Shelby County Today

July 6, 2024 - FEMA is monitoring Hurricane Beryl, which is likely to affect portions of Texas this week with dangerous storm surge and flash flooding. FEMA is coordinating closely with our state, local and tribal partners. At this time, there are no unmet needs.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center is warning of a risk for damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge along portions of the lower and middle Texas coast starting Sunday.

Flash and urban flooding is likely across portions of the Texas Gulf Coast and eastern Texas beginning late Sunday through the middle of next week. While Beryl is a tropical storm as of Saturday, July 6, strengthening is expected to begin tonight or on Sunday and Beryl is currently forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches the Texas coast.

The time to prepare is now. Residents and visitors in the storm’s potential path should closely monitor the weather, follow directions from local officials and evacuate immediately if told to do so. Download the free FEMA App to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in your area. You can find more hurricane preparedness information on Ready.gov and Listo.gov.

“The safety of you and your family is too important to wait, now is the time to make final preparations for Hurricane Beryl,” cautioned FEMA’s Regional Administrator Tony Robinson. “Understand the risks in your area, consider your family’s specific needs, listen to directions from local officials and be prepared for possible power outages lasting up to several days,” he added.   

FEMA continues to work closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and has pre-positioned staff and resources to support local and state efforts. Specific information on Tropical Storm Beryl can be found at tdem.texas.gov/disasters/beryl.

Tips to Stay Safe Before, During and After a Hurricane

• Do not focus on the exact track of this storm. Tropical storm force winds may extend up to 125 miles from the center. Additionally, large swells generated by Beryl are expected to reach much of the Gulf Coast today. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
• Be in the know about your evacuation zone. You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane if you live in an evacuation zone. Act now by learning your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay. Learn more about how to evacuate safely on Ready.gov. 
• Know how to stay safe during high winds, storm surge and flooding. Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds and flooding. Evacuate immediately if you are told to do so. Take refuge in a designated storm shelter or an interior room for high winds. Go to the highest level of the building if you are trapped by flooding. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water.
• Stay informed. It’s important for residents and visitors in these areas to follow the instructions of state and local officials by monitoring local radio or television stations for updated emergency information.
• Turn Around. Don’t Drown®. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle or fall if you are walking through it. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick-ups.
• Stay out of floodwater. Walking, swimming, or driving through flood waters is extremely dangerous.
• Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as wild or stray animals, human and livestock waste, and chemicals that can lead to illness.
• Have a plan.  Make sure you consider your family’s unique needs, including anyone who needs medicine or medical equipment. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if you aren’t together when a severe storm hits. Visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov for more information on how to stay safe before, during and after severe weather.

Other Important Tips:

• Hurricanes can affect power systems, causing power outages. If the power goes out, use only flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for emergency lighting and NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.
• Remember, gas pumps, automated teller machines (ATMs), medical equipment, computers, cell phone chargers, grocery store checkout counters, escalators and elevators may not work during a power outage.
• When using generators, always use them outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Make sure to keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding.

For the latest information on Hurricane Beryl preparedness, follow the FEMA Region 6 X account at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6.

July 4, 2024 - U.S. Highway 96 South was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 10:50am. 

Emergency responders with Center Fire Department, Texas Department and Public Safety and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene of the crash near CR 1008.

Fire personnel were immediately concerned with all involved, but most notably a three-week-old infant that was involved in the incident.

DPS Troopers Tim Grace and Daniel Dellenger investigated the incident, and according to DPS information, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that a white 2018 Ford pickup truck driven by Calvin Smith, 53, of Center was traveling north, while an orange 2018 Ford Focus driven by Luis Aguilar-Gutierrez, 32, of San Augustine was traveling south. 

It is reported that the driver of the pickup failed to yield to the Ford Focus as he made a left turn into a parking lot and struck the Ford Focus in the southbound lane.

Aguilar-Gutierrez, Ana Cucue, 28; and the infant were all transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Smith, and his passenger Neena Smith, 20, were checked by EMS at the scene and were transported by private vehicle to the emergency room.

Additional citation information wasn’t provided by DPS.

The Shelby County Commissioners heard from Andrew Harmon, Deep East Texas Council of Governments Assistant Executive Director, over the Shelby County Broadband Planning Committee during their June 19, 2024 meeting.

“We were notified by the state Comptroller's office. They have newly, in the past couple of years here, formed the State Broadband Development Office and they are beginning to roll out some more funding programs and opportunities for our communities here in the region,” said Harmon. “The first requirement to be eligible for the opportunities that they are going to be rolling out over the next couple of years is to have a broadband committee formed in each of the counties.”

Harmon said that committee can consist of as many stakeholders as the county sees fit from any city or community that would be beneficial to be a part of the committee to reach the minimum requirements for the sake of being eligible for upcoming. 

The approval of the committee, said Harmon, would help to make the county eligible for the technical assistance program. 

“The state has contracted out a firm called Cobb and Finley. They have offices out of Houston and Dallas but they are a nationwide infrastructure consulting company and they're going to be directly paid and assigned to communities that don't have the resources to hire on broadband staff,” said Harmon.

Harmon explained that the under this program Cobb and Finley would answerable directly to Shelby County’s committee and work with the county to identify areas that might be more expensive for a private company to come in develop the broadband infrastructure in the region. 40 counties are being included in the program.

