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March 6, 2024 - Center Fire Department fire personnel responded to a house fire on Wednesday morning, March 6, 2024.

According to Center fire Chief Keith Byndom, the call was received at 7:30am and when they arrived at the residence in the 500 block of CR 3760 the fire was fully involved and no one was home.

As the firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative was requested to disconnect service to the residence.

Fire personnel were able to bring the fire under control in 30 minutes and an electrical short is believed to possibly be the cause.

No injuries were reported to have resulted from the fire.

The water on N.E.W. WSC no longer requires boiling.

March 6, 2024 - On February 28, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the N.E.W. Water Supply, #2030034, 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.

N.E.W. Water Supply 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. We have also provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of March 6, 2024.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the office: 220 West Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas. 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp  936-201-5001.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call (512)239-4691.

February 28, 2024 - Due to an electrical issue at Plant 1, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation PWS # 2030034 to notify all customers on FM 711, CR 202, CR 203, CR 205, CR 223, Harmony, Kellyville, Fountain Town and Woodland Acres Communities to boil their water prior to consumption (eg., 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 the 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 N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation at 220 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 75972, or call 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp at 936-201-5001.

March 6, 2024 - (Photos courtesy WSCVFD) - West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (WSCVFD) and Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 West approximately one mile west of Farm-to-Market Road 711 on February 29, 2024.

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, the truck involved was on its side and the trailer it was hauling had detached from the vehicle.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 8:10am, a white 1998 GMC pickup truck driven by Alma Tippins, 79, of Nacogdoches towing a bumper pull trailer was eastbound on State Highway 7 West. 

As the truck was traveling through a curve in the roadway its load shifted and caused the driver to lose control and travel into the north ditch where it overturned.

Tippins, her passengers Angel Bello, 73, and Salvador Acosta, 59, were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

No citations were issued.

The Sheriff's race and Constable Precinct 3 race will be in a runoff election May 28, 2024.

March 5, 2024 - The March Primary Elections are here and results are in! Election results are unofficial until they are convassed by the Commissioners' Court.

(Early voting numbers include mail in ballots as well as early voting.)

Click links below to go straight to each categories election results:

Ballot Election Statistics

Ballots Cast (Total) - 4,765
Democratic Party (Total) - 214
Republican Party (Total) - 4,551
Early Voting (Total) - 1,764
Absentee (Total) - 151
Election Day (Total) - 2,850


COUNTY ELECTIONS

COUNTY ATTORNEY
John L. Price (Won) - 64.31%
Early 1,160 | Election Day 1,566 | TOTAL 2,726
Jeff Adams - 35.69%
Early 561 | Election Day 952 | TOTAL 1,513
SHERIFF
J.R. "Jimmy" Faulkner (Runoff) - 37.04%
Early 563 | Election Day 1,057 | TOTAL 1,620
Willis Blackwell - 20.51%
Early 374 | Election Day 523 | TOTAL 897
Gerald Corbell (Runoff) - 42.46%
Early 821 | Election Day 1,036 | TOTAL 1,857
COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR
Debora Riley (Won) - 100%
Early 1,501 | Election Day 2,250 | TOTAL 3,751
COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1
Roscoe McSwain (Won) - 100%
Early 516 | Election Day 490 | TOTAL 1,006
COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3
Stevie Smith (Won) - 60.08%
Early 313 | Election Day 486 | TOTAL 799
David Cheatwood - 39.92%
Early 201 | Election Day 330 | TOTAL 531
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT 4 - Unexpired Term
Dee Dee Green (Won) - 54.44%
Early 38 | Election Day 103 | TOTAL 141
Cristi Estes - 45.56%
Early 29 | Election Day 89 | TOTAL 118
COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 1
Zack Warr (Won) - 100%
Early 906 | Election Day 784 | TOTAL 1,690
COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 2
Jamie Hagler (Won) - 100%
Early 180 | Election Day 350 | TOTAL 530
COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 3
Roy Cheatwood (Runoff) - 47.75%
Early 142 | Election Day 304 | TOTAL 446
Fern Thomas Jernigan Jr - 21.31%
Early 77 | Election Day 122 | TOTAL 199
Scott Burkhalter (Runoff) - 30.94%
Early 62 | Election Day 227 | TOTAL 289
COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 4
Taylor Fanguy (Won)
Early 56 | Election Day 173 | TOTAL 229
COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5
Josh Tipton (Won) - 100%
Early 83 | Election Day 375 | TOTAL 458
REPUBLICAN COUNTY CHAIR
Leigh Porterfield (Won) - 100%
Early 1406 | Election Day 2,062 | TOTAL 3,468
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CHAIR
Patsy Handy (Won) - 100%
Early 98 | Election Day 100 | TOTAL 198

