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December 29, 2017 Lufkin – With winter weather forecasts that includes possible freezing precipitation in East Texas for coming days, the Lufkin District is preparing to pre-treat major roadways, overpasses and bridges.
The pre-treatment is scheduled to include all nine counties of the Lufkin District as the winter weather approaches. The brine treatment that will be applied to overpasses, major structures and bridges will discourage ice or snow from sticking to pavement in the case of winter precipitation. The treatment will be applied in each county and crews will continue to respond to snow or ice conditions as needs arise and roads allow.
The Lufkin District will continue to monitor the National Weather Service for updates and potential winter weather conditions for East Texas. Safety of the traveling public is priority and crews will continue to work to prepare and respond to weather conditions.
Motorists are urged to stay alert and follow these guidelines in the case of freezing precipitation:
- Use caution when driving over bridges and overpasses, which are the first to freeze.
- Reduce speed and drive with caution. A vehicle needs at least three times more space to stop on a slick roadway. Do not apply brakes suddenly and avoid using cruise control to allow for better response time should you encounter slippery roads.
- Slow down when approaching emergency or maintenance vehicles, especially when flashing lights are displayed. Visibility can be reduced during winter weather conditions.
- Stay alert and prepare for travel delays.
- Winterize vehicles.
- Turn on low beam headlights when driving in rain, sleet or snow.
- Check area weather conditions and drivetexas.org for current conditions and road closures.
- For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
December 28, 2017 - Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers, Center Police Officers and Constable Precinct 1 Zack Warr responded to reports of a reckless driver on U.S. Highway 96 North December 22, 2017 which culminated in a traffic incident one miles north of Center while they were en-route.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 12:15pm Shirley Christian, 63, of Tenaha was northbound on U.S. Highway 96 North in a white Chevrolet Suburban when, due to a medical condition, she crossed into the southbound traffic lanes.
When the Suburban crossed over into the southbound traffic lanes it struck a black 2010 Mercury Mountaineer driven by Aldo Luna, 21, of Center before it came to rest on the southbound shoulder where it struck a mailbox and remained there facing north.
ACE EMS responded to the scene and examined Christian to make sure she was not in need of a hospital. She was released to a family member at the scene.
December 28, 2017 - State Highway 7 West is re-opened to traffic at this time as of 8:43am Thursday, December 28, 2017.
(7:24am) - State Highway 7 West is currently the scene of a truck-tractor crash involving a load of chickens.
The chickens and truck are blocking all four lanes of traffic about eight miles west of Center, and the westbound side of the highway is backed up with vehicles for a mile.
Emergency personnel are on scene assessing the situation and the driver of the truck-tractor has been transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the scene of the incident at 5:40am and located the truck in the middle of the highway. West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department firemen were dispatched to the crash where they began traffic control.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash and poultry company representatives have a cleanup crew en-route to begin cleaning the area so the truck and trailer can be righted.
Expect traffic delays. Travelers are advised to take an alternate route if possible.
More informtion will be provided as it is made available.
December 26, 2017 - Center Police Officers were dispatched to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Tenaha Street December 21, 2017.
When officers arrived at the intersection with Cass-Caid Street at around 8:20am, the two vehicles involved were in the northbound traffic lane.
According to Center Police Officer Knneth King, a white Chevrolet Traverse driven by Samantha Olivas, 32, of Center was northbound on Tenaha Street when Olivas was making a left turn onto Cass-Caid.
At that time the traverse was struck in the rear by a white 2016 Toyota Corolla driven by Pan Aung, 32. The Toyota received considerable damage to its front end. The damage to the Chevrolet was not as visible.
Olivas was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment and observation.
Officer Spencer Anderson assisted Officer King with the investigation.
December 26, 2017 - With temperatures in the mid-thirties and drizzling rain, firemen were called to a house on Shelbyville Street Tuesday, December 26, 2017 where fire was quickly gaining momentum.
Center Police Officers first arrived just after 9am at the house located in the 1200th block of Shelbyville Street, and they could see flames pouring from the attic through a gable end vent. Officers assessed the scene relaying the situation to firemen until their arrival including trying to make sure no one was inside the home.
Center Fire Department firemen fought fire from the exterior of the structure, before gaining entry and moving to a back room that appeared to be where the fire originated.
The firemen used a high-powered ventilation fan to evacuate smoke from the house and eventually gained entry into the attic from within and from outside. With access to the fire they were able to extinguish any flames that remained there.
Firemen worked in the wet, cold conditions before getting to return to the firestation at 10:59am.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
December 21, 2017 - Shelby County Courthouse and the County Clerk’s office will be closing at 2pm on Friday, December 22 and will remain closed until Wednesday, December 27 at 8AM for the Christmas Holidays.
Shelby County wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas!!
December 21, 2017 - Center Youth Baseball and the City of Center would like to announce that the 2018 Dixie Regional World Series will be hosted in Center, Texas. Opening Ceremonies start July 20 and games will run July 21-23.
In mid-October, City Council established a committee to start the process of submitting a bid for the World Series. The bid process for the World Series is somewhat different from that of the normal State Tournaments that are hosted in the summer. The bid itself is not in monetary form but what can a league and their city offer players while they are attending the World Series.
