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September 29, 2025 - (Click here to view 2026 Budget) - The Shelby County Commissioners held a workshop September 17, 2025, during which they approved the 2026 budget, and new tax rate.
Commissioner Roscoe McSwain moved to adopt the budget with two amendments including a donation of $12,000 to Happy Tails at $1,000 a month and a nurse practitioner at $144,984 in 12 installments. Judge Harbison clarified that contract would be with Southern Health Partners. Commissioner Tom Bellmyer seconded the motion and it carried.
The commissioners discussed the tax rate and Commissioner Bellmyer moved to approve the tax rate as presented at .651300 (.5882 General; .0613 Road and Bridge) and his motion was seconded by Commissioner Shannon Metcalf. It carried.
The workshop adjourned at 11:17am.
September 29, 2025 - Center Fire Department (CFD) personnel responded to a structure fire at around 3:30am Saturday, September 27, 2025, on Nacogdoches Street in Center.
The structure, located across the street from the Shelby County Jail in Center, was fully engulfed in flames behind a vacant residence.
Also a part of the fire was a large dead tree and fire personnel worked quickly to put down the fire with water and prevent spread to other structures in the immediate facility
No one was residing in the home at the time and Center Police Officers investigated at the scene.
Firefighters were directed to a fire at the 400 block of Maxwell Street in Center on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 4:04pm where a shed was on fire in front of a house. According to the CFD Nissan SUV was parked behind the shed and received some damage from the fire. Fire department personnel were able to extinguish the blaze and prevent further spread to the residence or structures on neighboring property.
A cause was not indicated; however, there was a pile of hot embers nearby from a trash fire.
A residence in the 700 block of County Road 1465 in the Mt. Gillion Community was the scene of a structure fire on September 20, 2025, when CFD personnel were dispatched at 6:45am after a neighbor of that residence called in a barn fire on the property. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the structure to be fully involved in the fire, as well as a large dead pine tree.
The resident wasn’t home at the time of the fire, and a family member requested to let the building burn since the portable building had already collapsed and everything inside was lost. The firefighters left for the station at 8:15am.
Abundant Love Ministries, located at the intersection of Shelbyille Street and Loop 500 in Center, was called in by a passer-by as being on fire September 18, 2025, when the caller stated that the outside of Abundant Love Ministries church was on fire.
According to the CFD, upon arrival the fire was mostly out with no visible flames, little heat remaining. The booster line from the fire department’s pumper truck was used to cool the area.
The origin of the fire was determined to be an electrical box located behind the cross on the wall within the church. As a result of the fire the cross and brick wall was charred, and a small amount of plastic in the soffit was melted. A ventilation fan was used to clear remaining smoke from the structure.
According to church members at the scene the individual who called in the fire and put out the flames was a Matt Styles.
September 26, 2025 - A Shelby County Grand Jury delivered 24 indictments on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The grand jury was impaneled for the July 2025 term of the 123rd/273rd Judicial District Courts.
