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July 15, 2015 - Center Police Officer Jake Gross was presented with the Life Saving Award by Police Chief Jim Albers at the recent Center City Council meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2015.
The honor was presented to Officer Gross because of the life-saving efforts he made when he responded to two 9-1-1 calls on March 3, 2015. Shelby County Today was on scene the night of both incidents to which Gross was en-route. First he was en-route to an auto-pedestrian crash that proved fatal on Tenaha Street when he was diverted to another incident very close by at Center Place Apartments on Center Street.
Joann Lockett, 58, of Center was unresponsive when Officer Gross arrived at her apartment and with the assistance of family members she was moved to the floor where Officer Gross performed CPR on Lockett until ACE EMS personnel arrived and began providing care. Once a pulse was detected, Lockett was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department and thereafter to Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches.
For his efforts, Gross was awarded the Life Saving Award, "Officer Gross was instrumental in saving a lady's life and performed resuscitation on her until the paramedics could get there, and she survived. We're real proud of him and we had this plaque made," said Chief Albers. He briefly showed the council members what the plaque looks like, "It turned out really nice and we're going to present that to him today."
Mayor David Chadwick congratulated Officer Gross on his actions and described his understanding of what the officers do everyday, "We certainly appreciate what you have done, we appreciate what our force does. I know that these are stories that can be told on a regular basis and we do realize how you put your life on the line every time y'all are called out. We don't take it lightly, we take it seriously and I know our public does and one lady in particular really does," said Mayor Chadwick.
A motion was carried and was approved for Resolution 2015-20 - Budget calendar for 2016 budget adoption. Chad Nehring, City Manager, elaborated on some differences in this budget calendar, "It does have to be a little bit different than the traditional year because of the way the tax calendar falls and the notice calendar falls. Instead of the last meeting in September which is normally our final approval of budget, we're actually having to shorten the process about two weeks."
During the meeting Nehring explained what has occurred of late with the progression of the Community Enhancement program. He explained how the Department of Agriculture has created a new program which Nehring stated the city was discouraged from participating. Any projects the city was considering in relation to this program were eliminated from consideration.
Nehring explained the city is looking at the potential of saving upwards of of $100,000 a year and alternative energy generation is one category for which the city will be making proposals for the water plant which according to Nehring has bills in a range of $240,000 a year. This would be a 100% grant and a resolution is expected to be presented to the council at the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:44pm.
Several Center Police officers were present for the council meeting to show support for Officer Jake Gross. Pictured are (from left) Sgt. Duane Gordon, Sgt. Scott Burkhalter, Officer Jake Gross, Chief Jim Albers, Lt. Jeremy Bittick and Sgt. Ricky King.
Items on the agenda receiving approval include: 1. Minutes of the June 22, 2015 meeting. 2. Resolution 2015-20 - Budget calendar for 2016 budget adoption. 3. Resolution 2015-21 - Disposal of Surplus Equipment. 4. Adjournment.
July 15, 2015 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to an early morning fire on FM 417 Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at the residence of Joyce Kirkley at 2:48am.
When the fire first occurred at 2am, Kirkley could not make a phone call from her home and walked in the dark through rough terrain to the roadway, and then on to her son Richard Kirkley's house nearby.
The house was engulfed in flames, and partially burned to the ground, when firemen arrived at the residence just over 1/2 mile from U.S. 96. The fire was threatening to encroach on the surviving back portion of the house. The firemen worked to extinguish the flames and focused their attack on the rooms which remained standing.
As the firemen were battling the fire, assistance of the Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) was requested in the way of a tanker truck of water. Once the fire was knocked back and the imminent threat against the remaining rooms was delayed, remaining resources of water on scene were used sparingly until SVFD arrived.
Once SVFD fireman Luke Matthews arrived on scene with the tanker, the firemen continued to barrage the fire with water until it was extinguished. The firemen returned to the station at 6am.
July 15, 2015 - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that five individuals are in custody following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.
On July 14, 2015, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began executing federal arrest warrants for defendants indicted following a two year investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. The agencies also executed three search warrants in Diboll and one in Lufkin.
