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April 7, 2015 - Cities and schools in Shelby County are preparing for elections of council and schoolboard members in the May 9, 2015 election. The first day of early voting is April 28, 2015 and the last day for early voting is May 5, 2015.
City of Joaquin (Submitted by Amanda Willey) - Ms. Pat Gray and Mr. Bill Baker are both running for Mayor. Our two at large City Council positions are being sought by Ms. Lee Vern Stotts Gilliam (Incumbent), Mr. Mike Adkinson (Incumbent), and Mr. Joe Long. Polling will take place at 124 N. Preston Street Joaquin, Texas which is City Hall.
City of Timpson (Submitted by Barbara Hunt) - The following candidates signed up by the February 27th deadline for a place on the ballot for three (3) council member positions: Kenneth Walker, Linda Hancock, George Grace (Incumbent), Kyle Allen (Incumbent), Janell Baker (Incumbent).
City of Tenaha - 3 positions - Claudine Howard (Incumbent), Michael Baker (Incumbent), Larry Terry (Incumbent), Natalie Harris.
Shelbyville ISD (Submitted by Debbie Gilchrist) The polling place will be the Shelbyville ISD Board Room, including early voting. Candidates are: Chris Koltonski, Etola Jones, Clint Norton, Latashia Thompson, Brad Hinton, Joe Tom Schillings. Etola Jones and Joe T. Schillings are incumbents. (2 positions open)
Tenaha ISD (Submitted by Brenda Lucas) 3 positions - Bo Morris (Incumbent), Robert Barton (Incumbent), David Fallin, Joe Anderson, Korey McClure.
Timpson ISD - 3 positions - Linda Fraizer Todd, Dannie Hunt (I), Carlos Johnson, Jim Rader (Not running Tracy Hooper and Beth Tipton)
Joaquin ISD - 2 positions - Maggie Bowdin, Tom Harvey, Ronnie Belrose (Incumbent), and Jay Wilson. Not running is Luke Garrett.
April 1, 2015 - Roughrider Drive was the scene of a single-vehicle crash which left the roadway partially blocked and initial reports were that an occupant was trapped inside.
According to the report from Center Police Officer Jake Gross, at 6:48pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 a silver 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by William Brandon Smith, 19, with passenger Jahir 
Garcia, 20, was traveling east on Roughrider Drive just after transitioning from CR 1000 when Smith stated the vehicle began to drift onto the shoulder of the roadway. Smith over corrected onto the roadway causing the vehicle to roll twice and come to rest onto its top.
When the Center Fire Department and Center Police officers arrived on the scene it was discovered the passenger was not trapped; however, he did have a difficult time escaping from the wrecked Tahoe.
ACE EMS was on scene to check those injured in the crash and both the driver and passenger refused transport.
The fire department assisted with traffic control and washed glass debris off the roadway. Smith was issued a citation for failure to drive in a single lane.
April 1, 2015 - The intersection of State Highway (SH) 7 East and U.S. Highway 84 was the scene of a three-vehicle collision in Joaquin Wednesday.
As the intersection was blocked by one vehicle involved in the crash, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department initiated traffic control to keep traffic flowing. Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers were investigating the crash scene as many Center Police officers arrived to check on their comrade.
One driver was injured in the collision and it happened to be Center Police Sgt. Scott Burkhalter, who was off-duty at the time. ACE EMS was on scene and was seeing to Burkhalter's injuries.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones, at 3:41pm a black 2010 Ford Edge SUV owned and operated by Scott Brandon Burkhalter, 34, of Joaquin was traveling east on State Highway 7 East and was attempting to make a left turn onto US Highway 84.
A white 2015 Peterbilt owned by Pinnacle Propane LLC. hauling propane canisters and driven by John Reagan Moore Jr., 28, of Longview was traveling on U.S. Highway 84 toward State Highway 7. Burkhalter stated he had a green arrow and at the tine he turned left Moore stated he had a green light, and the Peterbilt struck the right side of the Edge.
As the Peterbilt continued through the intersection and into a parking lot beside State Highway 7, it struck a maroon 2014 Ford F-150 owned by Kenneth Weeks which was parked in the lot.
Burkhalter was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of his injuries. The crash remains under investigation at this time. Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by DPS Troopers Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner and Anthony LaCount.
April 1, 2015 (Album)- The Honorable Rick Perry stopped by for a visit in Center, Texas today, March 31, 2015 and spoke to a crowd of over 230 people at a luncheon hosted by local friends.
Prior to Perry taking the stage, Rick Campbell introduced Tim Norman who in turn introduced 12 Center High School Seniors who were recognized Monday night at a dinner. Due to technical difficulties with the stage microphone, Perry carried his wireless microphone to each student allowing them to introduce themselves to the crowd.
After recognizing several local individuals one of which was James Campbell who was attending the luncheon, Perry spoke about several current issues including giving praise to the State of Texas. He addressed the Texas education system stating it has the 2nd highest graduation rates in the country, the 1st highest for Hispanics and African Americans.
He addressed job creation in Texas and the United States; the passing of legislation to help stop the rationing of healthcare which has increased the number of doctors and healthcare facilities across the state; the dangers of over regulating, over litigating, and over taxing; how the United States should be the energy capital of the world; and addressed the international conflicts in the world including ISIS.
