News

The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.

February 22, 2016 - The following cases were recently disposed of in the Shelby County Court. Judge Allison Harbison was the presiding Judge and County Attorney Gary Rholes represented the State.

  • Jonathan Lout - Theft (Class B) - $600 fine, $262 court cost, 35 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Jonathan Lout - Criminal Trespass (Class B) - $500 fine, $262 court cost, 35 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Misti Hogue - Evading Arrest (Class B) - $600 fine, $292 court cost, 65 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Misti Hogue - Resisting Arrest (Class A) - $600 fine, $292 court cost, 65 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Misit Hogue -Theft (Class B) - $500 fine, $262 court cost, 65 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Misti Hogue - Theft of Service (Class B) - $500 fine, $262 court cost, 65 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Savannah Sowell - Probation Revocation - 60 days Shelby County Jail
  • Cody Pate - Resisting Arrest (Class A) - $500 fine, $292 court cost, 40 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Dwyatt Teel - Fail To Identify (Class B) - $500 fine, $262 court cost, 15 days Shelby County Jail.
  • David Weaver - Driving While License Suspended (Class B) - $500 fine, $262 court cost, Final Judgement.
  • Kevin Davis - Possession of Marijuana (Class B) - $600 fine, $322 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service, attend and complete Drug Offender Program.
  • Detreleon Osby - Theft (Class B) - $600 fine, $262 court cost, Final Judgement.
  • Kimberly Lacy - Theft (Class B) - $262 court cost, Final Judgement.
  • Devante Gray - Burglary of a Vehicle (Class A) - $800 fine, $262 court cost, 100 days Shelby County Jail.
  • Gary Watts - Possession of Marijuana (Class B) - $600 fine, $322 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service, attend and complete Drug Offender program.
  • Jerry Lovett - DWI 2nd (Class A) - $1,200 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, attend and complete DWI education class.
  • Jeffery Wright - Criminal Mischief (Class B) - $600 fine, $262 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service.
  • Anthony Buckley - Driving While Intoxicated (Class B) - $1,200 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service.
  • Giovani Johnson - Possession of Dangerous Drug (Class A) - $600 fine, $322 court cost, 12 months probation, 40 hours Community Service.
  • Johnny Luman - Theft (Class B) - $600 fine, $262 court cost, 12 months probation, attend Theft program.
  • Lester Mann - Driving While Intoxicated 2nd (Class A) - $800 fine, $412.10 court cost, 12 months probation, attend and complete repeat offenders DWI education class, install ignition interlock.
  • John Moore - Driving While Intoxicated (Class B) - $1,200 fine, $412.10 court cost, 6 months probation, attend and complete DWI education class.

Update - Tenaha I.S.D. candidate information added below.


February 19, 2016 - The deadline to file an application for a place on the May General Election ballot was at 5pm on Friday, February 19th for cities and schools. The deadline to file an application to run as a write-in candidate is February 23rd.

Below is a list of those who filed to run for either council member, mayor, or school board trustee.

City of Huxley - Three positions were up for re-election and all were unopposed. The positions and candidates are Mayor Larry Vaughn and Council members Larry Matthews and Prentice Hendricks.

City of Joaquin - Three at large positions are on the ballot for the City of Joaquin. As of 4:23pm, Frankie Cooper, (I) Benjamin Brittain, (I) Lee Vern Stotts Gilliam, and (I) Pat Gray each filed applications for a place on the ballot.

City of Tenaha - The following names are in the order the applications were received.  This order is not the official ballot order. There were two council positions up for election, that of Tommy Rinkle and Durand Steadman, who did not file for re-election; however, Stephanie Marie Glenn and Cliff Lloyd filed applications. Four applications were filed for position of Mayor: Natalie Harris, Orinthia Johnson, Carl Jernigan, and Joseph Lemoine.

City of Timpson - There are two council positions on the ballot and Yvonne Ramsey (I) and Al Skinner have both filed applications. Council member Ronnie Wolfe did not file an application to run for re-election.  Two applications were also received for Mayor and they were Debra Smith and George Grace.

Joaquin I.S.D. - Two trustee positions will be on the May ballot and (I) Jay Dee Cockrell, (I) Charlie Leflett, Jeff Cater, Susan McCann, and Bill Mason all filed applications to run.

