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March 31, 2023 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southwestern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southeastern Panola County in northeastern Texas, Northern Shelby County in eastern Texas.
Until 730pm CDT.
At 641pm CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Tenaha, or 11 miles south of Carthage, moving east at 45 mph.
Hazard...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
Source...Radar indicated.
Impact...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Mansfield, Logansport, Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin, South Mansfield, Gary City, Keachi, Grand Cane, Longstreet, Stanley, Woods and Paxton.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions...
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northwestern Louisiana and eastern and northeastern Texas.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect for the warned area. Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Although a tornado is not immediately likely, if one is spotted, act quickly and move to a place of safety inside a sturdy structure such as a basement or small interior room.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northwestern Louisiana and eastern and northeastern Texas.
March 30, 2023 - A Shelby County Grand Jury handed down 29 indictments on Thursday, March 28, 2023. The grand jury was impaneled for the January 2023 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Carlos Manuel Caporali was indicted for murder, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 8, 2023, Caporali caused serious bodily injury to Yuri Barahona and caused the death of Barahona by intentionally and knowingly committing an act clearly dangerous to human life, namely by shooting her in the head. (Related articles: Sheriff's Department, Area Law Enforcement Investigate Death of Joaquin Woman (Suspect in Custody | Sheriff Reports Additional Details on Arrest of Joaquin Murder Suspect)
Ricardo Cortes Pacheco was indicted for criminal negligent homicide, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on August 18, 2022, Pacheco by criminal negligence caused the death of Ethan Strother by swerving onto the shoulder of the road, striking Strother.
Airiel Jasmine Burleson was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, family violence, first degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 2, 2022, Burleson recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Bryce Jacob Harris by causing lacerations to his head and hand. It is further alleged in the indictment, Burleson exhibited a deadly weapon: a pot, frying pan and a knife during commission of the assault against Harris, a member of her household.
Danny Ross was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on October 5, 2022, Ross recklessly caused bodily injury to an individual by causing lacerations to the back of her throat and pulling her hair out. The indictment further alleges Ross exhibited a deadly weapon, a toothbrush, during commission of the assault.
Leslie Danielle Lowe was indicted for diversion of a controlled substance by registrants, dispensers and certain other persons, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on March 15, 2022, Lowe knowingly converted to his use or benefit a controlled substance, namely, 274 dosage units of Phentermine 37.5; 48 dosage units of Alprazolam 1 mg; 47 dosage units of Lorazepam 0.5, all schedule IV controlled substances. In addition the indictment alleges, 41 dosage units of Acetaminophen/Codeine 300-30 mg, a schedule III narcotic, to which Lowe had access to by virtue of her employment as a Pharmacy Tech at Center Texas Walmart.
Dylan Jones was indicted for burglary of a building, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 19, 2022, Jones entered a habitation without the effective consent of Robert Quigley, the owner, and attempted to commit or committed theft of a Playstation 3, Kendra Scott Jewelry, knives, and guns owned by Robert and Amanda Quigley.
Jorge Vazquez was indicted for violation of a protective order, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on September 2, 2022, Vazquez violated the terms of an order issued by Judge Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, entered on June 29, 2022. The indictment further alleges Vazquez engaged in conduct two or more times that constituted an offense under Section 25.07 of the Texas Penal Code, namely: going to the protected residence on July 15, 2022, where the protected victim lived (which was a protected place), taking the keys to the home and to the protected person's vehicle, and then threatening her that he would call immigration if she called the police. The indictment further states that Vazquez returned to the protected residence where the protected person lived on July 16, 2022, and told her she had to leave the residence and that he would be coming back to make sure she was gone. All of these acts were violations of the terms of the order entered by Judge Hughes, which as still in effect.
Kevin Wayne Nelson was indicted for evading arrest in a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on November 13, 2022, Nelson intentionally fled from Texas Game Wardens Austin Cryer and Sam Anderson, persons the defendant knew to be peace officers attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Nelson.
Tramarcus Yarbrough was indicted for burglary of a vehicle with previous convictions, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on September 7, 2022, Yarbrough broke into a grey Hyundai Genesis owned by Jaekrystal Bell, without the owner's consent, and with intent to commit burglary of a building. The indictment further shows Yarbrough was twice previously convicted for similar offenses in Nacogdoches county.
David Slater was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment alleges, on January 15, 2023, Slater recklessly caused bodily injury to Joseph Nicholas Caruso by cutting his ear, and Slater did then and there exhibit a knife during the commission of said assault.
