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February 11, 2021 – Lufkin District crews will begin treating major roadways with brine solution early Friday ahead of predicted winter weather.
The nine-county district is preparing to begin 12-hour shifts on Saturday. US 59 and other major roads, elevated surfaces, bridges and overpasses will be treated and re-treated as necessary throughout the coming weather event. Driving is discouraged on Monday and Tuesday due to possible icy patches. The brine solution does not keep roadways from freezing, but helps keep roadways open and clear of as much ice as possible.
“We are discouraging travel unless it is absolutely necessary,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “If you must drive, slow down. Be alert and watch out for TxDOT crews working through this winter storm. Give them room to work safely.”
Crews will be out in the pre-dawn hours Friday to check for possible slick spots and begin the brining process. For information throughout this weather event, visit drivetexas.org for road closures and conditions statewide. For local alerts, warnings and closures, visit Texas Department of Transportation (Lufkin) on Facebook and TxDOT Lufkin on Twitter.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
February 11, 2021 - On January 29, 2021, a 20-foot dump trailer was removed from a location on County Road 1520 in Center. The gooseneck trailer is a Big Tex brand and has wooden extensions above the top of the trailer. If you have any information of the whereabouts of this trailer, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5601.
February 10, 2021 - The Shelby County Commissioners agreed to an opioid abatement fund council settlement funds in the amount of $109,925 during their meeting February 10, 2021.
Commissioners considered a resolution in support of State of Texas and Texas Political Subdivision’s Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation term sheet.
The attorneys pursuing this claim have presented to the commissioners court in the past and Judge Harbison explained what the resolution is for and the resulting funds the county should receive.
"Shelby County's amount is $109,925," said Judge Harbison. "There are no strings on this money, it doesn't have to be used on any specific program or for any specific reason."
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, recalled the litigation as being something the county has been a part of for years and he asked why the county would not accept a settlement.
Judge Harbison stated there is no reason not to accept the settlement and it has been no cost to the county. She also stated accepting the settlement wouldn't negate any future potential litigation for the county on its own.
She remarked the cities of Center and Timpson would each be receiving some funding as a result of the opioid litigations and she shared with Smith what Timpson's part would be.
"You're going to be getting $12,642," said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison stated counties with hospitals would receive a larger settlement.
"Since we don't have a county hospital, we will not be getting a bigger settlement," said Harbison.
She offered the commissioners more time to consider, and have the attorneys attend the next commissioners' court meeting; however, Gary Rholes suggested the commissioners should move forward with approving the settlement.
"I know there was a lot of negotiation to get to this settlement and I would recommend you, we approve it and not make him come down here," said Rholes. "We don't want to hold up the deal, Shelby County doesn't want to hold up the deal."
A motion carried to approve the resolution for the settlement.
The commissioners considered a resolution in Opposition to Unfunded Mandates to present to the Texas Legislature.
"Texas Association of Counties always likes to get this to be sure a remind the legislators that please do not pass any bills that's going to cost us more money," said Judge Harbison. "We do this every two years."
Judge Harbison said she knew the commissioners had just returned from conference and would have been encouraged to approve such resolutions.
"Jim Allison (general counsel for the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas) spoke specifically about the legislative session that's going on now, and he specifically encouraged each commissioners court to adopt this resolution," said Commissioner Tom Bellmyer. "In addition to that he encouraged each elected official in the courthouse to adopt this resolution as that elected official."
A motion carried to approve the resolution in opposition to unfunded mandates.
During the meeting, the commissioners approved a resolution in support of the District Attorney testing of Forensic Evidence Grant.
At a previous meeting Karren Price, District Attorney, presented the commissioners with information on the grant. She explained it was a Forensic Evidence Reimbursement grant which would potentially alleviate cost to the county for autopsies, DNA and other forensic processes up to a total cost of $1,000,000.
"They need this grant to apply for monies," said Allison Harbison, County Judge. "It is just saying that if we don't use all the funds that they'll be returned. Any misuse, or loss of funds will be returned in full to the governor."
Judge Harbison is designated as the authorized official in relation to the grant.
A motion carried to approve the resolution in support of the District Attorney testing of Forensic Evidence Grant.
The commissioners entered into executive session toward the end of the meeting. In the closed session was Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5; Gary Rholes, County Attorney; and Debra Smith, Timpson Mayor.
Executive session lasted 50 minutes, while the open meeting only lasted 20 minutes, and when the commissioners returned to open session no action was taken. There also was no explanation why the Timpson mayor and Precinct 5 constable were engaged in talks with the commissioners.
"The executive session was a discussion item only, we made no decisions and at this point we're not making any decisions. It was just an information for the court," said Judge Harbison. "We all just had a good discussion and we cannot make any decisions on it at this time."
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of the January 4, 2021 Public meeting, January 6, 2021 Special meeting, January 13, 2021 Regular meeting, January 20, 2020 Special meeting, January 27, 2021 Special meeting, and January 27 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Last week’s payroll. 4. Officers reports. 5. Advertise for bids on road maintenance materials for Shelby County. 6. Record Racial Profiling Report for Shelby County Constable Pct. 4. 7. Resolution in support of District Attorney Testing of Forensic Evidence Grant. 8. Resolution supporting in its entirety the State of Texas and Texas Political Subdivision’s Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation term sheet. 9. Resolution in Opposition to Unfunded Mandates to present to Texas Legislature. 10. Adjourn.
February 10, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 131 active cases and a new death on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
Of the new cases reported 1 was a new confirmed case and 3 were new probable cases. The dashboard also showed 14 additional recoveries.
