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March 28, 2024 - On March 22, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Tenaha public water system, PWS #2100002, 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 March 28, 2024.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact The City of Tenaha 238 North George Bowers Drive Tenaha, Texas 75974 or call 936-248-3841.
March 22, 2024 - Due to Main Line Break on Tennessee Road/FM947, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Tenaha PWS #2100002 public water system to notify all customers 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Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner like this notice.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 The City of Tenaha at 238 North Goerge Bowers Drive Tenaha, Texas 75974 or call 936-248-3841.
March 28, 2024 - The Shelby County Courthouse and county offices will be closed Friday, March 29, 2024, for Good Friday.
Unless otherwise indicated, County offices will return to normal operating hours on Monday.
March 26, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved a new deputy constable for Precinct 5 during their March 20, 2024 meeting, and held an executive session which involved work at the County Annex building on the Center square.
Following the opening of the meeting, at 9:30am, the meeting was adjourned into executive session at 9:35am.
The commissioners’ court meeting reopened at 10:28am and Allison Harbison, County Judge, referenced Local Government Code 262.024, A contract for the purchase of any of the following items is exempt from the requirement established by Section 262.023 if the commissioners court by order grants the exemption: (3) an item necessary because of unforeseen damage to public property.
However, with no specific description to the public to what this action was in reference, Judge Harbison stated the commissioners would approve an invoice during the meeting from Hagler (Painting and Construction). Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, stated the invoice could be approved as an addition to the next item on the meeting agenda.
Judge Harbison moved, “This is to allow the work to be finished over at the Annex building.”
The motion was seconded by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and the motion carried.
When the commissioners considered the weekly expenses, Porterfield described two invoices having to do with work performed by Hagler Painting and Construction.
“For addition to the bills to be approved for payment today, we have two invoices, two tickets, I'll just give you the number and amount, ticket number 56972, Mr. Hagler for $37,608.49, dated March 13 and current 56977 for $13,075.09, March the 15th,” said Porterfield.
Both invoices for March 13 and March 15 combined come to a total of $50,683.58.
Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, stated the second installment on the Master Plan payment for the Historic Courthouse was being issued to HRTC Services in the amount of $22,500, and Commissioner Lout is purchasing a used pickup truck from Ray Jones Chevrolet in the amount of $35,921.33, which he has budgeted through fixed assets.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, confirmed with Blackwell there is one more payment planned to HRTC Services in the future for the same amount mentioned and it would come out of the LATCF (Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund).
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve paying the weekly expenses and the motion was seconded by Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, and the motion carried.
The commissioners were to discuss possibly increasing rental cost for election equipment; however Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator, asked to table discussion until a future date.
”When we decided, I think it was October 23, we went up to $35 per machine for rental. I said that I'd like to go next year to $50, those machines, just the machine that the ballot goes into it scans the ballot, just that little machine is $6,600,” said Adams. “As you know, I told y’all back in October we could go up to 10% of the cost of the machine. I can’t see us ever charging an entity $600 for that machine.”
Adams said the reason she wanted to table the item is she is charging the entities that rent the machines for the media sticks that retain the records.
“When he sends me the bills for the ballots and all of the other things that I bill the entities for, I’m going to this year bill them for the sticks,” said Adams.
She said she would like to possibly go up to $100 for the next time, and asked that the item be tabled at least until the summer.
A motion by Commissioner Smith to table the agenda item was seconded by Commissioner Lout, and the motion carried.
Constable Josh Tipton presented the commissioners with a new deputy for his office in that of John Pope.
“John Pope, 20 years of experience law enforcement, lives in Timpson, perfect fit. Pretty excited about this one,” said Constable Tipton.
Pope’s start date was set for March 25, 2024.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve deputy constable for Precinct 5 and Commissioner Lout seconded the motion, the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:33am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Executive Session decision: Allow the work to be finished over at the Annex building 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. John Pope as new deputy for Constable Pct. 5. 4. Adjourn at 10:33am. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Discuss and possibly consider an increase on rental for the Election Equipment.
