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DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers Felon of the Week Program is asking for the public’s help in locating/identifying suspect(s) wanted from DeSoto Parish Area.
Ladaryl D. Burns of Mansfield, La. Burns is wanted for Felony Probation Violation. Burns is described as a black male, 5’11” tall and weighing 205lb. Burns is 41 years of age.
DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000.00 for information that results in the suspects arrest, anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-505-STOP(7867) all calls are confidential or contact the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318)872-3956. Capt. James Clements.
Explanatory Statements for the November 7, 2017 Constitutional Amendment Election (VoteTexas.gov)
October 16, 2017 - (Notice with Spanish) - Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7am to 7pm, November 7, 2017, for voting in a special election to adopt or reject the proposed Constitutional Amendments as submitted by the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, of the State of Texas.
Location(s) of polling places:
- Precinct 1 N (Center) - First United Methodist Church, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SO (Center) - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SE (Center) - Pineywoods Family Outreach Center, 255 Haley Drive, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 SW (Center) - Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1 W (Center) - JOI Ranch, 5198 FM 2026, Tenaha, TX 75954
- Precinct 2 (Aiken) - Excelsior School, 11280 St. Hwy 7 W., Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 3 (Campti) - Campti Pentecostal Church, 6153 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 4 (Huxley) - Lydia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 14998 FM 139, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 5 (Joaquin) - First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
- Precinct 6 (Dreka) - Dreka Pentecostal Church Fellowship Hall, 1193 FM 2427, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 7 (Shelbyville) - First Baptist Church — Shelbyville Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 South, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 8 (Tenaha) - First United Methodist Church Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75954
- Precinct 9 N (Timpson) - Texas State Bank, 830 N. St. W., Timpson, Texas 75975
- Precinct 9S (Timpson) - Timpson School Gym Foyer, 836 Bear Drive, Timpson, TX 75975
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at:
Shelby County Clerk's Office, 124 Austin Street, Center, Texas between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm beginning on October 23rd, 2017 and ending November 3rd, 2017.
Application for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
JENNIFER L. FOUNTAIN P.O. BOX 1987
EARLY VOTING CLERK CENTER, TEXAS 75935
Application for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on October 27, 2017.
Issued this the 16th day of October, 2017.
Order of Special Election
Order listed on ballot: Greg Hubbard, Shannon Denby, and Kris Kirby
An election is hereby ordered to be held on November 7, 2017 for the purpose of electing a trustee for the Center Independent School District Board Trustees.
Filling one (1) unexpired term.
Applications for a place on the ballot shall be filed by: September 6, 2017.
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at: Shelby County Clerk's Office, 124 Austin Street, Center, Texas
between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm beginning on October 23, 2017 and ending on November 3, 2017.
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
Jennifer Fountain — Shelby County Clerk (Name of Early Voting Clerk)
P.O. Box 1987
Center, Texas 75935
Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on November 7, 2017.
Issued this the 8th day of August, 2017
November 6, 2017 - The President has issued a proclamation honoring the victims of the Sutherland Springs, Texas shooting. The Flag of the United States and all other flags flying with it are to be displayed at half-staff from now until sunset on November 9, 2017.
Proclamation can be viewed by clicking here
November 5, 2017 - Following investigation, information has been released into a school bus crash which took place on October 26 in Shelby County.
Center ISD staff and police responded to the scene as soon as the incident was reported to see to the safety of the children and employees involved. ACE EMS also was dispatched to the scene to treat any possible injuries that may have been incurred by the occupants.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 4:45pm just east of FM 711 on CR 1005 was a Center ISD school bus driven by Amanda Nicole Handy, 45, of Center with a school monitor on board Shelley Stanley, 53, as well as an 11-year-old female and 14-year-old male passenger.
While the school bus was eastbound, Handy heard a loud pop come from the bus and the vehicle traveled left across the roadway striking a mailbox and then a tree head-on.
No one was injured from the crash and it was determined the incident was due to mechanical failure.
DPS Trooper Buster was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper Daniel Dellinger. No citations were issued.
November 4, 2017 - State Highway 87 South was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash early on the morning of November 3, 2017.
Three fire departments were dispatched to the crash scene one mile south of the FM 139 intersection at Lout Town.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 4:38am a 2016 Mack truck-tractor owned by Tyson Foods Tenaha and driven by Thomas Maurice Tyrone, 55, of Dallas was pulling a 2017 Pace trailer also owned by Tyson foods southbound on State Highway 87.
