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May 27, 2025 - Texas Rangers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department officials served a search warrant April 24, 2025, on the residence of Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, and in the absence of an official public statement this action generated speculative and unsubstantiated scrutiny in the community, which was reflected on social media.
Shelby County Today has obtained the affidavit and search warrant for that operation, which was signed by James A. Payne Jr., 273rd Judicial District Judge.
According to the affidavit, the Texas Rangers were in search of cellular telephones, smart phones, computers, and electronic mobile devices capable of sending and receiving wireless internet access or ethernet connection in an effort to determine Tampering/Destroying Evidence, PC 37.09, Felony 3.
The cause for this search was in part due to a separate investigation of a 20-year-old youth pastor of a church in Shelby County, for Online Solicitation of a Minor, PC 33.021, Felony 3 and /or PC 43.24, Misdemeanor A, Display of Harmful Material to Minor. During interview of that youth pastor the affidavit alleges he admitted to sending photos of a sexual nature via Snapchat to an alleged victim, who is a minor, and that they had been communicating since January 2024.
The affidavit alleges a reluctance by Tipton to help produce the alleged victim for interview and then that victim’s cell phone. According to the affidavit, Shelby County Sheriff's Department Capt. Cameron Nichols asked Tipton to provide the cell phone, identified as evidence, to the Sheriff’s Department and that Tipton informed Nichols the phone had been destroyed. The affidavit also states Tipton later called Capt. Nichols and apologized for lying to Nichols about breaking the phone. Meanwhile, District Attorney Karren Price is also noted in the affidavit as having spoken with Tipton about providing the phone to the Sheriff’s Office as evidence and Tipton told Price, an individual whose name is redacted from the affidavit, had thrown the phone into a lake.
It was the belief of Ranger James Hicks that a search of Tipton’s residence would lead to the discovery of the phone.
The officer's return and search warrant inventory indicates that items seized during the search include four operable iPhones and one laptop computer. In addition, one broken iPhone was also seized. The document didn't indicate where any of these devices were located during the search.
With the exception of District Attorney Karren Price confirming that the search was not in connection with a missing person, and that a body had not been located, Shelby County officials have been silent on providing the community at large with an understanding of what the two investigations are about.
It’s also unknown if, and what, legal action shall be taken moving forward.
Related Article:
DPS Confirms Search at Constable Property; Social Media Rumors Unsubstantiated
May 28, 2025 - Notice is hereby given that Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 28th day of May, 2025 at 9:30am in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:
1. Approve and pay weekly expenses.
2. Public comments on Agenda item.
3. Presentation of the Shelby County Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Financial Report by Eric Carver, C.P.A with Axley & Rode, LLP.
4. Discuss and possibly authorize the grant match funds 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.
5. Presentation and discussion on the Kologik/CopSync software system to benefit the Sheriff’s Department.
6. Commissioners' Court Reports: These are for informational purposes only. Any action that needs to be taken on the basis of these reports will be placed on a future agenda for action.
7. Adjourn.
May 23, 2025 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, May 23, 2025. Ignition time is at 10am in Sabine Compartment 51/52 in San Augustine County by hand ignition and is projected to be completed by 6pm.
- Smoke: Winds are out of the South and drift smoke may be noticeable in San Augustine and Center.
- Forest and unit: Sabine National Forest, Hawthorne Rx, Block B and C, Compartment 51/ 52, 522 Acres.
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)
May 22, 2025 - The commissioners approved the appointment of Del Birdwell as a reserve deputy Constable with Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, during their May 7, 2025 meeting for the purpose of carrying Birdwell's peace officer commission.
“Mr. Birdwell was told the city was not gonna be carrying the commission any longer. So it is for carrying his commission only. There's gonna be no pay, he's just gonna be carrying his commission,” said County Judge Harbison.
There was some discussion of the intricacies of carrying a commission, and it was understood agencies do this to assist officers in retaining their peace officer’s commission whether or not they are employed by law enforcement. If an officer loses their commission, they can’t work as a peace officer for an agency.
Shannon Metcalf, Commissioner Precinct 2, moved to approve appointing Del Birdwell as reserve deputy constable and his motion was seconded by Commissioner Tom Bellmyer. The motion carried.
The commissioners considered paying an invoice from Strickland Plumbing in the amount of $6,000 for the repair of the main water line under the old Elementary School.
County Attorney John Price gave his opinion in favor of the county being responsible for the expense.
