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December 6, 2016 - A two-vehicle crash on Shelbyville Street in Center caused major damage to both vehicles and traffic delays on Monday, December 5, 2016.
As the roadway was blocked at the intersection of Elliott Street, Center Police Officers directed several reluctant drivers to take alternate routes away from the collision and investigated the crash.
According to Center Police Officer Jake Gross, at 5pm Debra Lee Norris, 56, of Center driving a 2013 orange Hyundai Santa Fe east on Shelbyville Street when a maroon Toyota Tacoma driven by Lorenzo Chavez, 17, of Center turned left in front of Norris toward Elliott Street failing to yield right of way and causing the Santa Fe to strike the Tacoma.
The force of the collision sent the Tacoma into a street sign causing damage to the sign and secondary damage to the vehicle as well as knocking the rear driver side tire off.
Chavez was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way. No injuries were reported of Norris, Chavez or his 12-year-old female passenger.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Officer Jim Blackwell assisted at the scene.
December 5, 2016 - Updates for week of Dec. 5-9
LUFKIN – As the holidays approach, TxDOT contractors and maintenance employees are working to facilitate construction and maintenance projects that will enhance safety and improve traffic flow. As motorists plan their holiday shopping and travel, TxDOT urges drivers to stay alert, reduce speed through work areas and drive to conditions. Watch out for workers near the roadways throughout the nine-county Lufkin District in coming weeks. Construction and maintenance work scheduled for the week of Dec. 5-9 includes:
Shelby County
- US 84: Work will continue on concrete paving in the eastbound lanes of the Texas/Louisiana Bridge at the Sabine River. Paving is also scheduled to begin on LA 5.
- US 96: Crews will continue to mill and plane existing surface and overlay from 1.4 miles north of SH 87 to SH 87 in Center.
- SH 7: Crews will install driveway culverts, cross drainage structures and safety treat fixed objects from 4.4 miles east of FM 2913 to US 96.
- SH 7: Maintenance crews will work in the westbound lane to repair pavement edges.
- FM 415: Construction continues to replace the bridge and approaches at Bear Bayou.
- FM 699: Maintenance crews will repair pavement edges.
- CR 4256: Crews will set concrete bridge decks at the tributary of Flat Fork Creek.
- Box culverts are being constructed on CR 3564 Hilliard Creek and work continues on bridge replacements throughout the project at Spinney Creek and Shoal Creek on CR 4455.
- Various locations: Maintenance crews will patch potholes, install and repair signs, remove debris from the roadways and repair mailboxes.
San Augustine County
- US 96: Traffic is detoured as crews work to add passing lanes and reconstruct pavement from the Shelby County line to FM 3451.
- SH 21: Crews will continue replacing metal guard fence and safety treating fixed objects from SH 147 to FM 1.
- SH 147: Crews will work to level up pavement and perform ditch maintenance.
- SH 103: Tree contractors are scheduled to work in the area and crews will be repairing road base and maintaining ditches and treating overgrown vegetation.
- FM 1175: Crews will repair and replace metal beam guard fencing from the end of the pavement to FM 83.
- FM 705: Crews will continue to safety treat fixed objects from SH 147 to the end of pavement.
Sabine County
- US 96: Safety treating and upgrading metal beam guardrail will continue from FM 83 to the Jasper County line.
- FM 1: Crews are completing striping from SH 184 to SS 1.
- FM 3121: Maintenance crews will work to repair road and level up pavement in various locations.
Angelina County
- US 59/Angelina River Bridge: Workers are placing new metal guardrail in southbound lanes and pouring concrete for new bridge railings. Motorists should be alert for flaggers and expect delays.
- US 59/Kurth Drive: Work is ongoing to safety end treat fixed objects, including upgrading culverts at driveways and side streets.
- US 69 South: Crews will continue to upgrade bridge railing and safety treat fixed objects from SL 287 in Lufkin to just north of Huntington ISD.
Nacogdoches County
- US 59: Sidewalks and driveways are being constructed on a project that will add a raised median from SL 224 to 1.2 miles south of SL 224. Curbs and gutters are being replaced and repaired. Crews are forming and setting concrete in the center median. Dirt work near Spradley Street is also scheduled.
- US 59: Paving and striping are being completed from the grass median south of SL 224 in Nacogdoches to the Angelina River Bridge.
- SH 7 East: Crews will be performing mill and inlay work from SL 224 to FM 2112.
- FM 95: Construction on the new bridge at Parallel Creek will continue. Traffic is detoured to the newly constructed detour bridge.
