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January 2, 2024 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a major three-vehicle crash incident on U.S. Highway 96 South early January 2, 2024.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the scene of the crash to assist those involved and to divert traffic while Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers investigated the incident.
According to DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos at 3:40am a yellow 2020 Freightliner truck tractor, leased by Penske Leasing and Rental, and driven by Weslie Pounds, 61, of Port Arthur, Texas was towing a 2011 Hill Holland Sand trailer northbound on U.S. Highway 96, near CR 1006, when for an unknown reason it left the roadway to the right and overturned in the roadway.
A white 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor driven by Roxie Knighton, 59, of Silsbee and hauling a 1968 trailer loaded with a chemical was also northbound behind the Freighliner and couldn’t initially see the Freighliner which was on its side in the roadway. The Peterbilt struck the 2011 Hill Holland Sand Trailer and subsequently traveled off the roadway to the right before coming to rest.
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Another vehicle, a 2007 Honda Civic driven by Diego Lopez, 25, of Liberty attempted to avoid a collision by traveling in between the trucks and was unable to avoid the collision.
Lopez and Pounds were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries. Knighton was not reported to have been injured.
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The location was under traffic control by TxDOT with only on lane of travel is being utilized until the scene was clear around 9am. Crews with Hopkins Wrecker Service and Sandhill Wrecker Service worked together to get the vehicles removed.
Trooper Ramos was assisted at the scene by Texas DPS Cpl. David Shields, Jr. The crash remains under investigation.
December 30, 2023 - Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Hurst Street and Wheeler Avenue on December 27, 2023.
When Center Police Officers and Center Fire Department personnel arrived at the location, one vehicle remained in the outside northbound lane of Hurst Street and the other vehicle involved was in a nearby parking lot.
According to the Center Police Department, a white 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Kristen Lee, 25, of Timpson was eastbound on Arcadia Drive when she entered the intersection with Hurst Street and was proceeding to Wheeler Avenue. At that time, a black 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gerald Hill, 61, of Center was southbound on Hurst Street and both vehicles entered the intersection and collided.
The Yukon came to rest in the outside southbound lane of Hurst Street and the Chevrolet came to rest in a parking lot after striking the stop light post.
Center Fire Department was requested to help free Hill from his truck and Emergency Medical Services transported both with non life threatening injuries to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department.
No citations were issued at the time of the crash incident. The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Jerry Payne.
December 29, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners Court held a special meeting on December 20, 2023 in the Shelby County Courthouse and discuss several financial challenges.
Paying weekly expenses was the first item on the agenda. County Treasurer Ann Blackwell drew the courts attention to the county receiving a last minute grant from the Texas Forest Service which has a deadline of having a report of all payments and receipts turned in by Friday, December 29. The notice of the $205,000 grant funds being available was received last Wednesday evening, December 13. As soon as the notice was given, the commissioners proceeded with using the funds to buy and haul gravel. The current bills ready for payment for Precinct 2 is with Timberwulf Lake Works for $102,303.68 and for Precinct 3 is with Texas Materials for $55,000.
A second item Blackwell wanted to bring to the courts attention was regarding the invoice for the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse. The plan had been approved to be paid out of contingency, however, the contingency account has been overextended. The current invoice is for $22,500 which is 25% of the total $90,000. The invoice is due January 10, 2024. Blackwell made a suggestion of considering paying the master plan out of L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
County Auditor Clint Porterfield gave a run down of the bills which have recently come out of the contingency account, "So let me just tell you what's in there and what's pending. As you know, we had three constable trucks that we outfitted, and I will tell you as of today we've spent about $28,000 on outfitting those three trucks which is I think to be expected because we, for insurance purposes, usually add anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 to vehicles." He continued, "We paid some past due invoices to Motorola for the Sheriff's Department - that was $43,000. Then we plugged in the $90,000 for the master plan." Porterfield then added an additional pending purchase of a vehicle for Constable 4 which would be $65,000 or more as well as an upcoming commitment of $910,000 for the obligation of the Emergency Water Shed Program. The county does have $900,000 set aside in two other accounts but will need to find $10,000 for the remaining balance. With current obligations he explained the contingency account has a deficit of about $22,000 which isn't including the Master Plan for the Historic Courthouse or the remaining $10,000 for the Emergency Water Shed Program.
