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November 27, 2015 - A single-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 has resulted in the death of one man and left another in critical condition.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Pete Davis was dispatched to the scene, as well as the West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (WSCVFD) and Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers.
When the emergency personnel arrived, a car was on its roof in the middle of the eastbound traffic lanes and one occupant from the vehicle had been ejected. Another remained in the car.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) report, on November 27, 2015 at 1:35am a red 2007 Chevrolet driven by Jamie Pena-Lobato, 32, was traveling east on State Highway 7 1.5 miles east of Martinsville, when the vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck a tree head-on.
Pena-Lobato's passenger, Bicente Fernandez, was ejected from the vehicle into the woods, and upon striking the tree, the car flipped over and came to rest in the middle of the roadway on its roof facing the woods. At the time of the crash, Pena-Lobato was wearing a seatbelt; however, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, at 3:10am. No autopsy was ordered at the scene by Judge Eaves on the unattended death. Pena-Lobato was transported from the scene by Mangum Funeral Home of Center.
Although a life-flight was requested, conditions were not favorable and Fernandez was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. He was later transported to UT Tyler for treatment of his incapacitating injuries, and remains in critical condition.
It was unclear at the scene where Pena-Lobato and Fernandez were from; however, it was suspected they could live in Nacogdoches or Center.
The WSCVFD directed traffic and remained until the roadway was clear. The crash was investigated by Texas DPS Trooper Taylor Buster, assisted by Texas DPS Trooper Keith Jones. The crash remains under investigation at this time.
November 25, 2015 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 7:48am on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 on CR 3047 in the Sardis Community at the residence of Will Blackwell.
Smoke was emitting form the home when firemen arrived. The residents were at the house and had evacuated before their arrival.
The origin of the fire was believed to have been from the kitchen and to have started on the stove. Heavy smoke damage to the home resulted from the fire; however, the house was saved.
At 9:30am the firemen returned to the station.
November 24, 2015 - Loop 500 and the intersection with State Highway 7 East was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Tuesday, November 24, 2015.
Emergency personnel was dispatched to the scene of the crash at 1:51 pm. According to Center Police Officer Andrew Williams, a light blue Peterbilt truck-tractor owned by Universal Truckload Inc. out of Warren, Minnesota and driven by James Ray Jones, 61, of Linden, Texas failed to stop at the stop sign when exiting Loop 500 and entering State Highway 7 East.
As a result, Jones drove into the path of Frances Alford, of Center who was traveling east in a white GMC Arcadia SUV, which struck the left quarter panel of 
the Peterbilt and caused major damage to the front of the Arcadia. The Peterbilt came to rest in the middle of the roadway, blocking traffic, and the Arcadia came to rest on the east shoulder of Loop 500.
Alford was traveling with several passengers including a 7-year-old female child, 5-year-old female child, 11-year-old female child, and a 13-year-old male child. All parties involved in the crash from both vehicles refused treatment at the scene by ACE EMS and no injuries were reported to have been sustained as a result of the incident.
Jones was issued a citation for disregard stop sign.
Officer Williams was assisted at the scene by Center Police Officer Jake Gross, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Kurtes Lawrence, and Texas DPS Troopers Keith Jones and Taylor Buster.
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Update: Around 2pm, Demetrius Bennett was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail.
November 24, 2015 - Law enforcement officials from multiple agencies converged on the Timpson Housing Authority located on Archie Street in search of a wanted suspect in the shooting death of a Rusk County man.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were stationed at all streets leading to the location and once Texas Ranger Travis Brazil arrived on scene efforts were put into motion to take Demetrius Terrell Bennett, 19, into custody.
Reports from residents at the scene informed law enforcement Bennett had been knocking on different apartment doors trying to gain access early in the morning. It was indicated by a witness at the scene, a unit he took shelter in belongs to a family member, who was reported to not be home at the time.