Two separate indictments were returned by a federal grand jury on July 1, 2015 charging 10 individuals with federal drug and firearms violations. Of those, five defendants were arrested on July 14th and the indictment was unsealed by a federal magistrate late that night. Those defendants in custody are:
Ruben Enriquez, 42 of Diboll, Texas;
Agustin Enriquez, 48 of Diboll, Texas;
Alonso Enriquez, 33 of Diboll, Texas;
Jorge Enriquez, 33, of Lufkin, Texas; and
Douglas Wayne Williams, 40 of Lufkin, Texas
Law enforcement officers seized eight firearms, approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine, $20,000 cash and eight vehicles during the arrests. The remaining five defendants are being sought by law enforcement at this time.
According to the first indictment, beginning in 2013, Ruben Enriquez, Agustin Enriquez, Alonso Enriquez, and Jorge Enriquez are alleged to have conspired with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Nine of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. One defendant is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the second indictment, on Jan. 15, 2015, Douglas Wayne Williams is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the drug conspiracy charges, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. If convicted of the drug possession charges, Douglas Wayne Williams faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison. If convicted of the weapons violations, those defendants face at least 5 years in federal prison. The indictments also seek forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.
The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigation Division. The U.S. Marshals Service, DEA Aviation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety-Highway Patrol Division, Texas Department of Public Safety-Aircraft Division, Angelina County Constable Precinct 1 and Precinct 4, Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Lufkin Police Department, Diboll Police Department, Houston Police Department, Conroe Police Department and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the execution of the arrest warrants and search warrants in the Eastern District of Texas. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
July 14, 2015 - FM 414 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday, July 10, 2015 which resulted in a life-flight for the driver. Emergency personnel was dispatched to the crash scene at 4pm on Sardis Road (FM 414).
Gina Furra, 37, of Center was traveling westbound on FM 414 two miles from U.S. Highway 87 South in a Hyundai Accent when, due to a medical condition, she left the roadway to the right. The Hyundai then traveled back across the roadway and through a fence where it continued through a field and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof.
A landing zone for a medical helicopter was established in the field by the Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department and ACE EMS. Life-Air Rescue transported Furra to Good Shepherd hospital in Longview as a precautionary measure due to the nature of the crash.
No citations were issued as a result of the crash. The crash was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jade LaVergne.
July 14, 2015 - The driver involved in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday, July 14, 2015 was transported to the hospital following a crash on U.S. Highway 96.
Center firemen were dispatched to the scene of the crash located just south of the Center Country Club where a vehicle was in the outside southbound traffic lane on its roof. Firemen, EMS and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) assisted one another in moving the driver to a waiting ambulance.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Jade Lavergne, Haley Christine Chaddick, 19, of Ovilla was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 96 North in a grey 2009 Honda when according to witnesses the vehicle began fishtailing.
The Honda left the roadway to the right and traveled in the barrow ditch before traveling over a culvert and rolling. The Honda then came to rest back in the outside lane on its roof facing north. Chaddick was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for minor injuries.
No citations have been issued at this time.
July 14, 2015 - The intersection of State Highway 7 East and U.S. Highway 84 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Joaquin on Monday, July 13, 2015.
The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the crash at 4:43pm and held the scene until the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrived to investigate the crash scene.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Ricardo Segura, a red 2000 Ford Expedition driven by Nettie Gibbs, 73, Joaquin was traveling east on U.S. 84 turning left onto U.S. 84 where it meets with Highway 7 and ran the red light. A 2011 Silver Toyota Camry driven by John Eason, 71, with passenger Leslie Norvell both of Converse, LA was traveling west and collided with the driver side of the Expedition, causing damage.
ACE EMS arrived on scene and transported Gibbs to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department as a precautionary measure. Gibbs was issued a citation for running the red light.
July 14, 2015 - A motorcycle rider was sent to the hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Tenaha Street in Center Monday, July 13, 2015.