Porterfield referred back to Blackwell on her suggestions of where the master plan may be paid. After some discussion, the court decided to hold off on the master plan payment until it can be research to see if it can be paid from either L.A.T.C.F. or A.R.P.A. funds.
Discussion returned to the Texas Forest Service Grant. A motion was made to pay weekly expenses in addition to the invoices for the gravel associated with the grant as well as any further invoices connected to the grant and not pay the H.R.T.C. (master plan for the Historic Courthouse). The motion was approved.
Commissioner Precinct 4 Tom Bellmyer reminded everyone that County Road 4356 will be closed for bridge work and will reopen January 8th.
The commissioners then discussed the use of A.R.P.A. funds for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. Blackwell is scheduled to meet with the A.R.P.A. representative on Thursday, December 21. Commissioner Precinct 1 Roscoe McSwain said, "Today, I'm looking for approval to move forward with Grant works to go out for bids for a pug mill system for the county... Precinct 1 and 2 has always had the pug mill the last 12-13 years. I want to move towards buying a pug mill system that the county owns as a whole. It's not a precinct owned piece of equipment - its to benefit the whole county. I think it is a good opportunity for us to do it. The mill our precincts purchased 12-13 years ago is getting old. Things are going to keep happening to it as we go along and down time. And now that we are trying to make oil for the entire county instead of just our precincts [1 and 2] we don't have much down time because we have that four month window to make the product and we need a machine that's working."
The new pug mill would be all electric and not a hydraulic machine. A motion was made and approved to move forward with going out for bids pending approval from Grant Works.
The court discussed and voted to table the purchase agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff's Department and Constables and instead to seek bids due to the total being over $50,000. During discussion it was mentioned the county may be able to apply for Law Enforcement Senate Bill 22 Grant - which provides financial assistance to qualified sheriff's offices and prosecutor's offices in rural counties. Discussion also included looking into buy boards being an option as well as investigating options on how to pay for the taser.
The court entered into executive session at 10:42am and entered back into open session at 12:15pm.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison said, "The first issue that we discussed was a breeding sow that was picked by an estray officer. We are going to, I think, I need a motion to pay that person $500 for their breeding sow and they are going to sign a release with the county attorney." A motion was made and approved.
The second item discussed in executive session was the condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. The motion was made and approved.
Following the two items approved after executive session, the meeting adjourned with the next meeting being held on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Approved to pay weekly expenses including invoices connected to Texas Forest Service Grant and not to pay $22,500 invoice for Master Plan for Historic Courthouse. 3. Approved to pay current Payroll. 5. Approved moving forward with seeking bids for the purchase of a pug mill for county-wide road and bridge maintenance. 7. Approve transferring 2024 Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy to Texas Association of Counties due to a $6,000 saving. 11. Approved paying $500 for a breeding sow. 11. Approved condemnation of 2.5 acres in Precinct 4, property #11045. Items tabled during the meeting included: 8. Purchase Agreement of Tasers for the Sheriff’s Department and Constables.
December 28, 2023 - Center Police Department personnel and Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover crash on December 24, 2023, at the intersection of Hurst and Crawford Streets.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene the driver, assisted by passers-by, was able to escape the vehicle involved through its back hatch.
According to the Center Police Department, at 1:11pm a 2008 Dodge Nitro driven by Jayla Moore, 21, was southbound on Hurst Street when Moore attempted to pass a slower vehicle into the left lane. At that time the Dodge hydroplaned and Moore lost control of the vehicle before striking a curb at Hurst and Crawford Streets causing the Dodge to overturn onto its passenger side.
Moore was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for non-life threatening injuries.
No citations were reported to have been issued.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Micah Buzbee.
The vehicle appeared to have struck a telephone post, power line, street sign, and water main before coming to rest.
December 28, 2023 - U.S. Highway 96 South outside of Center was the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash incident near CR 1006 (Old City Lake Road) on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
Center Fire Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to assist those involved in the crash.
Once the driver of the vehicle had been moved to an ambulance for transport, personnel from both departments assisted with traffic control until Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers arrived to investigate the incident.
