The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
June 12, 2025 - Axley & Rode, LLP presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Financial report during the Shelby County Commissioners May 28, 2025, special meeting.
Eric Carver, C.P.A. with Axley & Rode, informed the commissioners that Axley & Rode has merged with another firm called Carr, Riggs & Ingram.
“Our firm has merged with Carr, Riggs and Ingram, which is a much larger firm across the whole southeast,” said Carver. “The good thing about that is it allows us to provide some new services. They have a lot of cybersecurity, a lot of IT strengths and things like that. The other side is we're not going anywhere, same people. We're going to be doing the same thing.”
Carver explained to the commissioners that everything went well with the audit and didn’t identify any problems.
“Everything went good with the audit, no problems, nothing really unusual, everything was pretty routine,” said Carver.
One risk that is pointed out annually via outside audit relates to a lack of segregation of duties in the Justice of the Peace offices.
“This is nothing new is as I talked about the decentralized cash collection and this is your letter here is there's some risk and that's all I'm saying here is there's a risk. I didn't see anything that's a more unusual concern than not,” said Carver. “In your JP offices with the lack of number of personnel to have an adequate segregation of duties, and this is not a new comment. Y’all have heard this for years. So it's just a reminder, keep an eye on those things.”
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, moved to accept the accept the audit report and Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, seconded the motion. It carried.
(Click Here to view 2024 Audit Report)
The commissioners approved authorizing grant match funds in the amount of $2 million and the submission of a grant from the Texas Historical Courthouse Preservation Program to restore the Shelby County Historical Courthouse with the assistance of the Shelby County Historical Commission.
County Judge Allison Harbison stated that it doesn’t mean that absolutely have to spend $2 million, but that they are willing to contribute that much to funding the project toward the $10 million grant from the Texas Historical Commission.
Commissioner McSwain said that when a walk through was done through the historic courthouse, it didn’t appear that it would end up costing the full $10 million, bur closer to $5 million, which would decrease the county’s contribution.
“It's a situation that's bad, like I said last week. We can't let that deteriorate and fall down. We're\ not going to tear it down. So we got to do something. It's just hard to sell to the public,” said Commissioner McSwain. “When they call the Sheriff's Department, they say, ‘I ain't got a deputy to send right now.’ Or they call and say, ‘My damn road's all to pieces, I can't get home.’ It's hard to tell the public, ‘Well, I'm going to spend two million dollars to restore this building.’"
Commissioners McSwain and Bellmyer agreed that without taking action, “mother nature” would make the decision for them and cause the building to fully deteriorate over time.
“I love history, and I think it's important to maintain our history for future generations to see what was and what we have, and I just think it's important. I really do,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
Commissioner McSwain moved to set aside $2 million for the purposes of going out for the grant. Commissioner Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.
The commissioners were received a presentation from Kologik/CopSync software system representatives and members of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department as an upgrade to replace the current software, Spillman.
Chief Mike Hanson explained the Kologik aspect of the software is for use in the jail and records management, and CopSync is an in-car software.
During discussion it was learned what the cost could potentially be and Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, clarified the initial total cost for both pieces of software, implementation, training would be $118,490 and then an annual cost of $61,640.
The item was for discussion only and no action was taken by the court.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:21am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Shelby County Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Financial Report by Eric Carver, C.P.A with Axley & Rode, LLP. 3. Authorize the grant match funds in the amount of $2 million and approve the submission of a grant from the Texas Historical Courthouse Preservation Program to restore the Shelby County Historical Courthouse with the assistance of the Shelby County Historical Commission. 4. Adjourn 11:21am.
June 11, 2025 - Strong thunderstorms will impact southwestern De Soto, Southwestern Natchitoches, and Sabine Parishes. Shelby, northeastern San Augustine and Sabine Counties through 3:30pm CDT.
At 2:31pm CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Center to near Mayflower. Movement was
northeast at 50 mph.
Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
Locations impacted include: Center, Mansfield, Milam, Many, San Augustine, Zwolle, Logansport,
Hemphill, Pineland, Joaquin, Converse, Shelbyville, Patroon, Bland
Lake, Neuville, Rosevine, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Florien, and
Provencal.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
June 11, 2025 - Shelby County roadways became particularly hazardous as evidenced by two crashes that took place Sunday, June 8, 2025, within minutes of one another.
