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February 26, 2016 - EZ Mart on Tenaha Street was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Friday, February 26, 2016 from which three were hospitalized and two were arrested.
According to Center Police Officer Angela Neal, at 3:47pm a white Dodge Charger traveling south driven by Alderea Berry, 24, of Center was stopped and preparing to make a left turn into the EZ Mart. According to witnesses at the scene the left turn indicator was active on the Dodge.
A 2001 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck driven by Timothy McKnight, 20, of Joaquin approached from behind the Dodge and failed to control speed, striking the rear of the Dodge. This left the truck in the middle of the roadway and the Dodge came to rest on the northbound shoulder facing north.
Crystal Hubbard 26 of Center was in the front passenger seat of the Dodge and Elijah Cotton, 27, of Center was in the right-rear passenger seat. They both were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. Jarvis Johnson, 26, of Center was in the left-rear passenger seat of the Dodge and he was transported by Life-Air helicopter to an as yet unidentified hospital.
Center Police Officer Sgt. Ricky King and Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster assisted Officer Neal in her investigation of the crash. Trooper Buster administered a breathalyzer test on McKnight.
McKnight was placed in handcuffs at the scene and was taken into custody. He has been charged with failure to control speed, driving under the influence, failure to maintain financial responsibility and no insurance. McKnight reportedly consumed a beer which was noticeable on his breath.
Spencer Kinman, 23, of Carthage was a passenger in the Chevrolet. He was arrested at the scene for contributing alcohol to a minor which is a class a misdemeanor.
The Center Fire Department assisted at the scene with traffic control and establishing the landing zone for the helicopter.
February 26, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7am to 7pm, March 1, 2016, for voting in the general primary election for the Republican Party to nominate, prosidential electors, Members of Congress, Members of the Legislature, and state, district, county, and precinct officers.
Locations of polling places
Precinct number - Voting location
- 1N Center - First United Methodist Church, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
- 1SO Center - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
- 1SE Center - Senior Citizens Center, 3580 Loop 500 East, Center, Texas 75935
- 1SW Center - Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935
- 1W Center - JOI Ranch, 5198 FM 2026, Tenaha, Texas 75954
- 2 Excelsior - Excelsior School, 11280 St. Hwy 7W, Center, Texas 75935
- 3 Sardis - Sardis Cemetery Assn. Building, 2962 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935
- 4 Huxley - Lydia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 14998 FM 139, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- 5 Joaquin - First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
- 6 Dreka - Dreka Pentecostal Church Fellowship Hall, 1193 FM 2427, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- 7 Shelbyville - First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 South, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- 8 Tenaha - First Methodist Church Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75974
- 9N Timpson - Texas State Bank Annex, 830 N 1st Street West, Timpson, Texas 75975
- 9S Timpson - Timpson School Gym Foyer, Bear Drive, Timpson, Texas 75935
To view the Republican Party ballot for each precinct: 1N-Center, 1SE-Center, 1SO-Center, 1SW-Center, 1W-Center, 2-Excelsior, 3-Sardis, 4-Huxley, 5-Joaquin, 6-Dreka, 7-Shelbyville, 8-Tenaha, 9N-Timpson, 9S-Timpson
To view political candidacy announcements submitted to Shelby County Today, click here.
***Announcements are on two pages, at the bottom off the pages are links to go to the second page of announcements.
February 26, 2016 - Some voting precincts have been consolidated for the March 1st Democratic Primary. Please note the following voting precincts and their locations. Benny Russell, Democratic Party Chair, opened two Polling Locations in each Commissioner Precinct.
Election Precincts - Location
- 1S Center, 1SW Center, 1W Center - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
- 1N Center, 3 Sardis - First United Methodist Church, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
- 1SE Center - Senior Citizens Site, 3580 Loop 500 East, Center, Texas 75935
- 2 Excelsior - Excelsior School, 11280 St. Hwy 7W (Aiken), Center, Texas 75935
- 4 Huxley, 6 Dreka, 7 Shelbyville - First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 South, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- 5 Joaquin - First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
- 8 Tenaha - First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 226 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75974
- 9N Timpson, 9S Timpson - Texas State Bank Annex, 830 N 1st Street West, Timpson, Texas 75975
Polling locations will be open from 7am to 7pm.
To view the Democratic Party ballots: All precincts
To view political candidacy announcements submitted to Shelby County Today, click here.
***Announcements are on two pages, at the bottom off the pages are links to go to the second page of announcements.
February 26, 2016 - The Center Police Department had a large presence at Walmart on Hurst Street in Center around noon on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 and took into custody a suspect.
Shelby County Today was on scene to see officers stop a man as he was walking across the threshold of the main entrance to the store with merchandise. He was then escorted back inside the store, handcuffed, and taken into custody.