DEMOCRAT FEDERAL AND STATE RESULTS

Note: Results don't include 1-S


PRESIDENT
Star Locke - 0.00%
Early 0 | Election Day 0 | TOTAL 0
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Armando "Mando" Perez-Serrato - 0.98%
Early 0 | Election Day 2 | TOTAL 2
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Dean Phillips - 5.37%
Early 3 | Election Day 8 | TOTAL 11
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Gabriel A. Cornejo - 1.46%
Early 1 | Election Day 2 | TOTAL 3
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Frankie Lozada - 2.44%
Early 2 | Election Day 3 | TOTAL 5
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Joseph R. Biden Jr. - 87.80%
Early 93 | Election Day 87 | TOTAL 180
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Marianne Williamson - 1.46%
Early 1 | Election Day 2 | TOTAL 3
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Cenk Uygur - 0.49%
Early 1 | Election Day 0 | TOTAL 1
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
U.S. SENATOR
Carl Oscar Sherman - 12.63%
Early 9 | Election Day 16 | TOTAL 25
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Thierry Tchenko - 1.01%
Early 0 | Election Day 2 | TOTAL 2
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Meri Gomez - 6.57%
Early 6 | Election Day 7 | TOTAL 13
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Colin Allred - 49.49%
Early 53 | Election Day 45 | TOTAL 98
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Roland Gutierrez - 7.07%
Early 8 | Election Day 6 | TOTAL 14
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Mark Gonzalez - 9.60%
Early 7 | Election Day 12 | TOTAL 19
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
A. "Robert" Hassan - 4.04%
Early 4 | Election Day 4 | TOTAL 8
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Heli Rodriguez Prilliman - 1.01%
Early 1 | Election Day 1 | TOTAL 2
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Steven J. Keough - 8.59%
Early 8 | Election Day 9 | TOTAL 17
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER
Bill Burch - 39.59%
Early 39 | Election Day 39 | TOTAL 78
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Katherine Culbert - 60.41%
Early 57 | Election Day 62 | TOTAL 119
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 2
Dasean Jones - 61.14%
Early 56 | Election Day 62 | TOTAL 118
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Randy Sarosdy - 38.86%
Early 38 | Election Day 37 | TOTAL 75
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 4
Christine Vinh Weems - 100%
Early 90 | Election Day 98 | TOTAL 188
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 6
Joe Pool - 32.80%
Early 32 | Election Day 29 | TOTAL 61
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Bonnie Lee Goldstein - 67.20%
Early 59 | Election Day 66 | TOTAL 125
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
PRESIDING JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Holly Taylor - 100%
Early 90 | Election Day 91 | TOTAL 181
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS PLACE 7
Nancy Mulder - 100%
Early 87 | Election Day 97 | TOTAL 184
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS PLACE 8
Chika Anyiam - 100%
Early 86 | Election Day 92 | TOTAL 178
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0

