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April 17, 2015 - Commissioners, County Judge, law enforcement, and members of the community attended a public hearing in the community room of the Shelby County Courthouse on Thursday, April 16, 2015 concerning trash and public nuisances in unincorporated areas of the county.
The prompting for the public meeting being held was because of the number of calls fielded by County Officials concerning trash and public nuisances. Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison explained, "We are aware of the (trash) problem and are very concerned about the problem."
Harbison opened the meeting up inviting the members of the audience who signed to speak to address the commissioners. First to speak was Donnis Adams who addressed health issues he says he has had as the result of dead chickens being dumped on his road. Adams said, "I was diagnosed with Avian TB (tuberculosis) from my neighbor dumping his dead chicken carcasses. If you go out by my driveway right now, I just mowed my yard, there is a pile of white chicken feathers right beside my drive. Now, I want to make sure anything you guys may do does encompass dead animals being dumped in the county." Adams listed health issues he states he now has because of Avian TB which included glaucoma and deteriorated vision leading to blindness in one eye, a hole in his lung the size of a golf ball, hearing problems which he said are the results of the treatments he has undergone to try and kill the Avian TB. He continued to speak about the dumped dead carcasses stating, "It's dangerous to you and it's litter."
Another concerned citizen spoke and also addressed an issue they are having with their neighbor who has farm animals. According to the concerned citizen, the neighbor is disposing of the guts of animals being slaughtered right next to the their property and at times on their property. Photographs were presented to Commissioner Jimmy Lout since it was occurring in his precinct.
Buren Lowe was the last concerned citizen to speak, "Its embarrassing to say that it seems like our county has become so trashy. It's heartbreaking to go down some of our back roads and see the amount of trash that is throwed out." Lowe suggested the county instigate some kind of program which would encourage people to not throw out trash much like the Texas litter campaign - Don't Mess With Texas. "We don't have any place in Shelby County for people to dispose of their goods. I commend the commissioners for being on board again about the recycling program which is a great asset to recycle some of our waste; its really great. I would love to see Shelby County have a landfill that would afford the people of Shelby County [a place] to take their goods because we've got to dispose of them somewhere, there's really no place to dump them," expressed Lowe. He finished saying, "It's just really, really embarrassing being a Shelby County person to drive down our roads and see how bad it looks."
Commissioner Precinct 2 Jimmy Lout spoke about the dumpsters being available; however, the dumpsters don't allow tires or household trash. Sheriff Willis Blackwell said, "That's mainly what we run into on the road is household garbage. That's were the problem is; they don't have anywhere to go with them black sacks coming out of the kitchen." Chief Deputy Shad Sparks expounded on the procedure the Sheriff's Department has when trash dumping is reported, which included, after the investigation reveals to whom the trash belongs, is to give them an opportunity first to pick it up. He said they often find that many of the people dumping don't have the funds to afford monthly trash pickup which means they are also not going to be able to afford a ticket for dumping either. Sparks said, "If they don't pick it up or they are repeat offenders, we write them a dumping ticket. If they can't pay for it, they get an FTA (Failure to Appear) and they go to jail."
The discussion of using prisoners to clean up on work detail was brought up and Sheriff Blackwell answered, "There has to be a certified peace officer to take those prisoners out of that jail and go somewhere with them, so it's not a question of whether a jailer could take them out and work them, we can't. It has to be a certified peace officer with them." Sparks added saying "We would love to have a work detail, that's not an issue with us, everybody is just short-handed right now." It was mentioned that cleaning up the roadways has been used for community service time for people who couldn't pay citations off or for teenagers who had gotten in trouble as a learning lesson or as a deterrent.
There were a number of citizens from Huxley who were unable to attend the meeting. Harbison said, "In the last three and a half months, the ones that I have heard the most about are close to Toledo Bend or on Toledo Bend... I have three or four different things (letters with photographs) here from the same community and I've done some research on it and I have a paper that was prepared by the legal council of the Texas Association of Counties and there are actually laws on the books already that covers public nuisance. It defines the public nuisance and everything that we've talked about today is classified in this as a public nuisance."
"I think that we probably just need to start an abatement program to utilize the laws that are already in the health and safety code. One of the laws says that it's a public nuisance if they're keeping, storing or accumulating rubbish including newspapers, abandoned vehicles, refrigerators, stoves, furniture, tires, cans on the premises in a neighborhood or within 300 feet of a public street for 10 days or more," stated Harbison. She continued, "There are laws already there and I think we should look at enforcing them. I think turning a blind eye to them is not the best way to do it. I just want to let the public know I empathize with their problems and that I really do want to work towards a solution."
Harbison spoke on behalf of the commissioners' court saying, "We really don't want to have a law that impedes anybody from doing anything on their private property because you bought that property and you paid for that property."
The way the law works would be a citizen would file a complaint with the commissioners and they would decided during commissioners' court if it is in fact a public nuisance. If it is approved to be a nuisance, the court would send out a notice giving the property owner a time period to clean it up. If the property owner fails to comply, they can be fined. In the long run the county could hire someone to clean it up and a lien could be placed by the county against the person's property. It would be a civil case.
