The story headline links to a better view of the story and share features.
News
July 31, 2023 - Over the week of July 23rd through 29th the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department had 5 calls. Here’s a summary of the week’s events.
Sunday at 8:27pm a page was received for someone with a broken arm at the Joaquin ISD football field. The JVFD medical team responded and put a splint on the patient’s arm before Allegiance EMS arrived to transport.
Later Sunday night, two calls were received within minutes of each other. The first was in regards to a person requesting EMS transportation to the ER due to a issue they were having, and the second was a person with pressure in their chest at the Joaquin Apartments. In both cases, the JVFD medical team and Allegiance EMS were dispatched.
Wednesday night at 7:57 the Joaquin VFD responded to a structure fire on County Road 3689. Upon arriving on scene first responders found two mobile homes set close to each other, one of which had burned almost completely to the ground, with the other catching fire on one end. The JVFD, with help from Center and Tenaha Fire Departments, were able to stop the fire in the second mobile home before it reached the other end, and put out what remained of the first mobile home. No one was in either house at the time of the fire.
Saturday at 11:11am a call came in for someone having trouble breathing on Highway 7 East. The JVFD med team responded as well as Allegiance EMS and the patient received the help they needed.
With that, this edition of the report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a great and safe week ahead.
Related article: Joaquin VFD Fights Dual House Fire; Other Departments Assist
July 27, 2023 - Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD) responded to a dual house fire on July 26, 2023, on CR 3689 at around 7:30pm.
When fire personnel arrived at the scene of the fire, one mobile home was fully involved in fire and surrounding woods had also caught on fire.
Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department and Center Fire Department arrived to give additional support in extinguishing the fire as it began to catch a second mobile home just nearby.
Firefighters gained entry to the second structure and attacked the fire from within, while other units continued to engage the first structure.
The fire departments were able to save the second structure and prevent additional nearby buildings from catching on fire.
At this time additional details are pending release from the JVFD.
July 27, 2023 - Law enforcement officials are investigating a shooting incident that took place around 1:40pm Thursday, July 27, 2023, in the Timpson area.
According to Constable Josh Tipton, Precinct 5, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department dispatch received a call alerting to a possible accidental shooting at a residence in the 200 block of CR 4855. As Sheriff’s Department deputies were en-route to the scene, additional units were requested of other agencies to assist.
Constable Tipton was first on scene, and at that time the victim was observed within the residence to have injuries while EMS was already en-route.
Another individual at the scene was detained, and precautionary measures were taken for the purposes of protecting evidence and the detained individual was placed in Constable Tipton’s vehicle.
A short time later, when EMS arrived, it was determined the victim had succumbed to their injuries from a single gunshot wound.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Hooper was notified by Constable Tipton of the circumstances at that time.
Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, and Constable Precinct 5 Office then processed the scene within the residence.
Tracy Broadway, Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace, performed the inquest at the scene and Taylor Funeral Home transported the individual from the residence. An autopsy has been ordered and will be performed in Dallas.
Additional information is unavailable at this time, due to those involved being juveniles and the incident remains under investigation.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and Constable Precinct 5 office thank the Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers for assisting at the scene, and Timpson Volunteer Fire Department for providing drinking water at the scene.
July 26, 2023 - FM 1970 was the scene of a single-vehicle crash near CR 4855 on July 24, 2023, at around 1:30pm.
Emergency responders with the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the scene to aid anyone involved in the crash and divert traffic.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Tim Grace, a white GMC Yukon driven by Billy Dale Nicholson, 73, was westbound on FM 1970 when it left the roadway to the right, and then re-entered the roadway in a side skid before rolling one time and coming to rest on its wheels.
Nicholson was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches with minor injuries.
A citation was issued for fail to drive in a single lane.
July 26, 2023 - County Road 2050 was the scene of a dual house fire Sunday, July 23, 2023, which was responded to by two fire departments and the Texas Forest Service.
According to the Center Fire Department, firefighters were called out at 3:05pm for a structure fire, and with smoke being visible once the fire truck was on Loop 500, Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department was contracted to assist before firefighters arrived at the scene. Once at the 300 block of CR 2050, one house was fully involved in fire and had already collapsed. A vehicle beside the house was also fully involved, and another vehicle was in immediate danger of catching on fire.
Firefighters were able to save the other vehicle, which was heavily damaged.
The fire went through the woods by the first structure into a pasture, and a slightly wooded area, where it caught a vacant mobile home on fire as well. The fire personnel saved the second house, which was approximately a third damaged. Texas Forest Service mapped somewhere between five and 10 acres which had burned.
As the fire progressed, some of the fire crews were dispatched to a nearby roadway on the other side of the fire to perform structure protection on County Road 2231 until the bull dozer could get there and finish building a fire break.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Area fire departments have continued to respond to wildfires in Shelby County. Residents are encouraged to continue to comply with the burn ban.
