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January 3, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners moved forward with the purchase of tasers for the Sheriff's Department and County Constables during their meeting held December 29, 2023, and they heard updates on ARPA projects which they have previously discussed.
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The commissioners considered the weekly expenses as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, who commended Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, for work their crews did on qualifying gravel covered by a grant by the Forest Service.
An invoice which was in need of paying was for the Historic Courthouse Master Plan, and Blackwell explained a determination needed to be made of where the $22,500 was going to be sourced to pay the bill. The contingency fund had been considered before; however, it has no funds available to cover the expense. The total of the expenditure is around $90,000 and the initial payment would be 25% of that amount. Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, encouraged the funds to be sourced from the Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) and he said that would relieve some funding from the Contingency Fund, and “put it in the black.”
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Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, moved in accordance with the statement of McSwain in reference to the Master Plan being paid from the LATCF and Commissioner McSwain added the motion is to pay all of the weekly expenses with the exception of the Master Plan on a normal basis, and Commissioner Lout seconded the motion.
The commissioners discussed an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects which have been approved and considered in the past. One of the most notable projects was a water well for the Huber Water Supply Corporation, which Ann Blackwell stated has been on the list for two years now, and it doesn’t seem to be moving forward. The original amount that was earmarked for the project was $280,000.
“We have an estimate now of $650,[000] plus $200,000, plus engineering fees,” said Blackwell, and she continued to elaborate, “That project’s almost two years old and it hasn’t moved anywhere.”
Commissioner Bellmyer remarked the Jackson, which came later that the Huber project, is almost ready to be up and running.
Commissioner Bellmyer gave an update on the project being performed on CR 4356.
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“The north side of the bridge has got all the piles driven, pile caps in place, welded out. All of the head walls are in on it,” said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer said he expects completion is going to be close to be ready for a school bus to be able to travel over the bridge by January 8th, but all of the materials are on site, and with the cooperation of weather the project is going to be close.
In reference to tasers for the Sheriff’s Department, the commissioners approved the issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County.
John Price, County Attorney, researched what options were available after the previous meeting.
“I did find an attorney general’s opinion that convinces me that this commission has the authority under 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to order an exemption or find an exemption based on the issue of preserving and protecting the public health and safety,” said Price.
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Price said this would make it so the county wouldn’t have to comply with the provisions of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code which references the bid process.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the issuance of the order and Commissioner Lout seconded the motions.
The commissioners considered a contract for the purchase of tasers in the amount of $60,350.40 and a motion was made by Commissioner Bellmyer to approve the purchase with funds from the LATCF and for Commissioner McSwain to sign the contract, a second was given by Commissioner Smith.
The IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 was considered by the commissioners and a motion by Commissioner Lout to approve the new rate of 67 cents a mile was seconded by Commissioner Smith.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. ARPA funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance finalized contract amount for the new pug mill from Pug Mill Systems including additional options wanted on the machine. 3. Issuance of an order under section 262.0254 of the Texas Local Government Code to determine an exemption from the requirements of 262.023 of the Texas Government Code because of the necessity to preserve and protect the public health and safety of the residents of Shelby County. 4. Purchase of Tasers for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Constables. 5. IRS Standard mileage rate for 2024 of 67 cents per mile. 6. Adjourn.
January 2, 2023 - State Highway 7 West near FM 711 was the scene of a single-vehicle Crash on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, the vehicle was off the roadway in the westbound wood line. Emergency Medical Services personnel established the occupants of the vehicle were in stable condition before moving them to a waiting ambulance for transport.
According to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 8:05pm, a 2008 Toyota Scion driven by Timothy Westberry, 51, of Lufkin was traveling west. It is reported that Westberry traveled off the road to the right and struck a culvert.
Westberry, and his passenger Christy Barney, 48, were both transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
The crash investigation was led by DPS Trooper Josh Gradburg.
Submitted photo
January 2, 2024 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a major three-vehicle crash incident on U.S. Highway 96 South early January 2, 2024.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of the crash to assist those involved and to divert traffic while Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers investigated the incident.
According to DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos at 3:40am a yellow 2020 Freightliner truck tractor, leased by Penske Leasing and Rental, and driven by Weslie Pounds, 61, of Port Arthur, Texas was towing a 2011 Hill Holland Sand trailer northbound on U.S. Highway 96, near CR 1006, when for an unknown reason it left the roadway to the right and overturned in the roadway.
A white 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor driven by Roxie Knighton, 59, of Silsbee and hauling a 1968 trailer loaded with a chemical was also northbound behind the Freighliner and couldn’t initially see the Freighliner which was on its side in the roadway. The Peterbilt struck the 2011 Hill Holland Sand Trailer and subsequently traveled off the roadway to the right before coming to rest.
