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July 1, 2024 - Emergency personnel responded to a shooting incident which claimed the life of one individual in Center on Saturday at a residence just near the police department.
According to information from the Center Police Department (CPD), their communications received a 911 call on June 29, 2024 for a shooting incident at 1016 Shelbyville St.
Officers arrived on scene and found a male juvenile subject with a single gunshot wound to the neck, first arriving officers immediately started life-saving measures and requested EMS.
Allegiance Mobile Health arrived on scene and took over life-saving measures, after several minutes EMS ceased all life-saving measures.
CPD Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and began an investigation.
Tracy Broadway, Shelby County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5, responded to the location to perform the inquest, Mangum Funeral Home transported the decedent to Dallas, Tx. for autopsy.
The shooting was found to be a self-inflicted gunshot.
This incident was an isolated incident, and there is no fear of harm to the public. This is an active investigation and no further information is available currently.
July 1, 2024 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana issued a heat advisory at 2:14am on Monday July 1, 2024. The heat advisory remains in effect until 8pm Tuesday, July 2nd.
Heat index values are up to 112 for portions of southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas.
Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
June 30, 2024 -As of 10:42am, the removal of the tree has been completed and the flow of traffic has returned to normal.
A large tree is scheduled to be removed at the intersection of San Augustine and Field Streets in Center on July 1, 2024.
The tree removal is set to begin at 6am until completion with a portion of San Augustine to be closed until the project is finished.
San Augustine Street is expected to be closed from Martin Street to Houston Street beside the active courthouse.
Residents and travelers should consider using an alternate route until the operation is finished.
June 26, 2024 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southern Natchitoches Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southeastern Shelby County in eastern Texas, Eastern San Augustine County in eastern Texas, Sabine County in eastern Texas until 3:15pm CDT.
At 2:14pm CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 9 miles southwest of Coushatta to 6 miles west of Converse to near Neuville, moving southeast at 50 mph.
Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Natchitoches, Milam, Many, San Augustine, Zwolle, Hemphill, Pineland, Converse, Patroon, Bland Lake, Rosevine, Allen, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Florien, Provencal, Natchez, Noble, Fisher, and Robeline.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
June 26, 2024 - (Update - 3:18pm): Severe Thunderstorm Watch 465 remains valid until 7pm CDT this evening for the following areas: in Arkansas this watch includes one county, in south central Arkansas - Union; in Louisiana this watch includes 13 parishes, in north central Louisiana - Caldwell, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union, and Winn. In northwest Louisiana - Bienville, De Soto, Natchitoches, Red River, and Sabine.
In Texas this watch includes six counties, in northeast Texas - Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby.
This includes the cities of Arcadia, Bernice, Center, Clarks, Colfax, Columbia, Coushatta, Dry Prong, El Dorado, Farmerville, Gibsland, Grayson, Hemphill, Jacksonville, Jena, Jonesboro, Logansport, Lufkin, Mansfield, Many, Martin, Midway, Monroe, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Olla, Pineland, Pleasant Hill, Ringgold, Rusk, Ruston, San Augustine, Stonewall, Winnfield, and Zwolle.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch 465 is in effect until 7pm CDT for the following locations:
Texas counties included are: Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Upshur, and Wood.
June 26, 2024 - Governor Greg Abbott Tuesday, June 25, 2024, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved seven additional Texas counties for the Federal Disaster Declaration for severe weather and flooding that began on April 26. With this FEMA approval of 7 new counties for Public Assistance programs, qualifying entities in 48 total counties are now eligible to apply.
"The approval of seven additional counties to the Federal Disaster Declaration will help ensure communities impacted by severe weather have the financial assistance they need to rebuild and recover,” said Governor Abbott. "I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for working tirelessly with our federal partners to provide all necessary resources and support their fellow Texans. Together, we will ensure Texans and impacted communities are able to move forward from recent severe weather."
FEMA approved its Public Assistance program for public infrastructure repairs and emergency work for 7 additional counties, including: Coke, Fannin, Lynn, Panola, San Augustine, Shelby, and Sterling. FEMA’s Public Assistance program may cover jurisdictional expenses for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, parks, recreational, and other facilities.
Qualifying entities in the following counties are now eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program: Austin, Bell, Bosque, Brown, Caldwell, Calhoun, Clay, Coleman, Concho, Coke, Cooke, Coryell, Eastland, Falls, Fannin, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hardin, Harris, Hockley, Houston, Jasper, Lamar, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lynn, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Newton, Panola, Polk, Roberston, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Saba, Shelby, Sterling, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington counties. The Governor’s request for Public Assistance for 35 additional Texas counties is still pending review by FEMA.
To date, FEMA has approved its Individual Assistance program for 35 counties. Qualifying Texans in the following counties are eligible to apply: Austin, Bell, Calhoun, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hockley, Jasper, Jones, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Liberty, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Polk, San Jacinto, Smith, Terrell, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, and Waller counties. Texans can apply for FEMA disaster assistance online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program provides funding for expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster. The Governor’s request for Individual Assistance for Anderson, Bosque, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk and Sabine counties remains under review by FEMA.
Governor Abbott continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities from the impacts of severe weather, including:
• Readying state emergency response resources on April 25 ahead of wildfire and severe weather threats.
