October 15, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners agreed to proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month during their October 8, 2025 meeting.
Lizett Mendoza with Family Crisis Center of East Texas spoke with the commissioners about the agency providing free services to Shelby County and surrounding areas.
“Some of the main services that we have, we have a 24-hour shelter and hotline in Angelina County,” said Mendoza. “We also provide legal services, helping them attain custody orders, protection orders, divorces, because all of these are very essential towards leaving a domestic violence situation and restarting fresh.”
Other services Mendoza outlined that the agency offers include support in applying for housing, helping relocate to a different city, or county, and applying for different government benefits, such as crime victims compensation, address of confidentiality program, child support, and anything a domestic violence survivor may be needing to get back on their feet.
Mendoza said they offer counseling services and that there is a Family Crisis Center office in San Augustine.
“We really just meet them wherever they are if they're having trouble in transportation. We try to meet them somewhere public,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza said they travel as far as Timpson, Tenaha, and Joaquin to provide assistance.
“More than anything, we're a support system because a lot of times they may feel embarrassed to talk to their family members, to co-workers. So just to be able to talk to someone to a third party that isn't going to make them feel judged makes a world of difference,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza thanked Shelby County, because every time the Family Crisis Center has asked for support, and either an awareness event or resolution, she said the county has always shown that support.
County Judge Allison Harbison referenced data included in the resolution stating that in 2024 43% of survivors reported stalking behaviors, 76% of women that are murdered by their current or former intimate partner reported being stalked in the year prior to their death.
“Getting help when their feeling like they're alone and someone’s stalking them could possibly save their life and I
think that's very good,” said Judge Harbison. “Everybody needs somebody to talk to besides their family because, as you said, their family may not understand or they may be embarrassed so I think that what y'all do is a great thing.”
The commissioners moved to approve the resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Shelby County with Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, making the motion and Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2, seconding his motion, which carried.
The commissioners approved an increase to the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the upkeep on the flood control structures in the County as presented by Terry Allen, SWCD board member, from $10,000 to $12,500.
“We have numerous flood control structures, and these structures were built in 50s and 60s, and so they're getting some age on them and the upkeep on it is costing more each year,” said Allen. “Last year we spent approximately $40,000 on the upkeep of these structures, primarily one structure due to some erosion and some fencing.”
Allen shared that there is a structure in Timpson for which the last bid in 2024 had an estimated cost for repair of $335,881. He also said the SWCD is in the process of applying for an emergency grant with the Texas State Soil Conservation Board to help pay for the repairs to the structure.
“It's a highly competitive process and hopefully we will be successful in attaining. We also work in close conjunction with the [Natural Resources Conservation Service] and fortunately Chris Crenshaw, who represents our county is an excellent representative,” said Allen. “Now he's gotten, since 2020, a little over $5,200,000 upkeep on Shelby County roads and landowner assistance for such things as tree planting, cross-fencing, grass planting, poultry carcass disposal, waterline distribution to livestock.”
Allen stated that the SWCD was asking for assistance from Shelby County to help on the repair projects they are working on and he reminded the commissioners that in the past they have contributed about $10,000 and they were requesting the increase to $12,500.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to increase the funding to the SWCD to $12,500 and Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion, which then carried.
Sheriff Gerald Corbell thanked the commissioners, and other involved departments, for their efforts on the Sheriff’s Office’s behalf that half gone into the 2026 Fiscal Year budget.
The meeting adjourned at 9:58am.
Agenda items approve during the meeting include: 1. Approve the Minutes of: September 3rd, 2025 Special Meeting, September 10th, 2025 Regular Meeting, September 17th, Special Meeting, September 17th, Public Hearing, September 24th, Special Meeting and September 30th Special Meeting. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Pay current payroll. 4. Approve Officers report. 5. Resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Shelby County. 6. $12,500 for the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District for the upkeep on the flood control structures in the County as presented by Members of the Board. 7. Adjourn 9:58am.