REPUBLICAN FEDERAL AND STATE RESULTS

Note: Results don't include 1-S


PRESIDENT
Chris Christie - 0.45%
Early 9 | Election Day 11 | TOTAL 20
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Donald J. Trump - 88.40%
Early 1,533 | Election Day 2,437 | TOTAL 3,970
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
David Stuckenberg - 0.11%
Early 0 | Election Day 5 | TOTAL 5
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Ryan L. Binkley - 0.02%
Early 0 | Election Day 1 | TOTAL 1
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Ron Desantis - 0.91%
Early 15 | Election Day 26 | TOTAL 41
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Asa Hutchinson - 0.29%
Early 12 | Election Day 1 | TOTAL 13
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Vivek Ramaswamy - 0.18%
Early 3 | Election Day 5 | TOTAL 8
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Nikki Haley - 7.64%
Early 178 | Election Day 165 | TOTAL 343
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Uncommitted - 2.00%
Early 39 | Election Day 51 | TOTAL 90
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
U.S. SENATOR
R E (Rufus) Lopez - 2.67%
Early 53 | Election Day 65 | TOTAL 118
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Ted Cruz - 4,160%
Early 1650 | Election Day 2,510 | TOTAL 4,160
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Holland "Redd" Gibson - 3.10%
Early 54 | Election Day 83 | TOTAL 137
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1
Nathaniel Moran - 100%
Early 1382 | Election Day 2,052 | TOTAL 3,434
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER
Christie Clark - 18.18%
Early 214 | Election Day 434 | TOTAL 648
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Christi Craddick - 39.45%
Early 684 | Election Day 722 | TOTAL 1,406
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
James "Jim" Matlock - 36.70%
Early 474 | Election Day 834 | TOTAL 1,308
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Corey Howell - 3.68%
Early 35 | Election Day 96 | TOTAL 131
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Petra Reyes - 1.99%
Early 22 | Election Day 49 | TOTAL 71
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 2
Jimmy Blacklock - 100%
Early 1287 | Election Day 2,001 | TOTAL 3,288
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 4
Brian Walker - 75.30%
Early 929 | Election Day 1,483 | TOTAL 2,412
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
John Devine - 24.70%
Early 337 | Election Day 454 | TOTAL 791
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT, PLACE 6
Jane Bland - 100%
Early 1203 | Election Day 1,894 | TOTAL 3,097
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
PRESIDING JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS (REP)
Sharon Keller - 51.98%
Early 677 | Election Day 1,004 | TOTAL 1,681
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
David J. Schenck - 48.02%
Early 597 | Election Day 956 | TOTAL 1,553
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS PLACE 7
Barbara Parker Hervey - 43.79%
Early 548 | Election Day 828 | TOTAL 1,376
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Gina Parker - 56.21%
Early 691 | Election Day 1,075 | TOTAL 1,766
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
JUDGE, COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS PLACE 8
Lee Finley - 57.83%
Early 707 | Election Day 1,147 | TOTAL 1.854
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Michelle Slaughter - 42.17%
Early 565 | Election Day 787 | TOTAL 1,352
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 11
Joanne Shofner - 65.83%
Early 1140 | Election Day 1,742 | TOTAL 2,882
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
Travis Clardy - 34.17%
Early 611 | Election Day 885 | TOTAL 1,496
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
REP JUSTICE, 12TH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT, PLACE 3
Greg Neeley - 100%
Early 1233 | Election Day 1,956 | TOTAL 3,189
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
DISTRICT JUDGE, 123rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Leann Kay Rafferty - 100%
Early 1391 | Election Day 2,140 | TOTAL 3,531
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 123rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Karren S. Price - 100%
Early 1412 | Election Day 2,134 | TOTAL 3,546
STATEWIDE Percentage 0% | TOTAL VOTES 0

REPUBLICAN PROPOSITIONS

PROPOSITIONS

Proposition #1 - Texas should eliminate all property taxes without increasing Texans’ overall tax burden.

  • Yes - 3,676
  • No - 626

Proposition #2 - Texas should create a Border Protection Unit, and deploy additional state law enforcement and military forces, to seal the border, to use physical force to prevent illegal entry and trafficking, and to deport illegal aliens to Mexico or to their nations of origin.

