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November 30, 2015 - A 43-year-old Tenaha, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to distribute over 50 kilograms of marijuana that was stolen from the Tenaha City Marshal’s Office in 2010 announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Roderrete Dewrayne McClure (McClure) pleaded guilty on March 6, 2015, to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and was sentenced to 56 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. According to information presented in court, sometime before August 22, 2010, McClure and a confederate removed over fifty (50) kilograms of marijuana from the Tenaha City Marshal’s Office evidence room.
Fire starter logs were substituted to cover the taking of the marijuana. On August 17 and 19, 2010, McClure took digital images of the stolen marijuana and transmitted them to person identified only as (T.F.) in order to facilitate the sale of the drugs in the Dallas area. In July 2010, McClure provided some of the stolen marijuana to another person, identified as K.M., to sell in the area of Shreveport, Louisiana. McClure admitted that he received payments in exchange for the marijuana.
This case was investigated by the F.B.I. Tyler Office and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Tyler Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
November 30, 2015 - Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Pet Wellness Clinic one Friday each month and every fourth Saturday from 10-3p. The next clinic will take place on Friday, December 4 at Tractor Supply in Center, Texas located at 1155 Tenaha Street. We offer dog/cat vaccines, heartworm tests/prevention, flea/tick prevention, microchips, and nail trims.
Now offering low cost spay/neuter and pets must have appointment for surgery. Information can be found at www.dehartvetservices.doodlekit.com or call (903) 590-7722.
November 30, 2015 - (Update) A press conference was given by Tenaha City Marshal Jimmy Wagstaff at the Tenaha City Hall on Monday, November 30, 2015.
Marshal Wagstaff confirmed law enforcement had been to the residence where the shooting occurred for different reasons in the past with the most recent incident being 7-8 months ago. No calls were received that morning until the incident occurred Friday.
Wagstaff confirmed family members were interviewed at the scene and during interview, none indicated bearing witness to the incident when it happened.
As the case remains under investigation, Marshal Wagstaff indicated several details involved are not being released at this time.
November 28, 2015 - The Tenaha City Marshal's office was dispatched to a shots fired call on Friday, November 27, 2015 at 10:15am where two individuals had been injured.
According to Tenaha City Marshal Jimmy Wagstaff, when officers arrived at the scene, the deceased bodies of both a man and woman were discovered in the front yard of the residence where they responded. During the investigation of what appeared to be a murder-suicide, it was discovered Nicole Perry had received a gunshot wound to the head and Porter Perry had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
At this time no further information has been released, Assisting with the investigation was the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
Scott Tyner, Tenaha ISD Superintendent, addressed the tragedy in a letter to the Tenaha Tiger community via Facebook and it reads as follows:
Dear TISD Family, All too often, we have come together to endure inexplicable tragedies. Over and over again the resolve of The people of Tenaha has shined and repeatedly set examples of how to turn tragedy into inspiration. Earlier today as we all joined to go to Palestine for the Tigers Third round football playoff, we learned of the tragic loss of TISD employee Nicole Perry. This tragedy was and is a senseless act of selfishness and nonsensical violence. Furthermore, this tragedy now leaves a great family at a loss and some fantastic kids without their parents. I am calling on our Tiger Family once again to lock arms and wrap them around Porter, Demarcus, Laporscha, and Kyesha to do all we can to lift them up and give them light in this time of darkness.
Should there be any further information provided pertaining to the investigation, it will be shared on Shelby County Today as soon as it is released.
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.
November 24, 2015 - Let Celebrations Events & Travel help you with your holiday baking! We offer free delivery of our delicious treats in Center. Be sure to get your orders in soon!
Email whitney@celebrationseventsandtravel.com to place an order or to get more information.
Click image to enlarge and view the list of dessert options.
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.
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