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November 8, 2016 - Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) are seeking assistance from the public.

A garage/yard sale was held in the 3700 block of Hwy 84 E in Tenaha on Oct. 22-23. Items sold at this sale are believed to be stolen.

Individuals who purchased any items at this sale are subject to be in possession of stolen property.

If you or someone you know are in possession of any items from this sale, please contact Chief Deputy DJ Dickerson or Lieutenant Kevin Windham at the SCSO at (936) 598-5601.

www.scsotx.org

November 8, 2016 - The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash on FM 1645 was life-flighted from the scene Saturday.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 12-midnight on Saturday, November 5, 2016 a grey 2002 BMW 325 driven by Jerry Wayne Akins II, 29, of Lufkin was northbound on FM 1645 near CR 4012.

As the BMW traveled through a curve at an unsafe speed, Akins lost control and the BMW ran off the roadway to the left and overturned, ejecting Akins and coming to rest in the trees and on top of Akins.

Akins was flown by helicopter to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport for treatment of unknown injuries.

The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.

October 31, 2016 - The Shelby County Commissioners ratified the burn ban put in place by Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, during the Monday, October 31, 2016 meeting.

Judge Harbison stated, "I had great hopes, I saw Wednesday was 65% chance and then this weekend they moved it back down to 20%, so I just hope that we can get some rain."

A motion carried to approve ratifying the burn ban. The burn ban will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified by the county.

Judge Harbison informed the commissioners about the Shelby County Indigent Defense Grant Program, "The state sends us a little bit of money on this, so we have to pass this resolution. Clint [Porterfield] has done what he needed to do, and I have done what I needed to do with the grant."

Once it is filed with the state, Judge Harbison says the county looks to receive $24,000 to $25,000 from the state.

"This is just to help us with the indigent defense, and that's when the District [Judges] appoint and I occasionally appoint someone an attorney in criminal matters," said Harbison.

A motion carried to approve the 2017 Shelby County Resolution for Indigent Defense Grant Program.

The meeting adjourned at 9:38am.

October 15, 2016 - General Election, Shelby County Race Summary - November 8, 2016

President/Vice-President
Donald J. Trump / Mike Pence (REP)
Hillary Clinton / Tim Kaine (DEM)
Gary Johnson / William Weld (LIB)
Jill Stein / Ajamu Baraka (GRN)

U.S. Representative District 1
Louie Gohmert (REP)
Shirley J. McKellar (DEM)
Phil Gray (LIB)

Railroad Commissioner
Wayne Christian (REP)
Grady Yarbrough (DEM)
Mark Miller (LIB)
Martina Salinas (GRN)

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3
Debra Lehrmann (REP)
Mike Westergren (DEM)
Kathie Glass (LIB)
Rodolfo Rivera Munoz (GRN)

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5
Paul Green (REP)
Dori Contreras Garza (DEM)
Tom Oxford (LIB)
Charles E. Waterbury (GRN)

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9
Eva Guzman (REP)
Savannah Robinson (DEM)
Don Fulton (LIB)
Jim Chisholm (GRN)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2
Mary Lou Keel (REP)
Lawrence "Larry" Meyers (DEM)
Mark Ash (LIB)
Adam King Blackwell Reposa (GRN)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 5
Scott Walker (REP)
Betsy Johnson (DEM)
William Bryan Strange, III (LIB)
Judith Sanders-Castro (GRN)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 6
Michael E. Keasler (REP)
Robert Burns (DEM)
Mark W. Bennett (LIB)

Member, State Board of Education, District 9
Keven M. Ellis (REP)
Amanda M. Rudolph (DEM)
Anastasia Wilford (LIB)

State Representative District 9
Chris Paddie (REP)

Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 2
Brian Hoyle (REP)

Justice, 12th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 - Unexpired Term
Greg Neeley (REP)

District Judge, 123rd Judicial District
Leann Kay Rafferty (REP)

District Attorney
Stephen Shires (REP)

County Attorney
Gary Rholes (REP)

Sheriff
Willis Blackwell (REP)

Tax Assessor-Collector
Debora Riley (REP)

County Commissioner Pct. 1
Roscoe McSwain (REP)

County Commissioner Pct. 3
Charles Barr (REP)

Constable Pct. 1
Zach Warr (REP)

Constable Pct. 2
Jamie Hagler (REP)

Constable Pct. 3
Roy Cheatwood (REP)

Constable Pct. 4
Jacob (Jake) Metcalf (REP)

Constable Pct. 5
Robert Hairgrove (REP)

Candidates below are certified by Carlos H. Cascos, Secretary of State, State of Texas, as properly-filed declared write-in candidates for statewide offices for November 8, 2016 General Election.

