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January 31, 2017 - Lufkin District approved for six construction and maintenance projects
LUFKIN – The Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday approved construction contracts for the state that totaled $431.3 million and additional maintenance contracts, with the Lufkin District was approved for five new construction projects that totaled $6.9 million and one maintenance project for $1.2 million.
Construction and maintenance projects were approved for Houston, San Jacinto, Shelby, Nacogdoches and Polk counties that include:
Shelby County: A $1.2 million construction project was approved for US 84 from the Rusk County line to US 59, from the end of pavement to FM 699 on US 59, at Waller Creek on US 59, at Rusk Branch in Nacogdoches County, and on US 259 from the Rusk County line to US 59 in Nacogdoches County. The work will include safety treating fixed objects that will consist of improving and replacing metal beam guard fence to design standards, updating and replacing culverts and replacing bridge and approach railings. Stateline Construction, LLC will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
Houston County: A $2.9 million construction project was approved and set to safety treat fixed objects on SH 21 from just south of SL 304 to the Cherokee County line. The work will include upgrading and replacing metal beam guard fence and culverts to design standards. L.C. Jordan & Son will serve as contractor for the project. No timeline has been determined.
San Jacinto County: A $1.5 million construction project was approved for safety treating fixed objects on FM 1127 to the end of pavement, and on FM 2666 from FM 2025 to SH 150. The work will include updating and replacing metal beam guard fence and culverts to design standards. L.C. Jordan & Son will serve as contractor for the project. No timeline has been determined.
Polk County: A $1.2 million maintenance project was approved that includes mill and inlay work on US 190 from the city of Livingston to the Tyler County line. The contract also includes a section of US 59 in Shelby County for mill and inlay work from the Nacogdoches County line to the city of Timpson in Shelby County. Moore Brothers Construction will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
A $796,806 construction project was approved on US 59 that is designed to replace bridge and approach railings at Bear Creek, Piney Creek, also includes safety treating fixed objects from the Angelina County line to US 287 in Polk County. CDM Holdings, LLC will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
Nacogdoches County: A $272,731 construction project was approved on FM 1275 (University Drive) at FM 2609 (Austin Street) and Martinsville Road and FM 2609 that is designed to improve the traffic signals at those locations. Striping Technology, L.P. will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
January 30, 2017 - Three fire departments were called out to multiple structures on fire on CR 1024 at 1pm on Monday, January 30, 2017 including Center Fire Department, West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department.
While Center FD was en route to the blaze firemen could see a large amount of smoke from a distance indicating a large fire was rolling. Several out buildings were fully engulfed in flames and winds were moving the fire towards nearby structures including a neighboring home. Shelbyville VFD and West Shelby County VFD were both dispatched to assist.
Firemen were quick to work on stopping the flames from spreading; however, changing winds kept them running. The owner of the property is Ignacio Gonzalez and his home received exterior damage. A carport was damaged and fell partially on a vehicle parked under it. A second vehicle which was parked nearby a fully engulfed out building received damage to the rear of the vehicle as the heat from the flames caused the plastic to melt.
Three out buildings which appeared to be storage sheds and barn structures were completely or mostly burned down. A horse trailer also fell victim to the fire along with a heavy equipment boom lift and a pile of miscellaneous lumber. Heat caused the rear tire on a tractor to explode.
A neighbor, Terry Bailey, brought over a compact skid steer loader to assist by helping to dig a fire break. Close to 2pm the Texas Forest Service arrived with heavy equipment to assist as well. Jason Burch with Hughes Wrecker Service assisted firemen in dragging hose and moving debris. ACE EMS was on scene in the event anyone fell victim to the excessive heat of the flames.
A neighbor's home was saved by the firemen as flames came within 10 feet or less of the house.
January 30, 2017 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of CR 3156 on Monday, January 30, 2017.
Emergency personnel from ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene of the crash and there they were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies, Center Fire Department and Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department in helping those involved in the crash.