Officers proceeded to search the Walmart area including stores nearby. Following the search, a truck which the suspect arrived in was then the subject of interest due to a medium sized dog being inside of it. Animal control was called and with the help of an officer, they safely remove it from the vehicle until the animal can be claimed by its owner.
The suspect was transported by Center PD Officer Angela Neal to the Shelby County Jail. At 12:40pm, Justin Morrison, 35 of Pollok, Texas, was booked into the jail for (2) counts of theft and a warrant for failure to appear, original charge of theft out of Cherokee County.
As soon as additional information is available, Shelby County Today will update this story.
February 25, 2016 - According to a press release from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, thanks to the tip of a concerned citizen, a suspect was apprehended, stolen property recovered and burglary location found before the victim even knew it had all occurred.
Press Release: Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports on Monday, February 22, 2016 at approximately 11:20 a.m. a call was received in reference to a male subject riding a bicycle on Highway 59 heading towards Timpson from Tenaha carrying firearms.
Timpson Police Department Chief Kent Graham was notified of the call and upon Chief Graham attempting to make contact with the male subject, he then evaded on foot. Additional units were requeseted in which Constable Pct 5 Stanley Burgay, Deputy Kurtes Lawrence and Timpson ISD Police Chief Kimberly Graham responded to assist.
As a precaution, Timpson ISD school officials were notified and the school was placed on lock down. A short time later, Chief Kimberly Graham located the male subject in front of the Timpson Middle School and made contact with him at which time the male subject evaded again on foot. After setting up a perimeter and locating the male subject again, Chief Kent Graham, Chief Kimberly Graham and Timpson PD Officer Jacob Metcalf were able to take the subject into custody.
The subject discarded the bicycle along with the two rifles, identified as a 30.06 and a .22 Cricket rifle which were recovered for evidence. The subject was identified as an Adrian Herrera, 34 of San Augustine.
Shelby County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson contacted the initial caller who reported Herrera and ascertained the approximate area in which Herrera was first observed on the bicycle with the firearms. Sergeant Dickerson then met with Constable Burgay approximately 5 miles from Timpson on Highway 59 North and began canvassing the area going from house to house in an attempt to locate the residence that had been burglarized.
During the canvassing, the residence that had been burglarized was located at 4844 Highway 59 North, belonging to a Jerry Roth. Forced entry was observed to the side door of the residence. After clearing the residence, Sergeant Dickerson contacted Jerry Roth at his work and advised of the incident and Mr. Roth confirmed items that had been stolen from his residence, describing the 30.06 rifle, the .22 caliber rifle along with a breathing machine, e-cigarette kit, ammunition, a blue blanket and the Kent Del Rio bicycle that Herrera was riding. Information was collected along with evidence from Roth's residence.
Warrants were issued for Adrian Herrera for the charges of Burglary of a Habitation (Felony 2) and Theft of Firearm (State Jail Felony). Herrera was also charged during the initial arrest for the offenses of Burglary of a Habitation (Felony 2), Evading Arrest (Misdemeanor A), Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor A), Failure to Identify (Misdemeanor B), and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon (Felony 3).
Due to the concerned citizen passing through and reporting his concern as well as the communication and cooperation between all agencies involved, Herrera was apprehended, property recovered, burglary location found and all before the victim even knew it had all occurred.
Investigator Dickerson said, "I express my gratitude for all involved in this incident to bring it to a hasty resolve."
Submitted by Sergeant Investigator D.J. Dickerson
February 25, 2016 - The 2016 Great Texas Warrant Round Up is coming soon – If you received a citation from the Center Police Department and have not paid the citation in full or did not appear before the Judge then an Arrest Warrant has been issued for you. Contact Center Municipal Court at 936-598-3080 / 1020 Shelbyville street to take care of this matter ASAP before the Warrant Round Up starts or risk being arrested at your home, your place of work or during a traffic stop. Officers will be going to Timpson, Tenaha, Joaquin, Huxley and Shelbyville to arrest those who have outstanding warrants.
February 24, 2016 - Tuesday night at 9:35pm a man traveling on FM 417 East collided with a large Oak tree which fell in front of him and he survived. High winds were blowing and had moved through the area for the majority of the day which could have been the cause of the tree falling.
The driver was Jermicah Jahron Williams, age 32 of Mansfield, Louisiana, and he reported seeing the tree falling in front of him and there was nothing he could do. He was driving a 2000 GMC Sonoma westbound on FM 417 East when the tree fell and the truck collided with it. The truck received major damage to the front and the frame on the truck was bent.
After the crash occurred, the driver was able to exit the pickup and walked up the road for help. ACE EMS responded to the scene; however, Williams didn't require transport. The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department was also dispatched along with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
The fire department arrived first and using a chainsaw cut the tree into sections and then used the winch on the front of the fire truck to help move large sections out of the roadway. TxDOT arrived and using a small bulldozer they finished clearing the roadway.
