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July 21, 2021 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin Windham addressed the County Commissioners July 14, 2021, to give an update on the first six months of his term, the total arrests, calls that have been received as well as traffic enforcement.
Sheriff Windham expressed appreciation to the commissioners for allowing him to provide them with that information at this time.
"Since January 1, there's been a total of 396 arrests in Shelby County. The Shelby County S.O. is responsible for 173 of those arrests," said Sheriff Windham. "We have taken a total of 489 reports, I mean these are actual reports that have been generated. The Shelby County S.O. is responsible for 466 of those reports, out of the 489. Our dispatch has received 4,262 calls since January 1."
Sheriff Windham informed the commissioners the current jail population is 35, with that being 30 males and five females being housed. According to Windham there have been 325 traffic stops, 182 warnings issued and 137 citations have been written.
When his administration took over the jail, Sheriff Windham says the jail was in need of a lot of maintenance. Tables and bunk beds were extremely rusty, and plumbing was in need of repair.
"Y'all know we're in compliance at this time, we had to grind the rust off the tables, the bunks, the doors and the food slots," said Sheriff Windham. "We painted the cells, bunks, tables, food slots, and the doors."
Plumbers also worked on toilets, sinks and drains and Sheriff Windham said new blankets, sheets, towels, shoes, uniforms and sleeping mats have been ordered.
"We had to order a new restraint chair. Now, restraint chairs, you know what they're for, they're to restrain individuals who are combative and violent," said Sheriff Windham. "So, we had to order a new restraint chair and then we also ordered parts to fix the old restraint chair."
Sheriff Windham reported the jail freezer ceased to function and two smaller freezers were purchased, because the commercial freezers are much more difficult to acquire. A new one has been ordered and installed. A new stove has also been ordered to replace the current stove, which is also commercial.
The commissioners were provided with additional photos from inside the jail showing its condition, things that may need attention, and he invited them all to tour the jail facility. He specifically noted there being foundation issues which are affecting other parts of the structure as well. The sewer line has also separated beneath the building.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer asked Sheriff Windham what the longest time frame is that someone is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail. Sheriff Windham was able to confirm it's been four years, and Bellmyer said in his mind a jail is usually more of a short-term place. It was confirmed there is another individual who has also been in the jail for almost four years
Although the inmates weren't mentioned by name, Commissioner Roscoe McSwain remarked the two inmates being discussed were brothers. Charles Dearing has been an inmate since November 16, 2017, making this coming November his fourth year. He is being held on a murder charge, possession of marijuana and two tampering charges. His brother Lewis Dearing has been an inmate since February 3, 2017, and he is being held on two stalking charges and a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
"I can only do what the courts allow me to do," said Sheriff Windham.
"That goes back to that's the court's problem," said McSwain.
Bellmyer stated the county is providing the bed and breakfast perpetually. He asked Sheriff Windham where there cases are currently.
"My understanding is that it's something that the District Attorney (Karren Price) is addressing at this time to try and et these criminal charges disposed of," said Sheriff Windham.
Commissioner Bellmyer asked about a discrepancy in the amount of warnings and citations and Chief Ruth Gonzalez explained some resulted in arrests and therefore they didn't receive a warning or citation.
The commissioners discussed a $1,000 donation to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and Sheriff Windham explained the donation is an anonymous one from a local church for a pull dispenser to discard old medications.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the donation.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of the June 2, 2021 Special meeting, June 9, 2021 Regular meeting, June 16, 2021 Special meeting June 23, 2021 Special meeting, June 23, 2021 Budget Workshop of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Officers Reports. 4. $1,000.00 donation to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. 5. Interlocal Agreement for GIS & NG9-1-1 Automatic Location Information Maintenance Services. 6. Interlocal Agreement for R9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point Service. 7. Adjourn.
July 20, 2021 - Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to Walmart located on Hurst Street in Center the evening of July 18, 2021, where equipment was reported to be on fire at 10pm.
Before the fire department arrived, anyone inside of the building was evacuated. According to the Center Fire Department, a produce cooler on the grocery store side of the building caught on fire inside the store and the fire department was requested.
