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March 24, 2025 - A new business has opened just off Hurst Street in Center and is drawing a large crowd on March 24, 2025.
Travelers should use caution driving Hurst Street as the line of vehicles is reaching out into the street.
March 24, 2025 - County road 3340 will be closed on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 due to culvert and road repair. Work will begin at 8:00 am and should be completed at 2:00 pm.
March 21, 2025 - As County Judge, I have NOT issued a burn ban. BUT, I do want to stress the danger of burning during the winds of March.
Please be careful and mindful of your property and your neighbor's property.
If it is absolutely necessary to burn:
- Do not leave it unattended. Make sure you stay with the burn until it is completely out.
- If you have to leave it, make sure it is extinguished before you leave the site.
If necessary, I will issue a burn ban.
BE SAFE, BE SMART, DO YOUR PART!!!
Thank you for helping protect Shelby County,
County Judge Allison Harbison
March 19, 2025 – Preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are available for review in Shelby County, Texas. Residents and business owners are encouraged to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements.
The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community residents can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the 90-day appeal and comment period.
The 90-day appeal and comment period will begin on or around March 19, 2025.
Appeals and comments may be submitted through June 17, 2025, for:
- The cities of Center, Huxley, Joaquin, Tenaha and Timpson and the unincorporated areas of Shelby County
Residents may submit an appeal if they consider modeling or data used to create the map to be technically or scientifically incorrect.
- An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim.
- Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.
- If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information — such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary — they can submit a written comment.
The next step in the mapping process is to resolve all comments and appeals. Once these are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.
To review the preliminary maps or submit appeals and comments, visit your local floodplain administrator (FPA). A FEMA Map Specialist can identify your community FPA. Specialists are available by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.
The preliminary maps may also be viewed online:
- The Flood Map Changes Viewer at http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv
- FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov/portal
- The Base Level Engineering-to-FIRM Viewer at https://webapps.usgs.gov/fema/ble_firm
For more information about the flood maps:
- Use a live chat service about flood maps at floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html (just click on the “Live Chat Open” icon).
- Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone at 877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.
There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone. Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent or visiting floodsmart.gov.
Pictured are (from left): Luke Mooney, Jason Burch, David Hailey, Rodney Mathews, Josh Eddins, Kaden LaRock, Waylon Griffith, Zack Fausett, Joel Covington, Luke Fausett, Phillip Youngblood
March 17, 2025 - The Center Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) held a meeting and election of officers Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and saw the retirement of two in leadership.
Center VFD Fire Chief Rodney Mathews and Center VFD Assistant Fire Chief Waylon Griffith retired from their positions and each shared words of encouragement to all of the Center firefighters.
VFD Chief Mathews leaves the fire department following 22 years of service with the Center VFD, which was preceded by years of service at fire departments in Joaquin and Logansport.
“Y’all know how much, we both of us, thoroughly enjoy the fire department and I always have,” said Mathews. “We always stress, if you get hurt going to a car wreck or fire, it ain’t doing nobody any good.
Mathews expressed the importance of all the firefighters to be extremely careful out on the roadways, especially the main highways, when directing traffic. He said he looked forward to seeing the department grow as more join.
“Pick some that that’s what they want to do, you know, they want to be a fireman, they want to help people but that’s what it’s about,” said Mathews.
Assistant VFD Chief Griffith has retired with 25 years of service to the Center VFD and previous to that he had years of service with the West Shelby County VFD. They both were presented with plaques in honor of their service.
Griffith spoke to his fellow members about the dedication firefighters have to commit to do the job and the desire to want to do well for the community. He also said he’s always tried to set a good example for the other firefighters.
“I always have tried to, I hope I have,” said Griffith. “We got a lot of good guys in here. I want to see y’all hang in there, you know, with the fire department and advance and grow and get you some years under your belt.”
Griffith encouraged the importance to the firefighters of being safe on calls and when responding to them, and to just do the best they can. He also noted the importance of staying focused and not getting distracted during crash situations where they may be helping someone out of a terrible situation.
