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December 27, 2024 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, announces that CR 4323 at Risinger Creek has water across it and is unsafe to travel.
Commissioner Bellmyer has placed signs this morning informing the public of this situation.
Drivers should use caution, choose an alternate route and allow for a future announcement that flood waters have receded.
December 27, 2024 - Commissioner Bellmyer reports on that on December 27 the water has receded on CR 4059, and the roadway is back open to normal traffic.
December 26, 2024 - Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner precinct 4, announces that CR 4059 at West Creek is closed on the evening of December 26, 2024 due to water over the roadway.
The roadway is barricaded on both ends at appropriate places.
Drivers should use caution, and are encouraged to choose an alternate route and allow for a future announcement that flood waters have receded.
December 26, 2024 - CR 4293 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash following a pursuit on December 14, 2024, at around 8pm.
A Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2010 Nissan Altima driven by Mauricio Cervantes Gonzalez, suspected to be 35 years of age, on U.S. Highway 96 North in Center before the driver allegedly evaded. The Trooper pursued the Altima onto FM 2026, and then was led to CR 4293 at a high rate of speed where the vehicle eventually crashed into a tree.
Center Fire Department was requested to the scene and assisted in extricating the driver using Jaws of Life to cut Gonzalez out of the Altima.
EMS then transported him to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Trooper Dustin Ramos and Troopers Josh Gradberg were both involved in investigating the incident.
December 24, 2024 - Law enforcement officers were dispatched to a grocery store in the 1100 block of Shelbyville Street behind which a body was discovered on December 23, 2024 around 5pm.
Multiple units with the Center Police Department were at the scene assisted by Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Officers were also at a house on McKee Street during the investigation near the incident scene.
After authorities finished conducting their initial investigation at the scene, the deceased individual was transported from the location by Mangum Funeral Home and an autopsy is anticipated.
According to information released by the Center Police Department, officers with the Center Police Department Communications received a call about a welfare check on December 23, 2024.
The caller stated that her son, later identified as Cordero Wyatt, 36, had been at his girlfriend's residence in Center and was no longer answering his phone, nor had he returned home. Officers contacted the girlfriend, identified as Alicia Petite, 40, who informed officers that Wyatt had been at her residence earlier and friends had picked him up, but he was no longer at her house.
Officers responded to Petites’ residence, and she allowed them to look in the home for Wyatt. Some of Wyatt's belongings were located in the residence, including his cell phone. Responding officers contacted the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and Detectives began investigating a possible missing person.
During the investigation, it was learned that a Mtwakil Saeed, 26, was at Petites’ home when Wyatt arrived, and a disturbance took place. During the investigation, it was learned that Saeed brandished a firearm and shot multiple times, some of which struck Wyatt. Wyatt was found in a nearby field deceased.
Detectives conducted multiple search warrants, and evidence was recovered to support information detectives had learned through interviews. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Mtwakil Saeed, and Alicia Petite. On December 24, Saeed was arrested on the charge of Murder, felony 1, Petite was arrested on the charge of Tampering with physical evidence, felony 3. Both parties were booked into the Shelby County Jail without incident.
This case is an ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time. There is no concern of danger to the public currently regarding this case.
December 26, 2024 - At 1:26pm Thursday, December 26, 2024 the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southwestern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Northeastern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas, Northwestern San Augustine County in eastern Texas, Shelby County in eastern Texas, and Southeastern Panola County in northeastern Texas until 2:15pm.
At 1:26pm, a severe thunderstorm was located near Martinsville, or 16 miles east of Nacogdoches, moving northeast at 50 mph. Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Carthage, Center, Logansport, Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin, Martinsville, Chireno, Gary City, Longstreet, Stanley, Paxton, James, Woods, Arcadia, Jericho, Stockman, Deadwood and Front.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
- Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
- Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
- Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST Thursday for portions of northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas.
December 26, 2024 - Tornado Watch 715 is in effect until 7pm CST December 26, 2024, for the following locations.
Texas counties included are: Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado Falls, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton.
December 25, 2024 - At 12:41am, Wednesday, December 25, 2024 the National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana issued a flood advisory in effect until 3:45am early this morning.
