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January 31, 2017 - The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a house and grass fire off FM 947 on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 2:18pm.
City of Tenaha employees noticed the smoke emanating from a former sawmill worker lodging located on Old Sawmill Road and upon discovering it was on fire, contacted the fire department. The structure had almost completely burned when the firemen arrived. The property where the structure was located was once part of the local sawmill and several houses on the property were formerly used as lodging for sawmill employees; however, no one has lived in the buildings for some time and no utilities were running to the structure.
Much of the area of the building was scorched earth combined with large quantities of garbage as people in the area have apparently been using the land for a dumping ground. A large pile of utility cable was on the ground at the site of the house and appeared to have been burned during the fire.
Firemen contained the remaining fire and extinguished what remained of the building to prevent spread to nearby woods.
Jake Metcalf, Constable Precinct 4, was on scene with the firemen. According to the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation.
January 31, 2017 - State Highway 7 West was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Sunday, January 29, 2017.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the incident in the Aiken Community including Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (WSCVFD), Shelby County Sheriff's Department and ACE EMS.
WSCVFD directed traffic at the scene while EMS personnel examined the driver involved and DPS investigated the crash.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 4:33pm a grey Chevrolet pickup truck driven by a 16-year-old driver was westbound when the driver stated a vibration occurred in the right side of the vehicle.
The truck traveled off the road to the right and the driver overcorrected left causing the truck to travel across all lanes of traffic sideways and spun into a ditch where it rolled onto the passenger side where it came to rest.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and no citations were issued at the scene.
January 31, 2017 - Lufkin District approved for six construction and maintenance projects
LUFKIN – The Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday approved construction contracts for the state that totaled $431.3 million and additional maintenance contracts, with the Lufkin District was approved for five new construction projects that totaled $6.9 million and one maintenance project for $1.2 million.
Construction and maintenance projects were approved for Houston, San Jacinto, Shelby, Nacogdoches and Polk counties that include:
Shelby County: A $1.2 million construction project was approved for US 84 from the Rusk County line to US 59, from the end of pavement to FM 699 on US 59, at Waller Creek on US 59, at Rusk Branch in Nacogdoches County, and on US 259 from the Rusk County line to US 59 in Nacogdoches County. The work will include safety treating fixed objects that will consist of improving and replacing metal beam guard fence to design standards, updating and replacing culverts and replacing bridge and approach railings. Stateline Construction, LLC will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
Houston County: A $2.9 million construction project was approved and set to safety treat fixed objects on SH 21 from just south of SL 304 to the Cherokee County line. The work will include upgrading and replacing metal beam guard fence and culverts to design standards. L.C. Jordan & Son will serve as contractor for the project. No timeline has been determined.
San Jacinto County: A $1.5 million construction project was approved for safety treating fixed objects on FM 1127 to the end of pavement, and on FM 2666 from FM 2025 to SH 150. The work will include updating and replacing metal beam guard fence and culverts to design standards. L.C. Jordan & Son will serve as contractor for the project. No timeline has been determined.
Polk County: A $1.2 million maintenance project was approved that includes mill and inlay work on US 190 from the city of Livingston to the Tyler County line. The contract also includes a section of US 59 in Shelby County for mill and inlay work from the Nacogdoches County line to the city of Timpson in Shelby County. Moore Brothers Construction will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
A $796,806 construction project was approved on US 59 that is designed to replace bridge and approach railings at Bear Creek, Piney Creek, also includes safety treating fixed objects from the Angelina County line to US 287 in Polk County. CDM Holdings, LLC will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
Nacogdoches County: A $272,731 construction project was approved on FM 1275 (University Drive) at FM 2609 (Austin Street) and Martinsville Road and FM 2609 that is designed to improve the traffic signals at those locations. Striping Technology, L.P. will serve as contractor. A timeline has not been determined.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
January 30, 2017 - Three fire departments were called out to multiple structures on fire on CR 1024 at 1pm on Monday, January 30, 2017 including Center Fire Department, West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department.
While Center FD was en route to the blaze firemen could see a large amount of smoke from a distance indicating a large fire was rolling. Several out buildings were fully engulfed in flames and winds were moving the fire towards nearby structures including a neighboring home. Shelbyville VFD and West Shelby County VFD were both dispatched to assist.
Firemen were quick to work on stopping the flames from spreading; however, changing winds kept them running. The owner of the property is Ignacio Gonzalez and his home received exterior damage. A carport was damaged and fell partially on a vehicle parked under it. A second vehicle which was parked nearby a fully engulfed out building received damage to the rear of the vehicle as the heat from the flames caused the plastic to melt.
Three out buildings which appeared to be storage sheds and barn structures were completely or mostly burned down. A horse trailer also fell victim to the fire along with a heavy equipment boom lift and a pile of miscellaneous lumber. Heat caused the rear tire on a tractor to explode.