  • Yes - 4,232
  • No - 178

Proposition #3 - The Texas Legislature should require the use of E-Verify by all employers in Texas to protect jobs for legal workers by preventing the hiring ofillegal aliens.

  • Yes - 3,980
  • No - 374

Proposition #4 - The Texas Legislature should end all subsidies and public services, including in-state college tuition and enrollment in public schools, for illegal aliens.

  • Yes - 3,983
  • No - 369

Proposition #5 - Texas urges the United States Congress not to grant any form of amnesty or a pathway to legalization for illegal aliens.

  • Yes - 3,836
  • No - 481

Proposition #6 - The Texas Legislature should prohibit the deployment of the Texas National Guard to a foreign conflict unless Congress first formally declares war.

  • Yes - 3,751
  • No - 520

Proposition #7 - The Texas Legislature should establish authority within the Texas State Comptroller’s office to administer access to gold and silver through the Texas Bullion Depository for use as legal tender.

  • Yes - 3,238
  • No - 721

Proposition #8 - The State of Texas should ensure that Texans are free to give or to withhold consent for any vaccine without coercion.

  • Yes - 4,188
  • No - 183

Proposition #9 - The Republican Party of Texas should restrict voting in the Republican primary to only registered Republicans.

  • Yes - 3,353
  • No - 905

Proposition #10 - The Texas Constitution should be amended to restore authority to the Texas Attorney General to prosecute election crimes.

  • Yes - 4,067
  • No - 227

Proposition #11 - Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the students.

  • Yes - 3,455
  • No - 899

Proposition #12 - The Texas Constitution should be amended to require proof of citizenship before any individual can be registered to vote.

  • Yes - 4,339
  • No - 80

Proposition #13 - Texas should ban the sale of Texas land to citizens, governments, and entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

  • Yes - 4,312
  • No - 96

March 5, 2024 - Emergency responders responded to a single-vehicle crash on FM 139 Saturday, March 2, 2024, which resulted in the death of the driver involved.

Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department responded to the location at FM 2572, in addition to EMS and Constable Roy Cheatwood.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, at 8:50pm on March 2, 2024, a maroon 1989 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by James Daylon Witter, 25, of San Augustine was northbound on FM 139 at an unsafe speed when the truck entered a curve and left the roadway to the right striking a fixed object and rolled.

Witter was ejected from the truck and was later pronounced deceased at the scene by Melba Rodgers, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3. Witter was transported from the scene by Mangum Funeral Home.

The crash was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones.

March 5, 2024 - Did you know all local Shelby County Races will be decided today in the March 5th Primary Election?

Once again, in the county races all candidates filed to run on the Republican ticket. This means the results will be decided now since only one candidate's name will be listed on the November 5th General Election ballot.

If you haven’t voted, polls will be open Tuesday from 7am to 7pm. (Click here for polling locations) Every vote counts especially in local elections! There are five races with opponents: County Attorney; Sheriff; Commissioner Precinct 3; Justice of the Peace Precinct 4; and Constable Precinct 3.

There is the potential for a runoff race for the Sheriff and the Constable Precinct 3 as both races have 3 candidates. Candidates must win more than 50 percent of the vote in order to win the election. If a runoff is needed, the Primary Election Runoff day is May 28, 2024.

Shelby County has six county offices unopposed: Tax Assessor-Collector; Commissioner Precinct 1; Constable Precinct 1; Constable Precinct 2; Constable Precinct 4; and Constable Precinct 5. Both County Chairs, Republican and Democratic, were unopposed.

Election results will be published on Shelby County Today after polls close and as results are made available. Early voting results are not available until after 7pm.

Republican Sample Ballots are below: (Click each precinct to see the ballots for each area)

Democratic Sample Ballot: (All precinct ballots are the same)

To the registered voters of the County of Shelby, Texas:

February 20, 2024 (PDF of Notice with Spanish) - Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., March 5, 2024, for voting in the general primary election for the Republican party to nominate Members of Congress, Members of the Legislature, and state, district, county, and precinct officers.

