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May 1, 2015 - Keith Byndom and Council member Joyce Johnson each were appointed to boards during the Center City Council meeting held on Monday, April 27, 2015. Johnson has served as the city's representative on the Deep East Texas Council of Government Board and was once again elected to that position by her fellow council members.
The Center Housing Authority has recently had a vacancy on their board. Members of the board recommended Keith Byndom, Center Fire Chief, as a new member and the recommendation was presented to the city council. As a result the council voted to appoint Byndom to the Center Housing Authority as its newest board member.
Resolution 2015-18 Nomination of Project for 2015 TxDOT TAP for the development of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles within the city was approved by the council. Just previous to the meeting, a public hearing was held to explain the proposed project. Chad Nehring, City Manager, stated TxDOT had a new call for programs for public improvement projects in the communities.
"As they do every two to three years when they come out with these new program calls they change what their goals are and what they're looking for and how their scoring criteria work," said Nehring. "We've worked with our grant consultant and a project engineer, or at least a project consulting engineer to try to decipher TxDOT's latest call. It is called Transportation Alternative Program, or Transportation Alternative Projects."
According to Nehring, it is geared toward non-motorized safe access through communities, which would include bicycles and other wheeled transportation absent of a motor. These routes have different construction standards and are usually seen in larger metropolitan areas.
"We tried to put together a project based on the parks master plan, interconnecting parks, interconnecting school campuses and some other standard pedestrian sidewalk projects that either have already been programmed or have been prioritized by the council or Street Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as high priority pedestrian sidewalks," said Nehring.
The proposed application for sponsorship by the city and application includes sidewalks on Martin Luther King Drive, which has already been planned by the SEDC, and was awaiting the second half of its funding in the next fiscal year. Another portion of the projected project would include a 10-foot pedestrian and bicycle pathway along the north side of Roughrider Driver all the way to the new softball complex.
The approval of this application is not an award of funds for the project; it is only approval to move forward with the application for possible project.
One activity which Nehring says would benefit from this project and has become a lot more common in Center are 5K runs, "You've seen more and more of the 5K runs I think now we're to the point of having about one a month. Even if they're not highly organized we're about having one a month and this will create a circuit that will not have them crossing any highways or back and forth traffic on the same pathway. It would keep you from having to close roadways and other things and still allow for those events and activities."
The council approved an addendum to the Center Municipal Airport lease agreement as the current lease agreement does not allow for septic or sewage at any of the airport hangar locations and are required to be self-maintained. Current construction at the airport is requesting the state approved septic system for a 64x16 area of land adjacent to the hangar structure outside of area 20 on the layout plan. This addendum is not to be included in the standard lease agreement and is not expected to impact future hangar locations.
During the items of interest portion of the meeting Mayor David Chadwick commended the City of Center staff for receiving recognition from the Government Finance Office Association as it shows the transparency of the budget and reflects the good job performed by the staff.
The John D. Windham Civic Center is reaching its 5th anniversary and Nehring mentioned to the council a small reception to commemorate those five years will be held on May 6 from 4pm to 5:30pm.
According to Nehring DETCOG awarded a partial grant of $20,000 to the City of Center for it's law enforcement grant application. The request was for $75,740 which is expected to provide for the purchase of a server, 12 computers and anti-virus software. He also stated the scoring was changed on the community development projects and the city missed the funding by one point on community development program applications this cycle.
TxDOT is planning $1million in handicap ramp and sidewalk improvements in the City of Center in areas which have already been prioritized by the council or SEDC. Nehring remarked that is much better than a grant as TxDOT is footing the entire bill, "We'll come back in and fill in some others with the downtown grant enhancement project that the council was notified of award of last year. We'll have to slow down our construction, but I don't think that's going to delay the award."
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20pm.
Items on the agenda receiving approval include: 1) Minutes of the April 13, 2015 Regular Meeting. 2) Resolution 2015-18 – Nomination of Project for 2015 TxDOT TAP. 3) Addendum to Airport Lease. 4) Drainage Improvement Construction Agreement at a cost of $36,000. 5) Appointment of Joyce Johnson as Deep East Texas Council of Governments Board Member. 6) Appointment of Keith Byndom to Center Housing Authority Board of Directors. 7) Adjournment.
April 30, 2015 - The new Loop 500 addition at the intersection of FM 699 was the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Thursday, April 30, 2015 requiring one driver to be transported to the hospital.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Anthony LaCount, at 2:30pm the crash occurred at State Loop 500 and FM 699 when a truck-tractor carrying a load of wet asphalt struck a gold Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Candy Broadus, 30, of Joaquin. The truck-tractor, a white Mack truck owned by Lone Star Location Services LLC., was driven by Michael Madison, 49, of San Augustine. As the Mercury was traveling north on FM 699 the truck-tractor was traveling west and entered the intersection where it collided with the right rear quarter panel of the Mercury causing it to spin around.
