Shelby County Today

March 19, 2016 - American Red Cross cleanup kits which were to be distributed today March 19, 2016 have been diverted to other areas according to Joaquin Mayor Bill Baker.

Lauren Hovey with Community Christian Services has been taking information from flood victims this morning who are in need of the kits from those who arrived at the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department. The kits are now projected to arrived next weekend March 26, 2016.

More information will be provided on the kits as the delivery approaches.

March 17, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners ratified the recent disaster declaration issued by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison and approved dupmsters to assist Precinct 3 with cleanup.

"I can declare the disaster, but within seven days we have to ratify for it to continue on, so that is what the meeting is primarily for," said Judge Harbison.

Judge Harbison noted Shelby County has been added to the governor's disaster proclamation for the state, with three additional counties also being added.

A motion carried to ratify the March 10th declaration of disaster.

Dumpsters to be placed in Precinct 3 for debris removal was the second item on the agenda for discussion. Judge Harbison asked the commissioners if they felt it would be a good idea to add another dumpster or two. Travis Rodgers, Precinct 3 Commissioner, asked where the money would be coming from to fund the additional dumpsters.

"I talked to Clint [Porterfield, County Auditor,] and since this is an emergency we had talked about taking it from contingency or emergency services or somewhere," said Judge Harbison.

Rodgers stated he had room for the dumpsters in a gated area. Judge Harbison stated the county doesn't want household trash. Instead the dumpsters would be used for such things as household carpeting, clothes, and furniture which has to be removed from homes as a result of the flooding.

The expectation, according to Judge Harbison, is these additional dumpsters may have to be available for the next couple of months allowing time for people to even get to their homes, which may still be under water at this time.

Rodgers initially wanted to start with just one additional dumpster; however, Roscoe McSwain, Precinct 1 Commissioner, indicated this would not likely be enough.

"It won't take long, couches and junk like that, it'll be full," said McSwain.

A motion to approve getting one additional dumpster was being considered by the commissioners when Rodgers inquired if the dumpster would just be left unmanned.

"Are you just going to leave it sitting out there, or are you going to have somebody there to watch that dumpster? Somebody to help unload that stuff, put it in the dumpster. You gonna let them pile it out on the ground, and then the county's got to do it," said Rodgers.

Judge Harbison offered the possibility of seeing how it goes and then possibly send trustys over to load the trash, "Maybe we can get the sheriff to volunteer to bring trustys over there to help just keep it neat and tidy."

Rodgers continued to indicate his point is the items which people bring including mattresses, and couches will be excessively heavy with water weight and very difficult to put over the top edge of a dumpster.

McSwain suggested having two dumpsters available only on Saturdays. Rodgers stated it's going to take someone to man the dumpsters when they're available.

"It would be easier to man it like that, just doing it one day and just say that's it. If I have to, I'd be glad to volunteer one of my county hands to go. If Travis will let us use the backhoe to work," said McSwain. "Somebody's going to have to man it. I mean it ain't right to have the citizens come up there and try to throw that damn stuff in there, not something like that. They just lost their home and all their stuff."

Judge Harbison commented it would be great for the commissioners to help out and get additional hands to help, because Rodgers' hands are working everyday all day. Rodgers commented he isn't sure his precinct will be able to have the roadways where they will be ready for school buses to travel on by Monday.

Judge Harbison asked the commissioners if they could provide a hand to help out on a Saturday. Commissioner McSwain was the only one to state he knew he could offer a hand. Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 Commissioners sat in silence suggesting they may not be offering help.

"If necessary, we could reimburse the labor for the precinct for the work on Saturdays, also out of contingency," said Porterfield.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I think now is the time for us to come together and try to help Precinct 3 out and then help the people and the citizens out, so I think that's a great idea," said Judge Harbison.

A motion carried approving two dumpsters on Saturday only for Pct 3, for household flood damage debris from 9am-4pm, with someone on-site to help. Payment to employees for this time will be made via the contingency fund.

The intention is to keep making the dumpsters available on following Saturdays as well.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:50am.

March 16, 2016 - The Shelby County grand jury for the January Term 2016 of the 273rd Judicial District Court met Friday, March 11, 2016 and indicted 34 cases with all cases presented receiving indictment.

Kenneth Dewayne Hendricks received two indictments. According to the first indictment of burglary of a habitation, state jail felony, on or about January 6, 2015 Hendricks allegedly entered a building or a portion of a building without the effective consent of the owner, Melina Harris Herndon. It is further alleged Hendricks attempted to commit or committed theft of property including a grub hoe, grab hooks, tool box with assorted tools, 48 inch pipe wrench, 36 inch pipe wrench and bracing drill owned by Herndon. The second indictment of theft, third degree felony, alleges on January 14, 2015 Hendricks stole rolls of barbed wire and creosote posts of the value of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Lawrence Kent Edwards, the owner.

