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School zone lights being activated
August 2, 2021 – School zone flashers are being activated throughout the Lufkin District for the 2021 school year. Drivers are urged to be cautious and alert as they drive through school zones and for buses picking up and delivering students.
While school districts prepare for the new school year, TxDOT wants to remind motorists that state law requires motorists to reduce speed to the posted school zone speed limit when school zone flashers are activated. Be prepared to stop during peak travel hours as traffic is directed before and after school hours.
“Beginning a new school year is an important time to remind motorists that traffic will again be heavy near school districts in the mornings and afternoons. Remember, there are many young drivers on the roadway as well as parents, buses, pedestrians and bicyclists,” said Rhonda Oaks, Lufkin District public information officer. “We want everyone to arrive safely and that will require every motorist to remain alert in and near school zones and buses.”
Laws and safety tips to remember for driving through school zones include:
- Cell phone use is banned in active school zones. Anyone using a cell phone could face a fine of up to $200.
- Obey school zone speed limits. Traffic fines double in school zones.
- Student delivery and pick-up should only be done in the school’s designated areas, not in or near the street.
- Be alert for students who might cross the street between vehicles.
Laws and safety tips for traveling near a school bus include:
- A driver traveling in either direction must stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal. The driver may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, the bus driver signals to proceed, or the visual signals are no longer activated.
- If a road is divided only by a left-turn lane, drivers on both sides of the roadway must stop for school buses while lights are activated. If the travel lanes are separated by an intervening median or physical barrier, only motorists traveling in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.
- Violators could face up to a $1,000 fine.
Parents of students who walk or bike to school should also be aware of safe practices and discuss them with their students before school begins. Safety tips for students include:
- Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right, and then left again before proceeding.
- Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Always obey crossing guards.
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
Related article: Shelby County Schools Back to School Schedule
Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order (GA-38) on July 29, 2021, combining several existing COVID-19 executive orders to promote statewide uniformity and certainty in the state's COVID-19 response.
“Today’s executive order will provide clarity and uniformity in the Lone Star State’s continued fight against COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates. Texans have mastered the safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities. Vaccines, which remain in abundant supply, are the most effective defense against the virus, and they will always remain voluntary – never forced – in the State of Texas.”
July 30, 2021 - A four-wheeler crash incident has resulted in two children being transported to the hospital with unknown injuries, in Timpson July 30, 2021.
At around 1:30pm emergency personnel was alerted to the crash. Officers with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene as well as Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) personnel and Texas Department of Public Safety was on scene to assist.
A four-wheeler was traveling on North 5th Street when for an unknown reason a crash occurred.
Both children involved were transported from the scene by ambulance. TVFD personnel established a landing zone at the Timpson ISD baseball field from which the boy was life-flighted by helicopter to a hospital.
Additional details aren't available at this time, the Shelby County Sheriff's Department is investigating this incident.
July 30, 2021 - U.S. Highway 59 near Tenaha was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Thursday, July 29, 2021.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at around 1pm troopers were dispatched to a one-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59 just over one mile west of Tenaha.
Upon arrival, it was determined a silver 2013 Toyota Sienna driven by Kenneth Cook, 85, of Keithville, Louisiana was northbound on U.S. Highway 59 when he fell asleep. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck two culverts before flipping over and coming to rest facing southbound.
Both Cook and his passenger Reba Cook, 80, were transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches for treatment of unknown injuries.
Citations are pending at this time.
Emergency personnel with the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Shelby County Constable Precinct 4 - Taylor Fanguy, and Tenaha Police Department all assisted at the scene.
July 30, 2021 - The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality, on July 27, 2021, required the Choice public water system, 2100005 to issue a boil water notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of July 30, 2021.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Vince Di Verdi 936-591-1205.
July 27, 2021 - Due to a broken water main the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the CHOICE Water system, ID# 2100005 to notify customers that were without water 07/27/2021 on Hwy 96 S (anyone without water) to boil their water, prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Vince Di Verdi 936-591-1205.
July 29, 2021 - Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, reports the discovery of a mobile home left in the middle of FM 2787 at County Road 3569.
According to Constable Cheatwood, the mobile home crossed the Logansport Bridge from Louisiana on July 27, 2021, and was en-route to CR 3569. As the mobile home was getting closer to its destination, it became stuck at the intersection of FM 2787 and CR 3569 and was abandoned at that location with debris remaining in the roadway.
Constable Cheatwood and the Sheriff's Department were contacted about the situation and Constable Cheatwood went to the scene where a tow truck was used to move the mobile home further out of the roadway.
Constable Cheatwood contacted Precinct 3 Road and Bridge and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and informed them of the circumstances. Road and Bridge workers assisted TxDOT in tearing down the mobile home and piling it beside the roadway. It was reported to Constable Cheatwood the estimated cost of the cleanup would be around $5,000.