Trooper LaCount stated there is signage as far as the truck-tractors driving through on the state loop. The truck-tractors, according to TxDOT, all of them have been told they have to come to a complete stop at all of the intersections where construction is occurring on the new loop addition. The driver of the truck-tractor was coming from a road that has to yield right of way to an open road.
Broadus was transported to the Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries. Madison was cited for fail to yield right of way at open intersection.
When Shelby County Today was on scene, several truck-tractors which appeared to be hauling the same material crossed through the intersection.
April 30, 2015, BEAUMONT, Texas – A 58-year-old Lafayette, LA, man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Christopher Omigie, a Nigerian native and naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2014 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, Omigie presented himself to drug traffickers as a witch doctor and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide supernatural protection from law enforcement. Omigie was consulted by drug traffickers in the Cesar Barrera and David Bazan drug trafficking organizations on a daily basis and before, during and after each drug transaction. The supernatural protections rendered involved card readings, massages (by Omigie) with magic ointments, cutting of the skin with razor blades and the topical application of magic powder, the use of magic amulets, magic belts, magic coconuts and magic rocks (that those being treated were required to talk to).
Drug traffickers were required by Omigie to go without bathing and intercourse for a period of time following magic treatments so as not to diminish the potency of those ministrations. Magic “law stay away” candles were also burned in order to protect drug traffickers from law enforcement detection. Omigie would regularly return to Africa, at drug traffickers’ expense, to re-new his supernatural powers. Omigie was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2013.
Cesar Barrera and David Bazan have since both pleaded guilty to schemes involving the trafficking of more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine each.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
April 30, 2015 - Travelers on Shelbyville Street in Center are urged to use caution as they travel across the railroad crossing located at Martin Luther King Drive on Thursday, April 30, 2015.
One arm of the crossing has been knocked off and the other arm is lowering at frequent intervals regardless of a train approaching or not. This is causing traffic delays and is making it difficult for drivers to know if a train is approaching. It's unknown how the gate reacts when a train does approach.
According to the Center Police Department, the railroad company has been notified as of 9am this morning; however, it is unknown from where a crew is traveling and when they will arrive.
April 29, 2015 - A Shelby County viewer reported receiving a call from the IRS this morning with instructions to call (254) 304-8945 to pay taxes or they would be penalized or sued. Always use caution when receiving phone calls were the caller is threatening and demanding payment of money owed.
According to a consumer alert on irs.gov - Note that the IRS will never: 1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; 2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; 3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; 4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or 5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell would like the citizens of Shelby County to be aware of several scams going around including an IRS scam.
The people are from the middle east and they call stating you owe the IRS some money and wanting you to send it to them by credit card or bank card and saying if you don't, you will be arrested.
The IRS does not operate this way at all. Do not send them anything. These people are very persistent. If they call; just hang up.
April 24, 2015 - The driver of one vehicle was transported to the hospital following a crash south 
of Shelbyville on Thursday evening, April 23, 2015. According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 6:31pm on State Highway (SH) 147 at the intersection of County Road 1095. Upon arrival it was discovered that a red 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Ashton Battles, 17, of San Augustine was parked on County Road 1095 at the stop sign and was preparing to enter SH 147.
A 2005 white Toyota Highlander driven by Lakoha Davis, 27, of Center was traveling southbound on State Highway 147 when Battles failed to yield right of way at the stop sign and pulled out in front of the Toyota causing Davis to collide with the rear driver side of the Chevrolet causing damage to both vehicles.
Davis was transported to San Augustine Memorial Hospital by San Augustine County EMS for treatment of her injuries. Battles received a citation for no driver's license and failure to yield right of way stop sign. The owner of the Chevrolet was cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive.
Assisting at the scene was Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2.
April 23, 2015 - Two vehicles collided at what has proved over the years to be a dangerous intersection on U.S. 96 North Tuesday.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 1pm a maroon 2006 Ford Fusion 4-door owned and operated by Dory Alexander Hill, 65, of Tenaha was traveling northbound on U.S. 96 behind a white 2002 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Candy Vianey, 26, of Center.
As Vianey was turning left onto FM 2026 (Folsom Chapel Road) Hill failed to control the speed of her vehicle and collided with the rear of the Town & Country. The 
Fusion remained in the middle of the highway and the Town & Country pulled into the old Williams Propane parking lot.
Center Police officers Bobby Walker and Sgt. Duane Gordon, as well as Center firemen arrived at the scene to assist with traffic control.
ACE EMS responded to the scene. Vianey and her 3-year-old passenger were transported from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment. Hill refused treatment at the scene.
Hill was issued a citation for failure to control speed and Vianey was issued a citation for no driver's license.
