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February 14, 2017 - According to the National Weather Service, Shelby County is currently under a tornado watch as of 9:40am until 3pm February 14, 2017.
All counties included in the watch are Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, and Tyler.
Additional weather alerts as of 9:13am indicate National Weather Service Doppler radar shows a shield of showers with embedded thunderstorms moving across portions of Deep East Texas, southeast Oklahoma and southern Louisiana. The strongest rain is near New Summerfield, Troup and Arp this convection is moving to the east at 35 mph.
Follow Shelby County Today for further updates should this watch develop into a warning situation.
February 14, 2017 - Following the Sargento Cheese Company recall where select Sargento branded cheeses were recalled due to the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Country Fresh, LLC. of Conroe, Texas, is recalling 2,552 cases of various cooking and snacking products (product descriptions attached), that contained Sargento branded cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The product in question was shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia under the Country Fresh and store brand labels described in the product listing.
The list of products subject to this recall follows:
- Country Fresh Tuscan Style Mushroom - Foam Overwrap Tray - 74641- 07211 - February 14, 2017 thru February 17, 2017
- Country Fresh Stuffed Mushrooms Foam Overwrap Tray - 74641-07207 - February 14, 2017 thru February 17, 2017
- Southwest Stuffed Mushrooms - Foam Overwrap Tray - 72036-88471 - February 14, 2017 thru February 17, 2017
- Marketside Garlic Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms - Clamshell - 681131-14821 - February 15, 2017 thru February 17, 2017
- Ready Fresh Go Fruit and Hatch Pepper Cheese - Clamshell - 41220-03680 - January 19, 2017 thru February 16, 2017
The product bears “BEST IF USED BY” dates between January 19, 2017 (1/19/17) through February 17, 2017 (2/17/17). No products except those on this list are subject to this recall.
To date, no illnesses have been confirmed by public health authorities.
Sargento Cheese advised Country Fresh of the issue and Country Fresh is taking this action in the interest of protecting the public health. “Nothing is more important than ensuring that consumers enjoy nothing but high quality, nutritious, and safe and wholesome products from us” said Bryan Herr, Country Fresh’s President.
Consumers who have purchased any of these products are urged to dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 281-453-3305, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT.
February 13, 2017 - Elizabeth Ann Suell pleaded guilty in the 273rd Judicial District Court with Judge Charles Mitchell presiding on January 19, 2017 to possession of a controlled substance, state jail felony. The offense dates back to November 3, 2011.
In accordance with the agreement three separate cases from 2013, 2015 and 2016 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon were dismissed. Two of these charges were first degree felony charges and one was a second degree felony charge. The range of punishment for a second degree felony is 2 to 20 years in prison and the range of punishment for a first degree felony is 5 to 99 years.
In each of those cases Suell was alleged to have either stabbed or cut someone.
As a result of the plea agreement, Suell was sentenced to 20 months incarceration in state jail with a credit of six days for time served.
February 13, 2017 - Artesia Radway is no longer at large, she turned herself in to the Shelby County Jail on Friday morning, February 10, 2017.
February 8, 2017 - The discovery of prescription medication in a happy meal sparked a Center PD investigation at McDonalds in Center resulting in the arrest of two suspects.
A report was made to the Center Police Department on Wednesday, January 5, 2017 that a family had traveled through the drive through at the McDonalds located at 813 Hurst St Center Texas on January 4, 2017.
The family purchased a Happy Meal for their 9-year-old. After they left the drive through window, two prescription Tramadol pills were found in their child’s Happy Meal. Through a month long investigation Detective Stephen Stroud located two suspects who are employees at that McDonalds.
Detective Stroud did confirm that the two suspected parties 37-year-old Omeisha Williams and 25-Year-old Artshia Radway of Center were responsible for the Tramadol pills being placed into the happy meal.
The State Health Inspector was contacted and completed a Health inspection of the restaurant on January 31, 2017. On February 7, 2017 Judge Maxie Eaves issued Two Abandon/ Endanger a Child, Felony Two warrants.
One warrant for Omeisha Williams’ arrest and one for Artshia Radway’s arrest. Williams was arrested on February 07, 2017 and Radway is still at large.
Detective Stroud would like the public to be aware of this incident and urge anyone with any information in regards to Radway’s location to call the Center Police Department.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.
February 13, 2017 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports the body of 46 year-old Michelle Curry Ford, of Logansport, LA. was recovered Feb. 12, 2017 from the Sabine River in Joaquin.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 11 a.m. that a property owner along the riverfront observed a body appearing to be a female floating face down in the river. Once officers arrived in the scene the body was recovered and officers with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office identified the victim.
Curry was reported missing Feb. 2, 2017 by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3 Margie Anderson ordered an autopsy to be performed on the body.
Assisting SCSO Investigator Michael Griffin on the scene were SCSO Deputy Adam Renfro, Texas Parks and Wildlife Officer Anthony King, Constable Pct. 3 Roy Cheatwood and DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Submitted by Leah Chase
http://www.scsotx.org
February 7, 2017 - An unknown individual appearing to be a white male driver, entered the property of Wright, Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Center on February 6, 2017 at approximately 7:40pm.
