Shelby County Today

February 5, 2015 - Lone Star Grill was the scene of a car fire in Joaquin Wednesday, February 5, 2015 and was almost included in the inferno.

The driver of the vehicle, Jessica Register, was dining at the Lone Star Grill when flames were seen emitting from her grey Kia Sephia, which was parked directly in front of the front door to the restaurant.

Joaquin Volunteer Firemen were dispatched to the scene by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department at 7:06pm. When they arrived at the scene they found the car engulfed in flames which were threatening to catch the building on fire as the flames melted through the business' sign.

Hoses were deployed and water was quickly sprayed on the fire, averting danger from the building. According to Jeremy Boyett, Assistant Fire Chief, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time and further investigation will be handled by the insurance company.

A separate incident occurred during the fire as firemen were directing traffic on U.S. Highway 84 East. According to Jade Lavergne, Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper, TJ McKnight, 19, of Joaquin and the son of a Lone Star Grill employee, arrived at the scene during the fire. He parked across the street from the restaurant and rushed across the highway in concern of his mother's safety.

As McKnight crossed the roadway, he did so in front of a white F-150 extended cab pickup truck driven by Rodney Lee Harvill, 49, of Joaquin and he was struck by the vehicle which knocked him to the ground. Harvill stopped and McKnight engaged him in an argument.

A witness at the scene broke up the argument and suggested Harvill leave. Later, after the fire had been extinguished, McKnight expressed a desire to be seen by a doctor and he was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department.

Once Trooper Lavergne investigated the incident, it was determined no charges were necessary to be filed.

February 3, 2015 - Information is being sought by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department in relation to a man who allegedly fired a rifle at a child on Monday.

Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Monday February 2, 2015 at around 5:15pm Sheriff’s Deputies Kurtes Lawrence, Bradley Horton and John Pope responded to a report of a juvenile who had been shot at by an unknown person.

When the deputies arrived on scene at a residence located on State Highway 87 South in the Shelbyville area. They said that the juvenile was on his own property checking some traps and observed an unknown black male described as being tall, thin built with a bald head, wearing a long sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

The juvenile stated that the unknown male was about 50 yards from him and that he waved at the unknown person. The juvenile stated that the person then raised a long firearm at him and shot one time. Deputies, along with Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, searched the area, but were unable to locate the person.

This case is still under investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 936-598-5600 or Center Crime Stoppers.

Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember, you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.

February 2, 2015 - A four wheeler parked under a carport is believed to be the cause of a structure fire on CR 1005 which the Center Fire Department responded to Monday morning.

According to the Center FD, a 9-1-1 call came in at 9:40am Monday, February 2, 2015 for a structure, possible house fire, on CR 1005 belonging to Darrell and Pam Samford. Upon arrival at the scene, fire fighters located a fully involved fire on the backside of a house. Once water was put to the fire, it was discovered the source was a parked four wheeler under the carport.

Cody Matlock, renter living in the house, was at home when the fire was discovered. He, along with Pam Samford who called 9-1-1, attempted to extinguish the flames before the fire department arrived only to find the water hose located 10 feet from the fire was frozen from the overnight freezing temperatures. Family pets located inside the house were evacuated to a safe area.

Fire fighters quickly extinguished the flames which had spread to the roof of the carport; however, the house only received minimal smoke damage inside the back door from the carport to the house. According to fireman Derek Lightfoot, the siding on the house was hardie board, a fire resistant material, and was most likely the reason for the fire did not spread from the 4-wheeler to the house.

Renter, Jill Albert who was at work at the Light and Champion at the time of the fire, was dispatched to her own house fire.

February 2, 2015 - The City of Center is excited to announce regular recycling service will resume Tuesday, February 3. The recycling trailer will be placed at the Historic Square at its previous location.

Center Mayor David Chadwick explains, that, “Last year, the City made a very hard decision to cancel the recycling program especially in light of the fact that many people outside the City used the program. We reached out to the other governments and they agreed to help.” Shelby County and the Cities of Joaquin, Tenaha and Timpson each agreed to help pay part of the cost of the program. “In return for their help, we will carry the trailer to their location twice a year for one week.”

The City also received a Solid Waste Grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) through the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG). “This grant allowed the City to purchase a new, larger truck for the program,” reported Center City Manager Chad Nehring.

The recycling program is single stream, meaning that one does not have to sort the recyclables to place them in the trailer. The City transports the trailer to Pratt Industries in Shreveport where the material is sorted and processed.

The City would encourage anyone using the program to break down boxes or compress items such as milk jugs, cans and plastic bottles. “These types of materials take a lot of space and are low weight,” Nehring said. “Conserving volume saves space in the trailer so more can be transported per trip.”