- FM 1638: Crews will continue to safety treat fixed objects and upgrade metal beam guard railing from FM 698 to FM 2609.
Houston County
- US 287: Crews will work to safety treat fixed objects and clean the project area from 2.1 miles north of FM 2663 to just south of SL 304.
- SH 7: Crews are scheduled to begin laying hot mix from just east of FM 232 to the city of Kennard as this project continues to reconstruct pavement and add passing lanes and shoulders.
- SH 21 (Crockett): Traffic is detoured from main lanes as crews place base material to the subgrade to widen the road from 2.3 miles east of FM 2967 to SH 7. The project includes reconstructing pavement and adding passing lanes.
- SH 21 (Austonio): Work is scheduled to lay asphalt. This project includes reconstructing pavement and adding passing lanes from FM 1280 to 2.3 miles east of FM 2967.
- FM 227: Crews are scheduled to tie steel and set concrete for the bridge deck on the relief bridge at Hickory Creek as the project continues to remove and replace the existing bridge and approaches.
Polk County
- US 190: Crews will continue to work on the project that will add passing lanes and widen the roadway from Onalaska to FM 2457. Embankment work, replacing culverts and safety treating fixed objects is scheduled throughout the work area.
- US 190: Crews will continue to safety treat fixed objects and upgrade culverts from US 59 to just west of FM 1276.
- FM 1988: Crews are scheduled to finish the flex base and remove the old bridge at Long King Creek.
- FM 2457: Crews will work to repair drainage issues in various locations.
- FM 62: Crews will work to repair and replace bridge railing and place hot mix and lengthen several box culverts at Draw Creek.
- FM 356: Crews are staking the project and plan to begin preparing rights-of-way from 1.1 mile north of US 190 to US 190. The project includes reconstructing and widening pavement that will include a two-way continuous left turn lane and 10-foot shoulders.
- Livingston State Park: Yaupon and Red Oak camp loops remain closed as workers continue to rehabilitate roads, parking lots and campsites within the Piney Shore, Red Oak and Yaupon camping areas.
- Dick Skinner Road: Crews continue to work to replace the bridge and approaches, which crosses a tributary of the Neches River.
- Upper Leggett Road: Work will continue to complete the road base for the bridge approaches at the tributary of Big Sandy Creek. On East Clamon, at Bear Creek, preparations to begin the bridge slab are scheduled.
- Old Highway 35 North: Crews will work along the right of way to begin removing and replacing the old bridge and approaches that crosses a tributary of Long King Creek.
- Bluewater Road: Crews plan to work on road base on Bluewater Road at Blue Branch and Punk Road at Paus Creek. Bridges and approaches at both locations along with the bridge at Old Bering Road at Barnett Creek are scheduled to be replaced.
- Carmona Road: Crews continue clearing for bridge and approach replacements at Brushy Creek.
- Nine Bridge Road: Work continues as the new bridge and approaches are built at Piney Creek Relief No. 1.
San Jacinto County
- US 59: Crews will remove the northbound detour and prepare to move traffic to the new southbound lanes at the overpass from 1 mile north of FM 2914 to 1 mile south of FM 2914.
- US 59: Concrete pavement is being placed on the south end of the project that will add southbound frontage roads and reconstruct main lanes from just south of the Union Pacific Railroad in Shepherd to just north of FM 2914.
- US 59: Crews will continue to replace and upgrade metal beam guard fence from just south of FM 2914 to the Trinity River Bridge.
- US 190: Work will continue to prepare the right-of-way near culvert ends as crews replace and safety treat fixed objects from the Walker County Line to the Polk County Line.
Trinity County
- US 287: Work continues to reconstruct pavement as crews reconstruct sidewalks and driveways from Harrison Street in Groveton to Vickery Street.
- FM 2501: Maintenance crews will work to rehabilitate the pavement north of Apple Springs ISD.
All work schedules are subject to change in inclement weather. For a complete list of construction projects, conditions and road closures, visit drivetexas.org.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
December 3, 2016 - A two-vehicle crash occurred on US Highway 59 near the Attoyac Bridge south of Timpson on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 2:40pm after a vehicle hydroplaned.
To secure the area until Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers (DPS) could arrive, the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department responded along with Timpson Police Department officers Jake Metcalf and Michelle Ashworth and Garrison City Marshal Charles Adamcryk.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Taylor Buster, a 2004 Infiniti driven by Demondre Montgomery, 18 from Waxahachie, Texas, was traveling south on US 59 when the vehicle hydroplaned and entered into the northbound lane of traffic striking a 2012 black Ford pickup. The pickup was driven by Kelvin Carey, 63 of Houston, Texas, and the pickup traveled down a steep embankment before coming to rest. Timpson EMS responded to the scene. No injuries were reported and no one required transport.
