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December 21, 2015 - The Shelby County Republican Drawing for Ballot Order took place on Monday, December 21 at 6:00pm on the second floor of the working courthouse for the 2016 March Primary Election. Leigh Porterfield, Republican County Chairman welcomed the candidates in attendance and remarked history was being made with this election as all of the local Shelby County candidates filed on the Republican party ticket.

With the assistance of Laura Simmons, Cecilia Boles, and Clint Porterfield, numbers were drawn determining the placement on the ballot of each candidate.

The ballot order is as follows with local races first, followed by State, and then Federal:

LOCAL RACES

District Judge, 123rd Judicial District
Charles Brick Dickerson
Leann Kay Rafferty
Mike Parker

District Attorney, 123rd Judicial District
Stephen Shires

County Attorney
Kenneth B. Florence
Gary Rholes

Sheriff
Ricky Allen
Willis Blackwell

Tax Assessor-Collector
Debora Riley

County Commissioner Pct. 1
Roscoe McSwain
Donnie Borders

County Commissioner Pct. 3
Travis Rodgers
Charles Barr

Constable Pct. 1
Zack Warr

Constable Pct. 2
Jamie Hagler

Constable Pct. 3
Jimmy H. Wagstaff
Roy Cheatwood
Scott Burkhalter

Constable Pct. 4
Bryan Gray
Jacob (Jake) Metcalf

Constable Pct. 5
Robert Hairgrove
Adam Renfro

STATE RACES

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2
Chris Oldner
Ray Wheless
Mary Lou Keel

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Brent Webster
Steve Smith
Sid Harle
Scott Walker

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Richard Davis
Michael E. Keasler

Member, State Board of Education, District 9
Mary Lou Bruner
Keven M. Ellis
Hank Hering

State Representative District 9
Chris Paddie

Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 2
Brian Hoyle

Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 3
Greg Neeley

FEDERAL RACES

President/Vice-President
Carly Fiorina
Lindsey Graham
Rand Paul
Donald J. Trump
Ben Carson
Ted Cruz
Rick Santorum
John R. Kasich
Chris Christie
Elizabeth Gray
Mike Huckabee
Jeb Bush
Marco Rubio

Railroad Commissioner
Weston Martinez
Ron Hale
John Greytok
Wayne Christian
Lance N. Christian
Doug Jeffrey
Gary Gates

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3
Debra Lehrmann
Michael Massengale

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5
Rick Green
Paul Green

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9
Eva Guzman
Joe Pool

(Update) December 29, 2015 - The Center Police Department responded to a report of a black male fleeing the Sleep Inn Hotel with a possible serious head injury on December 18th. As the Center P.D. Patrol Officers responded it was discovered that the black male who was identified as Dennis Barnes, 38, was a guest of the Hotel. The Center P.D. patrol Officers also observed that Barnes’ room was a possible crime scene and requested for the Center Police Department Detectives to investigate the incident.

Sgt. Nicole Faulkner, Detective David Haley, and Detective Stephen Stroud did process the hotel room, and observed that it appeared that Barnes did suffer a gunshot wound inside the hotel room. Detectives did find a 9mm shell casing and a 9mm slug. There were no signs of forced entry into the room. As the investigation progressed, Detective David Haley learned that Barnes drove himself to a relative’s home in San Augustine, and the relative drove Barnes to the hospital. Detectives Haley and Stroud did go to the hospital and did make contact with Barnes, who was conscious, but was unable to speak with the detectives.

Detectives Haley and Stroud were able to locate Barnes vehicle, and did find a 9mm handgun located in the vehicle along with several blood spots in the driver’s seat. The results of this investigation revealed that this was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.


December 21, 2015 - The Center Police Department responded to an area hotel at 10:15am Friday morning, December 18, 2015 after reports of a man running from the business with a bleeding wound to the head.

Witnesses at the scene reported to Shelby County Today, the man exited the hotel lobby with a bloody towel wrapped around his head. An employee of the hotel pursued the man; however, the wounded guest would not stop. Instead he got into his parked pickup truck and drove from the hotel.

Previous to the police being contacted, witnesses checked the man's room and discovered a large quantity of blood within the room as well as in the bathroom.

