Hazardous Weather Outlook for Today & Tomorrow - May 21, 2013

Please be prepared for hazardous weather should it appear in Shelby County.

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of South Central Arkansas, Southwest Arkansas, North Central Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana, Southeast Oklahoma, East Texas and Northeast Texas.

Today & Tonight

There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms today across much of East Texas. An upper level trough of low pressure will shift east across the southern plains today and interact with strong instability that will develop with daytime heating and various convective boundaries left in place from showers and thunderstorms that developed Monday night and this morning across southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms should increase by this afternoon over northeast Texas ahead of the trough, over areas that will contain strong instability at the surface and aloft.

Strong wind shear will also aid in updraft rotation, such that some of these storms will become severe. They will become capable of producing damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes.

These storms will also produce locally heavy rainfall at times, with one to three inches of rain possible across northeast Texas. These storms should consolidate into a large thunderstorm complex tonight as it propagates east southeast across southwest Arkansas and north Louisiana where strong damaging winds will be possible. These showers and thunderstorms should weaken late tonight over north central Louisiana as instability gradually diminishes.

Wednesday through Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms should be ongoing Wednesday morning across north central Louisiana and portions of Deep East Texas, but should diminish from west to east by late morning with the departure of the upper trough. Isolated showers and thunderstorms may redevelop Wednesday afternoon mainly south of interstate 20 over East Texas and North Louisiana where a weak surface boundary becomes stationary over these areas. These should diminish Wednesday evening with the loss of heating.

Activation of emergency managers, skywarn networks and amateur radio personnel will be required later today and tonight.

Two Single Vehicle Rollovers on Hwy 7 Monday Morning - May 21, 2013
Composed by J.J. Ford

Monday morning, May 20, 2013, DPS responded to two separate single vehicle rollovers on Hwy 7. The first, a single vehicle rollover, occurred shortly after midnight at 1:13am involving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The pickup was found on Hwy 7 West near Lillie Mae's Grocery overturned in the barrow ditch. The driver of the vehicle is unknown at this time.

The pickup appears to have been east bound on Hwy 7 when it left the roadway and over corrected. It then crossed over the center strips entering the barrow ditch and overturning. The West Shelby Fire Department responded to the scene to assist.

Less than four hours later at 5am, DPS responded to a second wreck on Hwy 7 in Joaquin near the intersection of CR 3187. A 2002 Ford F Series pickup driven by Olivera Santos Armandos, 36 of Tenaha, was eastbound on SH 7 when it had a blowout of the left rear tire. The pickup lost control and crossed over the barrow ditch, striking a tree. The pickup came to rest on its side facing west.

Citations information is unknown at this time. Both accidents were worked by DPS Trooper Brent Murray.

Suspect Arrested in "Squatter on the Square" Case - May 20, 2013
Composed by J.J. Ford

The Sheriff's Department makes arrest in a case they have nick named "The Squatter on the Square". The Sheriff's Department has been receiving reports for many months concerning human feces and toilet paper being found on the courthouse grounds and next to a building on San Augustine Street on the outside of the square. Surveillance of the area hasn't yielded any results until Saturday morning, May 18, 2013 when Deputy Kurtis Lawrence was in the area and saw a suspect go to the area where the excrement is usually discovered.

Deputy Lawrence took into custody Gary Don Belrose, 65 of Center, who was caught in the act and had toilet paper on his person. Belrose was booked into the Shelby County Jail for criminal mischief.

Mt. Gillion Community Home Destroyed by Fire - May 17, 2013
Composed by J.J. Ford

At 11:05am Friday, May 17, 2013, the Center Fire Department responded to a house fire at 4752 St Hwy 87 North, Center, Texas in the Mt. Gillion Community. Upon arrival at the scene smoke was billowing out of the house and the structure was soon fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews worked to extinguish the fire but were having a difficult time accessing the fire in the attic area.

Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative arrived to disconnect the power to the electric line running to the house which had been arcing and was a dangerous hazard for emergency crews working. After the power was disconnected the lineman assisted the fire department with their issue of getting water into the attic area.

Home owner Irene Morris reported how the fire started. She was at home in the living room with her son Darryl when they heard a pop sound from the back of the house and smelled smoke. When she opened a door to see what was happening, she found smoke coming out of the wall and the bathroom. Ms Irene returned to the living room and called 911 before exiting the house.

The home and its contents was destroyed by the fire. The fire department did prevent the fire from spreading to near by woods and other houses. The Center Fire Department would like to thank Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative for their assistance.

Also assisting at the scene was a passerby, Clifford Bell, who assisted with alerting traffic passing through the area to be cautious of emergency crews and bystanders. The Shelby County Sheriff's Department also arrived on scene to assist with keeping the area safe.

Seeking Information of the Whereabouts of Karrie Yanes - May 17, 2013

Wanted Fugitive: Center Crime Stoppers is seeking help locating Karrie Dena Weeks Yanes. Yanes is a white female, 5'6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

If you see or know the location of this fugitive, please call Center crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE or send a web tip at www.centercrimestoppers.com

You could earn a cash reward up to a $1,000 in cash if your information leads to the arrest of this fugitive. And remember you don't have to give your name.