Center Police Officers and ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene at 3pm where a motorcycle had collided with a Jeep and a passenger from the motorcycle was laying in the intersection of Church Street and Tenaha Street. Once on a stretcher, ACE EMS personnel were able to move her to a waiting ambulance and transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department.
According to Center Police Officer Jake Gross, a Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by Jacob Touchet, 59, with passenger Susan Potter, 52, both of Iowa, LA approached the intersection of Church Street and Tenaha Street and ran the stop sign. The motorcycle struck a tan Jeep Liberty driven by Dean Wright, 23, of Timpson causing minor damage to the driver's side of the Jeep.
Porter was listed as having minor injuries when she was transported from the scene, and both riders were wearing helmets. The motorcycle was disabled and could not be ridden from the scene. Touchet was issued a citation for running a stop sign. Wright, his passengers Maryiah Wright, 20, and a 1-year-old girl and 4-year-old girl were uninjured.
Officer Gross was assisted at the scene by Sgts. Duane Gordon and Scott Burkhalter.
July 14, 2015 - A residential fire occurred Saturday, July 11, 2015 bringing fire fighters out during the heat of the day to Bolton Street.
An explosion was reported to be heard by the home owner, James Stanley, who ran to a neighbors house to call for help. The Center Fire Department was dispatched at 1:05pm to 1224 Bolton Street in Center. The fire department responded with two fire trucks and upon arriving on scene, smoke was billowing out of the single family dwelling and flames could be seen on the right front corner of the home.
Volunteer fire fighters quickly went to work extinguishing the flames. The fire damage was reported to be contained to the front bedroom where the fire appears to have started. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is still under investigation.
July 14, 2015 - Center Dixie League Youth baseball had four teams participating in the state baseball tournament held at Center’s Lion’s Ballpark. Center’s Coach Pitch Large Division kicked off local action on the Fourth of July. They held a 10-6 lead in the fifth inning but saw Athens make a comeback to win in a late inning rally by a 13-10 margin.
Center later lost to Bullard in their second game.
Joaquin’s Machine Pitch Junior team was eliminated in two hard-fought contest with Chapel Hill.
Center’s Machine Pitch team was taken down by the Henderson A.M. team and the Huntington Red squad.
Center’s T-Ball Large team was defeated by the Diboll Red team and the EMC National team.
On Tuesday, July 7 the Center 13 and 14 year old baseball team faced off with White Oak during a Texas Dixie League State Tournament game. Center came in facing elimination after beating Henderson and losing to Sulphur Springs. White Oak came in with a loss to Sulphur Springs and a win over Huntington and also faced elimination.
Center gained a 6-4 lead by the midway point of the contest and held the advantage until the top of the seventh, and final inning. White Oak took advantage of three uncharacteristic Center errors in route to scoring six unanswered runs in the seventh inning which allowed them to win by a 10-6 score.
Center State Baseball Tournament photos - Album1, Album2, Album3, Album4, Album5, Album6
July 13, 2015 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved the repair of the elevator in the 1885 Historic Courthouse at their meeting on Monday, July 13, 2015 and approved right of way deeds for land involving several roadways in the county.
During the wedding of Jessica Bridges and Cody Dawson on April 5, 2014 the elevator in the courthouse became stuck between floors with several people on board. The Center Fire Department was called in and the occupants eventually were safely extracted from the elevator. The elevator has remained shutdown since that time.
A proposal from ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation at a cost of $5,418 was presented to the commissioners and Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison explained some of the options available regarding the elevator, "That elevator over there is not a commercial elevator, it is what they call a private elevator. I talked to the company and to get anything more heavy-duty there would have to be some destruction of the historic courthouse because there's not room in that space."
Judge Harbison had representatives from the company look at the elevator and see what could be done instead of causing damage to the courthouse. A work order listing troubleshooting the elevator, bringing the phone into working order, replace batteries, hull testing, and hydraulic oil in attempts to bring the elevator back into normal service. Repairing the elevator will help to return more tours to the second floor courtroom.
Judge Harbison explained $2,709 will need to be paid to get working on the elevator and after completion the second installment would have to be paid. Ann Blackwell, Shelby County Treasurer, stated there is $1,696 left in the historic courthouse budget for repairs.
