Shelby County Today

February 9, 2026 - A two-vehicle crash on SH 7 / Louisiana Street just outside of Center left both lanes of the highway blocked for morning traffic on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The Center Police Department was dispatched to 1350 Louisiana Street at 9:12am and after arriving on scene the assistance of the Center Fire Department was requested for traffic control. The fire fighters also assisted ambulance personnel.

According to the Center Police Department, a gray Ford Transit van was traveling on Louisiana Street when a white 2018 Silverado Z71 Truck exiting off of Middleton Street entered its pathway. The van struck the driver's side of the truck at the rear passenger door and bed with its front. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway blocking both lanes of traffic. Hughes Wrecker towed the truck and Hopkins Wrecker towed the van from the crash.

The driver of the van, Cheryl Ard, 54 of Houston, was transported from the scene by ambulance. The driver of the truck, Ronnie Jurney, 67 of Logansport, was transported by private vehicle. Jurney was cited for failure to yield right-of-way.

February 9, 2026 - Center Police Department investigated a two-vehicle crash on Riggs Street on February 2, 2026.

When officers arrived at around 4:45pm, they found a delivery truck and a passenger car in the roadway.

According to the Center Police Department, a white 2022 Ford truck driven by Kenneth Trim, 35, of Louisiana was traveling south on Riggs Street when Trim advised he was possibly too much over into the oncoming traffic side on a non-divided street. This caused the Ford to strike the left front driver’s side quarter panel of a white 2025 Honda Accord driven by Lacendra Bates, 38, of Center making them both un-driveable.

Both vehicles were disabled as a result of the collision and were towed from the scene.

Bates was transported to the Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.

No citations were reported to have been issued.

The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Luis Acuna assisted by Sgt. Brian Wright.

Projected burn area: Burning Block B Only

February 9, 2026 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, February 9, 2026. Ignition is aerial with a start time of 11am for Boles Field area in Shelby County. Estimated completion time is 6pm.

Forest and unit is Sabine National Forest, Boles Field Northeast, Block B, Compartments 13 and 14, 2035 Acres.

Winds are out of the south and drift smoke may be noticeable in Huxley. Smoke will impact areas around the prescribed burn, and long-range drift smoke may be present during and after ignition operations.

Please drive with caution. Ground personnel will be operating in the area and smoke may impact visibility on local roads and highways near the burn unit.

For more information, contact the Angelina Sabine Ranger District at (936) 897-1068 or (409) 625-1940.

U.S. Forest Service Prescribed Burn Tracker: Southern Region Prescribed Burn Accomplishment Tracker (arcgis.com)

February 7, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners decided to rent the Community House in Center for early voting during their meeting held January 21, 2026.

Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator, informed the commissioners of what all is involved in the rental of the Community House in Center for $950, and the upcoming March Primary election.

“The parties pay for election day costs for the rental for the polling locations and the poll workers, but we are responsible for paying for the location for early voting,” said Adams.

She presented the court with the contract for the rental, and as reference, showed them the cost from last November for the rental. Also in Adams possession were contracts for the location should there be a run-off, and then for November.

According to Adams, the county takes possession of the building on February 16, and early voting then begins on February 17.

County Judge Allison Harbison commented she thought the arrangement is a good deal and John Price, County Attorney, commented the contract is basically the same as it has been and that there is no problem.

Commissioner Stevie Smith moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Tom Bellmyer seconded his motion, which carried.

With the expectation of inclement weather, and the promise of a winter storm on the horizon, the commissioners decided to lift the burn ban that was put in place on January 1, 2026. It was agreed that the burn ban could be put back in place at anytime and considered at the following week’s commissioners’ court meeting, since they meet weekly.

Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to lift the burn ban and that the ban could be reinstated at any time and ratified at the following meeting if necessary. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.

Commissioner Bellmyer offered a used 12x24 portable building from his Road and Bridge yard for sealed bidding, and he said he would like to open any bids two weeks from the meeting on February 3.

Commissioner Bellmyer moved to advertise for bids to be received non later than 3pm on Tuesday, February 3 

Judge Harbison updated the commissioners on the courthouse repair and reconstruction project following flooding that began in the top floor and involved several other parts of the structure down to the first floor. She explained that the cleanup crew, construction manager and insurance claims adjuster were all working together and once the scope of the work is approved a firm start date for the project can be set.