For responding to the scene, Constable Cheatwood expressed appreciation to David Cheatwood and Steven Holloway with Precinct 3 Road and Bridge and TxDOT in helping get the roadway cleared.
Citations are pending at this time.
July 29, 2021 - It has come to Joaquin ISD's attention that two local businesses have received phone calls requesting donations from an 800 number with the caller ID showing up as Joaquin High School. Please be advised that Joaquin ISD is not currently soliciting donations by phone.
July 28, 2021 - A plea agreement has been made in two cases against Randa Askew McMahon who was indicted November 8, 2018 for multiple offenses involving a child.
The cases were heard before LeAnn Kay Rafferty, 123rd Judicial District Court Judge, and originally six indictments were made against McMahon and they were two counts of injury to a child, first degree felony; two counts of unlawful restraint, state jail felony; and two counts of abandoning or endangering a child, state jail felony.
McMahon was represented by attorney John Heath, Jr. and the state was represented by Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney. The plea agreements were filed July 21, 2021, on two of the six charges both for injury to a child, first degree felony.
As per the plea agreements, McMahon agreed to six years deferred adjudication probation, a fine of $3,000, court costs of $300, 200 hours of community service to run concurrent with her probation. Also included in the plea agreement on the two cases, the other four cases were dismissed and she is to have no contact with the victim in the case or the victim's guardian.
McMahon is to submit a DNA sample to the Texas Department of Public Safety for the purpose of a DNA record.
The range of punishment for McMahon, should she not be on probation, would be five to 99 years or life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, institutional division and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
At this time the case against Matthew McMahon regarding offenses against the same child remains open.
Related Articles:
- Two Arrested on Alleged Child Abuse Charges (June 5, 2017)
- Shelby County Couple Accused of Child Abuse Receive Quick Release Following Bond Reduction (June 16, 2017)
- Shelby County Couple Previously Arrested on Child Abuse Case Receive Additional Charges (July 19, 2017)
- McMahon's File Writs of Habeas Corpus, Receive Bond Reduction (July 20, 2017)
- Jury Terminates Parental Rights of Shelbyville Couple Accused of Placing Child in Dog Crate (June 6, 2018)
TxDSHS Covid-19 Dashboard's Trends Graphs for Texas narrowed to July 2021 on new cases and June & July 2021 on fatalities. Click for larger image.
State and County numbers trending upwards.
July 28, 2021 - According to the Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard, Shelby County's Covid-19 new cases are trending upward along with the statewide numbers. Today, the state reported 10,086 new confirmed cases and 2,811 new probable cases; the highest numbers Texas has seen since February.
Since July 9, 2021, the county has seen a slow growth in new cases after a large increase the first week in July was reported. During the time from July 9 to July 26, the number of active cases remained in the teens or lower with a low of 7 active cases reported on July 18th and July 19th.
However, over the past 2 days, July 27 and July 28, the number of new cases rose by the same amount and active cases have doubled.
The estimated number of active cases is currently 28 which is the highest active cases count since April 25th.
July 28th (3:30pm) Numbers: (changes since July 26)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,232 (9 new)
Total Probable Cases - 825 (6 new)
Total Fatalities - 73 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 28
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,957 (1 new)
July 26th (11:40am) Numbers: (changes since July 8)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,223 (9 new)
Total Probable Cases - 819 (6 new)
Total Fatalities - 72
Total Estimated Active Cases - 14
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,956 (12 new)
July 8th (3:25pm) Numbers: (changes since June 30)
Total Confirmed Cases - 1,214 (71 new)
Total Probable Cases - 813 (32 new)
Total Fatalities - 72 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 11
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,944 (105 new)
July numbers so far are much less than they were in June. There are only 3 days of reporting left in July.
Reported July 2021 Numbers as of July 28th:
Total New Confirmed Cases - 89
Total New Probable Cases - 44
Total New Fatalities - 2
Total New Estimated Recovered - 118
Reported June 2021 Numbers:
Total New Confirmed Cases - 197
Total New Probable Cases - 20
Total New Fatalities - 3
Total New Estimated Recovered - 217
Editor's note: When the change in Covid-19 numbers is small, the Covid-19 report is delayed until a substantial increase or a new death is reported. Otherwise, stats will at least be reported monthly.
July 26, 2021 - The funeral of former Shelby County Judge Rick Campbell was held Friday, July 23, 2021, at First Baptist Church Center following which a large funeral procession traveled to Oaklawn Cemetery on State Highway 7 East where he was laid to rest.
Campbell was County Judge beginning July 24, 2009, when he was appointed by Commissioners' Court following the death of then County Judge John Tomlin. Judge Campbell then held office until 2014.
Community and civic outreach was extensively demonstrated and obviously important to Campbell as the list of organizations he was involved in is long. He was also a Center Volunteer Fireman for 27 years and several Shelby County fire departments honored Campbell by participating in his funeral procession.
Campbell will be sorely missed. SCT expresses our deepest condolences to the Campbell family during their time of grief.
Click here to view his obituary
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