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May 20, 2015 - Shelby County Today was on scene as officers searched the vehicle where they recovered a large amount of narcotics and money. Center Police Officer Jake Gross is seen at the back of the vehicle as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Bradley Horton searches the passenger side of the vehicle with Sgt. Scott Burkhalter.
Center Police Department traffic stop nets an assortment of drugs, a gun, and over $30,000 in suspected drug money in the early hours of Tuesday morning on Hurst Street.
According to a Center Police Department press release, Sgt. Scotty Burkhalter with his K9 partner, "Taz", observed a black Chrysler 300 leaving Wal-Mart parking lot without headlights turned on at 1:30am on May 19, 2015. Sgt. Burkhalter initiated a traffic stop in the 800 block of Hurst Street and made contact with the driver of the Chrysler, Benny Earl Holmes, 25, of Tenaha.
Burkhalter observed Holmes was reaching into the floor board of the vehicle while Burkhalter was talking to him. Burkhalter ordered Holmes to get out of the vehicle and to show his hands. He complied after several commands to do so.
Coming from the vehicle Sgt Burkhalter smelled a strong odor of Marijuana and placed Holmes into custody for further investigation.
Arriving on scene and assisting Burkhalter was Center PD Officer Jake Gross along with Shelby County Sheriff Deputy Michael Griffin and Deputy Bradley Horton. During the investigation a .380 caliber pistol was located in the floorboard next to two big bags of marijuana.
The search concluded with the seizure of 13.6 grams of methamphetamine, powder cocaine, over a quarter pound of marijuana, a large amount of assorted pills, $30,616 in US Currency, and a pistol.
The suspect was charged with seven (7) felonies which includes possession with intent to distribute and money laundering. Holmes was taken to the Center Police Department.
The Center Police Department wants to thank Sheriff Willis Blackwell for his deputies and the help they provided.
May 20, 2015 - (More Photos) Walter "Buster" Bounds was honored by the Shelby County Historical Commission when the title of Town Historian was bestowed upon him on Thursday, May 14, 2015 in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse. He is only the second Town Historian to be named; the first being Mattie Dellinger.
Prior to presenting Bounds with a plaque, Shelby County Historical Commission president, Colleen Doggett said, "Buster [Bounds] is being honored even though he is very humble and he says he doesn't know all that much about the history and doesn't know why he would be honored in this way. But he is a humble person. I've never gone to Buster and asked for information or help with something that the answer is always yes, it's never no."
Doggett addressed the large crowd in attendance at the Historic Courthouse, "We're here to honor someone who from high school days has been preserving history." Doggett referenced an interview she had with Bounds, "Buster told me a story about his high school days when he was the editor of the yearbook and he had access to all the class pictures and everything. So, he carried them home to work on and he didn't take them back up to school which turned out to be a good thing because the next year the school burned down. So, see he started preserving history when he was about 18."
Morris Bounds, Buster’s father, started at the insurance agency in 1965 dividing his time between insurance and managing Lunsford Buick Company. The Bounds family also raised chickens in the old days before Shelby County converted to modern broiler houses. His cousin H. B. “Bob” Bounds ran the Bounds Processing Plant located behind the old ice house from 1946 well into the 1950s and processed the first batch of chickens for Mr. Cordray that brought the modern growing methods to Shelby County. Buster is the third child of three children and the only boy. During his youth the family lived on Pecan Street which isn't far from the square allowing him to be able to walk all over the town and be observant of what was happening. He met his wife, Carolyn Bounds, after accepting a teaching job at Ottawa Township High School in Ottawa, Illinois. After marrying, the couple moved back to Center and began running the insurance agency.
"Now before I knew Buster very well, I would see him around town with his video camera doing a school play out at Shelbyville and this and that. It didn't matter. He's been to Garden Club, Reading Club, for different programs for filming." She continued to say, "What is really wonderful; people know that Buster has served as the chairman of the Historical Commission and they'll drop things by and he has a wonderful long filing closet that the first time I saw it it was stacked almost to the ceiling with old maps and this and that." Doggett referenced when she needed something for research he knew exactly where to find it.
"When you have family stories write them down; listen to the people. When you have family photographs and there in a frame or whatever put a little envelope on the back that tells who all the people were and what the occasion was for that picture to be made," explained Doggett was good advice Bounds gave many times at historic cemetery dedications.
His video archive includes interviews with people telling the history of the area, events, ribbon cuttings, reunions, celebrations, birthday parties, band and choir concerts, parades, piano recitals, awards ceremonies, ground breaking, open houses, plays, weddings, funerals, honorees, book reviews, weather events, changes in the business community, flower shows, demonstrations, dedications, and the list goes on and on.
