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August 21, 2025 - United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirms a 3.0 magnitude earthquake in the Huxley area August 21, 2025.
According to details from the USGS, the earthquake was approximately 9 km west of Huxley at a depth of 7.5 km and was at 4:09pm
August 20, 2025 - FDA Advises Public Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Certain Imported Frozen Shrimp from an Indonesian Firm Frozen shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Alerts, Advisories & Safety Information
Product and stores affected Certain raw frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods), a company located in Indonesia, and sold at Walmart stores in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, and WV.
These products include the following product names, lot codes, and best by dates:
- Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
- Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
- Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
Additional product information is in a table below.
At this time, no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered the U.S. commerce. FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection (CBP), but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, to recommend that firms conduct a recall. In conjunction with other information, FDA determined that product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.
FDA has also added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to a new import alert for chemical contamination to stop products from this firm from coming into the U.S. until the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing. This advisory will be updated as more information becomes available.
Health impacts of cesium exposure FDA detected Cs-137 in a single shipment of imported frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati that did not enter U.S. commerce. The level of Cs-137 detected in the detained shipment was approximately 68 Bq/kg, which is below FDA’s Derived Intervention Level for Cs-137 of 1200 Bq/kg. At this level, the product would not pose an acute hazard to consumers. Avoiding products like the shipment FDA tested with similar levels of Cs-137 is a measure intended to reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could have health impacts with continued exposure over a long period of time.
The primary health effect of concern following longer term, repeated low dose exposure (e.g., through consumption of contaminated food or water over time) is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body. Additional information about Cs-137 and your health is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry resources.
Recommendation If you recently purchased one of the impacted lots of Great Value raw frozen shrimp from Walmart, throw it away. Do not eat or serve this product. Distributors and retailers should dispose of this product and should not sell or serve this product. If you suspect you have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium, talk to your healthcare provider.
Product Descriptions Consumers should not eat or serve certain lots of Great Value raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart stores in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, and WV
Brand - Product Name - Product Type - Best By - Item Code - Lot Code - Distributor
- Great Value, Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp, Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, 3/15/2027, 7383108 8005540-1 Walmart
- Great Value, Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, 3/15/2027, 7383108 8005538-1, Walmart
- Great Value, Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, 3/15/2027, 7383108
John Pope (left) is seen seated beside Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4 (right).
August 20, 2025 - Following an executive session held during Shelby County Commissioners’ Court on August 20, 2025, John Pope was appointed Constable Precinct 5
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer moved that John Pope will be established as the Constable for Precinct 5 and he would like for that to take effect starting Monday, August 25, 2025, to allow time for Pope to get his bond established also to give notice to Sabine County. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stevie Smith and it carried.
County Judge Allison Harbison stated they would not be able to make decisions on any of the other issues they discussed during executive session.
August 17, 2025 - A strong thunderstorm will impact southwestern De Soto Parish and southeastern Panola and northeastern Shelby counties until 5:15pm CDT.
At 4:47pm CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Joaquin, or 14 miles northeast of Center, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include: Center, Logansport, Tenaha, Joaquin, Huxley, Keachi, Grand Cane, Longstreet, Stanley, Paxton, James, Deadwood, Keat Chie, Front and Reeds Store.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
August 17, 2025 - The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, along with several mutual aid departments, responded to a significant hay barn fire off of County Road 441 in Panola County on the morning of August 17 at approximately 9:30am.
Firefighters were dispatched to a barn that contained an estimated 150 to possibly 200 bales of hay. The structure was already fully involved in flames upon arrival. The location of the fire was within the jurisdiction of the Woods Volunteer Fire Department in Panola County, but Joaquin VFD arrived at the same time due to proximity.
Multiple departments provided mutual aid to contain the fire. These included Woods, Tenaha, Timpson, Huxley, Shelbyville, and DeSoto Parish Fire Departments. The joint effort lasted around five hours before the fire was brought under control.
Thanks to the coordinated response, the fire was contained to the barn structure itself. No other property was damaged beyond the barn and the hay. The Texas State Forest Service also responded and determined that a containment line would be placed around the site. The remaining fire will be allowed to burn out safely over the next several days.
August 15, 2025 - State Highway 7 West near FM 711 was the scene of a three-vehicle crash involving a house Thursday, August 14, 2025.
