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November 14, 2016 - The Center Fire Department and Police Department were dispatched to a potentially volatile situation on Nacogdoches Street (State Highway 7 West) Monday, November 14, 2016 when workers struck a gas line.
As policemen arrived at the scene and gas was seen spewing from a line located by a house which was being worked on, the officers began going door to door and alerting neighbors of the gas leak.
Police officers also commenced to blocking Nacogdoches Street at Southview Circle to just west of the leak location. Center firemen arrived and were quickly able to cap the leaking line until Centerpoint could arrive to repair the damaged line.
David Masteron, who is working at the house, stated it was their understanding the gas to the house had been shut off and when the line was struck he and his crew got out of there as fast as they could. He is working on the house for Tammy Steptoe and he said the wood from the house is being taken down and recycled for use on a house on Timpson Street.
The firemen returned to the station at 1:46pm.
November 14, 2016 - Construction to begin on US 96 intersections to repair ruts according to a statement from the Texas Department of Transportation's Lufkin District Public Information Officer Rhonda Oaks. Drivers should use caution when traveling through any construction area.
TxDOT is working near the intersections on US 96 to rehabilitate the roadway with hot mix where rutting has recently occurred. We believe that to have happened due to heavy truck and vehicle traffic stopping at the intersections.
This is not an unusual occurrence on heavily traveled roadways. It will require some reapplication and we chose to do this work ahead of any wet, winter weather that could occur later into the season, rather than putting it off until spring.
Moore Brothers is beginning that work today, November 14th and motorists should expect delays and lane closures during this time.
November 13, 2016 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) was dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover on FM 417 Friday, November 11, 2016 just under two miles from Shelbyville.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 10:50pm a 2004 Nissan Murano SUV last reported to have been owned by Salia Rosas of Lufkin was eastbound left the roadway to the right through a curve.
The driver over corrected left coming back across the road and rolled coming to rest against a tree. Upon arrival at the scene, it was determined the driver had fled the crash.
At this time the incident remains under investigation.
November 13, 2016 - The West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to an industrial mulcher fire at 1374 CR 1286 Friday, November 11, 2016 at 6pm at the residence of Stacey McSwain.
It was reported to the firemen the mulcher was being hauled onto the property and as it traveled through the entrance gate it bottomed out and a tire caught on fire and caught other portions of the machinery.
The firemen worked to extinguish the blaze; however, diesel was leaking and continued to relight until the firemen ran out of water. A tanker truck was driven to the scene and foam was applied to the fire, finally extinguishing the flames and preventing it from causing any additional property damage.
November 13, 2016 - ACE EMS was dispatched to the scene of an incident where a man was run over by a pickup truck just under two and a half miles north of the Center city limits on U.S. 96 North.
The driver was northbound on November 11, 2016 around 5pm when the transmission went out in the pickup truck he was driving. Attempts were made by the driver and other parties to push the truck away from the road when the vehicle began traveling down an incline and ran over the driver.
When EMS arrived it was determined a life flight was needed. Center Fire Department was dispatched to Center Christian Fellowship Church near where the incident occurred and set up the area as a landing zone for the helicopter.
No further information pertaining to the driver or anyone else involved is available at this time.
November 10, 2016 - Hurst Street at the intersection of Nacogdoches Street in Center was the scene of a three-vehicle crash Thursday, November 10, 2016 which provided major damage to the vehicles and traffic delays during a high traffic time period.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies responded quickly to the scene which was located at their front door and began directing traffic to prevent further incidents. Officers with the Center Police Department quickly arrived thereafter and investigated the crash while ACE EMS personnel began checking on those involved in the crash.
According to Center Police Officer John Welch, at 5:35pm a three-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Nacogdoches Street and Hurst Street. Maritsa Gonzalez Aldaco, 49, of Center was driving a silver Dodge Avenger and Aaron Tello, 17, of Center was driving a Buick Rendezvous and it appeared the two vehicles collided head-on which caused the Avenger to collide with a Peterbilt.
The Peterbilt, owned by Harkness Litter Service, was driven by Christopher Steoptoe, 28, of Center and was stopped at the stoplight facing south. The Buick came to rest on Nacogdoches Street on the west side of Hurst Street and the Avenger remained in the middle of the southbound traffic lanes.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and Tello was issued a citation for no driver's license. The incident remains under investigation at this time. Center firemen were dispatched to the scene to help rinse debris from the roadway.
November 9, 2016 - The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a barn fire on Sunday, November 6, 2016.
When the firemen arrived at Birds and the Bea's Poultry Farm on CR 4777 just before 10am, a chicken litter barn on the property was on fire. The firemen extinguished the flames and removed tin from the end of the building where the litter was on fire.
Once the remainder of the building was salvaged and the flames were put out, the firemen returned to the station at 11:30am.
November 9, 2016 - Center Police Officers responded to the entrance of Wal Mart and McDonalds on Hurst Street for a two-vehicle crash.
While ACE EMS personnel checked on the occupants of the vehicles, the police officers directed traffic away from the Wal Mart entrance to prevent further incident.
According to Center Police Officer Spencer Anderson, at 2:21pm a maroon 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Janice Newby, 65, failed to yield right of way when exiting the Wal Mart parking lot and drove into the path of a tan 1995 Ford Explorer traveling south and driven by Cleophus Solomon, 85, with passenger Shirley Polley, 65.
The Explorer collided with the the Yukon causing damage to the left rear quarter panel of the Yukon and major damage to the front left quarter panel of the Explorer.
ACE EMS transported Solomon and Polley to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
Once they were transported from the scene, officers pushed the Explorer out of the middle of the roadway until a wrecker arrived to remove it from the scene.
No citations have been reported at this time.
November 9, 2016 - Emergency personnel responded to the intersection of FM 1645 and FM 138 where two vehicles collided on Saturday, November 5, 2016.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 7:45pm a black 2010 Chrysler 300 driven by Brittany Pell, 27, of Bacliff was southbound on FM 1645. Pell disregarded the stop sign at the intersection of FM 138 and traveled into the path of a blue 2004 Ford Ranger driven by Johnny Smith, 65, of La Marque causing the Ford to collide with the Chrysler, which then traveled through a fence.
Smith and Pell were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
Three female passengers age 13, 10, and 12 who were riding with Pell were not reported to have received any injuries.
The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene and helped with traffic control.
November 8, 2016 - City of Center November 8, 2016 election results. *The Election Results are unoffical until they have been canvassed by the City of Center.
All Boxes IN - *Still write-ins to count.
Number of registered voters - 1,591
Election Day Ballots Cast -
Early and Absentee Ballots - 853
Council Member, At Large (2 positions) **Candidates Elected
| Leigh Porterfield** | Early 393 -- Precinct 138 -- Total 531 |
| Maelinda Swanzy | Early 82 -- Precinct 50 -- Total 132 |
| Jud Matthews | Early 169 -- Precinct 108 -- Total 277 |
| Terry Scull** | Early 326 -- Precinct 132 -- Total 458 |
| Michael L. Lee | Early 190 -- Precinct 90 -- Total 280 |
Council Member, District 4 (Incumbent Charles Rushing resigned)
| Charles Rushing | Early 108 -- Precinct 56 -- Total 164 |
| Randy Collard** (Qualified Write-in) | Early 49 -- Precinct 31 -- Total 80 |
Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected
Council Member, District 2 - Jerry Lathan
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