Upon arrival, the cooler had been pulled outside by employees and was still emanating heat, so the cooler was further extinguished by the fire department. Ventilation fans were then utilized to pull smoke from the store by placing them in the doorways and running them to suction the smoke from the building.
After the fire fighters checked the store to make certain there was no further danger, and evacuated the smoke from the building, they returned to the station at 11:17pm.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
July 20, 2021 – Work will begin on Wednesday in Shelby County to mill and inlay a section of roadway that will require lane closures for up to a week, weather permitting.
Two locations in Center will be impacted as crews begin Wednesday morning to mill and inlay the roadway at the intersection of Loop 500 and SH 7 [East]. The second location of work is scheduled on SH 87 (Shelbyville Street) beginning at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNSF) railroad crossing and moving south toward Loop 500.
Work at these locations is expected to be completed in about five days. Motorists can expect alternating lane closures at both locations and traffic delays near the work zones. Motorists are urged to stay alert, obey all traffic control devices set in place and be prepared for delays. Moving equipment and workers will be near the lanes of traffic.
For more information on road conditions or closures, visit drivetexas.org. For more information on Lufkin District projects, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
July 15, 2021 - Shelby County Constable Precinct 5, Josh Tipton, is seeking the public's help in identifying an individual.
In the photos accompanying this request a man is seen wearing black shorts, black t-shirt and black shoes and is driving a darkly colored Ford Fusion.
Anyone with information about this individual is asked to cotact Constable Tipton at 936-615-8223.
Huana Creek at CR 1490 as it appeared contaminated by a foreign substance on July 2, 2021.
July 14, 2021 - Shelby County Today was contacted by a concerned citizen Friday, July 2, 2021 in reference to what appeared to be a spill of a foreign matter in Huana Creek.
Once at the location where the substance could be viewed from CR 1490, the water in the creek bed was black in appearance as it carried the foreign matter downstream. A strong odor that resembled sewage was also detectable.
Huana Creek at CR 1490 bridge.
The nearest public crossing further upstream of Huana Creek was on CR 1470 and at that point it appeared the water was clear. This suggests the matter came from private property somewhere between CR 1470 and CR 1490.
Shelby County Today reached out to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and inquired as to the circumstances since Shelby County officials had reported the incident to them.
Huana Creek at CR 1490 bridge.
According to TCEQ, the Beaumont Regional office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was contacted by an officer of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department on July 2, 2021. The officer stated that he had observed a dark substance which appeared to be sewage in Huana Creek, located at County Road 1490 near Center (Shelby County). The material appeared to have settled to the bottom of the creek and was both upstream and downstream of the County Road crossing. The officer stated that at this time he had no evidence of who could have dumped the material in the creek; however, he would keep an eye out for vacuum trucks in the area and would contact the region if he discovered any other evidence or gathered any information regarding who dumped the material.
Due to the forecasted rain in the area and the lack of information regarding who dumped the material in the creek, a decision was made not to conduct an investigation at this time. An investigation will be conducted if Shelby County Sheriff’s Department contacts the region with additional information.
TCEQ further advised, members of the public who have concerns about pollution that they have observed should contact TCEQ toll-free at (888) 777-3186 or by clicking here
Huana Creek at CR 1470 bridge.
July 9, 2021 - Aurora Concepts is hosting a COVID-19 mass Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, July 10, 2021 from 8am until 11am at Aurora Concepts Vaccination Station, 233 Hurst Street, Suite B. Walk-ins are welcome. Pfizer vaccines are available for 12 years old and up.
Call 936-598-3296 for an appointment.
July 8, 2021 - During the first of July, the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 103 new cases, 1 new death, and 105 new recoveries.
The estimated number of active cases is currently 11.