Perry ended his speech stating, "The Best Days in America are in front of us."
March 30, 2015 - Due to events that have recently come to light, Center Youth Baseball would like to reassure everyone that the safety and well-being of all our children that participate in our program is our number one priority.
We want to be clear that each year our head coaches undergo a background check that includes review of publicly available data on the Texas Department of Public Safety's website.
Effective immediately, Center Youth Baseball will expand this review policy to include running background checks on assistant coaches once each head coach notifies CYB of who these assistant coaches will be. Coaches with an unacceptable background report will not be allowed to participate in any Center Youth Baseball team practice, game, or activity.
March 30, 2015 - U.S. 96 South was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday night which resulted in the arrest of the driver.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, at 8:10pm on March 27, 2015 a green 1998 Honda Accord driven by Eddie Lockey II, 46, of San Augustine was traveling north on U.S. Highway 96 South 1.6 miles south of Loop 500 outside of Center.
Lockey failed to drive in a single lane and the Honda skidded off the side of the roadway to the right. The Honda traveled across a large culvert skirting before striking a fence owned by Wheldon Boles and a telephone box as it overturned onto its top.
It was determined Lockey was intoxicated and he was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of injuries. Lockey was later released to the custody of Trooper Faulkner and he was arrested for driving while intoxicated - 3rd. The vehicle was towed from the scene by East Texas Towing and Storage.
March 30, 2015 - A Texas youth baseball coach was arrested Saturday after driving to Shreveport for the purpose of meeting underage boys for sex, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.
Christopher Scott Tyre, 26, of Center, Texas, was arrested in the 8500 block of Youree Drive at a location where he thought he would be meeting two juvenile boys and their father, Prator said.
Sheriff’s Detective Jared Marshall began investigating Tyre this past week after Tyre placed a publicly viewable online ad. Marshall responded to the ad under an assumed identity of an adult male with two juvenile boys, ages 8 and 12. Marshall and Tyre had several text conversations during which Tyre stated his intentions.
Tyre told Marshall’s assumed identity that he would be driving to Shreveport with the intent to perform sexual acts on the two juvenile boys after Tyre finished coaching a baseball team of 7 and 8-year-old boys in Center.
Following his arrest, Tyre was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center for computer-aided solicitation of a minor.
Assisting Marshall with the arrest were Sheriff’s Youth Services Lt. Sam Hall, Detective Trey Keene, and Caddo Sheriff’s patrol deputies.
April 7, 2015 (Related article) - The Center Police Department performed a street raid on Mildred Street on the evening of March 27, 2015 and Shelby County Today was on scene as officers and K-9 Taz searched the area for illegal narcotics. Information has now been shared by the police department indicating one man was arrested.
The following is information provided by Center Police Detective Chris Knowlton: Based on an ongoing narcotics investigation, in addition to numerous citizens’ complaints about possible drug trafficking at the location, Officers made contact with a large group of people who were found to be loitering and illegally parked on Mildred Street.
Upon further investigation LaJuan Cole, 48, of Center was arrested on scene as he was found to be in possession of “crack” cocaine. Said suspected “crack” cocaine totaled 0.9 grams in weight.
Additionally, upon K-9 Taz alerting on the vehicle, approximately 4.3 ounces of suspected marijuana was found secured in the trunk of Mr. Cole’s vehicle. Also found in the trunk was a set of digital scales.
Also found on scene was a Scope bottle containing suspected phencyclidine (PCP). Said bottle totaled approximately 22.3 grams in weight. At this time the identity of the owner of the aforementioned recovered PCP will not be released as the Center Police Department is waiting for the DNA test results on said bottle to further confirm ownership of the bottle. Additionally, the Center Police Department is waiting on lab results on said suspected PCP to confirm that it is in fact said controlled substance.
March 29, 2015 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at Brian Borders property located six miles from State Highway 87 South on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 10:16pm.
When the firemen arrived at the scene a mobile home located between a litter barn and chicken house was engulfed in flames. The firemen quickly worked to extinguish the flames and were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to the neighboring buildings.
Shelbyville Volunteer Firemen were dispatched to the scene with a tanker truck at 10:55pm to help completely extinguish the fire.
Residents in the home were reported to have not been present at the time the fire started and it is unknown at this time how the fire started.
Center Fire Department returned to the station at 12:03am.
March 27, 2015 (Related Artilce) - Officers with the Center Police performed a street raid on Mildred Street in Center during a party on Friday evening, March 27, 2015 at 7:35pm.
Shelby County Today was on scene as Sgt. Scott Burkhalter deployed the Center Police Department's new K-9, Jansci AKA "Taz." A large number of people were on the street at that time and it appeared the other officers were holding the scene in anticipation of Taz's arrival.Taz and Sgt. Burkhalter could be seen going from vehicle, to house, to yard in search of narcotics and it appeared a variety was located. During the search a small Scope mouthwash bottle was located and was suspected to contain PCP (Phencycline). Marijuana and possibly other narcotics were located in a vehicle at the scene.
A Buick Century, which was located in the middle of the roadway, and a Hyundai Elantra were towed from the scene by Joey Ross Towing.
At this time the Center Police Department has not released any information including who was arrested. A press release on the operation has been promised.
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