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June 22, 2016 - Four fire departments from Timpson, Tenaha, Garrison and Appleby responded to a fire at the intersection of North 1st Street and Todd Street in Timpson on Tuesday, June 22, 2016 involving a tire shop belonging to Leo Johnson.
Firemen with the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) responded to the scene located next to Texas State Bank at 6:14pm and initiated the attack on the fire. More units with Timpson VFD quickly arrived and joined in the fight.
Tenaha VFD was next to arrive and they joined Timpson firemen in donning SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) and entering the building. The Timpson Police Department was on scene with the first firemen to arrive, and initiated traffic control on the highway to prevent any traffic incidents. As additional fire units arrived, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Garrison Marshal's Office offered support.
Garrison VFD assisted the firemen in locating any hot spots within the building. Although considerable damage was incurred at the front section of the building, the firemen were able to keep the fire from breaching the rear half of the building.
The property is owned by Cadell Stephenson. The fire is suspected to have been electrical in origin and remains under investigation.
June 21, 2016 - The intersection of CR 1005 and CR 1024 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday, June 17, 2016 where the driver involved was trapped.
First responders with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, ACE EMS and the Center Fire Department worked together to safely extricate the driver from the vehicle which was turned on its side in a ditch. After the driver was assessed for any injuries the emergency personnel were able to get him out of the vehicle and into a waiting ambulance.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones, at 7:16pm Jerry Don Mahan, 64, of Center was driving north on CR 1005 in a white 2002 Chevrolet Blazer when he turned too early at CR 1024 and rolled into the ditch coming to rest on the driver's side against a culvert.
Mahan was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment. Texas DPS Trooper John Hallenbeck assisted Trooper Jones with the investigation.
June 17, 2016 - On Friday, June 17, 2016 at approximately 9:49am Officers with the Center Police Department along with several other agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Center Fire Department, Center ISD, responded to Tyson Foods in regards to a Bomb Threat.
Officers arrived and evacuated all Tyson employees to a safe location. Officers notified the Barksdale Air Force Base Bomb Dog Division for their assistance in locating a possible explosive device with their K-9's.
The Center Police Department had ACE EMS on standby along with life flight in case of any Tyson or First Responder injury. The building and premises were searched by the military bomb dogs and Center Police Officers and no devices were located.
This case is still under investigation by the Center Police Department, Texas Rangers, and Federal Bureau of Investigations. The Center Police Department would like to express their sincere appreciation for the assistance from all the first responders on scene.
Update: As of 1:47pm, the Tyson plant has been cleared and employees are being allowed back inside. Emergency responders are leaving the scene and Shelbyville Street is opened back up for traffic. The Air Force who brought their bomb dogs to search the plant have left as well.
Update 11:37am: According to Scott Flowers who is on scene, the military has arrived with dogs and they are headed to the Tyson plant.
Update: The road block on Shelbyville Street has been moved back to the area of H & S Grocery due to the number of people in the area because of the evacuation.
June 17, 2016 - Emergency personnel responded to the Tyson Plant shortly before 10am Friday morning on June 17, 2016. Unofficial reports are a bomb threat was called in.
The Center Fire Department is rerouting traffic from 87 South around the loop and Shelbyville Street is blocked off. Tyson employees were evacuated from the plant and instructed to go westbound on Shelbyville Street a safe distance from the plant.
Currently on scene are officers from the Center Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Rangers.
It is advised to avoid this area as through traffic has been blocked at this time as a safety percaution.
June 16, 2016 - Law enforcement officers responded to the scene of a single-vehicle on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 from which the driver eventually was arrested.
Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, and Center Police officers arrived at the location of the crash to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety with the investigation.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 10am Johnathan Polley, 28, of Center was traveling north on State Highway 87 in a green 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis. As the Marquis neared CR 2010, it left the roadway to the left and onto the other side of CR 2010 where the vehicle struck a tree.
When officers arrived it was determined Polley was intoxicated. He was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated and he was transported by the Center Police Department to the Shelby County Jail. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
June 14, 2016 - Center native Jonathan Hennigan has been recruited by the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization after posting a 5-2 record as a pitcher for Texas State University. He is an Applied Science Major and a transfer student who was a member of a Galveston College team who went 41-19 a year ago.
Hennigan is the son of Kim and Phil Hennigan II. His grandfather Phil Hennigan played professionally for the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians.
Jonathan is a 6’4” , 190 lb., left-handed pitcher with good tools which helped draw attention to his talents. He became a 21st round draft choice when the Phillies chose him on June 11th.