Montgomery was cited for unsafe speed and both vehicles were transported from the scene by Hopkins Wrecker Service. The accident was investigated by Trooper Taylor Buster and assisted by Austin Lunsford.
Wet weather is predicted to continue through Monday. Slow down and use caution if traveling the roadways.
December 3, 2016 - A pickup truck crashed into a tree on FM 1970 South Thursday, December 1, 2016 sending the driver to the hospital. Emergency personnel from Timpson including the police department, fire department and EMS were all dispatched immediately to the scene when the crash was discovered. The fire department used Jaws of Life to help remove the door to extricate the driver.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Austin Lunsford, at 12:30am a white 2010 Ford F-150 driven by John Edward Martin, 57, of Timpson was traveling southwest on FM 1970 South 2 miles from U.S. Highway 84. The truck exited the roadway to the left and struck a tree causing the vehicle to rollover, coming to rest in the middle of the roadway.
The speedometer was locked at between 50 and 60 miles per hour suggesting that was the speed at impact with the tree. Martin was wearing a seat belt.
Martin was transported from the scene by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. According to Trooper Lunsford, Martin displayed several clues of intoxication and he was charged with driving while intoxicated.
December 3, 2016 - In spite of the optimism of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce parade committee, Santa’s 2016 Christmas parade has been cancelled for Saturday, December 3 with an alternate plan.
In respect of all endeavors a virtual parade will be developed for the Chamber and public websites. Registered parade participants may submit a video of their parade entry to be included in the collage by calling or emailing the Chamber office by 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 5 of desire to be included.
Registration is also open to display parade floats from Monday evening thru Wednesday night at the Civic Center to form a drive-by exhibit which would also be aired on Channel 2. Judging will be completed on all entries whether virtual or displayed.
For further information please contact the Chamber office at 936.598.3682 or info@shelbycountychamber.com.
December 2, 2016 - State Highway 7 West in the Grigsby Community was the scene of a two-vehicle collision in which a pedestrian was struck and a theft investigation began on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at 7:20pm a black 2017 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Juan Jose Rivas Segovia, 29, of Nacogdoches was towing a u-haul tow dolly eastbound on State Highway 7 through the Grigsby Community when he stopped the Silverado and parked it in the middle of the outside traffic lane in order to load a broken down vehicle onto the tow dolly.
At that time a 2002 black Kia Spectra driven by David Laboy, 31, of New Jersey was traveling in the same direction and in the same lane when the Kia struck the trailer and a pedestrian, Arreola Velazquez-Serafin.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department and West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the scene to assist those involved in the crash.
Velazquez-Serafin was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
At the time of the investigation, it was suspected the trailer was possibly stolen and it was seized by DPS for transport to their facility for investigation by DPS Auto Theft.
Segovia was issued a citation for stop stand or park in maintained traffic lane. Laboy was issued a citation for failure to control speed and driving while license invalid.
It was later determined the trailer had in fact been stolen. Trooper Fountain was assisted by Texas DPS Trooper Keith Jones.
December 1, 2016 - As rain was steadily falling on Shelby County a crash occurred on State Highway 87 just under two miles south of Loop 500 Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department and ACE EMS were first dispatched to locate the scene and check on the driver.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Austin Lunsford, at 11:30am Chris Wheeler, 44, of Shelbyville was northbound in a white 2008 Mercury passenger car at an unsafe speed for conditions.
The Mercury traveled off the roadway to the right striking the road sign for CR 2026 and then traveling backwards through a fence in between a utility pole and guy wire where it came to rest.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash and Wheeler was issued a citation for unsafe speed.
November 30, 2016 Austin, TX – This week, State Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) filed Senate Bill 16, the License to Carry Fee Reform Act.
“Senate Bill 16 will reduce a barrier for all Texans to exercise their right to obtain a Concealed Handgun License," said Senator Robert Nichols. “As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I look forward to working with the National Rifle Association, the Texas State Rifle Association, and the members of the Legislature to pass this important piece of legislation.”
Senate Bill 16 will remove the requirement to pay the state's current application and license fee to obtain a Concealed Handgun License.
"It is time for the State of Texas to make the 'License to Carry' process more affordable," said Senator Joan Huffman. "I look forward to working with Senator Nichols and Lt. Governor Patrick to make this bill become law."
