News


The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.

September 4, 2015 - The 20th Annual Miss Merry Christmas and Mister Happy Holidays Pageant will be held December 5 at the Center Middle School Auditorium in Center, Texas.

There is age groups for boys 0-5 and girls 0-19. This is a natural beauty pageant and only one outfit is required. This is the perfect first beauty pageant and no talent is required. Children will wear their favorite holiday or Christmas wear. All children will receive crowns, custom Bailey's Pageant tote bags and candy bags.

For more information call Tonya at 936-590-0120 or Shelia at 332-9610 or email shelia0505@yahoo.com. You can also pick up forms at M&M Insurance on Hurst St across from Walmart in Center or check Facebook - Baileys Pageants.

September 2, 2015 - Shelby County Today has received multiple reports from viewers concerning a new phone scam involving the threat of having your water disconnected.

Michael Lee was called at 7:30pm and the caller ID displayed 'City of Houston' and the phone number 713-371-1400. The caller informed Lee he needed to pay his water bill immediately over the phone or his water would be disconnected.

Another SCT viewer received a call with the caller ID displaying city hall. The caller threatened water cut off immediately if payment wasn't made. When advised payment had already been made, the caller said the check was returned due to insufficient funds and demanded immediate payment to avoid disconnect.

Utilities will not call customers demanding payment of service over the phone or suffer disconnect. Notices are typically mailed out to customers which warns of a disconnect date. Payments should only be made when you know you are speaking to a representative of the utility such as when you call the company yourself or when going to the place of business. Don't trust a caller who demands payment immediately especially when the call is outside of regular business hours.

September 2, 2015 - Authorities were alerted of the discovery of human remains on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at a residence on Hurst Street in Center. Center Police Chief Jim Albers said, "We have skeletal remains found and we are in the process of processing the crime scene."

Center police officers, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers could be seen late Tuesday evening as they searched the area with flashlights.

According to an unofficial report, a dog dragged the remains into the yard where the resident on the property then discovered them.

Shelby County Today was on scene and witnessed law enforcement leaving the area at 10:15pm Tuesday. The search began again Wednesday morning, September 2, 2015 with the arrival of Texas Ranger Travis Brazil and the DPS crime lab trailer. Also on scene were Center police officers and Detectives along with JP1, Maxie Eaves.

Albers confirmed cadaver dogs have been requested to assist with searching the area. Additional information will be posted as it is made available.

August 31 - Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Pet Wellness Clinic one Thursday each month and every fourth Saturday from 10-3p. The next clinic will take place on Friday, September 4th 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.

September 1, 2015 LUFKIN – The Texas Transportation Commission last week approved 91 construction projects statewide totaling more than $535 million, and includes five within the Lufkin District that total $16.8 million.

Of the 91 projects, 22 were approved using $304 million of Proposition 1 funding. Two Lufkin District projects were included in the latest round of Proposition 1 funding and totaled $11.7 million. The funds are used for roadway construction, restoration and rehabilitation and will improve mobility, safety and connectivity.

“The Commission and TxDOT continue to deliver needed transportation projects that will greatly benefit Texas drivers and the state’s economy,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “The message from community leaders and local planning organizations, as well as the message sent by voters when they approved Proposition 1 last November, is that transportation concerns must be addressed in a manner that is both efficient and effective. Our efforts continue to prove we hear and understand that message.”

The two Proposition 1 projects approved in the Lufkin District were:

A $7.3 million construction project in San Augustine County designated to add passing lanes and reconstruct the roadway on US 96 along a 6.1 mile section from the Shelby County line to FM 3451. Moore Brothers Construction Company will serve as contractor.

A $4.4 million construction project in Trinity County that includes pavement reconstruction on a portion of US 287 from Harrison Street in Groveton to FM 355; and a pavement reconstruction on US 287 from FM 355 to Vickery Street in Groveton. Smith & Company will serve as contractor.

Other approved projects for the Lufkin District included bridge replacements and approaches in Polk, Nacogdoches and Shelby counties. Those bridges set for replacement include:

A $1.9 million project in Polk County that will replace bridges on Leggett Road at a tributary of Big Sandy Creek; on Jack Pate Road at a tributary of McManus Creek; and on East Clamon Road at Bear Creek. Longview Bridge and Road will serve as contractor for the project.

A $1.7 million project in Nacogdoches County that will replace bridges on FM 95 at Parallel Creek; and on FM 95 at Dog Creek. Longview Bridge and Road will serve as contractor for the project.

A $1.3 million bridge replacement in Shelby County on FM 415 at Bear Bayou. Longview Bridge and Road will serve as contractor for the project.