Anna Castillo was indicted for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, state jail felony. According to the indictment, on or about March 30, 2013 through May 5, 2015 Castillo, with intent to defraud another, and without the consent of Teal Matthews used Matthews' identifying information (social security number) to gain employment with Start Kleen. Start Kleen was later acquired by Packers Sanitation, Inc.

Mantell Moore received two indictments for theft, state jail felony. The indictment alleges on January 23, 2015 Moore stole a 1997 Mercury 2-door Automobile valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Ronald Okeith Land, the owner, without consent. The second indictment alleges on January 23, 2015 Moore stole a 1979 Chevrolet Truck valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 from Dennis Ray Land, the owner, without consent.

Cortland Chase Vaughn was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. According to the indictment, on or about January 11, 2015 Vaughn caused serious bodily injury to Charles D. Dearing, Jr. by hitting him on the face and head. At the time of the assault, Vaughn is alleged to have exhibited a deadly weapon during the assault, a gun. Tristan Samford was also indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, first degree felony in relation to the same incident. According to the indictment on or about January 11, 2015 Vaughn caused serious bodily injury to Charles D. Dearing, Jr. by hitting him on the face and head. Samford is also alleged to have exhibited a pistol.

Mack Hamilton was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. According to the indictment on or about January 28, 2015 Hamilton damaged a gray Buick by spray painting the vehicle and smashing the front window out, without the consent of Chadrick Polley, the owner. The incident allegedly caused pecuniary loss of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000 to the owner.

Victoria Lanette Hamilton was indicted for forgery, state jail felony. According to the indictment, on or about January 29, 2015 Hamilton executed a writing purported to be the act of Tonya Thompson, who did not authorize the act. Said writing was a personal check of the tenor following drawn on a Texas State Bank account in the amount of $468.35 made out to Walmart in Center, Texas.

Okeith Laray McCollister was indicted for criminal mischief, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on or about January 14, 2015 McCollister damaged or destroyed a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 cell phone and a white 2004 Chevy Malibu without the consent of the owner Nataska Tibbs. Pecuniary loss was incurred by Tibbs in the amount of $1,500 or more but less than $20,000.

Elizabeth Ann Suell was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to the indictment, on or about June 4, 2013 Suell caused serious bodily injury to Travis Patton by striking and cutting him on his neck while she exhibited a bottle during commission of the assault. Patton and Suell had or was having a dating relationship at that time.

Kevin Ray Jackson was indicted for assault bodily injury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on or about January 26, 2015 Jackson caused bodily injury to Bridget Ann Birdwell, with whom Jackson had or was having a dating relationship. The indictment goes on to allege Jackson impeded the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Birdwell by applying pressure to the throat or neck and/or blocking the nose or mouth of Birdwell.

Tristan Derae Patton received six separate indictments pertaining to the same incident on or about June 25, 2014. The first indictment for delivery of marijuana, state jail felony, alleges Patton delivered marijuana to a criminal informant in an amount of five pounds or less but more than one-fourth ounce. The second indictment for delivery of a controlled substance, state jail felony, alleges Patton delivered cocaine to a confidential informant in an amount of less than one gram. The third indictment for delivery of a controlled substance, second degree felony, alleges Patton delivered methamphetamine to a confidential informant in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams. The fourth, fifth and sixth indictments were each for abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictments allege on June 24, 2014 Patton engaged in conduct that placed three children under the age of 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by the aforementioned drugs where it was easily accessible in the residence.

(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident)

Andrea Janise Chadwick, unlawful possession of a firearm, third degree felony (January 27, 2015).

Craig Randall Crocker, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third degree felony (December 14, 2014).

Reggie Dean Martin, driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (January 9, 2015).

Meagan Elizabeth Flowers, unlawfully carrying weapon, third degree felony (December 3, 2014).

Terrance Rushing, delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), second degree felony (December 31, 2014).

Kalaceia Evans, delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), second degree felony (December 31, 2014).

Nickloas Rushing, delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), second degree felony (February 23, 2015).

Nickloas Rushing, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence (baggy containing cocaine), third degree felony (February 10, 2015).

Jacorey Johnson, possession of marijuana, state jail felony (December 2, 2013).

Shytiffany Meshun Blow, possession of marijuana, state jail felony (December 2, 2013).

Steve Lawrence Smith, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 22, 2014).

Jodi Anne Strahan, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), state jail felony (January 29, 2015).

George Lee Henry, possession of a controlled substance (phencyclidine), state jail felony (November 20, 2014).

Andria Charmaine Hubbard, possession of a controlled substance (phencyclidine), third degree felony (May 31, 2015).

Timothy Paul Johnson, possession of a controlled substance (phencyclidine), first degree felony (January 11, 2013).

Timothy Paul Johnson, delivery of a controlled substance (phencyclidine), state jail felony (January 28, 2013).

Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

March 16, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that an emergency meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court will be held on the 17th day of March, 2016 at 9:30am in the courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1. Discuss and ratify March 10, 2016 Declaration of Disaster.

2. Discuss and possibly approve dumpsters to be placed in Precinct 3 for debris removal.