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October 14, 2015 - Emergency personnel rushed to the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, October 14, 2015 three miles south of Center on U.S. Highway 96 South.
When officials arrived it was reported a man had been ejected from one vehicle involved. The vehicle was located off the roadway and the man was lying at the edge of a wooded area. First responders quickly went to the aid of the man and others from the same vehicle. Working together, emergency personnel loaded injured parties onto backboards and then carried them to waiting ambulances.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Anthony LaCount, at 12:51pm Parker Baker, 30, of Nacogdoches was driving a black Ford F-150 4X4 truck north on U.S. Highway 96 and was stopped to make a left turn into XTO Energy. A grey Ford F-150 driven by Vernon Bailey, 49, with passengers Treven Bailey, 24, and Carrie Bailey, 76, all of Center were also traveling north behind Baker.
Vernon Bailey became distracted during conversation while cresting the top of a hill before the crash scene and by the time he realized Baker was stopping, he attempted to slow down and struck the rear of the truck Baker was driving causing major damage to both vehicles. The truck Bailey was driving veered off the roadway to the right, struck a guardrail and flipped one to two times, according to witnesses, before coming to rest upright and facing the roadway.
While Center firemen and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies worked traffic control a landing zone was established on the XTO Energy property. Carrie and Trevon Bailey were transported to Nacogodoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department. Carrie Bailey was later flown to a hospital in Tyler and has since been released. Vernon Bailey was given a life flight to LSU hospital for treatment of his injuries. Treven Bailey has also been released from the hospital. Baker was not reported to have received any injuries.
Trooper LaCount was assisted at the scene with his investigation by DPS Troopers Keith Jones, Ricardo Segura and Taylor Buster. TxDOT representatives were quick to respond to the scene and remove the debris of the severely damaged guardrail.
October 14, 2015 - A house fire south of Shelbyville resulted in a total loss for Melissa Nichols Olsen and Thomas Spears on Sunday, October 11, 2015. The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) was dispatched at 3:07pm to the fire located just over a mile south of FM 139.
When the firemen arrived at 3:25pm, the house was fully involved and the two Shelbyville Volunteer firemen to arrive on scene did their best to knock back the flames and save some of the house. Bradley Greer, a neighbor even assisted the firemen in fighting the fire.
As their water supply ran low, the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) arrived at 3:58pm with three grass trucks to support the needs of the SVFD and a second SVFD tanker truck also arrived at that time with a third SVFD fireman. Although the HVFD provided much needed assistance, the fire had overtaken the majority of the home and the remainder of the time the firemen were there was spent trying to extinguish what was left of the fire.
Center Fire Department was dispatched later to the scene and arrived at 6pm with more water to help finish the job. Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, was also on scene to assist the firemen.
October 14, 2015 - A $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murder(s) in reference to Charles Howard Thorn in 1960 and/or information leading to the confirmed identification of the murder(s). Contact Sargent Chris King of the SCSO at 936-598-5600.
This reward is being offered by James T. Thorn and the Thorn Family, 1348 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20002. Contact number 202-230-6455.
See more information in a related article - http://scttx.com/articles/sheriffs-office-opens-cold-case-investigation-...
October 14, 2015 - Dustin Ramos, Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper for the Shelby County area, was recently awarded with the 2015 Officer of the Year Award at the 2015 DPSOA Annual Conference at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi on Saturday, October 10, 2015.
The honor was bestowed upon Trooper Ramos following his receipt of the Director's Citation for his actions on May 4, 2014. Trooper Ramos was en-route to assist a Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy in searching for a stolen truck when he discovered the vehicle on the roadway. A chase ensued starting at County Road 2420 with Trooper Ramos in the lead, Chief Shad Sparks, Deputy Jeremy Pope followed the vehicle and attempted to pull it over; however, the driver refused to stop.
The pursuit continued to County Road 2164 and then onto State Highway 87 South where the driver continued to fail to stop. Center Police Department Sgt. Duane Gordon placed a spike strip on the roadway, which the truck did travel over causing the driver's side front tire to go flat; however it continued traveling north on State Highway 87 and Sgt. Gordon joined the chase.
A second Texas DPS Trooper, Zach Mills, put down a spike strip in the roadway just before FM 139 East to again try to disable the truck's tires. Evading the spike strip, the truck traveled left of the strip and struck Mills leaving him injured and lying by the roadway. Gordon traveled ahead of the other pursuit vehicles and struck the truck from the rear turning it to the left, where the truck traveled into a field across from Lout Town Grocery towards a home occupied by a young family located at the top of a hill.
While law enforcement and witnesses helped Mills, Gordon and Ramos fired on the suspect mortally wounding him and ending the chase which lasted for about 30 minutes and 25 miles.