Additional links:
- The Official Athletics Website of Texas State - Jonathan Hennigan - 2016 Baseball
- Hennigan, Studdard, Hill, Mazzoccoli Drafted
June 14, 2016 - The Texas Department of Public Safety and West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, June 11 which resulted in injuries for one person involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at 11:10am Michael Lout, 51, of Lindale was eastbound on State Highway 7 in a blue 2014 Mazda when, as he traveled around a curve the Mazda hydroplaned near CR 1245.
At that time a green 2002 Ford F-150 driven by Sonya Sears, 36, of Center was westbound when Sears witnessed the Mazda hydroplaning. Sears swerved the Ford in attempts of avoiding a collision; however, the Ford began to spin to the right and the rear of the Mazda struck the right rear quarter panel of the Ford causing damage to both vehicles.
The Mazda and the Ford came to rest in the middle of the roadway. The WSVFD initiated traffic control to prevent any further incidents resulting from the crash.
Regina Lout, 48, was traveling in the Mazda and was injured during the crash. She was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department.
Michael Lout was issued a citation for unsafe speed. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
June 14, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners' Court continued discussions at their Monday, June 13 meeting over the Sheriff's Department's new $7,000 website, which was approved at the May 9 meeting, and concerns of County Attorney Gary Rholes.
At the previous meeting Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, and Travis Rodgers, Commissioner Precinct 3, initiated the motion which was approved giving the $7,000 website a green light pending the contract approval of Rholes.
Since that time, Rholes reviewed the contract with Lunabyte, Inc. and researched it with another website designer, according to a letter Rholes presented to the commissioners, County Judge Allison Harbison and Sheriff Willis Blackwell.
Rholes expressed concerns in the letter over "vague" language in the proposed contract and the possibility of extra cost. He also said some of the charges seem expensive and the contract contains "very broad clause" shielding the company from liability even for problems the website company might cause.
Sheriff Blackwell stated to the commissioners the proposed Sheriff's Department website is small scale compared to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Department website at $20,000; Bossier Parish at $30,000 and a television station in Baton Rouge at $100,000.
"They say that this guy is very reputable. I don't know what language needs to be in the contract that's not there that Gary said was vague. He has the man's telephone number, I mean if there's something that he needs to add to it, he'll be glad to add it to it, but he doesn't know what to add to it," said Sheriff Blackwell.
Rholes reaffirmed his concerns in the letter were not just what could be added to the contract. He said by reading the contract he couldn't tell what is included and when the county would be responsible for possible $125 an hour charges.
Judge Harbison asked Rholes to work on the contract and submit it to Lunabyte, Inc. for their approval and McSwain said it would then be in Rholes' hands until that time. Once everyone is in agreement, then Judge Harbison can sign the contract.
Eric Carver, of Axley & Rode, LLP, presented the annual Financial Report for the county, Fiscal Year 2015. He discussed the audit with the commissioners and in looking at the pension he stated the total liability for the county was $12,693,000 which is already set aside and is a well-funded pension.
"You have funded $12,476,000 of that, so basically y'all already set aside over $12 million for your pension fund, which is you only have $216,000 remaining in that liability," said Carver. "So, when I talk about it's a well-funded pension, y'all are in very good shape."
He state nationally most pensions are less than 30% funded with most in Texas being about 80% and Shelby County is at 97%, putting it ahead of the curve.
Carver indicated across the four precincts of the county $3.6 million in construction of roads was done while maintaining healthy fund balances.
According to Carver, the county is in possession of funds being held for "other people," and an issue has developed which Carver says the county needs to address. He said, within these funds, there's a fairly significant amount of money the county holds for other people that can't be identified, more specifically for whom the funds are being held.
"What's happened is, over the years you've gone from a manual records system to an electronic system, some of these records have been lost. You've got several hundred-thousand dollars at a minimum, probably more than that's not– you can't identify exactly who it's owed to," said Carver.
Some of the money may go to the county, state, or individuals and Carver says the county needs to make efforts to find out where the money belongs so it can be cleared from the county books.
"We do continue to have an issue with the segregation of duties of the JP office, we've talked about this over the last several years. I know there have been some changes in those offices but there's still situations where you have one individual controlling and processing financial information," said Carver.
He said as a result there is always a risk that something could occur and there could be a problem, which could also have an affect on grants in the future. Carver mentioned some budgets exceeded their funding this year, and when they exceed their budget, it takes from the funds of others to operate.
