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May 12, 2021 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a two-vehicle crash yesterday morning on SH 103, about four and one half miles east of Etoile.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 10:25 a.m., a 2015 Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer transporting timber was traveling west. A 2004 Ford pickup was also traveling west in front of the commercial vehicle. Investigators believe the driver of the Ford made an unsafe turn in front of the Kenworth and was struck in the driver’s side. The commercial vehicle then traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a tree.
The driver of the Kenworth is identified Kenedy Edwards, 54, from Center. Edwards was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Nacogdoches County Justice of the Peace.
The driver of the Ford was transported to CHI St. Luke's Hospital in Lufkin by medical helicopter for treatment and then transferred to a Bryan hospital for additional treatment. The identity of the driver is not immediately available at this time.
This crash remains under investigation.
Additional information is not available at this time.
May 11, 2021 - The Child Exploitation Unit made several noteworthy arrests last week.
In San Augustine County, Christopher Scott Tyre was arrested in San Augustine on one count of Promotion of Child Pornography on May 4. This case was received as a NCMEC CyberTipline report involving the upload of an image of child pornography to a social media platform. Investigators seized several items for examination by the Digital Forensics Unit from Tyre’s home. Tyre was booked into the San Augustine County Jail without incident.
In Bexar County, Joe Anthony Salinas was arrested in San Antonio on May 5. Salinas was charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Promotion of Child Pornography, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact. This case was received as a NCMEC CyberTipline report involving the upload of child pornography to a social media account, with the potential of a live victim. Investigators searched Salinas’ home and found clothing from a child pornography image. Several items were seized from the home for examination by the Digital Forensics Unit. Salinas was transferred to the Bexar County Jail without incident.
The Fugitive Apprehension Unit made several noteworthy arrests last week.
In Bexar County, Omahar Aranda was arrested in San Antonio on May 3. Aranda had outstanding warrants for two counts of Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact issued by the Kimble County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest was made with the help of the United States Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force out of San Antonio.
In Tarrant County, Robert Alan Holtsclaw was arrested in Fort Worth on May 6. Holtsclaw had an outstanding warrant for Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact issued by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
May 11, 2021 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary that occurred on or around April 18 on County Road 2932 in Shelbyville.
The suspect(s) gained entry into the home through a window and pried open a safe and removed numerous guns and other items. Entry was also made into a shop on the property where the suspect(s) allegedly stole tools from the building.
The SCSO is seeking assistance from the public regarding this burglary. If you have any information relating to this case, you are urged to contact SCSO Investigator David Haley at 936-598-5601.
Leah Chase, SCSO Public Relations
May 11, 2021 - In March of this year, the company which hosted the photos for Shelby County Today experienced castastophic damage due to a fire. With much sadness, Shelby County Today's photos which went back to 2005 were lost.
A new hosting account has been started with SmugMug for photo access for our viewers. We will continue to add photo ablums with the hopes of getting at least all the photos from 2021 to the new photo site.
Please be patient with us as we learn to navigate shelbycountytoday.smugmug.com
Currently, the photo albums which are setup are:
- Take a Kid Fishing
- Grill Fest
- Easter Bunny at Town and Country RE
- Shelby County Livestock Show
- Shelby County Livestock Show (Backdrop)
Please note for users viewing photos in a Safari browser, they may receive an error message "A gremlin must have snuck into the engine room, but our engineers are on the case." Our solution was using a Chrome or Firefox browser instead of Safari.
May 10, 2021 - (Update): Debris from the train derailment which occurred in Joaquin on Friday, May 7, 2021, has been cleared and all crossings are once again open.
At this time, in relation to a cause of the incident, BNSF states the derailment remains under investigation.
Emergency personnel with the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department and Constable Roy Cheatwood assisted with cleanup crews.
Constable Cheatwood reports remaining with work crews into the night to help them get equipment across the roadway safely, and some of the damaged train cars remain in the area awaiting removal.
May 8, 2021 - (Update): BNSF confirms a coal train derailed in Joaquin around 3:40pm on May 7. Initial reports indicate 18 cars derailed, with 13 on their sides and the remaining five still upright.
There were no injuries and BNSF responders are on scene.
The conpany says their primary focus is to address any safety issues. An investigation is under way.
May 7, 2021 - A train derailment in Joaquin has lost a load of coal on tracks running along Southern Avenue and East Saddle Street.
The crossing at Southern avenue, Chalk street and East Saddle street are all currently impassable.
East Saddle Street is also likely to be shutdown for some time.
Railroad personnel are seen surveying the train incident location.
Information on this incident will be updated as it’s made available.