According to DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 4:42pm, a white 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV driven by Deana Locker, 33, of San Augustine was traveling north on U.S. Highway 96. It is reported that Locker observed traffic ahead and attempted to slow down to avoid a collision, however, she traveled off the road to the right and then overcorrected back to the left, causing the SUV to overturn in the west ditch.
Locker was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.
According to DPS, there is no further information available.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies are seen above picking up debris in the roadway following the crash.
December 27, 2023 - State Highway 7 West near FM 711 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a tree in the roadway on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to aid those involved in the crash and assist Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers investigating the incident.
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According to information from DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 8:10pm, a white 2017 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Cindy Shofner, 59, of Center was eastbound when it struck a tree that had fallen in the roadway.
Shofner and a 7-year-old passenger were both transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
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According to DPS, there is no further information available.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Deputies also assisted at the scene.
December 27, 2023 - World Variety Produce, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling Melissa's Kimchi Hot 14 oz, because of mislabeling of allergen ingredient "Fish" was not listed in the ingredient panel within the allergen information panel. Food allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms involving hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The affected Kimchi Hot 14 oz were isolated to 420 cases from Lot # 48528201, 420 cases from Lot # 48858701, 150 cases from 49003901 & 130 cases from 49003901-W0 product of USA.
This recall extends only to Sun International stores in Florida,, Brookshire Brothers stores in Texas, OK Produce - Grocery Outlet in California. The affected Melissa's Kimchi Hot 14oz were sold from bulk displays between the dates of December 15, 2023 through December 21, 2023.
December 27, 2023 - Emergency responders were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 96 North Tuesday, December 26, 2023, near CR 4223 which resulted in a fatality.
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Center Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the scene to come to the aid of the driver of the vehicle involving in the incident and assist Texas Department Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers Keith Jones and Dustin Ramos in investigating the incident.
According to DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:05am, a black 2007 Chevrolet SUV was traveling north on U.S. 96 when the vehicle struck debris on the roadway causing the tire to deflate. The driver lost control and struck a guardrail before overturning.
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The driver, identified as Diego Alberto Ruiz, 17, of Center, was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department where he succumbed to his injuries. Ruiz was pronounced deceased by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.
December 22. 2023 - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has obtained an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with CSC Holdings, LLC—the operating subsidiary of the telecommunications company Altice USA, Inc.—to ensure that it provides the services that it advertises to consumers in Texas.
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CSC Holdings, LLC offers broadband, television, phone, and other ancillary services to consumers nationwide, with over 100 service areas in Texas alone. Prior to August 2022, the company operated in Texas under the “Suddenlink Communications” brand. It has since been rebranded as “Optimum.”
Over several years, Texas residents reported a pattern of problems with the company that included suspect billing practices, slow internet speed, frequent outages, poor customer service, and misleading promotions and sales practices.
Through negotiations with the Office of the Attorney General, CSC Holdings has agreed to pay $350,000 to the State of Texas and provide consumers the services they promised. Further, the company will address deficiencies in its customer service, and resolve hundreds of outstanding eligible consumer complaints filed between 2016 and ninety days after entry of the settlement through a restitution program. Consumers can file a complaint here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.
To read the AVC, click here.
Dean’s Hardware in Joaquin, Texas on Friday, December 22, 2023 –
Dean’s Hardware in Joaquin, Texas will be closing on December 29th of this year. The store has been operating throughout three generations. The business originally opened in 1919 as L.B.(Louie) Dean’s Garage, on the south side of the town’s square, on Belle Street which is now U.S. Highway 84.
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By 1930 the business had grown and evolved into a Chevrolet dealership and sold Gulf Oil products. Louie and Sue Dean ran the store’s operations and the business changed from car sales in the 1940s to hardware and farm supplies sales until their respective deaths in 1952. Their son Webb Dean returned to Joaquin in 1952 after graduating from Texas A&M University and two years of service in the U.S. Army. He took over operations at the hardware business until his death in 2001. Dean’s Hardware has always been family owned and currently is ran by Louie’s grandson Rodney, and wife Gearline Dean, and has sold hardware, appliances, and farm supplies and has been a valued part of the community.
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Joaquin City Council members Jessie Griffith, Cathy Atkinson and Steve Cockrell were on hand to present a plaque to the Dean’s as recognition of service to the community for 104 years.
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