Shelby County Today

May 8, 2022 - Both Texas Constitutional Amendments passed locally and statewide and both Center ISD Bonds passed during Saturday's Election Day with the following results:

Constitutional Amendment Election:

State of Texas Proposition 1 - “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead.”
For - 917 (Statewide 86.91%)
Against - 129 (Statewide 13.09%)

State of Texas Proposition 2 - “The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $25,000 to $40,000.”
For - 876 (Statewide 84.82%)
Against - 168 (Statewide 15.18%)

Center ISD Bond Election:

Proposition A - “The issuance of $8,000,000 of bonds by the Center Independent School District for the purpose of constructing, renovating, acquiring, and equipping school buildings in the district to wit, a multipurpose gymnasium/auditorium and the acquisition of land and levying taxes in payment thereof. This is a property tax increase.”
For - 294
Against - 259

Proposition B - “The issuance of $4,000,000 of bonds by the Center Independent School District for a multipurpose covered athletic practice facility and levying the tax in payment thereof. This is a property tax increase.”
For - 282
Against - 266

May 7, 2022 - Saturday was Election day for two Shelby County schools and two cities along with a Texas Constitutional Amendment Election and a special Bond Election for Center ISD.

The results of the Constitutional Amendment Election and the Center ISD Bond election will be added once they are available.

The election results for the cities and schools are below with the underlined candidates winning.

Shelbyville ISD (3 trustee positions)
Joey Lawson - Early Voting 113, Election Day 124, Total 237
Arvis (Sneaky) Moore - Early Voting 90, Election Day 134, Total 224
Chris Koltonski - Early Voting 96, Election Day 104, Total 200
Bryan Swindle - Early Voting 80, Election Day 113, Total 193
Keni Bradshaw - Early Voting 58, Election Day 85, Total 143
Carriston Hendricks - Early Voting 66, Election Day 67, Total 133

City of Tenaha (Mayor)
O’Neal Jones, Jr. - Early Voting 9, Election Day 49, Total 58
Michael D. Baker - Early Voting 12, Election Day 42, Total 54

City of Tenaha (Council Place #2)
Linda Vickery - Early Voting 13, Election Day 49, Total 62
Lee Gibbs - Early Voting 7, Election Day 45, Total 52

City of Tenaha (Council Place #3)
Durand Steadman - Early Voting 9, Election Day 43, Total 52
Florance Adams - Early Voting 7, Election Day 39, Total 46
Megan Hodge - Early Voting 5, Election Day 16, Total 21

Tenaha ISD (2 trustee positions) Total votes cast - 430
Aaron Roland - Early Voting 72, Election Day 70, Total 142
Eugene Bowden - Early Voting 72, Election Day 56, Total 128
David G. Fallin - Early Voting 9, Election Day 49, Total 58
Orinthia Johnson - Early Voting 10, Election Day 45, Total 55 

City of Timpson (2 council positions) Total votes cast - 108
Teri Alexander - Early Voting 15, Election Day 22, Total 37
Kenny Walker - Early Voting 15, Election Day 20, Total 35
Tuffy Green - Early Voting 8, Election Day 15, Total 23
George Grace - Early Voting 6, Election Day 7, Total 13

Two schools didn't have to hold elections due to candidates running unopposed. Those results are:

• Joaquin ISD - Candidates elected unopposed were Jason Harvey, Matt Lawson, and Jeff Cater.
• Timpson ISD - Candidates elected unopposed were Cody Beckham and Justin Timmons.

May 6, 2022 - The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) reports of their activities involving two incidents early Friday, May 6, 2022.

At 2:52 this morning TVFD was paged out for a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 59N just before FM 1645. Upon arrival they found one occupant without any injuries. 

They provided traffic control for Hopkins Wrecker Service as they pulled the car out. Once the scene was cleared TVFD returned to the station at 4am

At 6:15am this morning TVFD was paged out to a bus fire at the Timpson ISD bus barn. Upon arrival the TISD staff had already extinguished the flames with the use of fire extinguishers. 

TVFD provided water to cool down the engine area and once all clear returned to the station at 6:45am.

Timpson Volunteer Fire Department continues to accept applications from volunteers seeking to join the department and help your community.

Spoofers using government phone numbers, government employees’ names, demanding payment via bitcoin ATMs

May 6, 2022 - The U.S. Marshals and the FBI are alerting the public of several nationwide imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be U.S. marshals, court officers, or other law enforcement officials. They are urging people to report the calls their Local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, which has the ability to detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.

During the latest series of calls, scammers identifying themselves as “Deputy John Garrison” (the name of the actual U.S. Marshal in the Eastern District of Texas) attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest due to a claim of identity theft, failing to report for jury duty, or other offenses. They then tell victims they can avoid arrest by withdrawing cash and transferring it to the government, purchasing a prepaid debit card such as a Green Dot card or gift card and read the card number over the phone to satisfy the fine, or by depositing cash into bitcoin ATMs.

Scammers use many tactics to sound and appear credible. In many instances, scammers provide information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials and federal judges, along with courthouse addresses. They may also spoof their phone numbers to appear on caller IDs as if they are calling from a government agency or the court when they actually are not.

If you believe you were a victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your Local FBI office and to the FTC. Additionally, The Department of Justice launched the National Elder Fraud Hotline, which provides services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. The hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Things to remember:

• U.S. MARSHALS WILL NEVER ask for credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• Report scam phone calls to your Local FBI office and to the FTC.
• You can remain anonymous when you report.
• Authenticate the call by calling the clerk of the court’s office of the U.S. District Court in your area and verify the court order given by the caller.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov

May 5, 2022 - The Center Police Department has issued a statement regarding the shooting incident from and suspect in their case.

According to the press release, Center Police Department received a 911 call on May 3, 2022, at approximately 11:58pm in reference to a person being shot at Portacool Park.

Upon arrival, Officers observed a vehicle attempting to leave the scene at which time the person was detained by officers. Officers were then approached by a second person asking for help for his friend that had been shot.

Officers observed the victim sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle with an apparent gunshot wound. Allegiance EMS then arrived on scene and transported the victim to Shelby E.R. and was then life-flighted to LSU in Shreveport. The victim was identified as Kelton Tremaine Jones, 22, of Center. The suspect was identified as Reggie Lamar Daniels, 22, of Center. The third person was interviewed and released a short time later.

Reggie Daniels has been charged with aggravated assault with a Deadly Weapon (F2) and is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $500,000 Bond.

May 4, 2022 - Center Police Department (CPD) officers responded to Portacool Park just behind city hall for a shooting incident at just after 12am on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene on Child's Street at the intersection of Malone Street and received additional support from Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies. Officers assisted emergency services personnel moving a man from a white 2013 Mazda to an ambulance.

The ambulance then transported the man to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for further treatment and possible further transport.

Two other individuals were detained by CPD officer at the scene of the incident. The area of the parking lot where the incident occurred was cordoned off by Sheriff's Deputies. Located within the area was the Mazda and a white 2005 GMC Sierra. Officers held the scene in anticipation of detectives to investigate further.

(Update): According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department Jail log Reggie Lamar Daniels, 22, of Center was arrested on May 4, 2022, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony 2.

Additional details will be updated once they are available.