Authorities in Henderson County, Texas, arrested two men over the weekend after discovering narcotics while serving felony warrants. Deputies went to a residence on CR 4619 Saturday to serve warrants and observed suspected methamphetamine.
Investigators were called to the scene and found additional drugs and items used for drug distribution.
Travis Brax Davis, 27, of Murchison, was arrested on outstanding warrants for three counts of theft of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Joshua Brandon Bailiff, 44, of Chandler, was arrested for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. (Source) Both men were booked into the Henderson County Jail. Bailiff's bond was set at $100,000.Separately, in Henderson County, North Carolina, officials provided an update Monday on ongoing storm debris removal and discussed rising costs at a Board of Commissioners meeting. They indicated cleanup from Tropical Storm Helene is nearing completion, but expenses remain high.
County Engineer Marcus Jones reported that since November, 17,900 trees have been cut and 520,000 cubic yards of debris removed from roadways. (Source) An additional 14,600 cubic yards were cleared from private property and 4,800 cubic yards from waterways. (Source) A survey is underway to assess remaining roadside debris after the May 1 placement deadline.
The county received $15.2 million in funding from FEMA, with about $2.5 million left. However, overall spending on Helene recovery efforts totals more than $19.2 million, including $10 million for debris removal. This leaves the county approximately $3.3 million short of funds received so far, according to Chairman William Lapsley.Commissioners questioned the $2.5 million spent on debris monitoring, a cost Chairman Lapsley publicly scrutinized. County Manager John Mitchell was asked to review the expense. Jones explained the cost covers contractors supervising debris removal, managing private property applications, and investigating waterway debris, citing it as a FEMA requirement.
Financial Services Director Samantha Reynolds stated the county is conducting an internal audit of recovery spending.
Mitchell suggested recommending a pause on spending if reimbursement does not occur within the next 45 days at a cost rate of $1 million to $2 million. Lapsley voiced concern that delays in federal funding could leave the county $5 million or $6 million in deficit by September if reimbursement is held up.Despite the current spending concerns, Lapsley commented that the county is in a better financial position regarding storm costs than early predictions had indicated, which estimated costs between $30 million and $50 million.