Eastern Cherokee County in northeastern Texas until 7pm CDT.
At 532 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Nacogdoches, moving southeast at 15 mph.
Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Hudson, Melrose, Woden, Pollok, Martinsville, Douglass, Appleby, Chireno, Oak Ridge, Denning, Clawson, Central and Redland.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
July 7, 2017 - Tenaha Street in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, July 5, 2017 causing damage to both vehicles and sending everyone to the hospital.
Center Police Officers responded with ambulance personnel to the scene where part of the roadway was blocked.
According to Center Police Officer Kenneth King, at around 2:40pm a black Dodge pickup truck driven by Sydney Hopson, 21, of Shelbyville with a two-year-old toddler was northbound on Tenaha Street.
At that time a maroon Buick driven by Vickie Frederick, 65, of Shelbyville was exiting a private driveway of a car wash just before Foster Street, and drove into the path of the truck, leaving Hopson unable to stop in time to avoid the collision.
All involved were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries.
No citations were issued at the time of the crash.
July 6, 2017 - Center Police Departments K-9 Officer Steve Thornburgh and Detective Stephen Stroud conducted a traffic stop on Waterhouse Street Wednesday June 28, 2017. Officers located Drug paraphernalia on the driver, 58-year-old Curvie Brinson and discovered the passenger; 57-year-old Billy Ray McCoy both of Center, Texas were highly intoxicated.
Upon further investigation and a search of the subject’s vehicle, it was discovered the occupants Brinson and McCoy were in possession of 29.77 grams of methamphetamines and 51.17 grams of PCP along with drug paraphernalia. Brinson and McCoy were arrested on two charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1>=4G, Felony two.
Center Police Department would like to inform the drug dealers of Shelby County You're Next!
July 6, 2017 - Center Police Department served a narcotics search warrant on the residence of 32-year-old Elisha Remedies and 42-year-old Michael Garrett of Center, Texas on Thursday, June 15, 2017. After a lengthy narcotics investigation Narcotics Detective, David Haley presented his case to Judge Rafferty who issued a search warrant for the couples residence located at 365 Shelbyville Street the location of the Energy Lodge.
Upon searching the residence Detective Haley located over 5 grams of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia used in the sale of the narcotics.
Detective Haley seized the methamphetamines and will be filing seizures on a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche and $1,100 in cash. Elisha Remedies and Michael Garrett were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone Felony One and Possession of a Dangerous Drug Misdemeanor A.
Detective Haley would like to thank The Shelby County District Attorney, Stephen Shires and District Attorney Chief Investigator Joey Haley for their unlimited assistance and support.
If you’re a drug Dealer in Shelby County you’re not safe. You’re Next!
July 3, 2017 - In observance of Independence Day the Shelby County Courthouse is closed Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4. This includes the tax offices for property and motor vehicle as well as the District Clerk's office and County Clerk's office on the square.
The courthouse will re-open Wednesday, July 5 at 8am.
June 30, 2017 - Two vehicles which were traveling in opposite directions on June 25, 2017 were each brought to an abrupt halt when they met with a tree in their respective paths.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, sometime before 9:06pm a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup truck driven by Rossie Ransom, 78, of Shelbyville with passenger Dawn Murphy, 43, was northbound on FM 2694 when a tree suddenly was in her path and the truck traveled over the tree.
No injuries were reported as a result of their crash.
Directly following that incident, a Chevrolet Cruze driven by Charmenia Adams, 20, of Shelbyville was southbound on FM 2694 and when approaching the tree swerved left as Adams was thinking the lesser portion of the tree was that direction and struck the tree.
ACE EMS responded to the scene and no injuries were reported from either crash.
Adams was issued a citation for no insurance.
TxDOT was dispatched to the location and and they cleared the debris from the roadway. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Gogolewski assisted at the scene.
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