The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
April 24, 2024 - The Jury summoned for Monday, May 6, 2024 for the 273rd District Court, Honorable James A. Payne, Jr., Judge presiding, has been cancelled.
All Cases have been passed or settled. Anyone receiving a summons for that day is released from jury service until they receive a future summons.
Lori Oliver, District Clerk
April 24, 2024 - Timpson Street is partially closed for road repairs under the roadway between Park Hill Lane and Margo Street. This section of Timpson Street will be closed Wednesday, April 24, beginning at 9am.
Eastbound traffic is being detoured onto Margo Street toward Tenaha and westbound traffic is being detoured down Nicholson toward Nacogdoches Street to proceed to Wheeler/Hurst Street.
April 23, 2024 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 30 indictments on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The grand jury was impaneled for the January 2024 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Tiffany Lee Parker was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on January 25, 2024, operated a Chevrolet Colorado truck without the effective consent of Adrian Gomez, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Tiffany Lee Parker was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 8, 2024, Parker operated a 2022 GMC Denali pickup truck without the effective consent of Tammy Steptoe, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Tiffany Lee Parker was indicted for robbery, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 8, 2024, Parker recklessly caused bodily injury to Tammy Steptoe and Kimberly Goodman by throwing Steptoe head first onto the concrete floor and striking Goodman in the back with her fist. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Elizabeth Ann Barton was indicted for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 8, 2024, Barton operated a 2022 GMC Denali pickup truck without the effective consent of Tammy Steptoe, the owner. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Elizabeth Ann Barton was indicted for robbery, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 8, 2024, Barton recklessly caused bodily injury to Tammy Steptoe and Kimberly Goodman by throwing Steptoe head first onto the concrete floor and striking Goodman in the back with her fist. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Clifford Ray Brown was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 8, 2024, Brown intentionally and knowingly caused bodily injury to Patsy Kinney, an individual 65 years of age or older, by striking her with his hands. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Brittney Nicole Smith was indicted for injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, Smith caused bodily injury to a child 14 years of age or younger by striking the child with her hands and choking the child. Smith is further alleged to have exhibited a deadly weapon, a paddle on the arms and legs of the child. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Swee Tee was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 10, 2023, Tee recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Oo Yin by not stopping at a stop sign thereby causing a collision, and in the course of such assault used a deadly weapon, a motor vehicle. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Franydric Keshon Buckley was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 23, 2023, Buckley recklessly caused bodily injury to Christopher Evans by striking him several times with an object unknown to the Grand Jury. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Tiffany Richerson Newman was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 16, 2024, Richerson intentionally and knowingly concealed and destroyed marijuana with intent to impair its availability as evidence in a controlled-substance investigation during a traffic stop. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Philip Jon Colby Roland was indicted for unlawful possession of firearm by felon, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 21, 2024, Roland knowingly possessed a firearm before the fifth anniversary of Roland’s release from confinement, and while having previously convicted of the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance on October 21, 2020. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Billy Ray Welch was indicted for timber trustee defraud =>$500<$20K IAT, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, between July 27, 2023 and September 14, 2023, Welch purchased standing timber for harvest from Rodney Bass to sell the timber after harvest, collect money for the harvested timber, and knowingly and with intent to defraud Bass directly or indirectly retained, used, disbursed or otherwise diverted more than $500 of the money collected from the sale of the harvested timber without first paying the beneficiary, Bass, the purchase price of the standing timber not later than 45 days after Welch received the money for the timber. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Buddy Lee Bradshaw was indicted for prohibited weapon, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 5, 2024, Bradshaw knowingly possessed a short barrel firearm, “Snake Charmer,” .410 caliber shotgun of a total length of 36 inches, and the weapon was not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or not subject to that registration requirement. The weapon was not classified as a curio or relic by the United States Department of Justice. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Kylon Marquell Polk was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 3, 2024, Polk used a vehicle while intentionally fleeing DPS Trooper Keith Jones, Center PD Officer Robert Hudnall, and Center PD Officer Garrett Rocchi, persons Polk knew were peace officers who were attempting lawfully to arrest or detain Polk. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Jose Guadalupe Martinez was indicted for forgery, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 22, 2023, Martinez intentionally or knowingly possessed with intent to pass, a forger writing, knowing such writing to be forged, and such writing had been so completed that it purported to be the act of Amanda Ingram and Miguel Barahuna, who did not authorize the act. The indictment further alleges, the said writing was checks of the tenor following: check #325 for $500 made out to Miguel Barahuna, check #0005 for $150, check #0006 for $200, and check #0007 for $220 written on Amanda Ingram’s account. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Bradlee J. Potter was indicted for prohibited substance in a correctional facility, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 12, 2024, Potter knowingly took a controlled substance (methamphetamine) into the Shelby County Jail, a correctional facility. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Kayden Cartwright was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 9, 2024, Cartwright entered a building or portion of a building without the effective consent of Portacool, the owner, and attempted to commit theft or committed theft of a 2023 Polaris MV, owned by Portacool. (273rd Judicial District Court)