Christopher Lance Askew was collectively indicted on one count of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in penalty group 1, first degree felony; and one count of possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1, third degree felony. Count one alleges that on December 28, 2024, Askew knowingly possessed, with intent to deliver, four grams or more but less than 200 grams of methamphetamine. The second count alleges that on December 28, 2024, Askew knowingly possessed phencyclidine in an amount of one gram or more but less than four grams. Enhancements have been appled to this indictment due to convictions of Askew for the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in 2016 and 2019. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Christopher Lance Askew was collectively indicted on one count of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance penalty group 3/4 >=400G, first degree felony; and one count of possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1/1-B >=4G<200G, state jail felony. Count one alleges on June 9, 2025, Askew knowingly possessed with intent to deliver a compound, mixture or preparation in an amount of 400 grams or more that contained not more than 1.85 kilograms of promethazine. The second count alleges that Askew, on the previously referenced date, knowingly possessed methamphetamine in an amount of less than one gram. Enhancements have been appled to this indictment due to convictions of Askew for the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in 2016 and 2019. The punishment enhancement sets a penalty of 25 years to life. (123rd Judicial District Court)
Daniel Mason Davis was indicted for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, state jail felony. The indictment alleges, on April 12, 2025, Davis operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated by reason of the introduction of alcohol into the body. The indictment further alleges the motor vehicle was occupied by a passenger who was then and there younger than 15 years of age, namely, a two-year old female. (123rd Judicial District Court)
(Dates in parenthesis indicate the date of the alleged incident):
- Edwin Andre Humphrey, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (February 22, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Edwin Andre Humphrey, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G in a drug free zone - if at trial (methamphetamine), third degree felony (May 28, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Joe Parks Jr., possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (Enhanced punishment - third degree felony) (February 22, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Colton Blake Norton, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (July 22, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Jason Bradley Davis, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 29, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Jacorey Atkins, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (April 22, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Kevin Earl Davis, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=1G<4G (methamphetamine), third degree felony (August 4, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Michael Truitt Lenuen Edmondson, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (Punishment enhancement - first degree felony) (June 13, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Kendra Ann Arnold, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (February 16, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Jose Adan Gonzalez-Paredes, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (cocaine), state jail felony (July 28, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Joshua Glenn Booher, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (July 29, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Jhennifer Selene Martinez, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (December 5, 2024). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Tyler Ray Martin, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (March 26, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court).
- Ashley Nichole McPherson, possession of a controlled substance PG2 (3,4 methylenedioxy methamphetamine), second degree felony (May 19, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court)
- Luis Fernando Argudo, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (June 29, 2025). (273rd Judicial District Court).
- Marlie Sheldon Flournoy, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (December 25, 2024).
- Morgan Ann Magee, manufacture or deliver of substance in penalty group 1, second degree felony (Punishment enhancement - Habitual Offender: 25 years to Life) (December 28, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court).
- Morgan Magee, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B >=4G<200G (methamphetamine), second degree felony (Punishment enhancement - Habitual Offender: 25 years to Life) (November 4, 2024). (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Jorge Velazquez, possession of a controlled substance PG1/1-B <1G (methamphetamine), state jail felony (July 31, 2025). (123rd Judicial District Court).
- Deaundra Deshawn Dones, felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (September 2, 2024) (273rd Judicial District Court)
- Homer King, Jr., felony driving while intoxicated, third degree felony (September 2, 2024) (123rd Judicial District Court)
Indictments and Information are not a conviction, and are a matter of public record. All individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
September 25, 2025 - (Update): Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney, confirms the victim in this shooting incident to be Jeremy Smith, of Timpson.
The suspects in this incident who have been booked into the Shelby County Jail on the charge of murder, felony 1, are Jorge Vazquez, 23, of Center and Jesus Flores, 28.
(September 25, 2025 - 1:02am) - A truck stop fuel station in Tenaha near the intersection of U.S. Highways 59 and 96 was the scene of a shooting incident Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
Shelby County law enforcement authorities responded to the scene sometime around 8:30pm after the altercation had occurred.
Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney, has confirmed the incident and according to details the victim was parked in a Lexus in the eastern side of the parking lot where the diesel pumps are located apparently waiting on someone. Another vehicle pulled up to the Lexus with two hispanic males inside. At some point the passenger from the second vehicle exited and proceeded to beat on the driver of the Lexus through his driver’s side window. The driver of the Lexus was somehow able to get out of his vehicle and attempted to retrieve an AR-15 style rifle from his trunk. It was at this time the driver of the Lexus was allegedly shot by one of the individuals from the other vehicle.
Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers were first on scene and the driver was transported from the scene for medical treatment of his life-threatening injuries.
The suspects fled the scene and law enforcement officials are actively seeking them. Details on the suspect vehicle are not available at this time.
Agencies on scene included the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, Constable Precinct 4, Constable Precinct 5, Texas Rangers, and Texas Department of Public Safety.
September 24, 2025 - The Shelby County Commissioners announced in court on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 that it’s anticipated that CR 3689 (Cypress Creek) and CR 1440 will have barriers set September 24, and the roads are set to be closed on September 29. Those bridges on those roads that will be under construction will be demolished by October 2.
