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August 5, 2022 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports the recovery of a Yamaha dirt bike that was stolen off CR 1012 in Center on July 25, 2022. Investigator Chad Hooper followed leads and successfully recovered the bike on August 1, and returned it to the owner on August 2.
No further information will be released due to juvenile involvement in this case.
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Updated 1:37pm: The subjects have been identified. The investigation is ongoing.
August 5, 2022 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating to subjects involved in an ATM burglary. At approximately 4:30 a.m. on August 5, 2022, two black males approached the ATM located at American State Bank on the Haslam strip in Joaquin. The subjects attempted to break into the machine. The subjects were driving a white Dodge Avenger with a black racing stripe on the hood and black pin striping on the sides. The vehicle has Texas plates.
If you have any information on this vehicles whereabouts or can identify the subjects in the pictures, please contact Investigator Misty Ray at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936.598.5601 or 936.572.1091.
Update at 4:45pm: DETEC was able to partner with SWEPCO and swap the majority of the energy load to their circuit. This move restored power to all, but approximately 500 meters in the Paxton area. Crews are now working to reroute the Paxton area. We appreciate your patience.
August 4, 2022 - At 3:30pm, Deep East Texas Electric updated the large outage in the Tenaha area is expected to last approximately 5 hours. Unfortunately, crews have identified the transformer within Tenaha substation as the cause of the outage. Crews are in route with our mobile substation to power the station until the transformer is changed out. This process will take approximately 5 hours to complete. If you are in need of power for medical reasons, please seek an alternate location. You do not need to report your outage during this time.
The outage is impacting approximately 1,300 members.
August 4, 2022 - On August 1, 2022, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Joaquin public water system, 2100010, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be
boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of August 4, 2022.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at Joaquin City Hall located at 124 N. Preston Street Joaquin, Texas 75954 or by calling 936-269-3021.
August 1, 2022 - Due to loss of system pressure (CR 3605 and CR 3635), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Joaquin / 2100010 public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at Joaquin City Hall located at 124 N. Preston Street Joaquin, Texas 75954 at (936)269-3021.
August 4, 2022 – Crews are scheduled to place a seal coat beginning next week on roadways in Shelby County that could impact travel.
Beginning Monday through Tuesday, August 8 and 9, maintenance crews will work on SH 87, south of Center. On Wednesday, August 10, seal coat is scheduled to be applied on FM 2975. On Thursday, August 11, crews will move to FM 2788. The following Monday, August 15, crews will continue the work on FM 3174. This work will be completed on August 15, weather permitting.
Lane closures will be required at each location as work progresses and traffic control will be set. Motorists are urged to stay alert to moving equipment and workers near travel lanes. Reduce speed near the work zones and be prepared to stop. Obey all traffic control. Remember, fines double when workers are present.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395. For more information on road conditions/closures statewide, visit drivetexas.org.
August 4, 2022 - Huxley VFD and Shelbyville VFD responded to a grass/brush fire at the intersection of FM 417 and CR 2515 shortly after 6pm August 3, 2022. On arrival, it was discovered that a previous fire had rekindled and spread outside the original containment lines.
Firefighters worked the fire until crews from Texas Forest Service and the US Forest Service could arrive to assist. Thankfully a quick response from firemen allowed the fire to be contained with minimum spread.
We would like to remind our community that the fire danger remains HIGH and looks to be that way for a while. Please refrain from doing any outside burning or activities that may cause a spark.
August 3, 2022 - Center Fire Department firefighters saved four homes in imminent danger of burning Wednesday, August 3, 2022, when it was reported someone was burning brush behind their house on Collier Street in Center.
When the firefighters arrived after 11:30am, even though Shelby County is under a burn ban, trees which had been cut down and various other brush were discovered to have been set on fire in the midst of several houses in close proximity to one another placing those structures in immediate danger of catching fire.
The firefighters worked quickly to put the fire out by spraying water on burning piles of wood and brush. One house was detected as already being over 200 degrees, as the firefighters sprayed water on the home and nearby jungle gym equipment.
As a result of the quick action of fire personnel, they were able to save four homes from burning, and extinguish nearby trees that were on fire.
Center Police Department officers were called to the scene and they wrote the homeowner a citation.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) which ranges from 0-800, with 0 indicating no depletion of moisture and 800 representing absolutely dry conditions, currently shows Shelby County to be at 776 for the maximum and 712 being the average according to Texas A&M Forest Service data.
