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July 14, 2018 - A spokesperson with Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative reports on the large area outage from Saturday morning, July 14, 2018.
Britney Ford reported, "The outage was the result of a transmission line lightning arrestor failure. A lightening arrestor is a device that helps protect the lines from lightning effects during storms. Transmission line equipment can be time consuming to locate and repair safely. As a result, this failure caused SWEPCO's transmission breaker to open which caused the widespread outage affecting Tenaha, Timpson, Prospect, Fitze, Central Heights, Shady Grove and Martinsville. Crews have isolated the issue and are working to make repairs as quickly and as safely as possible. Power has now been restored to all areas with the exception of Tenaha. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated as crews located the issue."
July 13, 2018 - Firemen from the West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department and the Center Fire Department were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 West, Friday July 13, 2018 in the White Rock Community. According to a press release issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), they investigated the one-vehicle crash about 11 1/2 miles west of Center after CR 1234.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:30am, Troopers were notified of the crash involving a grey 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The driver of the vehicle reportedly fell asleep and drove off the roadway to the left and struck a concrete culvert.
The driver is identified as Bradley Fountain, 30, from Center. Fountain was transported to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport by medical helicopter for treatment.
This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
Firemen assisted Hughes Wrecker Service in gaining access to and extracting the vehicle from the creek bed where it came to rest. Additional units assisted in directing traffic on the highway. Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were also on scene to assist.
Crash investigation was led by Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner.
July 12, 2018 - Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, is the subject of a petition for removal of office from her position as Justice of the Peace.
A petition filed in District Court by Shelby County Attorney Gary Rholes on Thursday, July 12, 2018 seeks the removal of Hicks from her office.
The document requests, Jenny Hicks should be removed from her office and alleges she is incompetent and has engaged in official misconduct as defined in the Texas Local Government Code.
The document further alleges, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Jenny Hicks does not keep any kind of office hours, making it impossible to file suits in Pct. 4., such as eviction suits, making it impossible for people to make any disposition of any traffic citations issued to them, and leaving citizens no means to regain the right to renew their licenses even after complying with all requirements to do so. The basic lack of a functioning J.P. Pct. 4, Shelby County, Texas is making a hardship on private citizens, other judges and law enforcement.
Petitioner further seeks the immediate suspension of Jenny Hicks from office, as authorized, because of the extreme hardship her conduct or lack thereof has caused innumerable people.
Along with suspension, petitioner seeks the appointment of a person as J.P. 4, Shelby County, Texas, pending further order of this honorable court.
Wherefore premises considered, petitioner requests that Jenny Hicks, respondent be served with a certified copy of this petition against her, and that the court call for a hearing on the suspension of Jenny Hicks, and for such further relief, including her permanent removal from office after a final trial and for all other relief to which petitioner may be entitled.
As previously reported by Shelby County Today on April 6, 2018, Hicks has been under investigation by the Texas Rangers and Shelby County District Attorney's office for the alleged offense of Theft by Public Servant/Official Misconduct involving her time as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Tenaha. The results of those investigations have yet to be produced.
Further information on those investigations can be found at the link following this article. Additional information involving this petition will be provided as the story develops.
Related article:
SC Justice of the Peace Under Investigation
JP Hicks Served with Temporary Suspension of Precinct 4 Office
July 4, 2018 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Choice public water system on July 3, 2018, 2100005 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 7/11/2018.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Derek Di Verdi at 936-332-7683
Due to a water outage, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Choice public water system ID# 2100005 to notify customers on Hwy 96, Neuville and surrounding areas that were without water on 7/3 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 DEREK DIVERDI at 936-332-7683
July 11, 2018 - The jury that has been summoned for Monday, July 16, 2018 for the 123rd District Court Honorable Judge LeAnn K. Rafferty presiding has been cancelled due to the scheduled cases being resolved or passed.
Anyone receiving a summons for that day is released from jury service until they receive a future summons.
July 9, 2018 - The intersection of Hurst and Foster Streets was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Saturday, July 7, 2018 which resulted in one driver making a water landing.
