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August 29, 2023 - TxDOT reports a crash at the intersection of SH 103 and SH 147 in San Augustine Tuesday morning, August 29.
Eastbound traffic is being diverted from SH 103 to SH 147 north and the intersection of SH 147 and SH 103 in San Augustine County remains closed due to a crash involving an 18-wheeler. Motorists should reduce speed and obey all traffic control until this scene is clear.
August 28, 2023 - Shelby County is currently under a BURN-BAN. This means that outdoor burning is prohibited. The County has had NO significant rain in 3 months. Even though some parts of the county were blessed to have several inches of rain on Sunday, this does not mean the danger or the prohibition on burning is over.
The charge for burning during a Burn Ban is a Class C Misdemeanor with fines up to $500 with court costs added. If property is damaged, the charges could be a Class A or B Misdemeanor and restitution for the damage can be assessed. In cases where structures are destroyed, the case can be classified as a felony. The Spann’s Chapel fire resulted in a felony charge for arson.
I urge you to take this Order seriously, the property you destroy by ignoring this Order may be your own. Why take the chance? Be smart, Please respect your neighbors and your community!
Sincerely,
Allison Harbison
Shelby County Judge
August 28, 2023 - Leading up to the storm which hit Shelby County August 27, 2023, there have been many wildfires that have burned hundreds of acres in the county, and one night of steady rain isn’t enough to offset the lack of moisture in the ground and dryness in the area.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has reported issuing five burn ban violations today, August 28, 2023, so far. The burn ban Has Not been lifted.
These fines are $500 plus court costs. Citations are mandatory. Do Not Burn.
Shelby County Commissioners' Court is held every Wednesday morning at 9:30am in the active Shelby County Courthouse located on San Augustine Street in Center. They consider the burn ban every week and will meet again this Wednesday, August 30, 2023. If the burn ban were to be lifted, it will not happen until that time.
Anyone considering burning should realize at this time their actions will be subject to potential fines.
August 28, 2023 - The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to Highway 59 N in reference to a massive fire on August 27, 2023, around 2:14pm.
Tenaha Police Department Officer Jake Metcalf reported to Shelby County Dispatch that the fire was growing in size and moving rapidly towards structures and requested that Joaquin VFD, Timpson VFD, Woods VFD, and Gary VFD be notified to provide water for the Tenaha VFD. It was reported that Texas Forest Service was requested at the same time. Officer Metcalf made contact with Fireman Craig Terry and they made the determination for an evacuation of five homes located on U.S. Highway 59 North at that time. The residents were evacuated immediately and were not injured. Tenaha PD Officer Jake Metcalf requested assistance from Shelby County Sheriff's office or any available agency. After speaking with Fireman Craig Terry and Fire Chief Mark Odom with the Tenaha Fire Department, they concluded it was necessary to evacuate residences in the area and also areas the fire could potentially spread to, which was County Road 4475, County Road 4505 and parts of Highway 84 located in Tenaha.
Tenaha PD, Texas DPS Troopers and Shelby County Sheriff's office worked to notify all residents to evacuate. All residents were evacuated safely and informed if they had nowhere to go that they could go to the Tenaha First Baptist church or Tenaha Church of Christ Fellowship Hall.
At 6:44pm Texas Forest Service released all Fire Departments to return to their stations and allowed residents to return back to their homes. Texas Forest Service will remain monitoring hot spots and blazes.
According to the Texas Forest Service the fire was covered 108 acres, containment has reached 100%, as of 1am, August 28. No structures were lost due to this fire, but two structures were damaged including two outdoor buildings.
The City of Tenaha and the Tenaha PD express a huge thank you to Shelby County Sheriffs Office, Texas DPS, Shelby County Constables, All off duty Officers that responded, Seth Shrell w/ TDEM, Scott Burkhalter w/ Zitan Protective Services, Tenaha ISD PD, Tenaha VFD, Joaquin VFD, Timpson VFD, Shelbyville VFD, Huxley VFD, West Shelby County VFD, Center FD, Woods VFD, Gary VFD, Carthage FD, Montgomery County Fire/Rescue, Schertz Fire/ Rescue, Texas Forest Service, Georgia Forest Service, Tenaha First Baptist Church and the Tenaha Church of Christ and any business that donated food or water to the first responders.
Please be reminded that Shelby County is still under a burn ban and our vegetation is extremely dry which makes fires spread quickly and causes them to be more dangerous.
Submitted photo
August 27, 2023 - Center Fire Department responded to a woods fire located behind the Goodwill on Tenaha Street in Center August 27, 2023, at around 3:30pm.
According to the Center Fire Department, firefighters discovered when they arrived that the fire had burned all the way to the structure where Goodwill is located.
The firefighters were able to extinguish the 1/4 acre blaze before the building became involved in the fire.
August 27, 2023 - (Update): As of 6:30pm, those who evacuated their homes in the Tenaha area are now allowed to return. The Texas A&M Forest Service continues to work on the fire in the area.
Multiple fire departments and law enforcement have converged on the Tenaha area to fight what is now known as the Roost Fire August 27, 2023.
As of 4:45pm, the fire is located between US Highway 59 and US Highway 84. Air support has been providing much-needed water from above.
