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September 20, 2022 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a fatal motorcycle crash on County Road 2865, approximately 15 miles south of Center, that occurred Sunday, September 18, 2022.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 7:45pm, a 2013 Honda dirt bike motorcycle was traveling east. It is reported that the driver lost control of the motorcycle while traveling around a left-hand curve and traveled into the ditch where it crashed.
The driver, identified as Debrodrick Jones, 20, of Center, was transported to CHI St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment; he succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash.
There is no additional information available at this time.
September 19, 2022 - During the week of September 11th through 17th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had 5 total calls. Here is a brief rundown of all that transpired.
The calls began Monday morning with a heart attack patient on County Road 3590. The JVFD EMR team would respond to check out the patient.
Later in the day the EMRs would return to County Road 3590, this time in response to a fall patient with potentially fractured ribs. Allegiance EMS was also advised.
The next call came in on Wednesday morning for a man having chest pains at the Joaquin Apartments. The EMRs responded as well as EMS.
Next, the Joaquin VFD responded to a tree down across FM 2428 on Friday evening to provide traffic control until TxDOT could arrive to remove the blockage.
Lastly on Saturday evening, the EMR team would be en route to a residence on Highway 84 East for a pregnant woman having severe abdominal pain.
That will bring this weeks report to a close. As always, we here at the JVFD hope everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
September 14, 2022 - Work is scheduled to begin in Shelby County this week that will rehabilitate and widen a roadway.
Crews will begin work on FM 1656/Airport Road from SH 7 to FM 699 this week through the next five weeks, weather permitting. The work will include adding an additional 8-inches of limestone to the road base while widening the pavement from the current width of 22-feet to 26-feet.
The work will require traffic control and lane closures. This work is a Shelby County Maintenance project and will require traffic control and alternating lane closures as it progresses in coming weeks. Motorists are urged to stay alert, obey all traffic control in the area and reduce speed near the work zone.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395. For information on projects and road closures statewide, visit drivetexas.org.
September 13, 2022 - The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a high-speed pursuit that ended in Center on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
What is known is Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper David Shields engaged in a pursuit of a black Hyundai Elantra on State Highway 87 North just south of Timpson. An officer initiated a pit maneuver and the vehicle was brought to a stop just before the intersection with Hurst Street and SH 87 North in Center. Officers with multiple agencies converged on the location where a male and female individuals were removed from the vehicle and taken into custody, apparently without incident.
Assisting Troopers at the scene were Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies, Center Police officers, Constable Precinct 5, and Texas Game Wardens.
(Update 9-14-22): According to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Troopers arrested two individuals after fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle on State Highway 87, near County Road 4012, that occurred Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 4:21 p.m., a 2014 Hyundai passenger car was traveling south and reportedly speeding. It is reported that when the Trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the passenger car began to evade from law enforcement. The passenger car finally came to a stop in Center where the two suspects were apprehended and transported to Shelby County Jail.
The driver, identified as Keavien Dtrevion McKeever, 20, of Logansport, La. was charged with the felony offense of evading in a motor vehicle and the misdemeanor offenses of possession of marijuana and no driver license. The passenger, identified as Jmya Tyashla Watts, 19, of Timpson, was charged with the misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information available.
September 13, 2022 - The Shelby County Commissioners received an update from Sherry Riley,Veterans Service Officer (VSO), on the current status of her position and the duties it includes during their September 7, 2022, meeting.
Riley explained she services veterans from both Shelby and San Augustine Counties, and due to issues with utilities in the historic courthouse where her office has been housed, she has been unable to continue providing services from there.
"When Covid began, I continued to work out of the office through about April I believe," said Riley. "At that point our numbers were getting pretty high and I deal with veterans whose health issues make them an exceptional group of the population, and we want to do everything that we can to protect their health."
During April 2020, Riley established a home office and began working from home. She said she continued to see veterans face-to-face when it was absolutely necessary to obtain signatures, medical documents or evidence to file toward their claims, and any other personal documents. She said interviews were primarily conducted over the telephone while also utilizing masks and distance following Covid protocols, and it went very well.
"On into 2021 continuing to work from a home office, see veterans here in town wherever we could meet, and then I went back to the historic courthouse," said Riley. "Well, you remember in 2021 we had a very hard freeze, a couple of them actually wreaked havoc on our county, [and] did a number on the wells at the courthouse and the plumbing."
Once Riley was moved back into the courthouse she said she then discovered there was no heat in the building, no water, and no air. After that was determined, she moved her office back to her home.