Betty Mooney, a passerby at the scene, has property near the intersection and she has seen many vehicle crashes at the same location, under the same circumstances.
"They're coming so fast down that hill and then when one tries to jump over [from the inside lane] there's nowhere to go. I own this property right here I wish it was closer, I would have given the state the right-of-way for a turning lane," said Mooney.
Mooney explained her son had a crash further up the roadway toward the top of the hill and she believes the problem is travelers are going too fast and the speed is set too high, which at this time is 60mph. The greatest concern for Mooney is young inexperienced drivers who may be unable to make a quick decision to help prevent a crash and more importantly save their lives.
"I would like to say that this intersection is extremely dangerous. Going north toward Tenaha you are leaving the city limit sign [for Center] and going into a 60mph speed zone, where you're accelerating pretty fast coming downhill and making a left-hand turn onto Folsom Chapel (FM 2026) from 96 North, if you have someone behind you most of the time they don't have enough time to slow down due to already accelerating," said Mooney.
Mooney explains the two options available to drivers are not very safe and given the proper formula could cause a serious crash like what she says she has seen before.
"If they're able to stop they're probably going to slam on their brakes and they could hit you, otherwise if there's somebody on the other side of them [in the outside lane] they can't get over, so you could cause an accident that way and I've seen that happen also. I have deemed this intersection as a death trap."
According to information provided to Shelby County Today by the Texas Department of Transportation in relation to reportable motor vehicle traffic crashes related to the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 and FM 2026 from 2010-2015 there have been 16 crashes.
|
Reportable Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes Related
to the Intersection of US 96 and FM 2026 in Shelby County |
|||||||
| Crash Year | Fatal Crashes | Incapacitating Injury Crashes | Non-Incapacitating Injury Crashes | Possible Injury Crashes | Non-Injury Crashes | Unknown Injury Crashes | Total Crashes |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
April 23, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Saturday, April 18, 2015, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurtes Lawrence, while on routine patrol on FM 417 West, noticed a vehicle parked on County Road 1042 facing oncoming traffic.
Lawrence approached the vehicle and saw a white female in the driver’s seat that appeared to be passed out. Lawrence checked the status of the female and identified her as Gena Cheshire, 36, of Center.
During the course of the investigation, Cheshire was asked to step from the vehicle. In the process of exiting her vehicle, she attempted to conceal an unknown item in her hand, later identified as drug paraphernalia.
Also discovered, was a clear plastic bag containing a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a plastic bottle containing white oval tablets. A field test was conducted and turned a positive result for methamphetamine and the pills were discovered to be a prescribed narcotic.
Cheshire was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (two counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Justice of Peace Pct. 2 Marla Denby set bond at $10,000 and $5,000 for both possession charges.
April 23, 2015 - State Highway 7 West near the intersection of FM 711 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, April 22, 2015.
Emergency personnel with the Texas Department of Public Safety, ACE EMS, Center Fire Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene of the crash.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Anthony LaCount, at 5:45pm Gwendolyn Garcia, 49, of Center driving a red Chevrolet Malibu, attempted to pull out from a private driveway 1200 feet from FM 711 making a left-hand turn to the east.
As Garcia exited the driveway she failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic and caused a collision between herself and a silver Honda Accord driven by David Castro, 48, of Nacogdoches who was traveling west on State Highway 7. Both vehicles received major damage.
Garcia was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries. Her passenger Pamela Reed, 61, of Center was not reported to have received injuries.
Garcia was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way private drive.
April 23, 2015 - Shelby County Today has been 
receiving reports for of all things a "garlicky" odor in Center on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. The Center Fire Department confirms a gas leak was reported Tuesday evening, April 21, 2015 from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and the fire department investigated a possible gas leak, which was not located.
CenterPoint Energy in the area investigating the possibility of a gas leak on Wednesday, and did confirm smelling the odor; however, it was not gas. The odor remains a mystery, but its origin was identified Wednesday evening, .
At the suggestion of viewer Karol Bogle and a post by Shawna Walker indicating a strong odor emanating from the area of U.S. 96 (Hurst Street) and State Highway 7 (San Augustine Street), Shelby County Today investigated the area.
Upon following the odor a substance was observed on the pavement. After scraping the substance from the road it was confirmed by another individual and it is the opinion of Shelby County Today the odor matches that which has been described in the area.
Anyone observing the odor in their area should confirm if the substance is visible on the roadway as it appears it spilled from some sort of transport vehicle.
One possible theory at this time is a vehicle traveling from as far as Lufkin to Logansport was leaking the substance. Reports from viewers who have traveled in these areas confirm having smelled the same odor in these locations.
The odor continues to remain an issue for some travelers a Shelby County Today has received more reports on Thursday morning of the odor.
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