A motion was carried to move forward with the elevator repairs and to pay the remainder of the cost out of the contingency fund.
A motion was carried approving right of way deeds for the following parcels of land: A. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek Relief No. 1 CJS:0911-39-044; B. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek Relief No. 2 CJS:0911-39-042; C. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek, CJS:0911-39-045; and D. CR 1006 at Mill Creek, CJS: 0911-39-043. Judge Harbison stated a title attorney has reviewed the deeds and stated he would approve them and Harbison stated once they received approval from the commissioners checks could be sent to the current owners for purchase.
The commissioners then carried motions individually to approve construction and maintenance agreements between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for the following bridge replacements: A. CR 3564 at Hilliard Creek, CSF# 0911-39-051; B. CR 3455 at Spinney Creek, CFS# 0911-39-052l; C. CR 3455 at Shoat Creek, CSF# 0911-39-053; D. CR 4256 at Flat Fork Creek, CSF# 0911-39-054; and E. CR 4916 at Flat Fork Creek, CSF# 0911-39-055.
During the meeting a presentation by Charles Poland regarding County Health Insurance was heard regarding a self-funded insurance plan. The commissioners and Judge Harbison agreed they are happy with the current insurance the county uses.
"Personally I'm very happy with our health insurance, we're in a pool and we don't pay any HR department to implement our plan, we simply sign them up and TAC (Texas Association of Counties) handles all of the rest. Our health plan, I think as of right now most health plans are going up by 7.6% and this year ours is only going up 5.16%," said Judge Harbison. "I'm just reluctant to change insurance especially to one that's partially self-[funded] because before we had this health insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield we had nothing, and before that we had something like you're talking about that was a self-[funded] sort of thing and it went broke."
Ann Blackwell gave the Treasurer's report during the meeting. The fee reports for June are as follows: Debra Riley, Tax Assessor/Collector - Property Division $113,073.86; Motor Vehicle Division - $39,909 for a total of $152,982.86. Jennifer Fountain, Shelby County Clerk, quarterly collection was $45,423.67. Lori Oliver, District Clerk - $17,789.22; Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - $7,729; Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 - $1,404.30; Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - $2,811; Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 - $4,420; Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 - $3,811; Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1 - $180; and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2 - $180.
A new depository contract has been entered with Farmers State Bank and according to Blackwell the contract with the bank has been established for the past seven years and the interest rates have gone down. The current value of the county's CDs are INS $34,651.34 which earned $10.51 in June. Health and insurance CD earned $7.70 for a balance of $25,334.89. Currently the money market is $1,718,178.99, but some interest is still owed for June, which should be corrected by next meeting. A motion was carried to approve the treasurer's report.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:16am.
Agenda items receiving approval include: 1. Minutes of the June 8th, 2015 Regular Meeting and June 22, 2015 Special Meeting. 2. Pay monthly expenses. 3. Officers' report. 4. Right of Way Deeds for A. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek Relief No. 1 CJS:0911-39-044; B. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek Relief No. 2 CJS:0911-39-042; C. CR 4323 at Flat Fork Creek, CJS:0911-39-045; and D. CR 1006 at Mill Creek, CJS: 0911-39-043. 5. Construction and maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for A. CR 3564 at Hilliard Creek, CSF# 0911-39-051. 6. Construction and maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for B. CR 3455 at Spinney Creek, CFS# 0911-39-052l. 7. Construction and maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for C. CR 3455 at Shoat Creek, CSF# 0911-39-053. 8. Construction and maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for D. CR 4256 at Flat Fork Creek, CSF# 0911-39-054. 9. Construction and maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Shelby County for E. CR 4916 at Flat Fork Creek, CSF# 0911-39-055. 10. Move forward with elevator repairs in the historic courthouse at a cost of $5,418 with partial payment coming from historic courthouse budget and the remainder of the cost to be paid from the contingency fund. 11. Shelby County health insurance renewal with Blue Cross/Blue Shield through the Texas Association of Counties. 12. Adjournment at 10:16am.
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