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July 11, 2019 (Album) - Twenty-three watermelons made it to the largest watermelon contest at the 2019 What-A-Melon Festival for cumulative weight of 2,206.5 lbs. Eleven of the entries weighed more than 100 lbs this year for a cumulative weight of 2,206.5 lbs which was moved to the scales by Center High School athletes who volunteered to help.
The largest watermelon tipped the scales at 132 lbs! The winning melon was grown by Olivia Johnson who has won the 1st place title and the grand prize money seven years previous. She had a spree of five years in a row, 2009-2013. She regained 1st place title in 2017 and has made it a winning streak by winning in 2018 and now 2019.
Below are the full results of the watermelon weigh-in:
1st place - 132 lbs, Olivia Johnson
2nd place - 126 lbs, Rex Rains
3rd place - 125 lbs, Whitley Johnson
4th place - 123.5 lbs, Jenny Johnson
5th place - 120 lbs, Lynn Johnson
6th place - 119.5 lbs, Shelby Johnson
7th place - 112 lbs, Jaleigh Johnson
8th place - 111 lbs, Renee Johnson
9th place - 102.5 lbs, Hope Kruebbe
10th place - 101 lbs, Garry Crawford
July 10, 2019 - A former Shelby County Deputy District Clerk has been arrested on charges of tampering with government records, misdemeanor a, following an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
In March a resident in the Possum Trot area on CR 2545 discovered a trash bag on their property which had been dumped in a creek. The resident made contact with Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, about the bag which she and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, took possession. When they discovered what was inside, they contacted Kevin Windham at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Shelby County District Clerk Lori Oliver.
Documents meant to have been filed in the District Clerk’s office had been thrown into a Shelby County creek, as well as, mail for several individuals with one particular name immediately becoming the primary suspect. That name was Shelly Murphree, 47, of Shelbyville.
According to the arrest affidavit, Texas Ranger James Hicks reviewed the documents at the Sheriff’s Department and several of them were file stamped "Shelby County District Clerk's Office," and also included were a check and a money order which appeared to have originally accompanied official government requests.
Ranger Hicks remarked the check and money order didn't appear to have been cashed.
A document also included in the report was a "Release of Child Support Lien," and several envelopes appeared to have been addressed to the Shelby County District Clerk's Office. The documents were listed as being addressed between October 28, 2018 and March 7, 2019.
It was reported to Ranger Hicks by Adam Renfro, Sheriff's Department Investigator, Murphree was known to be employed by the Shelby County District Clerk's Office. He also told Hicks, District Clerk Lori Oliver had been shown the documents and she indicated there was no legitimate reason they should have been removed from her office and when Oliver had searched for one of the documents, Murphree had denied knowing the whereabouts of the document.
According to the affidavit, Hicks conducted an interview of Murphree and she admitted to taking the documents and as many as 30 others, because she was overwhelmed, and she knew removing the documents was wrong.
Murphree was arrested 6pm Tuesday, July 10, 2019 at the Shelby County Jail for tampering with a government record, misdemeanor a. She was bonded out later in the evening on a $5,000 bond.
July 9, 2019 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the owner of three horses, one bay gelding and two sorrels, found in the Welcome Hall area in Shelbyville.
For more information, please contact the SCSO at 936-598-5601.
July 9, 2019 - Three traffic stops resulted in three narcotic arrests in Tenaha. This past week, two back to back traffic stops by Captain Joey Hudnall, assisted by Chief Jeremy Pope and Officer Jonathon Newton, resulted in the seizure of 15 grams of methamphetamine, scales and drug paraphernalia. Captain Hudnall conducted traffic stops on both vehicles, for minor traffic violations and became suspicious that criminal activity was taking place. Consent to search was obtained that resulted in Captain Hudnall locating a total of 15 grams of methamphetamine.
Two drivers were taken into custody and booked in the Shelby County Jail. Arrested were Zachary Copelin, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, State Jail Felony, and Jacob Driggers, charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2nd Degree Felony.
On July 7, 2019, Officer Kurtes Lawrence conducted a traffic stop, in Tenaha, for a minor traffic violation. During the traffic stop, Officer Lawrence 
became suspicious that criminal activity was taking place. Officer Lawrence began to interview the driver and obtained probable cause to search the vehicle. Officer Lawrence located three ounces of marijuana, eight grams of Clonazepam and 10 grams of MDMA (ecstasy pills).
