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December 11, 2015 - Authorities with the Center Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and Center Fire Department converged on the intersection of Hurst Street and Wheel Street at 12-noon on Friday, December 11, 2015.
Officer John Welch quickly checked drivers and passengers and began handling traffic control while ACE EMS began working to extricate occupants from the vehicles while standers-by assisted them, as well as Center Fire Department. Additional officers with the Center Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Department arrived and directed traffic while Officer Welch continued to investigate the crash, assisted by Center Police Officer Angela Neal.
According to Officer Welch, Michelle Jackson, 45, of Center was traveling west on Wheeler Street in a silver 2013 Nissan when she ran the red light crossing Hurst Street onto Arcadia Road (FM 138). As the Nissan crossed, it struck a gold 2015 Chevrolet Equinox in the left rear quarter panel which was traveling south on Hurst Street and was driven by Douglas Young, 70, of Buna, Texas with his wife Mary Young, 73. The Equinox then struck a light pole head-on, and the Nissan came to rest in the middle of the roadway on the southbound side.
All three individuals were transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries. No citations have been issued at this time.
December 10, 2015 - 
A family in Corinth, north of Timpson, lost a home to fire on December 6, 2015. According to a report from the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD), firemen were dispatched at 10:34am to the residence of Robbie and Jessica Holloway and upon arrival the majority of the brick house was engulfed in flames.
Garrison Volunteer Fire Department and Gary Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene, and firemen worked to extinguish the flames as well as preventing further spread.
It is believed the origin of the fire was the garage. Robbie Holloway was outside in the yard at the time and witnessed flames emitting from the garage. He went inside and got his family out of the house, and by that time the house was becoming fully involved. The firemen could see black smoke as they approached the house 12 miles away on U.S. Highway 84 and turning onto FM 1970 where the house was located.
Fire destroyed the home and what two rooms even remained burned during the night and the TVFD returned to the scene at 11:30 to extinguish those flames.
The Holloways, including three children, have lost everything in their home due to the fire and a gofundme account has been established in their name to help raise funds for the family. Anyone wishing to make a donation can go to the following address: https://www.gofundme.com/2qdr792c
Although the tragedy has had a great effect on this family, Robbie Holloway posted the following on his Facebook page showing just how much the human spirit can prevail when faced with such a struggle: "As u may no me and my family's house has burned with everything we own. With that being said I've been throwed a few curve balls in my life but never one like this. I set back and try to take it all in and wonder what to do next. And then I look at all the help people are doing like money, clothes etc and people just taking the time to say I'm sorry. And it brings back hope to me. And it makes me think so what if we don't have present or a big tree. We have all these people taking just a few seconds minutes or even hours to come our way just to see if we need something that's the best Christmas present ever. Unbelievable how all these people have impacted my life in such a way I cannot describe. Just want to say thanks to everyone for just being good people and thinking of me and my family. I hope u all have a great Christmas because in a weird way I've already had one. Thanks again."
December 9, 2015 - Emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 at the intersection of FM 711 Wednesday, December 9, 2015.
When the crash occurred, Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Chris King was in the vicinity and quickly responded to check on those involved and request additional units to the scene. While other emergency personnel were en-route, Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2, and Zach Warr, Constable Precinct 1, were traveling through the area and stopped to assist and direct traffic.
ACE EMS arrived and began examining drivers while additional responders with the Center Fire Department arrived and began to assist with directing the heavy traffic rolling through the area.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jeff Pirtle, at 5:40pm a black 2013 Hyundai passenger car driven by a 16-year-old driver from Center was in the left traffic lane and was stopped attempting to turn left onto FM 711. A black Dodge Challenger driven by Marina Rodriguez, 22, of Alto came over the hill behind the Hyundai traveling too fast, failed to control speed and collided the front of the Challenger into the back of the Hyundai.
Rodriguez was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches to be medically evaluated for injuries. She was cited for failure to control speed. The other driver refused treatment at the accident scene, and her parents signed off on the release since she is a minor.
December 9, 2015 - State Highway 87 North in front of the Center Livestock Auction Barn was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday, December 9, 2015.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Anthony LaCount, at around 11am a grey Ford Mustang driven by Pamela Henderson, 47, of Center failed to control speed in front of the Center Livestock Auction Barn just north of Center. The Mustang left the roadway to the right striking the rear end of a parked stock trailer loaded with cattle, causing major damage to the Mustang. The parked black Dodge 2500 4x4 pickup truck was driven by Dennis Birdwell, 59, of Marthaville, Louisiana and received more minor damage than the Mustang.
Spencer Tate Henderson, 18, of Center was a passenger in the Mustang and he was transported from the scene by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department to be medically evaluated for injuries.
Birdwell and the cattle were not reported to have received any injuries as a result of the crash. Pamela Henderson was issued a citation for fail to control speed.
December 9, 2015 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports a car was run off the roadway by a pickup truck on State Highway 7 West Tuesday, December 8, 2015 resulting in the injury of one man.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the crash at 3:50pm just before the intersection of FM 2913 where the vehicle was sitting in a pasture by the roadway.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Anthony LaCount, a white Toyota Matrix S driven by Farhan Hussein Hassan, 24, of Nacogdoches was traveling east in the outside lane when Hassan states a 4-door black pickup truck passed on the left side, in the left lane. As the truck passed on the left, it ran the Toyota off the roadway.
