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A Flood Watch has been issued for portions of Deep East Texas and Toledo Bend Country beginning overnight tonight until 1 am on Sunday.
October 24, 2025 - Flood Watch issued October 24 at 1:35pm until Sunday, October 26 at 1am by National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA.
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible for portions of northwest Louisiana, including the following parish, Sabine and Texas, including the following counties, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Upshur and Wood.
From midnight tonight through late Saturday night excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
Additional Details: Rainfall accumulations of 1.5 to 3 inches are expected within the watch area, with locally higher amounts of 4 inches or more possible. http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Instructions: You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
There is a chance for flash flooding across the majority of the region and strong to severe thunderstorms on Saturday with the greatest threat for the southern half of Northeast Texas and portions of Northern Louisiana. All modes of severe weather will be possible.
October 14, 2025 - The upcoming November 4, 2025 Ballot Language for the Constitutional Amendment Election. Early voting starts October 20, 2025.
Proposition 1 - SJR 59
"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System."
Proposition 2 - SJR 18
"The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust."
Proposition 3 - SJR 5
"The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony."
Proposition 4 - HJR 7
"The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue."
Proposition 5 - HJR 99
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail."
Proposition 6 - HJR 4
"The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions."
Proposition 7 - HJR 133
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected."
Proposition 8 - HJR 2
"The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent's property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift."
Proposition 9 - HJR 1
"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income."
Proposition 10 - SJR 84
"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire."
Proposition 11 - SJR 85
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled."
Proposition 12 - SJR 27
"The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct."
Proposition 13 - SJR 2
"The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000."
Proposition 14 - SJR 3
"The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue."
Proposition 15 - SJR 34
"The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children."
Proposition 16 - SJR 37
"The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen."
Proposition 17 - HJR 34
"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements."
October 14, 2025 - The City of Center's November 4th General Election is for three races: Mayor; Council Member, District 1; and Council Member, District 3.
- Candidate for Mayor is incumbent, David Chadwick.
- Candidates for Council Member, District 1 are Joyce L. Johnson and Delbert Jackson.
- Candidate for Council Member, District 3 is Howell Howard.
Not sure which district you are in? Click here to view the City of Center Voting Districts map.
In addition to the Mayor and Council positions, is the Constitutional Amendment Election. For a list of the Propositions in the Election, click here.
Below is a resolution by the City of Center for the Joint Election.
A resolution of the City Council of the City of Center, Texas, approving a contract for elections services between elections administrator of Shelby County, Texas and the City of Center, Texas, for the November 4, 2025, General Election for Center, Texas.
WHEREAS, the City of Center has called a general election for Tuesday, November 4, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, Shelby County has called an election for Tuesday, November 4, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, state law allows local governments holding elections on the same day to do so jointly, thereby making voting more convenient: and,
WHEREAS, the Shelby County Elections Administrator will provide all election services for the City; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an agreement in accordance with Section 271.002 of the Texas Election Code, whereby the City and County agree to hold a joint election on November 4, 2025.
Now, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Center, Texas:
1. The November 4, 2025 General Election for the City of Center be held jointly with Shelby County.
2. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute an agreement with the County Elections Administrator of Shelby County for Election Services attached hereto as Exhibit A.
3. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
Passed and approved this 22nd day of September 2025.
October 22, 2025 - It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow Shelby County Today announces the passing of sports writer, Ronny Samford, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Ronny started working with SCT in December of 2015 with the covering of Tenaha's Holiday Hoops. He has been covering the youth of Shelby County since March of 2010 starting with Timpson & Tenaha News where he worked for his Aunt Hilda Pena.
He had a true love of the game. In an article Ronny shared, "I’ve never enjoyed a job more than covering our Shelby County kids participating on the fields and courts of competition."
Please keep Ronny's family and friends in your prayers. To view his obituary with service information, click here.
Ronny has been a blessing to Shelby County Today and he will be greatly missed.