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Another vehicle, a 2007 Honda Civic driven by Diego Lopez, 25, of Liberty attempted to avoid a collision by traveling in between the trucks and was unable to avoid the collision.
Lopez and Pounds were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries. Knighton was not reported to have been injured.
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The location was under traffic control by TxDOT with only on lane of travel is being utilized until the scene was clear around 9am. Crews with Hopkins Wrecker Service and Sandhill Wrecker Service worked together to get the vehicles removed.
Trooper Ramos was assisted at the scene by Texas DPS Cpl. David Shields, Jr. The crash remains under investigation.
December 30, 2023 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Hurst Street and Wheeler Avenue on December 27, 2023.
When Center Police Officers and Center Fire Department personnel arrived at the location, one vehicle remained in the outside northbound lane of Hurst Street and the other vehicle involved was in a nearby parking lot.
According to the Center Police Department, a white 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Kristen Lee, 25, of Timpson was eastbound on Arcadia Drive when she entered the intersection with Hurst Street and was proceeding to Wheeler Avenue. At that time, a black 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gerald Hill, 61, of Center was southbound on Hurst Street and both vehicles entered the intersection and collided.
The Yukon came to rest in the outside southbound lane of Hurst Street and the Chevrolet came to rest in a parking lot after striking the stop light post.
Center Fire Department was requested to help free Hill from his truck and Emergency Medical Services transported both with non life threatening injuries to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department.
No citations were issued at the time of the crash incident. The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Jerry Payne.
December 29, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners Court held a special meeting on December 20, 2023 in the Shelby County Courthouse and discuss several financial challenges.
Paying weekly expenses was the first item on the agenda. County Treasurer Ann Blackwell drew the courts attention to the county receiving a last minute grant from the Texas Forest Service which has a deadline of having a report of all payments and receipts turned in by Friday, December 29. The notice of the $205,000 grant funds being available was received last Wednesday evening, December 13. As soon as the notice was given, the commissioners proceeded with using the funds to buy and haul gravel. The current bills ready for payment for Precinct 2 is with Timberwulf Lake Works for $102,303.68 and for Precinct 3 is with Texas Materials for $55,000.
A second item Blackwell wanted to bring to the courts attention was regarding the invoice for the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse. The plan had been approved to be paid out of contingency, however, the contingency account has been overextended. The current invoice is for $22,500 which is 25% of the total $90,000. The invoice is due January 10, 2024. Blackwell made a suggestion of considering paying the master plan out of L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
County Auditor Clint Porterfield gave a run down of the bills which have recently come out of the contingency account, "So let me just tell you what's in there and what's pending. As you know, we had three constable trucks that we outfitted, and I will tell you as of today we've spent about $28,000 on outfitting those three trucks which is I think to be expected because we, for insurance purposes, usually add anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 to vehicles." He continued, "We paid some past due invoices to Motorola for the Sheriff's Department - that was $43,000. Then we plugged in the $90,000 for the master plan." Porterfield then added an additional pending purchase of a vehicle for Constable 4 which would be $65,000 or more as well as an upcoming commitment of $910,000 for the obligation of the Emergency Water Shed Program. The county does have $900,000 set aside in two other accounts but will need to find $10,000 for the remaining balance. With current obligations he explained the contingency account has a deficit of about $22,000 which isn't including the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse or the remaining $10,000 for the Emergency Water Shed Program.
Porterfield referred back to Blackwell on her suggestions of where the master plan may be paid. After some discussion, the court decided to hold off on the master plan payment until it can be research to see if it can be paid from either L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
Discussion returned to the Texas Forest Service Grant. A motion was made to pay weekly expenses in addition to the invoices for the gravel associated with the grant as well as any further invoices connected to the grant and not pay the H.R.T.C. (master plan for the Historic Courthouse). The motion was approved.
Commissioner Precinct 4 Tom Bellmyer reminded everyone that County Road 4356 will be closed for bridge work and will reopen January 8th.
The commissioners then discussed the use of A.R.P.A. funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. Blackwell is scheduled to meet with the A.R.P.A. representative on Thursday, December 21. Commissioner Precinct 1 Roscoe McSwain said, "Today, I'm looking for approval to move forward with Grant works to go out for bids for a pug mill system for the county... Precinct 1 and 2 has always had the pug mill the last 12-13 years. I want to move towards buying a pug mill system that the county owns as a whole. It's not a precinct owned piece of equipment - its to benefit the whole county. I think it is a good opportunity for us to do it. The mill our precincts purchased 12-13 years ago is getting old. Things are going to keep happening to it as we go along and down time. And now that we are trying to make oil for the entire county instead of just our precincts [1 and 2] we don't have much down time because we have that four month window to make the product and we need a machine that's working."
