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Center City Square on Saturday, October 7, 2023 –
At high noon on Saturday the East Texas Poultry Festival held a hot wing eating contest, sponsored by McWilliams Air Conditioning Company. The contest saw five participants gave their best effort at taking the trophy as the last man standing as each plate of wings became progressively hotter. The spicy sauces included jalapeno, habanero, ghost chilies, Trinidad scorpion, Carolina reaper and chocolate peppers.
Matthew Kay proved to be the last man standing and took the trophy, a cash prize, a gift basket, as well as, the top title and bragging rights. All witnesses who were present will likely attest to the fact that he, indeed earned it all: “the hard way.”
October 7, 2023 - The 2023 Shelby County Poultry Festival Broiler Show Sale is underway! Auction results will be updated often.
Grand Champion - Cori Lawson (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $10,500 to Shelby Savings Bank, General Shelters, Campbell Portable Buildings, and McAdams Propane.
Reserve Champion - Cale Cornelius (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $10,000 to Farmers State Bank.
3rd place - Brecken Kimbro (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
4th place - Trevor Hightower (Center FFA). Birds sold for $5,500.
5th place - Julie Bird (Center FFA). Birds sold for $5,500.
6th place - Addison Boyd (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
7th place - Hollie Hamilton (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $2,750.
8th place - Carter Bell (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
9th place - Everly Windham (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
10th place - Luke Jousan (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
11th place - Mayson Harbison (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
12th place - Hannah Wages (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
13th place - Addison Lloyd (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
14th place - Caylee Jordan (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
15th place - Conner Nutt (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $5,500.
16th place - Kiptyn Phelps (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
17th place - Baylin Phelps (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
18th place - Molly Scull (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
19th place - Karlee Sowell (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
20th place - Taylor Gutermuth (Timpson FFA). Birds sold for $4,250.
21st place - Avery Metcalf (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,000.
22nd place - Baylee Whiteside (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,750.
23rd place - Sayre Hall (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
24th place - Megan Gutermuth (Timpson FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
25th place - Jacie Lee (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
26th place - Evan O’Rear (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
27th place - Landree Jousan (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,500.
28th place - Kyleigh Hendricks (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,500.
29th place - Carter Tomlin (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,250.
30th place - Carson Crouch (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,250.
31st place - Stormie Meyers (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,750.
32nd place - Wyomie Meyers (Joaquin FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
33rd place - Laura Anne Scull (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,500.
34th place - Grayson Hightower (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,750.
35th place - Avery Lawson (Shelbyville FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
36th place - Wyatt Foster (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,750.
37th place - Kate Ford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
38th place - Camille Whiteside (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,750.
39th place - Keaton Sigler (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,250.
40th place - Caleb Sanford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $3,500.
41st place - Eli Weir (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $3,250.
42nd place - Copen Hogue (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $5,000.
43rd place - Addie Bush (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
44th place - James Ford (Center FFA). Birds sold for $4,000.
45th place - Gracie Boyd (Shelby Co. 4-H). Birds sold for $4,000.
October 7, 2023 - The East Texas Poultry Festival Broiler Show has ended and Judge Daniel De Leon named Cori Lawson Grand Champion for the second year in a row!
Reserve Champion was awarded to Cale Cornelius for her set of birds. Congratulations!
The sale will take place this evening under the big tent on the Center square at 7pm. Continue to go to visit Shelby County Today for continuing coverage of the East Texas Poultry Festival.
October 4, 2023 - Two suspects were apprehended following a pursuit which traveled from Shelby County into Panola County on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The attempted traffic stop began on U.S. Highway 96 in Shelby County and ended near CR 4053 in Panola County.
According to information provided by Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4, the Shelby County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for failing to stop for a school bus dropping kids off on October 3, 2023 at approximately 4pm.
The driver then fled in the vehicle and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle was pursued into Panola County where a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper and a Panola County Deputy set up spike strips, which the fleeing vehicle then struck. The vehicle continued to flee with three deflated tires, and eventually ran into a ditch on FM 699. The passenger of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended.
During a search of the suspects and vehicle, Panola County Deputies recovered three firearms, cocaine, Xanax, marijuana, and US currency.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Luis Escobedo of Tenaha who was charged with evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
The passenger was identified as Gustavo Pallares of Center who was charged with evading arrest/detention, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Constable Fanguy stated, “I would like to thank the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Highway Patrol, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Constable Josh Tipton for their assistance during this incident.”
October 4, 2023 - The 47th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival, Sponsored by Farmers State Bank starts tomorrow at 10:00am! Today October 4, 2023 at 4:00, San Augustine Street between the Payne building and Light and Champion will be closed as well as Austin Street from the Probation Office to Citizens Bank. All intersections will remain open. Roads will be open again on Sunday morning. Enjoy the Festival!
October 2, 2023 - Due to updating of the 2023 tax year data, the Shelby County Tax Office receipts will have to be hand written until the update is completed. Account information can be reviewed and printed. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Tax Office and Vehicle Registration will be closed Friday, October 6 and will resume normal hours on Tuesday, October 10th.
October 2, 2023 - Over the week of September 24th through 30th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had just 2 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
Tuesday at 3:14pm a page came in for an individual with high blood pressure at a residence on Saddle Street. The JVFD med team was notified along with Allegiance EMS to get the patient the help they needed.