It was suspected at the scene the wound may have come from a gunshot, but officers on scene did not confirm this information. Detectives David Haley, Sgt. Nicole Faulkner, Stephen Stroud and several patrol officers investigated the room for evidence and discovered blood in the parking lot where the truck the man left in had been parked. Detectives were seen leaving the hotel with several evidence bags an hour after they responded to the incident.

Additional information on this incident was promised at the scene by Detective Stephen Stroud and as soon as it is made available, SCT will post an update.

December 21, 2015 - The Texas Department of State Health Services today issued a fish consumption advisory for Lake Livingston and portions of the Trinity River after laboratory testing of fish samples found elevated levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.

The Lake Livingston advisory is for seven types of fish – blue catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, gar, smallmouth buffalo, striped bass and white bass. The advisory is in effect for the Trinity River Basin which includes Lake Livingston and the Trinity River from U.S. 287 downstream to U.S. 90.

Regular or long-term consumption of fish from these waters may increase the likelihood of long-term health risks. People can still fish in the area, though they should not consume or should limit their consumption of fish from this area and are advised to follow the specific age and species recommendations in this chart:

Species

Women of childbearing age & children under 12
Blue catfish - DO NOT EAT
Flathead catfish - DO NOT EAT
Freshwater drum - DO NOT EAT
Gar (all species) - DO NOT EAT
Smallmouth buffalo - DO NOT EAT
Striped bass - 1 meal per month
White Bass - 1 meal per month

Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older
Blue catfish - 1 meal per month
Flathead catfish - 1 meal per month
Freshwater drum - 2 meals per month
Gar (all species) - DO NOT EAT
Striped bass - 1 meal per month
Smallmouth buffalo - 1 meal per month
Striped bass - 3 meals per month
White Bass - 3 meals per month

The department today also issued revised fish consumption advisories for three bodies of water due to updated evidence of the levels of contaminants in fish. The three affected bodies of water are

• The Arroyo Colorado upstream of the Port of Harlingen, including Llano Grande Lake and the Main Floodway.
• The Houston Ship Channel north of the Fred Hartman Bridge, including the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam.
• Echo Lake in Fort Worth.

Sampling shows that concentrations of pesticides in fish in the Arroyo Colorado (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) are no longer a health concern. However, concentrations of mercury and PCBs in some fish still exceed safe levels. For that reason, DSHS now advises no one eat longnose gar from the Arroyo Colorado. Health officials also continue to advise women of childbearing age and children under 12 not eat smallmouth buffalo and everyone else limit consumption of smallmouth buffalo to no more than two 8-ounce meals per month.

Pesticide levels have also dropped in the Houston Ship Channel, but concentrations of dioxins and PCBs still pose a threat to human health. Women of childbearing age and children under 12 should not eat any fish or blue crab from the Houston Ship Channel, and others should limit their consumption to one 8-ounce meal per month.

A new advisory for Echo Lake (Tarrant County) is based on concentrations of pesticides, dioxins and PCBs in common carp and largemouth bass that are high enough to pose a risk to human health. DSHS recommends no one eat common carp caught in Echo Lake and that women of childbearing age and children under 12 not eat largemouth bass. Everyone else should limit their consumption of largemouth bass to one 8-ounce meal per month. The consumption advisory replaces a possession ban that previously made it illegal to harvest or possess fish from Echo Lake.

Environmental pollutants like PCBs, mercury and dioxins can build up in the bodies of fish over time and lead to a variety of health consequences in people who eat contaminated fish. DSHS’s Seafood and Aquatic Life Group tests fish in public bodies of water where there are concerns that pollutants may have made fish unsafe to eat. Laboratory analysis shows the concentration of contaminants and allows health experts to make recommendations on whether people should avoid or limit consumption of certain species.

A summary of the three updated recommendations follows.

