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June 8, 2017 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel, Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, were dispatched to a major two-vehicle crash in the Patroon Community Thursday, June 8, 2017 involving a truck-tractor and a pickup truck.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Keith Jones, at 1:01pm Richard Sholar, Jr., 33, of Center was southbound on State Highway 87 in a white 2016 Dodge 3500 pickup truck and had stopped for oncoming traffic as he prepared to turn onto FM 2261.
At that time, a white 2007 Freightliner pulling a trailer for hauling logs driven by Hector Reyes, 25, of Center was also traveling south on SH 87 behind Sholar. Reyes failed to control speed and took faulty evasive action, steering left to avoid striking the Dodge; however, the trailer he was pulling collided with the driver's side of the vehicle, causing major damage.
The Freightliner continued to travel through the parking lot of the Patroon Grocery store before finally coming to a halt back on the roadway. No major damage was visible on the trailer. The Dodge careened off the highway to the right and into the barrow ditch where it came to rest in a line of trees with extensive damage to the cab of the truck.
ACE EMS arrived at the scene and transported Sholar from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for observation. Sholar was not reported to have received any obvious injury resulting from the crash.
Reyes was not reported to have received any injury as a result of the incident. He was issued a citation for fail to control speed.
DPS Trooper Jones was assisted with the crash investigation by DPS Trooper Richard Hill.
June 8, 2017 - U.S. Highway 96 North just north of the Center Country Club was the scene of a motorcycle crash Monday, June 6, 2017 resulting in injury to the rider.
Two motorcycles had been traveling south together on U.S. 96 during inclement weather when the incident occurred. Emergency personnel including ACE EMS, the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and Tenaha City Marshals Office initially responded to the incident scene.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 2:07pm a red 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by Lynn Lamar Lilly, III, 49 of McGaheysville, Va. was southbound on U.S. 96. As Lilly traveled past CR 4356 during rain and wet road conditions the motorcycle was traveling at an unsafe speed. Lilly lost control and the motorcycle left the roadway to the right where it overturned, causing major damage.
Lilly was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. He was later issued a citation for unsafe speed.
June 5, 2017 - The Somervell County Sheriff’s Department executed two felony warrants on behalf of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Friday, June 2, 2017 for Matthew McMahon, 29, of Shelbyville and Randa Askew Faust McMahon, 36, of Shelbyville, for Injury to a Child (F-1). The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office sought the warrants after investigating allegations of child abuse against a 4 year-old child.
During the investigation, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office found reason to believe that the defendants were locking the child in a large dog kennel and a closet for extensive periods of time.
Matthew McMahon and Randa McMahon are currently being held at the Somervell County Sheriff’s Department pending extradition by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
This case in still under investigation and no further information is available at this time.
Leah Chase- Shelby County Sheriff's Office Media Relations
June 1, 2017 - State Highway 7 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash in the James Community between a Cadillac and a truck-tractor when one driver allegedly attempted to make an illegal pass.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at around 8am a white 2008 Cadillac owned and driven by Trevarious Jamardia Moore, 22, was westbound on State Highway 7 behind a truck-tractor just before CR 3153.
Eyewitness accounts report the Cadillac had been passing in and out of traffic erratically leading up to his attempt at passing a truck-tractor on the shoulder during rain. The truck-tractor was a white 2014 Peterbilt owned by Charles Holston Industries Inc and driven by Robert Earl Green, 56, of Tenaha.
While driving on the improved shoulder where prohibited, Green looked in his mirror and saw the Cadillac passing on the shoulder when Moore lost control and struck the front right quarter panel of the Peterbilt with the left front quarter panel of the Cadillac causing major damage to the car.
Moore hydroplaned while traveling at an unsafe speed and failed to pass safely on the right. The cadillac exited the roadway and came to rest upright with heavy front end damage facing west.
Moore was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department. He was issued citations for driving on improved shoulder when prohibited and no insurance.
DPS Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner assisted with the crash investigation.
June 1, 2017 - Tenaha Street at the intersection of Timpson Street was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, May 31, 2017.
According to Center Police Officers Andew Williams and Kenneth King, at around 1pm Jacob Martinez, 24, of Joaquin was southbound in a tan Mazda pickup truck on Tenaha Street in Center. As Martinez approached the intersection of Timpson Street, a line of cars had stopped for the red traffic light.
