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May 31, 2018 - Barber was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 in Joaquin by Pct. 3 Constable Roy Cheatwood. She was booked into the Shelby County Jail on warrants for Assault Causing Bodily Injury (M-A) $2,500 bond and Theft of Property (M-B) $1,500 bond.
May 30, 2018 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s is once again seeking the whereabouts of Brittany Celine Barber, 30, of Joaquin. Barber is described as a 5’4” white female and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has black hair and hazel eyes. Barber has an active misdemeanor warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury (M-A).
The SCSO is seeking assistance of the public with locating Barber. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact the SCSO (936) 598-5601.
If anyone is found to be hindering the apprehension, harboring or concealing, providing or aiding with any means of avoiding arrest or effecting escape, or warns Barber of impending discovery or apprehension, will be arrested and charged in accordance to Penal Code 38.05 Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, a Felony 3 offense.
May 30, 2018 - Firemen are fighting several suspicious fires on FM 699 in several locations.
The Center Fire Department was initially called out to the locations at around 1pm and once they discovered the extent of the fires requested the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department assist. The fires span from CR 3736 to Flat Fork Creek Bridge.
Jake Metcalf, Precinct 4 Constable, also responded to the location to assist the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department in their search. They were requested by the Center Fire Department to search from U.S. Highway 84 end of FM 699 to Flat Fork Creek.
Fires that started at the roadside are traveling into open pastures and even threatened approaching one residence.
A black pickup truck was reported as being the origin of the fire; however, no additional information on the cause is available at this time.
May 30, 2018 - A two-vehicle collision at 10pm at the intersection of FM 699 and US 84 in the Paxton Community sent two Tenaha men to the hospital for evaluation on Memorial Day.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety report, a gray 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Stephen Brian Raybon II, age 22 of Grand Cane, LA with one passenger, Andrew James Clark, age 20, was traveling south on FM 699. A white 2005 Ford Explorer was traveling west on US 84 when the Chevrolet pickup failed to yield right-of-way at a stop sign and entered the pathway of the Ford Explorer. The Ford struck the Chevrolet pickup on the driver's side bed of the truck and then spun around to come to rest in the eastbound traffic lanes facing east. The Chevrolet pickup traveled off the roadway stopping at a highway sign at the intersection of FM 699 and US 84.
The Ford vehicle was driven by Larry Terry, age 74 of Tenaha, with passenger Al Howard, age 80 also of Tenaha, and both were transported to the Center Emergency Department.
Raybon II was cited for disregarding stop sign and Clark received a citation for minor consuming alcohol beverage.
The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, the Tenaha Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department all responded to the crash scene to assist. The crash was investigated by Texas DPS State Trooper Taylor Buster and State Trooper Keith Jones.
Emergency responders at the scene commented this was the second crash at the FM 699 and US 84 intersection within a two weeks time.
May 30, 2018 - The Tenaha Police Department has announced the arrest of three individuals on May 18, 2018 stemming from a narcotics investigation which had connections to several related arrests in other counties.
Arrests made in Shelby County were on Wheeler Street in Center and another location on State Highway 87 near Timpson. Those arrested included Jennifer Hughes, 48, of Center on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft By Check, Possession of Dangerous Drug, Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1, Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance PG1;
Beverly Hurst, 19, of Center on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1>=1G<4G.
Christopher Belrose, 39, of Seminole Violation of Probation (Unlawful Possession of Firearm).
According to a press release from the Tenaha Police Department, a lengthy narcotics investigation has been being conducted which led officers into multiple counties. The investigation resulted in the execution of multiple search warrants.
Subsequent to the service of the search warrants, Tenaha Police Department located and seized illegal narcotics, contraband, vehicles, and resulted in the arrest of multiple subjects. In addition to packaging materials and paraphernalia used to facilitate the sale of narcotics, a quantity of other dangerous drugs, and US currency, believed to be proceeds of other illicit drug sales, were also seized.
The Tenaha Police Department would like to thank the Center Police Department, Shelby County District Attorney's Office, Panola County Sheriff's Department, Harrison County Sheriff's Department, and the Sabine County Narcotics Division for their assistance in this narcotics investigation.