Body of water

Arroyo Colorado
Contaminants of Concern - Mercury and PCBs
Species - Longnose gar
Women of childbearing age & children under 12 - DO NOT EAT
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older - DO NOT EAT
Species - Smallmouth buffalo
Women of childbearing age & children under 12 - DO NOT EAT
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older - 2 meals per month

Houston Ship Channel
Contaminants of Concern - Dioxins and PCBs
Species - All fish and blue crab
Women of childbearing age & children under 12 - DO NOT EAT
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older - 1 meal per month
Mercury and PCBs

Echo Lake
Contaminants of Concern - Dieldrin, dioxins and PCBs
Species - Common carp
Women of childbearing age & children under 12 - DO NOT EAT
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older - DO NOT EAT
Species - Largemouth bass
Women of childbearing age & children under 12 - DO NOT EAT
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older - 1 meal per month

December 16, 2015 - The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59 3/4 of a mile outside of Tenaha Sunday, December 13, 2015 where a vehicle had flipped over and the driver was trapped within.

When Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies first arrived at the scene, they located the vehicle flipped over on its roof and access was unable to be gained to the inside of the car. TVFD personnel began cutting on the vehicle with Jaws of Life to get inside. After removing both of the passenger side doors, ACE EMS personnel were able to get inside of the vehicle, and with the assistance of firemen and deputies were able to extricate the driver from the car.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Daniel Dellenger, at 7:50pm a white 2014 Dodge Charger driven by Nashawn Crawford, 26, of Timpson was traveling east on U.S. Highway 59 at a speed that was unsafe due to rainfall and wet roadway conditions. Crawford lost control of the Charger and spun around, crossing the west bound traffic lanes, off the roadway and rolled over into a ditch coming to rest on its top facing southwest.

Crawford was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of her unknown injuries. She was issued a citation for unsafe speed.

December 16, 2015 - A car ended up in creek bed off State Highway 87 North as the result of a crash on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Kurtes Lawrence was dispatched to the scene at just after 7pm.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, Isaiah Velasquez, 17, was driving a blue 2008 Dodge Avenger with Passenger Austin Derby both, 18, of Sacul north on State Highway 87 just south of FM 1645 when Velasquez stated he fell asleep. The vehicle then crossed the southbound lane and exited the the roadway to the left before striking a fence owned by Calvin Smith.

After striking the fence, the vehicle traveled into the field which the fence surrounded and proceeded down a hill for about 300 feet before coming to rest in an embankment against a tree.

Although the car was partially on its side in the embankment, Velasquez and Derby were both able to escape from within. Derby received minor injuries as a result of the crash and was treated at the scene by ACE EMS.

David Shields with East Texas Towing and Recovery stationed his wrecker at the top of the hill in the field and made several attempts over a long period of time to free the car from the embankment in which it was lodged. The vehicle was finally extracted at 9:11pm.

Velasquez was issued a citation for failure to drive in a single lane.

December 16, 2015 - Emergency personnel was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 involving an SUV and a truck-tractor on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 where the roadway remained blocked.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, at 7:20pm Stephanie Mason, 48, of Joaquin was driving a black 2015 GMC Yukon east on State Highway 7 in the James Community when she crested the top of a hill. At the lower end of the hill William Emerson, 37, of Center was driving a Western Star truck-tractor and was backing into his driveway and was blocking the roadway.

Mason took evasive action and attempted not to strike the truck-tractor, although Mason was able to slow the Yukon considerably, it still struck the side of the trailer head-on with the left front quarter panel of the Yukon.

The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department and Center Fire Department assisted with traffic control at the scene until the roadway was cleared. Mason was transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for medical examination as a precaution.

No citations have been issued at this time, the crash remains under investigation.

December 14, 2015 - The list of candidates for the upcoming 2016 election are now known as Monday, December 14, 2015 was the final day for candidates to file.

For the first time in Shelby County history all of the candidates running are republican which reflects the voting trend of 2014 with Republicans outweighing Democrats.

In the 2014 General Election there were 14,573 registered voters with 8,215 ballots cast which is 56.73% of the total registered voters.

The number of straight-party votes cast was 1,379 (68.89%) for Republican Party and 648 (30.18%) for Democratic Party. Straight-party voting is the practice of voting for every candidate that a political party has on a general election ballot.

The number of registered voters in the 2014 Primary Election was 14,362. There were 3,893 (85%) ballots cast with 591 (15%) of those being Democratic votes and 3,302 of those votes being Republican.

