The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
January 13, 2020 - Shelby County Law enforcement have been seeking the location of Jimmy Ray Anderson who went missing on November 17, 2019.
Representatives of Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Constables from precincts 1, 2, and 3, gathered at the Center Municipal Airport to meet with DeSoto Fire District 1, and DeSoto Sheriff's Department representatives providing a helicopter to assist in an aerial search.
Once the officers met with the pilot and officer on board, they worked out a flight plan for the search area.
Anderson disappeared from the vicinity of County Road 4326, and it's in that area and surrounding areas where the helicopter and patrol units are currently searching in hopes of discovering the whereabouts of Anderson.
After part of the search was conducted, weather warning mandated the aerial search be postponed until a future date.
If you have any information on the location of Anderson, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936-598-5601.
Related link: SCSO Asking for Public Assistance Locating Missing Man (Updated)
January 11, 2020 - SWEPCO employees and contract crews have restored power to more than half of its customers in the Ark-La-Tex who lost power after overnight storms broke utility poles, downed wires and felled trees.
At the peak, about 29,300 customers were without power.
As of 3 p.m. Saturday, approximately 12,500 customers remained without power. SWEPCO is working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to about 9,800 customers in Louisiana and 2,700 customers in Texas. Power is expected to be restored to all Arkansas customers by 4 p.m. today.
Call SWEPCO immediately at 1-888-218-3919 to report downed wires, poles and other safety hazards.
“No matter how harmless a wire looks, never touch it, or go near it. It could be energized,” said Tony Rash, SWEPCO’s safety & health manager. “Stay away and keep others away, especially children and pets.”
Power is expected to be restored to 95 percent of customers who can receive power by:
Louisiana
- Shreveport – 10 p.m. Sunday
- Bossier City – 10 p.m. Sunday
- Benton – 10 p.m. Sunday
- Haughton – 10 p.m. Sunday
- Hornbeck – 8 p.m. Saturday
- Mansfield – 6 p.m. Saturday
- Natchitoches – 10 p.m. Saturday
- Vivian – 10 p.m. Sunday
Texas
- Carthage – 10 p.m. Saturday
- Henderson – 9 p.m. Saturday
- Kilgore – 9 p.m. Saturday
- Longview – 10 p.m. Saturday
- Marshall – 10 p.m. Saturday
- Mineola – 10 p.m. Saturday
Customers can receive an email or text message with the latest info for their home or business by signing up for alerts at SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
Nearly 400 additional line and tree personnel are helping SWEPCO employees restore power, including line mechanics from SWEPCO’s sister utility Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO).
Extensive damage has been reported in Benton and Haughton, Louisiana, and Kilgore and Longview, Texas.
SWEPCO crews are working to restore power as safely and quickly as possible to the 22,000 customers in the Ark-La-Tex who remain without power after overnight storms broke utility poles, downed wires, and toppled trees.
At the peak, about 29,300 customers were without power. Extensive damage has been reported in Benton and Haughton, Louisiana, and Kilgore and Longview, Texas.
Never touch a downed line, or go near it, no matter how harmless it looks. The line could be energized. Don’t touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences, or puddles of water. Stay away and keep others away, especially children and pets. Call SWEPCO immediately at 1-888-218-3919.
SWEPCO will share estimated times of restoration as soon as they are available.
An additional 150 field personnel are helping SWEPCO employees restore power. Fifteen line mechanics from SWEPCO’s sister utility Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) have been called in to assist with power restoration.
The wind gusted up to 60 miles per hour (MPH) in Caddo, Lousiana, according to the National Weather Service. The NWA reported the following peak wind gusts:
- Bossier City, LA, 59 MPH
- Shreveport, LA, 54 MPH
- Mansfield, LA, 46 MPH
- Longview, TX, 48 MPH
- Texarkana, AR, 41 MPH
- DeQueen, AR, 47 MPH
OUTAGE INFO:
SWEPCO Mobile App – Report outages, check outage status, and more. Download at App store or Google Play. See SWEPCO.com/App
SWEPCO Alerts – Get an email or text message with the latest info for your home or business. See SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
SWEPCO.com – View an outage map, report outages, and find additional safety information.
Update: The roadway was cleared as of 11:30am.
January 11, 2020 - Residents of Lakewood residential development in Center were heavily affected by a storm that moved through the area at 12:55am, Saturday, January 11, 2020.
Emergency personnel with the Center Fire Department and Police Department responded to calls of a house where a tree had fallen and the residents of the home were trapped inside.
The fire and police personnel rescued the residents from that home and EMS at the location saw to any injuries.
Several trees in the neighborhood were brought down by the storm, with some landing on houses and causing structural damage. Power lines were knocked down by trees, shutting down power in the neighborhood and leaving residents in the dark. As of the morning, the residents remain without power as utility crews work to restore service.
January 11, 2020 - The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning as of 12:38am CST Saturday, January 11 2020.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a
Tornado Warning for East central Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas, Central Shelby County in eastern Texas, Northwestern San Augustine County in eastern Texas until 1:15am CST.
At 12:37 AM CST, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located near Martinsville, or 15 miles southwest of Center, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD: Tornado.
SOURCE: Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT: Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.
These dangerous storms will be near Neuville around 12:50am CST. Center and Shelbyville around 12:55am CST.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Hurstown, Arcadia, James, Jericho, Calgary, Jordans Store, Chireno
and Huxley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
January 10, 2020 - Two crash incidents at different locations and times resulted in injury to the same passenger on Friday, January 10, 2020. The first of the two incidents occurred very early in the morning.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 4:46am Troopers were alerted to a one-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 (SH7) West just past CR 1168. A black Trailblazer driven by Stacey Lynn Coats, 48, of Center was westbound on SH7 when it exited the roadway to the right.
