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October 9, 2023 - Over the week of October 1st through 7th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department responded to 3 calls, all of which came in on Monday. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
At 9:12am a call was received for a diesel spill on FM 139 near the Tenaha Creek Bridge. The JVFD responded to provide traffic control while TxDOT cleaned up the spill.
At 10:52am a page came in requesting first responders to a residence on County Road 3341 for a patient that had recently had a heart surgery. The JVFD medical team responded with Allegiance EMS to help the patient.
At 3:06pm a call came in stating that there were reports of a fire near Highway 7 East and County Road 3169. This turned out to be a brush fire and the JVFD quickly got it under control.
Two other calls were paged for fires on Wednesday, but these both turned out to be control burns.
With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
Center Texas’ East Texas Poultry Festival on Saturday, October 7, 2023 –
On Saturday, the Center town square held the 2023 East Texas Poultry Festival Car and Motorcycle Show, sponsored by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company. Taking the top prize was Amy Acuna whose 2021 Dodge Challenger Super Stock Edition gained the trophy after competing among about 30 entries. Leon Aldridge was the Master of Ceremonies for the event and stated, “All went well this year and the event was a success.”
Center City Square on Saturday, October 7, 2023 –
At high noon on Saturday the East Texas Poultry Festival held a hot wing eating contest, sponsored by McWilliams Air Conditioning Company. The contest saw five participants gave their best effort at taking the trophy as the last man standing as each plate of wings became progressively hotter. The spicy sauces included jalapeno, habanero, ghost chilies, Trinidad scorpion, Carolina reaper and chocolate peppers.
Matthew Kay proved to be the last man standing and took the trophy, a cash prize, a gift basket, as well as, the top title and bragging rights. All witnesses who were present will likely attest to the fact that he, indeed earned it all: “the hard way.”
October 7, 2023 - The 2023 Shelby County Poultry Festival Broiler Show Sale is underway! Auction results will be updated often.
Grand Champion - Cori Lawson (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $10,500 to Shelby Savings Bank, General Shelters, Campbell Portable Buildings, and McAdams Propane.
Reserve Champion - Cale Cornelius (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $10,000 to Farmers State Bank.
3rd place - Brecken Kimbro (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
4th place - Trevor Hightower (Center FFA). Birds sold for $5,500.
5th place - Julie Bird (Center FFA). Birds sold for $5,500.
6th place - Addison Boyd (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
7th place - Hollie Hamilton (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $2,750.
8th place - Carter Bell (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
9th place - Everly Windham (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
10th place - Luke Jousan (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
11th place - Mayson Harbison (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
12th place - Hannah Wages (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
13th place - Addison Lloyd (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
14th place - Caylee Jordan (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
15th place - Conner Nutt (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $5,500.
16th place - Kiptyn Phelps (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
17th place - Baylin Phelps (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
18th place - Molly Scull (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
19th place - Karlee Sowell (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
20th place - Taylor Gutermuth (Timpson FFA). Birds sold for $4,250.
21st place - Avery Metcalf (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,000.
22nd place - Baylee Whiteside (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,750.
23rd place - Sayre Hall (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
24th place - Megan Gutermuth (Timpson FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
25th place - Jacie Lee (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
26th place - Evan O’Rear (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
27th place - Landree Jousan (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
28th place - Kyleigh Hendricks (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
29th place - Carter Tomlin (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,250.
30th place - Carson Crouch (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,250.
31st place - Stormie Meyers (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,750.
32nd place - Wyomie Meyers (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
33rd place - Laura Anne Scull (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
34th place - Grayson Hightower (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,750.
35th place - Avery Lawson (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
36th place - Wyatt Foster (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,750.
37th place - Kate Ford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
38th place - Camille Whiteside (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,750.
39th place - Keaton Sigler (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,250.
40th place - Caleb Sanford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
41st place - Eli Weir (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,250.
42nd place - Copen Hogue (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $5,000.
43rd place - Addie Bush (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
44th place - James Ford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
45th place - Gracie Boyd (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
October 7, 2023 - The East Texas Poultry Festival Broiler Show has ended and Judge Daniel De Leon named Cori Lawson Grand Champion for the second year in a row!
Reserve Champion was awarded to Cale Cornelius for her set of birds. Congratulations!
The sale will take place this evening under the big tent on the Center square at 7pm. Continue to go to visit Shelby County Today for continuing coverage of the East Texas Poultry Festival.
October 4, 2023 - Two suspects were apprehended following a pursuit which traveled from Shelby County into Panola County on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The attempted traffic stop began on U.S. Highway 96 in Shelby County and ended near CR 4053 in Panola County.
According to information provided by Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4, the Shelby County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for failing to stop for a school bus dropping kids off on October 3, 2023 at approximately 4pm.
The driver then fled in the vehicle and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle was pursued into Panola County where a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper and a Panola County Deputy set up spike strips, which the fleeing vehicle then struck. The vehicle continued to flee with three deflated tires, and eventually ran into a ditch on FM 699. The passenger of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended.
During a search of the suspects and vehicle, Panola County Deputies recovered three firearms, cocaine, Xanax, marijuana, and US currency.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Luis Escobedo of Tenaha who was charged with evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
The passenger was identified as Gustavo Pallares of Center who was charged with evading arrest/detention, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Constable Fanguy stated, “I would like to thank the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Highway Patrol, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Constable Josh Tipton for their assistance during this incident.”
October 4, 2023 - The 47th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival, Sponsored by Farmers State Bank starts tomorrow at 10:00am! Today October 4, 2023 at 4:00, San Augustine Street between the Payne building and Light and Champion will be closed as well as Austin Street from the Probation Office to Citizens Bank. All intersections will remain open. Roads will be open again on Sunday morning. Enjoy the Festival!
October 2, 2023 - Due to updating of the 2023 tax year data, the Shelby County Tax Office receipts will have to be hand written until the update is completed. Account information can be reviewed and printed. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Tax Office and Vehicle Registration will be closed Friday, October 6 and will resume normal hours on Tuesday, October 10th.
October 2, 2023 - Over the week of September 24th through 30th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had just 2 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
Tuesday at 3:14pm a page came in for an individual with high blood pressure at a residence on Saddle Street. The JVFD med team was notified along with Allegiance EMS to get the patient the help they needed.
Saturday night at 8:47pm a call was received for a travel trailer on fire on County Road 3341. When JVFD units arrived they found a fully involved travel trailer with brush in the immediate vicinity also on fire. The firefighters on scene split into two hose teams and hit the fire from both sides, containing the blaze. Once all the hotspots were put out the scene was cleared. No one was inside the trailer at the time of the fire.
With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
September 30, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian crash that occurred on Farm-to-Market Road 2694, near the 760-mile marker, that occurred, September 29, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:10am, a 2011 GMC pickup driven by Samuel Furlow, 64, of Shelbyville was traveling west. It is reported that the pickup was traveling over a hilltop and struck a pedestrian that was walking in the westbound lane.
Furlow was not reported to have been injured.
The pedestrian, identified as Bobby Cassell, 60, of Shelbyville, was pronounced deceased on scene by a Justice of the Peace.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
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