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November 14, 2025 - U.S. Highway 59 just near CR 4653 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Wednesday, November 13, 2025, involving a passenger car and a tree.
Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department personnel were part of the first emergency responders along with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department. Deputies established traffic control, as well as fire personnel who directed traffic and provided medical aid to the driver involved until EMS arrived.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Josh Gradberg, at approximately 12:55pm a silver 2015 Ford Fusion was southbound near CR 4653 and was driven by Joequaevion Howard, 28, of Nacogdoches.
As the vehicle was traveling southbound, Howard was attempting to hand some milk to an infant passenger, who was properly secured, and Howard veered off the roadway to the southbound shoulder subsequently colliding with a tree head on.
The child was determined to be uninjured at the scene, and Howard was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches for non-life-threatening injuries.
Howard was issued a citation for failure to maintain a single lane and he had an arrest warrant for a suspended license.
November 14, 2025 - Due to a loss of pressure from a broken main, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Choice Water system, ID# 2100005 to notify all customers that were without water November 13, 2025 on County Road 1011 south of 1012 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Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.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 Matt Di Verdi 936-591-4346.
Amanda Treat-Brock, Tenaha City Secretary, is seen administering the oath of office to new Tenaha Police Chief, Michael Davidson.
November 14, 2025 - City of Tenaha has sworn in its newest police chief, Michael Davidson.
Amanda Treat-Brock, City Secretary, administered the oath of office to Chief Davidson and he is now actively working in the city.
Chief Davidson is coming to the City of Tenaha with over 26 years of civilian law enforcement following 21 years in Nacogdoches County and five years with the Center Police Department and is leaving Sabine County to take on the position with Tenaha Police Department.
Tenaha Police Chief Michael Davidson (left) is seen pictured with Tenaha Police Officer Buddy Magness (right).
“I’ll consider my stance here [in Tenaha] as being firm, but fair and bringing a very common sense approach to community policing,” said Chief Davidson.
November 13 - 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 on 11/13/2025 in the Roger’s Harbor Community (CR 2657, CR 2765, CR 2778, CR 2780, CR 2781, CR 2790,Hickory Ln, Toledo Forest) 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 Daniel Emanis or Justin Merritt at (936) 368-2266.
November 12, 2025 - State Loop 500 was the scene of a two-vehicle 18-wheeler crash which resulted in a large fuel spill on Monday, November 10, 2025, that required a HAZMAT team to address.
While the scene was being cleaned of hazardous materials, TxDOT had both ends of the roadway leading up to the crash scene blocked to traffic. Through the early morning hours Center Fire Department worked traffic control while Center Police Officers investigated the incident.
According to details released by the Center Police Department on Wednesday, November 12, sometime just before 12:51am a Peterbilt truck tractor owned by ES Express, LLC and driven by James Griffith, Jr., 65 of Pittsburgh was parked on the shoulder of SL 500 facing west. Griffith failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic when entering the westbound traffic lane.
A Peterbilt truck tractor owned by Polk Oil Co. hauling fuel and driven by Samuel Rothfeld, 46, of Lufkin struck the rear of the trailer that the truck driven by Griffith was hauling and overcorrected left of center before leaving the eastbound lane and traveling onto the shoulder before turning over onto its right side facing west.
The tanker was hauling 7,000 gallons of fuel before the collision and Lone Star Hazmat Response was contacted to clean up the scene.
Rothfeld was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment and Griffith refused treatment at the scene.
Griffith was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way.
Center Police Department officers cleared the scene at 9:40am, Center Fire Department personnel cleared the scene at 10am and the HAZMAT crew remained at the location until the completed their clean up project.
November 10, 2025 - As of 2pm a Hazmat crew with Lone Star Hazmat Response continues to work at cleaning up the area and the roadway is down to one lane.
Drivers should continue to use caution when traveling through this area until cleanup has finished.
(7:18am) - State Loop 500 between US Highway 96 south and the Tyson Feedmill Road, around a quarter mile, is shut down due to a fuel spill November 10, 2025 as of 7:18am.
Drivers should consider using an alternate route until the scene is clear, as there is no access, and expect the roadway to remain closed until cleanup is finished.
Attention Shelby County Citizens:
November 11, 2025 - Candidate filing is in progress and all deadlines to file is Monday, December 8th at 6pm.
Filing time frames:
- Precinct Chair: September 9 - December 8, 2025
- Primary candidates and independent candidates to file declaration of intent: November 8 - December 8, 2025
For more information, contact Patsy Handy at 936-657-5018 or text 936-488-9209.
November 11, 2025 - U.S. Highway 59 between Tenaha and Timpson was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on the evening of Monday, November 10, 2025.
Emergency personnel with the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the location near CR 4644 where vehicles involved had come to rest on both sides of the highway.
According to details from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6:01p.m., a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Shaneeta Rhodes, 43, of Tenaha and a 2018 Hyundai Elantra driven by John Ross, 18, of Tenaha were traveling east. It is reported that the driver of the Elantra failed to control his speed and struck the rear of the Santa Fe when it slowed to make a left turn onto County Road 4644.
Rhodes and one passenger, identified as a 14-year-old female, were transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Ross and one passenger identified as a 16-year-old female, were not injured.
This is an ongoing investigation, and according to DPS, no further information is available at this time.
Details were not released on related charges.
The crash was investigated by DPS Trooper Matt Chandler.
November 10, 2025 - In observance of Veterans Day, the Shelby County Courthouse and all County Offices will be closed Tuesday November 11th.
Regular business hours will be resumed on Wednesday, November 12th.
Freeze Warning Overnight, 9pm-9am
November 9, 2025 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA issued a Freeze Warning in effect from 9pm Sunday, November 9 to 9am Monday, November 10, 2025.
Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 23 are expected for portions of south central and southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas from 9pm Sunday to 9am Monday.
Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Remember to take care of People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Elevated Fire Danger Today
An Elevated Fire Danger is active today as well with winds near 15 mph with gusts up to 25-30 mph from mid-morning into early evening.
- AVOID outdoor burning!
- Avoid sparking a fire with your vehicle, secure tow chains and never park or drive over tall grass!
- Properly dispose of cigarettes!
Monday Night/Tuesday Morning Probability of Freeze
Chances are high that temperatures Monday night/Tuesday morning will fall to or below freezing across Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, much of North Louisiana, and portions of extreme Eastern Texas.
November 7, 2025 - San Augustine Street in Center just past the intersection of Hurst Street was the scene of a single-vehicle rollover crash incident on Monday, November 3, 2025.
A white 2019 International box truck, owned by Pioneer Star Group Inc, and carrying a load of boxed furniture had been traveling east from State Highway 7 West onto San Augustine Street at too high of a rate of speed when it traveled onto the sidewalk. The driver overcorrected and this caused the truck to flip and skid along the roadway.
An AT&T box and utility pole were both struck during the incident.
According to the Center Police Department, Travis Harris, 41, of Dallas was the driver of the vehicle and he was transported from the scene by EMS for medical evaluation.
No citations were issued as of this report.
Center Police Officers Conner Gilpatrick and Bobby Walker investigated the crash.
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