“Two more weeks and we’re going to have court again,” said Judge Harbison. “So, we’re just going to figure out how we’re going to do this and still have court.”

She said there were no change orders and she really didn’t have any updates for the commissioners regarding the project otherwise.

Shelby County Chief Deputy Mike Hanson addressed the commissioners about the fire prevention system located at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and possible upgrades. According to Chief Hanson, a Safeco representative completed an inspection and informed him of an issue which has needed to be addressed for an extensive period of time.

“What they had mentioned and what we mentioned last year, they were wanting to do an upgrade of the system, which is a new fire panel, which is located in dispatch,” said Hanson.

Chief Hanson described that the current location of the panel is very inconvenient as it’s located near the ceiling in dispatch, and they would like to move the panel to a more easily accessible location in dispatch. Hanson presented the commissioners with a proposal from almost a year ago, which he said was not valid, but would give them an idea of the proposed work.

“It’s gonna replace all the components of the system, relocate the panel,” said Hanson. “All of the stuff is antiquated, with the exception of a few smoke detectors.”

The proposed overhaul of the system was quoted a year ago at $9,825. Another option for repairs to the current system was remarked on more as a “band aid” was quoted at around $1,900.

Judge Harbison recommended tabling the item until an updated quote could be obtained. Commissioner Bellmyer asked for a scope of the work and a timeline for the project to be completed as well. He asked for the commissioners to be able to re-address the subject at the next meeting.

Commissioner Bellmyer moved to table the item to get a scope of work and cost at the next meeting, the motion carried.

Commissioner Bellmyer noticed needed repairs to the roof of the Shelby County Probation office building located at the intersection of Austin and Nacogdoches Streets on the Center square.

It was very windy during the previous week before the meeting, remarked Commissioner Bellmyer, and he noticed an issues at the adult probation building.

“I noticed that there is some flashing on the adult probation [building] that was loose and was blowing in the wind,” said Bellmyer.

He said that the county needs to have one of their local contractors look at the building and repair the damage to the west side of the building.

Commissioner Bellmyer moved to get in touch with the roofer and get a quote on how much it would cost, and Commissioner Smith seconded his motion. The motion carried with all in favor.

Commissioner McSwain received several bids for a haul truck he is seeking to purchase and he moved to table the item so that he can review all of the information presented before making a decision at the January 28 meeting. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded his motion, which carried with all in favor.

During Commissioner Court Reports portion of the meeting, Commissioner Bellmyer commented on the Rosehill Road project in Timpson that first began being discussed in August 2022 as a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) offered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

“In August 2024, [Judge Harbison] and I were in Lufkin and got our grant approved,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.

Commissioner Bellmyer said that the company contracting for the project, KSA, communicated they would be publicly advertising on January 8, to inform the public of the project; however, he said they missed their date for that public notice.

“What they’ve done is, instead of putting in the next week, the whole project has now slipped a full month,” said Bellmyer. “It really is to the public to let folks in the Timpson area know the public notices now have gone from January to February 8 and February 13.”

According to Commissioner Bellmyer, this means the project has been pushed back from March to April to start the job, which he said was disappointing after waiting two-and-a-half years to get the project started.

Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, gave an update on the Huber Well project and she stated she had communicated with Stolz Engineering to inquire about the completion of that project. 

“He emailed me back and said he had the final bill and soon as Mr. Billy Askins would give his approval that everything’s all good to go, that he would send it on to me, probably by the next day,” said Blackwell. “Well that was a week ago.”

Blackwell said Miller Drilling had emailed Stolz seeking payment, and it sounded like the project was at sort of a standstill until she receives a bill and all parties agree the project is complete. Commissioner Bellmyer said he would contact the engineer.

Treasurer Blackwell commented that she has been attempting to renew a county FCC license for several weeks and that is now completed and it’s extended for another 10 years.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Weekly expenses.
2. Lift the Burn Ban which was issued on January 1, 2026.
3. Contract with the City of Center to rent the community house for the March Primary Election.
4. PCT 4 Commissioner to offer a used 12x24 portable building for sealed bidding.
5. Seek a quote for roof repair at the Adult Probation office.
6. Adjourn.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Review bids received for (1) Haul truck for PCT 1 and possibly award the bid.
2. Chief Deputy Mike Hanson to address the Court regarding upgrades to the fire prevention system located at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.