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May 12, 2017 - (Update): As of 8:30PM, DETEC is reporting 500 meters remaining without power. 


Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is reporting approximately 800 meters remaining without power in the Timpson, Garrison and Trawick areas following Thursday’s storm that swept through the area. Wind-blown trees and limbs on the lines accounted for a loss of power to approximately 6,000 members at DETEC’s peak outage period. DETEC line crews have reported significant damage in the Garrison and Timpson areas.
 
DETEC crews will continue working to restore power to all member as quickly and as safely as possible. DETEC would like to remind members to be safe - Stay Away From All Downed Lines. Consider them all to be live and dangerous. 

Call DETEC at 1-800-392-5986 to report downed lines and outages. 
 
Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is a non-profit electricity provider serving approximately 40,000 members in eight counties in Deep East Texas: San Augustine, Shelby, Sabine, Panola, Nacogdoches, Rusk, Jasper and Newton.

 

May 11, 2017 - A Tornado Warning remains in effect until 945PM for Northwestern Shelby County.

At 852PM, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located about 4 miles south of Timpson, or 13 miles west of Center, moving east at 30 mph.

Hazard: Tornado.

Source: Radar indicated rotation. Significant damage has been reported with this storm near Garrison.

Impact: Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Shelby County.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

May 11, 2017 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southeastern Rusk County in northeastern Texas, Northeastern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas, Shelby County in eastern Texas, Northwestern San Augustine County in eastern Texas until 945PM.

At 844 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Timpson to near Martinsville to Nacogdoches to 7 miles north of Lufkin, moving east at 35 mph.

Hazard: 70 mph wind gusts.

Source: Radar indicated.

Impact: Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include Nacogdoches, Center, San Augustine, Garrison, Melrose, Woden, Patroon, Shelbyville, Martinsville, Bland Lake, Neuville, Chireno, Huxley, Oak Ridge, Hurstown, Denning, James, Calgary, Jericho and Stockman.

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

May 11, 2017 - TYLER, Texas – A 22-year-old Zwolle, LA man has been sentenced to federal prison for his part in a kidnapping conspiracy scheme targeting individuals in the Eastern District of Texas and surrounding area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today
 
Gary Cutright pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2017, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.   
 
According to information presented in court, between July 2014 and January 2016, Cutright conspired with several individuals to commit kidnapping, robberies and assaults throughout the Eastern District of Texas and the Western District of Louisiana.  Specifically,  Cutright and his codefendants are responsible for a December 2015 incident in which an individual was kidnapped in Louisiana and brought to Carthage, Texas.  Defendants were also responsible for a March 2016 incident in which an individual was kidnapped from Longview, Texas.    
 
Other defendants convicted in the conspiracy include:
 
Cory Carnell Mitchell, 29, of Tenaha, Texas pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2017, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark on April 5, 2017. 
 
Montonious Robinson, 22, of Shreveport, LA, pleaded guilty on Ja. 10, 2017, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison on May 4, 2017 by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. 
 
Christopher Douglas, 33, of Logansport, LA, pleaded guilty on Apr. 6, 2017 in the Western District of Louisiana, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and will be sentenced at a later date.
 
Quannell Newton, 37, of Many, LA, pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2016, to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark on Feb. 21, 2017. 
       
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives (ATF) and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigation Division – Tyler (DPS-CID). The United States Marshals Service (USMS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Lufkin Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department, Center Police Department, Carthage Police Department, DeSoto Parrish Sheriff’s Department, Sabine Parrish Sheriff’s Department and the Panola County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the execution of the arrest warrants.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Hable in the Eastern District of Texas and by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Cowles in the Western District of Louisiana. 

May 10, 2017 - (Update - 11:20am) - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department has provided updated information relating to the cave-in incident in Joaquin. 

According to the press release issued by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to East Saddle Street in Joaquin Tuesday evening in reference to several men being trapped in a hole.

Once on scene Deputy Cody Muse observed a large hole on the east side of Saddle Street that appeared to be man-made. Deputy Muse was informed that two Joaquin city employees and an on-looker were trapped inside the hole and emergency response personnel were working to remove the individuals.