Bounds wanted to express a word or two as he unfolded a speech bringing chuckles and smiles from the audience, "Surprises are greatly overrated and I would like to say a word or two but I'll talk fast." "I did want to thank the members of the Historical Commission. I am truly humbled to be designated town historian and I will not take the responsibility lightly, I promise.
"My contribution to the collective wisdom will be different from what the past Town Historian, Mattie Dellinger, collected and passed on to us. Mattie passed down a written legacy of her detailed insights into our community and the families that we call this place 'home.' There will never be anyone, Dixie [Dellinger], never anyone like Mattie. She and her brand of collective wisdom are greatly missed. You can find all her newspaper articles in the museum in one book.
"I shouldn’t tell this - I tried to out-Mattie Mattie once. I decided I was going to challenge her with a story about Rebie Childs who was convicted of murder in the 1930s and she spent her time while in Huntsville singing with a popular vocal group on the radio. Mattie listened to be sure I didn't know anything new about the Rebie Childs and she responded with kindness, “Yes, Rebie and I were in the same Sunday School class and I never trusted her.” And, to finish with a slam-dunk -- honest truth -- Town Historians don’t lie; she fished around in her purse and found a yellowed copy of the front page of the Light Champion filled with pictures and details about Rebie’s trial. Mattie and her memories are truly missed. There will never be another Mattie Dellinger.
"My contribution is though a new medium – a medium that is tricky to collect and very tricky to preserve and use. It is the medium of video. In the past few years I’ve collected over 14 TB of video and audio files which represents roughly 1,400 hours of filming.
"It is depressing to realize that I’ve stored more video than anyone will ever see -- or want to see. Few of my projects have a commercial value but my hope is that they will have a legacy value for 'our people.'
"Today we have an opportunity, everybody has a video camera or a cell phone, or whatever it is they are using and commercial value is not the only gauge for success. I’m still collecting at the rate of around 3 TB per year and as cameras upgrade – a certainty – that number could easily double. And before my lights and microphones get switched off, I hope to have tamed all this information into a searchable database that actually can be used. That may be the hardest part.
"Again, thanks for honoring me and my work with this designation. I can’t think of anything more satisfying than to be told that my work is important to the community I love and I love you all."
Following the plaque presentation and the speech, everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments in the transportation room downstairs.
May 20, 2015 - Mayor Orinthia Johnson swore in newly elected council members Natalie Harris, Michael Baker and Claudine Howard at the recent Tenaha City Council meeting held on Monday, May 18, 2015.
Ron Barker, election judge, read the voting results for the council and following the council approving the canvass of votes Mayor Johnson administered the oath of office to the council members.
As council members reviewed the financial statements, councilwoman Harris asked if the council could meet at a time previous to a meeting to go over the budget to gain a better understanding of the finances.
Mayor Johnson stated, "That's gotta have a called meeting or something like that, no can't do it."
Stephen Shires, legal council for the city, suggested the council could have a financial workshop to meet her request.
Shires spoke with the council about a truck ordinance and dog ordinance which the council requested at their previous meeting and which he has written. During the meeting the council members reviewed the truck ordinance and Shires stated he would be sending City Secretary Clark the animal control ordinance.
Although Shires says once a dog is captured there is no place to take them, which is a countywide problem, adopting the ordinance is a step in preparation for such a solution in the future. The ordinance incorporates the "Dangerous Dog Act" allowing law enforcement to take proper and necessary action if a situation occurs.
The council approved a motion to review the truck ordinance and table the item until the next meeting. Another motion was then approved to table the animal control ordinance until the next meeting.
Public comment was heard during the beginning of the meeting from four of Tenaha's citizens. Curt Lawrence spoke regarding mowing in and around the city. He stated he has been a resident of Tenaha for five years and has his own business. Lawrence said he has helped the city to clean up and cut grass when George Bowers was mayor and he would like to help in any way he can.
Linda Perry spoke about the tall grass and the need for maintenance on Loop 157 and at McNeil Park, "The grass is getting so high you can't see the traffic coming. It's not the city's problem, but what can we do to get the state highway department to come see about it and take care of it? Because it's dangerous, if we have some bad accidents where people can't see the traffic coming out there it's going to be a problem.."
Perry wanted to clarify McNeil Park does not belong to the Tenaha Beautification and Events Committee, but does belong to the city, "We're just helping to get it fenced and donations to get tables and benches and it's not being mowed very well and especially the outside and the weeds and the concrete. When we had our garage sale all of that was grown up and needed to weed-eat it and if you poisoned it, you wouldn't have to weed-eat it all the time."
Dewayne Reese stated he is shocked that in 10 years as a resident of Tenaha not a whole lot has changed, "What really got me to the point where I really need to get active is that schools about to be out and our kids have nothing to do. I didn't know Tenaha had a park until my wife told me and when I went around there I was literally blown away and I was like 'we can't spend no money on our future, we can't spend no money on our children? We can't buy them a basketball goal and concrete where our children can get themselves busy?'"
