Shelby County Today

January 12, 2016 - The City of Timpson remains without a mayor following the special council meeting held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. The reason for the meeting was to resolve an illegal outcome of the previous meeting and to clear up a misunderstanding.

"We had a incident happen at the last meeting and it's on tape, where our ex-mayor instructed our city secretary that we could not appoint someone from outside this council as mayor," said Ronnie Wolfe.

Wolfe then requested the audience remain silent throughout the meeting, "Keep your comments till after the meeting, no applause and this is done in accordance with state law, and you will be removed from the room if you express yourself in any way while this meeting's in order if you're not on the agenda."

After instructing the audience be silent, Wolfe explained the illegal action of the previous meeting, "The other mistake that was made, I cannot vote for myself to be mayor. So we can leave it like it is and law says I can, as mayor pro tem, I can conduct the meetings till the next regularly scheduled election, or we can appoint somebody from out in the community or from off of this board."

Al Skinner, Timpson resident, addressed the council about the possibility of having future meetings at a venue which can handle a large attendance as there have been many meetings in Timpson with standing room only circumstances. He suggested the possibility of hosting meetings at the Community House in So So Park and asked the council to consider the possibility at the next meeting.

Any council member has the right to ask for an item to be put on the meeting agenda, and only that council member can remove the item, according to state law.

As the meeting continued, the council moved on to the first item on the agenda. Wolfe stated the two options for the council are to appoint a new mayor, if the council can all agree on someone, or to as he stated, "leave it like it is" and mayor pro tem will preside over the meetings until the next election in May. George Grace offered a motion to "leave it as is," which was seconded by Janell Baker. Yvonne Ramsey offered for Kenny Walker to be appointed mayor until May; however, Walker declined. The motion to "leave it as is" carried with four council members in favor and Ramsey not in favor.

Wolfe stated since the council voted not to appoint a mayor there was no reason to move forward with the next agenda item of appointing a mayor pro tem as he stated he will still be the mayor pro tem.

The motion of the previous agenda item to, "leave it as is," was less than explanatory. Does this bring into question who holds the position of the mayor pro tem? At the previous meeting of the Timpson City Council, the vote for mayor was illegal because Wolfe could not vote for himself; however, George Grace was appointed mayor pro tem with the motion made by Kyle Allen, seconded by Yvonne Ramsey and carried by vote of the council. If the vote for mayor pro tem doesn't stand then by the same thought process, other items approved during the January 4 meeting would also be null.

Another item which may be in question is the Resolution of Authority also voted on at the previous meeting. The resolution removed Debra Pate Smith and gave authority to "Mayor" Ronnie Wolfe, as well as Mayor Pro Tem George Grace over the Austin Bank accounts for the city. This was not addressed at the January 12 meeting. Since Wolfe broke a tie to carry the vote on the resolution of authority at the January 4 meeting, who now has that authority, and will this be addressed at the next Timpson Council meeting.

Meetings are scheduled to be held on the third Tuesday of every month, which would be next Tuesday, January 19, 2016 and for which an agenda has not yet been circulated.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:41pm.

Shelby County Today will continue to research and seek answers from the Texas Municipal League regarding these issues.

January 12, 2016 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office recently received reports of possible narcotic traffic in the Haslam community leading down towards the river area. Sheriff Willis Blackwell states patrol has increased in the area due to recent burglaries.

On January 12, 2016 around 5:20 a.m. Patrol Sgt. Michael Griffin was on patrol in the Joaquin area and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on County Road 3605 off of County Road 3315. Sgt. Griffin activated his overheads for a traffic violation of failing to signal turn. After a short period of not stopping, the vehicle came to a halt and the driver was identified a 36-year-old David Len Weaver Jr. of Center.

During the course of the investigation Sgt. Griffin asked Weaver Jr. why he did not stop when he activated his overheads to which Weaver Jr. stated he believed there were drugs in the vehicle that did not belong to him. Weaver Jr. stated that he attempted to toss them out of the window but they landed in the passenger side floor board area of the vehicle. Sgt. Griffin looked inside the vehicle and observed in plain sight a clear plastic bag that contained a clear crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

At that time Weaver Jr. was placed under arrest for driving while license invalid M-B and possession of controlled substance PG1, 1>4 grams Felony-3 and transported to the Shelby County Jail.

Sheriff Blackwell would like to thank the citizens that came forward with this information leading to this arrest. Blackwell states that this area will be patrolled as well as many others as calls for service permits deputies to do so. Citizens who suspect illegal narcotic activity in their community are asked to please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5600. Remember you do not have to leave your name just your information.

Submitted by Leah Chase

January 9, 2016 - Hurst Street at the intersection with Roughrider Drive in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Thursday, January 7, 2016 where a Center Police Officer was almost struck by a vehicle.

As Shelby County Today arrived at the scene, Center Police Officer Jim Blackwell was seen directing traffic on the northbound Hurst Street outside traffic lane and adjoining Timpson Street traffic. As Officer Blackwell motioned traffic from Timpson Street onto Hurst Street, a black Mustang which had been stopped behind a patrol car in the inside traffic lane quickly pulled out into the outside traffic lane in the direction of Officer Blackwell. Before the car struck Officer Blackwell, the driver heeded his command to stop.

Officer Blackwell requested a license from the driver, and when he could not produce one, was ordered to exit the vehicle. Once it was determined a separate individual with a valid driver's license was in the Mustang, Officer Blackwell had that individual drive the Mustang out of the middle of the roadway so traffic could continue moving. He then placed Jose Huerta, 21, of Center in custody within a patrol car.

While Officer Blackwell continued to direct traffic, Officer Steve Thornburgh investigated the crash. According to updated and corrected crash information provided by Center Police officer Steve Thornburgh, at 5:57pm a 2002 Black Expedition driven by Amy Perry, 20, of Joaquin was traveling south on Hurst Street turning left onto Timpson Street when it failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic. At that time a 2012 Black Dodge pickup truck driven by John Boxley, 73, of Center was traveling north on Hurst Street when the Expedition struck the left front quarter panel of the Dodge, causing damage to both vehicles.

No injuries were reported at the scene and both drivers refused treatment. Perry was issued citations for no driver's license and fail to yield right of way. Huerta was cited for disregard a police officer and no driver's license.

January 5, 2016 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on State Highway 7 East in the James Community 1 mile from FM 2608 on New Years Eve December 31, 2015.

When the firemen arrived at the scene around 7:30pm, a house owned by James H. Smith was engulfed in flames and the fire was fully involved. The firemen began dragging hose and working to extinguish the fire while neighbors and passersby tried to make contact with the homeowner. Another firemen with the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was on scene and as the CFD pumper began running low on water, he headed to Joaquin to get another truck on the way while another CFD truck en-route.

When the next CFD truck arrived, the house was emitting so much heat that the firemen had to drench the fire truck with water to prevent it from receiving damage from the fire. The firemen sprayed the home with water on the front and back and as more trucks arrived from Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department they focused on main hot spots. Until the power company could arrive to disconnect the power, firemen were stationed near the down power lines to prevent anyone stepping on them.

During the fire, contact was made with Smith and it was learned for certain no one had been in the home at the time of the fire. Once the fire was mostly under control, JVFD returned to their station. Once the CFD firemen had the fire extinguished, they returned to the station at 9:35pm. The house was a total loss due to the fire and the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.