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December 18, 2017 - Shelby County is currently not under a burn-ban. I have talked with the Texas Forest Service and they noted that our numbers do not constitute a ban on burning.
However, I would like to caution anyone who is planning to burn brush, trash, etc. to please use caution. Consider the strength of the wind when burning and do not leave any open flame unattended.
If you are planning on using fireworks during the holidays please supervise underage children and remain vigilant. Carelessness is the biggest cause of fires, big or small, fire safety is for all.
December 15, 2017 - The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD) was dispatched to a house fire around 1:30am, Friday, December 15, 2017 which was at the intersection of State Highway 7 East and FM 139.
Reports from the initial caller indicated there may have been someone trapped inside the home. When the firemen arrived, flames were escaping from the front of the structure; however, the firemen were able to quickly put the fire down and prevented the house from completely burning.
After the firemen had cleared the house it was determined no one was within the dwelling during the fire, and the resident no longer lived at the home.
Assisting the JVFD were firemen with the DeSoto Fire Department due to a mutual aid agreement between the departments.
The fire remains under investigation.
December 14, 2017 - A high-speed collision which took place on FM 138 resulted in the arrest of two people involved Sunday, December 10, 2017.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 3:05pm a black 2013 Dodge Challenger driven by Bobbi Paulene Costello, 21, of Tenaha was westbound on FM 138 at an unsafe speed for a curve in the road near CR 1440.
The Dodge traveled across the eastbound lane while skidding and continued off the roadway where it struck a tree, causing damage to the front left quarter of the vehicle. The Dodge came to rest on the south side of the roadway.
Costello and her passenger David Maes, 28, were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment.
Costello was later arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, misdemeanor b; she was also charged with fail to maintain financial responsibility and unsafe speed. According to the Shelby County Jail log, Maes was arrested and charged with public intoxication.
Trooper Ramos was assited at the scene by Trooper Jonathan Stinson, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Adam Renfro and Jesse Travis.
December 12, 2017 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is actively investigating a burglary that occurred at a residence located at 5772 Highway 59 North in Tenaha, Texas.
Some time between the night hours of Monday, December 11th, 2017 and the morning hours of Tuesday, December 12th, 2017 (2) unknown male subjects entered onto the victim's property and burglarized the home and shop.
Items stolen were (2) Samsung televisions (39" & 50"), tools, mini-fridge, welding machine, toolbox, cutting torch and acetylene bottles, air compressor, and a 1998 Honda (tan/black) 4 wheeler.
The suspects were caught on surveillance video footage and still photos were made from the video footage which can be viewed with this release.
The suspects were seen driving a 1999-2003 model style Chevrolet 2 door single cab pickup truck, grey in color.
If you have any information regarding this burglary, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936.598.5600. You can also message your tip information to 936.572.1468. You do not have to give your name.
Any assistance provided will be greatly appreciated by the victims of this crime as well as the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
December 11, 2017 - The deadline for filing for a place on the 2018 March Primary ballot was 6pm Monday, December 11, 2017 and closed with 6 races unopposed. Candidates who filed locally primarily filed with the Republican Party with only one filing with the Democratic Party.
According to the Texas Secretary of State, Roland Pablos, the following candidates filed with the Republican and Democratic Parties of Texas.
Local Races:
District Judge, 273rd Judicial District (1 Candidate) - James A. (Jim) Payne, Jr. (REP)
County Judge (1 Candidate) - Allison Harbison (REP, Incumbent)
District Clerk (1 Candidate) - Lori Oliver (REP, Incumbent)
County Clerk (1 Candidate) - Jennifer Fountain (REP, Incumbent)
County Treasurer (2 Candidates) - Ann Blackwell (REP, Incumbent) and Donna Whitney (REP)
County Commissioner PCT 2 (1 Candidate) - Jimmy Lout (REP, Incumbent)
County Commissioner PCT 4 (4 Candidates) - Bradley Allen (REP, Incumbent), Kevin Foster (REP), Sammy K Todd (REP), and Tom Bellmyer (REP)
Justice of the Peace PCT 1 (3 Candidates) - Melissa Crouch (REP, Incumbent), Randy Robertson (REP), and Tommy Moody (REP)
Justice of the Peace PCT 2 (1 Candidate) - Marla Denby (REP, Incumbent)
Justice of the Peace PCT 3 (3 Candidates) - Darrell Alford (REP), Deborah Sharp (REP), and Margie Anderson (REP, Incumbent)
Justice of the Peace PCT 4 (2 Candidates) - Jackie Kirkwood (REP) and Jenny L. Hicks (DEM, Incumbent) *Updated Information
Justice of the Peace PCT 5 (2 Candidates) - Tracy Broadway (REP) and Vernett Richardson (REP)
Federal and State Races:
U. S. Senator (5 Candidates) - Beto O'Rourke (DEM), Edward Kimbrough (DEM), Geraldine Sam (REP), Mary Miller (REP), and Ted Cruz (REP, Incumbent)
U. S. Representative District 1 (3 Candidates) - Brent Beal (DEM), Louie Gohmert (REP, Incumbent), and Roshin Rowjee (REP)
Governor (12 Candidates) - Adrian Ocegueda (DEM), Andrew White (DEM), Cedric Davis, Sr. (DEM), Demetria Smith (DEM), Grady Yarbrough (DEM), Greg Abbott (REP, Incumbent), James Jolly Clark (DEM), Jeffrey Payne (DEM), Joe Mumbach (DEM), Lupe Valdez (DEM), SECEDE Kilgore (REP), and Tom Wakely (DEM)
