Shelby County Today

March 3, 2016 (Republican, Democrat) - A shortfall of ballots seemed to be the trend for Republicans during the March 1st Primary election with voter turnout surpassing years past.

Shelby County Clerk Jennifer Fountain reported ordering extra ballots in preparation for this year's primary due to all local candidates running on the GOP party. However, Shelby County wasn't alone in its struggle with keeping up with the number of voters coming in the door. According to the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Republicans scramble for more ballots as GOP voter turnout ‘through the roof’.

For Shelby County, the unofficial numbers show over 2,000 more Republican ballots were cast this year than in the 2014 Primary while the Democratic ballots decreased by 143. Some Shelby County Democrats switched to vote on the Republican ticket this cycle because they were wanting to have a voice in who represented them locally.

Past Election's - Number of Voters for both parties.
2008 - Republicans (1748), Democrats (3799)
2010 - Republicans (2044), Democrats (908)
2012 - Republicans (3681), Democrats (711)
2014 - Republicans (3304), Democrats (593)
2016 - Republicans (5394), Democrats (450)

The turnover from Democrat to Republican still doesn't account for the large increase. Did the one vote difference in the Shelby County Judges race last election cycle (2014) make voters realize when it comes to county and precinct elections - every vote matters?

Regardless of the reason, precinct 3 (Sardis) had a 51% turnout of its registered voters with precinct 2 (Excelsior) not far behind with a 45% turnout. Below are the voter turnout numbers for each precinct.

• 3 Sardis has 285 registered voters and  144 voted for a  51% turnout for the precinct
• 2 Excelsior has 788 registered voters and  356 voted for a  45% turnout for the precinct
• 1SW Center has 1227 registered voters and  540 voted for a  44% turnout for the precinct
• 5 Joaquin has 2024 registered voters and  892 voted for a  44% turnout for the precinct
• 1N Center has 1355 registered voters and  535 voted for a  39% turnout for the precinct
• 1W Center has 393 registered voters and  153 voted for a  39% turnout for the precinct
• 6 Dreka has 510 registered voters and  200 voted for a  39% turnout for the precinct
• 8 Tenaha has 1119 registered voters and  421 voted for a  38% turnout for the precinct
• 4 Huxley has 750 registered voters and  269 voted for a  36% turnout for the precinct
• 9S Timpson has 1001 registered voters and  364 voted for a  36% turnout for the precinct
• 1S Center has 1695 registered voters and  588 voted for a  35% turnout for the precinct
• 9N Timpson has 1137 registered voters and  399 voted for a  35% turnout for the precinct
• 7 Shelbyville has 800 registered voters and  258 voted for a  32% turnout for the precinct
• 1SE Center has 1614 registered voters and  275 voted for a  17% turnout for the precinct

County Clerk Fountain was thankful for the large voter turnout even though it presented a challenge and felt appreciative for the extra help given by volunteers. She had received reports from clerks from other counties who didn't have election results until well into the morning.

March 2, 2016 - Riggs Street in Center was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Center police officers were dispatched to the scene when it was reported a vehicle had struck a building at that location.

When the officers arrived at Double A Storage facility, one block from Shelbyville Street, a pickup truck was located inside of the facility where it had impacted with a building.

According to Center Police Officer Jake Gross, at 4pm Jerome Ratcliff, 24, of Center was driving west in a 1996 red Chevrolet pickup truck on the 200 block of Riggs Street when Ratcliff stated he attempted to avoid another pickup truck which was traveling in his direction on his side of the roadway. At that time, due to a door malfunction, Ratcliff was ejected from the vehicle onto the ground.

The truck, which was no longer occupied, continued off the roadway to the right and onto the Double A Storage property where it traveled through a chain link fence. The truck then struck two storage buildings before coming to a stop. Ratcliff received minor injuries as a result of the incident; however, he refused treatment at the scene.

No citations were issued at the time of the incident.

Officer Gross was assisted at the scene by CPD Sgt. Duane Gordon and CPD Officer Maegan Wright.

February 29, 2016 - Heather Caughman Hudman, a Center HS Graduate of 1994, perished in a head-on collision in Bossier City, Louisiana on Saturday, February 27, 2016.

Funeral services are under the direction of Watson and Sons Funeral Home and will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 2pm.

The crash was reported by KTBS and can be read at the following links:

• UPDATED: Bossier City police identify accident victims
• Police: Fatal accident could have been prevented

February 26, 2016 - EZ Mart on Tenaha Street was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Friday, February 26, 2016 from which three were hospitalized and two were arrested.

According to Center Police Officer Angela Neal, at 3:47pm a white Dodge Charger traveling south driven by Alderea Berry, 24, of Center was stopped and preparing to make a left turn into the EZ Mart. According to witnesses at the scene the left turn indicator was active on the Dodge.

A 2001 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck driven by Timothy McKnight, 20, of Joaquin approached from behind the Dodge and failed to control speed, striking the rear of the Dodge. This left the truck in the middle of the roadway and the Dodge came to rest on the northbound shoulder facing north.

Crystal Hubbard 26 of Center was in the front passenger seat of the Dodge and Elijah Cotton, 27, of Center was in the right-rear passenger seat. They both were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. Jarvis Johnson, 26, of Center was in the left-rear passenger seat of the Dodge and he was transported by Life-Air helicopter to an as yet unidentified hospital.

Center Police Officer Sgt. Ricky King and Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster assisted Officer Neal in her investigation of the crash. Trooper Buster administered a breathalyzer test on McKnight.

McKnight was placed in handcuffs at the scene and was taken into custody. He has been charged with failure to control speed, driving under the influence, failure to maintain financial responsibility and no insurance. McKnight reportedly consumed a beer which was noticeable on his breath.

Spencer Kinman, 23, of Carthage was a passenger in the Chevrolet. He was arrested at the scene for contributing alcohol to a minor which is a class a misdemeanor.

The Center Fire Department assisted at the scene with traffic control and establishing the landing zone for the helicopter.