The Toyota traveled to the right off the roadway and through the barrow ditch before colliding with, and traveling through, a fence. As the vehicle traveled through the fence, a fence post went through the passenger side of the windshield and struck Matan Hussein Hassan, 47, before the vehicle came to a stop.
Hassan was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of a suspected fractured ankle. Other passengers in the back of the vehicle Asli Abdi, 34, and Halimo Abdikadir, 38, were not reported at the scene to have received injuries from the crash.
No further information on the truck whose driver failed to stop and render was available at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
December 9, 2015 - An alleged online child predator was arrested Saturday and booked into the Shelby County Jail at 6:30am for directing a sexual performance by a child, felony 3.
According to a press release, Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell announces the arrest of Dakota Ray Smith, 21 of Joaquin on December 5, 2015.
Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) discovered on or about November 10, 2015, Smith created a fictitious account through social media where he portrayed himself as a female. Smith contacted underage children in an attempt to obtain inappropriate photographs.
Smith was charged with directing a sexual performance by a child (F3). He was released December 5 on a $10,000 bond.
The SCSO would like to thank the Shelby County District Attorney's Office and the Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center for their assistance in this investigation.
Submitted by Leah Chase
December 8, 2015 - East Texas… Get your spoons ready; the wait is over for millions of ice cream lovers in East Texas.
On Monday, December 14th, Blue Bell will begin stocking the shelves of your local Brookshire Brothers stores. There are 46 locations involved in Blue Bell’s third phase of returning their beloved products to the marketplace.
Adding to the excitement, each of your local Brookshire Brothers stores in the communities involved will give away a year’s supply of Blue Bell to one lucky customer! Any customer who purchases a Blue Bell product at a participating Brookshire Brothers on delivery day will be eligible to win the one year’s supply of their favorite, frozen treat. All Celebrate members who purchase Blue Bell on delivery day will get two chances to enter the ice cream giveaway – now that’s a sweet deal! Registration will continue in-store while supplies last on delivery day and the winner will be drawn at the end of the day.
Founded in 1921, Brookshire Brothers is 100% employee-owned. Its assets include retail outlets incorporating grocery stores, convenience stores, as well as free standing pharmacy, tobacco and petro locations across Texas and Louisiana. For more information about Brookshire Brothers www.brookshirebrothers.com
Impaired driving campaign seeks to curb increase in holiday fatalities due to alcohol
December 7, 2015 AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign urges party goers to plan for a sober ride this holiday season. The campaign runs through Jan. 1, 2016 and coincides with an increase in DUI patrols and enforcement.
“The holidays are a time of celebration and family, but they also require responsible decisions and planning if alcohol is involved,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “Our goal is to save families from the heartbreak of losing a loved one. Finding a sober ride is easy and it can save you from being arrested, injured or killed. There is no excuse for drinking and driving.”
During last year’s holiday season (Dec. 1, 2014 - Jan. 1, 2015) there were 2,412 alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas, resulting in 190 serious injuries and 110 fatalities. This was nearly an 8-percent increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities over the previous holiday season.
Central to the “Plan While You Can” campaign is a statewide tour featuring an interactive dodgeball game that uses custom gaming technology to replicate the effects of alcohol on a person’s reflexes. As participants play, virtual drinks are added and the players’ on-screen avatars become less able to dodge incoming “snowballs.” The game demonstrates how even one drink can slow reaction times.
Additionally, TxDOT is hosting a contest on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media accounts. Participants who tag up to three friends in a tweet or a post with the hashtag #PlanWhileYouCan will be entered into a giveaway for a donated gift card from a retailer, restaurant or entertainment venue. To enter and learn more, follow TxDOT on its social media accounts.
As always, TxDOT strongly encourages everyone to plan for a sober ride before going out. Visit SoberRides.org to find alternatives to drinking and driving, such as:
- Calling a taxi or using a transportation app on your smartphone.
- Using mass transit.
- Asking a sober friend or family member for a ride home.
- Spending the night.
For more information, contact Public Information Officer Rhonda Oaks at Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
Update: December 9, 2015 - It is no longer necessary for the customers that were without water on December 4, 2015 on the Five Way Water system to boil their water.
December 5, 2015 - Due to a water main break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required our water system, Five Way 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 December 4, 2015 east of Highway 7 plant and the surrounding county roads: CR 3129, CR 3140, CR 3148, and CR 3156.
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.
December 4, 2015 - The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a crash involving two truck-tractors in Joaquin, which held up traffic for several hours on Thursday, December 3, 2015.
At around 2pm the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department took positions at either end of the crash scene and began directing traffic, soon thereafter Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers Keith Jones, Dustin Ramos and Taylor Buster arrived at the scene and began investigating the crash.
ACE EMS personnel checked drivers involved for injuries; however, they refused treatment and were not transported from the scene.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Jones, a 2012 Peterbilt owned by Steve Kent Trucking of Cottie, LA driven by Allen Charles Boyd, Jr., 42, was traveling eastbound in the left lane on State Highway 7. A 1990 International owned and operated by Michael Whitaker Jr., 35, of Mansfield, LA. was also traveling eastbound in the right lane.
One truck or the other crossed over into the other lane and the trucks collided. At the time of the crash the responsible party was unclear and witnesses were being questioned.
Following the collision, the Peterbilt pulled to the side of the roadway and the International remained in the middle of the roadway where it had jackknifed and leaked a considerable amount of diesel fuel onto the road.
A HAZMAT team was called in to clean up the spilled fluid.
More information will be provided on this crash as it is made available.
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