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December 31, 2024 – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Larry Fields as the Panola County Criminal District Attorney, effective January 1, 2025, for a term set to expire on December 31, 2026, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified.
Larry Fields of Carthage is an attorney in private practice. Previously, he served as justice of the peace for Panola County and as a municipal judge for the City of Tatum. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a member and former president of the Panola County Bar Association. Additionally, he is a former board member and member of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce, member of the Carthage Noon Lions Club, former board member of the Rusk-Panola Child Advocacy Center, and former gubernatorial appointee and secretary of the Texas Optometry Board. Fields received a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston.
December 30, 2024 - The intersection of SL 500 and FM 699 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at around 5:30pm.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers were dispatched to the scene and were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Deputies, as well as Center Police Officers.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper David Shields, Jr., a white 2012 Buick Enclave driven by Doris Hurtado-Gonzales, 26, of Shelby County, was eastbound on FM 699 at that time a white 2009 Honda Accord driven by Oscar Andreas Galvan, 23, of Shelby County, was southbound on SL 500.
The Enclave failed to yield right of way at the stopped intersection causing a collision in the intersection of SL 500 and FM 699 and causing the Enclave to roll onto its left side. The Honda came to rest in the southbound shoulder of SL 500.
Citations were issued to Hurtado-Gonzales for failure to yield right of way at a stopped intersection.
EMS was on scene, and no injuries wee reported resulting from the crash.
December 30, 2024 - By order of a Presidential Proclamation, all United States Flags, and subordinate flags, should fly at half-staff until January 30, 2025, as a mark of respect for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024. If you have a flag that cannot be lowered, respect can be shown by tying a black ribbon or cord to the top of the flagstaff.
December 28, 2024 - Emergency responders were dispatched to a major two-vehicle crash on December 20, 2024, on State Highway 87 at the intersection of CR 3012.
Center Fire Department personnel arrived and used Jaws-of-Life to extricate the driver safely from one of the vehicles involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, Troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle head-on crash at 5:32pm on State Highway 87 South.
Through investigation it was determined a silver 2018 Nissan Altima driven by Michael Carrillo, 20, of Center was southbound on State Highway 87. Witnesses on scene said the vehicle swerved around another vehicle that was in the inside lane and into the oncoming northbound traffic.
As the Altima entered the northbound lane, a white 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Randall Metteauer, 42, of Nacogdoches was traveling north when the two vehicles collided almost head on and then traveled off the roadway at CR 3012
Carrillo was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches for treatment of his injuries.
Metteauer and his passengers age 11 and eight were transported to Shelby Emergency Department for possible injuries.
Further details are not available at the time of this report.
December 28, 2024 - (3:15pm) - Tornado watch 720 remains valid until 9pm CST this evening for the following areas.
In Texas this watch includes five counties.
In northeast Texas: Angelina, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby
In Louisiana this watch includes 10 parishes.
In north central Louisiana: Caldwell, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, Winn
In northwest Louisiana: Natchitoches, Sabine
This includes the cities of Bernice, Center, Clarks, Colfax, Columbia, Dry Prong, Farmerville, Grayson, Hemphill, Jena, Jonesboro, Lufkin, Many, Midway, Monroe, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Olla, Pineland, Pleasant Hill, Ruston, San Augustine, Winnfield, and Zwolle.
Tornado Watch 718 remains valid through 3pm CST this afternoon for the following areas.
In Texas this watch includes eight counties.
In northeast Texas: Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, San Augustine, and Shelby.
In Louisiana this watch includes 17 parishes.
In north Central Louisiana: Caldwell, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, and Winn
In northeast Louisiana: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, De Soto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster.
This includes the cities of Arcadia, Bernice, Bossier City, Carthage, Center, Clarks, Colfax, Columbia, Coushatta, Dry Prong, Farmerville, Gibsland, Grayson, Haynesville, Hemphill, Henderson, Homer, Jacksonville, Jena, Jonesboro, Logansport, Lufkin, Mansfield, Many, Martin, Midway, Minden, Monroe, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Olla, Pineland, Pleasant Hill, Ringgold, Rusk, Ruston, San Augustine, Shreveport, Springhill, Stonewall, Winnfield and Zwolle.