Just as the crash incident occurred, Royce Johnson was traveling on foot to his produce stand when a van exited the roadway and traveled right in front of him through a table before colliding with the house on the property. Johnson said he thought he could tell the driver was attempting to stop.
Emergency personnel from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Center Fire Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department all arrived at the scene to assist those involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones at just before 10:05am a white 2014 Ford passenger van owned by Light and Champion and driven by Nicholas Blaine Smith, 26, was eastbound on State Highway 7 when he failed to control speed striking a white 2024 Ford F150 pickup truck driven by Christopher Barton Massey, 68. As a result of the collision, the F150 was pushed into the westbound traffic lanes where it was struck by a grey 2023 GMC pickup truck driven by Ryan James Marty, 38.
Marty was transported by ambulance to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of his injuries.
Charges are pending DPS investigating mechanics on the van.
Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by Trooper Dustin Ramos and Trooper Cpl. David Shields, Jr.
Photos Courtesy DPSO
August 14, 2025 - In the mid-morning hours of Wednesday, August 13, Shelby County Sheriff's Office alerted DeSoto Sheriff's Deputies to a need for assistance in locating two suspects that had been involved in a vehicle theft the night before. Prior to arriving, one male suspect who had fled on foot was located and taken into custody by Shelby County Deputies. Shortly after DPSO arrived on scene, deputies learned of a second suspect with a possible location nearby. DeSoto Sheriff's Deputies then assisted Shelby County Deputies to the nearby residence where the second suspect was also taken into custody without incident.
Photos Courtesy DPSO
During a short investigation it was revealed that one of the suspects involved in the vehicle theft had been captured on nearby security footage wearing a backpack. The suspect was not wearing the pack when he was apprehended some distance away, and it was believed that he may have ditched it somewhere between Hwy 2787 and the train trestle at the rivers edge. DeSoto K-9 handlers McCoy, Pearah, and Martinez deployed K-9 Cholo, while Patrol Dy. Emily Henderson also provided drone support in an effort to locate the missing pack. K-9 Cholo was able to find and follow the path of the suspect, and after a brief search of the tracks and wooded area around them, the pack was swiftly located by DeSoto K-9 Cholo. The backpack contained suspected narcotics upon retrieval.
Since our agency was there to provide assistance to Shelby County, suspect information and/or charges may be provided by their agency.
August 14, 2025 - A manhunt is underway following a traffic stop on State Highway 7 West that occurred Thursday morning, August 14, 2025, which involved multiple agencies including at the federal level.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has confirmed the stop involved a van that was occupied by six individuals and difficulty identifying two of them.
According to DPS, two of the six occupants were unable to be identified and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrived on scene to assist. Upon HSI’s arrival, two of the six occupants fled on foot. One of the occupants that fled was apprehended and one was not.
Center Police Department assisted with the search, but it was unsuccessful, which included aerial and K-9 units.
DPS identified the wanted suspect as a Hispanic male wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with the word “Columbia” on the sleeve, blue jeans, and a ball cap.
If anyone has information on his whereabouts, we ask them to call the Texas Department of Public Safety in Lufkin at 936-699-7340. The case and individuals were turned over to immigration services.
August 13, 2025 - State Highway 87 near FM 147 was the scene of a single-vehicle fatality crash Sunday, August 10, 2025.
Personnel with the Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene at 1:35am with their main engine and found the driver of the vehicle to be trapped inside. The firefighters extricated the driver from the vehicle utilizing Jaws-of-Life to pop the driver’s door out and cut a corner of the roof. Although life-saving efforts were performed once the driver was removed from the vehicle he had succumbed to his injuries.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) the preliminary crash investigation indicates that a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by Eddie Lockey, 57, of San Augustine was traveling north.
The Ford failed to maintain a single lane, left the roadway to the left on FM 147 straightening the curve before crossing over State Highway 87 and striking a tree.
Lockey was pronounced deceased on scene by a local Justice of the Peace.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
August 12, 2025 - State Highway 7 West between Center and FM 711 was the scene of an early morning single-vehicle crash Monday, August 11, 2025.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the location sometime after 5:40am. Center Fire Department firefighters assisted Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers with traffic control while they conducted their investigation.
According to DPS the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 5:40am, a 2020 Nissan Sentra driven by Benito Lopez, 22, of Houston was traveling east. It is reported that Lopez fell asleep while operating his vehicle, left the road to the right and struck a tree.
Lopez was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The crash was investigated by DPS Trooper Dustin Ramos.
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