Saturday night at 8:47pm a call was received for a travel trailer on fire on County Road 3341. When JVFD units arrived they found a fully involved travel trailer with brush in the immediate vicinity also on fire. The firefighters on scene split into two hose teams and hit the fire from both sides, containing the blaze. Once all the hotspots were put out the scene was cleared. No one was inside the trailer at the time of the fire.
With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
September 30, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian crash that occurred on Farm-to-Market Road 2694, near the 760-mile marker, that occurred, September 29, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:10am, a 2011 GMC pickup driven by Samuel Furlow, 64, of Shelbyville was traveling west. It is reported that the pickup was traveling over a hilltop and struck a pedestrian that was walking in the westbound lane.
Furlow was not reported to have been injured.
The pedestrian, identified as Bobby Cassell, 60, of Shelbyville, was pronounced deceased on scene by a Justice of the Peace.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
September 29, 2023 - The Shelby County Commissioners have lifted the burn ban during their meeting held September 29, 2023.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, moved to lift the burn ban effective today, September 29, 2023, and Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, seconded the motion.
Those who burn are encouraged to continue to be extremely careful and be aware they can still be liable for damage to others property should their fire get out of control and cause damage.
Editor's note: This article doesn't directly relate to Shelby County; however, it does demonstrate the dangers to everyone and that fraudsters can imppact us all no matter where they may be.
A jury in Los Angeles convicted three individuals for their roles in laundering proceeds of large-scale consumer fraud schemes through gift card transactions. Blade Bai, Bowen Hu and Tairan Shi were convicted of conspiracy to launder proceeds of wire fraud. Bai was also convicted of a separate money laundering conspiracy count.
As part of the scheme, fraudsters engaged in government-imposter scams and tech support scams. In a government-imposter scam, fraudsters contact consumers and impersonate government officials, such as officials with the Social Security Administration or local police officers. The fraudsters falsely claim that victims need to purchase gift cards to resolve an issue, often claiming that the victims are subject to a pending arrest warrant or that the victims have a problem with their Social Security number. In a tech support scam, fraudsters deceive victims into believing that there is a serious problem with the victim’s computer or with an online or mobile app account access and that the problem can only be resolved by paying substantial amounts through gift cards.
In this case, telephone scammers instructed victims to purchase gift cards from the retail store Target and provide the scammers with the account numbers and access codes listed on the gift cards. The defendants then distributed the numbers assigned to the gift cards to “runners,” who used the funds on the cards at Target stores (primarily in Los Angeles and Orange counties) to purchase consumer electronics, other gift cards and other items. In one instance presented as evidence at trial, runners acting on behalf of the defendants redeemed gift cards that originated from a victim in Illinois approximately 13 minutes after the victim purchased the cards. Through the purchases and other transactions at multiple Target stores, the defendants and their co-conspirators sought to conceal the fact that the gift cards had been originally funded with fraudulent proceeds.
“Defendants played a key role in victimizing American consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the commitment of the department and our partners to ensuring that all those who knowingly facilitate fraud face justice.”
“This investigation is a good example of law enforcement collaboration coming together to protect communities from fraudulent activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles “HSI and its partners on the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force will continue to track down criminal organizations preying on innocent victims and ensure they are held accountable.”
“These defendants knowingly laundered the proceeds of a fraudulent scheme that targeted vulnerable citizens, including older Americans,” said Assistant Director in Charge Donald Always of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “This significant conviction should educate potential victims about the scam and send a message to anyone conducting similar schemes that the bureau and our partners are serious about combating this fraud. Anyone being asked to purchase a gift card in order to resolve a technical issue or to avoid an arrest should not spend money but instead, make a report to the FBI at IC3.gov.”
A fourth defendant, Yan Fu, had previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Bai, Hu and Shi are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 26, 2024.
HSI and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, West Convina Resident Agency investigated the case. The investigation was conducted under the auspice of HSI Los Angeles' El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force comprised of federal and state investigators focused on financial crimes in Southern California.
The Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General also provided assistance during the investigation, as did the following: the Brea (California) Police Department, Glynn County (Georgia) Police Department, Fontana (California) Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Police Department, Streamwood (Illinois) Police Department, Cleveland (Ohio) Police Department, Madera County (California) Sheriff’s Office, New York Police Department, Norwood (New Jersey) Police Department, Loudoun County (Virginia) Sheriff's Office, Waukesha County (Wisconsin) Sheriff's Department, Fremont (California) Police Department, Marin County (California) Sheriff’s Office, County of Hawaii Police Department, Henderson (Nevada) Police Department, Wilmington (Massachusetts) Police Department, Las Vegas (Nevada) Metropolitan Police Department, Lewisville (Texas) Police Department, Gardena (California) Police Department, Des Moines (Iowa) Police Department, Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Department, Millburn (New Jersey) Police, Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) Police Department, San Angelo (Texas) Police Department, Fairfax City (Virginia) Police Department and Virginia Beach (Virginia) Police Department.
Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang and Meredith Healy of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Tait of the Major Frauds Section for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
The Consumer Protection Branch and United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California are part of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, which investigates and prosecutes scams run by transnational criminal organizations, including mass mailing and telemarketing fraud scams.
If you purchased a gift card at the direction of a scammer, immediately call the gift card issuer and ask them to freeze the gift card numbers involved – and save your receipt and the gift card. Then, report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/ or 877-382-4357, to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, and to your local police department.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California may be found at www.justice.gov/usao-cdca.
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