This investigation would not be possible without the participation, commitment, and willingness of these agencies working together to extinguish all of our communities from illicit narcotic use, trafficking, and sales.
This should be common practice of all law enforcement agencies to work together to solve and prevent crimes and protect the citizens that entrust us with their lives.
The results of the investigation were: total of 6 arrests resulting in the following charges:
- Possession of Controlled Substance x 5 Felony 3
- Failure to Identify x 2 Class C Misdemeanor
- Delivery of a Controlled Substance Felony I
- Possession of Dangerous Drug Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Class C Misdemeanor
- Warrant Theft By Check Class B Misdemeanor
- Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon Felony 3
May 27, 2018 - FM 417 was the scene of an early morning fatality crash just inside the Huxley City limits Sunday, May 27, 2018.
Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department and Huxley Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the scene as well as ACE EMS personnel.
According to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), DPS Troopers investigated a one-vehicle crash on FM 417 just west of FM 139.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 7:15am, a 2001 GMC pickup was traveling east on FM 417 when the pickup drove off the roadway to the right and struck a concrete culvert before overturning.
The driver was ejected during the crash and identified as a 15-year-old male from Shelbyville. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene by Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2. A passenger in the pickup is identified as Brittnie Risinger, 19, also from Shelbyville.
Risinger was transported to a Center hospital for treatment. This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain is leading the investigation. He was assisted in the investigation at the scene by Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner, Daniel Dellinger and Justin Sikes.
At this time the name of the driver has not yet been released.
Both photos from the San Augustine County Sheriff's Department Facebook page
May 25, 2018 San Augustine County – A traffic stop yeilded 217 pounds of marijuana in San Augustine County Thursday morning, May 24, 2018 ending in the arrest of an Arkansas man.
According to a DPS press release, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers conducted a traffic stop on US 96 yesterday morning involving a commercial motor vehicle resulting in a felony drug arrest.
The preliminary information indicates at approximately 8 a.m., a DPS Trooper stopped a Western Star truck tractor semi-trailer, near the San Augustine (and Shelby) county line for a traffic violation.
Christopher Metz, 47, from Little Rock, AR. was identified as the driver.
During the traffic contact a San Augustine County canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A search of the truck led to the discovery of approximately 217 pounds of marijuana.
Metz was transported to the San Augustine County Jail for possessing over 50 pounds of marijuana, a second degree felony.
He was reportedly traveling from Houston to Arkansas.
This is an ongoing investigation and further details are not available for release at this time.
According to the San Augustine County Sheriff's Department facebook page, the San Augustine Sheriff's office K-9 "Kane" assisted DPS Troopers during the traffic stop discovering the marijuana in the cab of the Western Star tractor trailer.
K-9 "Kane" with his handler Lt. Robert Brazeal pose beside a State Trooper unit and the recovered marijuana.
May 24, 2018 - A pre-construction meeting was held Thursday in the Nacogdoches Area Office, signaling the beginning of a new construction project planned for SH 7, northeast of Martinsville.
The work will include road resurfacing on a 7-mile section of the roadway from the Attoyac Bayou to Mt. Hermon. Moore Brothers Construction, Lufkin, will serve as contractor for the $1.8 million construction project. The work is scheduled to be completed by mid-July, weather permitting.
Crews will begin setting project barricades as early as next week. The project is slated for completion in August, weather permitting. Motorists are urged to obey all traffic control devices, flaggers and signage. This is an active TxDOT work zone. Never attempt to drive around orange barrels or cones. Stay alert to slowing traffic, moving equipment and workers near the lane of traffic. Motorists could experience some delays and should expect daily lane closures for the duration of the project.
For more information regarding road work and closures statewide, visit txdot.gov. For more information on Lufkin District projects, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
May 23, 2018 Lufkin — A Jasper, Texas couple and their daughter have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
Walter Diggles, 66, his wife, Rosie Diggles, 64, both of Jasper, and their daughter, Anita Diggles, 42, of Houston, were convicted on August 3, 2017, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Additionally, Walter Diggles was convicted of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and three counts of money laundering (engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, here, wire fraud). Rosie Diggles was also convicted of ten counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering (engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, here, wire fraud).
