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March 22, 2021 - The 15th week of vaccine distribution starts March 22, 2021 and Shelby County has one provider on the list. Aurora Concepts is allocated to receive 200 Moderna vaccine doses. Aurora Concepts can be contacted at 936-598-3296 to schedule a vaccine.
Shelby County, a part of Public Health Region 4/5N, reports over the past week an additional 389 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose for a total of 3,186.
Also, over the past week an additional 130 people have been fully vaccinated for a total of 1,334 for the county.
The county has an estimated population of 19,449 of people 16 years of age and older. With the 15th week shipment of first doses vaccines, the county will have received a total of 3,170.
Past weekly vaccine allocations for Shelby County:
- Week 14, March 15 - Aurora Concepts, PLLC 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 14, March 15 - Brookshires Pharmacy 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 13, March 8 - Brookshires Pharmacy 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 13, March 8 - Hope Community Medicine 100 vaccine doses (Johnson & Johnson)
- Week 12, March 4 - "Save Our Seniors" Military Vaccine Clinic 200 vaccine doses (Pfizer)
- Week 12, March 1 - Aurora Concepts, PLLC 1,170 vaccine doses (Pfizer)
- Week 11, February 22 - Hope Community Medicine 200 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 8, February 1 - Hope Community Medicine 300 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 4, January 4 - Aurora Concepts, PLLC 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 4, January 4 - Hope Community Medicine 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 2, December 21 - Aurora Concepts, PLLC 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 2, December 21 - Brookshires Pharmacy 300 vaccine doses (Moderna)
- Week 2, December 21 - Hope Community Medicine 100 vaccine doses (Moderna)
Texas to receive more than 900,000 COVID-19 vaccine first doses for next week
More than 3 million people fully vaccinated
March 22, 2021 - Over 900,000 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped to providers across Texas next week. The Texas Department of State Health Services is allocating 685,470 doses to at least 481 providers in 183 counties. More than 230,000 additional first doses are expected to be available to pharmacy locations and federally-qualified health centers directly from the federal government.
Texas has now administered more than 8.8 million doses, an increase of 1.2 million in the last week. Over 6 million people have received at least one dose and more than 3 million are fully vaccinated. Among Texas seniors, 59 percent have received at least one dose and one in three are now fully vaccinated. Nearly one in seven of all Texans at least 16 years old are now fully vaccinated.
People ages 50 to 64 became eligible for vaccination this week. They are added to health care workers, long-term care residents, people 65 and older, people with chronic health care conditions that may increase their risk of severe COVID-19, and school and child care workers. DSHS estimates that 12 to 14 million Texans are currently eligible to be vaccinated.
In addition to the first doses mentioned above, the state is ordering 674,580 doses intended as the second dose for people first vaccinated a few weeks ago. DSHS automatically orders second doses to arrive at providers in the week they can begin to be administered, so they will be available when needed. People should be able to return to the same provider to receive their second dose within six weeks of getting the first.
People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine at dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine.
Helpful links:
March 21, 2021 - North First Street (US 59) in Timpson was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Tuesday, March 16, 2021.
Emergency responders were called to the scene of the crash just after 12-noon at the intersection of First and Garrison Streets.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash where a white 1995 Chevrolet Van driven by Stanley Haney, 57, of Timpson was northbound on First Street when the van he was driving struck the rear of a white 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The Ram was driven by Billy Lee Thompson, 80, of Timpson who was preparing to turn onto Garrison Street.
Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service was on scene; however, no one was transported for injuries.
Haney was issued a citation for failure to control speed.
While the scene was still being cleared, Haney walked up to Trooper Ramos and could be heard asking if anything else was needed of him. Immediately following his question, a glass pipe fell from the bag he was carrying. Trooper Ramos asked Haney what he smoked in that pipe and he admitted to smoking marijuana with the pipe.
Subsequently, Haney was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.
March 21, 2021 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Sabine National Forest, have advised a prescribed burn with Helicopter support today only, located in Compartments 30, 37-41 (BLOCKS A - D) 4,943 acres, which is located in the Ragtown Area.
Winds are predicted from the Southeast at 5-9 mph. Also, we advised and long range drift may affect some of the areas.
Update: The vaccine being offered is Pfizer which is a two dose vaccine with three weeks between the doses.
March 16, 2021 - The Texas Military Division, along with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and Shelby County Office of Emergency Management will be conducting another “First Dose” COVID Vaccination clinic Friday, March 19th 8:00am to 5:00pm at the John D. Windham Civic Center. Due to short notice, vaccine appointments will not be made but rather will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Individuals may expect a wait time because of this.
This vaccination clinic is a first dose clinic for anyone who has not received a vaccination yet AND is in one of the following categories that are set by the Texas Dept. of State Health Services:
- Front Line Medical Workers
- First Responders
- Anyone 50 and Older
- Anyone 16 and Over With a Health Condition That Increases the Risk of Severe COVID 19 Illness
- School and Licensed Child Care Workers
The clinic will operate until 5:00pm Friday or until vaccine runs out. It is unknown at this time which type of vaccine will be available and as soon as that information becomes available we will update this news release.
March 18, 2021 - The Center Police Department has initiated a new, albeit tried and true method to working traffic in Center.
Officer Kevin Sage, who has been with the department since June 2019, is the department's first motorcycle police officer of record and he is the traffic officer for the city. The motorcycle is a 2009 Harley Davidson FLHTP / Police Electra Glide.
"I started back here in June of 2019, and I just started as a reserve from California," said Sage. "I worked for the Martinez Police Department in California."
Officer Sage was already a fully experienced and qualified officer prior to joining the Center Police Department; however, he still had to attend police academy in Texas before becoming a reserve officer with the department. February of 2020 he became a full-time police officer with the Center PD.