Our committee came up with some great ideas and we submitted our bid November 15. At the Texas State Board Meeting on December 3, the bids were reviewed. On December 11, I was able to inform City Council that Center had been designated the host.
The Regional World Series is generally played between the States of Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Every four years the Series returns to Texas. The World Series will consist of 40 Teams. There will be 4 divisions with 10 teams per division. Those divisions will include Tball (5-6yr old), 7U Coach Pitch, 9U, and 11U. Center will be allowed to have a Host team in each division to represent our city. This is an exciting time for Center Texas.
There will be a great need of community support. We not only want these players and families to enjoy their World Series experience but we want them to remember Center.
If anyone is interested in helping, volunteers will be needed for everything from staffing the tournament on site, helping with planned feeding and event activities, to simply being a point of contact for teams/coaches as a host family. We’d love to have your help to make this event an incredible memory for participants but also a great chance to show off our community and businesses.
Thanks
Jason Mitchell
December 19, 2017 - The National Weather Service Shreveport LA has the following weather alerts and advisories for the Shelby County area.
Short Term Forecast
10:36pm CST Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sevier, Howard, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union, Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, McCurtain, Bowie, Franklin, Titus, Camp, Morris, Cass, Wood, Upshur, Marion, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, San Augustine… including the cities of De Queen, Nashville, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Ashdown, Hope, Prescott, Texarkana, Stamps, Lewisville, Bradley, Magnolia, El Dorado, Shreveport, Bossier City, Minden, Springhill, Homer, Haynesville, Ruston, Farmerville, Bernice, Mansfield, Stonewall, Logansport, Coushatta, Martin, Arcadia, Ringgold, Gibsland, Idabel, Broken Bow, Clarksville, Bogata, Mount Vernon, Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, Daingerfield, Lone Star, Naples, Omaha, Atlanta, Linden, Hughes Springs, Queen City, Mineola, Winnsboro, Quitman, Hawkins, Gilmer, Big Sandy, Jefferson, Tyler, Longview, Marshall, Jacksonville, Rusk, Henderson, Carthage, Nacogdoches, Center, Lufkin, and San Augustine
NOW... Showers and thunderstorms will continue across portions of southeast Oklahoma, south Arkansas, northeast Texas, and northwest Louisiana. Movement of these storms are to the northeast. Heavy downpours and gusty winds are possible with stronger storms. Patchy areas of fog across portions of the area may produce restricted visibilities of a mile or less. Motorists are urged to exercise caution.
Special Weather Statement
11:26pm CST Tuesday, December 19. 2017
Significant weather advisory for Southern De Soto, Southeastern Red River, West Central Natchitoches and Northern Sabine Parishes, Eastern Shelby, Northeastern San Augustine, and Northeastern Sabine Counties until 12:15 AM CST.
At 11:25 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles east of Logansport to San Augustine. Movement was east at 40 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include Milam, Many, San Augustine, Coushatta, Zwolle, Converse, Patroon, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Martin, Huxley, South Mansfield, Noble, Fisher, Edgefield, Stanley, Lake End, Belmont, Hanna and Pelican.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Flood Advisory
9:49pm CST Tuesday, December 19. 2017
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory for Northwestern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southwestern Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Central Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southeastern Harrison County in northeastern Texas, Panola County in northeastern Texas, and Northwestern Shelby County in eastern Texas.
* Until 1245 AM CST
* At 949 PM CST, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause urban and small stream flooding in the advisory area.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include... Shreveport, Bossier City, Carthage, Haughton, Greenwood, Stonewall, Tenaha, Timpson, Deberry, Eastwood, Fosters, Gary City, Keachi, Longstreet, Keat Chie, Ferguson, Front, Spring Ridge, Fillmore and Cross Lake.
Hazardous Weather Outlook
11:59am CST Tuesday, December 19. 2017
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Patchy dense fog will remain possible this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will continues to spread northeast across the region today. A few storms may become severe, with damaging winds and hail the primary threats.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Showers and thunderstorms will return to the region Friday as a strong cold front moves across the region. However, no hazardous weather is expected at this time.
Spotter Information Statement... Activation of emergency management personnel... amateur radio operators... and storm spotters is not expected due to the isolated nature of any severe weather.
December 19, 2017 - U.S. Highway 59 two miles south of Tenaha was the scene of a single-vehicle crash which left northbound lanes closed for an extended period of time.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Dustin Ramos, at 11:24pm DPS Troopers were dispatched to U.S. Highway 59 south of Tenaha in response to a one-vehicle crash.
Upon arrival, a white 2012 Isuzu box truck loaded with spices was located in the middle of the northbound traffic lanes on its side. It was determined the Isuzu was driven by Maulesh Patel, 53, with passenger Sheela Patel, 55, both of Shreveport.
As the Isuzu was northbound, Patel failed to drive in a single lane and the truck ran off the road to the right. Patel over corrected left and caused the truck to overturn and come to rest on its passenger side facing south.
Sheela Patel was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for minor injuries.
The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Tenaha Marshal's Office and Constable Precinct 4 all assisted with traffic control.
The roadway was cleared at 3:30am.
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.
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