Martinez failed to control speed and struck the rear of a trailer being towed by a silver Chevrolet Silverado 4X4 driven by Miguel Angel Bueno, 41, of Center. The collision caused damage to the front of the Toyota as well as damage to the trailer and rear bumper of the Chevrolet.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. No citations were issued.
The Mazda was towed from the scene by Williams Wrecker Service.
June 1, 2017 - Weather stats for May 2017 are prepared and submitted by Ann Forbes, U.S. Weather Service Observer.
Highest Temp was 92 degrees on 5-19-17 and 5-27-17
Highest Temp on Record was 100 degrees on 5-21-1943
Lowest Temp was 46 degrees on 5-01-17
Lowest Temp on Record was 40 degrees on 5-08-1992 and 5-01-1996 & 5-04-2013
Rainfall Recorded was 7.53 inches
Average Monthly Rainfall is 4.47 inches
Above Average by 3.06 inches
Highest Recorded for this Month was 16.50 inches in 1953
Lowest Recorded for this Month was 0.10 inches in 1998
5 Months Rainfall is 21.99 inches
5 Months Average Rainfall is 22.63 inches
Below Average by 0.64 inches end of May, 2017
Enjoy your summer!!!
Click here to view full report for the month of May.
Update May 31, 2017 - The owner which the golf cart was stolen has offered an additional $2,500 reward above any Center Crime Stoppers approved reward.
May 25, 2017 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information in regards to a recent theft which occurred sometime during the night of May 24th, 2017 into the early morning hours of May 25th.
Suspect(s) entered onto the complainant's property located on Highway 96 South and stole a 2016 EZ-GO battery operated golf cart.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system. Crime Stoppers is not responsible for any rewards offered above the Crime Stoppers approved reward amount.
If a caller does not wish to remain anonymous or receive a reward, they may contact Chief Deputy DJ Dickerson at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office 936-598-5600 or on his cell at 936-572-1468.
May 30, 2017 - On May 22, 2017 due to a positive coliform sample, our public water system The City of Joaquin (2100010) as precautionary measure issued a Boil Water Notice (BWN) to inform our customers that due to the presence of contaminants or an interruption in service, water from our system must be boiled prior to consumption.
Our system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore adequate pressure, disinfectant levels, and/or bacteriological quality and has provided TCEQ with testing results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling as of May 30, 2017
If you have questions, contact Stacy Cranford at 903-692-4313, Perry Pugh at 936-572-8226 or the City of Joaquin at 936-269-3021.
If a customer wishes to reach TCEQ, they may call 512-239-4691.
May 22, 2017 - Due to a positive bacteriological sample, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required our water system City of Joaquin / 2100010 to notify customers in Joaquin, Texas of the need to boil their water prior to consumption.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the same manner as this notice.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at (903) 692-4313, Perry Pugh at (936) 572-8226, or the City Office at (936) 269-3021.
If a customer wishes to contact the TCEQ, they may call 512-239-4691.
May 30, 2017 - Shelby County Today was notified by a viewer of a scam where they were contacted and threatened to have power shutoff if payment wasn't made. The viewer logged into their service account with SWEPCO while on the phone and found a Scam Alert. After reading the alert to the caller, the caller hung up the phone.
SWEPCO is notifying customers of a scam alert where thieves are calling customers, threatening to shut off power unless an immediate payment is made. Southwestern Electric Power Company never asks for pre-paid debit cards for payment. Please use SWEPCO's authorized payment methods, and call customer service at 888-216-3523 if you have questions or concerns.
As a note from Shelby County Today, don't necessarily trust the caller identification number or name which appears. There are ways to spoof the caller information. When in doubt, hang up and call the number you know to be the correct number. Don't be bullied by a scammer.
Update: 5:15 PM, 5/30/2017
As of 4 pm today, SWEPCO has restored power to approximately 74,000 customers, down from a peak of 103,000 customers after Sunday’s storm. Approximately 29,000 customers remain without power.
