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December 15, 2023 - State Highway 7 West near CR 1245 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a Center ISD school bus bring students back from an athletic event Thursday night, December 14, 2023.
This article is copied from SCT without permission.
Emergency personnel with the West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department, and Shelby County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene to assist those involve and to assist Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers as they investigated the incident.
According to details released by the Texas Department of Public Safety DPS, Troopers the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:10pm, a blue 2008 Ford F-150 driven by Sharon Rains, 56, of Center was traveling east in the right lane, while a Center ISD school bus [2009 IC BUS PC015] carrying a 13 total children and driven by Kevin Smith, 44, of Longview traveling east in the left lane. It is reported that the driver of the Ford made an unsafe lane change and struck the school bus. After impact, the Ford traveled into the ditch and overturned.
Rains was taken to a local hospital via personal vehicle for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
One student on the school bus was transported to a local hospital via personal vehicle for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
This article is copied from Shelby County Today without permission.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time; however, identifying information on the driver of the school bus has not yet been released.
From left: Center Economic Development Corp. Member Terry Scull, Center Economic Development Corp. President John Snider, City of Center Mayor David Chadwick, Etex’s first customer in Center - Shelby County Today’s owner J.J. Ford, Etex Sales Rep. Brittany Murray, Etex General Manager and CEO Charlie Cano, and City of Center Manager Chad Nehring.
December 14, 2023 - Etex is proud to announce that they have installed their first Internet customer in Center!
Shelby County Today has been connected to the new state of the art fiber network and will begin benefiting from a reliable, affordable and unlimited broadband connection. Owner J.J Ford said, “We are excited to be the first Etex customer in Center. Internet connectivity has been a challenge for years with slow internet speeds and poor reliability having a negative impact on productivity. I am relieved to finally have high speed broadband at an affordable price that will help our business improve. Goodbye to the spinning wheel.”
Over the past year, Etex and the Center Economic Development Corporation have partnered to bring fiber broadband to the community. The project is estimated to invest over $6 million in fiber construction, connecting the majority of businesses and over 50% of the community in phase one. City Manager Chad Nehring says, “The goal in the partnership is to build fiber to the entire city over the next several years. After we complete the first phase, we will be able to plan out the remaining phases, with the goal of every structure in town being connected.”
Etex General Manager and CEO Charlie Cano says, “As a rural broadband provider, we are dedicated to serving East Texas with options usually only offered in urban areas. We have been a local provider in East Texas for over 70 years and are proud to invest in the communities we live in.”
To check your address for eligibility, please visit fiber.etex.net.
Etex and others were discussing disaster situations and the benefit of fiber during those times.
Once ETEX's internet was connected, SCT did a speed test with it's previous DSL Internet provider (18 mbps plan) and ETEX Internet (150 mbps plan). The results are displayed with ETEX above and other provider below. ETEX displays at Cherokee County Electric Co-Op, Bullard, TX.
December 14, 2023 - State Highway 7 West just near FM 2913 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Thursday, December 7, 2023.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the location and assisted Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers investigating the incident.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 5:51pm a 2022 white Chevrolet Trail Blazer driven by Jared Cross Listenbee, 31, of Center was westbound on State Highway 7 failed to control speed and struck the rear of a 2017 self-made flat bed trailer being pulled by a white 2015 GMC pickup truck driven by Larry Wayne Kopycinsky, Jr., 43, of Center.
Listenbee was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. Citations were issued to Listenbee for failure to control speed and for not wearing a seatbelt.
Using Attorney General Paxton’s Signature and Seal
December 11, 2023 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning citizens that scammers are sending fraudulent emails using his name, signature, and the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) Seal to obtain sensitive personal information.
The examples found by the OAG pretend to be from the Social Security Board, fraudulently warning that the person’s social security number will be suspended due to being charged with crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, theft, and tax evasion. These emails may also tell the recipient to call a toll-free phone number that the scammers will use to steal their personal information.
If you have received a similar letter or email, DO NOT CALL the number or provide any information.
Similar “phishing” scam campaigns have attempted to use Attorney General Paxton’s signature and seal, including in 2019 and 2022.
If you or anyone you know receives an email or any other communication like this, please report the suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling toll-free 1-800-621-0508, or by filing an online complaint at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.
December 8, 2023 - Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, reports the arrest of Dakota Rodgers, 25, of Center on December 7, 2023, in relation to several outstanding warrants out of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
Law enforcements agencies in Shelby County have been seeking the whereabouts of Rodgers in the hopes of capturing him. According to Constable Cheatwood, Rodgers' family reached out to him around 11:30pm on Wednesday, December 6, because Rodgers trusted him and in an attempt to negotiate a safe surrender.
Constable Cheatwood reports he met with Rodgers in the Mt. Herman area at around 3pm and he gave Constable Cheatwood no problems and did as he promised, but that he will have to face the consequences of his actions.