"I'm not for telling anybody what to do on their property, but if you're living 300 feet of a public road, if it's dead carcasses by your property that is impeding your well being and your health, I think it's our duty to look into this and to do what we can to help the community. I may be dead wrong but I don't think it's infringing on anybody's private rights if the laws that are already on the books are enforced," stated Judge Harbison.
Take pride in your community and help keep it beautiful. Lowe suggested a new slogan - "Don't Trash Shelby County"
- Educate all your family and friends about littering and how bad it is.
- If you see a litterbug, you can report it on the Don't Mess With Texas and Texas will send the litterer a Don’t mess with Texas litterbag along with a letter reminding them to keep their trash off of our roads.
- Form a community service group to help with picking up litter.
- Foster respect for a clean city among school children, visitors to parks, patrons of fast-food, and smokers.
March 6, 2015 - Shelby County Sheriff's Department spent yesterday morning searching for a missing woman after locating a pickup reported stolen and then speaking to the suspect who took it.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 4:45am Deputy Cody Muse was dispatched to a logging operation on County Road 1170 in reference to a stolen 1994 Ford F350 work truck. Deputy Muse took the report and had the vehicle entered into NCIC/TCIC as stolen.
At 7:00am Deputy Roy Bailey located the stolen vehicle in the parking lot at Campbell’s Grocery Store located on State Hwy 7 West. Deputy Bailey identified the driver of the stolen vehicle as Robert Golden, 45-year-old white male of Buna, Texas.
Deputy Bailey stated a witness also saw Robert Golden in the stolen vehicle at Campbell’s Grocery Store and he was hollering inside the truck. The witness stated he walked up to the truck to see if he needed some help and Robert Golden stated that his wife, Misty Golden, was stuck in the mud off of a county road but did not know the location.
The stolen vehicle was released to the owner a short time later.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell along with several deputies as well as Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Game Warden Anthony King and Constables Zack Warr and Constable Stanley Burgay conducted an extensive search of the area around 6 square miles.
The vehicle was finally located in a deep ditch on a hunting lease pipeline. Misty Golden was transported to the Emergency Room by ACE EMS. The suspect Robert Golden was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (UUMV) and booked into the Shelby County Sheriff's Jail without incident. JP 1, Maxie Eaves set bond at $3,000. It is believed both subjects were under the influence of narcotics.
March 6, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurtes Lawrence, while on routine patrol in the Joaquin area, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bruce Cohoon with passenger Tara Ann McBee. During the course of the traffic stop Deputy Lawrence was led to believe that there might be possibly narcotics in the vehicle due to the actions by the occupants.
Deputy Lawrence conducted a consensual search of the vehicle and upon further investigation discovered drug paraphernalia as well as syringes with one containing a clear liquid that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Tara Ann McBee, 42 yr old white female of Shelbyville, Huxley area, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony 3) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdeamor C). Maxie Eaves JP 1 set bond at $4,000 for the Possession of Controlled Substance and a fine of $235 for the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bruce Cohoon of the Joaquin area received citations and was released at the scene.
March 4, 2015 - A single vehicle rollover occurred Saturday evening on FM 414, Sardis Road, causing one side of the roadway to be blocked while the scene was worked by emergency responders.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Daniel Dellinger, a green 1996 Chevy Silverado was westbound on FM 414 when the truck left the roadway to the right and struck a culvert causing the pickup to go airborne, flip end over end, and come to rest on its top facing east shortly after 7pm on Saturday, February 28. 2015.
The driver, Brandon Sowell, age 26, of Center, reported to the trooper he was texting his wife 'he was on his way home' when the pickup drifted off the roadway. With a narrow shoulder and the pickup exiting just before a culvert, Sowell had no time to react before striking the culvert and crashing.
The westbound lane of traffic was blocked by emergency personnel and law enforcement working the crash. Center Fire Department responded to the scene to assist with traffic control directing both lanes of traffic through on the eastbound side only of the highway. ACE EMS responded to the scene but no transport was needed. Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputy Adam Renfro was first on scene and secured the area until DPS could arrive and investigate the crash.
Two minors ages 4 and 5 were in the pickup at the time of the crash. All occupants of the pickup were buckled and no injuries were reported. Sowell was cited for driving on shoulder when prohibited.
March 4, 2015 - On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at approximately 7:18pm Officer Jacob Gross of the Center Police Department was en route to the auto-pedestrian crash on Tenaha Street when he was diverted to Center Place Apartments located at 705 Clifford Street in reference to a possible gunshot victim who had passed out.
Once on scene, Gross was informed the call was medical only and was directed inside to one of the apartments where he observed Joann Lockett, 58, of Center sitting in a chair not responding to family members. Gross did not observe any movement of Lockett's eyes and listened for breathing but did not detect any.
With the assistance of family members Lockett was laid down on the floor where Gross began CPR. Gross continued to perform CPR until ACE EMS personnel Bobby Ritter and Steve Dudley arrived on scene and began providing care.
