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August 29, 2022 - State Highway 87 (SH 87) North was the scene of a single-vehicle crash August 24, 2022.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, the vehicle involved was located off the roadway at the end of a large culvert. The driver had escaped the vehicle and crawled to safety through the culvert.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper David Shields, Jr., at around 6:48am a Chevrolet Equinox driven by Coneshie Ratcliff, 33, was southbound on State Highway 87 just south of CR 1450 when the vehicle malfunctioned in the front end causing it to veer off to the west side of the roadway.
The Equinox rolled several times before coming to rest at the end of a culvert.
Ratcliff was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
No citations were issued resulting from the crash. The vehicle was towede from the scene.
Trooper Shields was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper Taylor Buster and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Josh Anders and William Denison.
August 29, 2022 - The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department ended the last full week of August with 3 total calls, all of which pertaining to medical emergencies.
The first call came in on Monday, August 22nd for a lift assist on Carroll Street to help a patient back into their home after being returned from the hospital.
The other 2 calls came in on Saturday, August 27th, with the earliest at 2:06am for a Covid patient having trouble breathing in their home on Highway 84 East. The JVFD EMR team responded and, after donning proper personal protective gear, monitored the patient until Allegiance EMS could arrive to transport.
Later on in the morning at 11:38am the JVFD would be dispatched to the public park in downtown Joaquin for a 15 year old patient having a seizure. With help from some good samaritans, members of the Joaquin VFD administered medical aid until Allegiance EMS could arrive on the scene.
That concludes the report for this week. Until next time, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a safe a great week ahead.
August 26, 2022 - The Center City Council met on August 22, 2022 and adopted the Tax Rate of $0.602640 per $100 which is slightly lower than the voter-approval tax rate of $0.602641. The voter-approval rate is the highest tax rate the city may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.
Prior to the City voting on the tax rate, a public hearing was held for citizens to express their support or opposition to the proposed tax rate. No citizen comments were made during the public hearing. Council reconvened and Council Member Terry Scull made a motion for the proposed tax rate, “I move that property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of $0.602640 which is effectively a 5.36% increase in the tax rate.” The motion carried.
For the City of Center, the now approved tax rate is a decrease of -0.016593 or -2.68% over the 2021 tax rate of $0.61233. However, because the average homestead taxable value saw an increase of 10.60%, the overall taxes increased on the average homestead by 7.64%. According to the ordinance, the Appraisal District presented the city with a report of the value of all property situated within the City of Center, Texas subject to ad valorem taxes, a total certified valuation of $337,390,920. Of the total property valuation, the total tax levy on all properties for 2022 is $2,002,693 and the new rate will increase the city’s revenue by $109,522 or 5.79%.
For a more information regarding property taxes, visit https://shelby.truthintaxation.com/property-search.
In April 2022, the Shelby County Appraisal District notified property owners they would see an increase in valuations for the year. To read the press release, click here. For homeowners needing assistance for delinquent property taxes, click here for more information.
During the meeting, the City of Center approved Ordinance 2022-7 (Adoption of FY23 Budget) which begins October 1 and approved Ordinance 2022-9 (Establishing Rates and Fees for FY 2023). The notable changes to the budget includes increased spending and the reduced tax rate. In the approved budget and rates and fees for the year, there were no residential utility increases. However, commercial utility rates were increased by less than 1% and commercial monthly garbage service fees were increased 5%. The monthly residential garbage service fees were adjusted to $23.95 or a 3% increase. Rentals of the Civic Center and the Community house were also adjusted to a higher rate although the new rates are still lower than average rental rates according to a regional survey.
Click here to view the FY2023 Budget online on the City of Center's website.
Municibid was used to auction off three vehicles and the council approved the top bid amounts for each of the vehicles. A 2005 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup sold for $2,217; a 2012 Ford 3/4 Ton Pickup sold for $9,800; and a 2017 Chevrolet F150 4 Wheel Drive sold for $15,300. The total amount for all three vehicles was $27,317. City Manager Chad Nehring said, “We ended up putting these on an online auction, Municibid. It has been used for a couple of years and we’ve just never experimented with it. It wasn’t readily usable; however, we will be putting a piece of equipment or vehicle on that for auction from here forward.” Mayor Chadwick did advise, “The public has access to that same thing so a local person can still bid on it just as anything else.”
Council approved Change Order #1 (South Elevated Storage Tank Project). The change order was made upon the engineer’s recommendation to modify the connection point of the tank into the system. The change will minimize connection problems and potential future maintenance issues. The cost of the change order is $47,350.
A budget change for the Civic Center to install new carpet was also approved by council. The Civic Center which opened in 2010, has areas showing wear and tear. The total cost for replacing all the carpet in the Civic Center is $34,000.
Restroom at Perry Sampson Park nearing completion.
Backside view of new restroom at Perry Sampson Park.
Items of interest mentioned during the meeting included Sales Tax for August 2022 being $389,688 which is up by 7.98% over August of 2021; lake water levels have improved since the rain, however, they are still low; the Broadband project which will be on the EDC’s next meeting agenda; the Street Works project should get started around the end of September; Perry Sampson Park restrooms are near completion; Poultry Plaza at the Civic Center is finished; and SWEPCO Smart Meter deployment is underway.
Illegal dumping site under Loop 500 overpass at Noble Street had large debris removed by the county.
Council member Leigh Porterfield commented on the AT&T cell tower being up behind the Civic Center saying, “There is hope on the horizon maybe.”