"That's where I have been working since then, is from my home office," said Riley
Riley said that recently the commissioners and county judge in conjunction with Lane Dunn, County Agent, arranged for the Veterans Service Officer to have an office space in the building that houses the county extension office. She said she would be working out of that location; however, she wouldn't be there every day.
"That's just not how the Veterans Service Office operates," said Riley. "I discovered a lot of positive things as a result of 2020. Number one, the absolute best place in the world to conduct an interview with a veteran is in the comfort of their own home, on their front porch sitting there in a rocking chair. They can tell their story in the comfort of their own environment."
She explained she can file better claims for them then, because she has better information. Riley said her plan is to be in her new office by appointment only to get signatures, medical documents, file claims, and when necessary to meet with a veteran she will be there to meet with them.
Riley said there has been some curiosity of what she does in working from her home and she assured the commissioners she is working. She provided the commissioners with a geographic distribution of expenditures which is produced annually by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
From the data Riley provided, the report for 2021 indicated Shelby County had 1,411 veterans receiving benefits and San Augustine County had 710 veterans receiving benefits, totaling 2121 veterans actively receiving benefits. Riley said, in 2020 the total VA expenditures for Shelby County was $12,753,000 and in 2021 that amount was $13,269,000.
"That's an increase of over $500,000 and I work from home," said Riley. "I think the numbers speak for themselves, I'm doing my job. Veterans can't receive these benefits if they don't know that they're available, I provide information, and if claims are not filed on their behalf."
Riley continued, "So, to set everyone's mind at ease, as far as how I'm conducting business and if I'm conducting business, I can assure you I am. I take my job very seriously, I am very passionate about veterans that I serve."
Riley compared the number of veterans in Shelby County and San Augustine County that she serves to the number of veterans in Panola County and she said she serves 657 more veterans actively receiving benefits than in that county. She said her projected salary for 2023 is $31,179 annually while Panola County's VSO salary is $46,138 annually.
"That's a $15,000 difference and I think the court needs to be aware of that and I think the court needs to be aware of how important my job is to this county, whether it's me serving as the Veterans Service Officer, or someone else in the future," said Riley. "This is a very important position in this county to serve and take care of our veterans."
The docent position at the Historic 1885 Courthouse has been the responsibility of Riley since 2016 and she described how that has made her responsible for all of the inner workings of the courthouse, including hosting weddings, responding to alarm calls at all hours of night, any issues that may occur on the weekends. All of which she said receives no additional compensation.
"There's no additional pay for that, for weddings I do get comp time. When I do a weekend wedding, that involved Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I do take that as comp time, those hours as comp time," said Riles. "So at this point we're not able to use the historic courthouse, so the docent is not really an issue; however, when the historic courthouse is able to be used again for tours and weddings, and business, I can't continue to be the docent of the historic courthouse if I'm not compensated for it," said Riley.
County Judge Judge Allison Harbison shared she received a letter from the wife of a veteran who recently was trying to get benefit and she had difficulty in dealing with the VA.
"I got a really nice letter thanking the court for allowing Ms. Riley to be the VA officer, because without her she probably would have not got the survivor's benefit," said Judge Harbison.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, thanked Riley for the effort she puts forth for the veterans.
"I understand the responsibility that is is and I know that you take it very seriously, and I appreciate the effort that you've put forward," said Bellmyer. "I am hopeful that the office at the Agrilife Extension office will work out for you."
Judge Harbison stated for the court there will be a handicap parking spot added at the front of the Agrilife Extension building to ease entry for the veterans that need that.
The county has discussed and now is budgeting in the proposed budget for a County Elections Administrator position to oversee elections in Shelby County.
"Jennifer [Fountain], Debora [Riley], and I had a meeting yesterday and kind of hashed out some of the transitions and everything, if we were to go this route on who's going to house at this point and everything, eventually we'll need to find an office for this person and for this department."
Judge Harbison said there are some formal actions that need to be taken, such as ordering the position so that the documentation can then be sent on to the Secretary of State. Then there would be a transition from both the County Clerk and the Tax Assessor/Collector to establish the office of the County Elections Administrator.
According to Judge Harbison, if the commissioners are to approve the order then a meeting of the commission would have to be scheduled and which would be made up of the County Judge, County Clerk, Tax Assessor/Collector, Democrat Chair and Republican Chair. Nominations will then be put forward from the committee on who to appoint to the position and then a formal appointment would be made.