March 26, 2024 - Carlos Manuel Caporali has accepted a plea agreement on March 25, 2024, to 40 years in prison for the 2023 murder of Yuri Barahona in Joaquin.
According to court documents, Caporali was convicted in the 123rd Judicial District Court with Judge Leann Kay Rafferty presiding.
Reports from Shelby County Sheriff Kevin Windham at the time of the incident on February 8, 2023, Barahona’s four children were in the presence of she and Caporali when the murder occurred, and one of the children sought help from a neighbor.
According to the indictment delivered by a Shelby County Grand Jury on March 28, 2023, Caporali shot Barahona in the head.
The judgment of conviction by the court confirms Caporali used a firearm to cause the death of Barahona and he entered a plea agreement of guilty to the 1st degree felony murder. The terms of the plea agreement are 40 years’ incarceration in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division along with a credit of 411 days time served.
Attorney for the defense of Caporali was Craig Fletcher and representing the state was Karren S. Price, District Attorney.
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March 25, 2024 - State Loop (SL) 500 just over an 1/8th of a mile east of Noble Street overpass in Center was the scene of a major single-vehicle crash Sunday, March 25, 2024 around 5:30pm.
According to Center Police Department, a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Cornelius Richard, 25, of Center was traveling northeast on SL 500 at approximately 65 mph and failed to control speed driving onto the improved shoulder on the right and conducted a faulty evasive maneuver to the left. The vehicle then failed to drive in a single lane and collided with the guardrail on the opposite side of the roadway which caused the vehicle to make a 180 degree turn and ejecting the driver approximately 30 feet from the vehicle before the Mercury came to rest and the base of the embankment.
Richard is suspected to have been driving without wearing his seatbelt. He was transported by EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department with suspected major injury.
Center Police Officer Garrett Rocchi investigated the crash and was assisted by Sgt. Brian Wright, in addition to Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
March 25, 2024 - Wind advisory in effect from 10am this morning to 7pm CDT this evening.
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central and southwest Arkansas, for north central and northwest Louisiana, and for deep east Texas and portions of northeast Texas.
Day One - Today and tonight:
Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the Wind Advisory.
Days Two Through Seven - Tuesday through Sunday:
A Slight to Enhanced Risk for severe storms remains for the ArkLaTex as the ongoing line of developing thunderstorms moves across I-30 this morning. The daytime heating on will boost the potential for severe thunderstorms in the line during the afternoon over deep east Texas, southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. We can expect that any strong to severe storms will have the potential to bring down damaging winds, a few tornadoes, large hail and brief locally heavy rainfall.
Days Two Through Seven - Tuesday through Sunday:
The rest of the week is looking very nice and warm aside from a few more showers late on Wednesday for eastern Texas under the parent upper trough. The weekend will be partly cloudy and even warmer with low to mid 80s for high temperatures. No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
Spotter Information Statement:
Spotter activation will likely be needed.
Counties included are: 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, Bowie, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby, San Augustine.
March 22, 2024 - Shelby County has received an allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury and has elected to use these funds to complete eligible projects. This solicitation is for one 1.5 ton F550 or equivalent single cab truck with 11ft steel bed flatbed. The solicitation may be provided when requested via e-mail to the address below. Bids must be received no later than March 25, 2024, 12:00 PM. Please submit your sealed bid, including 1 marked original(s) and 2 copies to Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, 200 San Augustine St Box 5 Center, TX 75935, and email to: ann.blackwell@co.shelby.tx.us.