Miguel Angel Suarez was indicted for assault by choking. The indictment alleges, on September 6, 2022, Suarez caused bodily injury to Isabella Espinoza, a member of Suarez's household, by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of Espinoza by applying pressure to the throat or neck of Espinoza.
Jonathan Padron was indicted for online solicitation of a minor under 14, second degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 19, 2022, Padron being a person 17 years of age or older with the intent to commit the offense of prohibited sexual conduct, intentionally communicate by an electronic message service in a sexually explicit manner, namely by talking on Snapchat about “doing the nasty” with an individual younger than 14 years of age.
Allen Wood was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence. The indictment alleges, on January 2, 2023, Wood engaged in conduct that placed a child younger than 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by firing a gun in the bedroom of the child.
Beverly Kay Hurst was indicted for abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on October 26, 2021, engaged in conduct that placed a child younger than 15 years of age in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by having a controlled substance in the presence of the child.
Allen Wood was indicted for deadly conduct discharge firearm, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on January 2, 2023, Wood threatened to commit an offense involving violence to a person or property, namely, firing a gun in the bedroom where the victims were. The indictment alleges Wood had intent to place Wilton Wood, and a child younger than 15 years of age in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Wilton Wood and the child were members of Wood’s family.
Nakeysha Chantrell Roberts was indicted for theft of property >=$2,500<$30,000, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on November 4, 2022, Roberts took a Honda Rancher four-wheeler of the value of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 from Thelma Jean Moore, the owner.
Jacorey Semone Johnson was indicted for evading arrest in a motor vehicle, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on February 23, 2023, while using a vehicle Johnson fled from Center Police Officer Jerry Payne, a person Johnson knew to be a peace officer who was attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Johnson.
Demarion Jerrell Latham was indicted for evading arrest with a motor vehicle, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on December 24, 2022, while using a vehicle Latham fled from Center Police Officer Brian Wright, a person Latham knew to be a peace officer who was attempting to lawfully arrest or detain Latham.
Beverly Kay Hurst was indicted for escape, third degree felony. The indictment alleges, on February 21, 2023, Hurst escaped from the custody of the Shelby County Sheriff when Hurst failed to turn herself in as ordered in the Judgement Adjudicating Guilt entered by the court on February 15, 2023, convicting her of the offense of possession of a controlled substance, a felony.
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Eddie McKinley Johnson, failure to comply with sex offender registration, third degree felony (July 29, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Vanessa Kay Beeler, driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, state jail felony (September 30, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Dennis Jacoby Jackson, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 11, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Christopher Jernigan, possession of a controlled substance PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (December 12, 2022). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Cheyenne Sanford, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (September 22, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Laci Jean Wardell, possession of a controlled substance PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (November 29, 2022). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Robert Paul Prichard, possession of a controlled substance PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (January 5, 2023). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Michael Dewayne Watts, possession of a controlled substance PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G (phencyclidine), third degree felony (January 5, 2023). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Esbeide Martinez Jaimes, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (January 8, 2023). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Beverly Kay Hurst, possession of substance in penalty group 1(methamphetamine in an amount of 400 grams or more), life or for a term of not more than 99 years or less than 15 years (October 26, 2021)
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.
March 29, 2023 - The Shelby County Historical Commission presented the Shelby County Commissioners with a proposal to move forward on previously approved work during the March 15, 2023 meeting.
Teddy Hopkins, Shelby County Historical Commission Chairperson, spoke with the commissioners about a need to remove excess concrete from the front of the Historic Courthouse Annex Building and complete the electrical services to the building.
He stated it has been almost a year since the electrical project was previously discussed, and movement was made to approve a bid from 4C to begin the work; however, it was discovered then that there was excess concrete preventing underground entrance into the building for the electrical work.
According to Hopkins, the situation then had to be reassessed to determine the best course of action to then remove the concrete.
Hopkins presented a bid proposal to the commissioners from Cox Jones Architecture & Construction in the amount of $7,715 for the concrete demolition. An adjusted bid proposal from 4C Electrical Services LLC in the amount of $32,190, minus $10,000 which has already been paid leaving a balance of $22,190, was also presented by Hopkins.
Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, requested the Cox Jones proposal be revised since it includes sales tax, and the county is exempt from that.
A motion carried to move forward with the project, with the sales tax removed from the one proposal and the remaining cost to come out of the Courthouse Repairs fund.
Halie Bever, Texas Association of Counties, Human Resources Consultant, spoke with the commissioners about potential updates to the county personnel policy handbook.
