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April 2, 2026 - Be advised a Texas Statewide Emergency Alert Test will be performed on Thursday, April 2, 2026 between the hours of 10am and 12 noon. Alerts will be sent to phones, emails, and possibly outdoor sirens if available. There is a potential for individuals to receive several alerts. The test of the system will include local agencies, schools, and law enforcement.
The Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), Luciana Barr, shared a way to sign up to receive Emergency Alerts for Shelby County with the Shelby County Emergency Alert System. Simply visit https://shelby.genasys.com/portal/. You must have an email address and phone number. After registration, you can use the portal to update or add additional numbers and email addresses.
The EMC for Shelby County has a Facebook page as well - Shelby County, Texas Emergency Management.
TDEM Announces Statewide Drill for Local Public Warning Systems
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced today a statewide test of local alerting systems to evaluate effectiveness and functionality of these public warning tools.
TDEM has begun notifying local partners of the planned drill, which has been scheduled for April 2, 2026.
“Regular training and testing of public warning systems builds readiness before disaster strikes and is an important component of community safety,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “Conducting drills to reaffirm procedures, promote confidence in technological tools, and identify potential shortfalls is key to ensuring these systems operate with precision, accuracy, and timeliness when they are needed the most.”
This test of local warning systems is part of TDEM’s commitment to working with Texas communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters and emergencies throughout the state.
To create consistency and unified coordination across the state, a designated testing window has been established for local jurisdictions to utilize their primary, alternate, and contingency systems, allowing for verification of continuity within alerting local processes.
TDEM has requested participation from designated local alerting authorities, along with local emergency management programs, school districts, primary and secondary education programs, college and universities, councils of government, river authorities, sovereign tribal nations, law enforcement agencies, and any other entities with emergency alerting capability.
TDEM has also requested participating organizations share with state emergency management officials an update after completion of the drill with a summary, key takeaways, and any relevant details that may provide context about the success of the local system test.
April 1, 2026 - State Highway 7 West in the Mt. Herman community was the scene of a two-vehicle crash incident involving a passenger vehicle and a truck hauling stock dogs on March 28, 2026.
West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department personnel responded to the scene of the incident, as well as Texas Department of Public Safety personnel. The passenger car involved was located on the westbound side of the roadway, and the K9 hauler had traveled down an embankment on the eastbound side of the roadway where it had come to rest in a tree line on top of a gas line.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at around 6:45pm a silver 2024 Lexus IS350 driven by Lateisha Cassaundra Hinton, 49, of Houston was westbound in the outside lane in front of a white 2018 GMC 3/4 ton pickup truck driven by James Bobby Butler, Jr., 57, of Center. As the GMC transitioned from the outside lane to the left inside lane to pass, Hinton attempted to make a lane change prior to arriving at a private drive on the eastbound side of the highway and collided with the GMC.
The pickup continued across the highway and collided with a guardrail before traveling backward down an embankment where it came to rest.
No injuries were reported of either driver, and the dogs from within the truck appeared unharmed.
Hinton was cited for change lane when unsafe.
April 1, 2026 - State Highway 7 West at the intersection of SL 500 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash incident involving a tractor and a box van on Friday, March 27, 2026, at around 6:30am.
When emergency personnel arrived, both vehicles involved were located on the westbound shoulder of the highway.
The front of the van had considerable damage to its front after it appeared it collided with the rear of a trailer filled with herbicide that the tractor involved was hauling.
EMS personnel transported the driver of the box van from the scene to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.
It did not appear that anyone in the tractor was injured; the trailer however, the contents of the trailer was emptying quickly as a result of damage from the collision.
Center Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Center Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel responded to the location to assist those involved in the incident.
Updated information: According to Texas DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 6:45am a red 2022 Massey Ferguson tractor driven by Ty Wright, 20, of Center was westbound towing a spray trailer in the outside lane when a white 2022 Chevrolet delivery van owned by Courtesy Chevrolet out of Shreveport and driven by Toal Bruce, 46, of Shreveport approached from behind the tractor in the outside lane when Bruce failed to control speed and struck the trailer causing damage.