A neighbor, Terry Bailey, brought over a compact skid steer loader to assist by helping to dig a fire break. Close to 2pm the Texas Forest Service arrived with heavy equipment to assist as well. Jason Burch with Hughes Wrecker Service assisted firemen in dragging hose and moving debris. ACE EMS was on scene in the event anyone fell victim to the excessive heat of the flames.
A neighbor's home was saved by the firemen as flames came within 10 feet or less of the house.
January 30, 2017 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of CR 3156 on Monday, January 30, 2017.
Emergency personnel from ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene of the crash and there they were assisted by Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies, Center Fire Department and Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department in helping those involved in the crash.
Upon arrival one vehicle remain in the middle of the roadway bring traffic in both directions to a halt.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at around 5:45pm a white 2015 Jeep Cherokee driven by Leslie Ann Head, 39, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 when she brought the vehicle to a stop and was preparing to make a left turn onto CR 3156.
As Head was waiting on a safe opportunity to turn, a silver 2009 Nissan Sentra driven by Shakimberly Patrice Hall, 24, of Houston failed to control speed and collided with the rear of the stopped Jeep. After being struck, the Jeep entered the westbound traffic lane and struck the side wheel of a blue 2016 Freightliner 18-wheeler driven by Donquel Moore, 22, of Augusta, Ga.
The Jeep came to rest facing west, the Nissan came to rest facing east and in the J&B Liquor store parking lot, and the Freightliner came to a halt in the eastbound shoulder.
Transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment were Hall and Head with her passengers a 16-year-old female and 7-year-old female.
Moore and his passenger Orain Vernon Jones, 39, of Newberry, Fl. were not reported to have received any injuries as a result of the crash.
Assisting with the investigation at the scene was Texas DPS State Trooper John Hallenbeck.
January 27, 2017 - Two vehicles collided with a horse on State Highway 87 North on Thursday, January 27 causing damage to both vehicles and proving fatal for the horse.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were already en-route to the scene before the crashes occurred when it was reported there were horses on the roadway. When they arrived, that which they were seeking to prevent already had happened. Sheriff's Deputies Jeff Gogolewski and Ruth Gonzales marked the roadway at both ends of the scene and directed traffic during the Texas Department of Public Safety investigation.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at around 7pm a 2013 Hyundai Sonata driven by Jennifer Tomkins, 25, of Center was southbound on SH 87 just under 2 1/2 miles north of Center when the Hyundai struck the horse which was in her lane, causing the Hyundai to travel to the right off the roadway and coming to rest in a ditch with major damage.
Fausto Tello, 44, of Center was traveling in a 2004 Ford Explorer behind Tomkins and was unable to avoid colliding with the horse which was still in the roadway. Tello was able to retain control of the vehicle and was able to pull off to the side.
Tomkins was transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The owner of the horse was not yet identified at the time of the crash.
January 27, 2017 - A motorist lost control of a vehicle causing a crash which came to rest in the roadway Thursday, January 26, 2017.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at 5:35pm Angel Morales, 48, of Center was traveling north in a 1998 Ford Expedition when the vehicle had a mechanical failure causing the front left wheel to fall off. The Expedition traveled right, into the ditch, and then as Morales attempted to correct the vehicle it traveled back across the roadway skidding on its driver side.
The Expedition came to rest partially in the roadway. Morales was able to move the vehicle from the road to prevent further incident.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. Morales was issued a citation for expired driver's license.
January 26, 2017 - Hurst Street in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Friday, January 20, 2017 in front of Walmart.
At around 7:30pm a black Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Josh Campbell, 22, of Gary was preparing to exit from the Walmart parking lot crossing to Foster Street.
When Campbell entered Hurst Street he didn't see a tan GMC Yukon XL driven by Dayna Kolb, 41, of Martinsville that was traveling south and the Dodge collided with the right rear quarter panel of the Yukon. The collision caused Kolb to lose control and the Yukon to travel into a ditch on the west side of the roadway where it came to rest.
Hughes Wrecker Service was able to pull the Yukon back across the ditch and neither vehicle was towed from the scene.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and no citations were issued.
First to respond to the scene was Texas Game Warden Nathan Skeen. Center Police Officer Andrew Williams investigated the crash and he was assisted by Officer Steve Thornburgh.
January 26, 2017 - District Clerk Lori Oliver advises the Grand Jury summons recently mailed out for February 14, 2017 had an incorrect time of 12-midnight on the card. The time to report for Grand Jury is 8:30am. New cards with the correct time were mailed out today, January 26, 2017. Sincerest apologizes for any confusion.
January 26, 2017 - The West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD) fought a house fire on Thursday, January 26, 2017 14 miles outside of Center.
According to the West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department the house, owned by Melinda Williams, was located on State Highway 7 West in the Aiken Community.
When the firemen responded to the fire at 5:44am, the house was totally engulfed in flames. There was no electric or gas believed to be running to the house at the time of the fire.
Assisting the WSVFD in fighting the fire were the Martinsville, Shady Grove and Swift Volunteer Fire Departments. WSVFD returned to the station at 8:30am.
No one was living in the home when the fire occurred. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation at this time.
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