Reese suggested change would come when citizens hold public officials accountable and they could be voted out, "We elect y'all in, we can get you out."
Claudine Howard, Councilwoman, invited Reese to participate with the Tenaha Beautification and Events Committee in working to improve Tenaha.
The Fiscal Year 2014 audit was a point of discussion for Marie Crawford during the public comment, "The state statute, financial statute says the audit was supposed to be completed 180 days after the end of the fiscal year. We are now into day 230."
Mayor Johnson stated he has spoken with Norman Wright, city's auditor, on the week previous to the meeting and he stated he would be in Tenaha on the first or second week of June. Sheryl Clark said Wright's intent is to have the audit completed by the end of June.
Some of the water customers have asked how many gallons they actually receive for a minimum. Stacy Cranford, water department manager, recommended the minimum be from 0 - 1,000 bringing the average bill to for $26.50. Tommy Rinkle, councilman, recommended 0 - 2,000 gallons and Cranford agreed.
Cranford gave an update on the current status of negotiations with BNSF regarding the Railroad Street area, "I wanna kind of let the citizens know at this meeting so if you have a concern with it we're going to try to schedule our Tenaha Economic Development meeting for next Tuesday (May 26, at 4:30pm)."
The City of Tenaha asked for a contribution to the city from BNSF and according to Cranford a reimbursement for the loss of the street, utility loss, property tax loss, utility relocation, reconstruction of West Railroad due to traffic diversion was requested and totaled over $400,000. BNSF countered by offering $11,520 for utility relocation, $25,000 for a crossing closure, and $7,623 for the cost of the street, totaling $44,143.
"The only thing that they can claim imminent domain on and take from us, is where that actual crossing is going to be," said Cranford.
Cranford continued by suggesting telling BNSF to just put a crossing in and let the city keep their street.
"We can force them to build a crossing and save our street and that would probably be the thing to do is just say, 'look we just want to keep our street,'" said Rinkle.
Toward the end of the meeting Mayor Johnson thanked Larry Terry for his service on the council and congratulated Natalie Harris, Michael Baker and Claudine Howard.
Approved items on the agenda:
Minutes of the previous meeting.
Financial statements.
City of Tenaha Employee Handbook.
Authorization of Mayor to accept contract with NetPLEA Services Government Collections and Consulting to collect warrant fines, contingent on change of indemnity language.
Purchase a 52 HP Kubota tractor and finish mower package with a $31,800 financed through Kubota at 0% interest and $565.30 a month for 60 months for parks and streets. Baker abstained from voting.
Adjourn.
Items discussed and tabled:
Truck ordinance.
Animal control ordinance.
May 20, 2015 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that sometime on Monday, May 18th, 2015 at 10pm to Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 at 4am, unknown suspect(s) entered into several vehicles in Shelby County. Areas in which the burglaries occurred was in the James/Antioch Communities on County Road 3215 and FM 2608. Suspect(s) stole a Pioneer stereo system and money.
If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5600 and ask to speak with Criminal Investigation Division Sergeant DJ Dickerson or Investigator Kevin W. Windham.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.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.
May 20, 2015 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on April 11th, 2015 suspect(s) entered onto the property of a deer lease located on County Road 1017 in Center, Texas and stole items such as a utility trailer with deer stands, deer feeder, solar panels, trail cameras, and buddy heaters. A photograph was provided from a trail camera that shows a vehicle of interest that was on the deer lease on April 09th, 2015 at approximately 12:33pm. The property was stolen on April 11th, 2015 at approximately 12:42am. Photographs were also provided depicting the some of the stolen property.
If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5600 and ask to speak with Criminal Investigation Division Sergeant DJ Dickerson or Investigator Kevin W. Windham.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information.Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.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.
May 20, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell would like to report that on the 12th of May at around 12am Sergeant Michael Griffin while on routine patrol made a traffic stop on a vehicle for an expired registration on Martin Luther King Drive in 
Center. Sergeant Griffin identified the driver as James Allen Watson, 41, of Joaquin with passenger Crystal Monique Steffen, 26, of Center.
During the course of the traffic stop, Sergeant Griffin observed the driver to be nervous and was denied consent to search the vehicle. Sergeant Burkhalter and K9 Taz with the Center Police Department was contacted to perform an open air sniff around the vehicle. K9 Taz alerted on the vehicle as containing possible narcotics and a search of the vehicle was performed.
During the search a usable amount of methamphetamine was located along with several items of drug paraphernalia. James Allen Watson was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance (state jail felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).
This illustrates the inter agency cooperation between different law enforcement agencies committed to make Shelby County a better place. We would like to stress if you observe anything you believe to be suspicious or believe there is illegal drug activity in your neighborhood to please feel free to call your local agency or report it to the Center Crime stoppers.
