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July 3, 2024 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports the conclusion of a search warrant that led to four arrests and the recovery of over $120,000 in property on July 2, 2024.
Christopher Askew, 39, of Shelbyville was charged with Theft of Property >=$150K<$300K (F-2); Unlawful Carry W/Felony Conviction (F-2); POCS (F-1); POCS (F-2); Violation of Parole
Ira Alsip, 30, of Shelbyville was charged with Theft of Property >=$150K<$300K (F-2)
Curtis Estes, 56, of Joaquin, was charged with Theft of Property >=$150K<$300K (F-2)
Lillian Jernigan, 25, of Joaquin, was arrested for an outstanding FTA: OC- POCS W/Intent to Distribute (F-1)
These arrests produced the recovery of an 18-foot cargo trailer equipped with linemen equipment, as well as guns from other burglaries that have occurred in the area. This is an ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time.
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 2, 2024 - Investigators with the SCSO are working a theft that occurred between June 28 and July 1, 2024.
Sheriff Kevin Windham reports that an 18-foot dual axle United brand cargo trailer containing lineman equipment was removed from the 2500 block of County Road 2571 in Shelbyville. Approximately 500 gallons of diesel was also siphoned from vehicles and equipment on the property.
The cargo trailer is white in color bearing Louisiana plate J147938, with LINETEC SERVICES on the sides of the trailer.
Anyone who resides in this area with cameras on your property is asked to check for suspicious activity. If you have any footage that captures the trailer, please contact Investigator Aaron Jones at 936.572.7559 or the SCSO at 936.598.5601.
The SCSO is currently working numerous burglaries in this area. Residents are urged to keep an eye on their property; lock all doors and vehicles.
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.
July 1, 2024 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana issued a heat advisory at 2:14am on Monday July 1, 2024. The heat advisory remains in effect until 8pm Tuesday, July 2nd.
Heat index values are up to 112 for portions of southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas.
Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
June 30, 2024 -As of 10:42am, the removal of the tree has been completed and the flow of traffic has returned to normal.
A large tree is scheduled to be removed at the intersection of San Augustine and Field Streets in Center on July 1, 2024.
The tree removal is set to begin at 6am until completion with a portion of San Augustine to be closed until the project is finished.
San Augustine Street is expected to be closed from Martin Street to Houston Street beside the active courthouse.
Residents and travelers should consider using an alternate route until the operation is finished.
June 26, 2024 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southern Natchitoches Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southeastern Shelby County in eastern Texas, Eastern San Augustine County in eastern Texas, Sabine County in eastern Texas until 3:15pm CDT.
At 2:14pm CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 9 miles southwest of Coushatta to 6 miles west of Converse to near Neuville, moving southeast at 50 mph.
Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Natchitoches, Milam, Many, San Augustine, Zwolle, Hemphill, Pineland, Converse, Patroon, Bland Lake, Rosevine, Allen, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Florien, Provencal, Natchez, Noble, Fisher, and Robeline.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
June 26, 2024 - (Update - 3:18pm): Severe Thunderstorm Watch 465 remains valid until 7pm CDT this evening for the following areas: in Arkansas this watch includes one county, in south central Arkansas - Union; in Louisiana this watch includes 13 parishes, in north central Louisiana - Caldwell, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, and Winn. In northwest Louisiana - Bienville, De Soto, Natchitoches, Red River, and Sabine.
In Texas this watch includes six counties, in northeast Texas - Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby.
This includes the cities of Arcadia, Bernice, Center, Clarks, Colfax, Columbia, Coushatta, Dry Prong, El Dorado, Farmerville, Gibsland, Grayson, Hemphill, Jacksonville, Jena, Jonesboro, Logansport, Lufkin, Mansfield, Many, Martin, Midway, Monroe, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Olla, Pineland, Pleasant Hill, Ringgold, Rusk, Ruston, San Augustine, Stonewall, Winnfield, and Zwolle.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 465 is in effect until 7pm CDT for the following locations:
Texas counties included are: Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Upshur, and Wood.
June 26, 2024 - Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday, June 25, 2024, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved seven additional Texas counties for the Federal Disaster Declaration for severe weather and flooding that began on April 26. With this FEMA approval of 7 new counties for Public Assistance programs, qualifying entities in 48 total counties are now eligible to apply.
"The approval of seven additional counties to the Federal Disaster Declaration will help ensure communities impacted by severe weather have the financial assistance they need to rebuild and recover,” said Governor Abbott. "I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for working tirelessly with our federal partners to provide all necessary resources and support their fellow Texans. Together, we will ensure Texans and impacted communities are able to move forward from recent severe weather."