He just wanted everyone to watch out for each other and be safe, and he expressed how much he has enjoyed being on the fire department.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone that I’ve worked with and y’all,” said Griffith.
During the meeting, elections for officers were held and they include Del Birdwell, Volunteer Fire Chief; Luke Mooney, Assistant Volunteer Fire Chief; Jason Burch, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief; Brandi Cammack, Secretary; Joel Covington, Chaplain; and Kaden LaRock, Training Officer.
March 16, 2025 - The intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Waterhouse Street was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday, March 14, 2025, sometime around 9:30pm.
According to the Center Police Department, Marcus Patton was driving a tan 1999 Buick LaSabre when the rear right tire flew off causing him to leave the roadway and strike a tree.
Patton was transported to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury and later was released.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Brandon Tyler.
March 15, 2025 - Hurst Street at the intersection of Arcadia Road (FM 138) was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Friday, March 14, 2025.
When Center Police Department Officers arrived at the location, the two pickup trucks involved were in the outside southbound lane of Hurst Street.
According to the Center Police Department, at sometime just before 4:15pm a two-tone colored green 1994 Ford F-150 driven by Cynthia Johnson, 56, of Center failed to control speed and struck the back of a blue 2023 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Joel Graves, 63, of Center.
Johnson was transported by ambulance to the Shelby County Emergency Department for possible injury and she was later released.
No citations were reported issued as of the time of this report.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Department Sgt. Jake Gross and Officer Donna Ruppert.
March 14, 2025 - FM 1645 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a tree on Thursday, March 14, 2025.
When first responders arrived at the location, in the 8000 block of FM 1645 between CR 1490 and CR 4054, they found one vehicle at the scene which had collided with a tree. The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the location and helped to stabilize the patient and aided in transport to the emergency room.
Due to the unavailability of an ambulance at the time of the crash incident, the driver involved was transported by a constable to Shelby County Emergency Department.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a single-vehicle crash on Farm-to-Market Road 1645, that occurred Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:56 p.m., a 2022 Toyota Tacoma driven by Dustin Pledger, 25, of Timpson was traveling north. It is reported that the driver failed to drive in a single lane to the right, overcorrected the maneuver back to the left and struck a tree.
Pledger was transported via personal vehicle by a Precinct 5 Constable to the Shelby County Emergency Department for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Center Police Department officers shut down intersections through Center to facilitate quick passage of the constable vehicle to the emergency room.
According to DPS, this is an active and ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
Timpson VFD directed traffic at the scene until it was cleared and assisted in recovering the vehicle.
March 14, 2025 - Emergency responders were dispatched to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Haslam Strip (U.S. Highway 84) at the intersection with FM 2787 in the Joaquin area on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department held the scene and assisted Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers with traffic control immediately following the incident. When it was determined necessary, the Joaquin VFD established a landing zone at the ball park located on State Highway 7 East.
According to DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:36pm, a black 2005 Suzuki motorcycle ridden by Daniel English, 32, of Mansfield, LA., was traveling east. It is reported that the rider was traveling at a high rate of speed and locked his brakes up, causing him to lose control and skid across the pavement.
English was transported to LSU Shreveport via CareFlight for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
This is an active and ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Josh Gradberg. Constable Roy Cheatwood assisted at the scene.
March 11, 2025 - Greg Grant will be conducting controlled burns on his pine savannas in Arcadia this week, March 11-16. Winds will be out of the southwest during the burns.
In addition to creating scenic, open, park-like forests and promoting native grasses and wildflowers, regular prescribed fire reduces fuel loads, decreasing the chance of catastrophic wildfires during the summer; controls underbrush, diseases, and insects; and promotes wildlife habitat for deer, turkey, quail, pollinators, and other declining grassland birds.
For more information on prescribed fire, visit the websites for the Texas A&M Forest Service and The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
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