On Election Day, voters must vote in the precinct where they are registered to vote.

Voting locations for Election Day will be at the following polling places:

  • Precinct 1N (Center) - First Methodist Church, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 1S (Center) - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 1SE (Center) - Panola College, 3600 Loop 500, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 1SW (Center) - Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 1 W (Center) - JOI Ranch, 5198 FM 2026, Tenaha, Texas 75974
  • Precinct 2 (Excelsior) - Excelsior School, 11280 St. Hwy 7 W, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 3 (Sardis) - Campti Pentecostal Church, 6153 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 4 (Huxley) - Lydia Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 14998 FM 139, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
  • Precinct 5 (Joaquin) - First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
  • Precinct 6 (Dreka) - Dreka Pentecostal Church, Fellowship Hall, 1193 FM 2427, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
  • Precinct 7 (Shelbyville) - First Baptist Church – Shelbyville, Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 S, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
  • Precinct 8 (Tenaha) - First Methodist Church, Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75954
  • Precinct 9N (Timpson) - American State Bank Annex, 830 N. 1st Street W., Timpson, Texas 75975
  • Precinct 9S (Timpson) - Timpson School Gym Foyer, 836 Bear Drive, Timpson, Texas 75975

Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted beginning on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, and ending on Friday, March 1, 2024, at:

Main Early Voting Location, Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935

Days and hours of operation will be:

Tuesday, February 20 through Friday, February 23, 8am to 5pm
Saturday, February 24, 7am to 7pm
Sunday, February 25, 11am to 5pm
Monday, February 26 through Friday, March 1, 7am to 7pm

Last day to register to vote is February 5, 2024.

Application for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
Shelby County Early Voting Clerk
Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator, 200 San Augustine Street, Box 9, Center, Texas 75935

Fax: 936-598-3701
Email: nancy.adams
www.co.shelby.tx.us

Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) and Federal Postcard Applications (FPCA) must be received no later than the close of business on February 23, 2024.

Note: If ABBM is faxed or emailed or if an FPCA is faxed; the original application must be received within 4 business days.

Issued this the 22nd day of January, 2024.


To the registered voters of the County of Shelby, Texas:

Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., March 5, 2024, for voting in the general primary election for the Democratic party to nominate Members of Congress, Members of the Legislature, and state, district, county, and precinct officers.

On Election Day, voters must vote in the precinct where they are registered to vote.

Voting locations for Election Day will be at the following polling places:

  • Precinct 1N, 1S, 1SE, 1SW, 1W (Center) - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 2 (Excelsior) - Excelsior School, 11280 St. Hwy 7 W, Center, Texas 75935
  • Precinct 3, 4, 6, 7 (Sardis, Huxley, Dreka, Shelbyville) - First Baptist Church – Shelbyville, Fellowship Hall, 5030 SH 87 S, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
  • Precinct 5 (Joaquin) - First Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, Texas 75954
  • Precinct 8 (Tenaha) - First Methodist Church, Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75954
  • Precinct 9N, 9S (Timpson) - Timpson School Gym Foyer, 836 Bear Drive, Timpson, Texas 75975

Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted beginning on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, and ending on Friday, March 1, 2024, at:

Main Early Voting Location, Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935

Days and hours of operation will be:

Tuesday, February 20 through Friday, February 23, 8am to 5pm
Saturday, February 24, 7am to 7pm
Sunday, February 25, 11am to 5pm
Monday, February 26 through Friday, March 1, 7am to 7pm

Last day to register to vote is February 5, 2024.

Application for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
Shelby County Early Voting Clerk
Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator, 200 San Augustine Street, Box 9, Center, Texas 75935

Fax: 936-598-3701
Email: nancy.adams
www.co.shelby.tx.us

Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) and Federal Postcard Applications (FPCA) must be received no later than the close of business on February 23, 2024.

Note: If ABBM is faxed or emailed or if an FPCA is faxed; the original application must be received within 4 business days.

Issued this the 22nd day of January, 2024.


Ashton Hill Fire

March 4, 2024 - Over the week of February 25th through March 2nd the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had 5 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events. 