In the Texas Senate, Nichols serves as Chairman for both the Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Transportation Funding. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee. He serves on the Senate Finance, Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and State Affairs Committees. He is a member of the Legislative Audit Committee and the Sunset Advisory Committee.
Reference: Texas License To Carry a Handgun (LTC) Fee Table (DPS)
November 28, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners met on Monday, November 28, 2016 and during the meeting approved a motion to lift the burn ban. Burning which was prohibited under the burn ban is now allowed.
Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, stated the Texas Forest Service website which features a fire danger chart that listed Shelby County as being a moderate risk, which is next to the lowest risk. She said the drought index remains a little high; however, rain is in the forecast for the area and a lot more rain is projected.
A motion carried by the commissioners to lift the ban.
A software contract for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department was considered at the last meeting and tabled as paying for it was a possible complication. Without the presence of Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, at the previous meeting the decision came to a standstill in the absence of his input.
Porterfield referenced the contract which provided the needed answers for purchase.
"There's some wording on payment terms which is broken out on payment term based on percentages. Then it has our payment based on a data conversion for the final payment," said Porterfield.
Porterfield shared the information with the outside auditor for the county, Axley & Rhode for review by Eric Carver.
"He concurs with the wording of this payment terms that we can consider this a project in progress," said Porterfield.
He explained a "project in progress" is a way for the county to pay for something over many years without incurring the total cost in one fiscal year. The two options Porterfield stated explained were available to the county included paying the entire cost up front out of the county contingency fund or the project in progress option paying $65,000 out of the contingency fund since the software was not added to the county budget. Future payments could then be budgeted in following years since it is considered a work in progress.
A motion carried to proceed with the purchase as a work in progress project taking $65,612 out of the contingency fund and budget for it in the following year.
A pharmacy benefit management program for the county's indigent healthcare was up for consideration following the previous week's meeting of the commissioners. Judge Harbison said Cindy Clark who manages the indigent healthcare in the county has spoken with CVS and the company has agreed to take over the pharmacy benefit.
"We will not need to do this contract with the middleman for now, and also they're not going to be exclusive so if people in Joaquin want to use Blount, they're going to be able to do that also," said Judge Harbison.
A motion carried by the commissioners to pass on the contract at this time.
Another item tabled at the previous meeting was a contract with Serenity Software Services, LLC. for the District Clerk and Justice of the Peace offices. As it turns out Judge Harbison said the software has already been purchased and budgeted by the county, the difference is the original company changed names and sold out to another company.
Portefield explained the software has already been budgeted for the Justices of the Peace through Fund 46, Technology fund, and the District Clerk has a line item included in her budget for the software.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, said he was unaware of the expiration of the contract, and according to McSwain the Justices of the Peace have complained about the service provided on the software as when they call for help they do not receive any. He stated the county needs to move forward with the current contract as it is in progress; however, before the contract comes up again he wants the issue addressed.
Lori Oliver, District Clerk, spoke up and asked to not be included with the Justices of the Peace in regards to that issue as her office has not experienced the same problems at this time.
A motion carried to continue with the contract with Serenity Software Services, LLC and for issues to be addressed regarding service before the contract expires.
James Box was on the agenda to speak with the commissioners about culverts on CR 4177. Box was not present and Bradley Allen, Commissioner Precinct 4, stated the problem had been addressed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:43am.
Related articles:
County Continues ACE EMS Contract, Burn Ban
Commissioners Hear Proposition for Sheriff's Department Software; Harbison Recognizes County Agents
November 29, 2016 - The water on Denning Rural WSC no longer requires boiling.
On November 23, 2016, we issued a Boil Water Notice Due to a mechanical problem at the plant, which included all customers on Denning Rural Water.
This was issued for safety precautions. The problem has been corrected and we've tested the water. The tests were good, therefore, the Boil Water Notice is lifted.
Our system has taken the necessary actions to be sure of adequate pressure,
disinfectant levels, and/or bacteriological quality and has provided TCEQ with testing results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling as of November 29, 2016.
The water no longer requires boiling as of November 29, 2016.
If you have questions, contact Charles Sharp 936-288-0489.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation. If a customer wishes to reach TCEQ, they may call 512-239-4691.
November 24, 2016 - Effective November 23, 2016 Until further notice
Due to a mechanical problem at the plant water for Denning Rural Water Supply, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires our water
system Denning Rural Supply to notify the customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption.
This includes all of the Denning Rural Water Supply customers. 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 (2) minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled 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 any questions concerning this matter, you may contact Denning Rural Water Supply at 936-288-0489.
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