FEMA approved its Public Assistance program for public infrastructure repairs and emergency work for 7 additional counties, including: Coke, Fannin, Lynn, Panola, San Augustine, Shelby, and Sterling. FEMA’s Public Assistance program may cover jurisdictional expenses for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, parks, recreational, and other facilities.
Qualifying entities in the following counties are now eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program: Austin, Bell, Bosque, Brown, Caldwell, Calhoun, Clay, Coleman, Concho, Coke, Cooke, Coryell, Eastland, Falls, Fannin, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hardin, Harris, Hockley, Houston, Jasper, Lamar, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lynn, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Newton, Panola, Polk, Roberston, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Saba, Shelby, Sterling, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington counties. The Governor’s request for Public Assistance for 35 additional Texas counties is still pending review by FEMA.
To date, FEMA has approved its Individual Assistance program for 35 counties. Qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible to apply: Austin, Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hockley, Jasper, Jones, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Polk, San Jacinto, Smith, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, and Waller counties. Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program provides funding for expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster. The Governor’s request for Individual Assistance for Anderson, Bosque, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk and Sabine counties remains under review by FEMA.
Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities from the impacts of severe weather, including:
• Readying state emergency response resources on April 25 ahead of wildfire and severe weather threats.
• Issuing a disaster declaration on April 30 for counties affected by recent storms and deploying additional state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe weather and flooding. The Governor first
amended his disaster declaration on May 2, updated it further on May 7, amended it again on May 15, added additional counties on May 20, made additional updates on May 26,
added five counties on May 30, amended the declaration on June 5, and made an update on June 13.
• Increasing the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center to help support local officials with requests for state assistance.
• Holding a briefing on May 6 with local and state officials from impacted areas and providing an update on the state’s robust response efforts in support of local communities.
• Requesting a Federal Disaster Declaration on May 15 for Texas communities impacted by severe storms.
• Securing partial approval of a Federal Disaster Declaration on May 17 for areas of the state affected by severe weather.
• Requesting additional counties be added to the Federal Disaster Declaration on May 19 for Texas communities impacted by severe storms.
• Providing an update on the state’s response and recovery efforts in impacted communities.
• Securing additional approvals for Texas counties in the Federal Disaster Declaration.
• Ensuring additional impacted Texas counties were included in the Federal Disaster Declaration.
• Securing additional approvals in the Federal Disaster Declaration for Texas communities impacted by severe weather and flooding.
• Obtaining approvals for more counties on the Federal Disaster Declaration for impacted communities.
• Ensuring additional communities impacted by severe weather were added to the Federal Disaster Declaration.
June 25, 2024 - 'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot' will be playing at the Rio Theatre Friday, July 5, 2024 through Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Showtimes each night is 7:30pm and the feature is rated PG-13. Our very own Donna and Rev. Martin of Possum Trot are being highlighted for the work they started on helping children in need in the foster care system. The premiere will be hosted by Angel Studios at the RIO Theatre on July 2, 2024 by INVITATION ONLY.
'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot' is to launch In Theaters everywhere starting July 4th.
The film shares a powerful true story of a community that committed to fight for vulnerable kids in their Region.
(Provo, UT - May 21, 2024) Angel Studios is honored to announce that SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT will launch in wide theatrical release starting July 4, 2024. The film is directed by Joshua Weigel and stars Nika King (Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Justified, The Rookie), and Elizabeth Mitchell (Outer Banks, Lost). The film was executive produced by Letitia Wright (Marvel’s Black Panther, The Silent Twins, Surrounded) for 3.16 Productions, and written and produced by Joshua and Rebekah Weigel for Peacetree Productions.
“I was told about the Martin family in Possum Trot, Texas a few years ago. Immediately I was moved by their compassion and love towards helping children within the foster care system,” said Wright. “I found a similar feeling of purpose and desire for change alongside the director and writer who have known the Martins for many years. This film will connect to hearts all over the world and will bring real impact and change for children not only in America but across the world.”
Inspired by the powerful true story, SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. By doing the impossible –adopting 77 children– this East Texas community called “Possum Trot” proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.
“SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT is the sound of a courageous little church standing up and fighting for children who are being exploited and abused,” said writer/producer Rebekah Weigel. “There are more than 100,000 kids languishing in the foster system in America that need a family, and their deep cry for healing will be heard through this film. It’s time to follow this community’s lead, across this nation and around the world. We are so excited to partner with Angel Studios to ignite the movement to end the foster crisis.”
“Last year, Angel Studios started on a mission to help kids by shining a light on child trafficking. This year, SOUND OF HOPE shines a light on a solution,” shares Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer of Angel Studios, “An issue this big deserves a big release date. With hundreds of thousands of local churches and civic organizations in America, there are more than enough resources to ensure every child has a safe and loving home.”
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