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August 29, 2023 - Emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 87 (SH87) which resulted in the death of a Center woman near Timpson on August 29, 2023, four miles from Timpson.
Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene to come to the aid of anyone involved and to direct traffic at the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:45am, a black 1995 Toyota pickup truck driven Odessa Weaver, 84, of Center was traveling north when the driver traveled off the road to the right and into a deep ravine where she struck a tree.
Weaver was pronounced deceased on scene by Tracy Broadway, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5.
DPS states This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
Hopkins Wrecker Service facilitated bringing the truck back up to the roadway from the deep ravine, Smith Towing and Recovery towed the vehicle from the scene.
August 29, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a fatal crash on State Highway 103 (SH103), at the intersection of State Highway 147 (SH147), that occurred today, August 29, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 7:30am, a 2014 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer driven by William Lyons, 54, of San Augustine was traveling west on SH103. It is reported that a Shelby County Deputy operating a marked patrol unit was traveling north on SH147 and failed to yield to the truck tractor, striking the trailer portion of it.
Lyons was not injured.
Update: The Deputy is identified as 25-year-old Matthew Pierson of Etoile.
This remains an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.
Related article:
Emergency Personnel Escort Fallen Deputy in Procession
August 29, 2023 - Emergency personnel in Shelby County escorted a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy through the area as his body was being transported to Tyler for autopsy August 29, 2023.
Details are not yet available; however, the deputy was involved in a crash on SH 147 in San Augustine at the intersection of SH 103.
As the procession of law enforcement traveled through Center, Center Fire Department personnel provided traffic control at intersections through Center as the Center Police Department joined in the escort.
Sheriff’s Department Deputies, Center Police Department, Constable Precinct 5, Constable Precinct 4, Constable Precinct 3, Shelby County District Attorney Investigator participated in the escort through Center.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department staff joined together in front of the Sheriff’s Department in honor of their fallen deputy as the procession traveled by.
Many are continuing in the escort through to Tyler, and additional law enforcement are joining in from communities along the way.
August 29, 2023 - TxDOT reports a crash at the intersection of SH 103 and SH 147 in San Augustine Tuesday morning, August 29.
Eastbound traffic is being diverted from SH 103 to SH 147 north and the intersection of SH 147 and SH 103 in San Augustine County remains closed due to a crash involving an 18-wheeler. Motorists should reduce speed and obey all traffic control until this scene is clear.
August 28, 2023 - Shelby County is currently under a BURN-BAN. This means that outdoor burning is prohibited. The County has had NO significant rain in 3 months. Even though some parts of the county were blessed to have several inches of rain on Sunday, this does not mean the danger or the prohibition on burning is over.
The charge for burning during a Burn Ban is a Class C Misdemeanor with fines up to $500 with court costs added. If property is damaged, the charges could be a Class A or B Misdemeanor and restitution for the damage can be assessed. In cases where structures are destroyed, the case can be classified as a felony. The Spann’s Chapel fire resulted in a felony charge for arson.
I urge you to take this Order seriously, the property you destroy by ignoring this Order may be your own. Why take the chance? Be smart, Please respect your neighbors and your community!
Sincerely,
Allison Harbison
Shelby County Judge
August 28, 2023 - Leading up to the storm which hit Shelby County August 27, 2023, there have been many wildfires that have burned hundreds of acres in the county, and one night of steady rain isn’t enough to offset the lack of moisture in the ground and dryness in the area.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has reported issuing five burn ban violations today, August 28, 2023, so far. The burn ban Has Not been lifted.
These fines are $500 plus court costs. Citations are mandatory. Do Not Burn.
Shelby County Commissioners' Court is held every Wednesday morning at 9:30am in the active Shelby County Courthouse located on San Augustine Street in Center. They consider the burn ban every week and will meet again this Wednesday, August 30, 2023. If the burn ban were to be lifted, it will not happen until that time.
Anyone considering burning should realize at this time their actions will be subject to potential fines.
August 28, 2023 - The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to Highway 59 N in reference to a massive fire on August 27, 2023, around 2:14pm.
