Shelby County Today

March 16, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that an emergency meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court will be held on the 17th day of March, 2016 at 9:30am in the courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1. Discuss and ratify March 10, 2016 Declaration of Disaster.

2. Discuss and possibly approve dumpsters to be placed in Precinct 3 for debris removal.

March 15, 2016 - The Center Fire Department helped EMS personnel extricate a man from his truck following a two-vehicle collision Thursday, March 10th at the intersection of Hurst Street and Nacogdoches Street.

The crash was dispatched around 1pm and first on scene were deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department who then notified the Center Police Department and the fire department. Emergency responders quickly went to work removing the man from his pickup which had come to rest against a large metal utility pole.

According to Center Police Department Officer John Welch, a green 2004 Yukon driven by Angela Owens, 25 of Joaquin, was traveling north on Hurst Street approaching the intersection of Nacogdoches and Hurst Street. As she entered the intersection, a white 2013 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Kevin Whitton, 45 of Center, was traveling west on Nacogdoches Street and ran a red light entering the pathway of the Yukon. The Yukon struck the Silverado on the drivers side with its front and the Silverado spun around striking a pole before coming to rest. Firemen did have to use the jaws-of-life to pop the driver's door open in order for EMS to be able to safely remove the driver.

Whitton was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department by ACE EMS with unknown injuries. No passengers were reported in either vehicle. No citations were issued.

March 15, 2016 - Search and rescue operations were a regular thing for emergency personnel this past weekend in the Joaquin area while they were busy on the water transporting people to dry land and away from the dangers of rising waters.

As water levels on the Sabine River have continued to ascend, it has continued to be a nonstop effort of law enforcement and other emergency personnel to increase patrol in the area and come to the aid of those needing help.

Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison issued a mandatory evacuation order on March 10, 2016 for residents of low lying areas of Sabine River and Toledo Bend Lake within Shelby County. Although many did heed this warning, many residents in the Sand Isle Community did not, instead choosing to remain and ride out the event hopeful of a different outcome.

Initial expectations were for the water to crest on Sunday, March 13, but this would not be soon enough for many of the holdouts as the water poured its way into their yards and into their homes by Saturday morning, March 12. Law enforcement officers and volunteer firemen implored residents to evacuate through Friday; however, many stayed and the officers and firemen received the call from dispatchers they were needed to evacuate those who chose to stay.

By late morning on March 12, water had made FM 2572 on the way to Swede Johnson Recreation Area impassable. Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster and Game Wardens had shut down the recreational area to incoming traffic and turned people back. Boats were in the water with firemen from the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, DeSoto District 1 and Texas Game Wardens traveling the county roads, which much more resembled rivers, in search of anyone trapped in their homes. The emergency personnel, constantly risking their well-being, ferried residents, their belongings and sometimes animals to dry land.

People flocked to the boat ramps in anticipation of seeing the flood waters and in some instances of catching fish or spearing them with an arrow, as some were bow hunters. A man and his sons were located at the Swede Johnson Recreation Area where they were bow hunting along the roadway on FM 2572. Once they were found there, the Game Wardens asked them to leave the area for their own safety.

Shelby County Today was along for the ride as Texas Game Wardens Nathan Skeen and Anthony King traveled the waterway in search of anyone needing help. The game wardens and firemen were met with one individual who refused to go regardless of the promise water would surely overtake what dry land remained on his property and probably his home.

Another man and woman who found themselves on an island, as water had surrounded their home, felt safe from the encroachment of water until it was determined a tug boat which the man was watching over was gone and had quite possibly sunk. This was discovered around 2pm.

Game Warden Skeen and Joaquin Volunteer firemen returned to rescue the couple, as well as their belongings, chickens and dogs. It was determined, as of 7pm that evening, two individuals remained in the Sand Isle Community by their own choice. The water remained high on Sunday and boat traffic along certain areas of the Sabine River was being highly discouraged. Local authorities highly discouraged boat traffic between U.S. Highway 84 boat ramp and Swede Johnson Boat Ramp/Lovick's Landing. With the risk of hazardous wake and wash occurring, boaters were informed they could be held liable, both criminally and civilly for damages incurred.

An Executive Order was issued by the Sabine River Authority on March 13, 2016 closing the Toledo Bend Project to all boat traffic aside from law enforcement and rescuers until further notice.

The law enforcement and emergency crews surely saved the lives of many as they helped to bring individuals to safety from underwater communities.

March 14, 2016 - A Shelby County viewer reported receiving a call from the IRS this morning from (907) 306-7138 and was instructed to pay taxes or be penalized or arrested. Always use caution when receiving phone calls were the caller is threatening and demanding payment of money owed.

According to a consumer alert on irs.gov - Note that the IRS will never: 1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; 2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; 3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; 4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or 5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

Sheriff Willis Blackwell would like the citizens of Shelby County to be aware of several scams going around including an IRS scam.

The people are from the Middle East and they call stating you owe the IRS some money and wanting you to send it to them by credit card or bank card and saying if you don't, you will be arrested.

The IRS does not operate this way at all. Do not send them anything. These people are very persistent. If they call, just hang up.