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February 19, 2016 - State Highway 7 East near Loop 500 was the scene of a single-vehicle wreck on Friday, February 19, 2016.
The Center Police Department had just been dispatched to the scene when Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Ricardo Segura arrived on scene. The Center Fire Department was requested when it was determined the driver of the vehicle was trapped.
Center fire personnel arrived at the location in front of Paradise Villa Apartments, Jaws of Life were deployed as well as pry bars and the firemen worked to extricate the driver until he was freed and moved to a waiting ambulance.
According to Center Police Officer John Welch, at 10:41am Ricky McCowin, 44, of Center was traveling west on State Highway 7 East in a blue 1998 Buick LeSabre when he left the roadway to the left.
The Buick traveled up and embankment and through a cyclone fence before entering the front lawn of Paradise Villa Apartments where it struck several hedges and flipped over. The Buick then rolled backwards on its wheels into the east bound shoulder of State Highway 7 and came to rest facing west.
McCowin was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of his injuries.
Officer Welch issued McCowin citations for no driver's license, no insurance, no seat belt, and unsafe speed.
February 19, 2016 - An 18-wheeler overturned outside of Timpson on U.S. Highway 59 at FM 1645 in the yard of a residence which has been a regular crash scene over the years.
The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of the crash where they began traffic control and shut down the outside traffic lane and were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Cody Muse.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Ricardo Segura, at 9am DeLania Williams Manchack, 47, of Nacogdoches was driving an 18-wheeler hauling wood chips for TW Trucking Services out of Center from Nacogdoches to Louisiana when she left the roadway to the right in a curve.
The truck traveled on the northbound shoulder and over a culvert before turning over onto its right side where the wood chips it was hauling spilled out and the truck came to rest just before FM 1645.
Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service also responded to the scene; however, no injuries were reported.
Manchack stated to Trooper Segura she was run off the road by an SUV vehicle similar to a Dodge Nitro.
No citations have been issued at this time, the crash remains under investigation.
February 19, 2016 - Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 7 East and Loop 500 on Thursday, Februay 18, 2016.
According to Center Police Officers John Welch, at 7:40am a 2014 white and blue Dodge Ram AT&T van driven by Kevin Pitts, 34, of Carthage was stopped at the stop sign on the westbound side of Loop 500 when he began to cross Highway 7. At that time the Dodge entered the path of a black 2010 GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling east on Highway 7 driven by Bruce Sanford, 50, of Timpson.
The truck subsequently collided with the Dodge and a 2001 red Pontiac van driven by Magdiel Delacruz-Robera, 35, with passenger Agenol Delacruz-Robera, 28, which was in the eastbound lane of Loop 500.
ACE EMS arrived on scene and transported Pitts and Sanford to the Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. Magdiel Delacruz-Robera was issued a citation for no driver's license.
Center Police Lt. Jeremy Bittick and Sgt. Ricky King assisted Welch with the crash investigation.
February 19, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 22nd day of February, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. 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:
- Discuss and possibly take action to allow Precinct 1 to enter into contract with Hancock Timber Management for the purchase of gravel.
February 19, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 22nd day of February 2016 at 9:30 a.m. 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:
- Approve and pay monthly expenses.
- Public Comments on Agenda items.
- Record filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund Audit for February 2016.
- Discuss and possibly take action to have the Shelby County Criminal Justice Community Plan approved.
- Discuss and possibly take action on Tax Abatement Agreement with Sustainable Soil Solutions, LLC.
- Janet Ritter to address the court concerning request for “County Road” status to be changed to private property.
- Adopt the Resolution Authorizing a Signatory to Execute Documents for the Purchase of Property.
- Adjourn.
February 18, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 Shelby County Sheriff's Department received a call regarding a shooting incident that had occurred on FM 3172 in the Huxley area. The victim identified as an Anthony Salas and a Leslie Workman were located traveling West bound on FM 417E in a Ford Explorer SUV with notable damage to the vehicle. Salas was observed to have sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm and Workman sustained injury from the shattering of the window glass.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that a confrontation occurred on FM 3172 in which a Jeep Wrangler Sahara operated by a William Stutts and the Ford Explorer SUV operated by Anthony Salas had made contact and Stutts fired two shots from a .22 caliber rifle into Salas' drivers side area in which one bullet hit Salas. It was also discovered that an Andrea Chadwick was an involved party to this incident.
Stutts was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 2 and was booked into the Shelby County Sheriff's Department jail. Stutts was arraigned on Thursday, February 18th by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Maxie Eaves with total bond set at $16,000.
This case is actively being investigated by Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson and Investigator Kevin W. Windham.
February 18, 2016 - According to an affidavit filed in the Shelby County 123rd Judicial District Court by Shelby County Attorney Gary Rholes, the four-year-old male sibling of a two-year-old female child who perished in a house fire in the Lone Cedar Community on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 is being taken into the custody of Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
DFPS was contacted by Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Chad Brown who informed that the father Jesse Dwayne Whitteck had admitted using methamphetamine and also stated there was evidence the mother Raven Whitteck used methamphetamine. DFPS was informed the name of the deceased child to be Roselynn Whitteck, and that she was being transported for autopsy.
Upon arrival at the hospital, DFPS was informed examination of the four-year-old child by the hospital had been refused by his father. At the time DFPS was at the hospital, Raven Whitteck was unconscious and intubated. She was transported to UTMB Burn Unit in Galveston for burns on her hands and possible internal damage.
