Local Arrest Report for September 27^th

Dana Murray, 22, of Joaquin was arrested by DPS for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Theft by Check.

Alvin Smith, 46, of Timpson was arrested by Timpson Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Obie Payne of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Theft.

Sergio Carranea of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Driving While License Invalid.

Nakendra Clifton of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Theft.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law.

San Augustine Commissioner’s Court began their meeting Tuesday with a report on the Salary Grievance Committee Recommendation last week. Judge Samye Johnson serves as the non-voting Chairman of the Committee that considered the salary grievances of all Justice of the Peace Judges and Constables.  The Grievance Committee voted seven to two in favor of recommending a pay increase in the amount of $674.95, an 8.6135% increase. However, commissioners voted to reject the recommendation which has caused an uproar since both the Commissioners and the Sheriff have received pay increases the past two years in spite of tough economic times.

After it was determined recently that Shelby County Pct. 2 Constable Shad Sparks had violated the Texas Election Code by voting out of party in the May primary election, thus dis-qualifying himself from the November General Election, a write-in candidate for the constable’s office is just a few weeks away from “officially” taking over the job.  Jamie Hagler tells Center Broadcasting he made the decision to become a write-in after it was discovered Sparks was eliminated from re-election. Hagler and Sparks had run against one another in the Democratic Party primary six years ago, as Sparks won the election and has been in office since.  Sparks was running un-opposed in the November General Election. Hagler tells us he believes Sparks has done a good job serving the citizens of Pct. 2, and with a win on November 6, says he looks forward to carrying that job forward, by continuing to work to provide quality law enforcement to the residents. Hagler is a 2003 graduate of the Angelina College Police Academy, and served as a police officer for the Shelbyville ISD until 2008. He says having the opportunity to be the constable for the people of the Shelbyville area will continue the tradition his grand-father, Butch Adams began when he served as Pct. 2 constable for over 20 years.  Hagler said in order to qualify as a “write-in”, he had to submit the proper paperwork by Aug. 20.

In a news story that aired Thursday on Center Broadcasting, we told you of the Deep East Texas Electric Cooperatives’ decision to not allow the City of Hemphill to provide electrical service to a new nursing home being built just outside the city limits, although city officials felt the business was within service jurisdiction. The coop’s General Manager Larry Warren, has issued a letter to members explaining the decision.  Warren stated the coop carefully reviewed and considered the City of Hemphill’s request and decided for several reasons, and that changing the statutory service territory would not be in the best interest of the co-op’s members. Warren said Deep East has a legal obligation to serve all customers located in the Deep East service area, and the coop takes this obligation very seriously and stands ready to provide reliable and affordable electricity to the nursing home facility.  Warren also noted, the additional load of the nursing facility would provide rate stability in the future for coop members. He added that allowing a neighboring utility, in this case, the city of Hemphill to serve customers, would, “detrimentally affect each and every Deep East member”.  Lastly, Warren said that it’s possible to request that the Public Utility Commission change the service boundaries, but there’s no good faith basis upon which such a filing can be made. He added, Deep East will not mis-represent the facts to the PUC simply to satisfy the city of Hemphill’s request to serve a customer located in the Deep East service area.  The City of Hemphill has said that being able to provide electrical service to the new nursing facility would have helped offset the costs of providing other utilities, which were incurred by the city.

Louisiana authorities are asking for public assistance in identifying an individual suspected in several bank robberies and attempts in the state.  According to sources, between Sept. 14 and Sept. 24, an unidentified white male entered banks in Alexandria, Broussard, Lafayette and Opelousas and produced a note indicating he had a weapon and demanded money from the tellers.  Surveillance video captured images of the suspect and suspected vehicle.  Authorities say that although the individual did not produce a weapon in any of the incidents, he should be considered armed and dangerous.   The individual is described as a white male, 50-60 years of age, approximately 6'2" - 6'4" tall, and weighing 240 to 260 lbs.  Authorities say he was observed driving a two-toned 2004-2008 Ford F-250 with tan paint and a black line at the bottom. Those with information that can help identify the individual are requested to contact Crime Stoppers at 337-232-TIPS, or FBI New Orleans at 504-816-3000. 

