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July 13, 2026 - Due to a line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Sandhill public water system to notify customers on Highway 7 W going East starting at CR 1170 ending at CR 1168 on the East side and to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Alison Rhone at 936-332-4439.
July 12, 2026 - Flood advisory in effect until 6:15pm CDT this evening.
Urban area and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected in northeastern Nacogdoches County in eastern Texas, Central Shelby County in eastern Texas until 6:15pm CDT.
Impacts include minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
Additional Details: At 5:17pm CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause urban and small stream flooding.
Some locations that will experience flooding include: Center, Shelbyville, Martinsville, Appleby, Jericho, Arcadia, Stockman and James.
http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
July 12, 2026 - A strong thunderstorm will impact central Shelby County until 5:15pm CDT.
At 4:49 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Center, moving north at 5 mph.
Hazard: Wind gusts up to 30 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 Center, James and Arcadia.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions.
July 10, 2026 - On July 1, 2026, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the East Lamar public water system, 2100006, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of July 8, 2026.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Alison Rhone at 936-332-4439.
July 1, 2026 - Due to a line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the East Lamar public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Alison Rhone at 936-332-4439.
July 10, 2026 - The 300 block of CR 3126 was the scene of a structure and vehicle fire on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
While the Center Fire Department (CFD) was on scene for another call on Nacogdoches Street, which was a gas leak, they received a call for the structure fire west of Center on CR 3126 at 1:05pm.
As the firefighters addressed the fire, smoke billowed from within the house and surrounded the area impacting visibility and making it difficult to breathe.
According to the CFD, upon arrival they discovered a pickup truck fully involved in the fire beneath a patio covering at the front of the double-wide home on the property. After extinguishing the vehicle, it was determined the fire had traveled into the attic of the house and efforts were made to extinguish the rest of the fire that had traveled into the home. The interior of the house incurred heavy damage throughout.
After extinguishing the what remained of the fire and preventing further spread, the firefighters returned to the station at 5:30pm.
July 8, 2026 - Emergency personnel responded to FM 2694 on Friday, July 3, 2026, following a crash incident and one driver was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Angela Neal initially responded to the scene of the incident at the intersection of FM 417, followed by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones.
According to DPS, at 10:08pm a 2018 Jeep Wrangler driven by Ashley Snider, 37, of Center was stopped at the stop sign on FM 417, waiting to turn onto FM 2694, while a 1993 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Cody Clifton, 24, of Timpson was traveling north on FM 2694 while approaching the stop intersection. Clifton disregarded the stop sign at the intersection and struck the Jeep as it was turning.
Neither Snider or Clifton were reported to have been injured.
According to Shelby County Jail records Clifton was arrested for driving while intoxicated, misdemeanor b, and no insurance, misdemeanor c. He was booked in just after midnight on July 4 and released at 9am on July 5 on a $2,000 bond.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
July 7, 2026 - U.S. Highway 96 North near CR 3770 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash incident involving a truck tractor and a passenger car on Friday, July 3, 2026.
Responding to the scene just after 12:40pm were the Center Fire Department and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers.
According to the DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that a red 2012 Toyota Camry driven by Joyce Moore, 58, of Center was on the north shoulder and made an unsafe u-turn. The u-turn placed the Toyota in front of a Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer owned by 2J Transportation and driven by Jaime Alvarez-Palomo, 31, of Tyler which was also traveling north and it was struck.
Alvarez-Palomo was not injured.
Moore was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Moore was cited for making an unsafe turn.
According to DPS, no further information is available.
Center Fire Department personnel assisted at the scene until the roadway was clear. The crash was investigated by DPS Trooper Cpl. Dustin Ramos and Trooper Matt Chandler.
July 6, 2026 - The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southeastern De Soto Parish in northwestern Louisiana, West Central Natchitoches Parish in northwestern Louisiana, South Central Red River Parish in northwestern Louisiana, Northern Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana, East Central Shelby County in eastern Texas until 6:15pm CDT.
At 5:1pm CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of Converse, or 12 miles southwest of Mansfield, moving southeast at 30 mph.
Hazard: 60 mph wind gusts and small hail.
Source: Radar indicated.
Impact: Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include: Mansfield, Many, Zwolle, Converse, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, Huxley, South Mansfield, Noble, Pelican, Belmont, Toledo Bend Reservoir North, Rambin, Ajax, Marthaville, Evelyn, Hanna and Lake End.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions: Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds.
Wind damage with this storm will occur before any rain or lightning. Do not wait for the sound of thunder before taking cover. Seek shelter immediately inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
July 6, 2026 - Severe Thunderstorm Watch 467 is in effect until 10pm CDT July 6, 2026, for the following Texas Counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Titus and Upshur.
July 3, 2026 - Another hot day can be expected for the 4th of July. There will be isolated to scattered storms around during the afternoon and evening hours. Most of this activity should have weakened or dissipated by late evening.
Today: Another typical early July day across the Four State Region with high temperatures in the 90s. Isolated to scattered afternoon and early evening thunderstorms will be possible across much of the region.
Heat Safety
Highs are expected to climb into the 90s through the weekend. While Heat Advisory criteria may not be met, it is still crucial to practice heat safety, especially during holiday festivities. For example, never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles!
Here are some helpful tips and strategies:
- Avoid overexertion and stay hydrated. Drink plenty before getting in the heat; not just while in it.
- NEVER leave people or pets in a vehicle. A vehicle can reach deadly temperatures even with the windows rolled down!
- Assist those who are at higher risk
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