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City of Joaquin Held Regular Meeting on Tuesday, August 16

Joaquin City Hall Building on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 –

The City of Joaquin held a regularly scheduled meeting, on Tuesday, to address various agenda items. Reports were given by the city’s Utility Billing Manager, Public Works Manager and City Secretary during the meeting, as well as Linda Wheeler who gave updates on issues with the town’s Senior Citizens Center.

Stacy Cranford gave updates on the towns water department and gave estimates for either repairing or replacing the city’s water pumps. He also asked permission to discuss with Tenaha an equipment exchange idea which would possibly allow for the two towns to ‘Loan’ each other items which was rarely used in order to avoid both towns to have to invest in duplicate items.

The city next voted to hire Bailey Construction as contractor to do work on Joaquin’s Community Center. Gina Owens was next hired as a cleaning contractor for the Community Center.

Item 13 saw the Council vote 4-1 to have a special election to bring to a vote legalizing the sale of malt beverages and wine for off-premises consumption only.

Near the end of the meeting the council agreed to take bids for possibly remodeling the old bank building.

Before closing there was a discussion about the possibility of renaming a road in honor of a former citizen from the town.

DPS Investigates Fatal Crash on FM 139

August 15, 2022 - Shelby County emergency personnel responded to a major fatal crash Sunday, August 14, 2022, on FM 139 near FM 417 involving a truck-tractor.

Upon arrival, the truck-tractor involved in the incident was located just off the side of the roadway and the driver had been ejected.

According to details from the Texas Department of Public Safety, at approximately 8:50pm a yellow 2020 Western Star truck tractor driven by Jeffery Barbee, 42, of Joaquin was northbound on FM 139.

The truck-tractor left the roadway to the right and overcorrected back to the left which caused it to overturn and travel off the roadway.

This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information from DPS available at this time.

Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, pronounced Barbee deceased and Watson & Sons Funeral Home transported him from the scene.

DPS Trooper Keith Jones led the investigation and he was assisted by Trooper David Shields, DPS Sgt. Aaron Shelton, Constables Roy Cheatwood and Jamie Hagler, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Jake Gross and Jordan Ford.

Huxley Volunteer Fire Department fire personnel were on scene assisting with the driver as well as traffic control until the scene was clear. EMS also were at the location to provide medical assistance.

Jacob Cruse Apprehended

August 12, 2022 - Jacob Cruse was apprehended and taken into custody around 4:30 p.m. on August 11 in the Joaquin area. He was arrested for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Requirements And Evading Arrest with a Previous Conviction. We would like to thank the public for the tips and information that led to this arrest and to all other law enforcement agencies who helped us search for Cruse.

Constable Arrests Wanted Suspect without Incident

August 12, 2022 - A Joaquin man has been arrested following his alleged evasion of law enforcement during the Sheriff's Department's attempt to serve an arrest warrant on him for failure to register as a sex offender Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

Shelby County Today spoke with Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, about the arrest on Jacob Cruse, 31, of Joaquin and according to Constable Cheatwood, during investigation at around 3:45pm he learned of Cruse's location on August 11, 2022, on State Highway 7 West.

Constable Cheatwood went to the location where a mobile home was located and negotiated apprehension of Cruse without incident.

Cheatwood stated he contacted Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones for assistance, and had Cruse in custody before he arrived. 

Constable Cheatwood thanked Trooper Jones and officers who were en-route at the time of the arrest.

Cruse was charged with evading arrest with previous conviction, felony 4; and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, felony 3. At this time the Shelby County Jail log does not reflect a bond.

City of Huxley Water Conservation Voluntary Request

August 12, 2022 - The City of Huxley is experiencing mild drought conditions and is asking our citizens to voluntarily reduce their water usage.

We are asking residents to assist the city with conserving water based on the City’s Drought Contingency Plan.

To assist, residents and businesses should:

• Voluntarily reduce watering of landscape, washing vehicles or boats
• Voluntarily reduce water usage in the home and/or business
• Repair known leaks (dripping faucets, running toilets)

With your help, these voluntary measures could significantly reduce the water demand and prevent us from having to implement mandatory limitations set forth in the Drought Contingency Plan required by the State of Texas.

Thank you!

City of Center Included in County Burn Ban

August 11, 2022 - Center Fire Chief Keith Byndom wants city of Center residents to be aware the city of Center is part of the countywide burn ban.

Those who violate the burn ban are subject to potential penalties and as a result of citations may have to face the municipal court judge or justice of the peace.

8-1-1 Nationwide "Call Before You Dig" Number

Did You Know?

August 11, 2022 - August 11 is a day to remind people about 8-1-1 – the nationwide “call before you dig” number to prevent damage to underground utilities and related worker safety and health hazards, public-safety hazards, and utility interruptions. For more information, visit https://call811.com/

¿Sabías?

El 11 de agosto es un día para recordar el 8-1-1, el número nacional de "llamar antes de cavar" para evitar daños en los servicios públicos subterráneos y los consiguientes riesgos para la seguridad y la salud de los trabajadores, la seguridad pública y las interrupciones de los servicios. Para más información visite https://call811.com/

Sheriff Investigators Requesting Assistance Regarding Three Recent Thefts

August 10, 2022 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is investigating three separate thefts that have occurred recently.

Between 12-midnight and 2pm on August 5, 2022, a 2010 single cab red Ford pickup was stolen from a residence on US Hwy 84 East in Tenaha.


Actual picture of 2010 Ford truck stolen from US Hwy 84 E.

Between 8pm on August 5, 2022 and 9am on August 6, 2022, a black 14-foot Parker single axle utility trailer with a drop down ramp was stolen from a property on FM 2608 in Center.

Between mid-afternoon on August 5, 2022 and the early evening on August 6, 2022, a black 16-foot Performance low boy bumper pull trailer was stolen from a property on FM 138 in Center.

The SCSO is seeking the assistance of the public in locating the Ford truck and two trailers. If you have any information, you are asked to contact SCSO Lieutenant Investigator DJ Dickerson at 936.572.0255.

Back to School Supply Lists, Calendars

August 5, 2022 - With schools starting back in early August, parents are preparing their students for the new year!

Below is a list of helpful links for supply lists and school calendars. Fortunately, this school year the supply lists are much shorter as many of the schools are providing general classroom supplies during the 2022-2023 year such as pens, pencils, markers, scissors, rulers, tissue and other items that will be replenished as needed.

Center Christian Academy

Center ISD

Excelsior ISD

Joaquin ISD

Shelbyville ISD

Tenaha ISD

Timpson ISD

Joaquin VFD Recent Activity Includes Life Flight for 7-year-old

August 8, 2022 - The opening week of August picked up slightly in call volume for the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department when compared to the past two weeks. Here’s a summary of what transpired. 

Starting with Monday, August 1st, the JVFD was dispatched to a call about a 7-year-old with a puncture wound in their abdomen. Members of the EMR team were able to administer medical attention before Allegiance EMS arrived to transport the patient to the baseball field where a landing zone was set up. 

Next on Thursday, August 4th at around 7:30pm reports came in of a power line down on Highway 84 past Crystal Lake, which resulted in a brush fire. The Joaquin VFD responded with two brush trucks and a tanker truck for added water supply, and fought the fire for the better part of two hours. Once it seemed that the fire was subdued all units cleared the scene.

The Joaquin VFD would be dispatched to the same location two more times on Friday and once on Saturday to put out the fire after it rekindled.
 
That concludes the report for this week. As always we hope everyone has a great and safe week ahead.

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