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October 10, 2024 - Election Day is fast approaching, and there are a few things you need to know.
Early Voting will be held at the Center Community House, 425 San Augustine Street in Center, as follows:
- Monday, October 21 through Friday, October 25; 8 am to 5 pm
- Saturday, October 26; 7 am to 7 pm
- Sunday, October 27; 11 am to 5 pm
- Monday, October 28 through Friday, November 1; 7 am to 7 pm
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, and all polling locations will be open from 7 am to 7 pm.
Please do not hesitate to call my office at 936-598-5340 or 936-234-2147 if you have any questions.
Shelby County Elections Administrator
October 31, 2024 - This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
Day One: Today and tonight.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely today as a cold front moves into the region. Can`t rule out an isolated strong to severe thunderstorm, but widespread severe weather is not expected at this time. We should see drier conditions in wake of the front this evening for at least the northwestern half of the region.
Days Two Through Seven: Friday through Wednesday.
Rain chances will continue through the end of the work week, into the upcoming weekend, and into early next week. At this time, strong to severe thunderstorms do not appear likely over the weekend. However, another cool front will move into the region late Monday into Tuesday of next week, bringing another chance of strong to severe thunderstorms over portions of the region. Temperatures will remain mostly above normal through the extended period despite the clouds and rainfall.
Spotter Information Statement: Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Submitted photo
October 30, 2024 - FM 147 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash October 21, 2024, that was reported to have been contributed to by nearby construction impacting visibility.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 8:05am heavy dust was in the roadway causing visibility issues for drivers. The dust was the result of work being performed by Trendsetter Construction who was building a driveway on the oilfield location for Momentum Midstream.
Submitted photo
At that time, a 2020 Nissan Rogue driven by Latashia Thompson, 47, pulled from a private oil field driveway turning left onto FM 147. A Jeep Limited driven by Mary Gann Bearden, 58, was traveling behind the Nissan in the same direction and due to zero visibility, struck the rear of the Nissan and caused damaged to both vehicles.
Both Thompson and Bearden were transported by ambulance to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injuries.
Temporary Disinfectant Conversion from Chloramine to Free Chlorine
October 30, 2024 - The City of Tenaha public water system, (PWS) ID TX 2100002, will temporarily convert the disinfectant used in the distribution system from chloramine to free chlorine. The conversion will begin on November 1, 2024, and continue through November 30, 2024. During this period, you may experience taste and odor changes associated with this type of temporary disinfectant conversion.
Public water systems are required to properly disinfect their water and maintain an adequate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Chloramine, free chlorine combined with ammonia, is widely used as a disinfectant because it persists for long periods while also limiting the formation of disinfection by-product contaminants. Prolonged use of chloramine coupled with other factors that can affect water quality, such as high temperatures or stagnation of water, may result in the growth and/or persistence of organic matter within the pipes of the distribution system, which may hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual. A temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, helps to rid distribution pipes of this organic matter and improve the quality of your water overall.
The City of Tenaha has chosen to implement a temporary disinfectant conversion to free chlorine based on the following:
Due to some customers experiencing discoloration in their water.
If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at 936-248-3841.
October 28, 2024 - The Center Police Department (CPD) communications center received a 911 call on October 22, 2024, at approximately 2:30pm regarding a shooting on Rex St. with one individual injured.
Officers responded to the scene and on their arrival, it was learned that the shooter was still on scene.
Darrell Barnes
Officers were able to detain Darrell Barnes, who was identified as the shooter without incident. It was then learned that Lajagger Barnes was the victim and had been transported to the Emergency Department by a personal vehicle with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Lajagger Barnes was pronounced deceased a short time after arriving at the Center E.R. by the E.R. physician on duty.
CPD Detectives responded to the scene and began processing the scene and collecting evidence.
Darrell was arrested and charged with Manslaughter, Felony 2, transported to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and booked into the jail without incident.
Lajagger was transported to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science for an autopsy.
Officers and Detectives cleared the scene at around 5:30pm. At 6:15pm, the CPD Communications received another 911 call to the shooting location regarding a disturbance with weapons.
On arrival, it was learned that a vehicle with four males arrived on the scene displaying weapons in possible retaliation for the earlier incident, but those persons had left the location before law enforcement arrived.
CPD Officers obtained a vehicle description and located it moments after it departed the scene. CPD Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle and it failed to stop for officers.
CPD Officers pursued the suspect vehicle for a short time before it pulled into the yard of a residence on Matlock St. One individual exited the vehicle and fled on foot from officers.
Jason Calloway, Jr.
Three individuals were detained on the scene. They were identified as JaCarlos Pruitt, 21, of Nacogdoches, and Jason Calloway, Jr., 21, of Timpson. All three were detained and transported to the CPD for questioning. The fourth person in the vehicle was a juvenile.
