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January 21, 2015 - A Shelbyville man perished in an automotive, pedestrian crash Wednesday morning, January 21, 2015 in Jasper County.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety, the fatal crash occurred at 6:50am two miles south of Jasper. A 2013 truck tractor owned by Red Watson Logging Inc. towing a pole trailer was traveling southbound on US 96 in the inside lane. For an unknown reason, a pedestrian ran out in front of the 18-wheeler and was struck and killed. The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured, but visibly shaken after the crash.
The pedestrian involved in the crash was identified as Jody Michael Vaughn, age 26, of Shelbyville. Vaughn was pronounced dead at the scene by Jasper County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Freddie Miller.
The incident is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Funeral services will be handled by Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas.
January 21, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell states that during the evening of Thursday, December 25, 2014 and the morning of December 26, 2014, unidentified individual(s) destroyed several mailboxes along FM 3184, FM 3172, FM 139, and FM 417 East.
Based on the degree of destruction caused to the mailboxes, it is believed an explosive was used. One explosion caused a grass fire that burned a portion of a hay field, and another grass fire in the Huxley area was reported, but the cause remains uncertain at this time.
The suspect vehicle was described as being loud as it sped away from locations before an explosion was heard.
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.
If you have any information regarding this or any other crime please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936-598-5600 ask to speak with Investigator Chris King.
January 19, 2015 - The city of Joaquin was host to members of the American Pickers television film crew on Saturday, January 17, 2015 as they filmed and visited with Dennis and Debbie Leggett. During filming Shelby County Today was on scene. The stars of the show Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz would occasionally take a break and visited with residents and stores off the Joaquin square.
Two such businesses they visited were the Ram House Café and Worsham's Grocery. When Wolfe visited with Phil and Debra Worsham in Worsham's Grocery he shared that Joaquin was the only place he knew they would be visiting in East Texas at this time and following shooting they would be returning to Louisiana after having been on the road for a week. Wolfe and Fritz commenced to signing autographs while they were in the store.
Traffic around the square was at a high pace for a Saturday in Joaquin as residents drove into to town to spy the film crew in action. The film crew motor home and equipment vehicles were set up in the middle of the Joaquin square parking area and they marched between there and Leggett's shop for the majority of the day.
(See related article at the following link - Link)
January 16, 2015 - A three vehicle crash occurred on Tenaha Street near the intersection of Malone Street at 3:40pm on Thursday afternoon causing northbound traffic to have to detour onto Childs Street and behind the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library.
According to Center Police Department Officer Maegan Wright, a white Hyundai Tucson driven by Charles Whitaker, age 40, of Louisiana, was northbound on Tenaha Street when it stopped to make a left turn into a private parking lot. A gray Infiniti 4-door sedan driven by Mark Lewis, age 25, of Center, was also traveling northbound on Tenaha Street. Lewis attempted to steer the car to the right to avoid rear ending the Hyundai but failed and struck the rear passenger side of the stopped vehicle with its front driver side. Upon impact the Hyundai spun around and struck a G.M.C. pickup truck traveling south on Tenaha Street as it passed by the crash.
Only receiving minor damage, the G.M.C., driven by Jasa Rodgers, age 17, of Center with one passenger, pulled off the roadway into a private parking lot. The Hyundai came to rest in the middle of the roadway facing south with damage to its rear passenger side and its front passenger side. The Infiniti came to rest on the shoulder racing north.
ACE EMS responded and no injuries requiring emergency medical transport from the scene were reported. Whitaker was taken by private vehicle for medical examination. The Infiniti and Hyundai had to be towed from the scene. No citation information is known at this time and the crash is under investigation by Officer Maegan Wright. Assisting at the scene with traffic control was Officer John Welch.
January 16, 2015 - BEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that the current head of the Mexican drug trafficking organization, the Gulf Cartel, or Cartel del Golfo, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas.
Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, 23, of Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Saenz-Tamez entered his guilty plea on Jan. 13, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, a federal investigation into the large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas led to the identity of Saenz-Tamez. The investigation revealed Saenz-Tamez was responsible for the shipment of one-half ton of cocaine and 90 tons of marijuana into the Eastern District of Texas and then to locations across the nation, including Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Maryland and Georgia. As a result of this scheme, $100 million was laundered by Saenz-Tamez and his drug trafficking organization.