Deputy Muse was informed by the contractor working on the scene that prior to Muses’ arrival, the contractor along with two city employees were working to clasp sewer pipes together when the east wall of the hole collapsed. The contractor was able to escape the hole. An on-looker attempting to offer help jumped inside the hole and the west side of the hole collapsed.

Rescue personnel were able to free the city workers but the on-looker did not survive. He was later identified as Patrick Parks, 52, of Joaquin.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department and the Logansport Fire Department for their assistance with the rescue and recovery.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office extends prayers for the Parks family.

No further information is available.


May 10, 2017 (2:17am) Tragedy struck Joaquin Tuesday evening, May 9, 2017 when three men became trapped in a large hole and one man doesn't survive.

Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to East Saddle Street for a man trapped in a hole at 6:57pm on Tuesday.

Emergency personnel from the surrounding area, as well as DeSoto Fire Department out of Logansport responded to assist. The men were in a deep excavated hole. Two men were rescued and one of them was life-flighted to University Health in Shreveport. 

The mission then became to recover the third man who was buried beneath a wall of dirt which collapsed onto him. Heavy equipment was used to help move dirt while a vacuum truck was used to suction water and mud enabling emergency personnel to reach the victim. First responders worked diligently for hours until all involved were free of the pit at 11:36pm.

Justice of the Peace PCT 3, Margie Anderson, pronounced the fatality and Community Funeral Home transported him from the scene.

No names have been released at this time to allow time for family notification. More information on this incident will be provided as it is made available. 

May 10, 2017 - Due to a loss of system pressure which cause pressure to fall below 25 pounds, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required our water system City of Joaquin/2100010 to notify customers  living along Saddle Street in Joaquin, Texas of the need to boil their water prior to consumption.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the same manner as this notice.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at (903) 692-4313, Perry Pugh at (936) 572-8226, or the City Office at (936) 269-3021.

May 8, 2017 - State Highway 7 east of Center at the intersection of CR 3156 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash, which caused injury to one driver involved.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at 3:13pm a white Ford F-250 driven by Tyler Bryant Harville, 22, of Joaquin hauling a trailer with a Nissan Xterra was westbound on State Highway 7 in front of J&B Liquor. 

Harville pulled over to the shoulder in preparation to make a left turn and as he made the turn and was just about out of the roadway, Kameron Damon Bolton, 21, of Logansport was westbound in a red 2002 Jeep Liberty and locked up the brakes on the vehicle in attempts to not strike the truck. The Jeep traveled off the roadway to the right and struck directly in between the truck and the trailer.

Bolton was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries.

Harville was issued citations for driving while license invalid with previous convictions, and fail to yield right of way turning left.

The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene where they directed traffic until the area was cleared.

Trooper Smith was assisted in the investigation by Troopers Dustin Ramos, Taylor Buster and Richard Hill.

 

May 8, 2017 - A motorcycle crash on US Highway 87 South sent a young man to the hospital with head trauma Friday morning, May 5, 2017.

The Center Fire Department, Center Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, ACE EMS, and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers responded to the crash scene which reported a man in the roadway.

According to a DPS State Trooper Taylor Buster, a 2012 white Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Hubert Vaughn Obannon, 59 of Nacogdoches, was exiting a private driveway pulling a trailer loaded with supplies. A 2005 black Suzuki driven by Tyler Ray Morris, 19 of Center, was northbound on State Highway 87 South. The pickup failed to yield right-of-way to the motorcycle and while attempting to avoid the collision, the rider was ejected and struck the trailer.

Traffic was routed through one lane around the scene and ACE EMS transported Morris to Nacogdoches Medical Center. Morris was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash was investigated by DPS State Trooper Taylor Buster and assisted on scene by CPL Jimmy Faulkner, Trooper Richard Hill, and Trooper Sean Smith.

Stephen F. Austin State University students discovered what it was like to be an English language learner, immigrant and refugee student during an immersive trip to Las Americas Middle School in Houston with Dr. Mary Catherine Breen, associate professor of secondary education and educational leadership at SFA.