Also approved was $165,000 in grant funding for the Center Municipal Airport that is earmarked for planned airport improvements, including lighting, engineering and design. The project costs will be funded through the city of Center and TxDOT’s Aviation Facilities Grant Program, which preserves and improves the state’s general aviation system.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.

September 1, 2015 Flat Fork Creek bridge on U.S. 96 North was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon, September 1, 2015 following heavy rainfall.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones, at 2:50pm on September 1, 2015 a 2008 black Dodge Nitro SLT driven by Samantha Joanne Steptoe, 25, of Shelbyville was traveling south on U.S. 96 North.

The vehicle was crossing Flat Fork Creek bridge when it hydroplaned due to unsafe speed and crossed over the center stripe into oncoming traffic. The left rear quarter panel of the Nitro struck the front of a 2011 white GMC Terrain driven by Bobby Gene McDonald, 88, of Carthage causing the vehicles to come to rest against the wall of the bridge.

ACE EMS arrived on scene with DPS Troopers. The drivers and Steptoe's passengers including a 2-year-old male and 3-month-old female were examined at the scene and refused treatment.

Steptoe was issued a citation for unsafe speed. Assisting at the scene were DPS Troopers Dustin Ramos and Taylor Buster.

September 1, 2015 - Weather Stats for August 2015 prepared by Jim and Ann Forbes, U.S. Weather Observers

Highest Temp was 105 degrees on August 10th and 11th
Highest Temp on Record was 110 degrees on 8-18-1951 and 110 degrees for 4 days in 2011
Lowest Temp was 62 degrees on 8-26-2015
Lowest Temp on Record was 52 degrees on 8-31-1986

Rainfall Recorded was 1.75 inches
Average Monthly Rainfall is 3.52 inches
Below Average by 1.77 inches
Highest Recorded for this month was 15.10 inches in 1997
Lowest Recorded for this month was 0.00 in 1951

Total Rainfall through August, 2015 is 52.88 inches
Average Rainfall through August is 34.76 inches
6 Triple Digit days: 100 degrees on the 7th, 101 degrees on the 8th and 9th, 105 degrees on the 10th and 11th, and 101 degrees on the 12th of August, 2015

Click here for full report

August 31, 2015 - Firemen battled with a triple-house fire early on Monday, August 31, 2015 on CR 2025. When the Center Fire Department arrived on scene at 5:11am at the residence of Duane Collins located at 2852 CR 2050 (Africa Road), two houses were completely engulfed in flames while a third was just beginning to ignite.

The firemen quickly began dragging hose and and proceeded to fighting the fire at different ends of the property. As the firemen worked at extinguishing the fire, they focused a lot of attention on the third house to ignite as it was not fully engulfed like the others.

While firemen sprayed water on the front of the house, another group of firemen gained entry to the rear of the building. Once the majority of that house was extinguished, the proceeded to attacking the surrounding houses and a car with water. The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene with a tanker truck to provide additional water.

Half of a tree fell on the house to the front of the property during the fire; however, no firemen were in its path as it fell. A fourth house on the property remained untouched by flames once the fires were extinguished.

According to neighbors across the street from the residence, at the time Collins discovered what had been his grandmother's house was on fire at the back of the property, he evacuated his house which was at the front of the property and called for help. When firemen arrived, Collins was at another neighbor's residence up the road. The neighbor's also stated the third house which was igniting had previously been Collins' aunt's house.

The two houses that initially caught on fire appeared to be a total loss, and the third house received considerable fire and water damage.

Shelbyville VFD returned to the station at 6:30am and the Center Fire Department returned to the station at 8:20am.

 

Firemen Battle Early Morning Triple House #Fire - Read the story on #ShelbyCountyToday at the following link - http://www.shelbycountytoday.com/sctNewsspecial.php#fbe

Posted by Shelby County Today on Monday, August 31, 2015

August 31, 2015 - The Shelby County commissioners met on Monday, August 31, 2015 at 9am to discuss the possibility of lifting the burn ban in Shelby County. At this time the burn ban remains in effect. The commissioners will still be considering lifting it; however, at this time they did not feel it was time to lift it yet.

The purchase of a new dump truck from the buy board for Commissioner Precinct 2 Jimmy Lout was approved following a motion. The truck it is replacing was involved in a crash on August 11, 2015 on State Highway 87 South of Shelbyville. According to Lout, he currently has the funds for the purchase and insurance will cover the expense.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:13am.

August 28, 2015 - Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that unknown suspect(s) entered into a vehicle belonging to Mr. Terry Bailey at his residence. Suspect(s) stole several Apple iPhones and money.

Mr. Terry Bailey has offered a $10,000 dollar reward for the arrest and conviction of suspect(s) involved in this theft.

If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Investigator DJ Dickerson at (936) 572-1468.

Pages