Council member Joyce Johnson asked about the clean up which has been done of large trash and debris under the overpass of Loop 500 at Noble Street. Mayor Chadwick advised the County Judge and Commissioners receive credit for the clean up job.
The meeting adjourned.
Crews working on installing the tower on August 19, 2022.
August 24, 2022 - Emergency personnel with the Texas Department of Public Safety and Constable Precinct 5 responded to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson on Monday, August 22, 2022, which developed into more than just a crash investigation and resulted in the arrest of two men.
The crash was located just past the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 in Timpson.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 3:45pm, a 2004 Dodge pickup driven by Ricardo Zarate Vazquez, 33, was traveling north when it is reported that the right rear tire blew out on the pickup, which caused it to hydroplane into the west ditch.
During the course of the investigation, Troopers became suspicious of criminal activity and it became known that prior to them arriving on scene, an individual took some items from the pickup and took them to a nearby restaurant. Troopers located and identified the individual and a search of his vehicle yielded multiple counterfeit government documents and approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine.
Vazquez was placed under arrest for the following offenses: possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and fraud – use possession of identifying information, all felony offenses. He is also charged with the following misdemeanor offenses: tampering with a government record, fail to identify and fail to maintain financial responsibility.
The individual, identified as Lonnie Downing, 59, was charged with the felony offense of possession of a control substance and a misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information available at this time.
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the incident, and Vazquez was examined by EMS. Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, assisted the Troopers with their investigation.
August 24, 2022 - The Shelby County Commissioners lifted the burn ban during their August 24, 2022, meeting.
Upon considering the order and declaration prohibiting outdoor burning, Judge Allison Harbison remarked she has had many phone calls on the issue. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index still lists Shelby County on the 600-700 range, as of August 23, 2022, with 800 being the worst.
The current order is set to run out next Monday and the commissioners would then have to take action to put a new one in place.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain made a motion to lift burn ban, seconded by Commissioners Stevie Smith, and McSwain said if the need arises they will take further action regarding putting a ban in place.
The vote carried with all in favor of lifting the ban.
August 23, 2022 - State Highway 7 West was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Sunday, August 21, 2022, at CR 1140.
When emergency personnel arrived at the location of the crash, both vehicles involved were on the westbound shoulder of the highway.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 6:05pm a silver 2006 Toyota Tundra driven by a 17-year-old female driver with a 16-year-old female passenger entered SH 7 West from CR 1140 and entered the pavement at too high of a speed for road conditions, which caused the truck to hydroplane.
When the Tundra entered the westbound traffic lanes it came into the path of a blue 2014 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Melinda Meria McSwain, 37, of Center which then struck the rear of the Tundra, causing damage to both vehicles.
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the incident.
The 17-year-old was issued a citation for unsafe speed - stop sign, and both vehicles were towed from the scene of the crash.
Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies and EMS were on scene.
August 22, 2022 - The National Weather Service issued an updated Flood Watch at 3:03pm on Monday, August 22, 2022 stating the Flood Watch remains in effect through Tuesday evening.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible for portions of Louisiana and Texas, including the following counties and parishes, in Louisiana, Caldwell, Grant, La Salle, Natchitoches, Sabine and Winn, in Texas, Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby through Tuesday evening.
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
Additional Details:
- Additional heavy rainfall may continue beyond Tuesday.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Precautionary/Preparedness actions: You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
August 22, 2022 - Since last week’s report hiatus, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department has been dispatched to 4 calls. Here’s a breakdown of what transpired.
The first call came in late on Sunday, August 14th for a fire on FM 3082. Upon arriving on the scene, the JVFD found a small campfire and due to the burn ban still being in place, made short work of putting it out.
The Joaquin VFD would be called out a few hours later in the wee hours of Monday morning for a single vehicle accident on FM 139. The driver of a Ford pickup truck ran off the road and ended up with the truck flipped on its side with a tree laying across the passenger side. The driver made it through the crash with minor injuries and was standing in the sideways truck when he was discovered by a State Trooper. Once on the scene, the JVFD broke out the back window of the truck, allowing the driver to exit the cab and be checked out by Allegiance EMS. The tree was then cut off the truck and the roadway cleared.
Wednesday, August 17th had 2 calls starting with reports of an unresponsive person in the trailer park behind the Brookshire Brothers. The EMR team responded to check out the patient until Allegiance EMS could arrive.
Later Wednesday evening the JVFD was dispatched to a power line down in a pasture just off of FM 139. A tree had fallen on the line causing a grass fire. With the use of a brush truck, the Joaquin VFD was able to get the fire under control.
That concludes the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department report for this week. We hope everyone has a great and safe week going forward.
August 21, 2022 - At 4:08pm, Sunday, August 21, 2022, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southwestern Panola County in northeastern Texas, Southeastern Rusk County in northeastern Texas, and Northwestern Shelby County in eastern Texas until 5:00pm.
At 4:08pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast of Minden, or 18 miles southeast of Henderson, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include Carthage, Beckville, Pinehill, Minden, Mount Enterprise, Gary City, Dotson, Woods, Lawsonville and Fairplay.
Precautionary/Preparedness
- For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
- Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately.
- Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
- Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
August 21, 2022 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana at 2:31pm, Sunday, August 21, 2022 issued a Flood Watch in effect through Monday evening.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible for portions of east Texas and northeast Texas, including the following counties, in east Texas, Nacogdoches and Shelby and in northeast Texas, Cherokee.
Through Monday evening expect excessive runoff which may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
Additional Details:
- Additional heavy rainfall may continue beyond Monday.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
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