Shelby County Today

July 16, 2020 - The Shelby County Emergency Management office reports as of 8:00am on Thursday, July 16, 2020, TxDSHS has reported 6 new cases bringing the total of cumulative cases to 309. The death count remains at 14 for Shelby County. 

According to the state's algorithm to determine recoveries, 2 new recoveries were reported for a total of 254 recoveries and 41 active cases.

Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages:

Active Cases in each zip code: (Change in Data)

Center (75935) - 25 (1 New)
Joaquin (75954) - 2 (1 New)
Shelbyville (75973) - 4 (1 New)
Tenaha (75974) - 8 (1 New)
Timpson (75975) - 2

Cumulative Cases in each zip code:

Center (75935) - 218 (2 New)
Joaquin (75954) - 16 (1 New)
Shelbyville (75973) - 19 (1 New)
Tenaha (75974) - 34 (1 New)
Timpson (75975) - 22 (1 New)

Ages of Confirmed Cases:

Ages 1 to 20: 29 cases
Ages 21 to 40: 97 cases (3 New)
Ages 41 to 60: 98 cases (3 New), 4 death
Ages 61 to 80: 50 cases, 4 death
Ages 81 to 100: 30 cases, 6 death
Age unknown: 5 cases

July 15, 2020 - The Shelby County Commissioners' Court approved two county resignations during their meeting Wednesday, July 15, 2020, and made three appointments for different purposes.

Melba Rodgers was just elected to the office of Justice of the Peace (JP) for Precinct 3 and due to multiple requests of the current office holder Margie Anderson for the commissioners to accept her resignation, and the availability of someone to fill her position, the commissioners decided to fulfill her request. 

"She has for the third time put in her retirement papers and I think now we can let her retire," said Judge Allison Harbison. "But she asked that we run it through the end of the month."

A motion carried to accept Anderson's retirement.

Commissioner Tom Bellmeyer asked about previous discussion over moving documents from her office to another location. 

"Probably will not be moved until a new JP is sworn in," said Judge Harbison. "I know that Donna [Hughes] and Marla [Denby] and some of them are helping her get through the information."

Judge Harbison further remarked the assistance of the commissioners and sheriff would likely be needed in moving the materials.

The commissioners considered appointing Rodgers to the office on August 1; however with that date falling on a Saturday Judge Harbison asked to move up the appointment date.

"I did speak to Ms. Rodgers this morning, and she was agreeable to that," said Judge Harbison. 

A motion carried to appoint Rodgers Friday, July 31.

Judge Harbison stated Rodgers will be moving into the new location the county has rented for the Justice of the Peace office and the constable.

"Whenever the lease runs out on Constable 3's building, he'll stay there until his lease runs out and then we'll move him into the same building," said Judge Harbison. "So it'll be like it is in every other JP precinct. The JP and the Constable are in the same office because he will be over her court."

Kevin Gratehouse is the current courthouse security officer, and he has submitted his resignation for the position effective July 21.

"He is going to stay on in a part-time basis," said Judge Harbison. "I don't know if y'all know because you probably aren't up here when we have two or three courts going on, but it's really hard to get extra bailiffs to come up and extra courthouse security."

Gratehouse will stay on in a part-time capacity to help with County Court and District Court, and Judge Harbison is still accepting applications for the position.

Commissioner Bellmyer asked what is required of someone working in that position. Judge Harbison explained they have to have an active peace officer license, be able to be commissioned by the sheriff and be able to be under his bond.

"Whenever I even consider courthouse security, I do work with the sheriff on that," said Judge Harbison. "They're not under his direct supervision, he does carry their commission and they wear his uniform."

Two applications have been received so far, but more are welcome this week.

A motion carried to accept Gratehouse's resignation.

"He's been someone I can trust to be down there, I know he's protecting our best interests," said Judge Harbison.

Commissioner Roscoe McSwain asked exactly whose boss the courthouse security would be.

"The court hires him, this court's his boss," said Judge Harbison.

She added the caveat when the officer is serving as a bailiff in a courtroom, their obligation is to that judge.

"The courthouse security officer is paid through, courthouse security budget, it doesn't come out of the sheriff's budget at all," said Judge Harbison. "He's the courthouse employee."

Judge Harbison and Commissioner Bellmyer are currently serving on the DETCOG board of directors and a motion carried by the commissioners to appoint them once again as representatives of Shelby County to the DETCOG board of directors.

A motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:42am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Appoint Allison Harbison and Tom Bellmyer to represent Shelby County on the DETCOG Board of Directors.
4. Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Margie Anderson's resignation as of July 31, 2020.
5. Appoint Melba Rodgers Justice of the Peace for Pct. 3 effective July 31, 2020.
6. Resignation from Courthouse Security Guard effective July 21, 2020.
7. Adjourn 9:42am.

July 14, 2020 - Election results are in for the Primary July 14th Run-off Election with Kevin Windham winning the Sheriff's race, Stevie Smith winning Commissioner Pct 3, and Melba Rodgers winning Justice of the Peace Pct 3.

All local races were decided during the March Primary and it's July 14th Run-off Election since all the candidates ran on the Republican ballot. The following will be on the November Ballot without an opponent and should take office in January 2021.

• District Judge, 123rd Judicial District - Leann Kay Rafferty (Incumbent)
• District Attorney - Karren Price
• County Attorney - Gary Rholes (Incumbent)
• Sheriff - Kevin Windham
• County Tax Assessor/Collector - Debora Riley (Incumbent)
• County Commissioner Pct 1 - Roscoe McSwain (Incumbent)
• County Commissioner Pct 3 - Stevie Smith
• Justice of the Peace Pct 1 - Donna Hughes
• Justice of the Peace Pct 3 - Melba Rodgers
• County Constable Pct 1 - Zach Warr (Incumbent)
• County Constable Pct 2 - Jamie Hagler (Incumbent)
• County Constable Pct 3 - Roy Cheatwood (Incumbent)
• County Constable Pct 4 - Taylor Fanguy
• County Constable Pct 5 - Josh Tipton

On the Democrat Ballot, Shelby County voiced their opinion for candidates they want to see on the November ballot concerning the United States Senator and Railroad Commissioner.

(8:25pm) All boxes are in and the unofficial voting results are below. The results are not official until they have been canvassed by the county.

Shelby County Republican Runoff Election Ballot

Shelby County Democrat Runoff Election Ballot

July 14, 2020 - The Shelby County Emergency Management office reports as of 8:00am on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, TxDSHS has reported 6 new cases bringing the total of cumulative cases to 300. The death count remains at 14 for Shelby County. 

According to the state's algorithm to determine recoveries, 6 new recoveries were reported bringing the total to 252 recoveries and keeping the active cases at 34.

Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages:

Active Cases in each zip code: (Change in Data)

Center (75935) - 22 (3 New)
Joaquin (75954) - 1 (-4 cases)
Shelbyville (75973) - 3
Tenaha (75974) - 6 (3 New)
Timpson (75975) - 2

Cumulative Cases in each zip code:

Center (75935) - 214 (4 New)
Joaquin (75954) - 15
Shelbyville (75973) - 18
Tenaha (75974) - 32 (2 New)
Timpson (75975) - 21

Ages of Confirmed Cases:

Ages 1 to 20: 28 cases (1 New)
Ages 21 to 40: 93 cases
Ages 41 to 60: 94 cases (1 New), 4 death
Ages 61 to 80: 50 cases (2 New), 4 death
Ages 81 to 100: 30 cases (2 New), 6 death
Age unknown: 5 cases