Kenneth Graves was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail and booked in for Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2nd Degree Felony; Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor (A); and Possession of Marijuana, Misdemeanor (A).
Tenaha Police Department is dedicated to enforcing drug laws and continues to work hard to ensure the safety of our city and community.
July 8, 2019 - Residents on State Highway 7 said they were alerted to a loud noise on the roadway and were even more surprised when an injured man came to their door on Monday, July 8, 2019.
The reseidents at the 5000 block of State Highway 7 took quick action and called for help, alerting the Texas Department of Public Safety to the incident.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Keith Jones, at 10:14pm Mark Allen Beercroft, 59, of Canon City, Co. was walking east on State Highway 7 when an as yet unidentified maroon vehicle struck him. The collision caused damage to the vehicle on the right side and knocked Beercroft into a nearby ditch.
EMS personnel were on scene and transported Beercroft to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of his injuries.
Texas DPS is asking for the driver, anyone that knows the driver, or anyone with information about this incident to contact the local Texas Department of Public Safety office at 936-598-6151.
July 4, 2019 - U.S. Highway 84 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash near FM 3343 Tuesday, July 2, 2019.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department firemen along with Texas Department of Public Safety State (DPS) Troopers were dispatched to the crash. When they arrived an SUV was upside down in the westbound ditch and it appeared the vehicle had traveled approximately 100 yards in the ditch before crashing and coming to rest.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Jonathan Stinson, at 9:10pm a brown 2007 GMC Yukon driven by Brittney Campbell, 29, of Center was northbound on U.S. 84 when the Yukon failed to drive in a single lane.
The Yukon traveled across the southbound lane of the highway and off the road before crossing a paved driveway and becoming airborne and crashing coming to rest on its top beside the roadway.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Campbell was issued a citation for fail to drive in a single lane.
July 3, 2019 - Center Police Officers and Center Fire Department Firemen responded to the call when they received reports a man was dangling from a tree on Wheeler Street in Center Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
When the emergency personnel arrived at the house located at the 300 block of Wheeler Street they found a man suspended in the air by a rope above a pickup truck.
With the addition of EMS personnel, the crews worked together and freed the man from his predicament and safely lowered him onto the pickup truck.
After he was assessed by EMS, he refused medical treatment and appeared unharmed by the situation.
The man had been working to cut a tree branch when he became entangled in the rope, and reportedly dangled there for around 30 minutes before help was alerted.
July 3, 2019 - The Jury that has been summoned for Monday, July 8, 2019 for the 123rd District Court, Honorable Leann K. Rafferty presiding, has been cancelled. All cases have been resolved and/or settled. Anyone receiving a summons for this day is released from jury service until they receive a future summons.
The water on N.E.W. WSC no longer requires boiling.
July 2, 2019 - On June 27, 2019, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the N.E.W. Water Supply, #2030034, 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.
N.E.W. Water Supply 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. We have also provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of July 2, 2019.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the office: 220 West Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas. 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp 936-201-5001. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If a customer, individual or employee wishes to contact the executive director, please call (512)239-4691.
June 27, 2019 - Due to a break in the line at Plant 4, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation PWS #2030034 to notify all customers on FM 353, Geneva, Sexton and Hawthorne Communities. Customers are to boil their water prior to consumption (eg., 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 pub lic 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 the notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, or 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 N.E.W. Water Supply Corporation at 220 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas, 75972, or call 936-288-0489 or Charles Sharp at 936-201-5001.
July 2, 2019 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash Sunday, June 30, 2019.
As emergency personnel arrived at the crash scene, one vehicle remained in the westbound traffic lane while the other one involved was disabled in the eastbound shoulder.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 9:28pm a silver 2016 Toyota Camry 4-door driven by Tristan Joe Hairgrove of Joaquin had slowed and stopped to turn left into a parking lot just before CR 3156.
At that time a white 2009 Lincoln MKX driven by Emma Grace Locke, 19, of Center was westbound behind the Toyota and failed to control speed causing the Lincoln to collide with the rear end of the Toyota.
The Toyota traveled off the roadway onto the eastbound shoulder where it came to rest facing the road. The Lincoln came to a stop in the middle of the westbound lane.
Locke and Hairgrove were both transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injuries.
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