July 8th (3:25pm) Numbers: (changes since June 30)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,214 (71 new)
Total Probable Cases - 813 (32 new)
Total Fatalities - 72 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 11
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,944 (105 new)
Reported June 2021 Numbers:
Total New Confirmed Cases - 197
Total New Probable Cases - 20
Total New Fatalities - 3
Total New Estimated Recovered - 217
July 8, 2021 - Upon taking the oath to be your Sheriff, I made a promise to the citizens of Shelby County to always be transparent. I promised to keep the public informed whether it is good or bad. While it is often hard to admit when there is a problem, a promise is a promise, and honesty is always the best route to take.
On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, it was discovered that contraband had been being brought into our jail. Seven trustees were removed from their status and placed back into regular cells. After further investigation, we have concluded the process on how the contraband was being brought into the jail. A criminal investigation is underway and charges are expected to follow for those involved in this situation.
Going forward, the SCSO has implemented changes on items brought into the jail. Trustees, inside and outside, will NO LONGER be allowed to receive items from outside the jail. Medications will be the only items allowed to be brought in from outside the facility, this applies to all inmates. All medication must be in a sealed container from a pharmacy, and only prescription medications will be accepted. Any individual dropping off medications must present a valid ID and sign a release form.
Money will no longer be released from an inmate. All monies will remain on the inmates account unless otherwise approved by myself.
As your Sheriff, I will continue to be transparent on the operations at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. My door is always open. Thank you for your continued support of our office.
Sheriff Kevin W. Windham
July 7, 2021 - The Shelby County Commissioners decided to move forward with a new email hosting service for the county to help offer increased protection from Cyber Security threats during their meeting held Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
The email hosting service the county utilizes is with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) called CIRA (County Information Resource Agency).
"They are currently changing the hosting platform, they've done this before," said Clint Porterfield, County Auditor. "Currently we have something called Rackspace is what hosts our email service, before that it was something else."
Porterfield said he believes there is a push to bolster cyber security and TAC CIRA is going to move to Microsoft 365, and the commissioners need to review and approve the service agreement for Shelby County to be able to move forward with the new platform.
"They want us to choose the plan of service that we want, they want us to designate some email administrators so there's some work we can do in house without having to contact CIRA," said Porterfield. "There's also a website hosting agreement."
There are approximately 80 email users and Porterfield said it's around $2 a month to have CIRA be the host. With the chosen plan through Microsoft 365 it will be around $5 per user, costing the county an additional $4,200 a year for email service Porterfield said they has to have.
"We don't want to go at this point trying to change everyone's email address and look for a new hosting service," said Porterfield. "Especially with the information we already have, and the emails we have archived and everything, CIRA takes care of all that for us."
Porterfield explained the email plan that has been chosen is not the least expensive plant; however, it's the second least expensive plan which provides the most data storage.
To elaborate further on potential security issues, Jason Fulbright with Intelligent Computer Concepts addressed the court about the need for switching to the new platform not even being an option with, but a necessity.
"That's why a lot of organizations are shifting to this 365 platform, it's an inevitable move," said Fulbright. "A lot of larger organizations, government organizations, medical organizations, they're all transitioning to this product."
Porterfield said CIRA is trying to accomplish the transition by later this year.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison and Roscoe McSwain, Precinct 1 Commissioner, inquired with Porterfield about administrators having access to user emails and he explained the administrators would only be available to help users reset their passwords, not to access their email accounts.
Those administrators include Clint Porterfield, Ann Blackwell and Leah Chase. According to Porterfield, the Sheriff's Department has the most email users and that is why the Sheriff's Department needs a representative there to be able to administrate their emails.
A motion carried to move forward with the contract for the Microsoft 365 email platform.
The commissioners discussed the purchase of a new truck for the Precinct 5 Constable and a motion carried to write a letter of intent to help Constable Precinct 5 purchase a new truck or find one, at a $45,000 limit. Also for him to shop locally first. The vehicle being sought is a white ford F150 Police Interceptor to be paid for out of the coronavirus funds.
Blackwell addressed the court about speaking with representatives of First National Bank of Wichita Falls Stewart Cobb, Senior Vice President Leasing, and Karen Hughes, Vice President Business Development Officer, regarding investment deposit options with them.
"They have a large volume of business up there and they have a lot of places to go with money that is secured," said Blackwell. "Miss Hughes said that she has securities to collateralize up to $2,250,000 that she can place in a money market plus account which is paying 40 basis points."