This is following a meeting with TxDOT recently about the bridges involved.
The roads will be closed for several months and this is part of a $1.6 million project.
The Straw Creek Bridge Creek project is expected to begin in February 2026.
September 23, 2025 - A Nacogdoches man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Adolfo Cruz, 27, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 22, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on April 10, 2024, local law enforcement in Lufkin conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Cruz. The officer noticed a gun case in the back seat of Cruz’s vehicle and asked Cruz what was inside of the case. Cruz reached for the case and a firearm fell out. The officer removed Cruz from the vehicle and conducted a pat-down search of Cruz. During the pat-down search, the officer found a machinegun conversion device (MCD). MCDs are small mechanisms that can be attached to the rear of the slide of a firearm, converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. Federal law defines a machinegun as a weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
ATF agents later obtained a search warrant for Cruz’s cell phone. The cell phone contained messages to and from Cruz discussing the buying and selling of firearms, including MCDs.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Lufkin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
September 17, 2025 - Nacogdoches Street was the scene of a fatal auto-pedestrian crash in Center on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
According to the Center Police Department at 4:09pm officers responded to a 911 call relating to an auto versus pedestrian collision in the 900 block of Nacogdoches Street
When officers arrived they observed a female later determined to be Valarie Marshall, 57, of Timpson and a white GMC Terrain with damage to its front bumper.
The driver of the GMC was determined to be Jose Antonio-Roldan Torres, 37, of Nacogdoches and he refused treatment at the scene.
Marshall was transported by ambulance to the Shelby Emergency Department where she was later pronounced deceased and next of kin was notified.
Witness statements indicate Marshall was attempting to run across the road.
The crash remains under investigation.
CPD officers were assisted at the scene by Texas DPS Trooper Matt Chandler and Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies.
Brandon Creson, 33, of Pittsburg, Texas
September 17, 2025 - Center Police Department (CPD) announces the arrest of a suspect after receiving a report from a group regarding online exploitation of a minor.
CPD officers have arrested Brandon Creson, 33, of Pittsburg, Texas, in Center on charges related to the online solicitation of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Although the CPD doesn't name the organization, they attribute the arrest to information given by a group which revealed evidence of inappropriate online communications with a minor and the possession of illegal material. CPD indicates Carson was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held pending further legal proceedings.
Authorities emphasize that the protection of children remains a top priority and that all reports of online exploitation are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
CPD expresses thanks to the group and the work they do.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
September 15, 2025 - State Highway 87 in Shelbyville is the scene of a truck-tractor chicken hauler rollover September 15, 2025 at around 2:40pm.
According to details from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 2:40pm, a 2018 Kenworth T880 driven by Edward Hernandez, 51, of Lufkin and towing a 2008 trailer was traveling north. It is reported that the Kenworth was approaching a left-hand curve at an unsafe speed, left the roadway to the right, and overturned.
Hernandez was not reported to have been injured.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies, Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department, and TxDOT assisted at the scene.
September 11, 2025 - The intersection of State Highway 87 South and CR 2110 (Cannon Cemetery Road) was the scene of a four-vehicle crash that took place on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Matt Chandler, at approximately 3:59pm, a brown 2015 Jeep SUV driven by Shauna Sims, 44, of Center and a white 2019 Dodge Ram pick-up driven by Caine Snell, 18, of Center, towing a utility trailer, were traveling south, while a 2024 Ford F150 driven by a minor driver was traveling north on SH 87.
It is reported that an unidentified vehicle was attempting to turn south from CR 2110 onto SH 87 and failed to yield the right of way to the jeep. The driver of the Jeep attempted to brake to avoid striking the unknown vehicle and was struck in he rear by the Dodge. After the Jeep was struck, it was pushed into the north lane of SH 87 where it struck the 2024 Ford. The driver of the unknown vehicle left the scene before it could be identified.
Sims was transported to Nacogdoches Medical of Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. One passenger, identified as a minor, was not injured.
Snell, and the minor driver of the Ford were not injured.
The vehicle or the driver of the unknown vehicle, have not been identified at this time.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
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