Shelby County Today

Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, explained to the court his plan for work to be performed on CR 4356 while school is out for the holiday.

December 16, 2023 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, presented the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court with a plan during their December 13, 2023 meeting to close CR 4356 over the Christmas holiday.

Commissioner Bellmyer explained the roadway is beside the Center Country Club off U.S. Highway 96 north. He stated the roadway will be blocked between CR 4314 and CR 4293.

“No one lives in that section, and the mail route does not run that,” said Bellmyer.

Commissioner Bellmyer explained the reason he is waiting until December 20, is to not interfere with the school buses that travel that route.

“Center schools will close at noon on the 20th, we’re going to close the road that day and actually tear out the bridge that afternoon and we have until January 8 to try and have it finished, if the weather cooperates.”

Commissioner Bellmyer made a motion to close the road for two weeks, and a second was given by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2.

The commissioners discussed the reallocation of Constable vehicles from all of the precincts once they have received their new replacement vehicles.

Commissioners Bellmyer remarked he is down a truck and if one isn’t available, he will need to purchase another one to replace the one which recently broke down. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, commented Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, is having the most difficulty of any of the commissioners involving vehicles and that McSwain told Smith he would give him one of the former Sheriff’s Department trucks McSwain currently has once he has received the Constable Precinct 1 truck.

Commissioner McSwain moved for the Commissioner Precinct 1 to receive the Constable Precinct 1 pickup truck and the motion received a second from Commissioner Bellmyer.

Commissioner Jimmy Lout, Precinct 2 Commissioner, moved for Commissioner Precinct 2 to receive the Constable Precinct 2 pickup truck, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer.

Commissioner McSwain moved for Commissioner 3 to receive the Constable Precinct 3 truck and for courthouse security to receive the Precinct 4 Constable vehicle, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith.

Commissioner McSwain commented he may be able to give Commissioner Bellmyer one of the trucks he has which has a new transmission, but may need other work.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Minutes of November 1, 2023 Special meeting, November 8, 2023 Regular meeting, November 15, 2023 Special meeting, November 20, 2023 Special meeting, November 29 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court.

2. Pay weekly expenses.

3. Officers Report.

4. Commissioner Pct. 4 to close County Road 4356 for bridge work on December 20th and plan to reopen January 8th.

5. Reallocate current Constable 1, 2, 3, and 4 vehicles to their respective commissioner precincts with the exception of the Precinct 4 vehicle which will go to courthouse security.

6. Accept reimbursement from TAMU for work on Texas Forest Service roads for the period of 1/1/22 through 12/31/23. Exact amount of grant to be provided by TAMU.

7. Adjourn at 10:03am.

From left: Center Economic Development Corp. Member Terry Scull, Center Economic Development Corp. President John Snider, City of Center Mayor David Chadwick, Etex’s first customer in Center - Shelby County Today’s owner J.J. Ford, Etex Sales Rep. Brittany Murray, Etex General Manager and CEO Charlie Cano, and City of Center Manager Chad Nehring.

December 14, 2023 - Etex is proud to announce that they have installed their first Internet customer in Center!

Shelby County Today has been connected to the new state of the art fiber network and will begin benefiting from a reliable, affordable and unlimited broadband connection. Owner J.J Ford said, “We are excited to be the first Etex customer in Center. Internet connectivity has been a challenge for years with slow internet speeds and poor reliability having a negative impact on productivity. I am relieved to finally have high speed broadband at an affordable price that will help our business improve. Goodbye to the spinning wheel.”

Over the past year, Etex and the Center Economic Development Corporation have partnered to bring fiber broadband to the community. The project is estimated to invest over $6 million in fiber construction, connecting the majority of businesses and over 50% of the community in phase one. City Manager Chad Nehring says, “The goal in the partnership is to build fiber to the entire city over the next several years. After we complete the first phase, we will be able to plan out the remaining phases, with the goal of every structure in town being connected.”

Etex General Manager and CEO Charlie Cano says, “As a rural broadband provider, we are dedicated to serving East Texas with options usually only offered in urban areas. We have been a local provider in East Texas for over 70 years and are proud to invest in the communities we live in.” 

To check your address for eligibility, please visit fiber.etex.net. 

Etex and others were discussing disaster situations and the benefit of fiber during those times.

Once ETEX's internet was connected, SCT did a speed test with it's previous DSL Internet provider (18 mbps plan) and ETEX Internet (150 mbps plan). The results are displayed with ETEX above and other provider below. ETEX displays at Cherokee County Electric Co-Op, Bullard, TX.

Using Attorney General Paxton’s Signature and Seal

December 11, 2023 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning citizens that scammers are sending fraudulent emails using his name, signature, and the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) Seal to obtain sensitive personal information.

The examples found by the OAG pretend to be from the Social Security Board, fraudulently warning that the person’s social security number will be suspended due to being charged with crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, theft, and tax evasion. These emails may also tell the recipient to call a toll-free phone number that the scammers will use to steal their personal information.

If you have received a similar letter or email, DO NOT CALL the number or provide any information.

Similar “phishing” scam campaigns have attempted to use Attorney General Paxton’s signature and seal, including in 2019 and 2022.

If you or anyone you know receives an email or any other communication like this, please report the suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling toll-free 1-800-621-0508, or by filing an online complaint at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.

December 6, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 15 indictments on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.

Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))

Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))

Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))

Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))

Terry Lynn Crowder was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 4, 2023, Crowder intentionally fled from Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Ford, a person Crowder knew was a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain Crowder. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Therrin Anthony Keele was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on June 23, 2023, Keele entered a habitation with intent to commit theft without the consent of Hayley Potter, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)

Tanarrian Jyeneqne Moses was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury - family violence, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 30, 2023, Moses recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Cody Barrett by stabbing him in the chest with a knife, during commission of the assault, and Barrett was a person with whom Moses has or has had a dating relationship as described by the Texas Family Code.

Justin Leon Carter was indicted for perjury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 18, 2023, Carter made a false statement under oath, namely, that he has never been known as Jay White or Baby Jay. Such sworn statement being then and there required by law to be made under oath, while Carter was then and there under oath administered by Judge James Payne of the 273rd Judicial District Court of Sjelby County, Texas, such statement being false in that [Carter] has in fact been commonly known as Jay White and Baby Jay. Such false sworn statement was then and there made during or in connection with an official proceeding, to-wit: jury trial in cause number 21CR21952 in the 273rd Judicial District Court of Shelby County, Texas, styled The State of Texas vs. Justin Earl Bennett. The said false sworn statement was then and there material to such proceeding in that it pertained to the identity of witnesses to the offense being then on trial.

Robert Anthony Ortega was indicted for injury to a child/elderly individual/or disabled individual, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 27, 2023, Ortega caused serious bodily injury to a child 14 years of age or younger by whipping the child with a belt.

(Some of the following content contained within indictments is of a sensitive nature and may not be suitable for younger viewers.)
Ja'Voiskieon Trae'shun Howard was indicted for aggravated assault of a child, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 27, 2023, Howard caused the penetration of the female sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Howard, by Howard's sexual organ. (273rd Judicial District Court)

(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):

• Jason Cole Briley, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 1, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Jeremy Leigh Green, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Carrie Ann Stanley, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony January 2, 2022. (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Therrin Anthony Keele, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 23, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
• Tyler Ryan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (273rd Judicial District Court)

Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.