July 25, 2023 - State Highway 87 North near CR 1615 was the scene of a major single-vehicle crash Friday, July 21, 2023.
Members of the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and assisted in extricating the driver from the vehicle and moving him to an ambulance. The highway was shut down by the fire department for a period of time after that to allow for a life flight helicopter to land on the roadway and transport the driver from the scene.
According to information from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Troopers investigated the crash just [south] of Farm-to-Market Road 1645.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates that a red 2020 Dodge Ram Laramie pickup truck driven by Gregory Stanford, 33, of Timpson was traveling east. It is reported that the driver failed to drive in a single lane to the right and struck a tree.
Stanford was transported to LSU Shreveport for treatment. Stanford was cited for failing to drive in a single lane, not wearing a safety belt, and having an open container in the vehicle.
Also assisting at the scene were the Constable Precinct 5 office and Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
July 22, 2023 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Central Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Southeastern Shelby County in eastern Texas, Northeastern Sabine County in eastern Texas until 6pm CDT.
At 4:55pm CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles west of Zwolle, or 24 miles southeast of Center, moving east at 15 mph.
Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Milam, Many, Zwolle, Florien, Huxley, Noble, Fisher, Negreet, Sexton and Toledo Bend Reservoir North.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
If on or near a lake, get away from the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Hail Threat...Radar Indicated
Max Hail Size...1.00 In
Wind Threat...Radar Indicated
Max Wind Gust...60 MPH
July 21, 2023 – The heat dome continues to affect Texas with extreme temperatures, and the potential for wildfires is extremely HIGH. Currently, two counties (Angelina and Houston Counties) in Texas with boundaries in the National Forest and Grasslands in Texas have burn bans in effect. Check the county/counties for the Ranger District you are visiting for their restrictions. (Editor's Note: Around noon today, a burn ban was actived for Shelby County.)
In Texas, local governments are empowered to take action on behalf of those they serve. For example, when drought conditions exist, a burn ban can be implemented by a county judge or county commissioner's court prohibiting or restricting outdoor burning for public safety.
For more information about burn bans and fire danger in Texas, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service site https://tfsweb.tamu.edu.
Please remember these four crucial steps to extinguish your campfire properly: drown, stir, drown, and feel. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave. For more outdoor safety tips, visit BeOutdoorSafe.org.
- Use a designated or safe preexisting campfire ring.
- Keep your campfire small; Your campfires should never be larger than necessary for cooking or personal warmth.
- Never leave your campfire unattended.
- Be prepared. Have the proper tools to extinguish a campfire before you light it. Bring a bucket, water, and shovel to drown and stir the campfire until it is entirely out.
- To completely extinguish your campfire, drown the fire with water, stir with your shovel, drown again, and feel for any heat using the back of your hand. Continue this process until no heat remains. Make sure your campfire is cold to the touch before leaving it.
Remember, if it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.
For more information about campfire safety, follow us on Facebook and check out our website for the latest NFGT news. www.fs.usda.gov/texas.
July 21, 2023 - Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison has placed Shelby County under a burn ban as of today, July 21, 2023.
The declaration reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the County of Shelly is under imminent threat of severe damage, injury of loss of life or property resulting from the threat of wildfires due to extremely dry grassland fuel, drought and other weather-related conditions; and
WHEREAS, THE COUNTY JUDGE of Shelby County has determined that to mitigate the hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry conditions, extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the suffering of people and to protect or rehabilitate property,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNTY JUDGE OF Shelby County:
1. That a local state of disaster is hereby proclaimed for Shelby County pursuant to §418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
2. This Declaration of a local state of disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven days from the date of this declaration unless continued or renewed by the Commissioners Court of Shelby County.
3. All outdoor burning is prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Shelby County. This Order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities carried out by Federal Certified Agencies.
4. This Declaration of shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the County Clerk of Shelby County.
5. This Declaration of the local state of disaster activates the Shelby County Emergency Management Plan.
This Proclamation shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance; ORDERED THIS 21st DAY OF July, 2023.
July 20, 2023 - Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports the arrest of Leigh Ann Cartwright, X’Zavier Cartwright, and Kayden Cartwright.
On July 14, 2023, investigators with the SCSO began investigating a report of dogs that were malnourished. SCSO Investigator Aaron Jones and Shelby County District Attorney Investigator Kevin Sage traveled to the residence in Shelbyville and located the animals in question. Due to the conditions of the animals, they were removed from the residence and placed in the care of another individual.
Leigh Ann, X’Zavier and Kayden Cartwright were arrested for Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animal (M-A) and transported to the Shelby County Jail. The three were arraigned by Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Tracy Broadway, granted $1,000 personal bonds and released on July 15.
The SCSO would like to thank the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance with this case.
Pages