December 27, 2024 - The City of Center Public Water System, PWS #2100001, will be conducting water system maintenance beginning January 1, 2025, and lasting until January 31, 2025. The system will be switching to free chlorine as its main disinfection.
This maintenance which is not a requirement, but is the recommended course of action set by the TCEQ/EPA for the accumulation of disinfection byproducts.
This is a routine maintenance procedure performed to help reduce unstable water conditions in our system and insure the highest quality of water being delivered to our customers.
During this maintenance period you may notice an odor or slight discoloration, but the safety of the water will not be affected. City maintenance crews and the Fire Department will also be aggressively flushing hydrants throughout the City’s distribution system.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our Public Works Department at 936-598-5241.
December 27, 2024 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, announces that CR 4323 at Risinger Creek has water across it and is unsafe to travel.
Commissioner Bellmyer has placed signs this morning informing the public of this situation.
Drivers should use caution, choose an alternate route and allow for a future announcement that flood waters have receded.
December 27, 2024 - Commissioner Bellmyer reports on that on December 27 the water has receded on CR 4059, and the roadway is back open to normal traffic.
December 26, 2024 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner precinct 4, announces that CR 4059 at West Creek is closed on the evening of December 26, 2024 due to water over the roadway.
The roadway is barricaded on both ends at appropriate places.
Drivers should use caution, and are encouraged to choose an alternate route and allow for a future announcement that flood waters have receded.
December 26, 2024 - CR 4293 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash following a pursuit on December 14, 2024, at around 8pm.
A Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2010 Nissan Altima driven by Mauricio Cervantes Gonzalez, suspected to be 35 years of age, on U.S. Highway 96 North in Center before the driver allegedly evaded. The Trooper pursued the Altima onto FM 2026, and then was led to CR 4293 at a high rate of speed where the vehicle eventually crashed into a tree.
Center Fire Department was requested to the scene and assisted in extricating the driver using Jaws of Life to cut Gonzalez out of the Altima.
EMS then transported him to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Trooper Dustin Ramos and Troopers Josh Gradberg were both involved in investigating the incident.
December 24, 2024 - Law enforcement officers were dispatched to a grocery store in the 1100 block of Shelbyville Street behind which a body was discovered on December 23, 2024 around 5pm.
Multiple units with the Center Police Department were at the scene assisted by Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Officers were also at a house on McKee Street during the investigation near the incident scene.
After authorities finished conducting their initial investigation at the scene, the deceased individual was transported from the location by Mangum Funeral Home and an autopsy is anticipated.
According to information released by the Center Police Department, officers with the Center Police Department Communications received a call about a welfare check on December 23, 2024.
The caller stated that her son, later identified as Cordero Wyatt, 36, had been at his girlfriend's residence in Center and was no longer answering his phone, nor had he returned home. Officers contacted the girlfriend, identified as Alicia Petite, 40, who informed officers that Wyatt had been at her residence earlier and friends had picked him up, but he was no longer at her house.
Officers responded to Petites’ residence, and she allowed them to look in the home for Wyatt. Some of Wyatt's belongings were located in the residence, including his cell phone. Responding officers contacted the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and Detectives began investigating a possible missing person.
During the investigation, it was learned that a Mtwakil Saeed, 26, was at Petites’ home when Wyatt arrived, and a disturbance took place. During the investigation, it was learned that Saeed brandished a firearm and shot multiple times, some of which struck Wyatt. Wyatt was found in a nearby field deceased.
Detectives conducted multiple search warrants, and evidence was recovered to support information detectives had learned through interviews. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Mtwakil Saeed, and Alicia Petite. On December 24, Saeed was arrested on the charge of Murder, felony 1, Petite was arrested on the charge of Tampering with physical evidence, felony 3. Both parties were booked into the Shelby County Jail without incident.
This case is an ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time. There is no concern of danger to the public currently regarding this case.
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