Center Fire Department personnel worked with forest service personnel in fighting a fire on CR 1005 on Tuesday which had been intentionally set. The Shelby County Commissioners have not lifted the burn ban as nothing has changed recently to indicate it's safe to do so.
Firefighters put themselves in harms way every time they respond to a call, and the potential for heat exhaustion is greater when temperatures are higher.
Those who burn during a burn ban are subject to potential legal action unless they have some form of documented exemption.
Unless a city states otherwise, all of Shelby County is under a burn ban.
August 3, 2022 - The month of July 2022 had 20 days of triple digit temperatures with an 8 day streak of 100 plus degrees starting on July 6th. Each time the temps got below 100, a little rain fell the day before.
July did have 3 times more days of rain fall than June. The total for June was 0.26 inches and the total rain for July was 2.41 inches. Much more rain is needed.
The weather data for Center, Texas during the month of July 2022 is as follows:
Hottest temperature - 106.7 on July 9
Lowest temperature - 70.3 on July 23
Total rain fall for the month - 2.41 inches
Number of days with rain - 6 days
07/01/2022 - Low of 72.0, High of 84.4
07/02/2022 - Low of 73.4, High of 91.2, Rain 0.16
07/03/2022 - Low of 78.6, High of 99.9
07/04/2022 - Low of 75.2, High of 97.7
07/05/2022 - Low of 75.0, High of 98.8
07/06/2022 - Low of 77.0, High of 101.5
07/07/2022 - Low of 77.0, High of 101.7
07/08/2022 - Low of 77.5, High of 104.7
07/09/2022 - Low of 78.8, High of 106.7
07/10/2022 - Low of 80.8, High of 104.2
07/11/2022 - Low of 78.3, High of 100.8
07/12/2022 - Low of 76.6, High of 104.2
07/13/2022 - Low of 74.7, High of 104.2, Rain 0.11
07/14/2022 - Low of 70.5, High of 96.1, Rain 0.52
07/15/2022 - Low of 71.4, High of 96.4
07/16/2022 - Low of 72.7, High of 101.7
07/17/2022 - Low of 77.4, High of 103.1
07/18/2022 - Low of 79.3, High of 104.0
07/19/2022 - Low of 78.1, High of 103.6
07/20/2022 - Low of 77.9, High of 104.7
07/21/2022 - Low of 79.5, High of 87.3, Rain 0.14
07/22/2022 - Low of 71.6, High of 88.3, Rain 0.47
07/23/2022 - Low of 70.3, High of 98.2
07/24/2022 - Low of 75.6, High of 102.4
07/25/2022 - Low of 76.8, High of 100.2
07/26/2022 - Low of 76.8, High of 101.1
07/27/2022 - Low of 77.2, High of 101.8
07/28/2022 - Low of 76.3, High of 101.5
07/29/2022 - Low of 76.1, High of 101.7, Rain 1.01
07/30/2022 - Low of 75.9, High of 99.9
07/31/2022 - Low of 76.5, High of 100.9
August 3, 2022 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin Windham confirms a Shelbyville man drowned in Toledo Bend Reservoir yesterday, August 2, 2022.
The family of Don Jackson notified the Sheriff's Department around 4:30pm that they were concerned because they had not heard from him since going out on the water to check trot lines near East Hamilton Boat Ramp.
Due to treacherous waters, Game Wardens assisting the Sheriff's Department with the search needed a larger boat to handle the rough conditions and Micheal Andrews allowed emergency responders use of his boat for the search. According to weather data for the area, during the search and recovery time, wind speeds did rise to 14mph with gusts up to 20mph making law enforcements' job much more difficult. During the day, wind speeds ranged from 5-7mph.
After Jackson was located, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Marla Denby performed the inquest. No autopsy was requested.
Additional information is pending a release by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
August 2, 2022 - According to Texas A&M Forest Service, this fire is 100% contained and ended up involving 35 acres.
Center Fire Department and Forest Service personnel are actively fighting a forest fire off CR 1005 and CR 1024 on August 2, 2022.
The fire is suspected to have been started intentionally. There are bulldozers on scene plowing a fire break around the fire to prevent further spreading. Wind is also continuing to fuel the flames.
A contingent of firefighters from Wisconsin was also assisting in suppressing the fire.
(Update: 8:57pm) According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, as of 6:49pm the fire is 45 acres and is 15% contained. The Center Municipal Airport (KF17) windspeed is recorded at 9 mph in a southeasterly direction with gusts up to 16 mph.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating the fire.
As of this report there is also now a reported fire on CR 1022; however, there are not additonal details at this time.
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