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August 5, 2016 - It is no longer necessary for Paxton customers that were without water on July 22, 2016 to boil their water.
August 4, 2016 - A pickup truck collided with a wall in Center Thursday, August 4, 2016 as it traveled Center Street.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene located just before the intersection of Center Street and Pecan Street. When the Center Police Department arrived at the crash the pickup truck was found to have rolled over on the driver's side.
The driver and passenger escaped the truck with assistance from neighborhood residents and waited on an ambulance to arrive. ACE EMS transported the driver and passenger to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
The Center Fire Department arrived and emergency personnel got together with residents of the neighborhood and righted the vehicle so a wrecker could pick it up when it arrived.
According to Center Police Officer Bobby Walker, a white GMC pickup truck driven by Fidel San Martin-Olmedo, 28, with passenger Cristina Acosta Lopez, 28, both of Center was traveling west on Center Street when due to a medical condition he lost control of the vehicle which left the roadway to the right and collided with a brick wall. The truck then rolled and came to rest on the driver's side of the vehicle.
San Martin-Olmedo was issued citations for failure to maintain financial responsibility, no driver's license, no proof of insurance, and failure to control speed.
August 4, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell announces changes in officer rank at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
DJ Dickerson was recently named Chief Deputy.
Dickerson has been in law enforcement for 12 years. He began his career with the San Augustine Police Department in 2004 as a patrol officer until 2006. Chief Dickerson then went to work with the Center Police Department until 2011 where he obtained the rank of patrol sergeant. In August 2011, he began working with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator until October 2011. He started working with the SCSO in October 2011 as a patrol deputy. In 2013, he was promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division and earned the rank as Lieutenant Investigator in May 2016.
Chief Dickerson holds an advanced peace officer certification. He is a certified TCOLE instructor; Taser Instructor; and has advanced special training in homicide investigation and interviewing and interrogation. He has been a certified EMT since 2001.
Dickerson filled the vacated position of former Chief Deputy Shad Sparks who went to work for Center ISD.
Kevin Windham will now serve as Lieutenant Investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division. Windham began working at the SCSO in 2014 as an investigator.
Prior to working at the SCSO, Windham’s law enforcement career began in 1992 where he served as Shelby County Constable Precinct 2 until July 2005.
Windham worked as a patrol officer for the Center Police Department from October 2005-March 2008.
After leaving CPD, Windham worked as the Chief Investigator at the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office from July 2008 until September 2013. Windham served as a patrol deputy for the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office from October 2013 to April 2014.
Investigator Windham has advanced special training in homicide investigation and interviewing and interrogation and holds a master peace officer certification.
Del Birdwell, former patrol deputy, was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Birdwell began his full-time career at the SCSO in May 2016. Birdwell received his peace officers license in 2001.
He worked as a reserve deputy for the SCSO in 2001 under former sheriff James Moore.
Birdwell worked for the Nacogdoches Fire Department for a total of 20 years. For six years he served as shift investigator. For five years he served as fire marshal. Investigator Birdwell also worked as a full-time investigator for the Nacogdoches Fire Marshal’s Office.
Birdwell holds an advanced peace officer’s certification. He is a certified intermediate EMT; advanced firefighter; advanced arson investigator and inspector; TCOLE instructor; and level II fire instructor.
Michael Griffin, former patrol sergeant, was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Griffin served in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas from 2005-2010. He served two deployments to Iraq. In 2011, Griffin graduated from the Capital Area Council of Governments Police Academy in Austin. He began his career at the SCSO in 2011 as a patrol deputy and was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2015.
Cody Muse will serve as Patrol Sergeant at the SCSO. Muse began working at the SCSO in 2013 as a patrol deputy.
Muse began his career in law enforcement in 1997. He worked for the Center Police Department for 14-months and was a State Trooper for the Texas Department of Public Service for 11 years. Sergeant Muse is a master peace officer and firearms instructor.
Submitted by Leah Chase, Media Information
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
August 3, 2016 - A Timpson man was arrested after he was confronted by a group of people and police arrived on the scene.
While Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams was investigating a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highways 59 and 84 on Tuesday, August 2 at 4:16pm he was dispatched to a residence on Austin Street in Timpson where a verbal disturbance was in progress.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers also arrived at the scene to assist Officer Williams.
Upon arrival Justin Fulmer, 38, of Timpson was arrested for criminal trespass, misdemeanor b, as he had a criminal trespass warning for the residence of Tommie Methvin, his grandmother.
Methvin reported earlier in the day to Officer Williams that Fulmer had taken her vehicle on Monday evening without her permission. The verbal disturbance occurred when Fulmer returned to the scene and other family members who had been looking for the vehicle confronted him.
Fulmer was later charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felony 4.
August 3, 2016 - An official step has been taken to ensure the beginning of the separation process of the Panola County and Shelby County probation departments officially known as Panola Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD.)
On July 21, 2016 an order of separation was filed in the District Court and County Court at Law of Panola County, Texas pertaining to the separation of the CSCD which removes Shelby County from the organization and establishes the creation of Community Supervision and Corrections Department for Shelby County, Texas.