Blackwell explained the county can access the money whenever needed and they can make up to six transactions in a month.
"This would be our American Rescue Plan money, we got that $2.4 million, we can place this with them earn a fairly nice interest rate on it till we figure out what we can or are gonna do with it," said Blackwell.
A remaining cash balance that would be left in the bank, Blackwell would like to start investing back into rolling CDs which has been done in the past. She would have them staggered in the same manner as they were in the past starting one every three months and having each one mature in a 12-month time period. She said they would be $500,000 each.
"She's offering 12-month CDs at 70 basis points, that's just crazy right now. I just can't see why we wouldn't want to do that," said Blackwell.
A motion carried to revise the county investment policy to add First National Bank of Wichita Falls as an Approved Broker/Dealer for investments.
Commissioner McSwain remarked for the public's knowledge, "That's where we do borrow our money when we have to finance equipment."
"They are the only ones that have reached out to me to even talk about doing something like this," Blackwell said.
Blackwell explained the plan is to open the money market plus account, investing $2,250,000 in that account to earn .40% (40 basis points), start rolling CDs with the first at $500,000 and then every three months start another $500,000 CD at 70 basis points, and pull $75,000 out of Texpool to invest in one of the CDs.
A motion then carried to follow the advice of the County Treasurer on a new investment strategy with First National Bank of Wichita Falls that has been approved on the county investment list
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses with the exception of invoice #196613. 2. Service Agreement with the Texas Association of Counties for email and website hosting services. This service Agreement pertains to new Microsoft 365 email platform. 3. New vehicle for Pct. 5 Constable. 4. Revise County Investment Policy to add First National Bank of Wichita Falls as an Approved Broker / Dealer for investments. 5. New investments. 6. Adjourn.
July 2, 2021 — Last year, as temperatures soared into the triple digits in Texas, staff at 39 Texas State Parks handled 132 heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. Now that the summer has officially begun and temperatures are steadily climbing, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is sharing their top six heat hacks for staying safe in the outdoors.
Here are the top six heat hacks recommended for park visitors:
- Hydrate - It’s important to drink at least 16 ounces of water every hour in the heat to replenish your body and prevent dehydration. Don’t forget to bring enough for your four-legged family members too.
- Block the Rays - Apply a generous amount of sunscreen or sunblock before heading outdoors. Be sure to reapply every couple of hours, and after swimming or sweating.
- Dress Smart - Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing; a hat, correct shoes, sunscreen and wet bandanas to keep you cool while in the sun. For pets, protect paws against blistering by hitting the trails during cooler times of the day when the ground isn’t hot or by putting booties on pets to help shield paws from the hot ground. Touch the pavement or ground with the back of your hand. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, the surface is too hot for your dog’s paws.
- Stay Salty - Food helps keep up energy and replace salt lost from sweating. Eating snacks such as jerky, granola, trail mix, tuna and dried fruit is a fantastic way to nourish your body while on the trails.
- Buddy System - Two brains are better than one. It’s beneficial to have someone with you in hot conditions so you can look after each other on the trail. With high temperatures hitting Texas, heat-related illnesses are common and having a friend around to help recognize the early symptoms can save you from getting sick.
- Plan Ahead - Study the map and have it with you. Average hikers move at 2 miles per hour, so allow yourself plenty of time to avoid hiking in the heat of the day. Make sure to rest in a cool or shaded area to recover from the heat if necessary. It is also a good idea to let someone know your plan before you hit the trails and what time you should be back. That way, if you become lost, people know where to look.
For more information about heat safety, visit the TPWD website.
All guests, including annual pass holders, are encouraged to pre-purchase or register for day passes and overnight reservations in advance through the Texas State Parks Reservation System before heading out to a state park. Park capacities are limited, and permits sell out fast. Reservations can be made online at www.texasstateparks.org or by calling 512-389-8900.
Find a park in your area at http://texasstateparks.org.
For infographics of the six heat hacks, visit the TPWD Flickr page.
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