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February 5, 2021 - The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1432 County Road 3267 at 4:27pm on Friday, February 5th. Desoto Parish Fire District #1 also responded per the department’s automatic mutual aid agreement. 

First arriving units found a wood veneer A-frame home fully involved. Due to heavy fire conditions, firefighters deployed an exterior attack. A quick knockdown of the fire was accomplished, and firefighters remained on the scene performing salvage and overhaul operations until 7:15pm. 

The home was a total loss, however, firefighters were able to salvage some important personal items for the homeowner. There was no one home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. 

February 4, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 150 active cases on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Of the new cases 4 are new confirmed cases and 10 are new probable cases.

February 4th (3:50pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 832 (4 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 616 (10 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 49
Total Estimated Active Cases - 150
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,249 (13 new)

February 3, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 149 active cases on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Of the new cases 4 are new confirmed cases and 3 are new probable cases.

February 3rd (3:50pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 828 (4 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 606 (3 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 49
Total Estimated Active Cases - 149
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,236 (17 new)

February 3, 2021 - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Game Wardens have been searching the Attoyac River since February 2, 2021 for the location of a man who was lost when a boat capsized.

The incident location was 6.60 miles away from Aiken on the San Augustine County and Nacogdoches County line.

According to Cpt. Mike Hanson, TPWD Game Warden, Don Crawford and his brother Gary "Possum" Crawford had been in a small boat on Tuesday around 2pm when both men leaned over the same side of the boat at the same time and it capsized.

Gary Crawford was able to make it to the bank and when he turned around he could see his brother and shouted to him to "get to the bank." Once he made it back to a vehicle Gary Crawford called for emergency assistance.

Game Wardens had a large quantity of debris to contend with as they utilized sideswipe sonar during their search.

The body of Don Crawford was found in the area where the boat turned over around 1pm Wednesday.

Once he was located, Watson and Sons Funeral home arrived on scene and transported Crawford. 


February 2, 2021 - Law enforcement officials have been searching for a Shelby County man Tuesday, February 2, 2021 who went missing following a boating incident on the Attoyac River just inside Nacogdoches County.

Details have not yet been released by law enforcement; however, two men were apparently on the water when their boat somehow capsized.

Texas Game Wardens responded and were assisted by additional units with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and other individuals.

Officers have intentions to return to the area to continue the search in the morning February 3, 2021.

Information on Shelby County Today will be updated as it's made available.

February 3, 2021 - The City of Center, Texas, led by the Center Economic Development Corporation, and in partnership with Lit Communities, LLC, is proud to announce a city-wide survey designed to assess residential and business demand for a fiber optic network that could be built throughout the city. 

Businesses and homes in Center have long struggled with inadequate internet connectivity in addition to unreliable speeds and service. The survey is available to all City residents and businesses and those in close proximity to the City. It will ask questions regarding the respondent's current service, price, speed and reliability as well as what types of services they would like to see offered through a network. 

The City will then look to determine the best method of moving forward to expand a broadband network through Center. To take the survey please click on to the City of Center website: www.CenterTexas.org.

February 2, 2021 - The Texas DSHS Covid-19 Dashboard reported 159 active cases on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Since the last report two days ago, the report included 10 new confirmed cases and 29 new probable cases.

February 2nd (3:15pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 824 (10 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 603 (29 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 49
Total Estimated Active Cases - 159
Total Estimated Recovered - 1,219 (19 new)

February 1, 2021 - CR 1145 was the scene of a major crash involving an all terrain vehicle on Saturday, January 30, 2021 just west of Center.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 5:40pm a silver 2008 Arctic Cat Prowler 700 driven by a 14-year-old male was also occupied with a 20-year-old male passenger in the front right, 15-year-old female passenger on the center console, and a 16-year-old female passenger and 16-year-old male passenger both in the rear bed of the vehicle.

The Arctic Cat was westbound on CR 1145 at an unsafe speed on wet roadway when the vehicle overturned before ejecting all passengers and leaving the driver pinned beneath the vehicle.

Center Fire Department personnel utilized Jaws-of-Life to help lift the vehicle off the driver before being moved to an ambulance. All passengers were also transported by ambulance as a precaution.

The crash remains under investigation.


Pictured are (from left): Shawna Walker, Paralegal; Karren Price, District Attorney; Lynda K. Russell, Assistant District Attorney; Ricky Allen, Investigator; and Whitley Williams, Paralegal.