Shelbyville I.S.D. - Three board of trustee positions are up for election. Filing to run are (I) Duane Lout, (I) Joey Lawson, and Chris Koltonski.  Trustee member Kelly Parker did not file to run for re-election.

Tenaha I.S.D. - Seven individuals filed for a place on the ballot which has only 2 positions available. Those who filed are Colelette Cross DePriest; Josh Jernigan; James Tyler Reeves; Ronny Samford (Incumbent); Aaron Roland (Incumbent); Roger Holley; and Marshay McClure

Timpson I.S.D. - Two trustee positions are up for election and three candidates have filed to run who are George Duke, Justin Timmons, and Sheila Richard.
 

February 19, 2016 - State Highway 7 East near Loop 500 was the scene of a single-vehicle wreck on Friday, February 19, 2016.

The Center Police Department had just been dispatched to the scene when Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Ricardo Segura arrived on scene. The Center Fire Department was requested when it was determined the driver of the vehicle was trapped.

Center fire personnel arrived at the location in front of Paradise Villa Apartments, Jaws of Life were deployed as well as pry bars and the firemen worked to extricate the driver until he was freed and moved to a waiting ambulance.

According to Center Police Officer John Welch, at 10:41am Ricky McCowin, 44, of Center was traveling west on State Highway 7 East in a blue 1998 Buick LeSabre when he left the roadway to the left.

The Buick traveled up and embankment and through a cyclone fence before entering the front lawn of Paradise Villa Apartments where it struck several hedges and flipped over. The Buick then rolled backwards on its wheels into the east bound shoulder of State Highway 7 and came to rest facing west.

McCowin was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of his injuries.

Officer Welch issued McCowin citations for no driver's license, no insurance, no seat belt, and unsafe speed.

February 19, 2016 - An 18-wheeler overturned outside of Timpson on U.S. Highway 59 at FM 1645 in the yard of a residence which has been a regular crash scene over the years.

The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of the crash where they began traffic control and shut down the outside traffic lane and were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Cody Muse.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Ricardo Segura, at 9am DeLania Williams Manchack, 47, of Nacogdoches was driving an 18-wheeler hauling wood chips for TW Trucking Services out of Center from Nacogdoches to Louisiana when she left the roadway to the right in a curve.

The truck traveled on the northbound shoulder and over a culvert before turning over onto its right side where the wood chips it was hauling spilled out and the truck came to rest just before FM 1645.

Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service also responded to the scene; however, no injuries were reported.

Manchack stated to Trooper Segura she was run off the road by an SUV vehicle similar to a Dodge Nitro.

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

February 19, 2016 - Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 7 East and Loop 500 on Thursday, Februay 18, 2016.

According to Center Police Officers John Welch, at 7:40am a 2014 white and blue Dodge Ram AT&T van driven by Kevin Pitts, 34, of Carthage was stopped at the stop sign on the westbound side of Loop 500 when he began to cross Highway 7. At that time the Dodge entered the path of a black 2010 GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling east on Highway 7 driven by Bruce Sanford, 50, of Timpson.

The truck subsequently collided with the Dodge and a 2001 red Pontiac van driven by Magdiel Delacruz-Robera, 35, with passenger Agenol Delacruz-Robera, 28, which was in the eastbound lane of Loop 500.

ACE EMS arrived on scene and transported Pitts and Sanford to the Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. Magdiel Delacruz-Robera was issued a citation for no driver's license.

Center Police Lt. Jeremy Bittick and Sgt. Ricky King assisted Welch with the crash investigation.

February 19, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 22nd day of February, 2016 at 11:00 a.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. Discuss and possibly take action to allow Precinct 1 to enter into contract with Hancock Timber Management for the purchase of gravel.

February 19, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 22nd day of February 2016 at 9:30 a.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 and pay monthly expenses.
  2. Public Comments on Agenda items.
  3. Record filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund Audit for February 2016.
  4. Discuss and possibly take action to have the Shelby County Criminal Justice Community Plan approved.    
  5. Discuss and possibly take action on Tax Abatement Agreement with Sustainable Soil Solutions, LLC.
  6. Janet Ritter to address the court concerning request for “County Road” status to be changed to private property.
  7. Adopt the Resolution Authorizing a Signatory to Execute Documents for the Purchase of Property.
  8. Adjourn.

