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December 17, 2016 - FM 139 was the scene of a single-vehicle fatality crash on Friday, December 16, 2016.
ACE EMS was dispatched to the scene of the crash four miles from State Highway 87 South. When the EMS crew arrived, they determined they were in need of additional assistance and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department was requested to their location along with Center FD to help extricate the driver and assist with traffic.
The crash was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Sean Smith and he was assisted by Trooper Daniel Dellinger. According to the DPS report, at about 5pm a tan 2001 Ford F-150 XL truck was traveling East on FM 139 when the vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left and came back onto the roadway as it overturned.
The driver of the truck has been identified as James Peterson, 57, of Ben Wheeler, Tx. Peterson was pronounced deceased at the scene by Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.
This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
Peterson was transported from the scene by Mangum Funeral Home.
The truck was towed from the scene by Vail & Son Wrecker Service.
December 16, 2016 - SHREVEPORT, La., Dec. 16, 2016 – AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), today submitted a request to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to increase the company’s Texas rates by approximately $69 million annually. If approved, new rates could go into effect in mid-to-late 2017.
The primary need for new revenue is to cover $34.4 million annually for additional investment in environmental controls at four major power plants. The investments are necessary to comply with new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
“The goal is always to serve Texas customers with a strong electric system that provides affordable, reliable and safe energy,” said Venita McCellon-Allen, SWEPCO President and Chief Operating Officer. “After investing nearly $700 million to fulfill new federal mandates, we believe SWEPCO has responsibly met these environmental and financial challenges in order to maintain a diverse energy mix with reliable 24/7 power sources serving our customers.”
The request includes four major components:
- $34.4 million for new environmental controls at four power plants to comply with EPA mandates. Plant locations include Welsh Plant Units 1 and 3 at Pittsburg, Texas; Pirkey Plant at Hallsville, Texas; Dolet Hills Plant at Mansfield, La.; and Flint Creek Plant at Gentry, Ark.
- $8 million for a change in transmission cost recovery to align with actual incurred regional transmission costs in the Southwest Power Pool – to help ensure reliability and access to affordable power through the regional transmission system.
- $2 million for additional vegetation management dollars to clear transmission and distribution lines and to improve service reliability, especially during storms.
- $24.5 million for additional generation, transmission and distribution investment, and changes in operating costs to continue delivering affordable, reliable and safe energy to homes, businesses and communities.
If approved by the PUCT, overall rates would increase annually by approximately $69 million, an average increase of about 12.7 percent. This is the net amount of the proposed annual base rate increase of $105.9 million minus $36.9 million for existing transmission and distribution charges that are currently shown as line items on customers’ bills and will be moved to base rates. Base rates reflect the costs of building, maintaining and operating SWEPCO’s electric system, including power plants, transmission and distribution lines, and facilities to serve customers. Base rates do not include the fuel portion of customers’ bills, which pays for fuel and purchased power and is passed through to customers with no profit to the company.
Residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see an estimated increase of $12.67 per month, or 13 percent. Increases for individual customers will vary depending on each customer’s usage characteristics.
“We work hard to provide high quality customer service while at the same time managing our costs and continuing to make needed investments in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. We recognize the impact that price increases can have on individuals, families and businesses. We believe our electric rates will continue to provide good value for the money,” McCellon-Allen said.
“Even with this proposed increase, SWEPCO rates will be close to the current state average for utilities serving the regulated parts of the state, and still well below the national average,” McCellon-Allen said.
SWEPCO serves 530,000 customers, including 184,000 in East Texas and the Panhandle, 230,000 in northwestern and central Louisiana and 116,000 in western Arkansas. The company’s headquarters are in Shreveport, La. More information is available at SWEPCO.com.
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 224,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts of renewable energy to customers. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
December 16, 2016 - Loop 500 and U.S. Highway 96 North was the scene of a chicken hauler crash on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
Following the incident, emergency personnel flocked to the location in a flurry where a they located a large number of feathered creatures strewn around the crash scene.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Sean Smith, at 8:50pm Robert Newman, 68, of Sevalia, Mo. was driving a Tyson chicken hauler west on Loop 500 when he didn't notice the stop sign until it was too late. The 18-wheeler entered U.S. 96 and crossed over into a ditch where it incurred major damage.
ACE EMS arrived at the scene and transported Newman to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
Center Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, directing traffic until it was clear at 3:50am.
The load of chickens was reported to be traveling to Oklahoma. A Tyson cleanup crew was dispatched to the scene to pickup up the chickens and Hopkins Wrecker Service removed the truck from the scene.
December 15, 2016 - The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) responded a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 only this time, they were involved in the crash.
