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August 10, 2021 - The Center Fire Department responded to a truck-tractor fire on U.S. Highway 96 South Tuesday August 10, 2021, just under one mile south of SL 500.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the truck brakes locked up and the driver was able to bring the truck to the side of the road where it caught fire.
When fire personnel arrived just after 4pm, the trailer was fully engulfed in flames and the truck was just starting to be overtaken by the fire.
Fire fighters began working to extinguish the exceedingly hot flames, which weren't easily put out as the contents of the trailer was highly flammable.
Fire fighting foam was used at one time; however, it wasn't successful at snuffing out the flames and the fire personnel used large quantities of water which finally overwhelmed the blaze. After the fire fighters battered back the majority of the blaze with a multi-point attack using several hoses, the fire department's ladder truck was brought in and gave the needed altitude to finish off what remained of the fire from above.
As the fire personnel were fighting the fire, traffic was delayed for an extended period of time until the fire department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and TxDOT were able to divert northbound traffic into the southbound lanes.
According to the Center Fire Department, the truck involved was a red 2016 Kenworth hauling a trailer loaded with glue. Fire Department personnel returned to the station at 7:15pm.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
August 10, 2021 - Travelers on US 96 South of Center should be aware Center Fire Department is currently battling an 18-wheeler on fire. The fire was called in just after 4pm and is blocking northbound lanes of US 96 approximately a mile south of Loop 500. Some traffic is being allowed through, however, it is slow moving as firemen are using extreme caution with the intense heat from the fire. The contents of the trailer is unknown at this time.
Below is an image shared by a Shelby County Today viewer showing the smoke visible from the north side of town.
August 10, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, a total of 15 new cases have been added since August 6th. The new cases increase the estimated number of active cases from 77 to 85.
August 9th Numbers: (changes since Aug. 8)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,268 (8 new)
Total Probable Cases - 862 (1 removed)
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Active Cases (Estimated) - 85
Total Recovered (Estimated) - 1,971 (2 new)
August 8th Numbers: (changes since Aug. 7))
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,260 (1 new)
Total Probable Cases - 863
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Active Cases (Estimated) - 80
Total Recovered (Estimated) - 1,969 (3 new)
August 7th Numbers: (changes since Aug. 6)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,259 (6 new)
Total Probable Cases - 863
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Active Cases (Estimated) - 82
Total Recovered (Estimated) - 1,966 (1 new)
August 6th Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,253
Total Probable Cases - 863
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Active Cases (Estimated) - 77
Total Recovered (Estimated) - 1,965
August 9, 2021 - Through a joint investigation of Constable Precinct 5 Josh Tipton; Constable Precinct 3, Roy Cheatwood; and Constable Precinct 4, Taylor Fanguy an alleged distributor of illegal narcotics was arrested Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 11:30pm.
Jody Martin, 33, of Center was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance Schedule 1 with >4G <200G, felony 2; possession of a controlled substance PG1, felony 3; evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle, state jail felony; and evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle with previous conviction, state jail felony.
According to the constables, it had been learned Martin was living in the Timpson area while distributing narcotics there as well as frequenting Tenaha and Joaquin where he was allegedly distributing. During their investigation, the constables discovered Martin had a felony three warrant out of San Augustine County.
As a means to locate Martin, the constables set up at routes leaving and entering Joaquin to form a dragnet. While Martin was traveling State Highway 7 heading toward Logansport, the constables attempted to initiate a traffic stop between U.S. Highway 84 and the Louisiana border.
Martin pulled into the fuel pumps at the Joaquin Quick Stop where the constables blocked him in, after which Martin evaded by driving between the fuel pumps and a constable vehicle and continued onto U.S. Highway 84 toward Louisiana.
Once reaching FM 2787 before the state line, Martin turned right with the constables in pursuit to FM 139 where he turned left and traveled to CR 3367 which was a dead end roadway, and was where the pursuit became a foot chase as Martin fled his vehicle on foot. Once out of the vehicle, the constables were able to end the pursuit quickly and place Martin in custody.
After placing Martin in custody, approximately 23 grams of methamphetamine were located. A small amount of cash was recovered, and the constables will be seeking forfeiture of Martin's vehicle.
The following Sunday, August 8, 2021, at around 2am during narcotics investigation a traffic stop was initiated in the northern part of Shelby County by the constables. A felony amount of methamphetamine was discovered in the possession of Donald McLain, 65, of Joaquin who was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony 3.
Constables Tipton, Cheatwood and Fanguy will be filing forfeiture documents on vehicles and cash recovered in connection with narcotics trafficking.