Order of Separation
Be it remembered that at an open meeting of the Board of Judges, pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the following order was made on the 13th day of July, 2016:
The Board of Judges finds that to promote administrative convenience and improve services that the Panola Community Supervision and Corrections Department is hereby separated pursuant to Chapter 76 of the Texas Govenment Code, effective midnight on the 30th day of November, 2016, and there is created the Community Supervision and Corrections Department for Shelby County, Texas with each of the departments to have it's own director, employees and budget to serve their respective jurisdiction under the Board of Judges for each respective county.
It is further ordered that the county auditors of Panola County and Shelby County, in order to assure an equalization of the assets of the former department, shall coordinate with the Community Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to insure a partition of assets and budget to be accomplished by August 1, 2016, and no later than the 30th day of November, 2016. All transitions of property and assets are subject to approval of the Board of Judges in their respective county.
Ordered at an open meeting on July 13, 2016 and signed and entered the 21st day of July, 2016.
Signed by Judge Charles Dickerson and Judge Terry Bailey. Not signed by Judge Charles Mitchell.
Related article: Panola County Severs Probation Relationship with Shelby County Effective Nov. 30
August 2, 2016 - First responders were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 84 for a two-vehicle collision Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
Medical personnel gave attention to those involved in the crash as all occupants within one vehicle were transported by ambulance from the scene.
According to Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams, at 3:35pm Kylee Jones, 24, of Shelbyville was traveling east in a grey Dodge Charger on U.S. 84 at the intersection of U.S. 59 when she failed to yield right of way at a stop sign to U.S. 59 traffic.
A white Peterbilt truck-tractor driven by Michael Simmons, 33, was southbound when the Charger entered its path and Simmons was unable to avoid the collision. The Charger was struck on the rear driver's side and was spun around coming to rest in the median. The Peterbilt came to a halt in its lane just past the crash scene.
Jones and her passengers Windy Moore, 44, a 15-year-old passenger and a 1-year-old passenger were all transported by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service and ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Simmons and his passenger Jose Ramirez Marquez, 40, were not reported to have received injuries.
A citation was issued to Jones for fail to yield right of way at stop sign.
Officer Williams was assisted at the scene with the investigation by Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers Taylor Buster and Sean Smith.
Timpson Volunteer Fire Department directed traffic at the crash scene and assisted other emergency personnel with those involved in the crash.
August 2, 2016 - The residents of a mobile home located just north of Center are now without residence as the house was a total loss due to fire Tuesday, August 2, 2016.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at the home of Nancy Strong, located at 913 U.S. Highway 96 North, at 8:10am. When the firemen arrived the house was engulfed in flames.
The majority of the flames appeared to be emanating from the side of the house facing away from the road and flames had also broken through the wall facing the road.
Firemen were able to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread to neighboring homes in close proximity to the structure. The Center Fire Department firemen returned to the station at 9:35am.
As a result of the fire the house was a total loss. Strong was unable to be located at the time of the fire; however, she was later located unharmed.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
Heat Advisory from Noon to 7pm Wednesday
2:56 PM CDT Tuesday, August 2, 2016
August 2, 2016 Center, Texas - Dangerous heat will affect portions of the region through at least Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Heat Advisory which is in effect from Noon to 7pm Wednesday
* EVENT...Hot temperatures and high relative humidities will allow for heat index readings of 105 degrees or higher.
* TIMING...From about mid-day through 7pm Wednesday.
* IMPACT...Heat related illness are possible and caution is recommended for those who will be outdoors.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
August 2, 2016 - According to a Center Police Department press release, the Center Police Department arrested a suspect in connection to the recent bomb threats called into the Tyson plant in Center.
Press Release - On June 30, 2016, Tyson Food received a bomb threat from an unknown caller. The Center PD responded to the plant and Detective Stephen Stroud began an investigation.
As a result of an in depth investigation, Detective Stroud was able to obtain a felony arrest warrant for 42 year old Vincent Buckley, of Center, for the bomb threat. Buckley was arrested on Monday morning August 1, 2016 and booked into the Shelby County jail.
The Center Police Department would like to thank Tyson Foods for their quick response and their commitment to protect their employees. The Center Police Department and Tyson Foods takes these threats very seriously and will use all available resources to solve these cases.
Related article:
Law Enforcement Converge at Tyson Plant, Employees Evacuated
August 1, 2016 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a motorcycle versus horse crash on Sunday morning, July 31, 2016 resulting in a life flight for the rider of the motorcycle.
It appeared the rider of the motorcycle had been traveling east around 12-midnight when a horse was standing in the middle of the roadway and the motorcycle collided with the animal.
The driver of the motorcycle was on the eastbound side of the roadway as emergency personnel treated him and moved him to a waiting ambulance. The motorcycle remained in the middle of the roadway and the palomino horse was on the westbound side of the road where it had perished from its injuries.
ACE EMS transported the rider of the motorcycle from the scene of the crash and he was later flown by helicopter to an unknown hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Texas Department of Public Safety made attempts to locate the owner of the horse responsible for the crash; however, no contact had been made at the time of the incident. Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted at the scene and the Center Fire Department helped to clear the road of debris.
(Update): According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Austin Lunsford, a 2006 Suzuki ridden by Henry Santifer, 51, of Center was traveling east on State Highway 7 toward Joaquin. Santifer attempted to avoid the horse; however, the motorcycle collide with the horse.
As of last report, Santifer remains in the hospital.
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