Tenaha Police Department Officer Jake Metcalf reported to Shelby County Dispatch that the fire was growing in size and moving rapidly towards structures and requested that Joaquin VFD, Timpson VFD, Woods VFD, and Gary VFD be notified to provide water for the Tenaha VFD. It was reported that Texas Forest Service was requested at the same time. Officer Metcalf made contact with Fireman Craig Terry and they made the determination for an evacuation of five homes located on U.S. Highway 59 North at that time. The residents were evacuated immediately and were not injured. Tenaha PD Officer Jake Metcalf requested assistance from Shelby County Sheriff's office or any available agency. After speaking with Fireman Craig Terry and Fire Chief Mark Odom with the Tenaha Fire Department, they concluded it was necessary to evacuate residences in the area and also areas the fire could potentially spread to, which was County Road 4475, County Road 4505 and parts of Highway 84 located in Tenaha.
Tenaha PD, Texas DPS Troopers and Shelby County Sheriff's office worked to notify all residents to evacuate. All residents were evacuated safely and informed if they had nowhere to go that they could go to the Tenaha First Baptist church or Tenaha Church of Christ Fellowship Hall.
At 6:44pm Texas Forest Service released all Fire Departments to return to their stations and allowed residents to return back to their homes. Texas Forest Service will remain monitoring hot spots and blazes.
According to the Texas Forest Service the fire was covered 108 acres, containment has reached 100%, as of 1am, August 28. No structures were lost due to this fire, but two structures were damaged including two outdoor buildings.
The City of Tenaha and the Tenaha PD express a huge thank you to Shelby County Sheriffs Office, Texas DPS, Shelby County Constables, All off duty Officers that responded, Seth Shrell w/ TDEM, Scott Burkhalter w/ Zitan Protective Services, Tenaha ISD PD, Tenaha VFD, Joaquin VFD, Timpson VFD, Shelbyville VFD, Huxley VFD, West Shelby County VFD, Center FD, Woods VFD, Gary VFD, Carthage FD, Montgomery County Fire/Rescue, Schertz Fire/ Rescue, Texas Forest Service, Georgia Forest Service, Tenaha First Baptist Church and the Tenaha Church of Christ and any business that donated food or water to the first responders.
Please be reminded that Shelby County is still under a burn ban and our vegetation is extremely dry which makes fires spread quickly and causes them to be more dangerous.
Submitted photo
August 27, 2023 - Center Fire Department responded to a woods fire located behind the Goodwill on Tenaha Street in Center August 27, 2023, at around 3:30pm.
According to the Center Fire Department, firefighters discovered when they arrived that the fire had burned all the way to the structure where Goodwill is located.
The firefighters were able to extinguish the 1/4 acre blaze before the building became involved in the fire.
August 27, 2023 - (Update): As of 6:30pm, those who evacuated their homes in the Tenaha area are now allowed to return. The Texas A&M Forest Service continues to work on the fire in the area.
Multiple fire departments and law enforcement have converged on the Tenaha area to fight what is now known as the Roost Fire August 27, 2023.
As of 4:45pm, the fire is located between US Highway 59 and US Highway 84. Air support has been providing much-needed water from above.
According to Lt. Chad Hooper, with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department, evacuations of residences on County Road 4475 and 4505 were performed.
Evacuees are being directed to Tenaha first Baptist church, if needed.
The fire is not yet contained, and is approximately 100 acres.
Law enforcement support with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Tenaha Police Department, Tenaha ISD School Police, and Constable Precinct 3, all have been assisting at the scene with traffic control.
August 26, 2023 - We at the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library are very excited to receive the 2023 Texas Book Festival Award grant of $2500. With this grant, we will be purchasing books for our Hispanic and Seniors populations and put some much-needed books into circulation. We hope that this will also increase our circulation. We are already planning ways to promote the new Spanish books and books for the Seniors in our community so be looking for opportunities to learn about the new books in the coming weeks.
Our library director, Sandra Davis, says, “We are very appreciative of the grant we have received. This will allow us to purchase more large print books and new, up-to-date books on topics that our Seniors are interested in. We have also had many requests for books in Spanish and English to help our Hispanic population advance in English as a second language. We are going to reach out to the population through the churches and schools and senior centers to promote our new books. We will also have books on display at the library as they become available.”
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