February 10th (3:00pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 840 (1 new case)
Total Probable Cases - 635 (3 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 50 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 131
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,294 (14 new)
February 10, 2021 - On February 9, 2021 at 4:56 p.m., Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office respond to the 2000 block of County Road 4868 in Timpson in regards to a juvenile with a gunshot wound.
Sheriff Kevin Windham reports that once officers were on scene, a male juvenile was found deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body has been sent for an autopsy. Sheriff Windham reports that no foul play is expected.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office extends our prayers to the family.
No further information will be released.
February 10, 2021 - County Judge Allison Harbison has received a letter from Dr. John Hellerstedt (Commissioner of TX Dept. of Health Services). The letter states that under Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32 which states:
Any Trauma Service Area (TSA) that has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent, until such time as the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity is 15 percent or less.
Under the criteria laid out in GA-32 TSA G which includes Shelby County, Shelby County no longer meets the definition of a high hospitalization area and may reopen to the higher levels allowable under GA-32. During the time which TSA G COVID-19 hospitalization rate was above 15%, restaurants and businesses were limited to 50% capacity. Now that TSA G has been below the 15 COVID-19 hospitalization rate for more than 7 days, businesses and restaurants in Shelby County are allowed to resume operations at 75% capacity.
Shelby County has to date, received limited supplies of COVID vaccine. There are 3 registered COVID vaccine providers in Shelby County and all three currently have hundreds of individuals on their waiting lists to receive the vaccine. Vaccine providers are currently still administering COVID vaccine only to individuals in category:
* 1A: Front line health care workers and long-term care facilities
* 1B-People 65 & older or people 16 and older with a health condition that increases risk of severe COVID-19 illnesses.
The County Judge and Emergency Management Coordinator receive a weekly email (usually on Friday) from DSHS which includes the state-wide vaccine allotments for the following week. Shelby County was again, not on the allotment list for this week. This is not an issue affecting only Shelby County but also affecting many rural counties. The majority of vaccine allotments have been going to the state’s larger vaccination hubs but hopefully as more vaccine becomes available to the state then rural counties will see an increase in vaccine allotments.
Judge Harbison has sent a request to the DSHS 4/5N Regional Director requesting that Shelby County receive a larger allotment of COVID vaccine in order to assist the local vaccine providers in getting more Shelby County residents vaccinated. A mass vaccination clinic plan has also been submitted for Shelby County. That request was sent approximately 3 weeks ago and we have yet to receive a reply to that request.
February 9, 2021 - The Shelby County Commissioners were presented with information about the USDA Emergency Watershed Assistance Program during their meeting held January 27, 2021.
Janet Ritter, representing USDA, addressed the commissioners about the USDA Emergency Watershed Assistance Program by the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding projects in the county.
Ritter presented the commissioners with a list of several locations around the county they agree are eligible for Emergency Watershed Protection funds.
The estimated total cost of the project is $2,040,000 and the estimated cost to the county would be 25% at $510,208. The federal government would cover the remaining $1.5 million. There's also the possibility the project won't cost as much as projected.
A motion carried to move forward with the project and sign the contract for the Emergency Watershed Assistance Program.
The commissioenrs were presented with a proposal to add cameras and monitoring to the District Attorney and County Attorney offices.
"It will add some cameras to the back of the building and also directly on the people that walk in the building, so they can know who's coming in the building," said County Judge Allison Harbison.
Judge Harbison stated the bid was for $3,959.38 by Safeco. The expectation is for the system to be integrated with the courthouse, so they can all be viewed on the same system.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the upgrades to the security system, paid out of the Courthouse Repairs Non-departmental fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Regional Mutual Aid Agreement with the Counties within the DETCOG region. 3. Renew the 5-year Garza County Grazing Lease with Steven A. Hill for $13,200 per year. 4. Move forward on the USDA EWP Assistance Program. 5. Add cameras and monitors to the Annex Building for the District Attorney and County Attorney Offices. 6. Adjourn.
February 9, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 142 active cases on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Of the new cases reported 2 were new confirmed case and 4 were new probable cases. The dashboard also showed only 2 new recoveries.
February 9th (3:35pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 839 (2 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 632 (4 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 49
Total Estimated Active Cases - 142
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,280 (2 new)
February 9, 2021 - U.S. Highway 96 South was the scene of a two-vehicle collision between a passenger vehicle and a pole trailer.
When officers arrived on scene, a white vehicle was seen lodged beneath a pole trailer which had been parked well off the roadway.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at an as yet determined time a white 2007 Chevrolet Impala, owned by Becky Sims, was southbound on U.S. Highway 96 South.
For an unknown reason, the vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left just south of Center and skidded across the roadway before colliding with a parked 1997 pole trailer, owned by Nicholas Santana, and leaving the vehicle lodged beneath the trailer.
At the time officers wee notified of the crash, no one was at the scene, and the incident remains under investigation.
February 9, 2021 - Stay Highway 7 West was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Tuesday, February 9, 2021.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 7:30am Troopers and Sheriff's Department Deputies were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash.
Upon arrival just east of FM 711 it was determined a 16-year-old minor driver of Center was eastbound in a blue 4-door F150 when the driver changed lanes to dodge around a trailer. Due to wet road conditions and unsafe speed the driver lost control, spun around and traveled off the roadway to the right. The truck then struck a culvert where the vehicle overturned.
No injuries were reported at the scene resulting from the crash.
The driver was issued a citation for no driver's license and unsafe speed. A parent on scene was cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive without a license.
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