The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
April 29, 2022 - US 84 west in Shelby County, west of Timpson at the Attoyac River Bridge, is confined to one lane of stop and go traffic as crews make emergency bridge repairs. Traffic control is in place on each side of the bridge in Rusk and Shelby counties. Estimated time of clearance is 8 pm today. Motorists are urged to reduce speed, expect delays or take alternate routes.
April 28, 2022 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Sabine National Forests, have advised a prescribed burn today location:
Sabine N.F. – Compartments 72/73/74 (Red Hills RX) Blocks F & G only Located in the Red Hills Recreation Area, 1,548 acres, East Side of Texas State Highway 87, and Digger Road/FS Road 110, with Helicopter Support and Winds are predicted from South/Southeast at 5–11 MPH.
Please drive with caution. Also, we advised and long range drift SMOKE may affect some of the areas.
April 27, 2022 - The Timpson ISD school board is adopted a new a new instructional schedule that other schools across the state have either adopted or are considering. The following is a statement issued by the school Superintendent, Mid Johnson:
Last night the TISD Board of Trustees met in a special session to discuss ways to retain and attract teachers to our district.
The board has decided to implement a 4-day instructional week. With this innovative change comes a lot of questions and challenges, but a lot of questioning, thought and planning has already gone into the discussion. We believe this will help with the retention/attraction of staff and help the attendance rate of staff and students. We know some parents may be concerned about childcare for their younger children on Fridays. We are discussing some creative ways to help families on Fridays if needed. We will put out a calendar as soon as possible with more information to come.
Please understand that all districts in Texas must comply with the minimum number of minutes per year. To make this adjustment, students and staff will be returning to school a couple of weeks earlier than normal and school will end a week or so later than normal. Additionally, the school day will be increased by about an hour in order to comply with the required minutes.
The board also discussed ways to increase pay for teachers and staff. We hope to get more information out soon. But, this too is an area we feel will help our district.
The last two years have not been easy, but you are valued at TISD. I don’t believe you will find another district that cares more about the students, teachers, and staff. Our board is open to new ideas and wants what’s best for all in the district. I hope you find these changes exciting. We just have a few more weeks of school. Thank you for all you do and let’s do our best to end this year better than ever.
Sincerely,
Mid Johnson
April 26, 2022 - The Shelby County Commissioners decided during their April 20, 2022, meeting to move forward with the disposing/recycling of county property, specifically electronics.
Judge Allison Harbison explained the items being discussed included old computer monitors, computers, hard drives which are taking up space in several buildings. She suggested the hard drives would need to be made inoperable before disposal.
A motion carried to approve the disposal/recycling of county property with the caveat hard drives would be destroyed.
Judge Harbison inquired with the commissioners if they have equipment which could be used to trim the tree near the flag pole in front of the active Shelby County courthouse, and they described the equipment they have would be more likely to tear tree branches than to cut them.
Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, asked about the need to trim all the trees around the courthouse, and he suggested. Commissioner Bellmyer inquired if the project would occur on a weekend, and Judge Harbison agreed wither that or after hours would be necessary.
A motion carried for Judge Harbison to get quotes from tree trimming companies.
The meeting adjourned at 9:41am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Disposing/ Recycling County property/Electronics. 3. Trimming the tree by the flag pole in front of the Courthouse. 4. Adjourn. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Select engineering service provider(s) to complete project implementation for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP Act) funding administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, other Federal or State Agency.
April 25, 2022 - During the week of April 18th through 24th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to exactly one call. This was quite the “night and day” to last weeks total of nine calls.
On Sunday, April 24th, Joaquin VFD responded to reports of a gas leak on FM 2428 in Joaquin. After arriving on scene, members of the department confirmed that gas was present and waited until a representative of the City of Joaquin came out to repair the leak.
Click image for larger version
At this time the Joaquin VFD would like to remind everyone of the blood drive that will take place Saturday, May 7th at the JVFD central station on the square in Joaquin. Anyone who signs up for the drive ahead of time and is in attendance on the day of will be eligible for a door prize of a 77-quart cooler or outdoor folding chairs. The sign up sheet can be accessed by using a cell phone camera to scan the QR code on any of the blood drive posters located around town.
We look forward to seeing anyone who can make it out to the drive and help save a life. With that, the JVFD hopes everyone has a safe and fire-free week.
April 25, 2022 - A disposal site located on FM 139 near FM 2787 is dealing with a fire resulting from weather conditions April 25, 2022.
Due to the fire, FM 139 at that location is being blocked off while emergency personnel addresses the fire.
Travelers on FM 139 may want to consider taking an alternate route until the fire has been abated.
