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January 7, 2015 - COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Changing the way the South recognizes and prepares for wildfire, a 17-year Texas A&M Forest Service employee was honored Tuesday with the Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Public Service in Forestry.
Geospatial Systems Coordinator Curt Stripling received the award during the annual Texas A&M AgriLife Conference held at Texas A&M University’s flagship campus in College Station.
The Award in Excellence for Public Service in Forestry is one of 17 awards presented each year by the Vice Chancellor for Agriculture and Life Sciences as a way to recognize and celebrate the commitment and contributions made by those working under the umbrella of Texas A&M Agrilife.
The forestry award, in particular, is presented each year to someone who consistently goes above and beyond, making exceptional contributions and displaying exceptional commitment to the agency’s mission.
“Texas A&M Forest Service is recognized nationally as a leader in the development of wildfire risk assessments thanks in large part to the work and expertise of Curt Stripling. He is very deserving of this award,” Tom Spencer, department head of Predictive Services said.
Stripling’s most recent project helped take the highly complex nature of wildfire risk assessment and deliver it in an easy to use format designed to increase public awareness and understanding of the dangers of wildfire across the state of Texas and the South. Stripling continues to set a high bar in applying his training in forestry and geospatial sciences to produce and deliver state of the art products that help increase public awareness of wildfire risk.
Stripling earned a Bachelor in Science in forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University and has been a member of the Society of American Foresters since 1996.
“I’m elated to receive this award. It is always a good feeling when others wish to publicly recognize your efforts, especially with a prestigious award like this one. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who assisted with my nomination,” Stripling said.
Contact:
Texas A&M Forest Service Communications
979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu
January 7, 2015 - While on patrol, Center Police Lt. Jeremy Bittick observed a silver 1998 Dodge pickup on January 6, 2015 at approx. 3:10pm, on the side of the roadway on Old Neuville Rd. The vehicle was just outside of the Center City Limits.
The vehicle appeared to have been sitting for several days. It was parked in a conspicuous manner, away from any buildings or residences. Out of suspicion, Lt. Bittick ran the License Plate (80VDV5) through dispatch for confirmation on any possible reports on the vehicle. The vehicle return came back as stolen out of Smith County, Texas.
Lt. Bittick called for CID Detectives for an initial investigation. Detectives Stephen Stroud and David Haley arrived at the scene at approximately 3:20pm and called for a wrecker.
Sgt. Duane Gordon arrived on scene and completed an inventory of the vehicle. Joey Ross Wrecker Service arrived at the scene at approx. 3:28pm with a roll-back wrecker and transported the vehicle to the Center Police Department where it is being held for further investigation by Smith County.
January 6, 2015 - Effective January 1, 2015 Timpson city utility customers being billed for garbage service should have received a green polecat for curbside pickup. This would apply to all customers currently receiving and paying for individual pickup, excluding the THA apartments and Timpson Sr. Apartments.
If you did not receive a cart, and feel you should have, please contact city hall 936-254-2421.
Polycart service will be Wednesday. Dumpster Service will be Monday/Thursday.
January 8, 2015 - Due to water main break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required our water System, Choice Water, to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption. This is for the customers that were out of water on 1/06/2015 south end of 96 in the Spann’s chapel area.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the same manner as this notice.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, you may contact
Vince Di Verdi at 936-590-9177 or 936-591-1205.
January 6, 2015 - A Center Crime Stoppers tip was instrumental in the arrest of a wanted suspect in Center who was allegedly involved in a stabbing.
According to a press release issued by Center Police Detective Nicole Faulkner, Center Crime stoppers received a call on the whereabouts of stabbing suspect Marcos Aguilar, 39, of Center on Monday January 5, 2015 at approximately 4:45 p.m.. Center Police Department officers responded to a residence at Pecan Grove trailer park and took the suspect into custody without incident. Aguilar was transported to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and booked into the county jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $100,000 by Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1.
Earlier in the day first responders were dispatched to the incident in Center at 10:04am. Center Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at Pecan Grove Trailer Park in reference to a stabbing victim. The victim, Florentina Rojas Gonzales, 37, of Center reported she had been stabbed in the abdomen by her husband Marcos Aguilar.
Gonzales was life-flighted to LSU hospital for treatment of her injuries and no official information on her condition has been shared at this time.
January 6, 2015 - 2015 Center ASA Softball Sign-Ups will be held Friday, January 30 from 6-9 pm and Saturday, January 31 from 9 am to 12 noon at the Center Softball Fields. The cost is $80 for girls 5 years and up. Please bring your child’s birth certificate when you sign up. There will be sample uniforms for the girls to try on in order the get the correct size for the season.