The recommended updates applied to the Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines, Personnel Files, Smoke-free Workplace guidelines, Harassment, Paid Breaks, an Addition to the current Shelby County Personnel Policy specific to restriction of pets in county offices, Returning to Work following illness or injury, Drug and Alcohol Policy as it related to CDL employees, Time Sheets, Military Leave, Paid Quarantine Leave, Federal and Medical Leave Act and Military Family Leave.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the updates to the Personnel Handbook Policy.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:38am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Officers Report. 3. Current Payroll. 4. Commissioner Pct. 3 to accept donation of culverts and material from Jacob Hutchins to be used as needed. 5. Commissioner Pct. 3 to clean out a ditch on Joaquin school property off of County Road 3203 to drain water from the Joaquin High School property. 6. Repairs to 2nd and 3rd floor restrooms to install handicap toilets (taller) and grab bars beside each one. 7. Record Continuing Education hours for the County Treasurer in compliance for membership in the County Investment Academy. She has successfully completed investment education that satisfies Section 2256.008 of the Texas Public Funds Investment Act. 8. Changes to the Personnel Hand Book Policy. 9. Excess concrete from the front of the HCH Annex Building and complete the electrical services to the building. 10. Resolution to designate authorized signatories for the Texas Community Development Block Grant program. 11. Resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant program application and adopting required CDBG Civil Rights policies. 12. Consider/Approve County of Shelby and City of Timpson Interlocal Agreement to apply and get the roadway (Rosehill Road) built. 13. Accept community-wide housing analysis performed regarding impediments to fair housing for Shelby County. 14. Adjourn. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Daily blockage of CR 2050 at the railroad tracks and possibly take action to alleviate the problem. 2. Possibly approve Commissioner Pct. 4 to purchase a Skid Steer and attachments with ARPA funds.
March 27, 2023 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 84, near the 880-mile marker, that occurred Sunday, March 26, 2023.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 3:30am, a 2001 Ford pickup was traveling west. It is reported that the driver left the road to the left and struck a barbed wire fence. Further investigation revealed that the driver was intoxicated.
The driver, Jose Vasquez, 19, of Tenaha, was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment. Vazquez is charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor offense.
There is no further information available.
March 27, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers arrested a Nacogdoches man for driving while intoxicated after an investigation into a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 96, near County Road 4360, that occurred Saturday, March 25, 2023.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 5:05am, a 2012 Chevrolet pickup was traveling south. It is reported that the driver failed to drive in a single lane and left the road to the right, where he struck a guardrail. Further investigation revealed that the driver was intoxicated.
The driver, identified as Kaleb Bradford, 20, of Nacogdoches, was not injured. Bradford was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor offense.
This is an ongoing investigation and there are no further details available.
Assisting at the scene until the scene was clear and traffic was no longer delayed, were Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies and Center Fire Department personnel.
March 27, 2023 - The week of March 19th through 25th yielded three calls for the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD). Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
On Monday at 2:58pm a call was received regarding a brush fire on County Road 3290. The JVFD responded with an off-road brush truck and a tanker for extra water, and they were able to get the fire under control in under an hour.
Friday morning at 8:38am a call came in for a male possibly having a heart attack at the Executive Inn on the Haslam Strip. The JVFD medical team responded in association with Allegiance EMS to help the patient.
Lastly, on Saturday at 4:16pm a call was received for a grass fire that had gotten out of control on County Road 3169. The fire began in a pasture but had spread to the side of the road and was able to jump to the other side and get into the woods. The JVFD responded with two brush trucks and a tanker for supplemental water. After about 90 minutes the fires were able to be extinguished and the scene was cleared.
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.
March 23, 2023 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA issued the following Hazardous Weather Outlook at 6:14am on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
Today and tonight - An isolated severe threat is possible this evening, as scattered showers and thunderstorms develop over Southeast Oklahoma, portions of extreme Northeast Texas, and adjacent sections of Southwest Arkansas. Also, can`t rule out some isolated flash flooding, brief heavy rainfall will be possible with some storms.
Friday through Wednesday - A much greater and significant severe weather threat will exist across much of the region Friday. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail will be possible, with locally heavy rainfall also accompanying the stronger storms. The threat for severe weather should end late Friday evening as the storms exit the region to the east.
Additional showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday as a warm front moves northward into the area. Isolated strong to severe storms can not be ruled out Sunday afternoon and evening over portions of Deep East Texas and adjacent North and Central Louisiana south of Interstate 20.
Spotter activation will likely be needed on Friday.