Sunday evening at 5:43pm a call came in for a woods fire on FM 139 at Ashton Hill. The JVFD responded with three brush trucks and two tankers for extra water. DeSoto Fire District 1 also brought a few trucks for support. The JVFD was on scene for several hours keeping the fire away from the road and out of Ashton Cemetery. The Forest Service took care of fighting the fire deeper into the woods. The JVFD would return to Ashton Hill on Monday to put out a few places that had rekindled overnight.


Ashton Hill Fire

During the Ashton Hill fire a second call came in for a vehicle fire on County Road 3341. One of the JVFD brush trucks and a DFD1 tanker broke off to respond. After a while on scene the fire was put out and the responding units returned to Ashton Hill.

Monday at 6:23pm a page was received for a man that had fallen from the roof of a chicken house on Highway 7 East. The JVFD responded with Allegiance EMS to render aid, and the man was later airlifted from the baseball field to a hospital.

Saturday at 2:30pm a call came in for an elderly woman who had passed out on a boat. The JVFD and Allegiance EMS responded to a boat ramp on Highway 84 East to help the patient.

Saturday night at 9:30pm the JVFD would respond to a single vehicle accident on FM 139. The driver of a pickup rolled his vehicle multiple times after rounding a curve, and was later pronounced deceased on the scene. The JVFD and law enforcement shut down one lane of the road and provided traffic control until the wreck could be 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.


Ashton Hill Fire

March 2, 2024 - What began as an attempt as a motorist assist in Shelby County Friday night, March 1, 2024, developed into a high-speed pursuit that traveled around 10 miles and ended in a fiery crash in San Augustine County.

When San Augustine firefighters arrived at the scene, the Dodge Charger involved was engulfed in flames and they worked to extinguish the flames as quickly as possible and prevent any further spread into a wooded area.

Once the fire was out, law enforcement officials with Texas Department of Public Safety, San Augustine Sheriff’s Department, Center Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, joined with fire personnel in searching the wooded area for the driver of the car.

Assistance from Center Police Department and Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, were requested and they searched the area with infrared drones. While another from San Augustine was also utilized.

Center Police Sgt. Brian Wright and K9 Enzo also entered the woods in search of a trail leading to the suspect.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at around 7:59pm he was working patrol on U.S. Highway 96 and after just completing a traffic stop on the northbound side he was preparing to turn back to head south. As he crossed back over onto the southbound side, there was a vehicle on the southbound shoulder with active emergency flashers.

Trooper Jones pulled in behind the Dodge for a motorist assist and to see if they might have a flat tire. Not long before pulling over behind the vehicle, it took off and Trooper Jones pursued while the Dodge had its lights blacked out. Several erratic maneuvers were made as the Dodge continued its attempt at outrunning the DPS unit.

The Dodge finally slowed and went the shoulder to make a u-turn, at that time Trooper Jones used his vehicle as a tool to stop the vehicle. The Dodge continued for a distance before leaving the roadway to the right and striking a tree. The suspect then exited the vehicle and left on foot. The vehicle later caught on fire and then developed into a fully involved fire.

Reasons for the driver to flee have not been determined and the driver has not yet been apprehended, but has been identified and warrants will be issued.

This incident remains under investigation.

March 1, 2024 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, March 1. Ignition time is 10am in the area of East Hamilton North of Shelby County and will be hand and air ignitions.

Winds are out of the northeast and drift smoke may be noticeable in Shelbyville and Patroon.

The burn area is Sabine, East Hamilton North, Compartments 48, 49, Blocks A&B, 1741 ACRES.

The estimated completion time is 6pm.

Smoke will impact areas around the prescribed burn, and long-range drift smoke may be present during and after ignition operations.

Please drive with caution. Ground personnel will be operating in the area and smoke may impact visibility on local roads and highways near the burn unit.

U.S. Forest Service Prescribed Burn Tracker: Southern Region Prescribed Burn Accomplishment Tracker (arcgis.com)

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