Urban area and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected for portions of northwest Louisiana, including the following parishes, west central Bienville, southeastern Bossier, southern Caddo, De Soto, northwestern Red River and south central Webster and northeast Texas, including the following counties, southern Panola and northeastern Shelby.
The flood advisory is until 3:45am with minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Additional Details:
- At 12:41am, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause urban and small stream flooding. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include... Shreveport, Bossier City, Carthage, Center, Mansfield, Coushatta, Stonewall, Logansport, Ringgold, Sibley, Tenaha, Joaquin, Doyline, South Mansfield, Gary City, Hall Summit, Keachi, Grand Cane, Edgefield and Longstreet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
December 23, 2024 - On the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day, City of Center residential trash services will not run on Wednesdays.
The rest of the week will run one day behind.
- Wednesday, December 25 will be picked up on Thursday, December 26.
- Thursday, December 26 will be picked up on Friday, December 27.
- Friday, December 27 will be picked up on Saturday, December 28.
- Wednesday, January 1 will be picked up on Thursday, January 2.
- Thursday, January 2 will be picked up on Friday, January 3.
- Friday, January 3 will be picked up on Saturday, January 4.
For questions about your residential trash services, please contact Republic Services at 800.678.7274.
December 23, 2024 - Field Street in Center is under construction as of 8am Monday, December 23, 2024, due to an apparent water leak.
A City of Center utility crew has the intersection with San Augustine Street blocked as they cut into the pavement.
Drivers should consider taking an alternate route until the work is completed.
December 18, 2024 - The Shelby County Commissioners were presented with the list of board members for the Shelby County Historical Commission (SCHC) for 2025-2026 for consideration and they approved the new list December 18, 2024.
“We had a meeting yesterday afternoon at the historic courthouse and these have to be submitted to the State Historic Commission,” said County Judge Allison Harbison.
The list of board members includes: Kaylin Burleson, David Chadwick, Alease Copelin, Rayford Copelin, Vanessa Davis, Allison Harbison, Laura Harris, Teddy Hopkins, Stacy Wilson Gee, Vickie Martin, Betty Mooney, Tem Morrison, Tim Perkins, and Susan Snider.
A motion was made to approve the list of members, it was seconded and the motion carried.
Next the commissioners considered the Financial Intelligence License agreement for a new cloud based financial system software.
Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, reminded the court of a previous discussion over the software and he stated he and County Attorney John Price reviewed the contract.
The per month cost of the software to the county will be $2,675 per month.
A motion to approve the agreement was made and received a second, and the motion carried.
During the Commissioners’ Court Reports portion of the meeting, Judge Harbison explained that the new date for courtroom furniture to arrive for the second floor courtroom will be January 9, 2025, and apparently there was a measurement discrepancy of 3/4 of an inch on the courtroom bench.
Judge Harbison encouraged the commissioners to invite their staff to the county employee luncheon on Friday, December 20.
“Again, apologize for the county’s offices being closed for an hour-and-a-half, but it’s better than being closed for a half a day,” said Judge Harbison.
Commissioner Tom Bellmyer reminded the court of TxDOT bridge projects that has been discussed for a long period of time that is now starting at the end of 2024.
“We’ve talked about it over the last 18-24 months TxDOT on building some bridges,” said Commissioner Bellmyer. “I think they started on Mr. Smith’s bridge this week. My bridge, the demo will start on Christmas Eve. The schedule is that I think that both bridges are scheduled complete about the middle of March and I’ve got a second bridge that will start below Lake Timpson at that very time and I think complete by middle of June.”
County Attorney John Price commented on easements for a bridge in Commissioner Roscoe McSwain’s precinct have been turned in as of the meeting day and working on resolving matters with Commissioner Smith at this time.
“I just want to thank Mr. Price personally for getting these easements done, because TxDOT gave them to me December 1 or 2 and said we have to have them by December 31,” said Commissioner McSwain. “I do appreciate him getting it done so fast, because my bridge will be bid in March.”
Ann Blackwell asked if there have been any updates on the Huber well and Commissioner Bellmyer said the last update he heard was a week previous to the meeting when they were waiting on TCEQ’s report on a sample well.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:51am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Weekly expenses. 2. Payroll. 3. Board members for the County Historical Commission for 2025-2026. 4. Financial Intelligence License Agreement for new cloud based financial system software. 5. Adjourn.
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