Saenz-Tamez was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2013 and charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to money launder. Saenz-Tamez was arrested by federal agents on Oct. 9, 2014 while shopping in Edinburg, Texas.
Saenz-Tamez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the drug convictions and up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conviction. A sentencing date has not been set.
"This guilty plea marks a great victory in our long struggle against illegal narcotics trafficking and yet we must reiterate what should be self-evident - enforcement is only one part of the solution to what has been an interminable and ugly problem in American culture,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “The American appetite for narcotics is a stain on our national honor and a dark cloud for our future. The agents working on this case are amazing - they are true American heroes and I congratulate them all."
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cruz stated, "This is an important victory for the American public; the role of IRS-CI in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. We are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. IRS-CI is proud to provide financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners and bring these criminals to justice."
“It’s a good day for law enforcement whenever we can take several tons of drugs off of America’s streets,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Houston. “It’s even better when we can also dismantle and cripple the organization behind those drugs, and remove its leadership, as our law enforcement team did in this case.”
This case is the result of ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigations, Operation South Park, Operation La Mano Negra, Operation Frontera Chica, Operation Fowl Play and Operation Iceberg. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This joint law enforcement investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, Houston HIDTA Group 33, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Attorney General’s Office, National Guard of Texas – Joint Counterdrug, Beaumont Police Department, Houston Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department, Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
January 15, 2015 - As years go by, there are many changes in life and society. Records indicate that the School named for C H. Daniels who was the principal of the African American school in Center, Texas for many years, began in 1928. The last graduating class from Daniels (12th grade) was in 1968 but since the class of 1969 was so close to graduating it claims heritage there also. Therefore Daniels School was the educational institute for African Americans who are 52 and above: they were first graders through graduates in 1969 when the school merged with the other schools in Center.
Many of the Daniels Bobcats want to preserve the Legacy: C. H. Daniels High School. What better way to do it with a reunion every two years in Center with many of the Bobcats and their descendants coming together with entertainment, food and conversation about their memories of the school. That includes not only the graduates but those who attended Daniels within its existence of 42 years.
The class of 1965 is celebrating its 50th year anniversary since graduation and will be spotlighted at this year’s all-school reunion. Since the reunion is every two years, the class of 1964 will also be recognized for its Golden Year.
Invitation is extended to all to participate in the 2015 C. H. Daniels Alumni Reunion held the weekend of Labor Day, September 4 – 6, 2015. Save the dates and listen for more registration information.
The Reunion Committee
January 14, 2015 - The Center City Council renewed a resolution for a grant to facilitate construction at Perry Sampson Park and approved the final payment of the $950,000 grant funded MLK Drive and Holland Street construction project.
The council approved Resolution 2015-2 Authorizing 2015 TCDP Application. A previous resolution, under a different title, at the December meeting addressed this same item; however, due to some requirements previously unknown and an error in the December resolution the council had to revisit this item. Chad Nehring, City Manager explained the reasoning for the revised item.
"You actually approved this similar resolution last meeting in December, we got a little bit ahead of ourselves.," said Nehring. "Department of Ag[riculture] changed some of the language that's required in the resolution itself and we had a number slightly wrong so we need to change a little bit of the financials."
A benefit of $275,000 in grant funding is possible should the grant be awarded to the city with a required local match of $71,000 in funds from its General CIP and/or Park Fund. Should the grant be awarded, Perry Sampson Park is intended to receive the benefit.
Resolution 2015-3 Accepting Construction & Approving Final Payment 2011 TCDBG DRS 2.2 Grant #20023 was approved by the council and this grant facilitated construction on MLK Drive and Holland Street.
"We do still have one construction issue that is going to be resolved as a warranty work item, they had a little bit of a concrete problem in one area and we're going to see exactly what we're going to make them do to make that fully compliant so we don't have a long term problem," said Nehring.
The state will not make any final payment on the project until the council accepts the final approved construction.
The council approved the administrative handling of athletic field use agreements by approving Resolution 2015-4 Approving Athletic Field Use Agreements. As the city staff has developed a standard form agreement for all athletic programs wishing to use the athletic fields in Center, each agreement will no longer have to annually be presented before the council for approval.