A motion was carried by the commissioners to approve the Shelby County, Fiscal Year 2015 report.
Stewart Cobb of First National Bank, Witchita Falls, presented leasing information for road equipment for Precinct 1 and Precinct 2. Following the presentation two motions carried with the first being a motion to approve Precinct 2 to enter into the contract for the purchase of a 140M3 Motor Grader at a rate of $15,000 a year. The second motion was to approve Precinct 1 lease contract for a CAT 926M Wheel Loader at a cost of $18,138.80 a year. Both agreements are at a 2.85% interest rate.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:26am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of the May 9, 2016 Regular Meeting and the May 23, 2016 Special Meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court. 2. Pay monthly expenses. 3. Officers' reports. 4. Eric Carver of Axley & Rode, LLP Annual Financial Report for Shelby County, Fiscal Year 2015. 5. Precinct 2 to enter into the contract for the purchase of a 140M3 Motor Grader at a rate of $15,000 a year at a 2.85% interest rate. 6. Precinct 1 lease contract for a CAT 926M Wheel Loader at a cost of $18,138.80 a year at a 2.85% interest rate. 7. Take bids for a 2001 Dodge pickup and a 2008 Mac Truck owned by Precinct 8. Appoint Robert Hairgrove as Constable in Precinct 5 effective July 1, 2016. 9. Accept ROW donation from Emily Viskozki for the bridge on County Road 4564, Hilliard Creek. 10. Approve payment of $1,500 for ROW easement from Red River Nacogdoches II, LP for the bridge on County Road 4256, tributary, Flat Fork Creek. 11. Approve payment of $1,000 for ROW from Glodean Leadon for the bridge on County Road 4564, Hilliard Creek. 12. Accept ROW donation from John Watson for the bridge on County Road 4455, Spinney Creek. 13. Extend data processing agreement with Indigent Health Care Solutions for a period of two years. 14. Enter into agreement with Region 5 Prevention Resource Center of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Deep East Texas. 15. Resolution of the Shelby County Hazard Mitigation Plan. 16. Add two copiers under the office copier contract for the two district courtrooms at a total of $150 a month. 17. Adjourn at 10:26am.
Fees collected per office for May:
Deborah Riley, Tax Assessor/Collector, office: Property: $113.437.85; Motor Vehicle: $181,974.94 for a total of $295,412.79
Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk: $32,882.10
Lori Oliver, District Clerk: $16,985.87
Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1: $5,607
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2: $839
Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3: $5,543
Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4: $1,520
Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5: $2,415
Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1: $1,065
Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2: $90
Billy Hearnsberger, Constable Precinct 3: $180
Bryan Gray, Constable Precinct 4:$180
Grand total: $362,719.76
CDs generated $18.29 for a total book value of $60,189.62
Money Market generated $365.67 total market value of $1,722,445.07
Total investments of $1,782,634.69
June 13, 2016 - Nacogdoches County DPS troopers responded on June 10, at approximately 6 p.m., to and investigated a three vehicle crash on US 59 about six miles south of Nacogdoches.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates a 2012 Dodge van failed to yield right-of-way from FM 2864 and was struck by a southbound 2013 Honda CRV. After the initial collision the Dodge van struck a 2012 Ford pickup that was stopped in the turn lane of US 59 waiting to turn onto FM 2864.
The driver of the Dodge van was identified as Gerald Dee Drummond, 60, from Fayettville, AR. Gerald Drummond was transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas and unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on June 12. Sherry Drummond, 62, was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches where she was reportedly treated and released.
The driver of the Honda CRV was identified as Rita Rosa Steier, 56, from Timpson, TX. Steier was also transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital where she too was treated and released. The driver of the 2012 Ford pickup was identified as Jake Crisp, 16, from Nacogdoches, TX. Crisp was not reported as being injured during the crash. This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
June 13, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that at approximately 3:24AM on Saturday, June 11th, 2016 Patrol Deputies responded to Backwoods Buggies located at 552 Highway 96 North in Center for an alarm call. Upon arrival, Deputies observed that unknown suspect(s) made entry into the business and stole EFCO weed-eaters as well as a Briggs/Stratton Pressure Washer.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember, you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.
If a caller does not wish to remain anonymous or receive a reward, they may call the Shelby County Sheriff's Department at 936-598-5600 or 936-572-1468 and speak with Lieutenant DJ Dickerson.
Submitted by Lt. DJ Dickerson
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