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February 24, 2017 - Charles Mitchell, 273rd Judicial District Judge, signed the order to dismiss the whistleblower case against Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell and Shelby County on February 21, 2017 with prejudice.
The term "with prejudice" means the plaintiff, Derek Barbee cannot file another case making the same claim.
According to court documents, Barbee filed a motion to dismiss the case with prejudice on January 11, 2017. The motion states all matter in controversy between plaintiff and defendant have been resolved. Since the time of the filing for dismissal, the case has apparently been at a standstill.
Barbee formerly was a Shelby County Sheriff Deputy and he filed the whistleblower case on February 16, 2016.
Shelby County Today originally reported on this story at that time, and the allegations suggested the illegal use of detention center trusty labor to improve a private deer camp lease of Sheriff Blackwell. It was also alleged Sheriff Blackwell used other equipment in relation to this project all belonging to the Sheriff's Department.
(See original story with related information here: Sheriff, County Being Sued Over Allegations of Misuse of Property, Retaliation)
Since the time of the filing of the civil case, an investigation has been under way by the Texas Rangers. According to the Texas Ranger case report, on January 12, 2016 "Texas Ranger Travis Brazil initiated a cursory investigation into the allegations he received concerning Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell. Sheriff Blackwell had allegedly used the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) Mobile Command Center trailer for personal use at his deer lease in Panola County. Sheriff Blackwell also allegedly used SCSO inmates to do cleanup work and welding jobs on his deer lease in Panola County."
At that point the legible portion of the report ends as the remainder has been redacted. Shelby County Today has made numerous requests for the investigation report from the Texas Rangers; however, requests have been denied each time because the case is "an ongoing investigation."
The mostly redacted report was started on April 7, 2016 by Ranger Brazil and since then the case has been handed off to other Rangers. Although several requests have been made, the initial reply from the Texas Rangers on July 12, 2016 supplied the most information as related to the redacted 11 page report.
The Shelby County District Attorney's office has been in possession of this report since mid-2016. Shelby County Today contacted District Attorney Stephen Shires in reference to the case and his intent.
"I'm not going to say anything, or take any position on this whole thing, on something that clearly has such political implications. My focus right now, because don't get me wrong, I've got great legal assistants, I've got the best investigator that you could find, but I am still one lawyer. I'm one guy and I have to look at how I can best serve the Shelby County Community, and right now when something serious comes up I have to deal with it, but I still have to triage things and the most bang for our buck right now in dealing with what we have going on is focusing on the drugs, focusing on the illegal narcotics," said Shires.
Shires elaborated on his concerns for narcotics issues across the county, which is where his attention lies, and the strides his office has taken in dealing with that issue. He says some cases will be gotten to at a later date, "I understand about public integrity of our system, but right now I feel I'm doing the community the best service by focusing on those things, and that means other things, other kinds of cases they just, they'll get their turn at some point."
Shelby County Today asked Shires if the Office of the Attorney General's office could address the case and he stated he hasn't looked at that possibility yet, "but if that time comes it will be handled appropriately." He also stated he has no control over the Texas Rangers investigation.
Although the civil case is now ended, after almost a year of an investigation into the alleged abuse of official capacity, the Texas Rangers have failed to provide the public with an answer whether the facts of their investigation would indicate illegal activity or offer vindication of a public official whose job it is to enforce the laws of Texas.
February 24, 2017 - Three Deep East Texas Electric Coop (DETEC) linemen were injured and transported to hospitals following an incident that took place on CR 3801 on Thursday, February 23, 2017.
Brittney Ford, DETEC Communications Specialist, said, "At this time, the DETEC linemen are receiving medical care and are in good spirits. We appreciate your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for these employees and their families.
"We are all family at DETEC and currently our focus is on their needs and recovery. DETEC is cooperating with regulatory organizations and the incident is under investigation, so out of respect for the workers involved, DETEC has not released the names of those employees or details of the incident at this time."
Prior to the incident, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 12:57pm to a grass fire on CR 3801. When the firemen arrived, they discovered a utility pole with an electric transformer attached had collapsed and caused a fire in a residents yard.
Fire had spread throughout the property. The firemen were able to extinguish the flames in the yard preventing it from reaching the house and extinguish the pole and electric transformer before DETEC personnel arrived. The firemen returned to their station at 1:27pm.
After that, ACE EMS was dispatched to the scene at 2:21pm for three DETEC linemen who were injured as a result of an apparent electric shock.
When Shelby County Today arrived at the scene, there were several utility trucks at the location and linemen were working to raise a new pole and transformer. Two ACE EMS ambulances transported the three men from the scene, two of them were transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment and the third individual was transported by a Life Air helicopter to LSU Hospital in Shreveport.
No further information is available at this time.
February 24, 2017 - All four lanes on the north end of Timpson on U.S. Highway 59 North are currently blocked. The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department will be diverting traffic onto FM 1645 toward Center.
Travelers are asked to be cautious and prepare to take alternate routes until an 18-wheeler blocking the northbound and southbound traffic lanes on the roadway has been cleared.
Related article:
Truck-Tractor Crashes on U.S. 59 in Timpson, Blocks Highway
February 23, 2017 - (Update): John Cody McDaniel was arrested at 11:58 a.m. Thurs., Feb. 23 on CR 1443 in Center.
February 22, 2017 - Center Crime Stoppers is seeking information on the whereabouts of John Cody McDaniel, 34, of Center. McDaniel has active felony warrants for Burglary of a Habitation (F-2) and Burglary of a Building (F-4).
McDaniel is described as a white male, 6’0” tall, weighing 170 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos on his arms and back.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online atwww.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.
If a caller does not wish to remain anonymous or receive a reward, they may call the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936-598-5600 or 936-572-1468 and speak with Chief Deputy DJ Dickerson.
