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January 28, 2016 - Workers cutting into the concrete at the intersection of Riggs Street and Shelbyville Street managed to cut a gas line and ignite leaking natural gas on Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Center Fire Department was dispatched to the scene just before 11am and when they arrived, flames were catching a utility pole just near the leak.
Water was being put onto the fire by the workers who cut the pipe until the firemen arrived. The firemen quickly worked to extinguish the flames on the utility pole to prevent further damage to the pole and utility lines. Fire continued to burn the excess gas off as it exited the leak while water was continuously applied to the flames to prevent them spreading anywhere else.
As the firemen worked, Center Police Officers blocked both ends of Shelbyville Street from Riggs Street to Newman Street and redirected traffic off Shelbyville Street.
Once Centerpoint Energy arrived on the scene, the firemen were given the go ahead to fully extinguish the flames while a crew was en-route to repair the line. The Center Fire Department returned to the station at 1:10pm once the Centerpoint Energy crew arrived and determined the assistance of the fire department was no longer necessary.
Employees at a nearby business stated the initial ignition of the gas sounded like a "volcano erupted;" however, they believed the noise was a large piece of equipment on the roadway until it was discovered the gas was on fire.
Time to completion of the repair is uncertain at this time. A gas line was hit at the end of Nacogdoches Street on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at around 1:45pm by the same work crew and the Center Fire Department was also dispatched to that leak. The workers confirmed to Shelby County Today they were attempting to construct a sidewalk ramp leading to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Nacogdoches street was closed off until the repair could be completed, which wasn't until 8pm Wednesday evening.
The project which the workers are currently in progress with is a $1 million TxDOT project covering the installation of handicap ramp and sidewalk improvements in the City of Center in areas which have already been prioritized by the Center City Council or Street Economic Development Corporation.
January 28, 2016 - New and updated property tax information has just been compiled by Shelby County Appraisal District and is available now to assist taxpayers. This property tax information is current and covers a wide range of topics, such as taxpayer remedies, exemptions, appraisals and is of value to select groups, such as disabled veterans and persons who are 65 years of age or older.
“Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or a taxpayer, it’s important you know your rights concerning the property tax laws.” said Robert Pigg, chief appraiser of Shelby County Appraisal District. “You can contact us about any property tax issues with full confidence that we will provide you the most complete, accurate and up-to-date available information to assist you.”
This includes information about the following programs:
• Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans - The law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, spouses and survivors of deceased disabled veterans and spouses and survivors of military personnel who died on active duty. The amount of exemption is determined according to percentage of service-connected disability. The law also provides a 100% exemption for 100% disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, beginning in 2009.
• Property Tax Exemptions - Non-profit organizations that meet statutory requirements may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to the appraisal district by a specific date. Businesses that receive tax abatements granted by taxing units, firms that ship inventory out of Texas and businesses that acquire pollution control property may also be eligible for statutory exemptions.
• Rendering Taxable Property - If a business owns tangible personal property that is used to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local county appraisal district by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory and equipment used by a business. Owners do not have to render exempt property such as church property or an agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.
• Appraisal Notices - A Notice of Appraised Value is mailed to each taxpayer in mid May. This is the taxpayer’s opportunity to check for any discrepancies in their value, property description, address, exemptions, etc.
• Property Taxpayer Remedies - This Comptroller publication explains in detail how to protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review board (ARB) can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the option of taking a taxpayer’s case to district court or entering into binding arbitration if the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB hearing.
• Homestead Exemptions - A homestead is generally defined as the home and land used as the owner’s principle residence on January 1 of the tax year. A homestead exemption reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result, lowers property taxes. Applications are submitted to the appraisal district.
• Productivity Appraisal - Property owners who use land for timberland production, agricultural purposes and wildlife management can be granted property tax relief on their land. They may apply to the appraisal district for an agricultural appraisal which may result in a lower appraisal of the land based on how much the taxpayer produces, versus what the land would sell for in the open market.