May 19, 2015 - Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, swore in the newly elected City of Joaquin Mayor, Bill Baker and City Council Members, Joe Long and Mike Atkinson Monday, May 18th at the Joaquin City Council Regular Meeting.
Following the swearing, council discussed establishing a separate account for Public Safety Fees which are a voluntary donation of $3 included in water bills which goes to public safety or the fire department. The fire department would manage the account and take over payment of all bills. Steve Cockrell, representing the Joaquin VFD, said, "We are asking the Council to think about this $3 that comes in every month for public safety be put into a separate checking account, write us a check for it and we will take care of all the bills. We will pay for the insurance, the gas, the utilities, the phone bill, and anything else that comes up." He went on to say any additional bills which come in over the amount collected through the Public Safety Fee, the fire department would take responsibility for it and pay it out of the fire departments own personal funds. Council agreed it would benefit the city to let the fire department manage the funds and be responsible for their bills. Council approved the motion to put it into a separate account for the fire department to manage.
Council approved the previous month's minutes and payment of bills following a breakdown of the bills explained by Amanda Willey, City Secretary. Council member Mike Atkinson addressed Willey saying, "I can tell Amanda [Willey] has taken some time to try to rectify some stuff that has happened in the past so I appreciate your effort."
"Last month was the first month that I'm sure that some of y'all know that we weren't able to pay all the bills, this second month we did just about get all those caught up now," stated Mayor Baker.
Mayor Baker spoke to the council about annexation of Haslam Tire Company located on Highway 84. Mayor Baker said he spoke with the owner of Haslam Tire, Mr. Tinkle, and he expressed willingness to be annexed into the City. Baker discussed the annexation process with the Council members according to Texas Municipal Leagues' (TML) advisement and council approved moving forward with the process. Mayor Baker said, "That is tax dollars we need."
During open forum, Cedric Jones addressed the council concerning trying to allocate or find funding to repair roads. He was concerned with health hazards and safety issues. Two top roads mentioned to be some of the worst streets in the city was Coulter Street and Morris Street. Discussion did include plans to help including cleaning out a creek and ditches; however, none of it can be done to improve the roads until the rain stops and it drys out.
Agenda Items Approved 1) Approved Previous Month's Minutes 2) Approved Payment of Bills 3) Council member Ben Brittain was appointed to be Mayor Pro Tem. 4) Approved starting annexation process for Haslam Tire Company. 5) Approved establishing a separate account for Public Safety Fees. 6) Approved establishing a separate account for payment of USDA Loan. Agenda Items Tabled 1) Tabled hiring a new part-time clerk 2) Tabled Utility Rate Increase until more information can be gathered from finances.
May 18, 2015 - Residents on Gladstone in Center got quite a surprise when a large oak tree fell across the street Monday, May 18, 2015 at 11:30am.
In the process of falling, the tree broke a gas meter and struck some overhead power line. Center police, fire department and street crews were called out to the scene. Also notified was SWEPCO and Center Point Energy.
While Center PD blocked off the street firemen made repairs to the meter. Upon securing the scene and beginning clean up, it was discovered the tree had fallen on a small car parked along the curb on the opposite side of the street. The car at the time was unoccupied and received damage to its top as well as the front window being busted out. As of 5:10pm the tree has been cleared from Gladstone and the roadway is back open.
May 18, 2015 - The Shelby County area has received a great deal of rain as the result of storms which have blown through. Joaquin and Haslam have a lot of flooding as a result. Shelby County Today captured, and viewers submitted, photos of roadways and homes in the area.
These photos have been included in a photo album on the Shelby County Today Facebook and can be viewed there.
May 18, 2015 - As of 4 PM, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is reporting approximately 130 members remaining without power due to the severe weather.
Nacogdoches Co: approx. 70 (with the majority located in the Etoile area)
San Augustine Co: less than 5
Sabine Co: approx. 55 (Hemphill)
As of 1 PM, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is reporting approximately 230 member without power due to the severe weather.
Panola Co: approx. 85 members out
Shelby Co: approx. 80
Nacogdoches Co: less than 10
San Augustine Co: approx. 50
Sabine Co: less than 5
As of 11 AM, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is reporting approximately 1,300 member without power due to the severe weather.
Panola Co: 550 members out – due to an outage experienced by SWEPCO whom feeds the DETEC line.
Shelby Co: 95
Nacogdoches Co: 60
San Augustine Co: 450
Sabine Co: 150
Jasper Co: less than 10
Crews are currently out working to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible. To report an outage, please call: 1-800-392-5986.
DETEC would like to remind members to be safe - STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES. Consider them all to be live and dangerous. Call DETEC at 1-800-392-5986 to report downed lines and outages.
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