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May 15, 2017 - FM 947 (Tennessee Road) outside of Tenaha was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Friday, May 12, 2017.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at around 9pm a red 1998 Ford F-150 owned by Michael Hall of Diboll and driven by Joshua Carroll Kelley, 28, of Gary was westbound on FM 947, two miles outside of Tenaha.
At that time Kelley was intoxicated when he left the roadway and struck a tree causing damage. A passerby called 9-1-1 when Kelley was witnessed leaving the scene of the crash in the wrecked truck.
Several law enforcement officers headed in the direction of the vehicle. Jake Metcalf, Constable Precinct 4, reported that as he approached the truck it moved into his lane of travel and almost struck his vehicle.
Constable Metcalf was able to get Kelley to pull over at that location until DPS Troopers arrived as well as Tenaha City Marshal Deputy Jacob Samford.
ACE EMS arrived at the scene and no injuries were reported resulting from the incident. It was determined at the scene Kelley was intoxicated and he was arrested by Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and was also charged with driving while license invald.
May 15, 2017 - Loop 500 in Center was the scene of a crash involving a pickup truck and an 18-wheeler on Friday, May 12, 2017.
According to Center Police officer Steve Thornburgh, at around 3:50pm a 2005 Ford pickup truck driven by Matthew Harding, 18, of Center was eastbound on Loop 500 at Goodman Street.
As Harding approached Goodman Street he failed to control speed and ran off the road to the right across the entrance to Goodman Street and down an embankment before colliding with the left rear of a parked truck-tractor trailer.
ACE EMS responded to the scene and no injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Citations were issued to Harding at the scene.
Officer Thornburgh was assisted with the investigation by Officer Andrew Williams.
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.
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