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October 23, 2026 - The Burn Ban Order for Shelby County signed by Judge Harbison remains in effect. Judge Harbison issued a new burn ban on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Whereas, the County of Shelby is under imminent threat of severe damage, injury of loss of life or property resulting from the threat of wildfires due to extremely dry grassland fuel, drought and other weather-related conditions; and
Whereas, the County Judge of Shelby County has determined that to mitigate the hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry conditions, extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property,
Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the County Judge of Shelby County:
1. That a local state of disaster is hereby proclaimed for Shelby County pursuant to §418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
2. This Declaration of a local state of disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven days from the date of this declaration unless continued or renewed by the Commissioners Court of Shelby County.
3. All outdoor burning is prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Shelby County. This Order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities carried out by Federal Certified Agencies.
4. This Declaration of shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the County Clerk of Shelby County.
5. This Declaration of the local state of disaster activates the Shelby County Emergency Management Plan.
This Proclamation shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance, ordered this 23rd day of October, 2026.
Allison Harbison, County Judge
October 22, 2026 - Sarah Ramon entered a plea with the Honorable James Payne, Jr., 273rd Judicial District Court, on a case against her from 2023 for sexual assault of a child for which she was indicted in August 2025.
During court proceedings on October 15, 2026, Ramon was present with her attorney John Heath, and entered a plea of guilty to sexual assault, felony 2. According to court documents, punishment for Ramon is four years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutions Division with the date of her sentence commencing on October 15, 2026, and she had a total jail time credit of two days accumulated from her initial arrest.
Ramon was placed in custody and is being housed at the Shelby County Jail until her transfer to prison.
Related Article:
- Shelby County Sheriff Reports Arrest of Teacher; Bonds Set at $275,000
- SC Grand Jury Delivers 21 Indictments
October 21, 2026 - The City of Joaquin is pleased to announce the upcoming Texas State Boat Ramp Project at the Joaquin River Bridge Boat Ramp.
Work is scheduled to begin Thursday, October 22, 2026, and will continue until the project is completed. Other boat launches are available on both the Texas and Louisiana sides of the river to accommodate boaters during construction. Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly and remain alert to posted notices in the project area.
Project updates will be provided through the City of Joaquin website and local news media.
The City appreciates the community's patience and cooperation as this project moves forward.
For questions or additional information, please contact the City of Joaquin at 936-269-3021
October 20, 2026 - Fire department and law enforcement personnel responded to an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) crash at the intersection of FM 139 and FM 2694 on October 11, 2026.
The driver of the ATV, a 17-year-old female of Shelbyville, was transported from the crash by ambulance to the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) where Huxley VFD personnel and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department deputies established a landing zone for a helicopter to land and fly the driver to a hospital for treatment.
According to details just released by the Texas Department of Public Safety, as of this report on October 20, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:30pm a Polaris Ranger all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was traveling north when the 17-year-old driver of the Polaris was traveling at an unsafe speed approaching a curve, lost control, and the driver was thrown from the ATV.
An Acadian Air Med helicopter transported the 17-year-old to Ochsner LSU Shreveport Medical Center for treatment of possible life-threatening injuries.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Josh Gradberg, and the driver involved has since been returned home.
October 19, 2026 - The November 3rd General Election is upon us with early voting starting today, October 19 and running through October 30. The below candidate information is what you will see on the ballot. It is a complilation of all precincts, therefore, the COUNTY portion of your ballot will only show races in your precinct.
