Shelby County Today

January 26, 2021 - The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department and Huxley Volunteer Fire Department fought a house fire on the 100 block of CR 2547 Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 12:41pm.

When fire personnel arrived the house was fully involved in the fire. Although the departments responded quickly, the fire was too far progressed to salvage the structure.

The fire was extinguished and the firemen prevented the fire from further spread to neaby residences.

Fire personnel returned to the station at 1:37pm.

Janaury 25, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, there were no changes to the numbers reported Monday from yesterday's report for Shelby County.

January 25th (5:20pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 791 (0 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 545 (0 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 46
Total Estimated Active Cases - 230
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,060

January 20, 2021 - The Center Police Department is investigating a shooting incident which took place at Center Place Apartment on Clifford Street just before 3pm Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

Units with the Texas Department of Public Safety were on scene and at least one individual involved in the incident was transported by ambulance.

Police officers were taking witness statements while also canvassing the area. Officers worked intently to obtain evidence from what appeared to be a bullet hole at the front of one of the residences in the apartment complex.

According to a press release issued by the Center Police Department Friday, January 22, Center PD Officers were dispatched to Center Place Apartments in reference to a “shots fired” call on January 20, 2021 at 2:55pm. 

Upon arrival, Officers made contact with Delond Barnes who remained at the scene with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was transported to Nacogdoches for treatment and was later released. Through the investigation, it was discovered that this incident was a continuation of a prior conflict between two parties. At this time, the shooter and all parties have been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

The Center Police Department would like to express great gratitude to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Texas DPS for their immediate response and assistance. Together, we can make a difference.

January 20, 2021 - Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison informed the court during their meeting January 20, 2021, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has issued a certificate of compliance to the Shelby County Jail as of December 31, 2020.

In May 2020 the Texas Commission on Jail Standards issued an inspection report of non-compliance to the Shelby County Jail in reference to two issues. The first was a review of medical files suggested jail staff were not properly filling out Medical/Mental/Development Impairment screening forms in their entirety at that time and making required notifications.

The second was that secure jail doors had false secure door indicators on the control board.

Shelby County Commissioners approved $108,500 in June 2020 for replacement of 55 jail locks.

Judge Harbison asked Sheriff Kevin Windham for an update on the situation involving the jail.

"Initially the bill was for $108,000 is what they were charging the county, and when they came over to start repairing the locks, they was having to do some fabrication work which was unacceptable," said Sheriff Windham. "Then they sent another technician down, and we found out that it was not the actual locks. The defects were in the switches."

According to Windham, the county had already paid $54,000 to the company which was manufacturing the locks and the county should be reimbursed $30,000 from Montgomery Technology Systems. Six switches had to be replaced.

The discovery of the switches being the issue to the jail has dramatically reduced the original expected $108,500 expense to around $17,000, according to Sheriff Windham.

"We are compliant," said Windham. "Our new Jail Administrator Don Moore, he's doing a lot of work back in the jail and things are looking good. We've got other issues, don't get me wrong, but as of this date as of December 31, [2020] we are in compliance with the state."

Sheriff Windham remarked he and former Sheriff Willis Blackwell each worked on the issue and were able to get the problem resolved.

Karren Price, District Attorney, spoke with the commissioners about TechShare which is an integrated software that connects prosecutors with defense attorneys, as well as with law enforcement agencies.

"The software implementation fee is going to be $10,000 to $12,000 that has to be paid up front," said Price. "Lawyers, we are then charged an annual fee dependant upon each lawyer so every lawyer in the county who has access, some entity is responsible for the cost of that."

Price explained her office will have a cost of $4,500 a year going forward, and $2,750 for the County Attorney's office, at this time; however, the price has potential to change and will be prorated once the software is live.

Gary Rholes, County Attorney, asked Price if the software is capable of generating complaints and an information and she confirmed it is able to perform that task.

"All the law enforcement in the county, every constable, every little police department, every officer at the [Sheriff's Office] and at the [Police Department] has immediate complete access to us," said Price. "As long as you have your telephone, or iPad, or a laptop or PC they can talk to us where we are and get advice."

Price described how the prosecutor won't necessarily have to go to a scene, and can actually get the needed report and evidence digitally from the officer.

"It will generate search warrants, affidavits, complaints, indictments, all kinds of motions and the most important thing for us is it gives them access to us," said Price.

Other prosecutors in larger areas have seen resolution of cases sped up by three weeks to a month, according to Price. With the implementation of this new software, Price says she will no longer accept a hard copy from officers, it will only be through the software as it provides a level of accountability for all involved. There will be a log of when a report is submitted, when it's opened, and the status since that time.

Currently there is an expectation the City of Center will be participating in this software purchase, which will help reduce the expected cost. An agreement between the county and city has yet to be approved by either party.

A motion carried by the commissioners to approve $12,000 out of the contingency fund for the up front cost of the software.

The commissioners discussed the Constable Precinct 5 truck and Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, informed the court the truck was delivered to Center Automotive Repair and they determined the start issue on the truck had to do with some connections. 

McSwain listed several other issues which were addressed including replacing brake pads, repairing a power steering fluid leak, checking all the wheel bearings at a total cost of $453. He said he drove the truck and it seemed to drive well. McSwain did state the vehicle needs a seat.

"Seeing that it is a safe to drive vehicle, and it appears that the mechanic says that it should be reliable that I think in talking with the other commissioners is our advise is that we'll maintain that truck in Precinct 5 for the remainder of this fiscal year," said Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4. "When we go into our budget planning in the spring or in the early summer, we will try to come up with the money to buy him a new vehicle at that time."

Jennifer Fountain, Shelby County Clerk, was recognized for completion of required continuing education hours.

Discussion during court touched on the possibility of installing cameras at the Annex building where the District Attorney and County Attorney offices are located as an add-on to the current security system at the courthouse. The expected cost is less than $5,000 and will be presented at a future meeting.

With the beautification project on the Center square nearing completion, the commissioners discussed the possibility of painting the Probation Department building.

An inspection is planned for the building and Tom Bellmyer said he would be willing to participate in the walk-though of the building.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:47am. 

Related articles:

• SC Jail to Receive $108,500 Lock Upgrade; SCHC Clock, Annex Projects Move Forward
• Commissioners Learn of Needed Changes to DA Office

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Current Payroll. 
3. Record the filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund audit for January 2021.
4. Purchase of software for the District Attorney’s Office.
5. Adjourn.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Adding cameras and monitors to the Annex Building.
2. Advertise for bids to repair and paint the exterior of the Adult Probation Building.