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September 5, 2023 - The Center Police Department is investigating a train versus pedestrian incident which resulted in a fatality and took place Sunday, September 3, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at approximately 2:15am, units were dispatched to the intersection of Florence Street and Martin Luther King Drive at the railroad tracks when it was reported an individual had been struck by a train.
When officers arrived on scene, they observed a deceased male subject laying on the railroad tracks. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was notified and Detective John Cleavenger responded to the location. The BNSF conductor notified his supervisor and BNSF sent their own law enforcement personnel and liaisons to the scene.
Ambulance personnel responded to the location, unfortunately due to the injuries sustained to the victim being fatal, no life saving measures were performed.
The BNSF train conductor reported to officers the individual was seen lying on the track and the train was traveling approximately 19 mph when the emergency brake was applied. Unfortunately, the train was unable to stop before striking the victim.
Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, performed the inquest and an autopsy has been ordered. Mangum Funeral Home transported the victim from the scene.
The incident remains under investigation, and no foul play has been discovered at the time of this report. The individual was initially unidentified; however, an identity has been determined. The identity has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
Further information was requested of BNSF by Shelby County Today, but they have not yet responded as of publication.
September 5, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a crash on Farm-to-Market Road 417, approximately six miles east of Shelbyville, that occurred Monday, September 4, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 10:45pm, a Honda Accord passenger car driven by Daulton Magby, 21, of Shelbyville was traveling east. It is reported that the driver was traveling at a speed which was unsafe around a curve and lost control. The passenger car exited the road to the left and struck a high-line pole and then a tree, where it caught fire.
Magby was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
September 5, 2023 - Over the week of August 27th through September 2nd the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD) responded to 4 calls, all of which occurred on Sunday. Here’s a summary of Sunday’s events.
At 2:24pm a call was received to assist with a massive grass and woods fire near the Panola County line on Highway 59 North. The JVFD responded with a few brush trucks and aided Tenaha VFD and other fire agencies for a few hours before returning home. Helicopters and planes were utilized on this scene to gain control of the fire.
At 6:29pm a page came in for a child not breathing after having their head caught in a toy box at a residence on County Road 3193. After arriving on scene the JVFD medical team and Allegiance EMS checked out the patient before deciding an airlift was required. A landing zone was set up at the baseball field and the patient was later transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
At 6:38pm the JVFD received a call that a transformer had blown up, catching the grass and trees on fire on County Road 3717. Units responded to the scene but the fire was promptly put out by a helicopter with a water bucket as they arrived.
At 7:58pm a call came in regarding a person in need of oxygen after a power outage at a residence on FM 699. The JVFD medical team responded as well as Allegiance EMS to get the patient the oxygen they needed.
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 4, 2023 - Center Fire Department and Center Police Department responded to a tree on a car in the 1300 block of Shelbyville Street in Center on September 4, 2023.
When Center Police Department Officer Micah Buzbee arrived on scene, just before 1pm, the driver was still trapped in a vehicle in Pecan Grove. Officer Buzbee was able to help her escape the vehicle and EMS then examined her for possible injury.
Center Fire Department removed the branch from the damaged BMW passenger car, and used chainsaws and axes to cut the remaining limbs away from the vehicle and out of the driveway.
No injuries were reported from this incident.
August 31, 2023 – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver License Division will be updating the driver license system over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
In order to accommodate the system updates, all driver license offices across the state, along with the Customer Service Center (call center) will be closed on Friday, September 1, 2023. No driver license services will be available at any of the offices during this closure. Offices will reopen to resume normal operations on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, after the Labor Day holiday.
Customers will also not be able to conduct transactions online through the Texas by Texas (TxT) or Texas.gov applications during the system update. This includes renewing or replacing a driver license or identification card, obtaining a driver record and verifying eligibility. These services will not be available from Friday, September 1 – Sunday, September 3, 2023.
Please note, the update does not impact law enforcement personnel using the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS).
Sign dedication ceremony at 11am on September 1st will be on the west side of town. Sign area designated by star on map.
Lt. General O.R. Whiddon to be Honored
August 16, 2023 – The City of Joaquin will hold a sign dedication ceremony Friday, September 1 renaming a segment of US 84 in Joaquin as the “Lt. Gen. O.R. “Cotton” Whiddon Memorial Highway.”
The ceremony will begin at 11 am on US 84 just outside the city limits of Joaquin. The memorial highway designation will include the section of roadway between the Sabine River Bridge and Crystal Lake. Once the sign is unveiled, a luncheon and program will be held at the First Baptist Church of Joaquin, located at 100 Connells Ferry Road.