“They would basically arm you guys with the information and outreach so you wouldn't have to necessarily do it yourself, but they would be taking input directly from you guys because obviously no one knows Shelby County more than its residents and the commissioners and judge,” said Harmon. 

Judge Allison Harbison put together a committee on the previous week with short notice and established members including herself, Chris Davis, Casey Anderson, and Andrew Harmon. 

A motion by Commissioner Tom Bellmyer was made to approve the committee with the addition of Ann Blackwell, Roscoe McSwain, and Clint Porterfield. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout and the motion carried.

A motion was then made by Commissioner Bellmyer, and was seconded by Commissioner Lout to approve the submission of application for the Technical Assistance Program to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, and the motion carried.

The commissioners considered the donation of an oil tanker trailer for Precinct 1.

“This is a oil factory trailer that stores to the hop or road oil while we're making oil sand with the mill,” said Commissioner Roscoe McSwain. 

McSwain explained that Bryan and Bryan, the company the county buys road oil from, brought the trailer to set at the mill and use. The salesman who works for Bryan and Bryan that deals with the county is trying to clear up some things and get the title transferred to Shelby County.

“So they want to donate the trailer to Shelby County, and it's a asset to us and it's an asset to them,” said McSwain. “That way, when they deliver oil, they don't have to wait.”

Commissioner McSwain moved to accept the donation of the trailer from Bryan and Bryan Asphalt, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout and the motion carried.

The commissioners discussed the bid for four cab hauling trucks for the new rich department.

“Last week, we had received our bid for the four cab haul trucks, and we reserved the right to have a week in between before awarding the bid and after we looked at the bids, we talked to the salesman and noticed that he had bid the basic plain as he can get trucks to have the lowest bid,” said McSwain.

Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, contacted GrantWorks because the salesman has four other trucks that are in the assembly line for August. According to McSwain, the trucks bid on for Shelby County won’t be available until November.

“If we take the four trucks he already has in the assembly line, he ordered for stock, we should receive those trucks in September,” said McSwain. “The difference of the add-on is the movement of those trucks is not just for the timeline, it's to shorten the distance of time we have to wait to receive the trucks.” 

McSwain stated the four trucks he has is a $5,519.12 upgrade compared to what he had bid. Through communication with GrantWorks, it was learned that’s it’s acceptable to have negotiation on something that has only received one bid.

Commissioner McSwain moved to accept the bid with the new bid being $147,864.11 for a completion date of August 22. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stevie Smith and it carried.

County Judge Allison Harbison inquired how many years it’s been since any of the precincts had bought a truck like that, and McSwain stated no one had in the 16 years he’s been in office. He said he has always bought used trucks.

“I guess I just wanted the public to know that we don't buy these large trucks every day. This is an investment, this is a 20-year investment,” said Judge Harbison.

The commissioners considered a sanitary control easement between Shelby County and the Paxton Water Supply Corporation to comply with requirements recommended by TCEQ.

“It's a sanitary control easement that limits the use of the property covered by this from any type of use that would be environmentally unsound for the operation of the well itself,” said John Price, County Attorney. “There's a long list of things that the county can't do. You can't put septic tanks, sewage tanks, things of that nature only County property, we're only talking about the public right away on County Road 3182.”

Commissioner Smith moved to approve the easement and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Tom Bellmyer, the motion carried.

The commissioners considered a proposal for upgrading and modernization of the courthouse elevator from American Elevator Technologies Inc. as presented by Michael Williford.

There have been constant issues with the elevator potentially due to grounding issued and Judge Harbison stated Chris Davis, courthouse security, would be monitoring the weather and should there be threat of overnight thunderstorms in the forecast, he will shut down the elevator.

Although this could be helpful, Williford indicated the computer board is so sensitive lightning may not have to be in the direct vicinity for it to have an impact.

After discussion over repairs to the elevator Commissioner Jimmy Lout moved to move forward with the elevator work and the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 10:24am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:

1. Pay weekly expenses with the addition of bills from Windstream for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 office and Constable Precinct 3 office.

2. Current Payroll.

3. Certification of the Shelby County Broadband Planning Committee.

4. Submission of Application for the Technical Assistance Program to the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

5. Donation of an oil tanker trailer for Precinct 1. 

6. Bid for four (4) cab haul trucks for the Road and Bridge Dept.

7. Sanitary Control Easement between Shelby County and the Paxton Water Supply Corporation to comply with requirements recommended by TCEQ.

8. Upgrade and modernization proposal for the Courthouse Elevator from American Elevator Technologies, Inc.

9. Adjourn.

July 1, 2024 - Emergency personnel responded to a shooting incident which claimed the life of one individual in Center on Saturday at a residence just near the police department.

According to information from the Center Police Department (CPD), their communications received a 911 call on June 29, 2024 for a shooting incident at 1016 Shelbyville St.

Officers arrived on scene and found a male juvenile subject with a single gunshot wound to the neck, first arriving officers immediately started life-saving measures and requested EMS.

Allegiance Mobile Health arrived on scene and took over life-saving measures, after several minutes EMS ceased all life-saving measures.

CPD Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and began an investigation.

Tracy Broadway, Shelby County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5, responded to the location to perform the inquest, Mangum Funeral Home transported the decedent to Dallas, Tx. for autopsy.

The shooting was found to be a self-inflicted gunshot.

This incident was an isolated incident, and there is no fear of harm to the public. This is an active investigation and no further information is available currently.