Fire Alarm at Holiday Nursing Home Caused by Dryer Lint - September 2, 2010
Composed by Vickie Martin

The Center Fire Department responded Monday morning, August 30th, to a fire alarm at Holiday Nursing Home on F. L Moffett Drive. Gayla Haley, Administrator, called the Center Fire Department when she saw wisps of smoke coming from the dryers at the facility.

The fire department responded quickly and investigated the possible fire. Chief Keith Byndom used the fire department's thermal imaging camera. This camera allowed Chief Byndom to check the laundry area to see if there was any fire not visible by the fire fighters. The camera showed white areas indicating high heat; however, no fire was detected. It was determined the facilities dryers were clogged with dryer lint creating a fire hazard.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs) overheated clothes dryers can cause fires. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct blocking the flow of air. Excessive heat build-up can result in a fire in some dryers.

Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.
Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct.
Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains.

August Center Rainfall Report - September 1, 2010
Submitted by Jim & Ann Forbes

According to a weather report prepared by Jim and Ann Forbes, Center has received 1.02 inch of rainfall during the month of August 2010 with .62 of the rainfall occurring Monday afternoon, August 30th. August had 25 consecutive days of 100 degrees or above. The lowest high temperature was 96 degrees which were recorded on the last two days of the month. To see the full report, click here.

How the weather is recorded:
The readings on the report are completed at 7:00 a.m. and give the information for the past 24 hours. It gives the maximum temperature from 7 a.m. the previous day to 7 a.m. that morning. So the high for July 31st is recorded on the morning of August 1st! The rainfall is what was received for the same time period. August 31st, Tuesday's high and any rainfall will be recorded on September 1st. The temperatures we have been giving throughout the month will not agree with this weather report because we have been giving the actual highs for the day they occurred.

Unsafe Speed Contributes to Two Separate Accidents - August 31, 2010
Composed by Vickie Martin

According to DPS accidents reports, unsafe speed was the contributing factor in two separate accidents that occurred over the weekend. The first accident occurred on Friday, August 27, 2010 at 7:55pm on CR 1145 1.8 miles south of FM 138. Involved was a 2004 Jeep Cherokee driven by Edith Crouch Stinson, 62, of Center. The Cherokee was traveling north on CR 1145 and ran off the roadway to the left entering a ditch causing damage to its right side. Stinson was transported to Shelby Regional Medical Center by North East TExas EMS with possible injuries. The accident was investigated by DPS Trooper Dustin Ramos. Stinson was ticketed for unsafe speed for a dirt road.

The second accident occurred Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 6:50 pm on State Highway 87, 1 mile south of State Highway 147, when a northbound 2003 Saturn Ion hit a pool of water. The Ion was driven by Courntney Swanson, 19, of Shelbyville with an infant passenger. The Saturn Ion hydroplaned crossed the center stripe and struck a concrete culvert coming to rest in the barrow ditch facing westbound. No injuries were reported. The accident was investigated by Trooper Brent Murray and Swanson was ticketed for unsafe speed.

One Life Flighted from Rollover on FM 2427 - August 30, 2010
Composed by J.J. Ford

According to a DPS accident report, on Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:50pm a single vehicle accident occurred on FM 2427, 110 feet north of CR 2924. Involved was a 2006 Chevrolet HHR driven by Alton Crawford, 82 of Shelbyville. The vehicle was traveling southbound on FM 2427 when it failed to drive in a single lane causing the vehicle to travel off the roadway to the right. The vehicle had faulty evasive action causing it to being a side skid south back onto the roadway. The vehicle continued to side skid off the roadway, at which time it began flipping to the left through a field. The vehicle came to rest on CR 2924 with major damage. Crawford was life aired to LSU Hospital in Shreveport. Crawford was cited for failure to drive in a single lane. The accident was worked by Trooper Dustin Ramos.

August Temperatures Continue to be Sizzling - August 30, 2010
Submitted by Jim & Ann Forbes, U.S. Weather Service

The official daily high temperatures for this area as reported by Jim Forbes have been as follows:

The 29th of August with its 96 degrees temperature is lowest high temp recorded all month!