Sunday night’s storm packed winds of up to 60 miles per hour and downed power lines and trees across SWEPCO’s East Texas and Louisiana service territory. An EF-1 tornado was confirmed in the Longview area. Almost 800 men and women, including 501 line and 287 tree personnel, are working to restore power to SWEPCO customers. (This is a corrected total from a previous report.)
SWEPCO has restored the main circuits from our substations. Now we are tackling the tough distribution lines along streets, in neighborhoods, alleys and backyards where we see major damage on poles, wires, cross arms and transformers. Thanks for your continued patience.
The estimated restoration times below tell when SWEPCO expects to have power restored to 95 percent of customers in an area. Power may be restored prior to our estimate.
Outages and Estimated Restoration Times (for 95 percent of customers who can take power):
LONGVIEW AREA (62,000 at peak – 18,228 at 4 pm Tuesday)
- Carthage area – 447 - Wednesday at 10 pm
- Gilmer area– 36 - Wednesday at 5 pm
- Gladewater area – 1,305 - Wednesday at 5 pm
- Kilgore area – 42 - Wednesday at 10 pm
- Longview area – 16,202 - Friday at 5 pm
- Marshall area – 195 - Wednesday at 10 pm
SHREVEPORT AREA (18,000 at peak; 67 at 4 pm Tuesday)
- Haughton area – 15 - Tuesday at 10 pm
- Shreveport area – 52 - Tuesday at 10 pm
VALLEY AREA (24,000 at peak; 10,938 at 4 pm Tuesday)
- Hornbeck area – 447 - Wednesday at 5 pm
- Logansport area – 536 - Wednesday at noon
- Mansfield area – 3,630 - Thursday at 5 pm
- Natchitoches area – 6,295 - Thursday at 5 pm
Update: 11:00 AM, 5/30/2017
May 30, 2017 - As of 9:15 a.m. today, SWEPCO has restored power to approximately 65,000 customers – nearly two-thirds of the customers who lost electric service due to Sunday’s storm. Approximately 37,700 customers remain without power.
Sunday night’s storm packed winds of up to 60 miles per hour and downed power lines and trees across SWEPCO East Texas and Louisiana service territory. An EF-1 tornado was confirmed in the Longview area. Almost 1,100 men and women, including 461 line and 625 tree personnel, are working to restore power to SWEPCO customers.
The estimated restoration times below tell when we expect to have power restored to 95 percent of customers in an area. Your power may be restored prior to our estimate.
Outages and Estimated Restoration Times (for 95 percent of customers who can take power):
LONGVIEW DISTRICT (62,000 at peak – 24,055 at 9:15 am Tuesday)
- Carthage – 961 Wednesday at 10 pm
- Gladewater – 1,076 Wednesday at 5 pm
- Kilgore – 159 Wednesday at 10 pm
- Longview – 21,440 Friday at 5 pm
- Marshall – 350 Wednesday at 10 pm
SHREVEPORT DISTRICT (18,000 at peak; 266 at 9:15 am Tuesday)
- Haughton – 62 Tuesday at 10 pm
- Shreveport – 192 Tuesday at 10 pm
VALLEY DISTRICT (24,000 at peak; 13,364 at 9:15 am Tuesday)
- Hornbeck – 805 Thursday at noon
- Logansport – 661 Wednesday at noon
- Mansfield – 4005 Thursday at 5 pm
- Natchitoches – 7893 Thursday at 5 pm
Sign up for SWEPCO Alerts to get email or text message updates about your outage. Enroll at SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
Please note: The outage map at SWEPCO.com/OutageMap is not showing all known outages. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Safety Messages
Never touch a downed utility wire, no matter how harmless it looks. It can be difficult to distinguish between a power line and a cable or telephone line. All downed lines should be considered energized and dangerous. And don't touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water, since they can conduct electricity. Keep children and pets away from this potential hazard. Call SWEPCO to report any downed lines or equipment.
If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators "backfeed" electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Follow the manufacturers' instructions carefully, and plug essential appliances directly into the generator. See additional information about use of backup generators.
Customer Information
If the weatherhead or meter base at your home or business has been damaged or pulled away from the structure, you will need to have it repaired by a licensed electrician before SWEPCO can safely reconnect service. Once the repair is made, please contact SWEPCO so your service can be reconnected.
Next Update - 5/30/2017, 4:30 PM CT
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