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January 15, 2021 - The Texas COVID-19 Dashboard added 4 new deaths for a total number of 45 fatalities. A total of 21 new cases of COVID-19 was added and no new recoveries. Of the new cases, 2 were confirmed cases and 19 were probable cases.

January 15th (3:30pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 743 (2 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 490 (19 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 45 (4 new)
Total Estimated Active Cases - 204
Total Estimated Recovered - 984

January 15, 2021 - On January 12, 2021 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Paxton public water system, 2100031 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.   

The public water system 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 and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of January 15, 2021.   

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford 903-692-4313. 


Janaury 12, 2021 - Due to a power outage the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Paxton water system ID# 2100031 to notify customers, everyone on the Jackson side, that was without water, 01/11/2021, to boil their water, prior to consumption (e.g., 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 this 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 Stacy Cranford 903-692-4313.

January 15, 2021 – Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a two-vehicle major crash this morning on US 59, about three miles north of Appleby on January 15.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 3:30am, a 2011 Chevrolet SUV was traveling south and a 2017 Nissan passenger car was traveling north. For unknown reasons, the driver of the Chevrolet drove into the northbound lanes and struck the Nissan head-on.

The driver of the Chevrolet is identified as 63-year-old Ira Caraway from Tenaha. Caraway was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Nacogdoches County Justice of the Peace.

The driver of the Nissan is identified as 32-year-old Vanessa Sowell from Garrison. Sowell and two passengers identified as Damien Davis, 41, from Garrison and Christian Dodd, 31, from Center were also pronounced deceased at the scene by a Nacogdoches County Justice of the Peace.

This crash remains under investigation. Additional information is not available at this time.

January 14, 2021 - The Texas COVID-19 Dashboard added a total of 14 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 new recoveries. Of the new cases, 4 were confirmed cases and 10 were probable cases.

The surge of cases continues, however, recoveries helped to slow the increase of active cases for the first time since January 3rd.

January 14th (4:00pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 741 (4 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 471 (10 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 41
Total Estimated Active Cases - 187
Total Estimated Recovered - 984

January 13, 2021 - The Texas COVID-19 Dashboard added a total of 22 new cases of COVID-19 for a new largest single day increase for the 2021 year. The previous record was January 3rd with 18 cases. 

Of the new cases, 5 were confirmed cases and 17 were probable cases.

The surge of cases continues to push up the active case count which is now 180 and once again no new recoveries were reported allowing the numbers to continue to grow unimpeded.

January 13th (3:40pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 737 (5 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 461 (17 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 41
Total Estimated Active Cases - 180
Total Estimated Recovered - 977

January 13, 2021 - (Photos courtesy Constable Pct. 5) - Josh Tipton, Shelby County Constable Precinct 5, reports a stolen vehicle was recovered on January 3rd off the roadway in a wooded area on CR 4088.

The vehicle, a Chevrolet flatbed farm truck, was stolen on December 21st off FM 138 in the Silas Community. The pickup was white when it was stolen and then painted a different color to conceal its identity.

Constable Tipton advised a thorough investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and himself helped to secure a warrant for the suspect, and at this time an arrest is pending.

Additional information will be updated once the suspect has been placed in custody. 

January 13, 2021 - Template 3-1B Important information about your drinking water monitoring requirements not met for East Lamar WSC:

Our system failed to collect every required coliform sample. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have the right to know what happened and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.

We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During [compliance period month(s)] we ['did not monitor or test' or 'did not complete all monitoring or testing'] for coliform bacteria and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of your drinking water during that time.

What should I do?

There is nothing you need to do at this time. You may continue to drink the water. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, we are required to notify you within 24 hours.

What is being done?

We collected every required coliform sample in November and December in 2020, and are no longer in violation.

For more information, please contact: Janice Butler at 936-598-9780, or P.O. Box 16, Center, Texas 75935.

East Lamar Water does not furnish water to any apartments, nursing homes or schools.

This notice is being sent to you by East Lamar WSC.
Public Water System ID#: TX2100006.
Date distributed: 1/13/2021

January 12, 2021 - The Texas COVID-19 Dashboard added a total of 13 new cases of COVID-19 for a new active case count of 158. Of the new cases, 7 were confirmed cases and 6 were probable cases.

It was just six days ago, Janaury 7th, when the active case count exceeded 100. The year 2020 ended with 55 active cases and since January 1st the cases have nearly tripled with over 100 new cases in the new year. The largest single day increase was on January 3rd with 18 new cases followed by January 6th with 16 new cases. Today and January 10th are tied for third highest with 13 new cases each.

Once again no new recoveries were reported to help offset the growing number of active cases.

January 12th (3:55pm) Numbers:
Total Confirmed Cases - 732 (7 new cases)
Total Probable Cases - 444 (6 new cases)
Total Fatalities - 41
Total Estimated Active Cases - 158
Total Estimated Recovered - 977

January 12, 2021 - U.S. Highway 96 North (Tenaha Street) in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Center Fire Department personnel were quick to respond to the scene where they diverted traffic and helped assess the emergency needs of those involved.

According to Center Police Officer Kevin Sage, a black 2017 GMC Yukon SUV driven by Maria Rojas, 34, with a three-year-old passenger was northbound on Tenaha Street when a black GMC Sierra Denali pickup truck driven by Michael Acosta, 27, pulled out of a car dealership driveway and into the path of the Yukon.

The Yukon collided with the driver's side of the pickup truck, which came to rest on the southbound shoulder facing the roadway while the Yukon came to rest in the southbound traffic lanes facing north.

Each were reported to have received minor injuries from the crash and refused transport by ambulance.

Officer Sage was assisted at the scene by Officer Angela Neal.

January 12, 2021 - Excelsior ISD classes will resume Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at regular time.


January 11, 2021 - Excelsior ISD will be CLOSED Tuesday, January 12, 2021 due to no electricity


January 10, 2021 - Excelsior ISD will be CLOSED Monday, January 11, 2021. Classes resume at normal time Tuesday. If that changes, it will be posted here.


January 8, 2021 - Due to the possibility of ice or snow Sunday night, Excelsior ISD will delay the school start time 1 hour on Monday, January 11th to give the administrators time to check the road conditions before running the buses.

  • Classes will begin at 8:45am.
  • Buses will run 1-hour later than usual.

Please monitor Shelby County Today (www.scttx.com) for updates.

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