“it's a bill that the county has the responsibility for in my opinion, legally, under the terms of the lease agreement, which is what I reviewed,” said Price. “Their obligation is to maintain the premises and keep the grounds up. this is a major item here and it's not directly addressed in the contract that was signed back there some time ago. I think that contract was signed back in way back in 2010 but under the terms of this lease arrangement It's my legal opinion that the county has the responsibility for repairing this problem.”
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to pay the invoice as presented by Strickland Plumbing. Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded the motion and it carried.
Judge Harbison said she was excited the expense came in at a lesser amount than what was originally quoted.
The commissioners received a racial profiling report from Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, and Commissioner Bellmyer moved to accept the report. Commissioner Shannon Metcalf seconded the motion and it carried.
A racial profiling report from Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, was discussed and Debby Snider, Administrative Assistant to Judge Harbison, informed the court Tipton believed he had already turned one in.
There was further discussion about the need to have a racial profiling report filed with the state, and Judge Harbison encouraged Price to make contact with Constable Tipton about the issue.
No action was taken.
Judge Harbison reported on attempting to make contact with American Elevators. She informed them it’s mandatory the county receives a report on the elevator work, and they informed her Shelby County is next in line. A date wasn’t provided, and a report wasn’t received before the meeting.
Discussion continued over the elevator work, and the possibility of the county seeking for the company to return money that has already been invested.
County Attorney Price was asked to make contact with the company and he said he would take care of it.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Pay current payroll. 3. Authorize Constable Jamie Hagler, Precinct 2 to appoint Del Birdwell, as a reserve deputy Constable for the purpose of carrying his peace officer’s commission. 4. Renewal and two-year contract extension of Farmers State Bank Depository Contract as authorized by Section 116.021 (a) of the Local Government Code. 5. Pay the invoice from Strickland Plumbing in the amount of $6,000 for the repair of the main water line under the old Elementary School. 6. Record Racial Profiling report for Constable Pct. 3, Roy Cheatwood. 7. Adjourn 10:05am.
May 22, 2025 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, May 22, 2025. Hand ignition time is 10am in San Augustine County, Compartment 51/52 of the Sabine National Forest, Hawthorne Rx, Block B, Compartment 51, 720 Acres. Completion time is 6pm.
Winds are out of the East and drift smoke may be noticeable in San Augustine and Center.
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)
May 21, 2025 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, May 21, 2025.
Ignition time is at 10am in Sabine Compartment 51/52 in San Augustine County by hand ignition and is projected to be completed by 6pm.
Smoke: Winds are out of the East and drift smoke may be noticeable in San Augustine and Center
Forest and unit: Sabine National Forest, Hawthorne Rx, Block A, Compartment 51, 815 Acres
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)
May 20, 2025 - City of Center will be closing a section of Crawford Street to through traffic on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 7:30am until 1pm.
Barricades will be placed at Wulf Creek entrance and second bridge at Creek for water repairs. Customers will be able to have access to their residence on each side of closure. Customers in Wulf Creek will need to use SH 7 side entrance.
May 19, 2025 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a one-vehicle crash on Farm-to-Market Road 3172, just north of Huxley, that occurred, May 17, 2025.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:50 p.m., a 2024 Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by Heath Allen, 50, of Lufkin was traveling north. It is reported that Allen was traveling at an unsafe speed for an approaching curve and left the road to the left, causing both the rider and the passenger to be thrown from the motorcycle.
Allen and his passenger Renee McAdams, 49, of Lufkin, were transported to Louisiana State University Shreveport Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
May 19, 2025 - On April 17 the City of Logansport gave a Boil Water Notice for the Haslam Strip Area. the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has requested the City of Joaquin/PWS ID #2100010 public water system to notify all customers On The Haslam Strip that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water for this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of April 22, 2025.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact City of Joaquin at 936-269-3021 or 130 Steve Hughes Drive, Joaquin, TX 75954.
April 17, 2025 - The City of Joaquin has been contacted by City of Logansport, as they purchase water from Logansport that a Boil Water Notice has been issued. The violation occurred because the Logansport Water System treated water turbidity level exceeded the maximum allowable limits of 1.499 NTUs. the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Joaquin/PWS ID #2100010 public water system to notify all customers ON THE HASLAM STRIP AREA to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact City of Joaquin at 936-269-3021 or 130 Steve Hughes Drive, Joaquin, TX 75954.
May 19, 2025 - City Of Center will be closing a section of Crawford St to thru traffic on May 20, 2025, from 7:30am to 12pm.
Barricades will be placed at Wulf Creek entrance and second bridge at Creek for work on sewer line. Customers will be able to have access to their residence on each side of closure. Customers in Wulf Creek will need to use SH 7 side entrance
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