Officers donned tactical gear and moved to enter the apartment at 10:40am. Following the announcement of their presence, officers entered the unit only to exit empty handed as Bennett was not to be found inside.
According to a Rusk County Sheriff's Department press release, Bennett is wanted for the murder of an as yet to be named victim who was shot on November 23, 2015 sometime before 10:17pm at a location on CR 3281. Bennett is reported to have fled the scene in one vehicle, but he abandoned it at another location. He was on foot at the apartment complex and has not been reported to be driving another vehicle.
Bennett is considered to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone having information about the whereabouts of Bennett is requested to call the Rusk County Sheriff's Office at 903-657-3581 or their local law enforcement agency.
Officers participating in the attempt to capture at the apartment complex include officers from the Timpson Police Department; Stanley Burgay, Constable Precinct 5; Texas Department of Public Safety; Shelby County Sheriff's Department; Rusk County Sheriff's Department; Tim Barton, Rusk County Constable Precinct 3; and the Garrison Police Department.
November 24, 2015 - On November 23rd, 2015 at approximately 10:17pm, patrol units from the Rusk County Sheriff's Office responded to an altercation on County Road 3281, where there were reports of shots fired and one victim wounded.
Upon their arrival a male victim was found to be deceased on scene from apparent gunshot wounds. Witness reports that the suspect had fled the scene in a 1995, Pontiac Firebird headed south. The vehicle was later found abandoned near County Road 3285 in Rusk County.
Sought in connection with this incident is Demetrius Terrell Bennett, age 19, black male, approximately 5'10", 155 lbs, black hair, brown eyes. He is believed to be in the southern Rusk County, northwestern Shelby County and north Nacogdoches County; around the Mt. Enterprise, Timpson and Nacogdoches, Texas area.
Anyone having information about the whereabouts of Bennett is requested to call the Rusk County Sheriff's Office at 903-657-3581 or their local law enforcement agency. Bennett should not be approached and be considered to be armed and dangerous.
Rusk County Sheriff's Office currently holds an outstanding warrant for Bennett for the offense of murder.
November 23, 2015 - The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a vehicle on fire Sunday, November 22, 2015 just over two miles south of Loop 500 on U.S. 96 South.
Center Police officers and a Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy also responded to the call. When the emergency personnel arrived at the scene, any threat of fire involving the vehicle was curbed. Although it appeared the vehicle, a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis, had crashed into a tree, it had only driven up to the tree striking it at a slow speed causing no apparent damage.
Evidence at the scene indicated the vehicle had crossed over onto the southbound side of the roadway and traveled on the shoulder before leaving the road to the left. Once the vehicle was against the tree, the accelerator was depressed, revving the vehicle high enough the exhaust pipe caused the grass below the Mercury to ignite and stripping the tread off the right rear tire.
It was determined at the scene, the driver was intoxicated and was placed under arrest. As the officers searched the vehicle, two cigarettes suspected to be soaked in PCP (Phencyclidine) were recovered as evidence.
According to the Shelby County Jail arrest report Melton Garrett, 38, of Shelbyville was arrested by Deputy Chris Benton and charged on November 22, 2015 with possession of a controlled substance - felony 3.
November 20, 2015 - FM 414 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Friday, November 20, 2015. Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene as well as Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers. The deputies directed traffic in the curvy roadway while the troopers investigated the crash.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Jeff Pirtle, at 12:55pm Jimmy Lee Wagstaff, 56, of Center was traveling west in FM 414 in a white 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck. As Wagstaff traveled around a curve in the roadway four miles from State Highway 87 South the truck traveled off the roadway to the right through the bar ditch and into a fence where it came to a halt facing east.
It didn't appear the truck rolled; however, the crash caused major damage to the front of the vehicle.
ACE EMS responded to the scene and Wagstaff refused treatment.
Citations were issued to Wagstaff for unsafe speed, and ride unsecured by safety belt.
DPS Troopers Keith Jones and Taylor Buster assisted with the crash investigation.