The following is the list of candidates who have filed:

District Judge, 123rd Judicial District
Charles "Brick"Dickerson (Incumbent)
Leann Kay Rafferty
Mike Parker

District Attorney, 123rd Judicial District
Stephen Shires

Shelby County Attorney
Gary Rholes (Incumbent)
Ken B. Florence

Shelby County Sheriff
Willis Blackwell (Incumbent)
Ricky Allen

Tax Assessor-Collector
Debora Riley

County Commissioner Pct. 1
Roscoe McSwain (Incumbent)
Donnie Borders

County Commissioner Pct. 3
Travis Rodgers (Incumbent)
Charles Barr

Constable Pct. 1
Zach Warr

Constable Pct. 2
Jamie Hagler

Constable Pct. 3
Jimmy H. Wagstaff
Roy Cheatwood
Scott Burkhalter

Constable Pct. 4
Bryan Gray (Incumbent)
Jacob (Jake) Metcalf

Constable Pct. 5
Adam Renfro
Robert Hairgrove

December 14, 2015 LUFKIN – An early morning storm with accompanying high winds sent empty railcars tumbling onto the roadway beneath a railroad overpass on Lufkin’s Loop 287 Sunday.

TxDOT officials are working to devise a traffic control plan that includes a road closure at the site of the incident on SL 287 between SH 103 West and US 69 North.

The railroad is owned by A&NR Railroad of Lufkin. Barricades are currently set to prevent traffic from entering the area. Two railcars, which are linked to dozens of others, fell to the roadway beneath the railroad bridge.

“Removing the railcars in the safest way possible will require certain things to happen,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “Our officials have devised a traffic control plan for motorists until the cars can be removed, and we are hoping that will be by Monday evening. We are waiting on equipment that is being sent from Houston before the cleanup can begin.”

Barricades will remain in place and motorists will be detoured until the roadway is cleared. Residents with direct access as well as businesses within the barricaded area will be accommodated to and from their locations.

TxDOT officials also anticipate necessary repairs on the roadway beneath the railcars and will be working to repair and open the section of roadway as soon as possible.

Motorists are advised to follow all detour signs and do not attempt to go around barricades.

December 11, 2015 - Notice is hereby given that a Regular meeting of the Governing Body of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court will be held on the 14th day of December, 2015 at 9:30a.m: 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. Approve the minutes of the November 9th, 2015 Regular Meeting and the November 12 , 2015 Special Meeting, and the November 23rd, 2015 Special Meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court.
2. Approve and pay monthly expenses.
3. Approve Officers' Reports.
4. Public Comments on Agenda items.
5. Consider and take any necessary action regarding the Open Carry Act, effective January 1, 2016.
6. Consider and Possibly Approve the Sheriff's policy and fees regarding Honorably Retired Officers.
7. Consider and Approve Interlocal Cooperation Act Contract between UTMB and Shelby County FY2016.
8. Discuss and possibly approve the contract for collection services between Shelby County and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
9. Approve the Resolution authorizing collection fee in the amount of 30% of debts and accounts receivable such as unpaid fines, fees, court costs, forfeited bonds, and restitution ordered paid by a Justice Court or County Court at Law serving the County.
10. Adjourn.

December 11, 2015 - The Tenaha City Marshal's Office responded to an 18-wheeler rollover at the U.S. Highway 59 on ramp at 12:35pm on Friday, December 11, 2015.

According to Tenaha City Marshal Jimmy Wagstaff, a black 2000 Frightliner hauling bundles of birch plywood from the Sveza Company within a box trailer driven by Antonio Johnson, 28, was attempting to enter U.S. Highway 59 North from U.S. Highway 59 South by way of the on-ramp. As the Freightliner traversed the on-ramp the load within the box trailer shifted and caused the 18-wheeler to roll over onto the driver's side.

Johnson stated to Marshal Wagstaff, the load had shifted the night before in Houston and had been righted on Friday morning.

As of 6pm the wood was still being unloaded from the box trailer through the roof , which was cut open, so the 18-wheeler could be righted. Marshal Wagstaff was assisted with the investigation by Deputy Tenaha City Marshal Darren Gray.

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