The above pictured Ford Explorer is where law enforcement located Anthony Salas and a Leslie Workman on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

February 18, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 Shelby County Sheriff's Department received a call regarding a shooting incident that had occurred on FM 3172 in the Huxley area. The victim identified as an Anthony Salas and a Leslie Workman were located traveling West bound on FM 417E in a Ford Explorer SUV with notable damage to the vehicle. Salas was observed to have sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm and Workman sustained injury from the shattering of the window glass.

William StuttsDuring the course of the investigation, it was found that a confrontation occurred on FM 3172 in which a Jeep Wrangler Sahara operated by a William Stutts and the Ford Explorer SUV operated by Anthony Salas had made contact and Stutts fired two shots from a .22 caliber rifle into Salas' drivers side area in which one bullet hit Salas. It was also discovered that an Andrea Chadwick was an involved party to this incident.

A bullet hole seen in the above photo is visible in the rear driver's side passenger window.Stutts was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 2 and was booked into the Shelby County Sheriff's Department jail. Stutts was arraigned on Thursday, February 18th by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Maxie Eaves with total bond set at $16,000.

This case is actively being investigated by Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson and Investigator Kevin W. Windham.

During Salas and Workman's attempt to flee the incident, a tire came off the wheel of the front driver's side several miles before the Explorer came to a halt near CR 2335.

February 18, 2016 - According to an affidavit filed in the Shelby County 123rd Judicial District Court by Shelby County Attorney Gary Rholes, the four-year-old male sibling of a two-year-old female child who perished in a house fire in the Lone Cedar Community on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 is being taken into the custody of Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

DFPS was contacted by Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Chad Brown who informed that the father Jesse Dwayne Whitteck had admitted using methamphetamine and also stated there was evidence the mother Raven Whitteck used methamphetamine. DFPS was informed the name of the deceased child to be Roselynn Whitteck, and that she was being transported for autopsy.

Upon arrival at the hospital, DFPS was informed examination of the four-year-old child by the hospital had been refused by his father. At the time DFPS was at the hospital, Raven Whitteck was unconscious and intubated. She was transported to UTMB Burn Unit in Galveston for burns on her hands and possible internal damage.

DFPS spoke with Jesse Whitteck at the hospital and according to the affidavit stated he was not at home at the time the fire started; however, he arrived when it was still burning. He admitted he and Raven Whitteck used methamphetamine, and later admitted to medical personnel they both used methamphetamines on the morning of the fire.

The affidavit states Jesse Whitteck has a past conviction from 2007 of possession of marijuana. Based on the admitted drug abuse, refusal to allow the four-year-old child to be examined at the emergency room, and the unknown circumstances of the fire including the two-year-old siblings death, it was determined the Department had exigent circumstances to take custody of the child immediately. Due to the circumstances of the child's death which are still not completely known and the parents' abuse of methamphetamine, the Department believes that it is in the best interest of the child to be taken into the Temporary Managing Conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in order to assure his safety and well-being.

Further information on this case will be provided on Shelby County Today as it develops.

February 17, 2016 - A house fire ended in tragedy Wednesday, February 17, 2016 when a two-year-old perished in it.

The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department along with the DeSoto Parish Fire Department were dispatched at 12:40pm to a mobile home fire on FM 3082 less than 1 mile from SH 7 West in the Lone Cedar Community.

According to a press release from the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, units arrived to find a mobile home fully involved with fire, and learned that a two-year old girl was still inside. The child's mother and a five-year old boy were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape. Due to the rapidly moving fire, efforts to rescue the child were unsuccessful.

The mother was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center -Center Emergency Department and later life flighted to the Texas Burn Center at UTMB in Galveston. The extent of her injuries are unknown at this time.

An inquest of the two-year old who perished was performed by Justice of the Peace PCT 3 Margie Anderson. The child was taken into the care of Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas.

Also responding to the scene was Sheriff's  Department Chief Deputy Shad Sparks and Investigator Chris King. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Sheriff's Department and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office.

The name of the family has not been released at this time.

Pages