A motion carried to approve establishing the position of County Elections Administrator to be effective October 1.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Adopt the Order Creating the position of County Elections Administrator.
3. Adopt County Holidays for 2023.
4. Adjourn at 10:04am
Agenda items tabled until the next meeting include:
1. Discuss the FY 2021-2022 Proposed Budget.
2. Discuss the FY 2021-2022 Proposed Tax Rate.
3. Adopt the FY 2021-2022 Proposed Budget.
4. Adopt the FY 2021-2022 Proposed Tax Rate.
September 12, 2022 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a commercial motor vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59, approximately nine-tenths of a mile south of County Road 4260, that occurred Saturday, September 10, 2022.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 4:54 a.m., an unknown truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling south and reportedly failed to drive in a single lane. Following the unknown truck tractor semi-trailer was a 2020 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer. It is reported that the driver of the Freightliner partially entered the northbound lane as he attempted to pass the truck tractor semi-trailer, at which point he struck a 2006 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer traveling north. The Freightliner traveled into the east ditch and came to rest upright. The Peterbilt traveled into the west ditch and caught fire. The semi-trailer belonging to the Peterbilt, which was hauling flammable liquids, did not catch fire.
The unknown truck tractor semi-trailer continued south and has not been located.
The driver of the Freightliner, identified as Diego Ontiveros, 29, of Matamoros, Mexico was not injured. Ontiveros was cited for traveling on the wrong side of the road in a no passing zone. His passenger Antonio Cedillo, 42, was not injured.
The driver of the Peterbilt, identified as Kevin Lee Jones, 40, of San Antonio, was transported to Nacogdoches Medical for treatment.
There is no additional information available at this time.
Related article:
Texas DPS Investigating Two-Vehicle CMV Crash; U.S. 59 Shut Down (Updated)
September 12, 2022 - Over the week of September 4th through 10th, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had 3 calls, all of which were of the medical variety.
The first call came in on Monday, in regards to a 15-month-old that had fallen off of a table at a residence on Highway 84 East.
Thursday had 2 calls, with the first coming in at 1:35am for an unresponsive 21-year-old female on Southern Avenue. The other call came in at 6:28pm for a man in distress and laying in his yard on County Road 3315.
In all 3 cases the JVFD EMR team responded to assist Allegiance EMS with the patients.
With 9/11 on Sunday, we remember all the lives lost that day in 2001, as well as thank all first responders across the nation for the jobs they perform every day.
That will conclude the report for this week. As usual, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a safe and great week going forward.
September 10, 2022 - Alert: US 59 north of FM 1645 in Shelby County is closed due to a crash involving two 18-wheelers. The crash resulted in a fire and a Haz Mat spill. Traffic is being diverted in Tenaha and Timpson at this time. Motorists should stay alert and obey all traffic control.
September 10, 2022 - (Update): Traffic is flowing again in both directions.
(Update: 10:14am): Wrecker crews are currently working on the vehicles involved in the crash and the roadway remains shut down by TxDOT due to safety reasons.
Texas Department of Public Safety is currently working a two vehicle commercial motor vehicle crash involving a hazmat truck which is currently on fire as of 7:40am September 10, 2022.
The incident is located on U.S. Highway 59 just north of Timpson where a Hazmat crew is on the way. The highway is currently shut down until further notice.
Related article:
18-Wheelers Collide on US 59 Blocking Roadway on Saturday
September 9, 2022 - The Center Police Dept Ladies Auxiliary is holding a raffle to help support The Center Police Dept K-9 division in obtaining the funds to purchase a new K-9 Unit. K-9 NYX is coming close to retirement age and has been in service since 2015. Currently she has been with the Center Police Dept and Officer Brian Wright since 2019 for the use of Narcotics Detection. With the funds raised The Center Police Dept K-9 Division would be able to purchase a new K-9 Unit, and would be for a Dual-Purpose K-9, Narcotics Detection, Tracking, Patrol Apprehension, and Article Search (guns, money, etc)
Tickets are $20 each, with only 300 tickets being sold. The drawing will be held on November 1st, 2022 with the winner receiving a Ruger American Ranch Rifle, 300 Blackout, along with a Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x40 Dead-Hold BDC Scope, valued at $700
To purchase a ticket, you can come to the Center Police Dept, or contact a CPD Ladies Auxiliary Member. Cash/ Checks or Paypal is accepted at paypal.me/CPDLadiesAux ( please use Friends & Family option)
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