Javarea James Brown was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on March 2, 2024, Brown entered a habitation without the effective consent of Laporsha Perry, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of white On Cloud shoes, $140; green Steve Madden shoes, $90; brown Louis Vuitton purse, $1,000; owned by Perry. (273rd Judicial District Court)
X’Zavier Keandre Cartwright was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 9, 2024, Cartwright entered a building or a portion of a building without the effective consent of Portacool, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a 2023 Polaris MV, owned by Portacool. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Sadarian Tytrevion McGee was indicted for burglary of a building, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 9, 2024, McGee entered a building or a portion of a building without the effective consent of Portacool, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a 2023 Polaris MV, owned by Portacool. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Droxius Dewhart was indicted for unlawful possession firearm by felon, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 14, 2024, Dewhart knowingly possessed a firearm before the fifth anniversary of Dewhart’s release from confinement following conviction of the felony offense of attempted 2nd degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery on March 16, 2018. (273rd Judicial District Court)
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Juan Carlos Rios, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2 (tetrahydrocannabinol, other than marijuana), state jail felony (January 16, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Timothy Maxalan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (December 30, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Rodney Dewayne Jackson, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2 (methamphetamine), state jail felony (February 9, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Bradlee J. Potter, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), second degree felony with enhancement – Drug Free Zone – First Degree Felony (March 11, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Kayden Cartwright, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (February 16, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Dan Vonshey Roquemore, manufacture or delivery of substance in penalty group 1 (methamphetamine), first degree felony (December 17, 2023). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Dan Vonshey Roquemore, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2 (cocaine), third degree felony (December 17, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Rebekah Lynn Simmonds, manufacture or delivery of substance in penalty group 1 (methamphetamine), first degree felony (December 17, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Rebekah Lynn Simmonds, possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 2 (cocaine), third degree felony (December 17, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
April 23, 2024 - As of 3:15pm the gas has been shut off and residents businesses have been allowed back in. Gas service to buildings will remain off for several hours until repairs are completed.
The Tenaha Police Department reports a gas line main on the Tenaha square has been ruptured as of 1:46pm, April 23, 2024.
The square has been evacuated for safety.
April 22, 2024 - On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, construction crews will close NW Loop 224 at the BU 59 overpass. All northwest bound traffic must travel through the signal and take alternate routes.
On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, there will be a southbound lane closure in place on SL 224 near US 59.
These closures are necessary in order to place barriers for the next phase of the construction project. Message boards are in place to alert motorists. Contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov with any further questions.
April 20, 2024 - U.S. Highway 59 in Tenaha was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a mini bike on Friday, April 20, 2024.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was first notified of the incident and additional emergency personnel were requested.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 6:20pm white 2022 GMC Yukon Denali driven by a female driver of Mabank, was northbound on U.S. Highway 59 in Tenaha. At that time a brand new red Coleman Powersports 105cc B100 driven by a minor 13-year-old male child with a minor 8-year-old male child from Tenaha was attempting to cross U.S. Highway 59 and collided with the Denali.
The driver of the Denali was not reported to have been injured.
Both children involved were transported by ambulance to a Carthage hospital for what appeared to be minor non-life-threatening injuries.
The mother of the driver of the Coleman received a citation for allowing minors to operate a motor vehicle on public roadway.
Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper Josh Gradberg.
April 19, 2024 - The Center Police Department confirms, Hometown Tackle and Marine was the victim of a burglary that is believed to have taken place during the night of April 9, 2024, and the early morning hours of April 10, 2024.
Items taken include fish finders, depth finders, trolling motors, power poles, and items of that nature from the boats of customers that were being repaired.
There was no evidence recovered that anyone gained entrance to the building during the theft.
It was later learned a similar business in the Hemphill area was broken into just after Hometown Tackle and Marine, and the same sort of equipment was stolen, as well as the same manner of break-in.
According to a social media post by Phillip Crelia, whose family owns the business, “our fence was cut and we had graphs and trolling motors stolen off of our customers’ boats. Not only are we furious that this has happened, we are devastated to have let our customers down. We take great pride in the trust that they have with us. I want to say, from the very bottom of our hearts, how sorry we are.”
Anyone with information about this theft is asked to contact the Center Police Department at 936-598-2788
April 18, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners were presented with a request during their April 10, 2024 meeting for an increase to Shelby County’s yearly contribution to the Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District (SSWCD) #449 from $7,000 to $9,000 or $10,000.
Terry Allen, Vice-Chairman of the SSWCD board, submitted a request by letter and Judge Harbison offered the court the opportunity to hear directly from the SSWCD at a future meeting. Commissioner Bellmyer said he would like SSWCD to attend court to provide a presentation on the duties they perform.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to table the item until a presentation can be made and the commissioners can provide a more educated decision. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain and the motion carried.