Today, Walter Diggles was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark, along with restitution to be paid to the government in the amount of $1,326,049.91. Rosie Diggles and Anita Diggles were each sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and were ordered to pay restitution jointly to the government in the amount of $971,143.57.
According to information presented in court, the defendants devised a scheme to obtain and make personal use of federal block grant funds that Congress appropriated following Hurricanes Rita, Katrina, Ike, and Dolly. These funds were made available to the State of Texas, which in turn contracted with several councils of governments within the state to assist in administering and distributing the funds. Walter Diggles was the Executive Director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments during this time and used his position to approve inflated billing rates and requests for reimbursement of federal block grant funds while Rosie Diggles and Anita Diggles prepared many of the requests. Additionally, Walter Diggles engaged in activities and approved requests for block grant funds that were fraudulent in nature and all the defendants spent significant amounts of the excess funds on personal expenses. The Diggles were indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 2, 2015.
“The defendants stole from the taxpayers, and these kinds of frauds take money away from real people – disaster victims,” said Joseph Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. “This was an appropriate sentence, and hopefully it will help deter some of this type of behavior the next time.”
“Offenders who abuse the public trust inherently are more culpable. The defendants made a conscious decision to deceive and benefit personally at the expense of the citizens of the State of Texas,” said Tamera Cantu, IRS Special Agent In Charge of the Dallas Field Office. “Today’s sentences underscore our commitment to work in a collaborative effort to promote honest and ethical government at all levels and to prosecute those who violate the public’s trust.”
"Today's sentencing is the result of an outstanding collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas (Lufkin Division), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Services-Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Texas State Auditor's Office," said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson. "By working together as a team, we were able to bring justice to the hurricane victims to whom the funds were intended to aid."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Texas State Auditor’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Gibson and James Noble.
May 14, 2018 - Election day is May 22nd and polling locations close at 7pm. (Related article: Republican Primary Runoff Election Polling Locations, Early Voting)
Voters must vote on the same party ticket they voted for in the March Primary Election.
Democratic Party and Republican Party ballot information below.
DEMOCRAT - All Precincts
Governor
Andrew White: Early -- 29 Voting Day (including Early) -- 42
Lupe Valdez: Early -- 23 Voting Day (including Early) -- 31
REPUBLICAN
Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1
Randy Robertson: Early -- 136 Voting Day (including Early) -- 241
Melissa Crouch: Early -- 251 Voting Day (including Early) -- 443
County Commissioner, Precinct No. 4
Bradley Allen: Early -- 43 Voting Day (including Early) -- 266
Tom Bellmyer: Early -- 65 Voting Day (including Early) -- 281
Precincts Counted: 10 of 10
Ballots Cast - Total: 1,215
Ballots Cast - Republican Party: 1,137
Ballots Cast - Democratic Party: 78
May 9, 2018 - The Republican Primary Runoff Election is Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Below are the polling locations for each Precinct.
1N, 1SO, 1SE, 1SW (Center)
Voting Location: Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
Runoff Race: Justice of the Peace, Pct 1
1W (Center, Timpson, Tenaha)
Voting Location: JOI Ranch, 5198 FM 2026, Tenaha, Texas 75974
Runoff Race: Commissioner, Pct 4 and Justice of the Peace, Pct 1
2 (Excelsior)
Voting Location: Excelsior ISD, 11280 St. Hwy 7 W., Center, Texas 75935
Runoff Race: Justice of the Peace, Pct 1
8 (Tenaha)
Voting Location: First United Methodist Church, Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75954
Runoff Race: Commissioner, Pct 4
9N, 9S (Timpson)
Voting Location: Timpson Public Library, 520 Austin Street, Timpson, Texas 75975 ***NEW LOCATION just for RUNOFF
Runoff Race: Commissioner, Pct 4
Early Voting for all of the above is at the County Clerk’s office on the Center Square, Monday, May 14 through Friday, May 18, 2018.
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