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January 26, 2016 - The Center Fire Department fought a house fire Tuesday, January 26, 2016 on CR 1465 at the residence of Curtis Harper in the Mt. Gillion Community. The firemen were dispatched at 10:36am and when the firemen arrived, flames were pouring out the front of the building.
According to the Center Fire Department, the fire appeared to have originated in the kitchen; however, the true origin could not be determined once the fire was extinguished. One apparent source of fire was a refrigerator in the kitchen, which once the firemen had it extinguished, they removed it from the home.
Fire continued to burn in the attic of the house and the firemen were able to finish it off there. While the Center FD fought the blaze, Timpson Volunteer Fire Department who had had also been dispatched to the scene by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department arrived, and although it was not their area offered assistance to the Center FD.
Considerable damage resulted to the interior of the home. Once the fire was extinguished, the Center FD returned to the station and were back in service by 12:55pm.
January 25, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners considered a tax abatement agreement with Sustainable Energy Soil Solutions, LLC. at their meeting held on Monday, January 25, 2016; however, a motion was carried to table the item until the next meeting. Morgan Barnett, general manager of the business, spoke with the commissioners about the process of making the fertilizer. Judge Allison Harbison remarked the business has already started working on the project, which may be an issue, as the adopted guidelines for tax abatements by the county include the project or business seeking the abatement not be in progress. Judge Harbison stated that will be for the commissioners to decide, and then move forward with a public hearing.
The business is located at the old Bruce Armstrong location off FM 699. The process includes taking raw poultry litter, composting, and then pelletizing the material so it can be bagged and marketed for fertilizer. Travis Rodgers, Commissioner Precinct 3, asked if there would be a smell to contend with emanating from the facility. Barnett stated they have 1400 tons of the chicken litter on the site for four months and they have had no complaints on the odor from anyone living nearby.
Shelby County is one of many counties in Texas which has been mandated to convert their filing system to digital, called e-filing. According to Lori Oliver, District Clerk, the process of e-filing began January 1, 2016. She believes the Supreme Court's goal is for the county to eventually be paperless and this means paper pleadings will no longer be accepted in the future. During court proceedings, when documents are filed, they will be scanned immediately into the computer system and the hard copy will be returned to the submitter.
The District Clerk office and County Clerk office will be purchasing computers for their clerks, but this will not cover all needed computers.
"There's not enough money in the judge's budget to purchase the computers and they're also asking for additional technology, or hardware so that [the District Judges] can write digital docket sheets," said Oliver.
A motion was carried to pay for the needed court technology out of the contingency fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05am.
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Agenda items receiving approval include: 1. Pay monthly expenses. Items tabled during the meeting: Tax Abatement Agreement with Sustainable Soil Solutions, LLC. |
January 23, 2016 - Emergency responders were dispatched to an accident in the Rolling Hills area around 12-noon Friday, January 22, 2016 which took the life of a Huxley man.
According to Constable Pct 2 Jamie Hagler, James Laughlin, age 70, had just driven onto his property when he got out of the pickup truck he was driving and the vehicle began to roll. Once realizing the truck was moving, Laughlin attempted to stop it when the pickup rolled into a tree pinning him. Family called 911 and ACE EMS responded to the scene along with the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies Roy Bailey and Derek Barbee, and Constable Hagler.
Laughlin succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Pct 2, Marla Denby at 1:15pm. Watson and Sons Funeral Home took into their care Mr. Laughlin. Services are pending at this time.
January 22, 2016 - The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) and Center Fire Department (CFD) battled the fire at the residence of Terry and Marissa Harper on CR 2554 Thursday, January 21, 2016.
When the SVFD arrived at the scene, the house was engulfed in flames and they requested the assistance of the CFD. As the CFD was en-route, the SVFD worked to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread of the fire to a neighboring workshop on the property.
Once the CFD arrived, the departments worked together to finish off the blaze; however, there was no saving the mobile home at that time.
A dog that was in the house perished as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire is suspected to have originated at an electrical outlet which is the vicinity where the fire began.
Firemen were able to retrieve some belongings from the house for the homeowner.
The firemen returned to the station at 3pm.
January 21, 2016 - Thursday started with early Thunder Storms passing through the northern part of Shelby County at 4am dropping hail on the ground.
Residents in the storm area briefly had the feeling of seeing snow on the ground until closer inspection revealed hail.
T-Storms hit the area again around noon with heavy wind and rain. The forecast now: According to the National Weather Service, Shreveport La., a Lake wind advisory is in effect tonight through 6 PM CST Friday for extreme Southeast Oklahoma, all of East Texas, Southwest Arkansas and North Louisiana.