DFPS spoke with Jesse Whitteck at the hospital and according to the affidavit stated he was not at home at the time the fire started; however, he arrived when it was still burning. He admitted he and Raven Whitteck used methamphetamine, and later admitted to medical personnel they both used methamphetamines on the morning of the fire.
The affidavit states Jesse Whitteck has a past conviction from 2007 of possession of marijuana. Based on the admitted drug abuse, refusal to allow the four-year-old child to be examined at the emergency room, and the unknown circumstances of the fire including the two-year-old siblings death, it was determined the Department had exigent circumstances to take custody of the child immediately. Due to the circumstances of the child's death which are still not completely known and the parents' abuse of methamphetamine, the Department believes that it is in the best interest of the child to be taken into the Temporary Managing Conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in order to assure his safety and well-being.
Further information on this case will be provided on Shelby County Today as it develops.
February 17, 2016 - A house fire ended in tragedy Wednesday, February 17, 2016 when a two-year-old perished in it.
The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department along with the DeSoto Parish Fire Department were dispatched at 12:40pm to a mobile home fire on FM 3082 less than 1 mile from SH 7 West in the Lone Cedar Community.
According to a press release from the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, units arrived to find a mobile home fully involved with fire, and learned that a two-year old girl was still inside. The child's mother and a five-year old boy were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape. Due to the rapidly moving fire, efforts to rescue the child were unsuccessful.
The mother was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center -Center Emergency Department and later life flighted to the Texas Burn Center at UTMB in Galveston. The extent of her injuries are unknown at this time.
An inquest of the two-year old who perished was performed by Justice of the Peace PCT 3 Margie Anderson. The child was taken into the care of Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas.
Also responding to the scene was Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Shad Sparks and Investigator Chris King. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Sheriff's Department and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office.
The name of the family has not been released at this time.
February 16, 2016 - Shelby County and Sheriff Willis Blackwell are the target of allegations which have been made by a Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy referencing the misuse of county property and retaliation against the officer.
According to court documents filed in the Shelby County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Derek Barbee, a 10-year officer with the department, is suing the sheriff and Shelby County for damages, special damages, costs of the suit and any financial relief the court may determine.
The allegations go into detail about the illegal use of detention center trusty labor to improve a private deer camp lease by Sheriff Blackwell. It is also alleged Sheriff Blackwell used other equipment in relation to this project including specifically, the Shelby County Sheriff's Department Mobile Command Center, Kawasaki Mule and its hauling trailer, a welding machine, cutting torches all belonging to the Sheriff's Department.
Use of tubing belonging to Devon Energy which, according to Deputy Barbee, was recovered during a theft case is alleged to have been used to construct a bridge on the deer lease property, Barbee also claims the pipe was previously used and was contaminated with radioactivity and/or poison. Deputy Barbee also alleges to have witnessed Sheriff Blackwell transporting trustys to and from the deer camp, located in Panola County.
Deputy Barbee states he reported this alleged misuse of taxpayer money and county jail trusty labor to Shelby County Chief Deputy Shad Sparks who stated he had a legal duty to report the information to a higher authority and contacting Texas Ranger Travis Brazil was the next step to take.
The documents continue to outline concerns Barbee had for his job safety and the possibility of retaliation due to his allegations, and referenced a meeting he had with County Judge Allison Harbison. The documents state during that conversation, Judge Harbison informed Deputy Barbee she had also been in contact with Ranger Brazil and the investigation was ongoing.
Deputy Barbee has been out on sick leave and during that time, according to the court documents he was contacted by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and advised he was to make arrangements for the next day to "surrender" his county owned vehicle and other law enforcement equipment in his possession. The document goes on to state Barbee feels this is retaliation if not termination of his employment.
The timing of these serious allegations cannot be ignored, as they come during the election season during the race for Sheriff, as well as the filing of the case being done on the first day of early voting, Deputy Barbee also worked under the previous Sheriff's Department administration which sheriff candidate Ricky Allen also worked under. A court of law will determine if these allegations come to bear fruit.
Early Voting Extended Hours Sat, Sun
Extended office hours are from 10am until 2pm on Saturday, February 20 and from 12noon until 4pm on Sunday, February 21st.
February 16, 2016 - The Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Early voting starts Tuesday, February 16th and ends Friday, February 26th. Photo identification is currently required for voting in person.
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at the Shelby County Clerk's office, 124 Austin, Street, Center, Texas 75935 between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm beginning February 16th. Extended office hours are from 10am until 2pm on Saturday, February 20 and from 12noon until 4pm on Sunday, February 21st.
Applications for ballot by mail can be mailed to Jennifer L. Fountain - Shelby County Clerk, P.O. Box 1987, Center, Texas 75935. Application for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on February 19, 2016.
To view the Republican Party ballot for each precinct: 1N-Center, 1SE-Center, 1SO-Center, 1SW-Center, 1W-Center, 2-Excelsior, 3-Sardis, 4-Huxley, 5-Joaquin, 6-Dreka, 7-Shelbyville, 8-Tenaha, 9N-Timpson, 9S-Timpson
To view the Democratic Party ballots: All precincts
To view political candidacy announcements submitted to Shelby County Today, click here.
***Announcements are on two pages, at the bottom off the pages are links to go to the second page of announcements.
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