• Issuing a disaster declaration on April 30 for counties affected by recent storms and deploying additional state emergency response resources in anticipation of severe weather and flooding. The Governor first
amended his disaster declaration on May 2, updated it further on May 7, amended it again on May 15, added additional counties on May 20, made additional updates on May 26,
added five counties on May 30, amended the declaration on June 5, and made an update on June 13.
• Increasing the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center to help support local officials with requests for state assistance.
• Holding a briefing on May 6 with local and state officials from impacted areas and providing an update on the state’s robust response efforts in support of local communities.
• Requesting a Federal Disaster Declaration on May 15 for Texas communities impacted by severe storms.
• Securing partial approval of a Federal Disaster Declaration on May 17 for areas of the state affected by severe weather.
• Requesting additional counties be added to the Federal Disaster Declaration on May 19 for Texas communities impacted by severe storms.
• Providing an update on the state’s response and recovery efforts in impacted communities.
• Securing additional approvals for Texas counties in the Federal Disaster Declaration.
• Ensuring additional impacted Texas counties were included in the Federal Disaster Declaration.
• Securing additional approvals in the Federal Disaster Declaration for Texas communities impacted by severe weather and flooding.
• Obtaining approvals for more counties on the Federal Disaster Declaration for impacted communities.
• Ensuring additional communities impacted by severe weather were added to the Federal Disaster Declaration.
June 25, 2024 - 'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot' will be playing at the Rio Theatre Friday, July 5, 2024 through Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Showtimes each night is 7:30pm and the feature is rated PG-13. Our very own Donna and Rev. Martin of Possum Trot are being highlighted for the work they started on helping children in need in the foster care system. The premiere will be hosted by Angel Studios at the RIO Theatre on July 2, 2024 by INVITATION ONLY.
'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot' is to launch In Theaters everywhere starting July 4th.
The film shares a powerful true story of a community that committed to fight for vulnerable kids in their Region.
(Provo, UT - May 21, 2024) Angel Studios is honored to announce that SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT will launch in wide theatrical release starting July 4, 2024. The film is directed by Joshua Weigel and stars Nika King (Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Justified, The Rookie), and Elizabeth Mitchell (Outer Banks, Lost). The film was executive produced by Letitia Wright (Marvel’s Black Panther, The Silent Twins, Surrounded) for 3.16 Productions, and written and produced by Joshua and Rebekah Weigel for Peacetree Productions.
“I was told about the Martin family in Possum Trot, Texas a few years ago. Immediately I was moved by their compassion and love towards helping children within the foster care system,” said Wright. “I found a similar feeling of purpose and desire for change alongside the director and writer who have known the Martins for many years. This film will connect to hearts all over the world and will bring real impact and change for children not only in America but across the world.”
Inspired by the powerful true story, SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. By doing the impossible –adopting 77 children– this East Texas community called “Possum Trot” proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.
“SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT is the sound of a courageous little church standing up and fighting for children who are being exploited and abused,” said writer/producer Rebekah Weigel. “There are more than 100,000 kids languishing in the foster system in America that need a family, and their deep cry for healing will be heard through this film. It’s time to follow this community’s lead, across this nation and around the world. We are so excited to partner with Angel Studios to ignite the movement to end the foster crisis.”
“Last year, Angel Studios started on a mission to help kids by shining a light on child trafficking. This year, SOUND OF HOPE shines a light on a solution,” shares Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer of Angel Studios, “An issue this big deserves a big release date. With hundreds of thousands of local churches and civic organizations in America, there are more than enough resources to ensure every child has a safe and loving home.”
June 24, 2024 - Updated: Calzada was located safe in Juarez, Mexico. She has been transported to an El Paso, TX law enforcement facility where she is waiting to be reunited with her family.
June 24, 2024 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Alexis Calzada, 23, of Center.
Calzada is described as a white female, 5’6”, weighing 220 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes and short hair. She has a tattoo on her left forearm with the name Dub Coyle surrounded in angel wings.
She was last seen in Sweetwater, TX on June 22, 2024 at 8:41 a.m., wearing pink fuzzy slippers and carrying a mint green backpack. Calzada’s belongings arrived on a Greyhound bus in Dallas over the weekend; however, she was not on the bus.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office at 325-235-5471 or SCSO Chief Deputy Chad Hooper at 936-572-5045.
June 20, 2024 - The water on Denning Rural WSC no longer requires boiling.
On June 16, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Denning Rural Water Supply, #2030004, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Denning Rural Water Supply has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of June 20, 2024.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the office:
220 West Columbia Street
San Augustine, Texas.
936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp 936-201-5001.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call (512)239-4691.
June 17, 2024 - Until Further Notice - Due to a electrical issues at the Plant [on June 16], the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Denning RuralWater System PWS #2030004 to notify ALL customers to boil their water prior to consumption (eg., washing hands/ face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customer that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received the notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Denning Rural Water System at 220 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 75972, or call 936-288-0489
or Charles Sharp at 936-201-5001.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can also be reached at 512-239-4691.
June 19, 2024 - (Update - 1:20pm): The tree has been removed and the street is open to traffic again as of 1:20pm.
A portion of Tenaha Street in Center is shutdown as of 11:50am as workers clear a tree from the side of the roadway which appears to be a threat of falling.
The project is expected to take approximately 20 minutes before the roadway will be open to traffic again as Hamm’s construction Company takes down the tree.
Expect delays as traffic is diverted at Fannin and Kennedy.
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