Lt. General Whiddon was born in Joaquin where he grew up, and later lived for many years in Lufkin with his wife Harriot before his death in 2016. Lt. Gen. Whiddon was a member of the Stephen F. Austin State University’s Alumni Hall of Fame, awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award, the Service Above Self Award, and was also given the Angelina Award by the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.
Lt. General Whiddon served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1990 and held many positions and titles around the world. He served two tours in Vietnam and served as Commanding General of the Second U.S. Army and Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division. His career also took him to serve in Washington D.C.
His many decorations and medals included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Vietnamese Staff Honor Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star.
TxDOT crews will place the new sign preparing it for the unveiling ceremony that will memorialize this section of US 84. Senate Bill 2150, renaming this section of US 84, was approved as part of the 88th Regular Legislative Session, 2023. Sen. Robert Nichols and State Representative Travis Clardy introduced and supported the bill.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
To read the obituary for Lt. General Whiddon, click here.
August 30, 2023 - The week of August 20th through 26th was full of widespread wildfires in several communities throughout Shelby County. In addition to hundreds of acres of grass and woods, many homes and other structures were burned with each new wildfire that broke out.
Joaquin VFD was called to assist on multiple cases during the week including the fire at Spann’s Chapel, County Roads 1024 and 1265, and FM 139 near County Road 2552. Brush trucks were utilized on the ground by Joaquin VFD and several other Shelby County fire departments, while helicopters and planes dropped water and fire suppressant from the air. The Texas A&M Forest Service was also on each fire with dozers and other heavy equipment used to make fire lines that are intended to prevent a fire’s spread. With the joint efforts of all departments and agencies on the scenes, the fires have since been contained.
When burn bans are in effect, it is very important that everyone heeds them and takes special precautions to avoid the possibility of sparking a fire. Burning trash should be out of the question, even in a barrel, because a watched fire can still become too much for a garden hose to put out when drought conditions are severe. Cigarettes should be put out in an ash tray or a small amount of water if possible. Even after rain has returned to the area, a burn ban may still remain in place. Accidents and things out of a person’s control will occur leading to fires, but if everyone does their part some fires can be prevented and firefighters throughout the county will thank you.
If you see/smell smoke or flames don’t hesitate to dial 911. It is never a wasted trip for a firefighter trying to keep the community safe.
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 going forward.
August 29, 2023 - Emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 87 (SH87) which resulted in the death of a Center woman near Timpson on August 29, 2023, four miles from Timpson.
Timpson Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene to come to the aid of anyone involved and to direct traffic at the scene.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 9:45am, a black 1995 Toyota pickup truck driven Odessa Weaver, 84, of Center was traveling north when the driver traveled off the road to the right and into a deep ravine where she struck a tree.
Weaver was pronounced deceased on scene by Tracy Broadway, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5.
DPS states This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
Hopkins Wrecker Service facilitated bringing the truck back up to the roadway from the deep ravine, Smith Towing and Recovery towed the vehicle from the scene.
August 29, 2023 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a fatal crash on State Highway 103 (SH103), at the intersection of State Highway 147 (SH147), that occurred today, August 29, 2023.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 7:30am, a 2014 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer driven by William Lyons, 54, of San Augustine was traveling west on SH103. It is reported that a Shelby County Deputy operating a marked patrol unit was traveling north on SH147 and failed to yield to the truck tractor, striking the trailer portion of it.
Lyons was not injured.
Update: The Deputy is identified as 25-year-old Matthew Pierson of Etoile.
This remains an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.
Related article:
Emergency Personnel Escort Fallen Deputy in Procession
August 29, 2023 - Emergency personnel in Shelby County escorted a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy through the area as his body was being transported to Tyler for autopsy August 29, 2023.
Details are not yet available; however, the deputy was involved in a crash on SH 147 in San Augustine at the intersection of SH 103.
As the procession of law enforcement traveled through Center, Center Fire Department personnel provided traffic control at intersections through Center as the Center Police Department joined in the escort.
Sheriff’s Department Deputies, Center Police Department, Constable Precinct 5, Constable Precinct 4, Constable Precinct 3, Shelby County District Attorney Investigator participated in the escort through Center.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department staff joined together in front of the Sheriff’s Department in honor of their fallen deputy as the procession traveled by.
Many are continuing in the escort through to Tyler, and additional law enforcement are joining in from communities along the way.
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