The commissioners discussed a purchase Contract between Shelby County and Darin Borders for pugmill sand.
Judge Harbison stated Commissioner McSwain and John Price, County Attorney, worked on preparing a contract for the arrangement.
“I have drafted the contract as a one-year contract,” said Price. “My understanding is that the amount of sand that would be purchased would be well below $50,000 in that year period of time. There would be no way that much would be used, and I think the contract meets the requirements for the county, as well as it's good contract to propose to Mr. Borders.”
Commissioner McSwain made a motion to move forward with the contract, and Commissioner Lout gave a second to the motion, and it carried.
The commissioners considered the weekly expenses presented to them for consideration and Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, highlighted some of those expenses.
The court was extremely vague on one particular bill for the Sheriff’s Department, and Blackwell said she had to look it up to find out that it was a monitoring program utilized by the Sheriff’s Department.
The bill was for an annual payment of $2,089 to Law Enforcement Technologies Corporation.
Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, asked about two other bills, which Blackwell explained were for tuition for Kilgore College to train jailers. She said it was for two jailers.
The cost for jailer tuition was $300 each.
Judge Allison Harbison stated for the court, the jail had recently “lost” two jailers.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, stated it would be nice to have representation from the Sheriff’s Department at court to explain what the training achieved for the jailers and if it was to get them certified.
Blackwell estimated the time indicated on the bills was for three weeks and Commissioner McSwain said that was how long [former Chief Deputy Ruth Gonzales] said it would take for someone to become certified. He also said that until someone achieved certification, they would always need a certified jailer supervising them.
Judge Harbison asked if the county has always paid for jailer certifications and Blackwell responded the county has paid for a lot of them.
Treasurer Blackwell referenced a bill in the amount of $13,500 to HRTC Services toward the Master Plan, bringing the total payments to 90% for the project.
“We got at 90% on the master plan for the historic courthouse, so that’s where we are,” said Blackwell.
She expected the final $9,000 payment would be upon receipt of the plan.
Judge Harbison said she has the plan, and it’s around 300 pages long and HRTC Services would be going over the plan with the commissioners at the next meeting.
A motion by Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, to pay the weekly expenses as presented was seconded by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and the motion carried.
One bid for janitorial services was received and opened; however, there was not an actual bid amount included. The janitorial services issue was tabled.
With Commissioner Bellmyer moving to table, and a second on the motion offered by Commissioner Smith. The motion carried.
A motion carried by the commissioners to rescind the action taken in Commissioners Court on March 27, 2024, to go out for bids to replace the roof and gutters on the Courthouse Annex. Judge Harbison said Blackwell had reminded her of the process the county followed to get a roof for the Shelby County Jail through the TIPS-USA Purchasing System.
A motion was made by Commissioner McSwain to rescind the action to go out for bids, and it was seconded by Commissioner Lout. The motion carried.
Commissioner McSwain then moved to utilize the TIPS-USA Purchasing System to receive bids for the replacement of the roof and gutters on the Courthouse Annex. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer and the motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:06am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of March 6, 2024 Special meeting, March 13, 2024 Regular meeting, March 13, 2024 Special meeting, March 20, 2024 Special meeting, March 27, 2024 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Pay current Payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Rescind the action taken in Commissioners Court on March 27, 2024, to go out for bids to replace the roof and gutters on the Courthouse Annex. 6. Utilize the TIPS-USA Purchasing System to receive bids for the replacement of the roof and gutters on the Courthouse Annex. 7. Purchase Contract between Shelby County and Darin Borders for pugmill sand. 8. Adjourn. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Open quotes for Janitorial Services. 2. Discuss and possibly approve an increase in the County’s yearly contribution of $7,000.00 to the Shelby County Soil and Conservation District #449.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of the ArkLaTex this afternoon through this evening.
April 18, 2024 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook at 5:03am Thursday, April 18, 2024. This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
Today and tonight - A round of thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening across northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southwest Arkansas ahead of a cold front. Some storms may be severe with damaging winds and large hail being the main threats.
Friday through Wednesday - Periods of locally heavy rainfall may be possible this weekend from Friday evening through Sunday.
Spotter activation may be needed for this afternoon and this evening.
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the following areas in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas: Sevier, Howard, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union, Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, La Salle, McCurtain, Bowie, Franklin, Titus, Camp, Morris, Cass, Wood, Upshur, Marion, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, and San Augustine.
April 18, 2024 - (Update): 10:23am - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department has stated Jordan Dicks was located and is safe.
April 17, 2024 - (Update): 11:35pm - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department states they have followed every lead, and have not located Jordan Dicks as of 10:40pm.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is seeking the whereabouts of Jordan Dicks, 16, of Joaquin. Jordan was last seen walking away from Joaquin High School when school dismissed on April 17.
If anyone has any information on his whereabouts, contact Chief Deputy Chad Hooper at 936-572-5045.
Pages