During investigation, it was determined the tractor was not operating with its hazard lights activated as required under 547.371 Texas Transportation Code - Operation on the roadway, but was operating with headlights and tail lamps along with a white light on the cab. Upon inspection of the spray trailer, it was determined to have reflective slow moving emblem as required for daytime hours and the official sunrise on the day of the incident was 7:11am.
Additional citation details were not available at the time of this report.
Trooper Ramos was assisted at the scene by DPS Sgt. Micah Rucker.
April 1, 2026 - The Shelby County commissioners decided to continue the burn ban that was put in place on Friday, March 27 during their meeting held Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Outdoor burning remains prohibited.
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March 31, 2026 - FM 2026 just past the intersection with U.S. Highway 96 North was the scene of a two-vehicle crash March 26, 2026.
When emergency personnel arrived at the location, one vehicle remained in the eastbound side of the roadway and the other involved came to rest in the westbound ditch.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at around 6pm a red 2018 Cadillac XT5 SUV driven by Amanda Victoria George, 52, of Timpson was westbound on FM 2026 when the sun was in her eyes and and lost sight of the roadway while adjusting her visor. At that time the Cadillac struck a brown 2019 Kia Sportage driven by Francisca Guzman, 52, of Center head-on.
Both drivers were transported to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injuries, none of which were reported to be life-threatening.
George was cited for wrong side of roadway.
Center Fire Department personnel assisted at the scene with traffic control and removing debris from the roadway. Shelby County Sheriff’s Department deputies also assisted at the scene.
Update - Power was restored around 1:45pm.
March 31, 2026 - SWEPCO customers are experiencing a power outage in Center as of 10:57am, March 31, 2026. Be aware that SWEPCO has notified at least some customers that power is projected to be off until 3pm.
A cause for the outage is not yet reported.
Drivers through Center should be aware the traffic control lights at the intersection of Wheeler and Hurst Street are not functioning as of this report, and should use exteme caution.
Be prepared that some businesses in Center and surrounding areas may also be without power, and you may be best served by calling ahead before traveling to shop.
The active Shelby County Courthouse is open for business due to power supplied by their emergency generator.
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.
March 30, 2026 - Shelby County Commissioner Tom Bellmyer advises a road closure for County Road 4356 at US Hwy 96 for a culvert replacement starting Tuesday morning, March 31, 2026 at 8am.
The project is expected to be completed same day by 4pm.
March 30, 2026 - The May Uniform Election Day for local non-county political subdivisions such as cities and schools is Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The entities hosting an election May 2nd are: City of Tenaha, City of Timpson, Shelbyville ISD, and Timpson ISD.
Upcoming calendar dates to note are listed below.
- Last day to register to vote or update your voter registration is April 2.
- Early Voting is April 20 - 28, 2026. Note: No weekend voting and no voting on San Jacinto Day (April 21st).
- Election day is May 2, 2026
March 29, 2026 - A pursuit led by Center Police Department came to an end without incident in Shelbyville on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
A Center Police Department Sgt. Brian Wright caught up to a silver 2005 Buick LeSabre at around 2:30pm at a fuel station on State Highway 87 in Shelbyville. Once the driver was in custody, officers took an inventory of the vehicle.
Meanwhile Center Police Department officers, assisted by Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Game Wardens and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search of State Highway 87 near Loop 500 for additional evidence.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Ingram, and Center Police Officer Amber Earl are seen searching along State Highway 87 following the pursuit.
According to the Center Police Department, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Shelbyville Street at the intersection of Riggs Street. At that point, the Buick failed to stop and the pursuit traveled from there at high speeds until it finally slowed in Shelbyville and the driver of the Buick, Jalandon Stansberry, 23, of Shelbyville came to a stop.
At the time of this report, Stansberry was arrested and charged with evading with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Sgt. Brian Wright and Officer Luis Acuna are seen inventorying the contents of the Buick.
Texas Game Warden Sam Anderson and Center Police Officer Amber Earl are seen conferring during the search on State Highway 87.
Multiple agencies responded to assist in the pursuit and search.
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