Hopefully our 100 degree days are behind us! Our hottest temp ever recorded for Center was recorded on Septemer 1, 2000 at 112 degrees.

Break In at the Tenaha City Marshal Office Confirmed - August 26, 2010
Composed by J.J. Ford

Shelby County Today has received several calls and/or emails concerning a possible break in at the Tenaha City Marshal's Office located on N George Bowers Drive. Ken Florence, Assistant District Attorney with the Shelby County DA's Office, confirmed that a break in did occur some time between late Saturday night, August 21st and early Sunday morning, August 22nd. The incident is currently under a joint investigation by the Texas Rangers and the SC District Attorney's Office. If you have any information concerning this incident or saw suspicious activity around that area during the time of the break in, contact one of the following agencies:

Shelby County District Attorney's Office, Kevin Windham, Chief Investigator at 936-598-2489
Texas Rangers, Nacogdoches Office, Ranger Tom Davis at 936-560-6528
or EasTex Crime Stoppers at 409-724-TIPS (8477)

Shelby County Burn Ban Issued - August 26, 2010
Composed by J.J. Ford

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court met for an emergency meeting to discuss the possibility of enacting a burn ban for Shelby County. Upon the recommendation of the Forestry Service, the Commissioners did impose a county wide burn ban effective immediately.

Trash Dumpsters Will be Available on September 4th - August 26, 2010

Trash dumpsters will be available at the county barns in Precincts 1, 2 and 3 and also beside City Hall in Timpson and Tenaha on Saturday, September 4th, from 8am to 1pm. You may bring appliances, furniture, etc. Tires are accepted for a fee. Oil, paint, propane or any other combustibles will not be accepted. For more information, please call 598-6136.

Leadership Shelby County Class of 2011 Underway - August 26, 2010
Composed by J.J. Ford

New members of the Leadership Shelby County 2011 meet Wednesday, August 25th at the Picnic Table located in Shelbyville for their first meet and greet. Session coordinators Mary Masterson and Jodi Wright, both from the class of 2009, welcomed everyone and introduced all the new members. Pam Phelps, Chamber Executive Director, introduced the alumni present at the meeting and gave the new members a little insite into the Leadership program. Jim Sawyer, Leadership President, informed the class of three simple rules to follow: "Listen to Pam and do everything she says, have fun, and whatever you do. . . don't lose your Leadership shirt!" The new members of the Leadership Shelby County 2011 class are: (left to right, back row) Holly Mikesh, Port-A-Cool; Pamela White, Shelby County Outreach Ministries; Alma Jaimes, Town & Country Real Estate; Leisha Bryant, Nacogdoches Coca-Cola; Misty Wilburn, Farmers State Bank; Susan Hairgrove, Pine Grove Nursing Home; LaTreaser Cartwright, Workforce Solutions; (left to right, front row) Thomas Morrison, Port-A-Cool; Leroy Newman, Shelby Savings Bank; Larry Ballard, Retired; and Casey Williams, Edward Jones Investments. Class members not present: Colleen Doggett, Light and Champion; Jim Albers, Center Police Department; and Rick Campbell, Shelby County Judge.

Burn Ban Issued for Joaquin - August 25, 2010

A burn ban has been issued for the City of Joaquin. "NO BURNING IN THE CITY LIMITS" and we encourage all citizens burning outside the City limits to use "EXTREME CAUTION" while burning.

Issued By: Jeremy Boyett, Fire Marshall
Joaquin Volunteer Fire Dept.

Mechanical Problem Results in Saturday Accident in Timpson - August 24, 2010
Composed by J.J. Ford

According to Timpson PD, a single vehicle accident occurred Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 4:00pm on Jacobs Street in Timpson involving a Mercury sedan driven by William Smith, 63 of Houston, with passenger Sherry Smith.  The vehicle was stopped at a red light on North 1st Street at the intersection of Jacob Street.  The vehicle was handicap modified with a hand brake which broke and the vehicle began traveling forward.  The driver veered to the left and entered the parking lot of Family Dollar.  The vehicle continued to travel through the south side parking lot where it struck a dumpster, went through a stand of bamboo exiting the parking lot and finally came to stop when it struck a tree. No injuries were reported.  The accident was worked by Timpson PD Officer Kent Graham.