Officers with Center Police Department and emergency personnel with ACE EMS ambulance service were quick to the scene where the drainage ditch beside the roadway is quite steep along Foster Street.
According to Center Police Officer Brian Wright, at 8:45am a grey Ford Escape driven by Damaseno Benitez-Hernandez, 42, with passengers Dalia Benitez, 39, and Anacia Zamora, 17, was northbound on Hurst Street in Center.
Rita Corbell, 62, was traveling across Hurst Street from the Walmart entrance in the direction of Foster Street in a Pontiac G6. As the Pontiac crossed Hurst Street it failed to yield right of way to the Ford, causing it to make contact with the rear of the Pontiac and sending it into the ditch at the intersection of Hurst and Foster Streets.
No injuries or citations were reported at the time of the crash.
July 6, 2018 - The Center Water Utility is experiencing lower system pressures this morning. A water plant line repair initiated yesterday is taking longer than anticipated leaving the Pinkston Plant off line since early yesterday morning and resulting in lower than usual tank levels that control system pressure. The work is being completed and system should return to normal levels of operation later this evening. No system health notices are issued at this time but will be should pressures drop to the point they would be required.
July 5, 2018 - Sampson Street in Center was the scene of an incident Thursday, July 5, 2018 in which a man was reported to be unresponsive in a back yard.
Center Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene, as well as ambulance personnel at around 10:30am. When Shelby Country Today arrived at the location, officers had cordoned off the outside of the residence and the street.
Residents in the neighborhood surrounded the area and it appeared officers were investigating a possible homicide in the back yard of the residence and seemed to be focused on an area at the front of a pickup truck, which was facing away from the house.
According to a press release issued Friday, July 6, 2018 by Center Police Department Sgt. Nicole Faulkner, at approximately 10:23am July 5, Center Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive person on Sampson St. Upon arrival, officers found Brakia Rashad Roland, 27, of Center deceased.
Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, conducted the inquest and an autopsy has been ordered. Community Funeral Home transported Roland from the scene and he was taken to a facility in Tyler for an autopsy.
The press release finished by indicating the case has been ruled a homicide.
6:46am CDT Tuesday, July 3, 2018
July 3, 2018 - The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for southern Arkansas, for northern Louisiana, for eastern Texas and southeast Oklahoma including Sevier, Howard, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union, Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, La Salle, McCurtain, Bowie, Franklin, Titus, Camp, Morris, Cass, Wood, Upshur, Marion, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, and San Augustine.
Today and Tonight... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible today across the region as an Easterly wave of tropical moisture moves Westward along the Gulf coast. Any thunderstorms could produce dangerous lightning and gusty winds near heavy downpours. Isolated severe activity may be possible during the mid to late day heat and could bring down damaging winds. Otherwise, the heat will continue in the middle to upper 90s in eastern Texas, southeast Oklahoma and adjacent southwest Arkansas. This above average heat along with the humidity will push the heat index values from 100 to 105 degrees. If you must be outside, remember to take frequent shade
breaks and drink plenty of water.
Wednesday through Monday... Coverage of thunderstorms will remain scattered south of I-20 while becoming more isolated for areas north of I-20 on the Fourth of July. However, the coverage will increase for northern areas and linger over the south as a slow moving cold front approaches the region. The main threat from any strong thunderstorms in this heat will be for some damaging winds and dangerous lightning into next week. If thunder roars, move indoors.
July 3, 2018 - U.S. Highway 96, just south of Fork Creek was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 11:30am a tan 2008 Jeep Cherokee driven by Lynda Huebel, 72, of Shelbyville was southbound on U.S. 96 when she fell asleep at the wheel.
The Jeep traveled into the northbound lanes and struck the rear of a grey 2015 Ford Expedition driven by Sharon Ray, 45, of Hemphill. Both vehicles flipped several times before coming to a stop on the eastern side of the roadway.
Ray was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries.
No citations were issued at the time of the crash.
The Center Fire Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies assisted at the scene with traffic control.
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