Rodgers is being held on warrants for criminal trespass, misdemeanor b; criminal trespass, misdemeanor b; evading arrest, misdemeanor a; failure to appear (evading arrest with motor vehicle), felony 4; evading arrest with vehicle, felony 4; and failure to appear (burglary of a building); bond surrender (burglary of a habitation).
December 6, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 15 indictments on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Luke Anthony Odom was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Odom took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for int/know unauth discharge/know endangerment, felony: confinement not to exceed 10 years and/or a fine not less than $10,000 or more than $1,500,000. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves discharged or allowed the discharge of a pollutant, to-wit, diesel fuel into or adjacent to water, thereby placing another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, by then and there transferring diesel fuel from holding tank into 55 gallon drums placed next to flowing water. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Daniel Boyd Eaves was indicted for theft of petroleum product >=$10K<$100K, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 1, 2023, Eaves took a petroleum product, namely red diesel, from its owner, namely City of Joaquin, by making and causing a connection to be made with a green water hose into the tank and stored in 55-gallon barrels used to store the diesel without the effective consent of City of Joaquin. (273rd Judicial District Court) (Related Article: Fuel Theft, Creek Contamination in Joaquin Under Investigation (Update))
Terry Lynn Crowder was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on June 4, 2023, Crowder intentionally fled from Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Ford, a person Crowder knew was a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain Crowder. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Therrin Anthony Keele was indicted for burglary of a habitation, second degree felony. The indictment alleges on June 23, 2023, Keele entered a habitation with intent to commit theft without the consent of Hayley Potter, the owner. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Tanarrian Jyeneqne Moses was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury - family violence, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on July 30, 2023, Moses recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Cody Barrett by stabbing him in the chest with a knife, during commission of the assault, and Barrett was a person with whom Moses has or has had a dating relationship as described by the Texas Family Code.
Justin Leon Carter was indicted for perjury, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 18, 2023, Carter made a false statement under oath, namely, that he has never been known as Jay White or Baby Jay. Such sworn statement being then and there required by law to be made under oath, while Carter was then and there under oath administered by Judge James Payne of the 273rd Judicial District Court of Sjelby County, Texas, such statement being false in that [Carter] has in fact been commonly known as Jay White and Baby Jay. Such false sworn statement was then and there made during or in connection with an official proceeding, to-wit: jury trial in cause number 21CR21952 in the 273rd Judicial District Court of Shelby County, Texas, styled The State of Texas vs. Justin Earl Bennett. The said false sworn statement was then and there material to such proceeding in that it pertained to the identity of witnesses to the offense being then on trial.
Robert Anthony Ortega was indicted for injury to a child/elderly individual/or disabled individual, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 27, 2023, Ortega caused serious bodily injury to a child 14 years of age or younger by whipping the child with a belt.
(Some of the following content contained within indictments is of a sensitive nature and may not be suitable for younger viewers.)
Ja'Voiskieon Trae'shun Howard was indicted for aggravated assault of a child, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on May 27, 2023, Howard caused the penetration of the female sexual organ of a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age and not the spouse of Howard, by Howard's sexual organ. (273rd Judicial District Court)
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Jason Cole Briley, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 1, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Jeremy Leigh Green, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Carrie Ann Stanley, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony January 2, 2022. (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Therrin Anthony Keele, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 23, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Tyler Ryan Belrose, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 26, 2023). (273rd Judicial District Court)
Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
December 5, 2023 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the incidence of a shooting on November 30, 2023, in Timpson.
According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Hooper, officers were dispatched to a residence on Garrison Street around 9pm in response to a request for assistance. When deputies arrived they discovered one individual who had been shot and a suspect which they took into custody.
The individual who had been shot was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Nacogdoches for treatment of their injuries.
Christefer Bell, 39, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
This incident remains under investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and additional details will be updated as they are made available.
December 4, 2023 - Emergency personnel responded to a crash involving a passenger car and a train on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
The vehicle appeared to have received significant damage to its front as a result of the crash incident. Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department personnel responded and assisted law enforcement at the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Troopers investigated a non-injury crash on Sugar Hill Road, near South Rail Road Street, that occurred Sunday, December 3, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 12:20pm, a white 2016 Buick Verano driven by Marco Mendoza Sanchez, 24, of Center was traveling east. It is reported that Sanchez failed to yield to the train crossing at the intersection and was struck.
Sanchez was not injured and was cited for fail to yield right-of-way and fail to maintain financial responsibility.
According to DPS, there is no additional information.
The crash was investigated by Troopers Keith Jones and Dustin Ramos.
Saturday, December 2, 2023 was a beautiful day and a good-size crowd came out for the 2023 Joaquin Christmas Festival, car show, and parade.
December 1, 2023 - Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) to Set New Limit on Wholesale Electricity Prices During Emergencies
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has voted to immediately implement a new Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region. The EPP was required by Senate Bill 3 of the 87th Texas Legislature and will limit consumer exposure to high wholesale electricity prices during power emergencies.