President / Vice President
Darrell L. Castle / Scott N. Bradley
Scott Cubbler / Michael Rodriguez
Cherunda Fox / Roger Kushner
Tom Hoefling / Steve Schulin
Laurence Kotlikoff / Edward Leamer
Jonathan Lee / Jeffery Erskine
Michael A. Maturen / Juan A. Munoz
Evan McMullin / Nathan Johnson
Monica Moorehead / Lamont Lilly
Robert Morrow / Todd Sanders
Emidio Soltysik / Angela Walker
Dale Steffes / Paul E. Case
Tony Valdivia / Aaron Barriere

U.S. Representative, District 1
Renee Culler

Early Voting and Election Articles
Shelby County Clerk’s Office Early Voting Hours
SC Clerk Issues Order of General Election for Nov 8th


City of Center - November 8, 2016

Council Member, At Large
Leigh Porterfield
Maelinda Swanzy
Jud Matthews
Terry Scull
Michael L. Lee

Council Member, District 4
Charles Rushing
Write-in _________________

District 4, Qualified Write-in
Randy Collard

Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected
Council Member, District 2
Jerry Lathan

November 7, 2016 - Information has been released relating to the three-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 West which resulted in a fatality on Monday, November 7, 2016.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers responded to and investigated a three vehicle crash on SH 7 about one mile East of Nacogdoches County, at approximately 4:30 p.m.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates a 2002 Ford F-150 XL pickup truck was traveling West on SH 7 when it crossed the center divider and struck a 2016 Chevrolet delivery van in the side. In an attempt to avoid the collision the driver of the Chevrolet swerved to the right and subsequently struck a 2012 Ford Escape SUV.

After the initial crash the Chevrolet and Ford Escape drove off the roadway and into the eastbound ditch where the Chevrolet overturned. The Ford pickup drove off the highway into westbound ditch where it caught fire and burned.

The driver of the Ford pickup was identified as Steven Dennis, 51, from Center. Dennis was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by Justice of the Peace Marla Denby.

Elzie Raymond, 40, from Lufkin was identified as the driver of the Chevrolet utility van. Raymond was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial hospital with unknown injuries.

The driver of the Ford Escape was not reported as being injured and was identified as Colleen Doggett, 73, from Center.

This crash remains under investigation by Texas DPS Trooper Taylor Buster who was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper John Hallenbeck.

West Shelby Volunteer Firemen worked traffic control at the scene for several hours. Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies also were on scene to assist.

Dennis was transported from the scene by Watson & Sons Funeral Home.

 

November 7, 2016 - State Highway 7 in Shelby County near the Nacogdoches County line is currently blocked due to a three-vehicle crash in between CR 1245 and CR 1246. Anyone traveling in this direction should take an alternate route to avoid getting in the middle of traffic which is backed up for a long distance.

Further details on the crash will be updated as they are made available by official sources.

 

November 3, 2016 - Early voting held at Shelby County Clerk’s Office, 124 Austin Street, Center, TX 75935.

  • Monday, October 24, 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
  • Tuesday, October 25 – Friday, October 28th 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
  • Saturday, October 29, 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
  • Sunday, October 30, 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
  • Monday, October 31, 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
  • Tuesday, November 1 – Friday, November 4th, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

You may also apply to vote by mail through October 28th by calling the County Clerk’s office at 936-598-6361.

Related articles: 

November 4, 2016 -The Texas Department of Public Safety, West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and Center Police Department all responded to a single-vehicle crash about five miles west of FM 711.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 6:35pm November 3, 2016 a grey 2004 Honda Civic driven by Oscar Solis, 17, of Lufkin was eastbound on State Highway 7 when then vehicle left the roadway to the right.

The car continued for about 100 yards in the south ditch before it traveled across all four lanes of traffic and into the north ditch where the Civic flipped.

Solis was transported by private vehicle to a hospital in Lufkin. He was issued citations for no driver's license and wrong side of roadway not passing.

West Shelby Volunteer firemen worked traffic control until the scene was clear.

November 3, 2016 - The driver of a pickup truck involved in a a major single-vehicle crash on FM 947 Thursday, November 3, 2016 was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Shreveport.

Tenaha Volunteer Firemen, Texas Department of Public Safety and Tenaha City Marshal's office all responded to the scene of the crash, and once it was determined necessary a helicopter was requested and landed in a yard near the incident.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 9:02am a red 2000 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Roger Dale Shoemaker, 58, of Tenaha was westbound on FM 947 when the truck traveled to the left side of the roadway on the wrong side when not passing and continued off the eastbound side. The truck traveled into the treeline, striking several trees causing major damage to the truck as well as injuries to Shoemaker due to no seat belt.

Shoemaker was issued citations for wrong side of roadway not passing, no seat belt, and possession of marijuana. The crash remains under investigation. At the time of the crash, Shoemaker was flown from the scene by Life Air Rescue and was expected to be taken to a hospital in Shreveport.

Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by Trooper Dustin Ramos.

The dashboard and steering wheel of the pickup truck involved in the crash were pushed all the way into the driver's seat. The speedometer in the pickup truck is locked at over 100 mph. This is usually an indiactor of the speed of a vehicle at the time of impact.

November 3, 2016 - According to a Facebook post on Tenaha Tiger Spirit, the school notified all Tenaha ISD stakeholders of a potential threat made earlier today which turned out to be a hoax.

Facebook Post made at 3:23pm, Thursday, November 3rd: Earlier today, officials received an anonymous threat of a potential device in the restroom. Tenaha ISD administration immediately sheltered in place, then quickly moved all students to their designated safe location inside the Tenaha Football Stadium. We are also appreciative and happy to report that both the Tenaha City Marshal and the Shelby County Sheriff's office responded quickly and assisted TISD Police Chief in clearing every room, cabinet, and area. We are pleased to report that the threat was, in fact, a hoax and TISD will be working with all relevant law enforcement agencies to try and identify the source of the alert. All TISD children are safe and have been told what occurred and are completing the school day on schedule.

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