• Residence Homestead Tax Deferral - Texas homeowners may postpone paying the currently delinquent property taxes due on the appreciating value of their homes by filing a tax deferral affidavit at the appraisal district. This tax relief allows homeowners to pay the property taxes on 105 percent of the preceding year’s appraised value of their homestead, plus the taxes on any new improvements to the homestead. The remaining taxes are postponed, but not cancelled, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year.
• Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older and Disabled Homeowners - Texans who are 65 years of age or older, or who are disabled as defined by law, may postpone paying current and delinquent property taxes on their homes by signing a tax deferral affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file, taxes are deferred, but not cancelled, as long as the owner continues to own and live in the home. Interest continues to accrue on unpaid taxes. You may obtain a deferral affidavit at the appraisal district.
• Notice of Availability of Electronic Communication - Chief appraisers of a county appraisal district and appraisal review boards may communicate electronically through email or other media with property owners or their designated representatives. Written agreements are required for notices and other documents to be delivered electronically in place of mailing.
• Protesting Property Appraisal Values – Property owners who disagree with the appraisal district’s appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other action that adversely affects them may protest their property value to the appraisal district’s appraisal review board.
For more information about these programs, contact the Shelby County Appraisal District at (936) 598-6171. More information is also available from the state Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division website at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/.
January 28, 2016 - As of 11am Thursday, January 28th, the Center Fire Department currently has Shelbyville Street blocked off from Newman Street beside H&S Discount down to the Conco Gas Station due to a gasline on fire at the corner of Shelbyville Street and Riggs Street. Be prepared for traffic delays and possible detours.
January 27, 2016 - City of Tenaha City Regular Scheduled Council Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday – February 16, 2016 at 5:15 p.m.
City Council Meeting Room
City Hall
238 N. George Bowers Drive
Tenaha, Texas 75974
2016 Regular Scheduled Council Meetings start at 5:15 p.m. on the dates listed below:
March 21, 2016
April 18, 2016
May 16, 2016
June 20, 2016
July 18, 2016
August 15, 2016
September 19, 2016
October 17, 2016
November 21, 2016
December – TBD
January 27, 2016 - LUFKIN – A Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order has been issued establishing a lower speed limit on a portion of State Highway 87 in Shelby County.
The speed limit change is a result of a recent traffic and engineering speed study conducted on the roadway and will allow for a safer traffic flow and provide for better maneuverability through the area.
The speed limit on SH 87 will be reduced from 70 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour from the end of the Center High School Speed Limit Zone to 2,500 feet west of the Christian Academy School Zone along SH 87.
Motorists are advised to be alert to the changing speed limit and abide by all traffic control devices and signage.
The lower speed limit will take effect once signs are installed.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395
January 26, 2016 - The Center Fire Department fought a house fire Tuesday, January 26, 2016 on CR 1465 at the residence of Curtis Harper in the Mt. Gillion Community. The firemen were dispatched at 10:36am and when the firemen arrived, flames were pouring out the front of the building.
According to the Center Fire Department, the fire appeared to have originated in the kitchen; however, the true origin could not be determined once the fire was extinguished. One apparent source of fire was a refrigerator in the kitchen, which once the firemen had it extinguished, they removed it from the home.
Fire continued to burn in the attic of the house and the firemen were able to finish it off there. While the Center FD fought the blaze, Timpson Volunteer Fire Department who had had also been dispatched to the scene by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department arrived, and although it was not their area offered assistance to the Center FD.
Considerable damage resulted to the interior of the home. Once the fire was extinguished, the Center FD returned to the station and were back in service by 12:55pm.
January 25, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners considered a tax abatement agreement with Sustainable Energy Soil Solutions, LLC. at their meeting held on Monday, January 25, 2016; however, a motion was carried to table the item until the next meeting. Morgan Barnett, general manager of the business, spoke with the commissioners about the process of making the fertilizer. Judge Allison Harbison remarked the business has already started working on the project, which may be an issue, as the adopted guidelines for tax abatements by the county include the project or business seeking the abatement not be in progress. Judge Harbison stated that will be for the commissioners to decide, and then move forward with a public hearing.