State Highway (SH7) 7 West, near County Road 1140 became blocked due to a two-vehicle incident at that location and fire personnel with the Center Fire Department were able to divert traffic along CR 1140 until the scene could be cleared.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), at approximately 6:08pm, a black 2018 Chevrolet driven by Eshawn Randle, 52, of Beaumont was traveling west, followed by a 1995 Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer driven by Adrian Johnson, 26, of Center.
It is reported that the Chevrolet slowed down due to the heavy rain and some debris in the roadway and was struck in the rear by the truck tractor.
Randle was transported to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Johnson was also transported to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Approximately three minutes following the incident on SH7, a Shelby County Sheriff’s Department vehicle was involved in a crash incident on U.S. Highway 96 South near the intersection of FM 417. When officers arrived, the vehicle was on its passenger side and was on the southbound side of the roadway.
According to the Texas DPS, at approximately 6:11 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department unit driven by Deputy George Watson was responding to an emergency call while traveling north. It is reported that Deputy Watson lost control during a period of heavy rain and traveled into the ditch where he overturned.
Deputy Watson, was transported to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to DPS, there is no further information available.
Both crash incidents were investigated by Cpl. Trooper David Shields, Jr.
June 11, 2025 – Preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review in Shelby County, Texas. Residents and business owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements.
The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community residents can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the 90-day appeal and comment period.
The 90-day appeal and comment period began on or around March 19, 2025.
Appeals and comments may be submitted through June 17, 2025, for:
- The cities of Center, Huxley, Joaquin, Tenaha and Timpson and the unincorporated areas of Shelby County
Residents may submit an appeal if they consider modeling or data used to create the map to be technically or scientifically incorrect.
- An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim.
- Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.
- If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information — such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary — they can submit a written comment.
The next step in the mapping process is to resolve all comments and appeals. Once these are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.
To review the preliminary maps or submit appeals and comments, visit your local floodplain administrator (FPA). A FEMA Map Specialist can identify your community FPA. Specialists are available by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.
The preliminary maps may also be viewed online:
- The Flood Map Changes Viewer at http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv
- FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov/portal
- The Base Level Engineering-to-FIRM Viewer at https://webapps.usgs.gov/fema/ble_firm
For more information about the flood maps:
- Use a live chat service about flood maps at floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html (just click on the “Live Chat Open” icon).
- Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.
There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone. Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart.gov.
Texas flips the script to reduce fraud and improve customer service
June 10, 2025 - Texans will soon experience a more streamlined process for receiving metal license plates when they purchase a car from a dealer, thanks to a new state law. Under House Bill 718, passed by the 88th Legislature in 2023, starting July 1, 2025, motor vehicle dealers will begin issuing metal license plates directly to buyers of new and used vehicles.
Buying from a Dealer: Consumers purchasing a vehicle from a Texas dealer will receive metal license plates instead of paper temporary tags, driving off the lot with their plates already in place. Until their registration sticker arrives from their county office, customers must keep their buyer’s plate receipt in the vehicle to be able to verify the purchase and pending registration to law enforcement.
Trading In a Vehicle: When consumers sell or trade in a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers may transfer the plates to another vehicle sold within 10 days, if the plates match the appropriate vehicle type, per Senate Bill 1902, passed by the 89th Legislature this year. Consumers with specialty license plates will keep their plates.
Buying/Selling a Vehicle in a Private Sale: The private party sales process remains unchanged:
- Sellers should remove their license plates and registration sticker from the vehicle when they deliver the vehicle to the buyer.
- The seller can request to transfer the plates to another vehicle they own—if appropriate for the vehicle type—by visiting their county tax assessor-collector's office.
- Sellers should submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle.
- Buyers must submit a title and registration application at their county tax assessor-collector’s office and obtain new plates to register the vehicle in their name within 30 days of purchase.
To learn more about these changes and their impact on consumers, dealers, tax assessor-collectors, and law enforcement, visit TxDMV.gov/HB718.
