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June 18, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners moved forward with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Blue Cross Blue Shield group health insurance plan for 2025 for the county during their June 12, 2024 meeting.
County Judge Allison Harbison commented their is an 8.9% increase in the expense of the plan; however, Judge Harbison said this is an increase other counties have already had to contend with for a longer period of time.
Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, referenced some detailed information provided for the commissioners to consider.
“You can see that in some of your data that for last year, or the year that was focused on, the TAC paid out one million more dollars in claims than money we paid in to the program. So we can see rather that our formula is going to be skewed from the full average because of that. And that's also what happened with the previous year. So we've had some high cost claims here in the last couple of years,” said Porterfield.
Porterfield commented that Shelby County has a good plan for medical an prescription coverage, and that the increase will be a $95,000 increase to the county’s budget with an average of 100 to 110 employees on health insurance.
Commissioner McSwain moved to approve the insurance plan, keep the same co-pay and keep the plan as-is. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout and the motion carried.
“The sad part about this, we know we're restricted by the state on how much we revenue we can raise each year and this will take about a fourth of our new revenue that we can raise,” said Commissioner McSwain. “But it's a good investment”
The commissioners heard report from Eric Carver with Axley & Rode, LLP. on the Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Report for Shelby County. (Click here to review the report)
Carver provided a favorable report with one concern annually brought to the commissioners’ attention.
“We do have a deficiency would bring your attention, we've talked about it for years, it's really your JPs, there's a vulnerability on this there just because you don't have two or three people in the office. I'm not saying do anything different. It's just be aware there's a financial risk because you have one person sort of controlling the entire financial process related to this,” said Carver. “And y'all monitor and we detect something after the fact but you don't have the preventative in place with multiple people. Again, I'm just making y'all aware of it. I've heard that before nothing new. I'm not recommending really changing things, just be aware of that at least.”
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to accept the report, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Tom Bellmyer. The motion carried.
The commissioners approved giving permission for Pct 2 and Pct 3 Commissioner to access private property on CR 2335 to relocate debris.
Commissioner Lout moved to approve an agreement discussed by County Attorney John Price, and Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:24am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of May 1, 2024 Special meeting, May 8, 2024 Regular meeting, May 15, 2024 Special meeting, May 22, 2024 Special meeting, and May 29, 2024 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Officers Report. 4. Shelby County Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Financial Report by Eric Carver, C.P.A. with Axley & Rode, LLP. 5. Texas Association of Counties Blue Cross Blue Shield Group Health Insurance plan for FY2025. 6. Permission for Pct 2 and Pct 3 Commissioner to access private property on CR 2335 to relocate debris. 7. Adjourn. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Review and possibly award bid for four (4) day cab haul trucks for the Road and Bridge Department.
June 18, 2024 - (Update): Center Police Department booking information indicates Tameka Landon, 51, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, felony 3, on June 16, 2024 and was transferred to the Shelby County Jail on June 17, 2024.
According to information from the Center Police Department responded to a 911 call at 910 Twilight Lane in reference to a disturbance on June 15, 2024, at approximately 10:23pm
While officers were en-route, 911 communications remained on the line with the caller, and instructed the caller on life-saving measures.
Center PD Officers arrived to find a male subject, later identified as Darrion Landon, 42, of Center, laying on the floor with blood around him, and a female subject, later identified as Tameka Landon, 51, of Center administering life-saving measures.
Officers took over life-saving measures, by applying pressure to a stab wound to slow the bleeding. Allegiance EMS arrived and took over from the officers.
Darrion Landon was transported to the Center ER in critical condition, where he was later pronounced deceased.
During the preliminary investigation this was found to be an isolated incident between two people, and there is no fear of further violence to the public.
Tameka Landon was placed in custody and transported to the Center PD Holding facility for questioning.
This is an ongoing, active investigation, and further details will be released when available.
June 18, 2024 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Willie Woods, Jr., 28, of Timpson. Woods is described as a 6’0” black male and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Woods has active warrants for Theft by Deception.
The SCSO is seeking assistance from the public in locating Woods. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the SCSO (936) 598-5601, or Captain DJ Dickerson (936) 572-0255.
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 Woods of impending discovery or apprehension, will be arrested and charged in accordance with Penal Code 38.05, Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a Felony 3 offense.
June 17, 2024 - State Highway 7 East (SH7E) and SL 500 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on June 6, 2024, involving a passenger car and an 18-wheeler.
According to the Center Police Department, at 1:45pm a white 2020 International truck tractor owned by American Leasing and driven by John Beverly, 64, of Dallas was westbound on SH7E The 18-wheeler ran a stop sign when he failed to observe the sign due to an alarm on his dashboard at SL 500 and collided with a silver 2014 Chevrolet passenger car driven by Yolanda Bledsoe, 41, of Center.