The business is located at the old Bruce Armstrong location off FM 699. The process includes taking raw poultry litter, composting, and then pelletizing the material so it can be bagged and marketed for fertilizer. Travis Rodgers, Commissioner Precinct 3, asked if there would be a smell to contend with emanating from the facility. Barnett stated they have 1400 tons of the chicken litter on the site for four months and they have had no complaints on the odor from anyone living nearby.
Shelby County is one of many counties in Texas which has been mandated to convert their filing system to digital, called e-filing. According to Lori Oliver, District Clerk, the process of e-filing began January 1, 2016. She believes the Supreme Court's goal is for the county to eventually be paperless and this means paper pleadings will no longer be accepted in the future. During court proceedings, when documents are filed, they will be scanned immediately into the computer system and the hard copy will be returned to the submitter.
The District Clerk office and County Clerk office will be purchasing computers for their clerks, but this will not cover all needed computers.
"There's not enough money in the judge's budget to purchase the computers and they're also asking for additional technology, or hardware so that [the District Judges] can write digital docket sheets," said Oliver.
A motion was carried to pay for the needed court technology out of the contingency fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.
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Agenda items receiving approval include: 1. Pay monthly expenses. Items tabled during the meeting: Tax Abatement Agreement with Sustainable Soil Solutions, LLC. |
January 23, 2016 - Emergency responders were dispatched to an accident in the Rolling Hills area around 12-noon Friday, January 22, 2016 which took the life of a Huxley man.
According to Constable Pct 2 Jamie Hagler, James Laughlin, age 70, had just driven onto his property when he got out of the pickup truck he was driving and the vehicle began to roll. Once realizing the truck was moving, Laughlin attempted to stop it when the pickup rolled into a tree pinning him. Family called 911 and ACE EMS responded to the scene along with the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies Roy Bailey and Derek Barbee, and Constable Hagler.
Laughlin succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Pct 2, Marla Denby at 1:15pm. Watson and Sons Funeral Home took into their care Mr. Laughlin. Services are pending at this time.
January 22, 2016 - The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) and Center Fire Department (CFD) battled the fire at the residence of Terry and Marissa Harper on CR 2554 Thursday, January 21, 2016.
When the SVFD arrived at the scene, the house was engulfed in flames and they requested the assistance of the CFD. As the CFD was en-route, the SVFD worked to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread of the fire to a neighboring workshop on the property.
Once the CFD arrived, the departments worked together to finish off the blaze; however, there was no saving the mobile home at that time.
A dog that was in the house perished as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire is suspected to have originated at an electrical outlet which is the vicinity where the fire began.
Firemen were able to retrieve some belongings from the house for the homeowner.
The firemen returned to the station at 3pm.
January 21, 2016 - Thursday started with early Thunder Storms passing through the northern part of Shelby County at 4am dropping hail on the ground.
Residents in the storm area briefly had the feeling of seeing snow on the ground until closer inspection revealed hail.
T-Storms hit the area again around noon with heavy wind and rain. The forecast now: According to the National Weather Service, Shreveport La., a Lake wind advisory is in effect tonight through 6 PM CST Friday for extreme Southeast Oklahoma, all of East Texas, Southwest Arkansas and North Louisiana.
A developing surface Low pressure system over the lower Mississippi Valley tonight will Result in a tightening pressure gradient over all of the four state region tonight through much of Friday. Northwest winds will Increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph this evening over East Texas. Extreme Southeast Oklahoma, adjacent Southwest Arkansas and Western Louisiana, and Increase elsewhere across southcentral Arkansas and northcentral Louisiana after Midnight. These Strong winds will persist through much of Friday before diminishing Friday evening.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Lake wind advisory, which is in effect until 6PM CST Friday.
Event: Northwest winds will Increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph this evening over East Texas. Extreme Southeast Oklahoma, adjacent Southwest Arkansas and Western Louisiana. These Strong winds will continue through much of Friday, behind a strengthening surface Low pressure system that will lift Northeast across the Southeast United states.
Timing: This evening through 6PM CST Friday.
Impact: Boaters on area lakes should exercise caution due to rough conditions.
Precautionary/preparedness actions: A Lake wind advisory indicates that winds will cause rough chop on area Lakes. Small boats will be especially prone to capsizing.
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