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May 13, 2021 - (Video) - Center Fire Department fire personnel honored their fellow fireman Wade Howell at his memorial service held Thursday, May 13, 2021.
A multitude of fire trucks were gathered at Watson & Sons Funeral Home from Center Fire Department, Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department, Huxley VFD and San Augustine Fire Department.
There was also a presence of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department for the service amongst many friends, family and community members to honor and remember Howell.
Click above to view slideshow
May 13, 2021 - Commissioner Bellmyer says the roadway no longer has barricades and is once again open to traffic.
May 12, 2021 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissiner Precinct 4, has issued a Road Closure announcement for CR 4323.
According to Commissioner Bellmyer, CR 4323 at Risinger Creek has water over the roadway, and as a result it has been closed off with barricades until it is once again passable by cars.
May 14, 2021 - Correction: US Flag Code § 7 (m) states "The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day."
This year, Saturday, May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day and also Armed Forces Day.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and Auxiliary encourage you to proudly fly your flag at full staff on this day in honor of both Peace Officers memorial Day and Armed Forces Day.
May 13, 2021 - Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. It is celebrated May 15th of each year. The event is sponsored by the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and Auxiliary Center, Texas invite you to join us in proudly flying your US Flag at half-staff from sun-up to sun-down on Saturday, May 15, 2021 in honor of this special day.
All flags flying with the United States Flag should also be lowered. If you have a flag that cannot be lowered, respect for the day can be shown by tying a black ribbon or cord to the top of the staff.
Questions please contact Post Quartermaster Larry Hume at chiefhume95@gmail.com or 936-332-0349.
May 12, 2021 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a two-vehicle crash yesterday morning on SH 103, about four and one half miles east of Etoile.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 10:25 a.m., a 2015 Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer transporting timber was traveling west. A 2004 Ford pickup was also traveling west in front of the commercial vehicle. Investigators believe the driver of the Ford made an unsafe turn in front of the Kenworth and was struck in the driver’s side. The commercial vehicle then traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a tree.
The driver of the Kenworth is identified Kenedy Edwards, 54, from Center. Edwards was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Nacogdoches County Justice of the Peace.
The driver of the Ford was transported to CHI St. Luke's Hospital in Lufkin by medical helicopter for treatment and then transferred to a Bryan hospital for additional treatment. The identity of the driver is not immediately available at this time.
This crash remains under investigation.
Additional information is not available at this time.
May 11, 2021 - The Child Exploitation Unit made several noteworthy arrests last week.
In San Augustine County, Christopher Scott Tyre was arrested in San Augustine on one count of Promotion of Child Pornography on May 4. This case was received as a NCMEC CyberTipline report involving the upload of an image of child pornography to a social media platform. Investigators seized several items for examination by the Digital Forensics Unit from Tyre’s home. Tyre was booked into the San Augustine County Jail without incident.
In Bexar County, Joe Anthony Salinas was arrested in San Antonio on May 5. Salinas was charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Promotion of Child Pornography, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact. This case was received as a NCMEC CyberTipline report involving the upload of child pornography to a social media account, with the potential of a live victim. Investigators searched Salinas’ home and found clothing from a child pornography image. Several items were seized from the home for examination by the Digital Forensics Unit. Salinas was transferred to the Bexar County Jail without incident.
The Fugitive Apprehension Unit made several noteworthy arrests last week.
In Bexar County, Omahar Aranda was arrested in San Antonio on May 3. Aranda had outstanding warrants for two counts of Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact issued by the Kimble County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest was made with the help of the United States Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force out of San Antonio.
In Tarrant County, Robert Alan Holtsclaw was arrested in Fort Worth on May 6. Holtsclaw had an outstanding warrant for Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact issued by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
May 11, 2021 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary that occurred on or around April 18 on County Road 2932 in Shelbyville.
The suspect(s) gained entry into the home through a window and pried open a safe and removed numerous guns and other items. Entry was also made into a shop on the property where the suspect(s) allegedly stole tools from the building.
The SCSO is seeking assistance from the public regarding this burglary. If you have any information relating to this case, you are urged to contact SCSO Investigator David Haley at 936-598-5601.
Leah Chase, SCSO Public Relations
May 11, 2021 - In March of this year, the company which hosted the photos for Shelby County Today experienced castastophic damage due to a fire. With much sadness, Shelby County Today's photos which went back to 2005 were lost.
A new hosting account has been started with SmugMug for photo access for our viewers. We will continue to add photo ablums with the hopes of getting at least all the photos from 2021 to the new photo site.
Please be patient with us as we learn to navigate shelbycountytoday.smugmug.com
Currently, the photo albums which are setup are:
- Take a Kid Fishing
- Grill Fest
- Easter Bunny at Town and Country RE
- Shelby County Livestock Show
- Shelby County Livestock Show (Backdrop)
Please note for users viewing photos in a Safari browser, they may receive an error message "A gremlin must have snuck into the engine room, but our engineers are on the case." Our solution was using a Chrome or Firefox browser instead of Safari.
May 10, 2021 - (Update): Debris from the train derailment which occurred in Joaquin on Friday, May 7, 2021, has been cleared and all crossings are once again open.
At this time, in relation to a cause of the incident, BNSF states the derailment remains under investigation.
Emergency personnel with the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department and Constable Roy Cheatwood assisted with cleanup crews.
Constable Cheatwood reports remaining with work crews into the night to help them get equipment across the roadway safely, and some of the damaged train cars remain in the area awaiting removal.
May 8, 2021 - (Update): BNSF confirms a coal train derailed in Joaquin around 3:40pm on May 7. Initial reports indicate 18 cars derailed, with 13 on their sides and the remaining five still upright.
There were no injuries and BNSF responders are on scene.
The conpany says their primary focus is to address any safety issues. An investigation is under way.
May 7, 2021 - A train derailment in Joaquin has lost a load of coal on tracks running along Southern Avenue and East Saddle Street.
The crossing at Southern avenue, Chalk street and East Saddle street are all currently impassable.
East Saddle Street is also likely to be shutdown for some time.
Railroad personnel are seen surveying the train incident location.
Information on this incident will be updated as it’s made available.
Constable Roy Cheatwood stated he contacted Jody Covington who owns property across from the railroad tracks to allow the staging of equipment.
Several of the cars involved in the crash received considerable damage.
Constables Josh Tipton and Roy Cheatwood are seen observing the debris field from the train derailment.
May 9, 2021 - Shelby County is included in thunderstorm watch 157 until 9pm for the following locations.
Texas counties included are:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, and Wood.
May 9, 2021 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a one-vehicle motorcycle crash last night May, 8, 2021, on SH 21 at County Road 434.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:25pm, a 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling west. For unknown reasons the driver drove off the highway to the left and overturned.
The driver is identified as Wade Howell, 29, from Center. Howell was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment where he was pronounced deceased on May, 9.
This crash remains under investigation. Additional information is not available at this time.
Editor's note: Howell has been a member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department for several years, since June 2015.
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