February 1, 2021 - The Shelby County District Attorney's Office held a swearing-in ceremony for new Assistant District Attorney, Lynda K Russell and new Investigator, Ricky Allen. 

In addition to Russell and Allen, District Attorney Karren Price introduced her other staff members Shawna Walker, Paralegel; and Whitley Williams, Paralegel.

Administering the oath of office to Russell and Allen was Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1.

A press release issued by the District Attorney's Office reads as follows: We are swearing in the last two slots in our team today and I want to introduce everyone. I'm grateful for each of these folks and wanted to let everyone know who each is and briefly describe their role. This is an awesome job you have trusted me with and I want you to know I will remember every day that I work for you and so will these staff members. 

Shawna Walker, Paralegal:

Shawna is from Timpson, is married to Kenny and has a herd of beautiful grand babies. She is the senior member of our team in terms of service in this office. She has been in the D.A.'s office since 1999, and around the courthouse for longer than that. She has critically important knowledge of a lot of history, processes and people. None of us can succeed without her. 

Whitley Williams, Paralegal:

Whitley is the youngest of our team, is also from Timpson, is married to Taylor and has two sweet babies, one preschooler and one infant. Whitley is a little dynamo and a great worker. While she is young with much to learn, I can find no quit in her and I am happy she decided to return after a 6-month hiatus last year surrounding the birth of her baby boy. 

Whitley has a can do, willing to jump in and try, team spirit who understands the important services we provide to our community and recognizes that we are here to help. 

Ricky Allen joins the D.A.'s office: 

Today marks the first day since January 1 that the District Attorney's office is fully staffed. Today we welcome Ricky Allen, a Timpson native, DPS Narcotics retiree and former Chief Deputy for Shelby County as our investigator. Ricky brings over 30 years experience in law enforcement to the table, and I am confident in telling you he has seen it all. It was my desire to find the right fit, meaning someone who had in fact seen it all and someone who also understands the importance of good report writing and the difficulties of trial preparation when the work isn't done at the front end of our cases. 

I have complete faith in Ricky's ability to communicate our requirements and needs to the officers who rely on us to finish the business they begin, and in his ability to aid them in building rock solid cases. 

Lynda K. Russell joins the D.A.'s office as Assistant District Attorney: 

Ms. Russell requires no introduction. She is not a native of Shelby County but adopted us over 40 years ago and has dedicated herself to us ever since. I doubt there is a charity she has not contributed to, a Board she hasn't served on or an entity to which she hasn't volunteered time or funds. Hers has truly been a life of service to her community and in my opinion, we owe her a debt of gratitude for that service. 

Lynda K., as we all know her, has roughly 30 years experience as an attorney, 12 as our District Attorney. I never have to question her loyalty to the mission of a prosecutor, the law or our community and that is important to all of us. She brings integrity, trustworthiness, dedication and great knowledge of the law and our jurisdiction to the table, and like Ricky, she's probably seen it all by now.

I believe she is the best person for the job and I have complete faith in her and her abilities, I hope you will join me in welcoming her back to the work she enjoys and where she can do the most good for our community. 

January 27, 2021 - The plaintiffs in the Morrow, et al v. City of Tenaha Marshal, et al case have given notice in federal court as of December 10, 2020, they are satisfied with the county defendants in the case and seek to discharge the county from further obligations. 

This came following the decision of Shelby County Commissioners' in October 2020 to pay the county's remaining obligation of $186,500 per the federal court's memorandum of opinion of September 15, 2020 regarding remaining attorney's fees, which at that time totaled $289,433.96.

The plaintiff's notice to the court further stated the release of the county defendants in no way reduces the remaining defendants' liabilities in the case.

At the time Shelby County paid the $186,500; the difference then for the City of Tenaha to pay appeared to then be $102,933.96.

Although the defendants originally named no longer hold their offices and have not been financially liable to the plaintiffs, their offices were made responsible. 

The plaintiffs have intent to release Shelby County from the lawsuit; however, the court record does not yet reflect a dismissal by United States District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

January 31, 2021 - Due to COVID-19 exposure, Shelby County Outreach Ministries, which includes our Helping Hands and Senior Nutrition departments, will be closed this week, February 1February 5

We plan to resume normal operating hours and days on Monday, February 8th. We are sorry for the inconvenience. 

God Bless you and stay safe.  

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