Coats overcorrected and crossed back over the roadway striking a trash can near the roadway and overturning left and top.
Coats and her passenger Rebecca Eddins, 35, were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries.
Once released from the emergency room, Coats was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Rebecca Eddins was later released from the hospital.
In a related incident during the afternoon, Center Police Officers were traveling Shelbyville Street in Center when they arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash which had just occurred around 2pm.
A red pickup truck was straddling the base of a utility pole it struck. Ambulance personnel were called to the scene and they removed the driver and passenger to an ambulance. Officers at the location were busy investigating the crash incident and assessing the risk of the pole falling, due to the impact.
According to Center Police Officer Robert Lee, a red 1991 GMC Sonoma driven by Josh Eddins, 32, of Center was northbound on Shelbyville Street when it left the roadway to the right at the intersection of Newman Street and struck a high-line pole.
Both the driver and passenger were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injuries.
No citations were reported to have been issued at the time of the crash.
January 10, 2020 - The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Shelby County and surrounding areas.
As of 5:30pm Tornado Watch 5 is in effect until 2am CST for the following locations:
Texas Counties included are:
Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Red River, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Wood
January 10, 2020 - The intersection of U.S. Highways 84 and 59 in Timpson was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler and passenger car, which resulted in the death of one driver involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash Thursday night, January 9, 2020 at the intersection of US 59 and US 84, inside the city limits of Timpson.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:50 p.m., a 1997 Honda passenger car failed to yield right of way from US 84 and was struck by a southbound 2019 Freightliner truck-tractor semi-trailer.
The driver of the Honda is identified as Dezmond McKinney, 27, from Mansfield, LA. McKinney was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Tracy Broadway.
The driver of the Freightliner is identified as Maksym Kabakov, 50, from Des Plaines, IL. Kabakov was not injured as a result of the crash.
No additional information is available at this time.
Emergency personnel with the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department, Ambulance Service, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies were on scene and assisted Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers with their investigation.
Additional damage to the car in the picture was incurred with the use of Jaws of Life to extricate the driver.
Volunteer firemen assisted wrecker personnel in moving the car involved by utilizing Jaws of Life on the car.
January 10, 2020 - A Hazardous Weather Outlook was issued by the National Weather Service Shreveport, LA, at 11:29am CST on Friday, January 10, 2020.
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, east Texas and northeast Texas including Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union, Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, La Salle, Bowie, Franklin, Titus, Camp, Morris, Cass, Wood, Upshur, Marion, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, and San Augustine.
DAY ONE... This Afternoon and Tonight
Storms will begin to develop as early as this afternoon across portions of the region. Some of these storms will produce widespread damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall, especially with the mail line of storms that will move through tonight. The severe weather threat will diminish from west to east across the region late tonight and early Saturday morning.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... Saturday through Thursday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will return the region Monday through Wednesday. However, no hazardous weather is expected.
SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Activation of emergency managers, amateur radio operators, and storm spotters, will be needed this afternoon and tonight.
January 9, 2020 - A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued by the National Weather Service, Shreveport, LA at 11:48am CST on Thursday, January 9, 2020.
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, east Texas and northeast Texas for the following: Little River, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia, Union, Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, Caldwell, La Salle, Bowie, Franklin, Titus, Camp, Morris, Cass, Wood, Upshur, Marion, Smith, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Rusk, Panola, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Angelina, and San Augustine.
DAY ONE... This Afternoon and Tonight
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be increasing across the region later today into tonight. These storms are not expected to be strong or severe. However, strong southerly winds will be present today through tonight with sustained winds near 15 to 20 mph with higher gusts in some locations. The strongest winds will be located across all of Northeast Texas and the western third of Northwest Louisiana through tonight.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... Friday through Wednesday
A vigorous upper level storm system will be moving towards the region late Friday through Friday Night bringing with it the potential for severe thunderstorms and excessive heavy rainfall. Damaging wind gusts, tornadoes and large hail will be possible during this time frame. While there will be an isolated flash flood threat Friday through Friday Night, the greater threat appears to be north of the region during this timeframe. The severe weather should be east of the region Saturday Morning.
SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Activation of emergency management personnel... amateur radio operators... and storm spotters will not be needed through Thursday Night but will definitely be required Friday through Saturday morning.
January 9, 2020 – Employees of Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), an American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) company, are standing ready to respond to winter storms, and 150 additional field personnel have been called to the area.
A powerful storm system capable of producing winds of up to 60 mph is forecast to move across the Ark-La-Tex late Friday and early Saturday. Through its network of mutual aid, SWEPCO has 150 utility workers from Ft. Worth, Abilene and Austin, Texas to assist with power restoration.
Always assume that any downed utility line is energized and stay away. Report downed lines immediately to SWEPCO at 1-888-218-3919.
How to report, track outages
- Use the SWEPCO app, available for download via the App Store or Google Play.
- Call 1-888-218-3919 to report your outage.
- Sign up for text and email updates, including estimated time of restoration, at SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
- Visit SWEPCO.com/OutageMap to find detailed information without logging into your account.
About Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO)
SWEPCO, an American Electric Power (AEP: NYSE) company, serves more than 536,000 customers in western Arkansas, northwest and central Louisiana, northeast Texas and the Texas Panhandle. SWEPCO’s headquarters are in Shreveport, La. News releases and other information about SWEPCO can be found at SWEPCO.com. Connect with us at Facebook.com/SWEPCO, Twitter.com/SWEPCOnews, Youtube.com/SWEPCOtv and SWEPCOConnections.com.
About American Electric Power (AEP)
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s approximately 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including about 5,200 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, East Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.
Pages