FEDERAL
United States Senator
- Ken Paxton (REP)
- James Talarico (DEM)
- Ted Brown (LIB)
- * Write-in
United States Representative, District 1
- Nathaniel Moran (REP)
- Yolanda R. Prince (DEM)
STATE
Governor
- Greg Abbott (REP)
- Gina Hinojosa (DEM)
- Pat Dixon (LIB)
- *Write-in
Lieutenant Governor
- Dan Patrick (REP)
- Vikki Goodwin (DEM)
- Anthony Cristo (LIB)
- Kevin McCormick (GRN)
- * Write-in
Attorney General
- Mayes Middleton (REP)
- Nathan Johnson (DEM)
- Tom Oxford (LIB)
Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Don Huffines (REP)
- Sarah Eckhardt (DEM)
- V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (LIB)
- Shehla Faizi
Commissioner of the General Land Office
- Dawn Buckingham (REP)
- Benjamin Flores (DEM)
- Neill Snider (LIB)
Commissioner of Agriculture
- Nate Sheets (REP)
- Clayton Tucker (DEM)
- Austin R. Kelly (LIB)
Railroad Commissioner
- Bo French (REP)
- Jon Rosenthal (DEM)
- Arthur DiBianca (LIB)
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
- Jimmy Blacklock (REP)
- Maggie Ellis (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2, Unexpired Term
- James P. Sullivan (REP)
- Chari Kelly (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7
- Kyle Hawkins (REP)
- Kristen Hawkins (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8
- Brett Busby (REP)
- Gisela D. Triana (DEM)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3
- Thomas Smith (REP)
- Okey Anyiam (DEM)
- Mark Ash (LIB)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4
- Kevin Patrick Yeary (REP)
- Audra Riley (DEM)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9
- John Messinger (REP)
- Holly Taylor (DEM)
Member, State Board of Education, District 9
- Kason Huddleston (REP)
- Ericka Ledferd (DEM)
State Senator, District 3
- Trent Ashby (REP)
- Bobby Tillman (DEM)
State Representative District 11
- Joanne Shofner (REP)
- Roxanne Nathan (DEM)
Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals District
- Scott Brister (REP)
- Jerry Zimmerer (DEM)
Justice, 15th Court of Appeals District, Place 2
- Scott K. Field (REP)
- Tom Baker (DEM)
Justice, 15th Court of Appeals District, Place 3
- April Farris (REP)
- Marc M. Meyer (DEM)
Chief Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District
- Brian Hoyle (REP)
Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 - Unexpired Term
- Michael Davis (REP)
District Judge, 273rd Judicial District
- James A. ("Jim") Payne, Jr. (REP)
COUNTY
County Judge
- Allison Harbison (REP)
District Clerk
- Karen May Matthews (REP)
County Clerk
- Jennifer L. Fountain (REP)
County Treasurer
- Ann Blackwell (REP)
County Commissioner Precinct 2
- Shannon Metcalf (REP)
County Commissioner Precinct 4
- Larry Molloy (REP)
- Kevin Foster (DEM)
- * Write-in
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
- Donna Hughes (REP)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
- Marla Denby (REP)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
- Melba Rodgers (REP)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
- Cristi Estes (REP)
Justice of the Peace Precinct 5
- Tracy Broadway (REP)
County Constable Precinct 5 - Unexpired Term
- John Pope (REP)
October 16, 2026 - Early voting for the 2026 November General Election begins Monday, October 19 at the Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas.
Early voting dates and times are as follows:
- Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23 - 8am to 5pm
- Saturday, October 24 - 7am to 7pm
- Sunday, October 25 - 11am to 5pm
- Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30 - 7am to 7pm
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator
La votación anticipada para las elecciones generales de noviembre de 2026 comienza el lunes 19 de octubre en la Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas.
Las fechas y horarios de la votación anticipada son los siguientes:
- Del lunes 19 al viernes 23 de octubre, de 8:00 a 17:00 h
- Sábado, 24 de octubre, de 7:00 a 19:00 h
- Domingo, 25 de octubre, de 11:00 a 17:00 h
- Del lunes 26 de octubre al viernes 30 de octubre, de 7:00 a 19:00 h
El día de las elecciones es el martes, 3 de noviembre de 2026.
Nancy Adams, Elections Administrator
October 19, 2026 - City of Tenaha’s Mayor, O’Neal Jones has filed a lawsuit against Cliff Lloyd for slander and defamation of character.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are specifically titled as O’Neal Jones, for himself and the estate of Ardrianna Jones, deceased,
The lawsuit, filed on October 5, 2026, seeks over $1 million in damages and requests a jury trial and alleges Lloyd slandered and defamed Jones by making and publishing an utterance containing false, slanderous, and defamation material.