June 8, 2025 - Severe Thunderstorm Watch outline update for WS 397 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman, OK 5:05pm CDT Sun Jun 8 2025.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 397 is in effect until 9pm CDT for the following locations:
Texas counties included are: Anderson, Angelina, Bosque, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Hunt, Jack, Johnson, Kaufman, Lamar, Marion, Montague, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wise, Wood, Young
June 4, 2025 - Emergency responders were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash on FM 2913 Wednesday, June 4, 2025, involving a truck tractor hauling poultry.
When emergency crews arrived, the truck that was hauling poultry for Pilgrim’s Pride was off the roadway and on its side.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Cpl. David Shields, Jr., at 12:52pm a red Kenworth truck tractor semi trailer driven by Kinshana Cartwright, 46, was traveling eastbound on FM 2913 at CR 1556. The truck was towing a loaded chicken trailer when it traveled through a curve at an unsafe speed when Cartwright lost control and this caused the truck tractor to roll over onto its right side into the ditch on the south side.
No injuries were reported resulting from the crash
Cartwright was issued a citation for unsafe speed.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department personnel were on scene and assisted in directing traffic.
June 2, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved paying property tax refunds ion lawsuits to Tyson on the amount of $35,224.71 during their Wednesday, May 21, 2025 meeting.
In recognition of a court order from the 273rd Judicial District Court, the funds were to be paid out of the County Property Tax account.
Deborah Riley, Tax Assessor/Collector, addressed the commissioners about paying the tax refunds and she spoke about the process of running the exchange through her computer system, and then Eric Lawrence, Shelby County Appraiser, explained more about the lawsuits.
“The refund is for the processing plant that was under lawsuit from ’22 and ’23 on the buildings, just the building values,” said Lawrence.
Commissioner McSwain inquired if the buildings in the lawsuits had anything to do with the new feed mill which the county gave a $52 million abatement. Lawrence clarified the subject at hand didn’t involve the feed mill, but the processing plant.
County Attorney John Price reviewed the case files and confirmed the judgements were final on both cases involved. The cases involved were filed by Tyson Farms Inc. in 2022 and 2023 against Shelby County Appraisal District and both received agreed judgment in February 2025.
Riley asked where the court would like the money to be paid from and County Judge Allison Harbison said she had spoken with Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, who recommended the funds come from the county’s property tax collections accounts.
According to Riley, the city of Center has $33,793.07 to refund and Center ISD has $61,904.87 to refund per the judgment.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to approve the $35,224.71 to be paid out of the county’s property tax collections accounts, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Shannon Metcalf.
The Commissioners considered authorizing funding to cover repair on the Historic Shelby County Jail in repairing the windows of the building.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, referenced a presentation by Rayford Copelin on behalf of the Shelby County Historical Commission to participate in a grant from the Texas Historical Commission for repairs on the Historic Jail.
“Texas Historical Commission have invited us to, I guess, to come in for a grant that they've got open and they expressed that they would like for us to apply on the grant,” said Bellmyer.
Commissioner Bellmyer stated he began considering the monthly report given by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, and the amount of interest earned on investments.
“If I go back to the December time frame, on our investments alone, we made $59,600 in interest. And then if we come back to January, we made $67,300 in interest. If we go to February we made $65,000 in interest and then of course in March we made $72,000 in interest. So the January, February and March quarter we made $205,000 in interest alone,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
Copelin’s presentation, Bellmyer reminded everyone, estimated the cost of repair to the windows in the jail to be between $150,000 and $190,000 and that the first quarter of the year appears that it would pay for that project/
“I am not excited about putting my hat in hand and going to the state historical society and asking for a hand out. We have the money. We have the money in interest. We don't have to get into our principle. This is a job that we can do and it won't affect our bottom line as a county or our financial situation,” said Bellmyer. “I think it'll do two things. First off, it will take the building and we will renew the integrity of the building from a weather type point of view and we'll make it from the exterior historically correct. The other thing it will do is because we do have a larger project that we want to do which is the courthouse and I think in the eyes of the historical society that we can go to them and say look we paid for the jail ourselves we didn't ask for your money we self-financed it ourselves with our own.”
Commissioner Bellmyer said he would like the historical engineering group that walked through the buildings about six months ago, who are approved by the Historical Commission for doing that kind of work and the design work, to come back for the jail project.
There are three main options available to the county, Commissioner Bellmyer remarked, in that the county could fix the building the right way with no out-of-pocket funding; eventually move the Chamber of Commerce out because the structure is uninhabitable, or put themselves out of their own misery and one day just bulldoze down the building.