As Tyrone attempted to make a wide right turn into a private farm location, the Mack traveled into the northbound lane when all of a sudden a maroon 2001 Pontiac Montana passenger van driven by Dennis Monroe Bishop, 53, of Louisiana traveling northbound struck the left back quarter of the trailer.
The collision caused major damage to the van and it came to rest in the northbound barrow ditch facing the roadway. The truck-tractor remained in the roadway having received damage to the trailer.
Bishop was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries.
Tyrone was issued a citation for wrong side of roadway not passing.
Huxley and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Departments assisted at the scene with traffic control and Center Fire Department was turned back when it was determined Jaws of Life were not needed for extrication of Bishop.
November 3, 2017 - Ron Atkison, representing Martin Walker, PC, explained to the commissioners about opioid litigation and the benefit of retaining the services of the firm he represents during the October 23 meeting of the Commissioners' Court.
Atkison said the manufacturers of opioid based pain relievers have a marketing strategy to manipulate insurance companies and to push their products.
"In one county in West Virginia they shipped enough opioid pain killer that every man, woman and child in that county could have four bottles of it in a year," said Atkison.
He said there are synthetic pain killers that are just as effective; however, the prices on those pharmaceuticals are hiked up and insurance companies won't pay for them while the opioid based drugs are cheaper and more addictive.
Atkison said Martin Walker represents Dallas County, Rusk County, Smith County, Panola County, and Upshur County among others. He said the reason the issue matters for counties is there are categories within county budgets that tend to increase including law enforcement, healthcare, and foster care that have a link to opioid addiction.
"You notice every year that those are going up, and so it never crosses your mind what the reason for some of these increases is," said Atkison. "Luckily the regulators, people that watch this stuff, have tracked it."
Atkison used Rusk County as an example and said the additional cost to taxpayers there is $6 million to $8 million a year.
"It is a $75 billion a year taxpayer problem, and the reason why you don't ever catch it is 'cause those items are already in your budget and you see them and you think, 'well, they're just going up,'" said Atkison.
According to Atkison, regulators such as the Centers for Disease Control have broken the numbers down and identified the problem, and he pointed out this national opioid crisis is something for which taxpayers are having to foot the bill.
Atkison explained the issue will be addressed in federal court and is based on a nuisance theory. He mentioned a previous litigation which was successful, but money received in that circumstance went through Austin. Having a legal representative for the county in such matters would provide the county opportunity to receive any monies won in court directly rather than having to await a divided sum from Austin, with possible restrictions.
An epidemiological study of the county is something Atkison mentioned would be conducted, and which will be at no cost to the taxpayers. The study will help to indirectly identify the number of people who may have been over prescribed opioids within the county.
A motion carried to approve the retention of Martin Walker, PC, for opioid litigation.
Sherry Riley, Veterans Service Officer, spoke with the commissioners about grant funding from the Texas Veterans Commission Funds for Veterans Assistance Program.
The funds available are generated through the sale of a lottery ticket that was created by Texas Veterans Commission.
"To date, that lottery ticket is offering $26 million in the grant fund, so I would like to apply for $30,000 transportation grant," said Riley.
She said her intent for the funds would be to transport veterans to and from doctor appointments at medical facilities in the area. For veterans who cannot afford to go to the nearest VA hospital, it will likely be of a great benefit.
Riley explained she would work closely with Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, to oversee the disbursement of funds. The grant is expected to last the duration of a year. Riley said 80% of the veterans will go to Overton Brooks or Lufkin facilities and 20% will go to Longview or Houston facilities.
Reimbursement rates for round trip will include: Overton Brooks, $80.25; Charles Wilson, $56.71; Longview, $69.55; and Michael E. DeBakey in Houston $191.53. These are funds that are reimbursed to volunteer drivers transporting veterans.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, clarified with Riley the county would be expending the funds first and then the grant funds would be reimbursed quarterly to the county.
A motion was carried to apply for the grant funding.
Ann Blackwell spoke with the commissioners about a bank account held by the county for the Historic Courthouse, which is separate of the general fund. She described how there are many accounts under the general account umbrella; however, the Historic Courthouse has its own for an unknown reason.
She asked to be able to move the Historic Courthouse under the general fund umbrella to simplify and eliminate needing checks for that separate account.
A motion carried to consolidate the funds.
Daniel O'Rear, Shelby County Juvenile Probation, and Stephen Shires, District Attorney, expressed a need for additional funds for a juvenile accused of murder in that he will need to be housed for an extended time, and possibly under special circumstances should it be ruled he be treated as an adult.