During interviews, the identity of the suspect who fled on foot was revealed to be Chayse Duckett, 18, of Nacogdoches.
Jacoban Pruitt
Officers then obtained an arrest warrant for Duckett. Pruitt, and Calloway, were taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and booked into jail without incident.
Duckett was arrested on October 24, 2024, in Nacogdoches, transported to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and booked into jail on the warrant for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, without incident.
Chayse Duckett
This case is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The Center Police Department would like to thank the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens, Shelby County District Attorney, Allegiance EMS, Shelby County Constable Pct. 5, Nacogdoches Police Department, and Shelby County Pct. 1 Judge Donna Hughes; for all their assistance in both incidents that occurred.
Related Article:
Center PD Investigates Shooting on Rex Street; One Suspect in Custody
October 25, 2024 - In the first five days of Early voting, Shelby County has had 3,419 in-person voters to check in and sign the poll pad to cast their vote as of 5pm Friday, October 25. Of the 16,355 registered voters in Shelby County, 21% of them have made sure their votes count by voting early.
This weekend has extended hours for voting in-person at the Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935:
- Saturday, October 26, 7 am to 7 pm
- Sunday, October 27, 11 am to 5 pm
Next week, Monday through Friday, the early voting location will be open from 7am until 7pm. The last day of Early Voting is November 1st.
Be sure to take this opportunity to cast your vote!
October 22, 2024 - Center Fire Department responded to a structure fire at R&J Recycling and Disposal Transfer Station Monday, October 21, 2024, at around 5pm on FM 2468 after receiving a call from the facility and a passerby.
According to the Center Fire Department, when firefighters arrived at the location the fire was fully involved with heavy smoke emanating from within the transfer station building.
Fire appeared to be raging inside and it was confirmed there was a front-end loader that was still in the building. One individual received some minor burns to their hands trying to move the piece of machinery out. The firefighters applied water to the loader to cool it down so it could eventually be driven out of the structure.
There was a truck tractor on the right side of the building that was threatened by fire; however, the fire department confirmed the truck was eventually able to be disconnected from the trailer and it was driven out of the building.
The structure was saved and will likely need some repair.
Fire Department personnel returned to the station around 7:30pm.
October 22, 2024 - Rex Street in Center was the scene of a shooting incident October 22, 2024, and officers cordoned off the entire street as they investigated.
Officers arrived at the scene sometime after 2:30pm from Center Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety in response to a reported shooting and, according to Center Police Lt. Andrew Williams, when the officers arrived at the location they found two male individuals sitting on the porch of a residence and identified one as the shooter.
The men on the porch notified the officers that the victim, with a single gunshot wound, had been transported to the Center ER by private vehicle.
Lt. Williams stated the victim was pronounced deceased at the emergency room and an autopsy has been ordered. One suspect was confirmed to be in custody, and the incident remains an active investigation.
Shelby County Today was on location when an individual was seen being transported from the scene in handcuffs by a Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Investigator to the Shelby County Jail.
Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney, arrived at Rex Street as the investigation commenced and was with officers as they surveyed the site.
According to Shelby County Jail booking information Darell Barnes, 29, of Center has been charged with manslaughter, felony 2. bond has not been set as of this report.
Related Article:
CPD Details Rex Street Shooting; Possible Retaliation Attempt Garners More Arrests
October 22, 2024 - Emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and Cummings Street in Joaquin on Thursday, October 17, 2024, when a vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility guidewire (guy-wire).
The incident caused a temporary power outage and Deep East Electric Cooperative was called to the scene as law enforcement and fire personnel assessed the crash.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jordan Ford, at 6:40pm a white 2021 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Kara Wells, 28, of Longview was westbound on U.S. Highway 84 when, due to a medical medical condition, the Jetta traveled onto the wrong side of the roadway. The Jetta passed across the eastbound lane and traveled a short distance before striking a utility pole guidewire.
Wells was transported from the scene by ambulance to Shelby Emergency Department for medical evaluation.
No citations were reported at the time of the crash.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department personnel held the scene and helped divert traffic until the vehicle was cleared. Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative personnel appeared to have restored power by the time the scene was cleared.
October 17, 2024 - (Notice) - Voters who are familiar with voting at Panola College on Loop 500 in Center (Precinct 1SE) should be aware that it is no longer their voting location as announced by Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator for Shelby County.
The new location will be at the Shelby County Family Life Center located at the corner of Loop 500 and Shelbyville Highway, 1426 Shelbyville Street, Center, Texas 75935.
This is the voting location for Precinct 1SE for the General, Center ISD, and City of Center elections for election day only, on November 5, 2024.
Early voting for Precinct 1SE will continue to take place at the Center Community House, 425 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935.
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