March 21, 2023 - Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, addressed the Shelby County Commissioners' Court March 8, 2023, with a proposal for some needed refurbishment in the building where her office is located.
The floors are concrete in the building and without any covering, sound travels throughout the building. Hughes explained she has placed rugs on the floor in attempts to dampen the sound; however, there is very little privacy in her office or in the courtroom.
She presented a bid from Russell Flooring for carpeting in the building.
"The building is so nice and I think eventually we're going to need to invest this in the building and I say, hey lets do it while we can go ahead and get all the years of use out of it because this carpet is going to last probably as long as the building does," said Hughes.
A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the expenditure of "right at $10,000" and use funds out of Courthouse repairs.
The commissioners went into executive session at 9:48am and returned to open session at 10:13am.
Following the executive session Tom Bellmyer, Precinct 4 Commissioner, commented on Judge Allison Harbison and County Attorney John Price researching and coming up with the right and legal answer to the subject of their executive session discussion.
Tracy Broadway, Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace, has been covering the duties of Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace in addition to his own duties as JP 5.
A motion carried to compensate Broadway retroactively from the date Judge LeAnn K, Rafferty assigned him to those additional duties at half the normal JP 4 salary, $591.73 per pay period, until a decision is made and someone is placed in that office.
The meeting then adjourned at 10:15am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Minutes of February 1, 2023 Special meeting, February 8, 2023 Regular meeting, February 15, 2023 Special meeting, February 22, 2023 Special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court. 2. Pay weekly expenses. 3. Commissioner Pct. 1 and Commissioner Pct. 2 to sell a Lee Boy Lay Down Paver to Angelina County for $35,000 and for the proceeds to split between Precinct 1 and 2. 4. Make renovations to the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace courtroom and office. 5. Compensate Broadway retroactively from the date Judge LeAnn K. Rafferty assigned him to those additional duties at half the normal JP 4 salary, $591.73 per pay period, until a decision is made and someone is placed in that office. 6. Adjourn 10:15am.
March 20, 2023 - Over the week of March 12th through 18th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department responded to a total of 5 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
Early Sunday morning at 4:24am Center Fire Department requested assistance from the JVFD on a house fire on Highway 7 East. Upon arriving, the house was found to be fully involved with flames on the back side that were quickly spreading to the front rooms. The Joaquin VFD took 2 trucks with large capacity water tanks, both of which had to be refilled during the fight to get the fire under control. After a couple of hours of intense firefighting by both Center and Joaquin, the fire was able to be contained. The house was a complete loss, but was fortunately uninhabited.
Tuesday night at 8:51pm a call was received in regards to a large burn pile that may be spreading on County Road 3290. This was later discovered to be a control burn and showed no signs of potentially spreading any further.
Wednesday morning at 12:26am Allegiance EMS requested the JVFD’s help with a lift assist on a patient at a residence on Carroll Street.
Thursday afternoon at 3:02pm a call came in for a female possibly having a heart attack at a residence on Highway 7 East. The Joaquin VFD responded is association with Allegiance EMS to get the patient the help they needed.
Lastly on Saturday at 12:00pm a call was received for a person in respiratory distress at the Joaquin Apartments on Highway 84 East. The JVFD responded to provide assistance until Allegiance could arrive.
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 going forward.
Related article: Center Fire Department Fights Two House Fires on Sunday
March 17, 2023 - Center Fire Department personnel responded to two house fires on Sunday, March 12, 2023, with one in the county and the other within the Center city limits.
The first fire took place before dawn in the 3000 block of State Highway 7 East at 4:06am. According to the Center Fire Department, when fire personnel arrived at the house, the structure was well involved in fire and there was smoke throughout the house. Fire personnel entered the building and began performing a search for anyone inside the structure. Due to worsening conditions, the firefighters backed out of the building and due to the need of additional support called for assistance from the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, who responded with other units and provided additional water.
Indications are the fire started in the back of the structure; however, the cause is unknown. It was later confirmed the house was unoccupied. Fire personnel returned to the station at 8:31am.
Later that day at 4:43pm, fire personnel were dispatched to a structure fire in the 1300 block of Louisiana Street, and when they arrived arrived heavy smoke could be seen pushing from the attic space of a brick structure. Fire was showing through a window and door on the left side of the house, and entry was made into the home where the main body of the fire was knocked down at that time.
It was then discovered that fire had made its way into the attic space. Ventilation was made and final extinguishment was accomplished. Once it was determined all fire was clear, the fire department units returned to the station at 7pm.
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