It is the responsibility of the submitting firm to ensure that the bid is received in a timely manner. Submissions not received by the specified date and time will be rejected. The County reserves the right to negotiate with any and all individuals or firms that submit bids and may award a contract to multiple service provider(s). Residents and Businesses, Minority Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, United States Veterans and Labor Surplus Area firms are encouraged to submit proposals. Shelby County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
March 21, 2024 - Shelby County Jail inmates being housed in Panola County continue to be a heavy expense to the county and Shelby County Commissioners were informed of the continuing monthly expenditure during their March 13, 2024 meeting.
Ann Blackwell reviewed some of the bills with the commissioners as she gave the officers’ report, with a very notable expense being for Shelby County prisoners housed in Panola County at a total of $26,450 for the month from February 1 to February 29, 2024.
Another expense she highlighted was one for $17,583.78 to Motorola Solutions, Inc. for regular annual maintenance to the Spielman program for the Sheriff’s Department.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer stated, “Looks like we've got a pretty good bill to Panola County, we’ve got several folks housed there now?”
Blackwell confirmed there are more than several being housed in Panola County.
“We do, and he has, and I believe that he's brought all he can back to the jail. The jail is full, I believe,” said County Judge Allison Harbison.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to approve the weekly expenses, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Lout, the motion carried.
During Blackwell’s financial report to the commissioners, she reported the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund expenses for February leading up to March was $283,097.88 and leaving an ending balance at that time of $1,941,110.87.
The Local Assistance Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) expenses for the same time period as previously referenced were $26,543.26, leaving an ending balance for the fund of $191,076.64.
Blackwell referenced worksheets provided to the commissioners relating to the LATCF and ARPA funds. This includes the new trucks the commissioners are planning on using ARPA funds to purchase, and the potential price tag on those referenced at the previous meeting ranged from $180,000 each to $250,000 each. This would potentially be a $720,000 to $1 million expense.
A fence, at a cost of $10,000, at the Jackson Paxton Water Supply well project was all Blackwell says remains on that project. An update on Huber water well is also anticipated.
Blackwell stated the election equipment project is completed and the projects for AgriLife and the gym have been removed from the list.
According to Blackwell, the fund balance including the estimated trucks for the commissioner precincts, would be $603,271.27.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the officers’ report and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout, and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned to executive session at 9:46am and returned to open session at 10:24am
Commissioner Bellmyer explained, one of the items the court discussed during executive session was a piece of property adjacent to the precinct four barn.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to move forward with the condemnation process on that property and go out for an appraisal with an independent appraiser for the value of that property. Commissioner Stevie Smith seconded the motion, and it carried.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain sought approval to purchase sand from Darin Borders for the pugmill. He stated it was discussed in the past by the court that they were going to purchase sand somewhere in Joaquin this year for temporary use and then move around if we needed.
“That sand did not test out to be usable for the pugmill. So I've moved to a different location in Precinct 1 off of Highway 96 South, close to where the mills been, and done soil samples of an open field that have no trace, nothing to remove, said Commissioner McSwain.
He stated that land is owned by Mr. Darin Borders with a good oil field road access to the property already in place.
Commissioner McSwain said he would like to have the project locked down for a two-year contract.
Commissioner McSwain made a motion to move forward with getting a contract together and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout, the motion carried.
The commissioners considered the purchase a license at a yearly cost of $3,000 for the Guardify Program for storage and access to forensic interviews performed at the CAC for the benefit of the District Attorney and District Courts.
Judge Harbison said the program transcribes interviews and Karren Price, District Attorney, said to her it would be invaluable for her office in their work.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to purchase the software license as requested at a yearly cost of $3,000, out of the District Attorney budget, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain. The motion carried.
Judge Harbison said there is someone that has agreed to do temporary custodian work two to three days a week. And whenever we do open the bids for the bid packets and everything and set a date for a new custodian to work, she's just agreed to work until that time.
“She has worked with the previous custodian in the past, and I think she'd be a really good fit,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to enter into an agreement with the person through a contract for $2,400 a month County Attorney John Price has put together, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain. The motion carried.