April 24, 2022 - The water on N.E.W. WSC no longer requires boiling.
On April 18, 2022, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the N.E.W. Water Supply, #2030034, to issue a Boil Water Notice 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.
N.E.W. Water Supply 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. We have also provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of April 23, 2022.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the office:
220 West Columbia Street
San Augustine, Texas.
936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp 936-201-5001.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call (512)239-4691.
Effective April 18, 2022 Until Further Notice
April 18, 2022 - Due to a break in the line at Plant 1, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation PWS #2030034 to notify all customers on FM 711, CR 203, CR 205, Kelleyville, Harmony, Fountain Town and Woodland Acres Communities to boil their water prior to consumption (eg., 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 the 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 N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation at 220 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 75972, or call 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp at 936-201-5001.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can also be reached at 512-239-4691.
April 21, 2022 - An attempted traffic stop led the Shelby County Sheriff's Department on a pursuit on April 20, 2022, which traveled a large portion of the eastern and southern parts of the county.
According to Sheriff Kevin Windham, the initial traffic stop for a defective headlight developed into a pursuit after the driver failed to stop on Haslam Strip (U.S. Highway 84). The subsequent pursuit traveled FM 139 to the East Liberty area and then south of Shelbyville.
As the pursuit traveled south of Shelbyville on CR 1090, one patrol unit was unable to continue the pursuit as it had crashed.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) a single-vehicle crash was investigated involving a Shelby County patrol unit on County Road 1090, approximately one mile northwest of State Highway 147.
The preliminary investigation by DPS indicates that at approximately 9:15pm, a vehicle was actively fleeing from the Shelby County patrol unit. After the vehicles traveled onto a dirt portion of the road, the Deputy lost control of the vehicle and struck several trees.
The fleeing vehicle continued and had not been located at that time.
The Shelby County Patrol unit was a 2014 Chevrolet SUV driven by Deputy Jordan Ford, who was not injured.
Sheriff Windham had staged his vehicle at the intersection of CR 2110 (Cannon Cemetery Road) and State Highway 87 (SH87) in attempts to head the suspect off in the event he traveled that direction. As it happened, the suspect did travel CR 2110 and once at the intersection with SH87 the vehicle he was driving struck Sheriff's Windham's unit, causing minor damage.
The vehicle continued from there south on SH87 where the pursuit finally came to an end at the 9000 block. From there the driver further evaded on foot and was finally apprehended by Sheriff Deputy Aaron Jones.
It was then discovered the driver had a female passenger and a 9-month-old baby in the car with him during the pursuit. The cries of the 9-month-old were clear when the woman was removed from the car, and then found the baby in a child safety seat.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Gary Smith, 19, and he was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant; abandon or endanger a child with imminent bodily injury or death; evading arrest with a motor vehicle; and evading arrest on foot.
Assisting in the pursuit was the Center Police Department and investigating the crash incident was DPS Trooper Daniel Dellenger.
April 21, 2022 - Folsom Chapel Road (FM 2026) was the scene of a major single-vehicle crash Wednesday, April 20, 2022, which resulted in the vehicle involved catching fire and burning.
Emergency personnel with the Center Fire Department responded to the scene along with emergency medical services and when they arrived the pickup truck involved was in flames; however, the driver had escaped before the truck ignited..
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) they investigated the single-vehicle crash approximately three and one-half miles west of U.S. Highway 96.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:45pm, a white 2017 Dodge pickup was traveling east driven by George Leon, 19, of Center. It is reported that a wild animal traveled into the pickup’s path, causing Leon to take evasive action. The pickup traveled off the road and struck multiple trees and then caught fire.
Leon was not injured and he was cited for not having a driver's license.
There is no additional information available from DPS at this time.
The crash investigation was conducted by DPS Trooper Daniel Dellenger.
Fire personnel fought the fire emmitting from the truck and worked to prevent the fire from spreading further. Once the fire was out, they assisted wrecker personnel in extracting the truck from the set of trees it was lodged against.
Their efforts were finally completed just before 11pm and they returned to the station.
April 21, 2022 (Alert Flyer) - The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a silver alert for a missing elderly man out of Smith County, Tyler, Texas area.
Freddie Head, 73, was last seen on the 13000 block of CR 4173, Tyler, Texas at 9:30pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Head is a white male, 5'6" tall and weighing 160 lbs, with gray hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing gray and blue plaid shirt and blue jeans driving a 1996 maroon Dodge Ram 1500 pickup with Texas license plate BC65734. The vehicle is an extended cab with faded paint on the hood and roof and a #6 sticker on the back glass.
If seen, call 903-566-6600 to report information to the Smith County Sheriff's Department.
Pages