The crash was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones. Constable Pct 2 Jamie Hagler also responded to the crash and assisted.
February 24, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Monday, February 15, 2016 at approximately 7:41hrs, Shelby County Sheriff's Department was contacted by Nacogdoches Police Department who advised that a vehicle registered to a Raymond Carson of Center was located in a Nacogoches city park located on Pearl Street near the intersection of West Main Street. It was advised that a subject identified as a Thomas Wayne Hughes, Jr., 31 of Garrison was located inside the vehicle bound with handcuffs and zipties.
Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson was notified of the situation in which he along with Deputy Kurtes Lawrence and Patrol Sergeant Michael Griffin traveled to the residence to which the vehicle was registered to, a Raymond Carson located at 14834 Highway 7 West, Center, Texas. Upon arrival, contact was made with a Raymond Carson who at that time realized that his 2005 Toyota Tacoma was stolen. Mr. Carson had a game camera attached to a tree that was pointing towards the residence where the vehicle was parked and upon reviewing the SD card with photographs, (2) photographs were found time stamped 2:41am and 3:04am in which a white male subject of slender build wearing blue jeans and a hoodie was walking towards Carson's vehicle. It was found that the subject that was located in Carson's vehicle by Nacogdoches Police Department officers was the same observed in the photographs on the game camera.
Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson traveled to a neighboring residence next to Carson's residence and spoke with a subjects who advised that a Thomas Hughes, Jr. was over at his place and had left sometime in the night possibly through a bedroom window due to the window being found open and the doors locked and secured.
Sergeant Investigator Donnie G. Dickerson, Jr. spoke to Detective Killinsworth with Nacogdoches Police Department who advised that the defendant, a Thomas Wayne Hughes, Jr. had confessed that he had stolen the vehicle from the Carson residence last night and advised that he had bound himself with the handcuffs and zipties.
It was also discovered through the investigation that Hughes had traveled through a fence line to exit from the property due to a gate being secured.
Warrants were issued for Thomas Hughes, Jr. for the charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, State Jail Felony and Criminal Mischief, Misdemeanor B. Hughes was arrested for said charges and has since been transferred to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Maxie Eaves receiving a total bond for both charges set at $7,000 and was released on the 23rd of February.
February 24, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Friday, January 15th, 2016, Deputy Barbee responded to the residence of a Leonard Boehm located on Highway 7 East in Joaquin in regards to a burglary incident. Deputy Barbee took a report from Mr. Boehm, who reported that he had two chainsaws stolen from his carport area that extended off the front of the residence as well as a Homelite generator, a Troybuilt pressure washer and a Brute pressure washer. Mr. Boehm provided descriptions of the aforementioned property.
During the course of the investigation, Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson located the two chainsaws as reported stolen by Mr. Boehm in Shreveport, Louisiana and found that a Tevin Garrett, 23 of Center had sold them. Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson also located and recovered Mr. Boehm's Homelite generator in Timpson. It was also found that a Jeremy Edwards, 35 of Logansport was involved in the burglary incident and took part in selling the property.
Warrants were issued for both Tevin Garrett and Jeremy Edwards for Burglary of a Habitation, Felony 2 and have since been arrested for said charge.
February 23, 2016 - A large motor home ended up in a creek on U.S. Highway 59 north of Timpson on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner, at around 7am .2 miles north of CR 4657 a 2006 Foretravel motor home driven by Larry Ratliff, 65, of Nacogdoches and hauling a 2003 Acura SUV was traveling north. Although additional information on what occurred to cause the crash is not available as of the time of this report, the Foretravel failed to drive in a single lane and ended up backwards in a creek on the opposite side of the roadway.
Upon arrival of emergency personnel, the crashed vehicles were located and it was determined Ratliff was uninjured in the incident. A tree which was struck by the Foretravel was lying across nearby railroad tracks. It was cleared before any approaching trains could collide with the debris.
Hopkins Wrecker Service out of Timpson was dispatched to pull the vehicles from their location in the creek; however, enough damage was incurred by the Foretravel that it could not roll successfully and because of its location it was determined a crane was necessary to lift it from the creek.
Easley's Crane and Wrecker Service out of Lufkin was requested to the scene, arriving at 10:40am. TxDOT was on scene and blocked the southbound traffic lanes and turning Highway 59 into a two-lane roadway while the crane was used to move the Foretravel. From 11:30am until 1:42pm the crane crew worked to remove the motor home from the creek and place it on the roadway until it could be moved to a flatbed trailer and transported from the scene.
The scene was cleared and the roadway reopened at 3:45pm. Texas DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos held the scene for Trooper Faulkner and Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams was also on scene to assist throughout the operation.
More information on what caused this crash will be updated on Shelby County Today as it is made available.
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