“I’m not in favor of the last two ideas. I think we ought to fix it and keep the historical piece that we've got. So I'm just going to be blunt about it. I think we need to take and move forward on it and not keep waiting until next year to think about it,” said Commissioner Bellmyer.
Copelin confirmed for the commissioners that the amount spent on the jail will go toward the county match of funds for the courthouse project.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to go forward with the repair of windows on the historical jail and to hire a preservationist, and Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, seconded the motion.
Additional discussion clarified the Commissioners will meet with potential designers to estimate cost on the project.
The commissioners discussed hiring of an architect/engineer to begin the process of renovating the AgriLife campus.
“I'm hoping that that within, I might have a timeline of the next two weeks that we could bring one or two or three companies in our region that that's what they do can sit down and kind of get a bit of a grasp on what we want to do to that campus,” said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer envisions a three-step process involving work on the campus and he stated the first focus should be on the gym, which would help with office space for the Elections Administrator and security for equipment, as well as other potential office space.
“We also need to get that so that we can move some folks out of the other building over there where AgriLife is currently at, but I guess to make a long story short, I'm hoping that we can reach out and be able to interview some engineering architectural folks in the meantime, put together a group and at least come to the big-ticket items.”
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to reach out to some engineering companies to be interviewed by the commissioners to find out who they’re comfortable with. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stevie Smith and the motion carried.
During Commissioner’s Court Reports Commissioner McSwain shared he would be traveling into Louisiana with his county vehicle to look at a pugmill similar to the one the county has purchased, and he mentioned it in the event that would need to be an agenda item.
Commissioner McSwain brought up the executive session held at the previous week’s meeting and he felt that there needs to be education on what executive session means.
“The information stays within the courtroom, I’m not going to detail why I know this happened, but everybody needs to be educated on what executive session means. Because there is consequences if they want to be pushed,” said McSwain, as he looked out to the audience.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:29am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Pay current payroll. 3. Reach out to some engineering companies to be interviewed by the commissioners to find out who they’re comfortable with as an architect/engineer to begin the process of renovating the AgriLife campus. 4. Record completion of the 2025 Cybersecurity Training program. 5. Repair or replacement of the windows in the Historic Jail and hire a historical preservationist to complete the project. 6. Pay property tax refunds on lawsuits between Shelby County and Tyson, in the amount of $35,224.71, as ordered by the 273rd District Court with funds from the County’s Property Tax Account. 7. Adjourn at 10:29am.
June 2, 2025 - FM 414 is the location of a sinkhole in the roadway on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the location near CR 3080 at around 10:50am.
Firefighters and TxDOT discovered a spot in the roadway where pavement had collapsed into a deep hole.
Both sides of the roadway have large pipeline being installed in the ground by Troy Construction.
Travelers should use caution driving through this area while the roadway is being repaired.
June 2, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 2.
Over the last year I’ve cultivated a new communication network - Pen Pals! I’ve got seven now. They include some family, a couple of friends, and a former pastor. I write about one letter a month to each of them. Some of them write back religiously (not the pastor!), some once in a while. It’s great. Writing a personal letter, or reading one, is a unique experience. A letter is to a text or email, as a fine restaurant dinner is to eating fast food in your car. It’s a blessing. It’s old school. It’s fun! I highly recommend it!
There’s one feature of letter writing that I particularly enjoy... the anticipation. Once I send a letter, it may be a week before my pen pal receives it, and the same for the trip back. So I get the time to anticipate the expression on their face when they read my words. And I get to experience that same feeling of anticipation every time I open my mailbox. Anticipation is a big reason that Christmas is most people’s favorite holiday. We enjoy Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day and the 4th of July, etc. but we don’t spend much time planning or preparing for them - at least not like we do for Christmas. As a kid it seemed like it took forever for Santa to arrive, because of anticipation.
As we grow older, often it seems like time flies by. In our busy world, one day dissolves into the next day, the next week, month, year. But a vital, personal relationship with God can bring back meaning and perspective and purpose. As we look forward to Sunday worship and our daily quiet time, as we look forward to fellowship with the Father and with His family, we can experience - we can anticipate - a life of joy.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
Pages