The constables extend their appreciation to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
August 9, 2021 - Property owners were mailed a postcard that explains how to get information on the estimated taxes. By going to the webpage below, taxpayers will be able to view proposed actions to be taken by each local taxing unit concerning the 2021 taxes as well as view meeting dates and times.
This is not a tax bill. The card is for informational purposes only.
Go to shelby.truthintaxation.com to search for your property for more information.
August 9, 2021 - Blount Fine Foods, a McKinney, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 6,384 pounds of chicken tortilla soup products that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically pieces of gray nitrile glove, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The fully cooked, ready to eat, chicken tortilla soup was produced on July 1, 2021. The following products are subject to recall, click here to View Label
16-oz. – Plastic containers of “Panera BREAD at HOME Chicken Tortilla Soup” with lot code 070121-1V and “Use By 09/09/2021” on the label.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-13130” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
The problem was discovered after the company notified FSIS that they received several consumer complaints reporting pieces of gray nitrile glove in the product.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Blount Fine Foods Customer Care Team at (866) 674-4519 Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Standard Time. Media with questions about the recall can contact Dan Crocker, Executive Vice President, Blount Fine Foods Corp., at (774) 888-1300.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
August 6, 2021 - A man was arrested following a high-speed chase that traveled from Nacogdoches County into Shelby County Friday, August 6, 2021.
In the Martinsville area a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper was westbound when a white E350 passenger van passed traveling eastbound recklessly and at a high rate of speed.
The DPS State Trooper attempted to pull over the van; however, the driver failed to stop and continued traveling at a high rate of speed toward the Center area.
Additional DPS units, as well as Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, and Center Police Department all moved into position to head off the van.
To prevent further public danger from the speeding van, and as the van approached FM 711, a DPS State Trooper deployed spike strips and successfully punctured both front tires of the van. The van was able to continue traveling eastbound until it finally came to a stop just before State Loop 500.
Once the van came to a halt, officers blocked the eastbound traffic lanes with their vehicles and converged on the van with weapons drawn as they ordered the driver to exit the vehicle.
The driver complied and exited the van without incident, after which he was placed in custody and transported from the scene.
According to the Shelby County Jail log Miguel Suaste, 31, of Center was charged with evading arrest/detention with vehicle, felony 3; driving while intoxicated/open container, misdemeanor b; and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, state jail felony.
August 6, 2021 - U.S. Highway 84 just east of Tenaha was the scene of a major single-vehicle crash Friday, August 6, 2021.
Emergency responders established a landing zone at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and FM 699 so a helicopter could transport the driver involved from the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a white 2003 GMC Envoy was traveling eastbound toward Joaquin when, for an unknown reason, the Envoy left the roadway to the right.
The GMC then struck a tree and ejected the driver before coming to rest on its side.
Additional details will be updated once they are made available.
The driver was later transported from the scene by ambulance.
Assisting at the scene were Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, Tenaha Police Department, Shelby County Constable Precinct 3 Roy Cheatwood, and Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
The crash is under investigation by Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, assisted by Trooper Sgt. Stephen Wood.
August 6, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, a total of 12 new cases were added on Friday. The new cases increase the estimated number of active cases to 77.
August 6th (1:45pm) Numbers: (changes since Aug. 5)
Confirmed Cases 1,253 (6 new)
Probable Cases 863 (6 new)
Fatalities 74
Active Cases (Estimated) 77
Recovered (Estimated) 1,965 (3 new)
August 5th (1:40pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,247
Total Probable Cases - 857
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Estimated Active Cases - 68
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,962
August 6, 2021 - Commissioner McSwain states a lot of progress was made yesterday and CR 1488 will be closed today August 6, 2021, from the intersection of CR 1211 to FM 1645 as the Road and Bridge crew will be adding oil to that road today.
August 5, 2021 - Roscoe McSwain, Shelby County Precinct 1 Commissioner, announces work has commenced on CR 1211 off of State Highway 7 West to the intersection of CR 1488. Additionally, work continues on CR 1488 to the intersection of FM 1645.
County Road crews will be working on these roadways today August 5, 2021, through next Monday, August 9, 2021.
Commissioner McSwain is asking the public to use caution and drive slowly on these roadways as they are re-oiled. Watch for equipment and gravel trucks!
August 5, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, a total of 10 new cases were added today. The new cases increase the estimated number of active cases to 68.
August 5th (1:40pm) Numbers: (changes since Aug. 4)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,247 (2 new)
Total Probable Cases - 857 (8 new)
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Estimated Active Cases - 68
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,962 (1 new)
August 4th (3:30pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,245
Total Probable Cases - 849
Total Fatalities - 74
Total Estimated Active Cases - 59
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,961
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