The subject was driving a white 4-door Honda Civic. There the subject took several sets of wheel simulators off of the new vehicles, causing an estimated loss of over $5,000.
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.
February 7, 2017 - Investigator Chad Brown of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, under the direct supervision of the Shelby County District Attorney, Stephen Shires, on Friday, February 3, 2017 filed charges against Kursti Agnew on two counts of Child Endangerment – based on creating a danger to her children’s mental and emotional state – and one count of false report to a peace officer. She was booked into the Shelby County Jail on Sunday, February 5, 2017, and bonded out that same day.
The charge of false report to a peace officer stems from a report Agnew made to authorities on February 2, 2017, that allegedly contained a number of material untruths. This was the latest salvo in a campaign that Agnew has waged against the family of her children’s father over the past year, either as a part of, or leading up to, what authorities believe is a new round of a custody battle. Over the last year, Agnew has made a number of claims that her children have been abused by a member of their father’s family. These charges have been thoroughly investigated, and found to be wholly untrue. “But that is not why I approved going forward with the charges,” notes Stephen Shires. “There is strong evidence in this case that Ms. Agnew is compelling the children to make false allegations against a member of their father’s family using terms and ideas of an explicit sexual nature that children of these ages should have absolutely no concept about.”
This is the first time that Sheriff Willis Blackwell and Stephen Shires have filed charges for child endangerment based on emotional and mental harm. “I am very concerned about the emotional welfare of these children, and I felt something had to be done,” said Shires. “Plus, as a matter of policy, false reports of this nature take valuable time and resources away from our ability to address legitimate claims of child abuse; it was only after repeated abuses of the system that we decided that we had no choice but to move forward with charges against Ms. Agnew.”
Shires concluded, “District Judge LeAnn Rafferty signed the warrants. She made it very clear that she wanted to make sure that we were not sending a message to the community that would in any way discourage folks from making reports regarding the abuse of children, even if ultimately the concerns are unfounded. As such, Judge Rafferty scrutinized the complaints carefully and was extremely thoughtful and deliberate before signing the warrants. I assured her that this matter was singular in both its egregiousness and seriousness, and that we have a very active and effective Child Advocacy Center, that the Sheriff, Investigator Brown, and I strongly and energetically support.”
February 8, 2017 - A frightening and sad day for families of shutdown workers at a plant in DeRidder, Louisiana. With many East Texas families making a living working shutdowns and oil field industry jobs which take them away from home, there were Shelby County folks working at the Packaging Corporation of America's DeRidder Containerboard Mill today, February 8, 2017 when an explosion occurred.
One family member of a worker at the plant called Shelby County Today to report their loved ones were not harmed and to request prayers for all involved. Not much has been reported about the incident as the explosion occurred around 11:10am.
According to a story posted on 12 News ABC, three people died in the explosion, one is missing, and several were injured in the paper mill explosion located on U.S. 190 between DeRidder and Merryville, Louisiana.
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February 7, 2017 - According to a press release from DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Department, a Joaquin man with warrants out of Shelby County was arrested following a traffic stop in Logansport, Louisiana. Chad Pridgen, 51, was transfered and booked into the Shelby County Jail on February 2, 2017 for a charge of Hindering Apprehension.
Press Release: Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle wanted to inform the public of recent drug arrests following operations by the Narcotics Division and the Directed Patrol Unit.
On January 31, 2017, at about 2:06 p.m. deputies working with the directed patrol unit conducted a traffic stop on Highway 84 at the Texas State Line in Logansport, LA. During the traffic stop, deputies identified the driver of the vehicle as well as two passengers, who were identified as Kelly Lovett, 23 of Mansfield, LA, and Chad Pridgen, 51 of Joaquin, TX. Deputies noticed Lovett moving in a suspicious manner. Deputies obtained consent to search the vehicle and located narcotics, brass knuckles, and drug paraphernalia in a purse belonging to Lovett. Deputies arrested Lovett for Possession of Schedule II CDS, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Pridgen was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Shelby County, TX and was subsequently placed under arrest for them.
On January 31, 2017, agents working with the Tri-Parish Drug Task Force conducted an undercover operation while assisting the Louisiana State Probation and Parole office. P&P Agents were attempting to locate a subject identified as Juanita Briggs, 33 of Logansport, LA. Agents were able to locate a residence in the area of Highway 5 in Logansport that Briggs was believed to have been living at. Agents confirmed that Briggs had been living at the residence and obtain consent to search the residence. They located two scales normally used in the distribution and packaging of controlled dangerous substances in a bedroom belonging to Briggs. Shortly thereafter, Briggs returned to the residence and was detained. Agents searched Briggs and located a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. She was placed under arrest for two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Agents as well as a Probation Violation by LA P&P.
February 6, 2017 - Dance Furniture staff had quite a surprise when a vehicle suddenly traveled through the entrance to the business, shattering glass and sending it flying into the store.
According to Center Police Officer Spencer Anderson, at around 12-noon February 6, 2017 the driver of a tan Cadillac XTS was pulling into the parking lot in front of Dance Furniture when she accidentally accelerated instead of stepping on the brake. The Cadillac struck the glass doors and knocked windows out.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash incident and Dance Furniture is not seeking to press charges.
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