Ramos returned to the scene of his injured partner, where Chief Sparks and other witnesses were, and remained there until EMS arrived. Mills endured surgeries and a long healing process. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for his personal sacrifice and efforts to apprehend a dangerous suspect. Sgt. Gordon was also presented with the Director's Award for his efforts to rescue an injured officer and apprehend a dangerous suspect.
October 12, 2015 - U.S. Highway 96 South was the scene of a two-vehicle crash at 11:25am on Sunday, October 11, 2015 with all parties involved being taken to the hospital.
Officers with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Center Police Department and Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1, were first on scene at the crash. Shelby County Today was on scene as the officers provided traffic control three miles south of Center at County Road 1024 where the roadway was blocked while ACE EMS checked those involved for injuries.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Anthony LaCount, a black Ford Ranger driven by Gary Belrose, 67, of Center was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 96.
Belrose stated be felt like he blacked out, he crossed the roadway to the left into oncoming traffic and struck head-on a red Chevolet C1500 pickup truck driven by James Lumen, 49, causing major damage.
Lumen, his passenger James Halbert, 32, and Belrose were all transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries.
Belrose was issued a citation for driving on the wrong side of the roadway in a no passing zone.
Copyright 2015 SCT. All rights reserved. Do not rebroadcast or reprint these stories without consent of ShelbyCountyToday.com
October 12, 2015 - FM 139 just before the intersection of State Highway 7 near Joaquin was the scene of a major crash on Sunday, October 12, 2015 from which the driver of the vehicle was transported by life flight.
The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel were dispatched to the scene of the crash at 1:13am where it was reported a vehicle had rolled over and the driver was trapped within.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Keith Jones, at 1:10am a tan 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Lauren Richards, 26, of Center was traveling southbound on FM 139 at an unsafe speed half mile from State Highway 7.
When the Chrysler entered a curve, it left the roadway to the right and entered a sideways skid, overturning right and top, coming to rest on its right side with major damage.
Joaquin VFD firemen used the Jaws of Life to help extricate Richards from the Chrysler following which a landing zone was established at the Joaquin baseball fields. Richards was then transported by Life Air Rescue to LSU Hospital in Shreveport for treatment of her injuries.
Copyright 2015 SCT. All rights reserved. Do not rebroadcast or reprint these stories without consent of ShelbyCountyToday.com
October 12, 2015 - (Update): As of Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2015 the boil water notice for Huxley has been lifted.
Due to conditions which have occurred a leak and water line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the system to notify customers in the Oakdale and Possum Trot areas to boil their water prior to consumption.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption, 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, 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 questions regarding this matter you may contact City Hall at 936-368-2266.
October 11, 2015 - The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department and Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department responded to a hay fire at 11:30am on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the property of Louis S. Jones Jr. two miles from Timpson on FM 947.
When the firemen arrived a large quantity of round hay bales numbering around 40 were in flames. The firemen worked to extinguish the flames and were successful at preventing the flames from entering a nearby forest of trees, and a nearby building.
It was reported the owner had been cutting metal with a torch when the fire started.
Copyright 2015 SCT. All rights reserved. Do not rebroadcast or reprint these stories without consent of ShelbyCountyToday.com
October 11, 2015 - The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 9:32am on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at the residence of Stella Baker on CR 4688 3 1/2 miles north of FM 947.
When the firemen arrived, they were informed a stove within the home had caught on fire, filling the house with smoke. The firemen dragged the stove from within the house and put the fire out, preventing the house from going up in flames.
Fans were used to ventilate the home and once the firemen were certain there was no more threat of fire, they left the scene at 10:12am.
Copyright 2015 SCT. All rights reserved. Do not rebroadcast or reprint these stories without consent of ShelbyCountyToday.com
October 6, 2015 - Authorities were alerted to a two-vehicle crash on the Center square Saturday, October 3, 2015 in front of the Rio Theatre.
Poultry Festival events were still in full swing when a loud screech and bang were heard coming from the direction of the traffic light on the northeast side of the Center square.
Shelby County Today was on location when Center police officers Steve Thornburgh and Jim Blackwell hurried to the scene. When they arrived, the driver of one vehicle was still in his vehicle and the other appeared to be unoccupied and parked.
Upon speaking with the driver, it was learned he had lost consciousness for some reason.
According to the police report, at 9:52pm Elijah Cotton, 27, of Center was traveling west on Nacogdoches Street in a gold 2006 Pontiac Sunfire through the intersection with Shelbyville Street when the Pontiac left the roadway to the right and struck a parked vehicle. The vehicle which was struck on the right side was a white 2011 Mazda CX9 owned by Summer Jackson, 37, of Shelbyville.
ACE EMS arrived on scene and transported Cotton to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for examination. No citations were reported to have been issued. The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Maegan Wright.
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