This added expense would likely exceed the Juvenile Probation Budget.
A motion carried for O'Rear to submit bills as needed either weekly or monthly based on whatever agreement he has with the facility where the accused is placed.
Following brief discussion over the need of a replacement truck-tractor a motion carried to approve the purchase of a used truck-tractor under $50,000 for Precinct 2.
Items approved on the agenda include: 1. Payment of weekly expenses 2. Retain Martin Walker, PC, for opioid litigation. 3. Renew licensing software agreement between Shelby County and Software Services for District Clerk's Office, JP1 Office, JP2 Office, JP3 Office, JP4 Office and the JP5 Office. 4. VSO to apply for a $30,000 Funds For Veterans Assistance grant, offered by Texas Veterans Commission. 5. Consolidate the Historic Courthouse account with the General Fund. 6. Consider bills for Juvenile Probation detention services on a weekly or monthly interval. 7. Purchase of a used truck-tractor under $50,000 for Precinct 2. Items tabled on the agenda include: 1. Appoint a representative from Shelby County to the East Texas Regional Water Planning Group.
November 3, 2017 - Local authorities are seeking any information regarding the whereabouts of Brandi Wright.
Ms. Wright was last seen in the Center area, and drives a 2008 Pontiac G6 with Tx License plate FVZ 6097.
Please contact the Center Police Department at 936-598-2788 with any information.
November 1, 2017 - The West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched on October 24, 2017 at 1:39pm to CR 1211 at Lake Pinkston for a brush fire. It was determined the cause of the fire was a cigarette.
At 2:16pm the same day they were dispatched to a grass fire on CR 1286, which resulted from a brush pile getting out of control.
November 1, 2017 - Crews have begun this week to place profile rumble strips in Nacogdoches County, and will move through the district to place them in 46 other locations.
Total Highway Maintenance, Cedar Hill, will serve as contractor for the $2.9 million project that will enhance the safety of the roadways. The project began in October and, weather permitting, will be completed by mid-November, 2018.
“Rumble strips are designed to create noise and vibration inside the vehicle that help alert the driver as they cross a center line or shoulder edge line,” said Rhonda Oaks, Lufkin District spokesperson. “Often this alert is enough to get the attention of a distracted or drowsy driver, who can make a corrective action and prevent a crash.”
The rumble strips will be raised profile patterns and will be placed along the center lines and/or edge lines in locations in the Lufkin District. The raised profiles are commonly used when shoulder or centerline pavement texturing is not feasible. The work will be done in various locations on roadways including:
- Shelby County: SH 7, SH 87, FM 3172
- Sabine County: FM 1, SH 21, SH 87, SH 184
- Nacogdoches County: SH 21, FM 1087, SH 7, SH 204
- Angelina County: FM 1818, FM 2109
- San Augustine County: US 96, SH 147, FM 1277
- San Jacinto County: FM 224, FM 1127, FM 980, FM 945, FM 946, FM 1725, FM 3460, FM 223, FM 222
- Houston County: SH 7, FM 2022, FM 132, FM 227, SH 21
- Polk County: FM 1988, FM 350, FM 352, FM 2610, FM 3126, FM 1988, FM 2665
- Trinity: SH 94, FM 3188, US 287
As this moving project continues, motorists are urged to reduce speed through work zones and stay alert to workers and moving equipment.
For a complete list of statewide projects and closures, visit drivetexas.org. For more information on projects in the Lufkin District, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
October 31, 2017 - DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers Felon of the Week Program is asking for the public’s help in locating/identifying suspect(s) wanted from DeSoto Parish Area.
Stacy R. Mcdonald of Shreveport, La. Mcdonald is wanted for Probation Violation. Mcdonald is described as a white female, 5’6” tall and weighing 150lbs. Mcdonald is 47 years of age.
Shantel Y. Carmadelle of Logansport, La. Carmadelle is wanted for Probation Violation. Carmadelle is described as a white female, 5’3” tall and weighing 220lbs. Carmadelle is 32 years of age.
Cecillia L. Carter of Mansfield, La. Carter is wanted for Probation Violation. Carter is described as a white female, 5’4” tall and weighing 125lbs. Carter is 30 years of age.
DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $1000.00 for information that results in the suspects arrest, anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-505-STOP(7867) all calls are confidential or contact the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318)872-3956. Capt. James Clements.
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