The new pug mill would be all electric and not a hydraulic machine. A motion was made and approved to move forward with going out for bids pending approval from Grant Works.
The court discussed and voted to table the purchase agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff's Department and Constables and instead to seek bids due to the total being over $50,000. During discussion it was mentioned the county may be able to apply for Law Enforcement Senate Bill 22 Grant - which provides financial assistance to qualified sheriff's offices and prosecutor's offices in rural counties. Discussion also included looking into buy boards being an option as well as investigating options on how to pay for the taser.
The court entered into executive session at 10:42am and entered back into open session at 12:15pm.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison said, "The first issue that we discussed was a breeding sow that was picked by an estray officer. We are going to, I think, I need a motion to pay that person $500 for their breeding sow and they are going to sign a release with the county attorney." A motion was made and approved.
The second item discussed in executive session was the condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. The motion was made and approved.
Following the two items approved after executive session, the meeting adjourned with the next meeting being held on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Approved to pay weekly expenses including invoices connected to Texas Forest Service Grant and not to pay $22,500 invoice for Master Plan for Historic Courthouse. 3. Approved to pay current Payroll. 5. Approved moving forward with seeking bids for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. 7. Approve transferring 2024 Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy to Texas Association of Counties due to a $6,000 saving. 11. Approved paying $500 for a breeding sow. 11. Approved condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. Items tabled during the meeting included: 8. Purchase Agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff’s Department and Constables.
December 28, 2023 - Center Police Department personnel and Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash on December 24, 2023, at the intersection of Hurst and Crawford Streets.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene the driver, assisted by passers-by, was able to escape the vehicle involved through its back hatch.
According to the Center Police Department, at 1:11pm a 2008 Dodge Nitro driven by Jayla Moore, 21, was southbound on Hurst Street when Moore attempted to pass a slower vehicle into the left lane. At that time the Dodge hydroplaned and Moore lost control of the vehicle before striking a curb at Hurst and Crawford Streets causing the Dodge to overturn onto its passenger side.
Moore was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for non-life threatening injuries.
No citations were reported to have been issued.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Micah Buzbee.
The vehicle appeared to have struck a telephone post, power line, street sign, and water main before coming to rest.
December 28, 2023 - U.S. Highway 96 South outside of Center was the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash incident near CR 1006 (Old City Lake Road) on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
Center Fire Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to assist those involved in the crash.
Once the driver of the vehicle had been moved to an ambulance for transport, personnel from both departments assisted with traffic control until Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers arrived to investigate the incident.
According to DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 4:42pm, a white 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV driven by Deana Locker, 33, of San Augustine was traveling north on U.S. Highway 96. It is reported that Locker observed traffic ahead and attempted to slow down to avoid a collision, however, she traveled off the road to the right and then overcorrected back to the left, causing the SUV to overturn in the west ditch.
Locker was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.
According to DPS, there is no further information available.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies are seen above picking up debris in the roadway following the crash.
December 27, 2023 - State Highway 7 West near FM 711 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a tree in the roadway on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to aid those involved in the crash and assist Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers investigating the incident.
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According to information from DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 8:10pm, a white 2017 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Cindy Shofner, 59, of Center was eastbound when it struck a tree that had fallen in the roadway.
Shofner and a 7-year-old passenger were both transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
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According to DPS, there is no further information available.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Deputies also assisted at the scene.
December 27, 2023 - World Variety Produce, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling Melissa's Kimchi Hot 14 oz, because of mislabeling of allergen ingredient "Fish" was not listed in the ingredient panel within the allergen information panel. Food allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms involving hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The affected Kimchi Hot 14 oz were isolated to 420 cases from Lot # 48528201, 420 cases from Lot # 48858701, 150 cases from 49003901 & 130 cases from 49003901-W0 product of USA.
This recall extends only to Sun International stores in Florida,, Brookshire Brothers stores in Texas, OK Produce - Grocery Outlet in California. The affected Melissa's Kimchi Hot 14oz were sold from bulk displays between the dates of December 15, 2023 through December 21, 2023.
December 27, 2023 - Emergency responders were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 96 North Tuesday, December 26, 2023, near CR 4223 which resulted in a fatality.
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Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to come to the aid of the driver of the vehicle involving in the incident and assist Texas Department Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers Keith Jones and Dustin Ramos in investigating the incident.
According to DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:05am, a black 2007 Chevrolet SUV was traveling north on U.S. 96 when the vehicle struck debris on the roadway causing the tire to deflate. The driver lost control and struck a guardrail before overturning.
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The driver, identified as Diego Alberto Ruiz, 17, of Center, was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department where he succumbed to his injuries. Ruiz was pronounced deceased by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.
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