“My secretary has asked to go on a part-time. She would like to keep indigent health care and be the website coordinator,” said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison confirmed it’s probably not more than 20 hours a week, and that it’s an hourly position.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the indigent health care coordinator and website administrator on a part-time basis and set the rate of pay at its current rate. Commissioner Lout seconded the motion and it carried.
“Just as a matter of policy, as a point of reference, we have a pay scale at the [Sheriff’s Office], and it has a starting rate and an ending rate,” said Clint Porterfield, County Auditor. “We've also done this in a couple of other situations, where a person goes from full-time to part-time, they usually give up first of all their benefits. And then they usually go back to the starting pay rate of that position or the starting pay rate or the base rate. That’s all I want to say.”
Commissioner Bellmyer explained his position on the pay, “I guess for me, I understand looking at a part-time individual and full-time individuals, but to have a person that is going back to part-time from a full-time position, you have a certain amount of training and experience that you're paying for.”
Porterfield said it’s no different than any of the other positions.
The motion carried.
“I would like to hire an administrative assistant and set the pay rate at the $14, which is the beginning rate of clerical for courthouse,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Lout moved for Judge Harbison to hire an administrative assistant, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bellmyer. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:39am
Officers’ reports for the month of February as presented by Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer:
Fees for the month of February 2024
- Debora Riley, Tax Assessor Collector - Property: $1,602,617.12; Motor Vehicle: $207,777.47; Total: $1,810,394.59
- Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk - $38,429.04
- Lori Oliver, District Clerk - $14,307.30
- Donna Hughes, JP1 - $21,112.00
- Marla Denby, JP2 - $927
- Melba Rodgers, JP3 - $3,246.00
- Dee Dee Green, JP4 - $5,098.70
- Tracy Broadway, JP5 - $10,406.65
- Zack Warr, Constable 1 - $1,060.00
- James Hagler, Constable 2 - $90.00
- Roy Cheatwood, Constable 3 - $250.00
- Taylor Fanguy, Constable 4 - $91.00
- Josh Tipton, Constable 5 - $450.00
- Sheriff’s Fees - $795.00
- Total of $1,906,657.28
Total investments of $20,524,881.52
Total interest earned on investments of $92,184.79
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of February 7, 2024 Special meeting, February 14, 2024 Regular meeting, February 21, 2024 Special meeting, February 28, 2024 Special meeting, of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Pay current Payroll. 4. Officers Report. 5. Move forward with the condemnation process on a property beside the Precinct 4 barn and go out for an appraisal with an independent appraiser for the value of that property. 6. Commissioner Pct. 1 to purchase sand from Darin Borders for the Pugmill. 7. Purchase a license at a yearly cost of $3,000 for the Guardify Program for storage and access to forensic interviews performed at the CAC for the benefit of the District Attorney and District Courts. 8. Compensation for the temporary custodian of $2,400 a month and set a pay rate and requirements. 9. Allow the Indigent Health Coordinator to move to a part-time position and set the rate of pay at the “current pay rate.” 10. Allow the County Judge to hire an Administrative Assistant and set the rate of pay at $14 an hour. 11. Adjourn at 10:39am.
March 20, 2024 - SL 500 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash March 19, 2024, involving an 18-wheeler that was transporting a load of corn.
Sometime just before 10pm and just over 1/4 mile from the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 South and SL 500, the truck and trailer appeared to have traveled off the roadway and lost it’s load of corn.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the location of the incident, as well as officers with Center Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.
Once on scene it was determined the driver was unharmed in the incident and a wrecker service was called to the scene to right the truck tractor. Officers held traffic at both ends of the crash scene until the roadway was clear.
According to the Center Police Department, at 9:46pm a white 1998 Peterbilt truck tractor driven by Brian Kelly, 30, of Pioneer, LA, was eastbound on SL 500 when he reached for something that had fallen in the truck. The trailer left the roadway before pulling the truck off the road and causing the trailer and truck to come to rest on their right side.