National Weather Service, Shreveport, La
1:10pm CST Friday, November 20, 2015
November 20, 2015 - The coldest temperatures of the fall season are expected Saturday night and again Sunday night with the first freeze of the season expected this weekend.
A strong cold front will quickly push through the four state region Saturday and will usher in strong northwest winds of 15 to 25mph with higher gusts. Lake wind advisories have been posted for the entire four state region for Saturday. Winds will subside Saturday night as colder air begins to funnel into the region from the plains.
Many of the areas of the four state region will experience their first freeze of the fall season. The areas most likely to see freeing temperatures Saturday night will be areas near and to the north of the IH20 corridor.
Sunday will be a cool day and skies should remain mostly clear Sunday night with the wind becoming near calm. This will result in widespread freezing temperatures Sunday night across the entire four state region.
Freeze warnings will likely be issued for portions of the four state region Saturday night with additional freeze warnings likely for Sunday night to include the rest of the four state region.
Preparations need to be made this weekend to protect outdoor plants that may be susceptible to freezing temperatures. Wrap all outdoor pipes and provide for all outdoor pets with proper bedding or bring them indoors.
November 20, 2015 - Lynda K. Russell was honored during the Friday, November 20, 2015 session of the 273rd District Court, Honorable Charles R. Mitchell, by Lone Star Legal Aid for her pro bono service with the 2015 Most Contested Pro Bono Cases Litigated Award. Russell was the first Shelby County attorney to be recognized when she received the Most Pro Bono Cases Litigated award in 2014.
Dana G. Bias, Private Attorney Involvement Coordinator with Lone Star Legal Aid said, "I'm pleased and proud to be here for the second year in a row to honor Mrs. Lynda K. Russell for her pro bono service. And she is going to receive an award today from Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman who is the court liaison to the Texas Access to Justice Commission. And not only does Lynda do a lot, a tremendous amount of pro bono work for us, but she also handles the hard cases, not just the easy cases. So, this year she is receiving the Most Contested Litigated Cases Handled Award."
Following presentation of the award and applause, Bias continued, "I just want to say if it were not for private attorneys like Lynda K. Russell who — because Lone Star Legal Aide can not possibly assist all of the low income individuals that come to us for legal assistance. So we depend on the private bar to assist us in our mission of helping low income Texans receive access to justice. If it were not for attorneys like Mrs. Russell, a lot more people would go unserved."
Russell expressed appreciation, "I couldn't do this without my staff I want you to know because they handle a lot of this. And they're here with me today, Sharla Foster and Brenda Windham, and trust me they are really the ones who deserve this, not me, because they handle so much of this for me." Russell also expressed appreciation to the judges who are patient with them with the pro bono cases.
"We have all kinds of interesting things that come up. But it just makes me feel good to help people because when somebody comes in and they say can you help me and they don't have money, I'll say, I can't help you unless you can get approved through Legal Aid and if they send you too me then I will help you. I always feel like that might be my cousin or my grandma, my mom, or somebody in my family that might need help and I would appreciate if somebody helped them. So that's why I probably do maybe more than I ought to but I can't help that because people are in need and I don't know, that is just my calling in life," said Russell.
Russell also recognized and gave appreciation to her family and friends who were in the courtroom: mother, Edrie Parsons; husband, Phil Hennigan; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Parsons; friends, Sammy and Barbara Dance.
Lone Star Legal Aid Pro Bono Awards recognize attorneys, law firms and community partners who donate their time and legal expertise to ensuring that all Shelby County residents have equal access to the courts. Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA), a United Way Agency, acts as a safety net for at-risk Texans, providing free civil legal services to clients facing complex legal issues with no ability to afford a private attorney. Headquartered in Houston, LSLA operates an additional 12 regional offices which cover one-third of the state, including 72 counties in the Eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas. Lone Star Legal Aid's Nacogdoches office serves Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby and Tyler counties.
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