San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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The Houston Humane Society rescued 13 abandoned dogs from San Jacinto County recently. Courtesy photos

Special to the News-Times

HOUSTON — The Houston Humane Society on Jan. 12 rescued 13 abandoned dogs in San Jacinto County.

The animals were saved after they were reported to be abandoned by their owners and taken to the Humane Society shelter in Houston.

Veterinary staff reported the dogs were underweight and suffering from lacerations, hair loss and overgrown nails. Some of the dogs are pregnant as well.

All 13 dogs will be placed for adoption.

For more information on supportive programs services available through Houston Humane Society, visit www.houstonhumane.org.

For more than 60 years, the Houston Humane Society has been dedicated to, and working towards, ending cruelty, abuse and the overpopulation of animals while providing the highest quality of life to those brought to them for care.

The Houston Humane Society offers adoption, low-cost services, free resource programs, cruelty investigations and adoptions, and is the only regional shelter with full-service veterinary services available to the public.

In 2020, the Houston Humane Society distributed more than 1.5 million pet meals to animals in need, performed more than 12,000 spay-neuter surgeries, provided veterinary services for more than 40,000 animals and helped 3,000 animals find their forever homes.

San Jacinto County Precinct 3 Constable Sam Houston serves as the animal control officer for the county. Contact his office to report cases of abandoned or loose animals at (281) 592-0919.

The county also is constructing a new animal control facility in Coldspring to help house animals.

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By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — It was standing room only in the Shepherd City Council chambers as residents of two city streets brought up concerns about the condition of city streets.

City Secretary Debra Hagler said a room full of people wanted action on the potholes on Railroad Avenue and Ragsdale Street, which also has a ditch with an exposed pipe.

Hagler said the aldermen will look for alternative ways to fund repairs. She said the city did a study in 2018, and there was $3 million in repairs that were identified.

There was talk of doing an overlay, which will be discussed at the next meeting.

No action was taken.

Other residents’ concerns were trash on Shoemaker Road, but the city took no action as someone has to be caught tossing the trash on the street.

In other business, the city:

•scheduled a public hearing for the next meeting over the abandonment or sale of alleyway to Jeff Langham;

•approved a plat for Bluegill Subdivision, which will be developed at the corner of North Byrd and Lilley streets; and

•approved the 2023 holiday schedule for the city.

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SJNT staff

POLK COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers are investigating a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 190, approximately four-tenths of a mile east of the 770-mile marker, that occurred Jan. 9.

Reports indicate that at approximately 3:46 p.m., a 2020 Hyundai passenger car was traveling west, while a 2010 Lexus SUV was traveling east. It is reported that the driver of Hyundai traveled into the oncoming lane and struck the Lexus.

The driver of the Hyundai, 29-year-old Kyle Farris of Livingston, was transported to HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe for treatment.

The driver of the Lexus, 82-year-old Pauline Adams of Onalaska, was transported to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center for treatment.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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There is no word more frightful at the dinner table than the word “fentanyl”, especially when you’re in discussions with your children.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently revealed that they have seized more than 350 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl tablets in Texas, enough to kill every man, woman and child in the US. Additionally, the DPS has reported an increase in deaths in Texas, resulting from fentanyl by 89 percent from 2020-2021 and the percentages are increasing rapidly.

fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even a small dose, (as seen in the photo on the tip of a pencil) fentanyl exposure can result in a life-threatening overdose.

The Mexican cartels are importing fentanyl from as far away as the Far East and mass-produced counterfeit pills to look like oxycontin, oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall, Zanax and other pills so that the unsuspecting user doesn’t know what they’re taking that potentially will end their lives.

Of particular interest to me as your sheriff with children and grandchildren of my own is the ever-increasing availability of “rainbow fentanyl” throughout our state of Texas and beyond. As you can see from the photo depicting “rainbow fentanyl” how easy it would be for one of our children to succumb to the temptations of what appears to be a candy-like treat.

The signs of an overdose are varied, as is the first aid protocol for victims:

•Small, constricted pinpoint pupils, face is extremely pale and feels cold or clammy to the touch. Attempt to wake the person up.

•Body goes limp. Give Naloxone if available.

•Fingernails or lips have a purplish color: Administer CPR.

•Vomiting or making gurgling noises: Turn person on their side to prevent choking.

•Cannot be awakened or unable to speak: Stay with the person until emergency services arrive.

In all cases of overdose or suspected overdose, call 911.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone, or Narcan, is a medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl. Keeping it on hand, could mean the difference between life and death. It’s available at many pharmacists in Texas without a prescription.

As sheriff, I’m committing myself and the assets at my disposal to combat what we are experiencing in the state of Texas and throughout the country with the introduction of a dedicated drug interdiction team with the assignment of Special Operations K9 Handler Deputy Dustin Oliphant with his partner, K9 Belgian malinois Lady Duna, along with a specially outfitted pursuit vehicle to maintain proactive surveillance throughout the county in partnership with federal, state and other local authorities.

In further partnership with the residence of the SJC and beyond, I ask for your assistance.

It’s my hope that you will find the information helpful, and I look forward to sharing my experiences and the experiences of my senior law-enforcement professionals with the community of San Jacinto County and beyond.

Greg Capers  is Sheriff of San Jacinto County.