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January 9, 2026 - Center Police Officers investigated a two-vehicle crash incident at the intersection of Logansport and Porter Street on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
When officers arrived they found a blue SUV on Porter Street and a tan passenger car on Logansport Street, both with damage.
According to the Center Police Department, at just before 3:14pm a blue Dodge Durango driven by Taylor Sneed, 30, of Tenaha was northbound on Porter Street when she failed to stop at the stop sign when crossing Logansport Street. As the Dodge entered Logansport Street, it struck a tan 2016 Kia Optima driven by Willie McCollister, 65, of Center.
McCollister and his passenger Billie Page, 64, of Center were transported by ambualance to to Shelby Emergency Department for non-life-threatening injuries.
Sneed was issued a citation for driving while license invalid.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
January 9, 2026 - A strong thunderstorm will impact southeastern Nacogdoches, Angelina, southeastern Panola, northwestern Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby counties and southwestern De Soto and northwestern Sabine parishes until 2:45pm CST.
At 2:13pm CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Etoile, or 18 miles east of Lufkin, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch size hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include: Lufkin, Center, Diboll, Milam, Huntington, San Augustine, Zwolle, Logansport, Joaquin, Macune, Bland Lake, Neuville, Rosevine, Martinsville, Etoile, Patroon, Shelbyville, Melrose, Woden and Zavalla.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions.
January 9, 2025 - The National Weather Service, Shreveport, Louisiana advises there is a severe weather threat today and this evening into Saturday morning. Expect one more warm day today ahead of a cold front that will cool temperatures down for Saturday. Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible with this frontal boundary later today into this evening.
Damaging thunderstorm wind gusts, large hail and a slight chance for a tornado will be the threats today into this evening across mainly the southern half of the Four State Region, especially near and south of the I-20 Corridor.
The greatest threat for tornadoes with this severe weather threat today into this evening will be across the lower Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Country of Deep East Texas into West Central and Northeast Louisiana.
There is a chance for severe thunderstorms today across the southern half of Northeast Texas and much of Northern Louisiana and extreme South Central Arkansas. Damaging winds will be the greatest threat with these storms through this evening.
Severe thunderstorms today will be capable of producing large hail Today through this evening. The greatest threat area will be across the southern half of Northeast Texas into portions of Northern Louisiana.
Detail Forecast for Shelby County
- This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 73. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 48. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
January 8, 2026 - The intersection of Hurst Street at the entrance to Walmart parking lot was the location of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, January 7, 2026, involving a passenger car and truck tractor.
Emergency responders with the Center Police Department responded to the scene during dense fog conditions just before 8:15am where the passenger vehicle involved remained in the exit lane of the parking lot. The truck tractor involved had parked inside the parking lot out of the way of traffic.
According to the Center Police Department, a black 2020 Kia driven by Bianca Bennett, 35, of Center was preparing to exit onto Hurst Street from the Walmart parking lot. At that time a maroon 2001 Kenworth 18-wheeler owned by ES Express LLC and driven by Zachery McCurdy, 43, of Baton Rouge, LA., hauling oilfield equipment was southbound on Hurst Street and turned right at the light into the parking lot entrance where it struck the Kia.
Bennett and her infant passenger were transported by ambulance to Shelby County Emergency Department for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The Kia was towed from the scene and the 18-wheeler was able to be driven from the scene. McCurdy was not reported to have been injured as a result of the crash and no citations were reported.
January 7, 2026 - In conjunction with the burn ban issued by the Shelby County Judge on January 1, 2026, the City of Center encourages its residents not to burn until further notice.
Keith Byndom
City of Center Fire Chief
January 7, 2026 - The Shelby County Commissioners ratified the burn ban on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, that was put in place on January 1, 2026, New Year's Day by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison.
This means that burning continues to be prohibited and anyone in violation may be subject to a burn ban violation citation.
January 7, 2026 - All courthouse offices, including the Tax Office, are fully re-open as of 9am Wednesday, January 7.
January 6, 2026 - The Courthouse will re-open on Wednesday, January 7th at 8am with normal office hours. All offices should be up and running except for the Tax Office.
If you are needing the Tax Office, please call before coming as their system is still not completely up and running. Call 936-598-4441 or 936-598-8172 before coming. An update will be published once the Tax Office is fully functional.
Courthouse Closed This Morning Due to Water Leak, Jury Duty Cancelled
January 5, 2026 - Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison advises the courthouse is temporarily closed this morning due to a water leak. Jury duty is cancelled for Monday, January 5th and the courthouse will be closed until the water leak can be resolved. If the problem can be remediated today, the courthouse will open today. Check back for updates.
Updated at 5:44pm - AT&T advises their Internet service has been restored.
January 6, 2026 - AT&T problems continue as they are again experiencing an outage. Please be advised the outage can impact some businesses' phone systems as well as their ability to accept credit card payments. AT&T did advise their engineers are working to restore service quickly and expects to have their internet back online by Tuesday, January 6 at 7pm.
January 5, 2026 - I was recently made aware of a post on a Facebook group page with a graphic for elections in 2026, but some of the information is incorrect. We are busy getting everything ready for the March primary, and once we receive the ballots, I will have a sample ballot posted on this website.
The Notice of Election will also be posted no later than February 10, 2026. Offices that will be on the ballots are as follows:
- District Judge, 273rd Judicial District
- County Judge
- District Clerk
- County Clerk
- County Treasurer
- County Commissioners 2 and 4
- Justice of the Peace - all 5 precincts
- County Constable, precinct 5, unexpired term
- County Chairs - Democrat and Republican
There are no school races for the March primary. If you have any questions about voter registration or elections, please call my office at 936-234-2147 or 936-598-5340. We are here to serve the voters of Shelby County.
Nancy Adams
Shelby County Elections Administrator
January 5, 2026 - The 273rd Judicial District Court that grand jury scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2026, has been cancelled.
New summons will be reissued by mail.
Thank you,
Dee Dee Green
District Clerk
Shelby County, Texas
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