Lieutenant Governor (4 Candidates) - Dan Patrick (REP, Incumbent), Michael Cooper (DEM), Mike Collier (DEM), and Scott Milder (DEM)
Attorney General (2 Candidates) - Justin Nelson (DEM) and Ken Paxton (REP, Incumbent)
Comptroller of Public Accounts (2 Candidates) - Glenn Hegar (REP, Incumbent) and Tim Mahoney (DEM)
Commissioner of the General Land Office (4 Candidates) - Davey Edwards (REP), George P. Bush (REP, Incumbent), Miguel Suazo (DEM), and Rick Range (REP)
Commissioner of Agriculture (2 Candidates) - Kim Olson (DEM) and Sid Miller (REP, Incumbent)
Railroad Commissioner (2 Candidates) - Christi Craddick (REP, Incumbent) and Roman McAllen (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 (1 Candidate) - Steven Kirkland (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4 (2 Candidates) - John Devine (REP, Incumbent), and R.K. Sandill (DEM)
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 (2 Candidates) - Jeff Brown (REP, Incumbent) and Kathy Cheng (DEM)
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals (1 Candidate) - Maria T. (Terri) Jackson (DEM)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7 (1 Candidate) - Ramona Franklin (DEM)
State Senator, District 3 (1 Candidate) - Robert Nichols (REP, Incumbent)
State Representative District 9 (2 Candidates) - Chris Paddie (REP, Incumbent), and Garrett Boersma (REP)
Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 (1 Candidate) - Greg Neeley (REP, Incumbent)
December 10, 2017 - U.S. Highway 96 North was the scene of an early morning fatality crash Saturday, December 9, 2017.
When emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the incident, a Dodge pickup truck was found located between three large pine trees in front of a residence just south of the intersection with the north end of State Loop 500.
It was quickly determined by officers and EMS at the scene, the driver did not survive the collision.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 7am Troopers were dispatched to the scene of a reported crash on U.S. Highway 96 North. A blue 2011 Dodge 1500 pickup truck was southbound on U.S. Highway 96 when, for an unknown reason, it exited the roadway to the left.
The Dodge traveled through a stand of bamboo before colliding head on with three trees at high speed and causing major damage to the vehicle.
Melissa Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, pronounced the driver Joseph Michael Windham Sr., 35, of Center dead at the scene. No autopsy was ordered. Next of kin was then notified.
Windham was transported from the scene by Mangum Funeral Home.
Trooper Fountain was assisted in the investigation by Troopers Richard Hill and Sean Smith. Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Adam Renfro and Jesse Travis were also on scene.
December 8, 2017 - The jury that has been summoned for Monday, December 11, 2017 for the 123rd District Court, Honorable 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.
December 8, 2017 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 11:11pm to a reported grass fire; however, upon arrival a house was discovered to be fully engulfed in flames at 1015 Wiseman Street in Center.
Flames had traveled the surrounding area of the structure and caught several trees as well as being very close to the roadway.
Firemen extinguished the surrounding area and kept the flames at bay within the structure which was already collapsed on the ground previous to their arrival. A second structure near the house had fire within an attic space, which the firemen eventually extinguished.
Once the fires were extinguished, the firemen returned to the station at 1:05am
The owner of the structures is unknown at this time and the cause of the fire was undetermined.
December 7, 2017 - County Road 1000 just outside of Center was the scene of a single-vehicle crash which left a vehicle on its side in a ditch.
Emergency responders with Center Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, ACE EMS and Center Police Department all responded to the scene from which the driver was already gone when they arrived.
An eyewitness to the incident was able to report to authorities on what occurred and the circumstances of the driver no longer being at the location.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Richard Hill, at 4:30pm a black 2002 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Juanita Campos, 41, of Center was westbound on County Road 1000 at an unsafe speed.
Campos lost control of the Suburban causing it to travel off the roadway to the right and up and embankment where it came to rest on the driver's side.
Campos was transported by private vehicle to CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial for treatment of unknown injuries.
She was issued citations for unsafe speed and no driver's license.
December 7, 2017 - County Road 4310 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a pickup truck and an 18-wheeler hauling oilfield equipment Friday, December 1, 2017.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 3:43pm a white 2013 Kenworth truck-tractor owned by Redback Coil Tubing LLC. and driven by Gilberto Perez-Juarez, 54, of Carthage was southbound on CR 4310.
As the Kenworth met a black 2003 Ford F-350 driven by Waylon Griffith Jr., 50, of Tenaha traveling in the opposite direction. The Ford stopped and the Kenworth failed to give one half of the roadway as the left side of the trailer the truck-tractor was hauling struck the left side of the Ford, causing damage.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash at the scene. Perez-Juarez was issued a citation for fail to give half of roadway.
Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by Trooper Sean Smith.
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