As two of the firemen were delivering a newly purchased truck to have wiring installed, the new truck arrived at the planned destination; however, the older grass truck was cut short of that destination by the incident.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 10:40am .2 miles north of CR 1431 on State Highway 87 North a red 1999 Ford F350 driven by Martin Mikesh, 52, of Timpson was southbound preparing to make a right turn into a private drive. Shasta Miller, 32, of Timpson driving a grey 2003 Volkswagen Beetle behind Mikesh failed to control speed colliding with the rear of the Ford, causing damage to both vehicles.
ACE EMS transported Miller and her passengers including a 7-year-old female and 5-year-old male to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
No injuries were reported of Mikesh. Miller was issued a citation for fail to control speed.
The TVFD handled traffic control at the scene until it was clear and they were assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Constable Precinct 1 Zach Warr and Timpson Police Chief Kent Graham.
DPS Trooper Buster was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper Keith Jones.
December 15, 2016 - A woman who was thought by relatives to have perished in a house fire early Thursday morning was found safe following a desperate search.
The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene of the mobile home fire at the corner of McLaughlin Street and Holly Street at 3:15am, December 15, 2016 and the roof and walls had already burned down before their arrival.
Firemen worked to extinguish the flames and were informed the resident of the home was still inside. Seeing there was no possibility for someone to be alive within the home, the firemen began working to locate the remains of the victim of the house fire.
While the firemen were removing the roof of the mobile home, Timpson Police Chief Kent Graham arrived at the scene and with family members began searching the surrounding area of Timpson for Ariel Burleson, the resident. As the firemen continued searching what remained of the building, their dread was relieved with the arrival of Burleson on the scene at 4:30am as she had been found at another location.
When Burleson arrived, and during her distress of learning her residence was totally consumed by fire, she shouted someone had threatened earlier on the previous day to burn her house down.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and the house was a total loss.
December 13, 2016 - Tyson Foods Center Processing Plant work schedule:
- Thursday, December 15: all shifts shipping will work. All other departments will not work.
- The plant will return to a normal work schedule Friday, December 16.
December 13, 2016 - The intersection of Loop 500 and State Highway 7 East was the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Center on Friday, December 9, 2016.
When officers with the Center Police Department arrived at the scene, the vehicles had moved from the roadway.
According to Center Police Officer Steve Thornburgh, at 3:50pm a grey 2004 Buick LeSabre driven by William Cosby, 31, of Center was traveling east on Loop 500 when he failed to yield right of way to a white 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck. The truck driven by Thomas Teofilo-Olivares, 36, of Center was eastbound on State Highway 7 when the Buick entered the path of the truck.
The truck collided with the Buick,causing major damage to the passenger side of the car and damage to the front of the truck.
ACE EMS arrived a the scene and checked the occupants of both vehicles for injuries, but treatment was refused and no injuries were reported.
Unspecified citations were issued to both drivers involved. Hughes Wrecker Service towed both vehicles from the scene.
Officer Thornburgh was assisted at the scene by Sgt. Ricky King.
December 12, 2016 San Augustine County - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers responded to a hit and run auto-pedestrian fatality crash on FM 83 about 3 miles East of Broaddus on December 11, at approximately 7:21 p.m.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates a passing motorist notified law enforcement of the apparent crash.
Investigators continue to investigate the collision and are working to locate the vehicle and identify the operator.
The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old David Neal Jacks from Broaddus, TX.
If anyone has any knowledge or information concerning this crash please notify local law enforcement or contact DPS Lufkin Communications at 936-699-7300.
This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
December 8, 2016 - AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that the state of Texas will receive $1,015,420 in a $19.5 million settlement that 42 other state attorneys general reached with the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). The settlement stems from claims that the company violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by improperly marketing the antipsychotic drug Abilify. Under the terms of the settlement, BMS is prohibited from making false or misleading claims about Abilify, including its safety or efficacy in comparison with other drugs.
Abilify is the brand name for the prescription drug aripiprazole, which was originally approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in 2002 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Without FDA approval, BMS promoted Abilify to treat children and symptoms consistent with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in elderly patients. In 2006, Abilify received a “black box” warning stating that elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with antipsychotic drugs have an increased risk of death. The petition alleges that BMS made false and misleading representations about Abilify’s risks by not revealing limitations that would substantially affect the interpretation of the scientific studies.
“BMS put Texans’ lives at risk when it marketed Abilify for uses not approved by the FDA,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The integrity of our healthcare system depends on patients and doctors being able to trust the representations made by pharmaceutical companies. Our Consumer Protection Division will continue to prosecute vigorously any company, like BMS, which chooses exploitation over the safety of their consumer.”
Besides Texas, the participating states in the settlement are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
To view a copy of the petition, click here
December 6, 2016 - Notice is hereby given that a Workshop of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 8th day of December, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:
1. Discuss Personnel Policy Manuals with TAC representatives.
2. Adjourn
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