Shelby County Today

April 14, 2023 - On April 11, 2023 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Choice public water system, 2100005 to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees 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 April 14, 2023.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact, Matt Di Verdi 936-591-4346.

April 11, 2023 - Due to a broken water main, caused by construction on Hwy 96 S, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the CHOICE Water system, ID# 2100005 to notify customers that were without water 04/11/2023 on Hwy 96 S (anyone without water) north from CR 1012 to CR 1006. From intersection at HWY 96 and Fm 417 east to intersection of FM 2140 and Fm 417 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Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.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 Matt Di Verdi 936-591-4346

April 12, 2023 - Emergency personnel were dispatched to a major two-vehicle crash Friday, April 7, on U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 12:58pm a grey 2019 Peterbilt hauling an oversize load trailer for EFR Transport driven by Jonathan Matthew Rhymes, 27, of Saline, LA. was southbound on U.S. Highway 59 with escort vehicles.

At that time a white 2018 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gerald Parr, 75, of Magnolia was northbound on U.S. Highway 59 when, due to a medical condition, the Chevrolet crossed the grass median and traveled into the southbound side where it struck the side of the trailer being hauled by the Peterbilt.
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The truck then spun off the roadway back into the median before coming to a stop facing southbound.

Rhymes was not reported to have received injury as a result of the incident.

Parr was transported by helicopter to UT Health in Tyler for treatment of his injuries.

His passenger, Rachael C. Poor, 87, was also transported by ambulance to UT Health in Tyler for treatment of her injuries, and his other passenger Glenna Parr, 72, was transported by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Timpson Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene in extricating those involved in the crash incident from the truck, and they provided traffic control throughout the crash investigation until the scene was clear while being assisted by the Garrison Volunteer Fire Department.
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Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies were also on scene to assist.

April 11, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners agreed during their March 22, 2023, meeting to re-open CR 2020 following a series of traffic shutdowns due to train delays.

Following years of illegal trash dumping, stolen vehicles, reported drug activity, police pursuits, and the body of a man being dumped on the road in 2019, it was approved by the commissioners in August 2020 to close one mile of CR 2020.

There have since been traffic delays in 2023 on CR 2050 due to trains stopping across the roadway and delaying road traffic, including school buses. The only alternative route would be CR 2020.

“They haven’t stopped the traffic this week, but you know last week they stopped it twice with the train and this is a shortcut for them people that live down that road to come back out and miss the train tracks,” said Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2.

A motion carried to re-open the roadway and add some loads of gravel to the road as well as clear trash from the roadway.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:59am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Reopen CR 2020.
3. Public workshop on March 29 to plan the renovation of the AgriLife Building.
4. Proclamation for American Red Cross declaring the month of March as American Red Cross month. Representing American Red Cross was Natalie Warren
5. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 4054 at West Creek. 
6. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on East Lake Timpson Rd. Blackwater Creek. 
7. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 3012 at Trib of Prairie Creek. No in-kind match, no cost to the county.
8. Resolution and agreement for an Off-System Bridge Replacement on CR 2545 at Bayou Siepe. No in-kind match, no cost to the county.
9. Adjourn at 9:59am.

Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Commissioner Pct. 4 to purchase a Skid Steer and attachments with Arpa funds.
2. Precinct 3 Commissioner to work on the Joaquin VFD’s driveway and grounds at the Substation on Hwy 7.

April 10, 2023 - During the first week of April the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department added 3 more calls to the record. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.

On Sunday morning (April 2, 2023) at 9:30am, during the recent extrication training class, a call was received for a car on fire just outside of Joaquin on Highway 7 East. The JVFD responded to the scene with a tanker and made quick work of the fire. Unfortunately, as with most vehicles fires, the car was a total loss.

Wednesday morning at 10:50am a call came in for an elderly female acting strangely and speaking incoherently on FM 3082. Her behavior was thought to be the result of pain medication prescribed for a recent back fracture. The JVFD medical team responded in association with Allegiance EMS to help the patient.

Early Friday morning at 5:28am a call was received for an unresponsive elderly male at a residence on County Road 3790. This would turn out to be a DOA and the JVFD would later help funeral home personnel remove the deceased person from the home.

With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.