According to Lt. Chad Hooper, with the Shelby County Sheriffs Department, evacuations of residences on County Road 4475 and 4505 were performed.
Evacuees are being directed to Tenaha first Baptist church, if needed.
The fire is not yet contained, and is approximately 100 acres.
Law enforcement support with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Tenaha Police Department, Tenaha ISD School Police, and Constable Precinct 3, all have been assisting at the scene with traffic control.
August 26, 2023 - We at the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library are very excited to receive the 2023 Texas Book Festival Award grant of $2500. With this grant, we will be purchasing books for our Hispanic and Seniors populations and put some much-needed books into circulation. We hope that this will also increase our circulation. We are already planning ways to promote the new Spanish books and books for the Seniors in our community so be looking for opportunities to learn about the new books in the coming weeks.
Our library director, Sandra Davis, says, “We are very appreciative of the grant we have received. This will allow us to purchase more large print books and new, up-to-date books on topics that our Seniors are interested in. We have also had many requests for books in Spanish and English to help our Hispanic population advance in English as a second language. We are going to reach out to the population through the churches and schools and senior centers to promote our new books. We will also have books on display at the library as they become available.”
August 25, 2023 - Anyone that was impacted by the fire with Horses or Horse Trailers are welcome to bring them to the Rodeo Arena but must call Bobby Daw first at 936-591-4212.
Texas Forest Service and TDEM representatives are seen discussing the fire.
August 25, 2023 - 1:30pm: According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire is 100% contained.
12:23am: Multiple fire departments responded to the scene of the fire, as well as Texas A&M Forest Service, Shelby County Commissioners, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Constable Precinct 1, Zack Warr; Constable Precinct 2, Jamie Hagler; Constable Precinct 4, Taylor Fanguy; and Constable Precinct 5, Josh Tipton.
Texas Department of Emergency Management has been present throughout to help assist local agencies, and the Texas A&M Forest Service brought a large contingency of equipment and resources with them.
EMS has remained on scene to assist anyone in need of medical attention.
Units are working into the night to continue containing the fire and prevent any further encroachments nearby.
Update 11:28pm: According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire remains at 80 acres; however, the 75% contained reported earlier was lowered to 50% contained.
Emergency units are staged near a home that was saved from fire.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, confers with TDEM representatives.
Constables were in the area assisting those in need. Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, was assisting area residents.
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department firefighters are seen above staged near a fire on CR 1024.
Shelby County Sheriff Captain D.J. Dickerson is seen meeting with Lt. Chad Hooper.
Water tankers were once again brought to an area wild fire to supply fire departments with more water.
Update 9:11pm: Shelby County Sheriff's Lt. Chad Hooper has confirmed residents are being allowed to return to their homes.
Update 9:07pm: According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire is 80 acres and 75% contained.
Update 8:39pm: According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire is 80 acres and 40% contained.
Update 7:42pm: According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire is 75 acres and 30% contained.
August 24, 2023 - Fire departments and law enforcement are working a wildfire along with the Texas A&M Forest Service in the area north of Jericho off of CR 1024 and 1265. Fire updates are below.
Update 6pm: According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Chad Hooper, mandatory evacuations are in place on CR 1024, 1005 and 1268. Providence Missionary Baptist Church is where the EMS is stationed. Neuville Baptist Church is open for evacuees at this time and is a designated safety zone. The next projected evacuation zone will be the 2000 block of FM 711, but that has not yet been designated. Texas Forest Service now indicates there are 40 acres included in the fire as of 6:02pm.
5:30pm: Portions of Cr 1265 and 1024 are under evacuation due to a current fire that is raging in that vicinity. Stay alert for updates on #ShelbyCountyToday as this situation progresses.
August 23, 2023 - The Constable Precinct 5 office investigated an alleged attempt by an individual to falsify a prescription at Bussey Drug in Timpson on August 22, 2023.
After the pharmacy received a call for a prescription for a cough syrup, and due to its abnormal nature, determined it to be bogus he contacted the Constable’s office for assistance.
According to Josh Tipton, Constable for Precinct 5, once they were made aware of the situation at the pharmacy they opened an investigation and made preparations for the potential arrival of an individual to pick up the false prescription. Once the person seeking the prescription contacted the pharmacy and informed them someone was on the way to pick it up, they alerted Constable Tipton who then requested assistance of Taylor Fanguy, Constable for Precinct 4.
Center Police Sgt. Detective Andrew Williams was in Timpson working on something unrelated with Constable Tipton at the time the call was received from the pharmacy and he also assisted. When the suspect arrived at the store, Constable Tipton was contacted once again by the pharmacy and they described the suspect.
When officers moved in on the location, they were able to apprehend the individual in the pharmacy and detain two other individuals who were waiting on the suspect in a car.
Without evidence to connect the other two individuals to the attempt at the pharmacy, they were issued tickets for drug paraphernalia and they returned to Houston.
The suspect, Penny Coleman, 51, of Houston was arrested for trying to pass a false prescription and according to the Sheriff’s Department Jail booking information was charged with fraudulent delivery of a controlled substance/prescription, felony 2.
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