March 30, 2026 - The Shelby County area is experiencing an influx of smoke from outside the area Monday afternoon, March 30, 2026. 

Center Fire Chief Keith Byndom has confirmed he made contact with Texas Forest Service and they advised the smoke is due to a large controlled burn in San Augustine County under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service. The effect is due to wind direction causing the smoke to settle in Shelby County.

The Shelby County burn ban put in place on Friday, March 27, 2026, remains in effect.

Photo courtesy, West Shelby County VFD

March 28, 2026 - An ambulance was involved in a two-vehicle crash Thursday, March 26, 2026, at around 4pm in the Mt. Herman Community.

March 27, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners participated in a lengthy discussion with local prosecutors over the potential establishment of a bond board in Shelby County during their March 18, 2026, meeting.

John Price, Shelby County Attorney, presented the commissioners with many details pertaining to the operation of a board and that with the county's population being under 110,000, creating the board is discretionary rather than mandatory. (2020 Census data shows Shelby County population at that time to be 24,022)

March 26, 2026 - During the Shelby County Commissioners' Court meeting held Wednesday, March 25, 2026, County Clerk Jennifer Fountain offered an order for a burn ban from County Judge Allison Harbison that she had previously signed.

After the commissioners spoke during the Commissioners' Court Reports portion of their meeting about conditions in their areas, Commissioner Roscoe McSwain directed that the burn ban be put in place effective first thing Friday morning, March 27, 2026.

March 23, 2026 - A Joaquin man has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated following a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 84 East on Haslam Strip in Joaquin Saturday, March 21, 2026.