March 19, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners were presented with additional information during their March 6, 2024, meeting to do with emergency lighting for the courthouse.
Allison Harbison, County Judge, presented the commissioners with lighting schematics provided by Scooter Clark with 4C Electrical Services and Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, reviewed them.
“I learned that the data sheets on the lights and of course the emergency lighting is substantially different than normal room lighting and it's a lot of it has to do with the battery backup and the way the circuitry is and everything, so I mean they're definitely going to be a more expensive lighting fixture,” said Bellmyer.
Bellmyer said he’s pretty comfortable with the cost, realizing they're more expensive on the per unit cost, but he felt the county needs to move forward with updating the emergency lighting.
“I really don't think that they probably ever been replaced since we've been in the building,” said Judge Harbison.
Bellmyer further explained the lights are serviceable and don’t have to be completely replaced, and he encouraged them to be added to a maintenance schedule.
Judge Harbison said she would look into that possibility.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bellmyer to move forward and for the purpose of those fixtures and installation. The motion was seconded by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and the motion carried.
The cost of the fixtures and installation came to $11,075.28.
Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3, discuss with the court purchasing “haul” trucks for each Road and Bridge precinct with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
“I think we can purchase haul trucks for each precinct [out of] ARPA funds. I think this would be a long term investment for the county,” Said Commissioner Smith.
Judge Harbison asked what kind of money the county would be looking at spending and what kind of trucks Smith was talking about, and he specified the trucks would be used to haul precinct gravel trailers and would likely cost over $200,000 per truck.
Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, spoke about the process and paperwork necessary to accomplish what Commissioner Smith proposed and she said it would likely use the remainder of the ARPA funding.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, said the county has until the end of the year to spend the ARPA money and buying the trucks would be a positive 10-15 year investment for the county.
Judge Harbison said she also has an idea for the use of ARPA money for anything that’s left over and for communications.
A motion by Commissioner Smith to add the haul trucks as one of their projects, and the motion was seconded by Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2, and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned into an executive session at 9:40am. The meeting returned to open session at 10:32am.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to take applications received by Judge Harbison and interview individuals that applied for 9-1-1 coordinator during an executive session on March 13 at 1:30pm, and Commissioner McSwain seconded the motion, and it carried.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to accept the resignation of Angela Rayburn from custodian of all county office buildings, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. The motion carried.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to pursue finding a part-time person to clean the county office buildings until someone can be hired, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Lout and the motion carried.
Commissioner Bellmyer moved to publish and go out for bids for custodial services for the county office buildings as a contract and to fulfill the current contract to the end of the budget year, the motion was seconded by Commissioner McSwain, and the motion carried.
Commissioner McSwain moved to allow Judge Harbison to contact the dumpster supplier and place one at the AgriLife building in the parking lot for clean up of the buildings at that location with funding to come out of courthouse repairs, the motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith, and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:37am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Record Racial Profiling Report for Shelby County Constable. Pct 3. 3. Additional and emergency lighting for the County Courthouse that was not included in the original quote. 4. Commissioner Pct.3 Stevie Smith to discuss with the court on purchasing Haul Trucks for each Road and Bridge precinct with ARPA funds. 5. Make a decision on issues discussed in Executive Session: 5A. Take applications received by Judge Harbison and interview individuals that applied for 9-1-1 coordinator during an executive session on March 13 at 1:30pm. 5B. Resignation of Angela Rayburn from custodian of all county office buildings. 5C. Pursue finding a part-time person to clean the county office buildings until someone can be hired. 5D. Publish and go out for bids for custodial services for the county office buildings as a contract and to fulfill the current contract to the end of the budget year. 5E. Allow Judge Harbison to contact the dumpster supplier and place one at the AgriLife building in the parking lot for clean up of the buildings at that location with funding to come out of courthouse repairs. 6. Adjourn.
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