It’s further alleged Lloyd intended to harm Jones’ daughter concerning her private life by uttering false, scandalous and defamatory material.
October 17, 2026 - Emergency personnel from Shelby County responded to crash involving a pickup truck and trailer as well as a trailer from an 18-wheeler that was in the middle of the roadway on U.S. Highway 96 on October 14, 2026.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Sgt. Misty Ray and Chris Luna continued beyond the location in Shelby County where they had originally been dispatched, in search of the incident. Once beyond the county line and into San Augustine County, the crash was located. Additional units with the San Augustine County Sheriff's Department including Deputies Chad Hooper and Michael Williams and San Augustine Fire Departments also soon arrived.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 4:57pm, a 2006 Freightliner truck tractor driven by Armando Gonzalez, 45, of Balch Springs, towing a 2023 dump trailer and a 2024 Chevrolet 2500 driven by Keither Holmes, 27, of Longview, towing a flatbed trailer were traveling south. It is reported that the trailer that the Freightliner was towing detached from the truck and the Chevrolet struck the trailer.
Gonzalez was not reported to have been injured.
Holmes was transported by ambulance to the Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
Trooper Matt Chandler investigated the crash and Center Fire Department also responded in search of the incident. TxDOT personnel were on scene as needed.
October 16, 2026 - Emergency personnel were dispatched to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on FM 2787 near CR 3193 and mile marker 312 on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
According to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 5pm, a blue 2004 Honda motorcycle ridden William Smith, 45, of Logansport, La. was traveling north. It is reported the motorcycle rider failed to drive in a single lane, and travelled off the roadway to the right where it struck a culvert, causing him to be thrown from the motorcycle.
Smith was pronounced deceased on scene by a Melba Rodgers, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3. He was transported from the scene by Watson & Sons Funeral Home.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
The crash was investigated by DPS Trooper Matt Chandler. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and provided traffic control until the scene was clear.
Also responding to the location were Constables Roy Cheatwood, John Pope and Rowdy Green.
To the registered voters of the County of Shelby, Texas:
October 16, 2026 (PDF of Notice with Spanish) - Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7am to 7pm, November 3, 2026, for voting in the general election to elect Members of Congress, Members of the Legislature, and state, district, county, and precinct officers.
On Election Day, voters must vote in the precinct where registered to vote, unless the countywide polling place program is being used in the election.
Location of Election Day Polling Places Include Name of Building and Address:
- Precinct 1N (Center) - First Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 211 N. Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1S (Center) - Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935
- Precinct 1SE (Center) - Shelby County Family Life Center, 1426 Shelbyville Street, 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) - Word of Faith Outreach Center, 12413 US Hwy 84 E, Joaquin, Texas 75954
- Precinct 6 (Dreka) - Dreka Pentecostal Church, Fellowship Hall, 1193 FM 2427, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 7 (Shelbyville) - First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 5030 St. Hwy 87 S, Shelbyville, Texas 75973
- Precinct 8 (Tenaha) - First Methodist Church - Schiede Hall, 256 N. George Bowers Drive, Tenaha, Texas 75954
- Precinct 9N (Timpson) - BOM Bank Annex, 830 N. 1st Street W., Timpson, Texas 75975
- Precinct 9S (Timpson) - Timpson School Gym Foyer, 836 Bear Drive, Timpson, Texas 75975
During early voting, a voter may vote at any of the locations listed below:
Location of Main Early Voting Polling Place, Center Community House, 423 San Augustine Street, Center, Texas 75935
Days and hours of operation will be:
Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 8am to 5pm
Saturday, October 24, 7am to 7pm
Sunday, October 25, 11am to 5pm
Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, 7am to 7pm
Application for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
Shelby County Early Voting Clerk
Nancy Adams, 200 San Augustine Street, Box 9, Center, Texas 75935
Telephone Number: 936-598-5340
Email: nancy.adams@co.shelby.tx.us
Early Voting Clerk's Website: www.co.shelby.tx.us/page/shelby.Elections
Application for Ballot by Mail (ABBM) must be received no later than the close of business on: October 23, 2026.
Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA) must be received no later than the close of business on: October 23, 2026.
Issued this the 24th day of September, 2026.
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