“Implementing the Emergency Pricing Program provides another layer of financial protection for Texas consumers and will ensure their electricity bills remain affordable even when conditions are tight in the ERCOT system,” PUCT Executive Director Thomas Gleeson said. “This is a key part of our ongoing work to ensure electric reliability for Texans at a reasonable cost.”
The Commission approved the program during its Open Meeting on Thursday through amendments to Section 25.509 of the PUCT’s Substantive Rules.
Current PUCT rules cap wholesale electricity offers at $5,000 per MWh. This “offer cap,” also known as the high system-wide offer cap (HCAP), is a cap on the price at which generators can offer wholesale electricity to retail electric providers that serve and bill individual customers.
The new EPP will trigger if system-wide energy prices hit the $5,000 per MWh HCAP threshold for 12 hours within a rolling 24-hour period. When the EPP is activated, a new emergency offer cap (ECAP) will take effect, reducing the cap on wholesale electricity offers to $2,000 per MWh and ultimately further protect consumers.
The EPP and $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap would remain in effect until 24 hours after the EPP is activated, or, if ERCOT is in emergency operations while the EPP is active, 24 hours after ERCOT exits emergency operations. ERCOT must issue a notice to market participants both when the EPP is activated and when the EPP ends.
While the EPP is active and to account for variability in fuel costs, generators are eligible to be reimbursed by ERCOT for any actual marginal costs they incur above the $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap. To recover actual marginal costs above the HCAP ($5,000 per MWh), a generator must submit additional attestations and information to ERCOT justifying any exceedances.
Within 10 working days of the end of an EPP event, ERCOT must report to the PUCT a summary of the event and analysis of the EPP’s performance. Within 90 calendar days, ERCOT must report the number of generators that filed for cost recovery and the total amount reimbursed. Beginning Jan. 1 2026, the PUCT will conduct a comprehensive review of the EPP and all other system-wide offer cap programs every five years to evaluate their performance.
El Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) establecerá un nuevo límite en los precios mayoristas de la electricidad durante las emergencias
La Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas (PUCT, por sus siglas en inglés) votó para implementar de inmediato un nuevo Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) para la región de energía del Consejo de Confiabilidad Eléctrica de Texas (ERCOT, por sus siglas en inglés). El EPP fue requerido por el Proyecto de Ley Senatorial 3 de la Legislatura 87º de Texas y limitará la exposición de los consumidores a los altos precios mayoristas de electricidad durante emergencias eléctricas.
"La implementación del Programa de Precios de Emergencia proporciona otra capa de protección financiera para los consumidores de Texas y garantizará que sus facturas de electricidad sigan siendo asequibles incluso cuando las condiciones son difíciles en el sistema ERCOT", dijo el director ejecutivo de PUCT, Thomas Gleeson. "Esta es una parte clave de nuestro trabajo continuo para garantizar la confiabilidad eléctrica para los tejanos a un costo razonable".
La Comisión aprobó el programa durante su Reunión Abierta a través de enmiendas a la Sección 25.509 de las Reglas Sustantivas de la PUCT.
Las reglas actuales de la PUCT limitan las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 5.000 dólares por MWh (HCAP). Este "tope de oferta" es un tope en el precio al que los generadores pueden ofrecer electricidad al por mayor a los proveedores minoristas que sirven y facturan clientes individuales.
El nuevo EPP se activará si los precios de la energía en todo el sistema alcanzan el umbral de 5.000 dólares por MWh HCAP durante 12 horas dentro de un período de 24 horas consecutivas. Cuando se active el EPP, entrará en vigor un nuevo tope de oferta de emergencia (ECAP, por sus siglas en inglés), que reducirá el tope de las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 2.000 dólares por MWh.
El EPP y el límite de oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh permanecerían vigentes hasta 24 horas después de que se active el EPP o, si ERCOT está en operaciones de emergencia mientras el EPP está activo, 24 horas después de que ERCOT salga de las operaciones de emergencia. ERCOT debe emitir un aviso a los participantes del mercado tanto cuando se activa el EPP como cuando finaliza el EPP.
Mientras el EPP esté activo y para tener en cuenta la variabilidad en los costos de combustible, los generadores tienen derecho a que ERCOT les reembolse los costos marginales reales en los que incurran por encima del tope de la oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh. Para recuperar los costos marginales reales por encima del HCAP ($5,000 por MWh), un generador debe presentar atestaciones e información adicionales a ERCOT.
Dentro de los 10 días hábiles posteriores a la finalización de un evento de EPP, ERCOT debe informar a la PUCT un resumen de el evento y análisis de la actuación del PPE. Dentro de los 90 días de calendario, ERCOT debe informar el número de generadores que solicitaron la recuperación de costos y el monto total reembolsado. A partir del 1 de enero de 2026, la PUCT llevará a cabo una revisión exhaustiva del EPP y de todos los demás programas de tope de ofertas de todo el sistema cada cinco años para evaluar su desempeño.
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