J.J. Ford, Scott Flowers, and Cindy Eubank
Effective October 22 Until Further Notice
October 22, 2025 - Due to a pump down at the water treatment facility, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Joaquin/2100010 public water system to notify all customers 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 Stacy Cranford at Joaquin City Hall located at 130 Steve Hughes Dr., Joaquin, Texas 75954 at (936)269-3021.
October 14, 2025 - Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted beginning on Monday, October 20, 2025, and ending on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the main Early Voting location: Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas. Hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday 8am - 5pm with extended hours on Thursday, October 30, through Friday, October 31, 7am - 7pm.
La votación adelantada en persona se Ilevará a cabo a partir del lunes 20 de octubre de 2025 y finalizará el viernes 31 de octubre de 2025 en sitio principal de votación adelantada: Centro Casa Comunitaria, 423 San Augustine Street, Centro. El horario de atención será de lunes a sábado de 8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. con horario extendido del jueves 30 de octubre al viernes 31 de octubre de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m.
October 18, 2025 - Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued October 18 at 10:11pm until October 18 at 11pm by NWS Shreveport LA.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana... West Central Natchitoches Parish in northwestern Louisiana... Northern Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana... Northeastern Shelby County in eastern Texas... until 11pm.
At 10:11pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles west of Converse, or 18 miles southwest of Mansfield, moving southeast at 40 mph.
Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts and small hail. Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include... Many, Zwolle, Converse, Allen, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Huxley, Noble, Robeline, Stanley, Belmont, Pelican, Marthaville, Toledo Bend Reservoir North and Ajax.
Instructions: Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 11pm for portions of northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas.
October 18, 2025 - Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued October 18 at 8:13pm until October 18 at 9:15pm by NWS Shreveport.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southwestern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana... Northeastern Shelby County in eastern Texas... Southern Panola County in northeastern Texas... until 9:15pm.
At 8:13pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles southwest of Carthage, moving east at 35 mph.
Radar indicated ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include... Carthage, Logansport, Tenaha, Joaquin, Gary City, Longstreet, Woods and Paxton.
Instructions: Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for portions of northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas.
October 18, 2025 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Huxley public water system, PWS ID# 2100019, to issue a Boil Water Notice on October 16th, 2025 for any customers without water on FM139 & FM 2694 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 October 18th, 2025.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Huxley Water Treatment Plant at (936)368-2633 or Justin Merritt at (936)368-2266.
October 16, 2025 - Due to a broken water main the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required The City of Huxley public water system (PWS) ID# 2100019 to notify all City of Huxley water customers that were without water 10/16/2025 on FM 139 and FM 2694 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 rescind 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 Kevin Jacobs at (936) 368-2377 or Justin Merritt at (936) 368-2266.
October 18, 2025 (4:25pm) - At 4:16pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles north of Joaquin, or 14 miles east of Carthage, moving east at 40 mph.
October 18, 2025 - Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued October 18 at 4pm until October 18 at 4:45pm by NWS Shreveport LA.
At 4pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles north of Tenaha, or 9 miles southeast of Carthage, moving east at 40 mph.
Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include... Carthage, Tenaha, Joaquin, Gary City, Woods, Deadwood, Paxton, Front and Midyett.
Instructions: Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
Weather Warning Includes Severe Thunderstorm 7 Miles Northwest of Timpson
October 18, 2025 - At 3:38pm on Saturday, October 18, 2025, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northwestern Shelby County in eastern Texas... Southern Panola County in northeastern Texas... Southeastern Rusk County in northeastern Texas... until 4:45pm.
At 3:38pm, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles northwest of Timpson, or 15 miles southwest of Carthage, moving east at 40 mph.
Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Carthage, Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin, Gary City, Woods, Paxton, Deadwood, Front, Midyett and Dotson.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 9pm Saturday for a portion of northeast Texas.
October 18, 2025 - A strong thunderstorm will impact southwestern De Soto and northwestern Sabine Parishes and Shelby County until 4:15pm.
At 3:29pm CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Center, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include: Center, Logansport, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Huxley, Stanley, James and Jericho.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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