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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.
August 20, 2022 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana, issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook at 1:53pm on Saturday, August 20, 2022 for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
This afternoon and tonight, rain chances will remain in place across southern portions of the area this afternoon. A few strong storms with gusty winds and frequent lightning cannot be ruled out, along with isolated flash flooding from locally heavy downpours.
Sunday through Friday, the potential for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain through the majority of the region through next week, as a series of frontal boundaries and disturbances move across the area. A severe weather threat appears low at this time, but locally heavy rainfall is possible.
Updated at 4:40pm: At 432 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Joaquin, or 12 miles north of Center, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Updated at 4:25pm: The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement at 4:04pm on Saturday, August 20, 2022. A strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern De Soto Parish, southeastern Panola, Shelby and northeastern San Augustine Counties through 4:30pm CDT.
At 4:03 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Tenaha to near Center to near San Augustine. Movement was northeast at 20 mph.
Radar indicated winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include Center, San Augustine, Logansport, Tenaha, Joaquin, Patroon, Shelbyville, Bland Lake, Neuville, Huxley, Stanley, Hurstown, James, Calgary, Jordans Store and Paxton.
If on or near the north end of the Toledo Bend reservoir, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
August 20, 2022 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA issued a special weather statement at 3:37pm on Saturday, August 20, 2022 for Shelby and Panola Counties in Texas. A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Panola and northwestern Shelby Counties through 4:30pm.
At 3:37pm, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles northwest of Timpson, or 11 miles southwest of Carthage, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Locations impacted include Carthage, Timpson, Gary City and Woods. Radar indicated winds in excess of 40 mph with gusty winds that could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
- If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
- Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
- Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
- These storms 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 19, 2022 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a two-vehicle crash incident Thursday, August 18, 2022, which has resulted in the death of a pedestrian.
When emergency personnel arrived at the scene four miles northeast of Center, located between Moodyville and James Communities, a utility truck was parked on the eastbound shoulder with its stabilisers deployed where a crew was working to install utility poles. An 18-wheeler was further up the roadway and its trailer was missing its rear axle. One of the crewmen had been injured and was beside the truck.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) the preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:35am, a 2013 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer was eastbound. It is reported that a white 2021 Freightliner truck tractor utility truck was parked on the east shoulder with a pedestrian standing next to it when a white 2013 Freightliner driven by Ricardo Cortes, 40, of Houston failed to drive in a single lane and struck the pedestrian and the utility truck.
The pedestrian identified as Ethan Strother, 19, of Markville, La., was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information available at this time.
The crash investigation was led by Trooper Dustin Ramos, assisted by Trooper Sgt. Aaron Shelton.
Also assisting at the scene were Constables with Precinct 5 and Precinct 2, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies. Allegiance EMS, Center Fire Department personnel and Timpson Volunteer Fire Department personnel assisted with traffic control.
Joaquin City Hall Building on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 –
The City of Joaquin held a regularly scheduled meeting, on Tuesday, to address various agenda items. Reports were given by the city’s Utility Billing Manager, Public Works Manager and City Secretary during the meeting, as well as Linda Wheeler who gave updates on issues with the town’s Senior Citizens Center.
Stacy Cranford gave updates on the towns water department and gave estimates for either repairing or replacing the city’s water pumps. He also asked permission to discuss with Tenaha an equipment exchange idea which would possibly allow for the two towns to ‘Loan’ each other items which was rarely used in order to avoid both towns to have to invest in duplicate items.
The city next voted to hire Bailey Construction as contractor to do work on Joaquin’s Community Center. Gina Owens was next hired as a cleaning contractor for the Community Center.
Item 13 saw the Council vote 4-1 to have a special election to bring to a vote legalizing the sale of malt beverages and wine for off-premises consumption only.
Near the end of the meeting the council agreed to take bids for possibly remodeling the old bank building.
Before closing there was a discussion about the possibility of renaming a road in honor of a former citizen from the town.
August 15, 2022 - Shelby County emergency personnel responded to a major fatal crash Sunday, August 14, 2022, on FM 139 near FM 417 involving a truck-tractor.
Upon arrival, the truck-tractor involved in the incident was located just off the side of the roadway and the driver had been ejected.
According to details from the Texas Department of Public Safety, at approximately 8:50pm a yellow 2020 Western Star truck tractor driven by Jeffery Barbee, 42, of Joaquin was northbound on FM 139.
The truck-tractor left the roadway to the right and overcorrected back to the left which caused it to overturn and travel off the roadway.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information from DPS available at this time.
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, pronounced Barbee deceased and Watson & Sons Funeral Home transported him from the scene.
DPS Trooper Keith Jones led the investigation and he was assisted by Trooper David Shields, DPS Sgt. Aaron Shelton, Constables Roy Cheatwood and Jamie Hagler, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Jake Gross and Jordan Ford.
Huxley Volunteer Fire Department fire personnel were on scene assisting with the driver as well as traffic control until the scene was clear. EMS also were at the location to provide medical assistance.
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