Neither driver was reported to have been injured involving the crash; however a passenger, Jacorey Atkins, 24, was transported by EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for medical evaluation.
No citations were issued.
The crash was investigated by Officer Conner Gilpatrick, assisted by Officers Billy Lusk and Bobby Hudnall.
June 17, 2024 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today.
The 815 acres burn will be by hand and will begin at 10am June 17, 2024 in the Hawthorne area of Sabine National National Forest, Block A, Compartment 51 in Sabine County. Winds are out of the southeast and drift smoke may be noticeable in Shelbyville. The estimated completed time is 6pm.
Smoke will impact areas around the prescribed burn, and long-range drift smoke may be present during and after ignition operations.
Please drive with caution. Ground personnel will be operating in the area and smoke may impact visibility on local roads and highways near the burn unit.
U.S. Forest Service Prescribed Burn Tracker:
Southern Region Prescribed Burn Accomplishment Tracker (arcgis.com)
Click image to view Portacool video statement
June 17, 2024 - A year has passed since fire broke out at Portacool's Manufacturing plant and firefighters from all over the county came together to try to extinguish the flames. Portacool did not give in to the catastrophic event and released the following statement regarding the company's journey over the past year.
Statement from Portacool
Twelve months ago, we watched our company burn to ashes. While we watched 30 years of history go up in flames, we also witnessed the beginning of the new Portacool. While devastated, we were not defeated! The courage, the guts, and the fight that this team displayed are beyond belief. This team never wavered, never complained, yet only found ways to do more. We moved with tremendous speed and precision, making decisions without hesitation or fear of failure. With a shared goal, we were able to recover in weeks and rebuild in months. One year later, we stand together and remain the heavyweight champion of portable cooling, or as we will say, at the Apex!
"To this team, words cannot express my appreciation and admiration for what we have accomplished. Your courage and passion are beyond comprehension, and I can only say one more time, Thank You and God Bless!" - Ben Wulf, CEO
Related Article: Firefighters Working to Extinguish Portacool Fire; Statement from Company
June 17, 2024 - (Update: 2:30pm) - The line repair has been completed by City utility personnel and flushed to ensure contaminated water is purged. The estimated water lost due to this leak is in excess of one million gallons. Returning this line into service allows water to be pumped from the Aiken water treatment plant at Lake Pinkston to the million gallon, McSwain Hill storage tank on Hwy 7, which controls the normal operating pressure of the water system. As that tank begins filling, customers that experienced decreased pressures should notice gradual increase through the evening and overnight hours.
Because of the prompt staff response, isolation of the damaged pipe section, and operation of the Mill Creek water plant, the system was able to remain in condition such that a boil water notice was not necessary. Please continue to refrain from any excessive or unnecessary water use this afternoon to allow storage tanks to refill and your water system to return to normal operating conditions.
Sunday evening, June 16, the City’s primary 18” water supply line to town from Lake Pinkston experienced a significant failure. Crews have been working to affect the repairs overnight and continue this morning. As use increases, water availability will continue to decline reducing system pressure.
The City’s system is operating entirely on the Old City Lake/Mill Creek water treatment plant. As soon as repairs can be completed, water will begin restoring system operations to normal within twelve to twenty-four hours.
You can help by reducing any excess use. Please do not use any water unnecessarily and especially not for outdoor use.
June 14, 2024 - Law-enforcement officials went on high alert when an inmate from the Shelby County jail escaped Thursday evening at around 6pm.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department shared, "Sheriff Kevin Windham reports the escape of Torin McSwain on Thursday, June 13. McSwain was caught by correctional officers within 10 minutes of his escape. He was treated for injuries he sustained during his escape, and returned to the Shelby County Jail."
The inmate was apprehended on Nacogdoches Street in Center, and from there was then transported to the Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for medical evaluation.
Assisting in the short search was the Center Police Department and Texas Departments of Public Safety State Troopers.
Customers on CR 1095, Center, Texas
June 14, 2024 - Due to a broken water line, on June 5, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the McClelland Water Supply Corporation, TX 2100011, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees ON CR 1095, Center TX, that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of June 14, 2024
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Renita Hudman at McClelland Water Supply, 936-598-9781.
June 5, 2024 - Due to a broken water line on June 4, 2024 through June 5, 2024, caused by heavy rainfall, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the McClelland Water system to notify customers on CR 1095, Center TX, to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Renita Hudman at 936-598-9781
June 14, 2024 - (Update - 4:39pm): Commissioner Smith states the roadway is now open.
Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, announces that County Road 3199 and Carroll Street will be closed today June 14, 2024, to thru traffic while crews install a water main tap.
The road will be re-opened as soon as work is completed.
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