Officer Sage has experience with patrolling in a standard police cruiser as well as motorcycles, but when the department began discussing having a designated traffic officer, he offered the idea of getting a motorcycle to work traffic.
"I am part of the patrol division, I still do patrol, but I do almost all the accidents," said Officer Sage.
Sgt. King explained Officer Sage will be able to choose if he's on patrol or working traffic on any given day depending on weather or other factors; however, his primary duty is traffic enforcement and parking violations.
"Officer Sage actually brought up the concept and idea, and they were receptive of it," said Sgt. King. "He can get around so much better in traffic on the bike. From working a bike before, he knew that."
From 1990 to 2004 Officer Sage utilized a police cruiser to perform his duties and by the end of 2004 he was riding a motorcycle, enforcing traffic laws. He returned to patrol in a police cruiser in 2011.
Sage explained the motorcycle was purchased from a Sheriff's Department in Illinois with low mileage as that department was switching from Harley Davidson motorcycles to BMW models.
A lot of times on streets like Tenaha Street, if there's a traffic incident, the street can become very congested and sometimes prevent officers from getting to the scene as quickly as they would like, but a motorcycle unit should have an easier time negotiating around the line of traffic.
The first day of service for the motorcycle was Tuesday, March 16, when Officer Sage responded to a crash on Hurst Street first thing in the morning.
"We had a major accident where both vehicles ended up in the ditch, an ambulance was being called, I responded and I could get around things a little bit quicker," said Officer Sage.
Officer Sage explained how traffic enforcement isn't just about writing tickets, but saving lives by helping drivers be more cautious and aware.
"I spent a lot of time with accidents where people are injured and killed, and I've given CPR on the side of the road," said Sage. "Last year I gave CPR three times."
Sage says he knows a lot of people think citations are bad and writing citations is not his main goal, but to get people to drive more safely.
"I don't want to have to do CPR on the side of the road," said Officer Sage. "Back in 2019 I'd been here just a few months and a girl got hit walking across [the road] from McDonald's at 11:30 at night and she was killed."
That night had a major impact on all those involved, from one person losing her life and her family dealing with her loss, to the driver of the truck living with the fact his vehicle struck her, even though, there was nothing he could do to prevent the incident.
"There was nothing I could do, you know when we got there. That just kills me, and safety is a big issue" said Sage.
The motorcycle unit is also being helpful at some school campuses during high traffic times in slowing traffic to help prevent speeding through school zones. Sgt. King talked about the motorcycle unit being helpful in public outreach with students as well.
Presence of a motorcycle unit on the Center streets may help other drivers to be more aware of motorcycle riders on the road, because they'll possibly be more aware of him. Officer Sage remarked motorcycles are most times very safe and more often than not the motorcycle rider isn't to blame for causing the incident. That's not to say there aren't speeders riding motorcycles.
"The problem is you have to be over aware when you're riding the bike," said Officer Sage.
Officer Sage hopes to help bring awareness to other motorcycle riders and be able to do some outreach with school students.
March 17, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reports 1 new death, 3 new cases, and a total of 84 active cases for Wednesday. Of the new cases, all were confirmed cases. Only 1 new recovery was reported.
March 17th (5:50pm) Numbers: (changes since March 16th)
Total Confirmed Cases - 888 (3 new)
Total Probable Cases - 681
Total Fatalities - 63 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 84
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,422 (1 new)
March 17, 2021 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA issued at 9:45am CDT, Wednesday, March 17, 2021 a severe weather statement for a severe thunderstorm warning.
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 10:30am CDT for Southwestern DeSoto and Northwestern Sabine Parishes, Southeastern Panola, Northeastern Nacogdoches, Shelby and Northwestern San Augustine Counties.
At 9:44am CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 8 miles northwest of Joaquin to near Center to Martinsville, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD... 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE... Radar indicated.
IMPACT... Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include... Center, Logansport, Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Martinsville, Huxley, Keachi, Longstreet, Stanley, James, Jericho, Stockman, Arcadia, Woods and Paxton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT for northwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas.
A tornado watch remains in effect for the warned area. Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Although a tornado is not immediately likely, if one is spotted act quickly and move to a place of safety inside a sturdy structure, such as a basement or small interior room.
March 16, 2021 - Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 17th day of March, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:
1. Approve and pay weekly expenses.
2. Public comments on Agenda item.
3. Approve current payroll.
4. Discuss and possibly approve Treasurer to advertise for RFP for County Bank Depository Contract.
5. Discuss and possibly approve Resolution Opposing SB 234/HB 749 Efforts to Silence County Officials. Presented by County Treasurer.
6. Record completed required Continuing Education hours for Shelby County Treasurer.
7. Discuss and possibly take action to replace the Courthouse sign that was damaged during Hurricane Laura.
8. Discuss report from AmeriSpec on the Adult Probation building.
9. Recognize the report with Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
10. Discuss and possibly take action on upgrades on Sheriff’s radio system.
11. Discuss and possibly take action on upgrades on the VFD radio system.
12. America Montes to address the court on making Private Road 800 into a County Road.
13. Adjourn.
March 17, 2021 - Tornado Watch 28 is in effect until 1pm CDT for the following locations: Texas counties included are Angelina, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby.
March 16, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reports 1 new death, 3 new cases, and a total of 83 active cases for Tuesday, March 16. Of the new cases, 1 was a new confirmed case and 2 were new probable cases. No new recoveries were reported.
March 16th (7:00pm) Numbers: (changes since March 15th)
Total Confirmed Cases - 885 (1 new case)
Total Probable Cases - 681 (2 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 62 (1 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 83
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,421
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