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May 8, 2020 - Swepco crews are gathered on Cora Street near the intersection of Fannin this afternoon. Around 2:15pm crews had four buckets raised to work on the power line.
A power outage affecting part of the City of Center area occurred around 11am this morning. Swepco's outage map shows 2 outage cases causing 945 customers to be out of power. Swepco estimates the power should be restored around 3:30pm.
Use caution if traveling down Louisiana/Cora Street where crews are working.
May 8, 2020 - State Highway 7 (SH7) West at CR 1145 was the scene of a major two-vehicle collision early Friday, May 8, 2020.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 6:10am a white 2013 Ford passenger van driven by Amanda Nicole Handy, 47, of Center was westbound on SH 7 just past CR 1145 when she crossed over the center line into the eastbound side of the roadway.
At that time a white 2020 Freightliner truck-tractor semi trailer driven by Christopher Robert Parkerson, 45, of Spring Hill, LA was eastbound when Parkerson took appropriate action trying to avoid the crash. The van struck the right rear quarter of the truck and front right quarter of the trailer, causing major damage.
The 18-wheeler came to rest in the middle of the roadway while the van came to a halt on the eastbound shoulder.
Handy was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries.
She was issued a citation for wrong side of roadway not passing.
During the investigation it was determined the incident was possibly due to a medical issue.
Center Fire Department and West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department directed traffic at the scene. As of 9am the majority of the roadway was re-opened.
May 7, 2020 - Shelby County Office of Emergency Management was notified by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on May 5th of 3 more positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 and on May 6th DSHS reported 13 more positive cases bringing the total cumulative case count for Shelby County to 147.
Also on May 5th, DSHS reported 4 cases recovered and on May 6th, 7 more cases were reported as recovered bringing the total of recovered cases to 31.
The number of cumulative cases include all confirmed cases, recovered cases, and deaths.
Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages: (New cases since May 4th report)
Cases in each zip code:
Center (75935) - 104 (20 new)
Joaquin (75954) - 5
Shelbyville (75973) - 9 (1 new)
Tenaha (75974) - 16 (4 new)
Timpson (75975) - 13 (2 new)
Ages of Confirmed Cases:
Ages 1 to 20 - 6 case (2 new)
Ages 21 to 40 - 44 cases (9 new)
Ages 41 to 60 - 58 cases (8 new), 1 death
Ages 61 to 80 - 31 cases (4 new), 1 death
Ages 81 to 100 - 5 cases (2 new)
Age unknown - 3 cases
May 6, 2020 - The Shelby County Commissioners' Court met May 6, 2020 in the Community Room of the courthouse and declared May as Elder Abuse Awareness month.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison read the proclamation aloud for the commissioners.
According to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services there were 135 cases investigated in 2019 in Shelby County and of those cases there were 97 validated victims. Of those victims 68 were 65 and older, 29 were 18-64 years old with disability, 50 were female, 46 were male, 33 were African-American, 58 Anglo, two Hispanic and four were listed as other.
Discussion continued on the parking lot for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 and Constable office, and the project has begun, according to Commissioner Charles Barr. The commissioners suggested the possibility of adding drainage gutters to the building.
One item brought up for discussion regarding the weekly expenses was a bill from Lynda K. Russell for legal fees. The bill was for $7,500 and it was determined the expenses were for the Randa and Matthew McMahon civil case.
Judge Harbison said she spoke with Leann Rafferty, 123rd District Judge, who said the amount was a deal and could easily have been double the amount.
The question came up in court as to whether the criminal case has yet been prosecuted, and it has not as it was most recently scheduled for March 2020.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25am.
Update: Any first responder or medical personnel can get tested without having ANY symptoms. Just call or register on line for an appointment. The first day of testing had 102 people get tested.
May 2, 2020 - The drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will once again open for Shelby County residents.
These tests site will be open Monday & Tuesday May 4th & 5th. ALL Tests will need to be scheduled in advance and patients will be given appointments for the test.
Please call the call center number 512-883-2400 or visit the web site at https://txcovidtest.org to register. Again, all testing must be scheduled in advance.
There will be NO costs for the tests at these sites. The test procedure will be a nasal swab.
To be eligible for testing you must have ONE or more symptoms of COVID-19 for testing.
Symptoms include:
- Fever and/or chills
- Sore throat
- Cough (dry or productive)
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- Body aches/muscle or joint pain
- Nasal congestion
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Shortness of breath
The Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Texas Military Department, Texas Division of Emergency Management, and Texas Medical Task Force have partnered to increase the availability of COVID-19 testing in Texas using these mobile testing sites.
Update: The Shelby County Office of Emergency Management received an additional update on confirmed cases today from TxDSHS of 11 more bringing the total to 131 COVID-19 cases in the county.