Upon arrival one vehicle remain in the middle of the roadway bring traffic in both directions to a halt.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at around 5:45pm a white 2015 Jeep Cherokee driven by Leslie Ann Head, 39, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 when she brought the vehicle to a stop and was preparing to make a left turn onto CR 3156.
As Head was waiting on a safe opportunity to turn, a silver 2009 Nissan Sentra driven by Shakimberly Patrice Hall, 24, of Houston failed to control speed and collided with the rear of the stopped Jeep. After being struck, the Jeep entered the westbound traffic lane and struck the side wheel of a blue 2016 Freightliner 18-wheeler driven by Donquel Moore, 22, of Augusta, Ga.
The Jeep came to rest facing west, the Nissan came to rest facing east and in the J&B Liquor store parking lot, and the Freightliner came to a halt in the eastbound shoulder.
Transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment were Hall and Head with her passengers a 16-year-old female and 7-year-old female.
Moore and his passenger Orain Vernon Jones, 39, of Newberry, Fl. were not reported to have received any injuries as a result of the crash.
Assisting with the investigation at the scene was Texas DPS State Trooper John Hallenbeck.
January 27, 2017 - Two vehicles collided with a horse on State Highway 87 North on Thursday, January 27 causing damage to both vehicles and proving fatal for the horse.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were already en-route to the scene before the crashes occurred when it was reported there were horses on the roadway. When they arrived, that which they were seeking to prevent already had happened. Sheriff's Deputies Jeff Gogolewski and Ruth Gonzales marked the roadway at both ends of the scene and directed traffic during the Texas Department of Public Safety investigation.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at around 7pm a 2013 Hyundai Sonata driven by Jennifer Tomkins, 25, of Center was southbound on SH 87 just under 2 1/2 miles north of Center when the Hyundai struck the horse which was in her lane, causing the Hyundai to travel to the right off the roadway and coming to rest in a ditch with major damage.
Fausto Tello, 44, of Center was traveling in a 2004 Ford Explorer behind Tomkins and was unable to avoid colliding with the horse which was still in the roadway. Tello was able to retain control of the vehicle and was able to pull off to the side.
Tomkins was transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The owner of the horse was not yet identified at the time of the crash.
January 27, 2017 - A motorist lost control of a vehicle causing a crash which came to rest in the roadway Thursday, January 26, 2017.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at 5:35pm Angel Morales, 48, of Center was traveling north in a 1998 Ford Expedition when the vehicle had a mechanical failure causing the front left wheel to fall off. The Expedition traveled right, into the ditch, and then as Morales attempted to correct the vehicle it traveled back across the roadway skidding on its driver side.
The Expedition came to rest partially in the roadway. Morales was able to move the vehicle from the road to prevent further incident.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Morales was issued a citation for expired driver's license.
January 26, 2017 - Hurst Street in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Friday, January 20, 2017 in front of Walmart.
At around 7:30pm a black Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Josh Campbell, 22, of Gary was preparing to exit from the Walmart parking lot crossing to Foster Street.
When Campbell entered Hurst Street he didn't see a tan GMC Yukon XL driven by Dayna Kolb, 41, of Martinsville that was traveling south and the Dodge collided with the right rear quarter panel of the Yukon. The collision caused Kolb to lose control and the Yukon to travel into a ditch on the west side of the roadway where it came to rest.
Hughes Wrecker Service was able to pull the Yukon back across the ditch and neither vehicle was towed from the scene.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and no citations were issued.
First to respond to the scene was Texas Game Warden Nathan Skeen. Center Police Officer Andrew Williams investigated the crash and he was assisted by Officer Steve Thornburgh.
January 26, 2017 - District Clerk Lori Oliver advises the Grand Jury summons recently mailed out for February 14, 2017 had an incorrect time of 12-midnight on the card. The time to report for Grand Jury is 8:30am. New cards with the correct time were mailed out today, January 26, 2017. Sincerest apologizes for any confusion.
January 26, 2017 - The West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) fought a house fire on Thursday, January 26, 2017 14 miles outside of Center.