After working on Lockett for several minutes, a pulse was detected and once stable enough she was transported to the Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center EMergency Department where she was seen by hospital staff.
Lockett was then transported by ACE EMS for further care to Nacogdoches Medical Center located in Nacogdoches.
See related stories -
March 4, 2015 - According to a Center Police Department press release, the pedestrian killed in the auto-pedistrian crash was Johnie Nash, age 63 of Center.
On Tuesday March 3, 2015 at approximately 7:15pm Officer Jeremy Konderla was dispatched to the 700 block of Tenaha Street in reference to an Auto-Pedestrian crash that had occurred. Once on scene Officer Konderla began to investigate the crash and learned that a 1999 White Ford Explorer driven by Russell Jones, 36 of Center, was traveling North on Tenaha Street when a pedestrian, later identified as Johnie Nash, 63 of Center, began crossing the street while not at a crosswalk.
Witnesses at the scene stated that Jones attempted to stop before striking Nash but was unsuccessful and hit on the driver's side causing damage. Nash was taken by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Clinic - Center where she was pronounced dead by Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Pct. 1. Nash was then taken by Community Funeral Home to their facility until Funeral arrangements can be made. The crash is currently under investigation and is ongoing.
The Center Police Department would like to thank Trooper Jade LaVergne of the Texas Department of Public Safety as well as Investigator Bobby Carlsen of the Shelby County District Attorney's Office for their assistance at the crash scene.
See related story at the following link - http://scttx.com/articles/center-pd-investigates-vehiclepedestrian-crash
March 3, 2015 - The Center Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving a vehicle striking a pedestrian.
Center police officers and ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene on Tenaha Street just near the Dollar General store before 7pm on Tuesday, March 3, 2015.
When the officers arrived, a Johnie Nash, 63 of Center was found to be lying in the middle of the roadway and a white Ford Explorer which struck her was parked by the side of the roadway.
An eyewitness to the incident indicated the driver Russell Jones, 36, of Center did not have any time to react as Nash was reported to have crossed right in front of the Explorer.
ACE EMS transported the pedestrian in an unknown, yet suspected to be serious, condition to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department.
The Center Fire Department provided traffic control at the scene while Center Police Officer Jeremy Konderla, assisted by Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jade Lavergne, investigated the crash scene.
March 3, 2015 - An Arcadia family has lost its residence to a fire which took place on Monday, March 2, 2015. Two fire departments were dispatched to fight the fire as it raged late into the night.
Firemen with the Center Fire Department (CFD) were first to be dispatched to the residence of John York located at 6605 FM 138 at 7:53pm, and when they arrived the fire was fully involved with the majority of the house engulfed in flames. The fire appeared to have originated in the garage on the right side of the home for an unknown reason.
Efforts were made by the firemen to knock back the flames and consolidate the fire to one area; however, the fire continued to burn through the middle of the house. The assistance of the West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) was requested and they arrived on scene at 8:32pm with an additional supply of water. Both departments worked together to extinguish the flames and once their water was depleted, WSVFD returned to the station at 10:50pm. The CFD gained control of the fire at 11:45pm and remained at the scene until 1:05am.
Some items were able to be recovered from within the home. The house was a total loss.
March 2, 2015 - Traffic north of Tenaha is blocked as emergency crews are working to remove a truck tractor which is blocking the entire north side of U.S. 96 North outside of Tenaha.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, at 11:50am on Monday, March 2, 2015 Oscar Alvarado, 35, of Houston was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 96 North in a blue 2007 Peterbilt owned by Rush Truck Leasing of San Antonio and was hauling a non hazardous frack mud. As Alvarado was traveling through a curve in the roadway he over corrected and the truck tractor overturned causing it to block both northbound traffic lanes.
The Tenaha City Marshal's Office, Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) were first to arrive at the scene followed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. Once Alvarado was outside of the truck an ambulance was requested. Alvarado was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
Alvarado was issued a citation for failure to drive in a single lane. It was expected for the mud to be moved from the tanker to another before the crashed truck tractor could be up righted; however, it is now upright. The TVFD is directing traffic into a southbound lane to detour around the wreck scene. It is advised travelers should take an alternate route if possible as attempts are still being made to clear the crash scene.
March 2, 2015 - According to Jim and Ann Forbes, Center had the following weather stats for the month of February 2015.
Highest Temp was 77 degrees on 2-09-2015
Highest Temp on Record was 90 degrees on 2-21-1986
Lowest Temp was 27 degrees on 2-24 and 2-27-2015
Lowest Temp on Record was 0 degrees on 2-02-1951
Rainfall recorded was 3.14 inches
Average Monthly Rainfall is 4.95 inches
Below Average by 1.81 inches
Highest Recorded for this Month was 8.90 inches in 2003
Lowest Recorded for this Month was 0.24 inches in 1996
2 inches beautiful large snowflakes fell on 2-25-2015
Total Rainfall recorded in 2015 is 12.97 inches
Center Weather Stats Report for February - Link
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