The statistics for the newly reported cases are 8 new (92 total) in the 75935 zip code, 2 new (13 total) in the 75975 zip code, and 1 new (13 total) in the 75974 zip code. For age groups, the newly added cases were 3 new (5 total) in the ages 1-20 group, 3 new (38 total) in the ages 21-40 group, 3 new (53 total) in the ages 41-60 group, 1 new (28 total) in the 61-80 group, and 1 new (4 total) in the 81-100 group.
May 4, 2020 - Shelby County Office of Emergency Management was notified by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on April 30th of 3 more positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 and on May 1st, 8 more positive cases bringing the total cumulative case count for Shelby County to 120.
DSHS notified us of 2 more recoveries on May 1st bringing the total recoveries to 20. Also reported to us on May 1st was one more death (*bringing the total of deaths to 2 reported by TxDSHS to the local Emergency Management. The TxDSHS website reports 4 deaths in Shelby County.)
Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages: (New cases since April 30th report)
Cases in each zip code:
Center (75935) - 84 (7 new)
Joaquin (75954) - 5
Shelbyville (75973) - 8 (1 new)
Tenaha (75974) - 12 (1 new)
Timpson (75975) - 11 (2 new)
Ages of Confirmed Cases:
Ages 1 to 20 - 2 case
Ages 21 to 40 - 35 cases (5 new)
Ages 41 to 60 - 50 cases (4 new), 1 death
Ages 61 to 80 - 27 cases (1 new), 1 death (New)
Ages 81 to 100 - 3 cases
Age unknown - 3 cases
May 4, 2020 - U.S. Highway 59 (U.S. 59) just two miles west of Tenaha was the scene where a vehicle burst into flames Sunday, May 3, 2020.
Emergency personnel were requested to the scene where it was reported a vehicle was in flames and had exploded.
As fire presonnel with the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the flaming car, Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies diverted traffic at the scene and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the incident.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 12:40pm DPS Troopers responded to a car on fire on U.S. 59 and upon arriving on scene, the vehicle was on the northbound shoulder where it had burned and was smoking.
Jennifer Truitt, 38, of Mt. Enterprise was driving a tan 2001 Toyota Solara when she filled up with fuel in Timpson and continued traveling northbound before hearing a loud pop and then seeing smoke and flames. Once Truitt brought the vehicle to a stop, she and her passengers Katelynn Nottingham, 18, and a 15-year-old passenger exited the vehicle promptly.
Another driver traveling behind Truitt knew her and had reached into the vehicle to grab something out and received minor burns.
Ambulance personnel were on scene and no one required transport from the scene for injury.
April 30, 2020 - Starting on Monday, May 4, 2020 the courthouse will be closed during the lunch hour from 12-noon until 1pm, the hours of business will be 8am until 12-noon/reopen at 1pm until 4:30am.
April 28, 2020 - The Shelby County Courthouse will reopen to the public to a certain degree on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 8am. The hours will return to normal working hours which are 8am until 4:30pm.
The first floor of the courthouse will be open but subject to restrictions on the number of people allowed in at one time.
The second and third floor will have limited access; we continue to encourage you to call before you come to schedule an appointment with whichever office you need.
You are also encouraged to wear a mask for you own protection as well as ours.
Thank you for your courtesy and cooperation during this trying time.
County Judge Allison Harbison
Related article:
County Judge Says Plans Ongoing for Re-Opening of Courthouse Monday
April 30, 2020 - FM 2026 at the intersection of CR 1044 was the scene of a three-vehicle collision Wednesday, April 29, 2020.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies converged on the scene and diverted traffic away from the crash until the investigation by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was completed.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 3:35pm a grey 2006 BMW driven by Stephany Caporali, 19, of Center was northbound on FM 2026 when she was attempting to turn left onto CR 1044.
At that time a tan Toyota Tundra pickup truck driven by Michael David Masteron, 30, of Center was southbound and struck the BMW when it traveled into his lane.
Upon being struck, the BMW spun around and side-swiped a black 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Manuel Mendoza, 28, of Center which was on CR 1044.
No injuries were initially reported at the scene, Caporali and her 14-year-old passenger were later taken by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department.
No injuries were reported of any of the others drivers or Masterson's three minor passengers age 11, 4, and 2.
Caporali was issued citations for fail to yield right of way to approaching traffic, and no driver's license.
April 30, 2020 - Shelby County Office of Emergency Management was notified by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on April 29th of 6 more positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the total cumulative case count for Shelby County to 109.
DSHS notified us of 2 more recoveries on April 30th bringing the total recoveries to 18.
Breakdown of cumulative cases by zip code and ages:
Cases in each zip code:
Center (75935) - 77 (4 new)
Joaquin (75954) - 5
Shelbyville (75973) - 7 (1 new)
Tenaha (75974) - 11 (1 new)
Timpson (75975) - 9
Ages of Confirmed Cases:
Ages 1 to 20 - 1 case
Ages 21 to 40 - 30 cases (1 new)
Ages 41 to 60 - 46 cases (5 new), 1 death
Ages 61 to 80 - 26 cases
Ages 81 to 100 - 3 cases
Age unknown - 3 cases
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