A developing surface Low pressure system over the lower Mississippi Valley tonight will Result in a tightening pressure gradient over all of the four state region tonight through much of Friday. Northwest winds will Increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph this evening over East Texas. Extreme Southeast Oklahoma, adjacent Southwest Arkansas and Western Louisiana, and Increase elsewhere across southcentral Arkansas and northcentral Louisiana after Midnight. These Strong winds will persist through much of Friday before diminishing Friday evening.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Lake wind advisory, which is in effect until 6PM CST Friday.
Event: Northwest winds will Increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph this evening over East Texas. Extreme Southeast Oklahoma, adjacent Southwest Arkansas and Western Louisiana. These Strong winds will continue through much of Friday, behind a strengthening surface Low pressure system that will lift Northeast across the Southeast United states.
Timing: This evening through 6PM CST Friday.
Impact: Boaters on area lakes should exercise caution due to rough conditions.
Precautionary/preparedness actions: A Lake wind advisory indicates that winds will cause rough chop on area Lakes. Small boats will be especially prone to capsizing.
January 21, 2016 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a rash of burglaries and thefts in the Tenaha area. SCSO Investigators are following up on all reported incidents and persons of interests. Sheriff Willis Blackwell encourages anyone with information pertaining to these burglaries to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936.598.5601.
Auto Theft and Burglary Prevention
- Always lock your vehicle and take your keys.
- Never leave your car running and unattended.
- Park in a well-lit area.
- Take valuables with you when you are not in your vehicle.
- Keep valuables out of sight.
- Give parking attendants the ignition key only. Keep your trunk and glove box locked at all times. If possible, get separate keys for the ignition and the trunk and glove box.
- Install an anti-theft device. Many insurance companies may give you a discount for certain anti-theft devices. Check with your agent for details.
Source: txdmv.gov
January 21, 2016 - A tornado watch is currently in effect for Shelby County, according to the National Weather Service, until 7pm CST. Other counties included in the watch are Angelina, Chambers, Hardin Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, and Tyler.
January 21, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that the Shelby County Sheriff's Department have been actively working several burglaries and thefts.
One of the thefts reported occurred on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 in which Sergeant Derek Barbee took a report from a Michael Smith who advised that two chainsaws had been stolen from his vehicle located on County Road 3760.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that a Tevin Garrett and a Jeremy Edwards had sold the chainsaws to two individuals and both chainsaws were recovered. Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson drew up affidavits and warrants for Tevin Garrett and Jeremy Edwards and both were arrested for Burglary of a Vehicle, Misdemeanor A.
On Friday, January 15, 2016 Deputy Peter Davis met with complainant Garland White at his residence located on FM 139 and Mr. White reported that his Husqvarna weedeater had been stolen.
During the course of the investigation, Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson located the weedeater in Nacogdoches County and found that the weedeater had been sold by a Tevin Garrett. A warrant was issued for Tevin Garrett for the charge of Theft of Property>=$100<$750, Misdemeanor B.
Garland White is seen with his weedeater once it was returned to his possession.
January 21, 2016 - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today the indictment of three individuals charged in a kidnapping conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas.
Cory Carnell Mitchell, 27, of Tenaha, Texas; Gary Eugene Cutright, 21, of Zwolle, LA; and Quannell Newton, 35, of Many, LA, were named in the three count indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury late Jan. 20, 2016.
According to the indictment, in early December 2015, Mitchell, Cutright, and Newton conspired to kidnap an individual and transport the victim from Louisiana to Carthage, Texas. The victim was shot twice during the kidnapping, but survived.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to life in federal prison for the kidnapping and a minimum of 10 years for the firearms violation.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigation Division. The U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lufkin Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department, Center Police Department, Carthage Police Department, DeSoto Parrish Sheriff’s Department, Sabine Parrish Sheriff’s Department and the Panola County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the execution of the arrest warrants. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Hable.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
January 20, 2016 - FM 699 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Wednesday morning, January 20, 2016. Officers with the Center Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) directed traffic until the vehicle could be removed from the ditch in which it was stuck.
According to Center Police Officer John Welch, at 7:18am a blue GMC Sierra SLE driven by Oscar Contreras, 24, of Center with passenger Javier Gonzalez, 24, also of Center was traveling south on FM 2468. As Contreras was preparing to make a right turn onto FM 699 he failed to control speed, hit water, lost control of the truck and left the roadway coming to rest in a ditch.
No injuries were reported at the scene. Contreras was cited for no driver's license.
Assisting at the scene were Center Police Officer Angela Neal and Texas DPS Trooper Taylor Buster.
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