According to the West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department the house, owned by Melinda Williams, was located on State Highway 7 West in the Aiken Community.
When the firemen responded to the fire at 5:44am, the house was totally engulfed in flames. There was no electric or gas believed to be running to the house at the time of the fire.
Assisting the WSVFD in fighting the fire were the Martinsville, Shady Grove and Swift Volunteer Fire Departments. WSVFD returned to the station at 8:30am.
No one was living in the home when the fire occurred. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation at this time.
January 25, 2017 - On Monday, January 23, 2017, Justin Earl Bennett plead out to two charges in the 273rd Judicial District Court with Honorable Charles Mitchell judge presiding and who was represented in court by Attorney Rudy Velasquez.
Shelby County District Attorney Stephen Shires commented on the plea bargain deal, "Ultimately Mr. Bennett determined to take responsibility for his actions and I applaud him for that."
According to the plea agreements, Bennett received six years to be served in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Institutional Division for evading arrest with credit for time served which according to court documents is approximately 160 days.
He was indicted by the July Term A.D. 2015 grand jury for evading arrest with vehicle, a third degree felony. The indictment stated that in August of 2014 Bennett intentionally fled from Center Police Department Sgt. Ricky King while driving a vehicle. He was also indicted for evading arrest with previous conviction, a state jail felony. The indictment stated that prior to the aforementioned evading arrest indictment, in February 1998, Bennett was convicted of the offense of evading arrest.
The charge of evading arrest with previous conviction was dismissed as a condition of the plea agreement.
Bennett also received a two-year sentence to be served in the State Jail Division of TDCJ with credit for time served for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
He was indicted for delivery of a controlled substance in a drug free zone which enhanced the state jail felony to a third degree felony. The indictment stated in August 2014 he possessed less than one gram of cocaine within 1,000 feet of Center ISD Middle School.
The two separate sentences will be served consecutively, meaning once Bennett serves his time for Evading Arrest with a vehicle, he will then begin serving his time for the possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
D.A. Shires wanted to comment concerning his views as District Attorney, "It hurts my heart to send anybody to prison because that is a waste of somebody's life. From the pragmatic standpoint it hurts my pocketbook to send somebody to prison because when we send somebody to prison, you and I and the tax payers, we have to feed them, we have to clothe them, we have to provide them a place to live, and most expensively we have to provide them with health care. So, from every aspect sending people to prison is not good business.
"On the other side of the coin, that's the only way, with some people, that's the only way to protect our citizens. And maybe they will learn their lesson and when they come out maybe they will be better people. That may be naive of me to think that way and I've said this a hundred times, as hard as I try to send somebody to prison, and again, I think when we look back at the end of this year we're going to see how many people I've sent to prison and I think it's probably going to be a relatively high number. As hard as I work to send people to prison, I'm gonna work twice as hard to help people to change their lives to where they don't go to prison because that is the ultimate goal, that's the better thing.
"If people will act right and take responsibility in their lives, especially, I hate sending people to prison that have young kids, I hate it. What I hope to be able to do is ultimately have these folks, have them be productive members of society, take the energy and the intelligence and the ingenuity that they often utilize in criminal episodes to use them in positive, in a positive fashion. And I've said this all along, my goal as the District Attorney is consistent with keeping the community safe, is to help people make better decisions, and to do right. But at the same time, all this stuff that has been going on here, people dealing drugs, and then people breaking into people's houses, breaking into people’s garages and out buildings and stealing stuff - that's gotta come to an end. It doesn't matter how much I may not want to dole punishment out to people, if they are gonna do that crap and they're not going to stop, then, we are going to send them off."
January 25, 2017 - Center Fire Department responded to a house fire at 4:19am on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 located at 2734 CR 1464. Upon arrival at the residence of Donald and Vicky Johnson, the fire on the double wide mobile home was fully involved.
The house was a total loss due to the fire.
At 8am the fire department was back in service.
The fire remains under investigation.
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