Constable Roy Cheatwood stated he contacted Jody Covington who owns property across from the railroad tracks to allow the staging of equipment.
Several of the cars involved in the crash received considerable damage.
Constables Josh Tipton and Roy Cheatwood are seen observing the debris field from the train derailment.
May 9, 2021 - Shelby County is included in thunderstorm watch 157 until 9pm for the following locations.
Texas counties included are:
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, and Wood.
May 9, 2021 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a one-vehicle motorcycle crash last night May, 8, 2021, on SH 21 at County Road 434.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:25pm, a 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling west. For unknown reasons the driver drove off the highway to the left and overturned.
The driver is identified as Wade Howell, 29, from Center. Howell was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment where he was pronounced deceased on May, 9.
This crash remains under investigation. Additional information is not available at this time.
Editor's note: Howell has been a member of the Center Volunteer Fire Department for several years, since June 2015.
May 7, 2021 - The interesection of FM 139 and FM 2747 was the scene of a major two-vehicle collision Friday May 7, 2021.
Emergency personnel with the Huxley and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Departments were called to the scene as one driver involved was trapped.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper John Hallenbeck, at around 3:40pm a silver 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Joshua Kreyer, 41, of Shelbyville was southbound on FM 139. At that time a maroon 2003 Dodge pickup truck driven by Colton Buckner, 20, of Joaquin was eastbound on FM 2747 when he failed to stop at a stop sign.
As a result the silver Dodge collided with the front left quarter panel and side of the maroon Dodge, causing major damage to both vehicles.
Buckner was transported by EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries. Kreyer was transported by private vehicle to the same facility.
Buckner was issued a citation for fail to yield right of way at stop intersection.
Also assisting at the scene was the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
Pictured are the Tenaha City Council (from left): Bryan Adams, Janice Barton, Linda Vickery, Florance Adams, and Oneal Jones.
May 7, 2021 - The City of Tenaha celebrated the most recent transition of power to three new council members with their swearing in on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 5:30pm.
The meeting opened with only two council members, as the three who recently vacated their seats chose not to be present for the special meeting. Just before the meeting began, a statement was given by Amanda Treat, City Secretary, to explain the legality of having a quorum of two for the purpose of canvassing votes.
"Your agenda will change, we will only canvass the votes and swear in because we can't conduct any of the business since we don't have a full quorum," said Treat. "TML Legal, they stated that a quorum of canvassing an election is two members of the governing body. The swearing-in can be done at any time after the canvassing and can be done at the same meeting as the canvassing."
Janice Barton
Mayor Mike Ramsey opened the meeting and Treat presented the election results to the council. Early voting results reflected: Total ballots were 30, and for place number one Stanvac Lynn Morris: 15 votes; Janice Barton: 13 votes; under votes, those left blank, were two. Place number four Bryan Adams: 16 votes; under votes, those left blank, 14. Place number five Oneal Jones: 26 votes; Natalie Harris: four votes.
Election day had a total of 94 ballots submitted for place one. On election day Stanvac Lynn Morris received 34 votes; Janice Barton received 59 votes, with one under vote. Place number four, Bryan Adams receiving 62 votes, and there were 32 under votes, for a total of 94 votes submitted. Place number five, Oneal Jones with 61 votes; Natalie Harris with 33, for a total of 94 votes submitted.
Bryan Adams
A motion carried with Florance Adams voting in favor and Linda Vickery seconding her motion to accept and canvass the election results.
Treat then presented each candidate with a written statement of office and then administered to each of the candidates: Janice Barton, Bryan Adams, and Oneal Jones the oath of their office.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:46pm.
Oneal Jones
May 6, 2021 - A Timpson man has been arrested on drug and firearms violations following the discovery of illegal narcotics and stolen firearms.
Shelby County Constables, assisted by Sheriff's Department and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel initiated a warrant at a residence on Prairie Street in Timpson Thursday, May 6, 2021.
According to Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, he has had infomation on the residence where the arrest took place, through investigation and complaints from Timpson citizens.
Tipton requested the assistance of other agencies including Constable Precinct 4 Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 3 Roy Cheatwood, Sheriff's Deputies and DPS. After speaking with the homeowner, written consent from the homeowner was acquired to search the home.
During the search a significant amount of methamphetamine, pipes, needles, several plastic baggies used for distribution, and a stolen gun out of Angelina County were located.
Clayton Russell, Jr., 33, of Timpson was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony 3; and possession of a stolen firearm, state jail felony.
"I've got several complaints from it up here, and it was just time to do something," said Constable Tipton.
Constable Tipton expressed appreciation to all of the agencies who assisted in the arrest.
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