If anyone is found to be hindering the apprehension, harboring or concealing, providing or aiding with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape or warns McDaniel of impending discovery or apprehension will be arrested and charged in accordance to Penal Code 38.05 Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a Felony 3 offense.
Submitted by Leah Chase
http://www.scsotx.org
February 23, 2017 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Sabine National Forest, have advised a prescribed burn located in Compartment 30,37-41, 4,943 acres. This area is located in Ragtown. Winds are predicted from the South at 10-15mph. Please see the attached map of the projected burn areas.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Sabine Ranger District office (409-625-1940)
February 20, 2017 - Wet roadway conditions proved influential in a resulting crash in the Grigsby Community on State Highway 7 West which sent four people to the hospital on Monday, February 20, 2017.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and assisted Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel in directing traffic and helped EMS personnel to move the occupants of a Camry to a waiting ambulance.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Keith Jones, at 3:54pm Phyllis A. Osbourne, 76, was driving a red Toyota Camry with passenger Cherryl J. Lovejoy, 72, eastbound on State Highway 7 just east of FM 2913 when the Camry began to hydroplane.
The Camry continued into the westbound traffic lanes and into the path of a green Jeep Patriot driven by driven by Patrick O'Bryan Brittain, 33, with passenger Nathan Wilson Brittain, 29, both of Center. The vehicles collided, leaving the Camry in the outside westbound traffic lane and the Patriot on the westbound shoulder.
Osbourne, Lovejoy and both Brittains were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Osbourne was issued a citation for unsafe speed.
Assisting Trooper Jones at the scene were Troopers Taylor Buster and Sean Smith.
February 20, 2017 - Panola College has received dozens of phone calls in the past few days reporting the problem of receiving a phone call from the College attempting to sell long-term health insurance and burial insurance. Panola College confirms these calls did not originate from the Panola College campus and is apparently the work of somebody using technology to mask the true source of the calls, commonly referred to as “caller ID spoofing” in the telecommunications industry.
Caller ID spoofers masquerade as representatives from other agencies by forging the display on your caller ID to manipulate callers into answering and giving out personal information.
Panola College would like to remind you that if you receive one of these calls to never give out personal information if you are at all suspicious of a phone call. If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency seeking personal information, hang up and call the phone number to verify the authenticity of the request.
If you receive a call and you suspect caller ID information has been falsified, you can file a complaint with the FCC at www.fcc.gov.
February 19, 2017 - Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle fire on Friday, February 17 very near to their station.
The truck, a purple 2011 GMC Z71 owned by Andrew Golden was engulfed in flames when the firemen arrived at a residence next to Shelbyville Cemetery at the intersection of State Highway 87 and FM 417. The firemen were quickly able to extinguish the flames and after that additional units arrived. The firemen continued to cool the truck as well as gain access to the engine to ensure the risk of fire was eliminated.
Golden had been sitting on the porch of the residence listening to music from his Z71 when the horn on the truck began blaring for an unknown reason. Fire shortly thereafter could be seen emanating from the vehicle. After the flames apparently overtook the brake system on the truck, it rolled backwards into a low lying area where it came to rest away from he residence and continued to burn.
Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, also responded to the scene. The cause of the fire could not immediately be determined at the scene, the fire remains under investigation.
The intersection of Bremen Street and U.S. Highway 59 through Timpson was the scene a of a two vehicle crash on February 16, 2017.
According to Timpson Police Officer Michelle Ashworth at around 11:50pm Pledge Duwayne Moore, 51, of Tenaha was southbound on North 1st Street (U.S. Highway 59) in the left lane driving a black 2003 Nissan.
At that time Alan Lee Gossett, 57, of Timpson was driving a tan 2006 Chevrolet Silverado crossing North 1st Street on Bremond Street and failed to yield right of way to traffic on North 1st Street. This caused the Nissan to strike the driver’s side of the truck at the back axle.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Gossett was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way.
The Nissan received major damage and was towed from the scene by Hopkins Wrecker Service.
February 16, 2017 - The DeSoto Parish Coroner confirmed today at 5:02pm the remains found in the helicopter wreckage were Terry Bailey, age 54 and Pam Bailey, age 57, both of Center.
Prayers are with the Bailey family and those who their lives have touched.
Survivor and service information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Neither individual preferred attention and often Shelby County Today would be told of the good deeds they had done but always proceeded with the phrase 'it's off the record' because that was the condition of the gift. They often tried to give freely and without recognition.
February 15, 2017 - Shelby County Today has received calls from area residents inquiring about a helicopter crash in Louisiana suspected to involve residents of Shelby County. At this time DeSoto Parish Sheriff Captain Richardson could only confirm they are investigating a helicopter crash at Wallace Lake.
Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department is assisting in the investigation and could not confirm any further information.
A FAA press release states, a Bell B429 helicopter with two people aboard crashed under unknown circumstances into Wallace Lake today, about 10 miles southeast of Shreveport. The aircraft is believed to have been flying from Shreveport Downtown Airport to Center, Texas, when the accident occurred.
FAA investigators are on their way to the site and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.
The FAA and NTSB do not release the names of pilots or passengers in air accidents. Those will be provided by local officials after relatives have been notified.
The tail number of the aircraft has been confirmed as N598PB.
The FAA website indicates the owner of the helicopter matching that tail number is Terry Bailey, and the address for the registration is 1008 Southview Circle in Center, Texas.
Related Story:
Letter to the Editor (Thank You Terry Bailey)
County Judge Remarks on the Dedication of Bailey Family to Shelby County
Center Mayor Issues Statement Regarding Loss of Terry, Pam Bailey
Wreckage Found in Search for Missing Helicopter on Wallace Lake (KSLA)
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