January 5, 2015 - First responders were dispatched to a stabbing incident in Center on Monday, January 5, 2015 and a suspect is still at large.
According to a press release issued by Center Police Detective Nicole Faulkner, at approximately 10:04am Center Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at Pecan Grove Trailer Park in reference to a stabbing victim. The victim, Florentina Rojas Gonzales, 37, of Center reported she had been stabbed in the abdomen by her husband Marcos Aguilar, 39, of Center.
Gonzales was transported by ACE EMS to the Center Municipal Airport where the Center Fire Department established a landing zone and she was then transported by Life Air Rescue helicopter to LSU hospital in Shreveport.
Aguilar was last seen driving a red 2003 Ford Taurus with Texas license plate number CX1V511. Aguilar is wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is a hispanic male and is 5'6" tall with black hair and brown eyes weighing about 140 pounds.
If you have any information on the suspect's location, please contact the Center Police Department at 936-598-2788 or Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE
Center Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information. Anyone who has information regarding this crime should call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE (7233) or submit a tip online at www.centercrimestoppers.com. Remember you don't have to give your name. All calls and cash rewards are completely anonymous. Rewards will only be paid on tips submitted through the Center Crime Stoppers system.
January 3, 2015 - Firemen responded to a house fire during Saturday morning's thunderstorm at 1629 CR 4084 in Timpson, Texas.
The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to the residential fire at 3:06am on January 3, 2015. Upon arrival on scene, the home, a single wide trailer belonging to John Mahan, had flames and smoke coming out of the windows. After locating the owner safely outside along with his family, the meter was pulled and Timpson firemen attacked the fire using two lines off of tanker trucks to get it under control.
The Center Fire Department was also dispatched to the scene to assist Timpson VFD. Both fire departments managed to get the fire out; however, the fire ravaged the home and its contents and was a total loss for the family.
The Timpson VFD responded with 4 trucks and 9 members. They were back at the station at 5:47am. The Center FD responded with a tanker truck and 6 members. Also, responding to the scene was the Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service.
The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the family with clothing and shelter.
January 2, 2015 - A flash flood watch in effect for parts of east and northeast Texas, including Shelby County, Carthage, Lufkin Texas, South Central Arkansas, and Northwest and North Central Louisiana to a line southeast of Magnolia, Arkansas to Shreveport, LA.
Showers and thunderstorms will produce heavy rainfall overnight and on Saturday across an area that had received 2 to 3 inches recently. Flash flood watch in effect from 9pm this evening through Saturday afternoon.
From tonight through Saturday afternoon additional rainfall amounts of one to three inches with isolated higher amounts will occur over an area that had received from two to three inches of rain from New Years through early Friday morning. This rain event will be due to a surface low pressure system lifting northeast across the ArkLaTex with a warm front lifting northeast with the low and a cold front trailing southwest from the system as an upper level storm system over Arizona and New Mexico moves northeast out into the plains providing disturbances aloft and added lift and instability. A deep and rich supply of moisture will be available for efficient rain production.
Heavy rainfall over the saturated soils from previous rains will result in rapid water runoff and result in flash flooding and filling of small creeks, streams, rivers, and low water crossing. Do not drive into areas with high or rapid moving water.
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
January 2, 2015 - (Photo Album) - Newly elected officials were sworn in to their offices at a ceremony held in the Shelby County Courthouse on Friday, January 2, 2015. Charles Mitchell, 273rd Judicial District Court Judge, administered the oaths of office to all present officials.
Kerry Green, Pastor at Dreka Pentecostal Church, opened the ceremony and then Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, introduced Judge Mitchell who in turn swore in Harbison as County Judge; Bradley Allen, Commissioner Precinct 5; and Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2.
Judge Mitchell proceeded to swear in Lori Oliver, District Clerk; Margie Anderson, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3; Marla Denby, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2; Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1; Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5; Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer; Jenny Hicks, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4; Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk; and Debora Riley, Tax Assessor Collector.
Immediately following the swearing in ceremony Judge Harbison, the first woman to be elected county judge in Shelby County, addressed the audience, "First of all I want to thank my family for all of their love and support, and second of all I want to thank my other family of 14 years, my clerk family." Judge Harbison has just vacated her office as County Clerk and in response to her request her now former office staff stood to be recognized.
"I appreciate these ladies so much and all the ladies and gentlemen that have worked in my office for the last 14 years, I feel like they have helped make me who I am and I appreciate y'all so much."
Judge Harbison then formally introduced her new secretary Sandra Green, "She and I will be here to help in any way, all you have to do is come by and talk to us, okay. I'd like to thank all of the other elected officials, I really look forward [to] working with all of you. I think all of you know me and you know that I'll be here for you."
The swearing in ceremony was then adjourned and all present were invited to partake in refreshments and to visit with one another.
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