May 8, 2017 Nacogdoches — Puzzling looks situate on their faces as an unfamiliar teacher begins speaking Arabic. As words flow from her mouth, the students fall deeper into confusion. Scanning the worksheet, they see symbols that bear no meaning to them.

For a day, Stephen F. Austin State University students discovered what it was like being an English language learner, immigrant and refugee student during an immersive trip to Las Americas Middle School in Houston.

“I stepped into the students’ shoes,” said John Singleton, SFA junior music education major from Houston. “The teacher gave us an assignment in Arabic, and being an English speaker, I didn't know what it was. It made me think, ‘Wow, this is what immigrants and refugees go through.’ It changed my perspective on teaching in a lot of ways.”

This semester, Dr. Mary Catherine Breen, associate professor of secondary education and educational leadership at SFA, brought her students enrolled in a disciplinary literacy course to Las Americas Middle School to learn about immigrant and refugee students and their quest for English proficiency.

“This experience broadens students’ perspectives. No matter where our students teach, they will have English learners in their classrooms,” Breen said. “There are federal protections for the education of immigrant and refugee students as well as native-born English learners. It is important for our students to learn about the individual students who are afforded opportunity by these laws — not just the laws themselves.”

Las Americas Middle School is a newcomer campus that educates recent immigrant and refugee students who have no or limited English language proficiency and who often have had limited formal education in their native countries. More than 35 countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Burma, Guatemala and Somalia, and more than 30 languages, including Hindi, Swahili, Spanish and Persian, are represented at the school.

During their visit, SFA students learn about the school and how it differentiates in language-proficiency levels. SFA students spend time in the classrooms working with students who have varying levels of language proficiency on different subjects.

“When our students meet the students at Las Americas and the teachers who serve them, it personalizes the subjects we learn in the classroom,” Breen said. “While language diversity is increasing in the East Texas region, most English learners here are native Spanish speakers. At Las Americas, there are many countries and languages represented. Our students often think you have to speak the students’ languages to teach them; this isn’t the case.”

A social worker who works exclusively with immigrant and refugee students shared her experiences. For example, the social worker has spent time overseas in refugee camps and in countries where many of Las Americas’ students are from in order to gain awareness of the students’ backgrounds. She explained how trauma affects physical, mental and cognitive development and ways she works with teachers to meet students’ needs in the classrooms.

“SFA students learn about the individual students and their experiences. I can tell them about immigrant and refugee students and teaching students who are learning English, but it becomes very real when they see a campus of more than 250 students who represent this unique population,” Breen said.

SFA students not only experienced urban education while visiting Las Americas, they also heard stories from students from all over the world about their home countries, why they left, their journey to America and their experiences here.

“Las Americas is a beautiful program. It changed my perspective of refugees,” Singleton said. “I never knew the things they go through. When they tell you their stories, you need a box of tissues because it is phenomenal. The fact that the teachers are trying to actually help the students and do all that is necessary to help them progress is beautiful.”

Breen said SFA students learn a variety of lessons while on the trip, such as different methods for teaching a student whose language they don’t share; federal, state and community resources for these students; and methods for helping students who have experienced trauma and the psychology behind how this can affect learning.

 

May 8, 2017 - A driver involved in a single-vehicle crash on Sunday, May 7, 2017 lost her life due to injuries and her child passenger was transported to the hospital following the incident.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 6:40pm a white 2010 Mercury driven by Jessica Nanette Sigler, 20, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 at the intersection of FM 711 when the vehicle left the roadway to the right and Sigler over corrected left, causing the vehicle to travel across the highway and again leaving the road on the westbound side in a side skid and striking a tree on the driver's side and spinning it back around to face the westbound direction between two trees.

A 15-month-old female passenger from the vehicle was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries and in stable condition.

Sigler succumbed to her injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead at 7:28pm by Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2. Watson & Sons Funeral Home transported Sigler from the scene.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department also responded to the scene and Center Fire Department provided traffic control.

DPS Troopers Jesse Fountain and Richard Hill assisted with the investigation

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