During the meeting the council approved ordinance 2015-1 establishing city limits. There was no alteration to the city limits which needed to be approved; however, the city does approve the current city limits annually.
The council approved the appointments of the Zoning Board of Adjustments. Those members whose terms were expiring this year agreed to continue to serve and they are as follows: John Bender, Don Stewart, Billie Sue Payne, Andi Foster and Larry Hume.
Due to the passing of Dr. Steve Oates, there is now a vacancy on the Hotel Motel Advisory Committee and Mayor David Chadwick stated an appointment of his position is necessary and advised the council to consider possible candidates who can be submitted at the next meeting.
An item of interest discussed during the ending portion of the meeting was the acquisition of a new K9 officer for the Center Police Department. Center Police Chief Jim Albers addressed the council about this new acquisition, "Our K9 dog Zitan developed cataracts and it would be extremely expensive to have that fixed. [K9 Officers] out of Houston donated us a brand new dog for free."
Chief Albers stated Sgt. Scott Burkhalter is currently getting associated with the new dog, which is part German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois, and will be traveling to Houston to train with him. Another added difference is the new dog understands commands in Czechoslovakian whereas Zitan understood commands in German or Deutsch. The Center Rotary Club and Center Lions Club made a combined donation of $10,000 to make the original purchase of Zitan and Chief Albers remarked on that being the purchase cost of Zitan.
Nehring gave an update on the much anticipated recycling program returning to Center," Today in the mail [we] finally got our recycling contract, so next council meeting we fully anticipate having you approve accepting that contract."
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1.Minutes of December 8 meeting. 2.Ordinance 2015-1 establishing city limits. 3.Resolution 2015-1 designating the Light and Champion as the official newspaper for city publications. 4.Resolution 2015-2 Authorizing 2015 TCDP Application. 5.Resolution 2015-3 Accepting Construction & 6.Final Payment 2011 TCDBG DRS 2.2 Grant #20023. 7.Resolution 2015-4 Approving Athletic Field Use Agreements. 8.MLK Parade Route and Request. |
January 14, 2015 - A single-vehicle crash which occurred on FM 2694 involving a tree on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 caused some traffic delays early in the morning and required the assistance of TxDOT to help clear the area in between FS 165 and FM 3471.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 6am a grey 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by J.C. Vaughn, 78, of Shelbyville was traveling southbound on FM 2694 near mile marker 534 when he met with a large pine tree in the roadway. As it was predawn and still dark, Vaughn could not see the tree and struck it head-on, causing major damage to the front of the truck. Upon impact, the tree broke and the truck pushed the broken section of the tree off the roadway and continued into a tree line on the right side of the roadway where it came to rest.
Vaughn was complaining of some pain in his side at the scene and left the scene by private vehicle to be medically examined.
A TxDOT crew arrived on scene with a skid steer and chain saws and quickly cleared the debris from the roadway allowing traffic to return to a regular flow.
January 13, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell states that on January 11, 2015, Jailer, Randy Dickerson was assaulted by an inmate, Marquel Ealy, in the Shelby County Jail. Deputy Bradley Horton responded when dispatched to the jail for assistance. Sheriff Blackwell states that around 3:00PM, Marquel Ealy, arrested by Timpson P. D. Officer, Thomas Jernigan, was being booked into the Shelby County Jail for public intoxication.
While processing, inmate Ealy became very belligerent and combative with Jailer Dickerson and Jailer Jericka Moore. Inmate Ealy was ordered to a holding cell when he ran to another door and started beating on it. At that time, a struggle ensued and during the course of the struggle Jailer Dickerson received abrasions to his facial area causing injury.
Inmate Ealy was subdued and charged with Assault on a Public Servant, Felony 3.
January 13, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for the 2014 year received a total of 7,991 calls for service. This is a decline from 2013 which had a total of 9,316 calls for service. (This number does not include walk-ins or on view incidents).
Sheriff Blackwell states a more active patrol with agencies working together and complete investigations, as well as help from the community, is credited for the decline. When you have law enforcement working together with the community support, a lot can be accomplished.
Sheriff Blackwell states there is still a lot that needs to be done, but we are working on it. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office also recovered stolen property totaling $129,670 for the year of 2014 and there were 716 civil papers served.
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