Shelby County Today

January 12, 2024 - Strong thunderstorms will impact De Soto, Red River, northwestern Natchitoches and Sabine Parishes, southeastern Panola, eastern Shelby, northeastern San Augustine and northwestern Sabine counties through 6:15am.

At 5:10am CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Stonewall to Bland Lake. Movement was east at 45 mph.

Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

Source: Radar indicated.

Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include: Center, Mansfield, Milam, Many, San Augustine, Coushatta, Zwolle, Logansport, Joaquin, Converse, Shelbyville, Patroon, Bland Lake, Neuville, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Martin, Huxley, South Mansfield, and Hall Summit.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: These storms 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.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 11am CST for northwestern Louisiana, and eastern and northeastern Texas.

January 10, 2024 - TxDOT crews in the nine-county Lufkin District will begin pre-treatment operations and shift work on Friday ahead of a winter weather event expected late Sunday.

A meeting was held Wednesday morning to plan emergency operations and responses. Crews will begin placing a brine mixture on major roadways, overpasses, and bridges Friday ahead of the predicted winter weather. Crews will re-treat Saturday and/or Sunday, if needed.

If freezing precipitation occurs, crews will begin monitoring and inspecting roadways and bridges and re-treat with brine, if necessary. Should the roadways need to be cleared of winter precipitation, equipment will be staged for quicker response times in local areas. Tier I roadways will be treated and monitored. Those roadways include US 59 and US 259. Bridges and overpasses throughout the district will also be treated, including those on US 69, US 190, US 84, US 287, and US 259, SH 94, SH 103, SH 7, SH 21 and others  throughout the district.

“While we know how unpredictable East Texas weather can be, TxDOT plans to be prepared and respond appropriately should we see extreme winter weather,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “We ask that motorists slow down and give our crews room to work should they encounter TxDOT vehicles and workers preparing the roadways.”

Brine operations is a moving work zone. Motorists should obey all traffic control in place, do not try to pass a TxDOT moving convoy placing brine, and stay alert for the possibility of crews working near the roadways during this time.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

January 9, 2024 - State Highway 7 East outside of Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the crash just under 3/4 of a mile from SL 500 at around 11:54am where the Center Fire Department and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department were in the middle of a house fire training. The fire personnel were able to break away from their training and immediately assist those involved.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, a silver 2015 Chevrolet Cruz driven by Samantha Ann Gordon, 47, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 East on the shoulder when Gordon made a u-turn to go back west. In doing so, the Chevrolet crossed the center line after completing the u-turn and into eastbound traffic. The Chevrolet then struck a red 2004 Pontiac Aztek driven by Elizabeth Miller Bridges, 73, of Joaquin which was traveling eastbound.

The Pontiac came to rest partially in the east and westbound traffic lanes, facing south, and the Chevrolet came to rest in the westbound traffic lane, also facing south.

Gordon and her passenger Stacy Oates, 49, were transported to Nacogdoches Medical - Shelby Emergency Department for medical evaluation.

Bridges refused treatment by EMS at the scene.

Gordon was issued citations for wrong side of roadway not passing and no driver’s license.

Traffic was backed up until the vehicles could be removed from the roadway. Hughes Wrecker Service towed both vehicles from the location.

Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted at the incident location.

January 8, 2024 - During the first week of January 2024, the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had 2 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.

Wednesday night at 10:26pm a call was received for a saltwater truck that was stuck in the ditch on Highway 7 East. The driver of the truck had attempted a sharp turn to the right and the back wheels of his trailer ran into a steep ditch, preventing him from completing the turn. It took the use of two heavy duty tow trucks to get the saltwater truck back onto a flat surface. One tow truck held the loaded trailer upright and the other pulled the truck backwards out of the ditch and onto the highway. The JVFD provided traffic control on the roadway while the tow truck company was conducting the recovery operation.

Friday morning at 10:36am a call came in for a female having chest pains at the Joaquin Apartments. The JVFD medical team was advised of the situation as well as Allegiance EMS to get the patient the help she needed. 

With that this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.