Texas Southern University has suspended its famous marching band after university officials received a report of hazing among its members.  The "Ocean of Soul" band canceled a Thursday scheduled performance at the TSU Tigers football game against Sam Houston State.  A TSU statement Thursday says it's not yet known how many students were involved, but "it is believed to involve one section of the band." The statement contains no details of the Wednesday allegation, but TSU spokeswoman Eva Pickens tells it involves excessive paddling among trumpet players.  Campus police and top university administrators are participating in the investigation, which comes in the wake of a hazing scandal involving the death of a Florida A&M University band member. University officials eventually eliminated Florida A&M's famed "Marching 100" band.

In Funeral Announcements

Choron Grimsley, 98, of the Short Community in Center passed away Monday at Pine Grove Nursing Home.  Visitation will be today starting at 2:00 p.m. until service time.  A military funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. today at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. No graveside service will follow; Burial will be at Short Cemetery. He is survived by his Wife, Bettye Grimsley of Center and a son Gerald Grimsley of College Station.

Local Arrest Report for September 26^th

Jose Gallegos, 18, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Assault and Family Violence.

Michelle Auburn of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Sheriffs for Probation of Violation.

Paul Handy of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Sheriffs for Probation of Violation.

Brian McCoy of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Sheriffs for Assault and Family Violence, Retaliation, and Probation of Violation.

Richard Diggles of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Public Intoxication.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law.

Subvarsity football action tonight. There will be 2 games at Roughrider Stadium. Center Freshman vs Tatum starting at 5 pm; Center JV vs. Tatum JV starting immediately after.

Week 4 varsity high school football schedule Friday includes: Center at Tatum; Shelbyville at Overton; Hemphill at San Augustine where it's homecoming; Tenaha at Sabine; Joaquin at Elkhart; Timpson at Burkeville; Garrison at Arp in the district opener; Whitehouse at Carthage; and Logansport at St. Mary's.

Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Tatum game on KDET; while the Shelby County Game of the Week features Shelbyville at Overton on Q-100 KQBB FM. Both games will also be streaming on cbc-radio.com. 

Local sculpture artist, Delbert Beckham of Center has several pieces of his artwork on display at the Texas State Fair, which kicks off Friday in Dallas. Beckham’s “Texas Size Vase of Flowers”, a 15-foot, over 1,300 pound metal-art piece was put in place earlier this week at Fair Park. Photos of his “big flowers” and the installation can be seen on his Facebook page, Delbert Beckham’s Salavaged Steel Sculpture.

According an audit publicly released earlier this week by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office, DeSoto Parish Fire District No. 1 violated the state’s nepotism law by employing the fire chief’s son as a consultant.  The violation was remedied when Fire Chief Jack Canton’s son, Rusty Canton, was terminated when the issue was discovered last year. The Board of Commissioners is still waiting on additional input from the state Ethics Board.  Ruston Canton was paid $11,250 in 2011 and 2010. Louisiana state law prohibits a member of immediate family of a member of a governing authority or the chief executive from being employed.  DeSoto Parish Fire District No. 1, which serves the Logansport area, is also cited for violation of the open meetings law for failure to publish minutes of the board meetings in local newspaper.

The Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative is on the hot seat in Hemphill and Sabine County after the city of Hemphill was advised recently by coop general manager Larry Warren, the city would not be allowed to provide electrical power to a new nursing home being built just outside the Hemphill city limits. Although the project is located outside the city limits, it is inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction the city of Hemphill has serviced in the past. Hemphill City Manager Don Iles says the only way the city can offset other utility costs to the project, such as water, sewer and gas, would be to sell electricity to the nursing facility.  At Monday night’s meeting of the Hemphill City Council, a full house of concerned citizens, county officials and a representative from State Senator Robert Nichols’ office were in attendance. The new nursing facility is reported to provide 80 to 90 new jobs in Sabine County that has the highest unemployment rate in the state at almost 17 percent.  Some are calling Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative’s decision a “power struggle”. The City of Hemphill purchased over $2 million in electricity from the coop last year, which in turn was sold to city residents and businesses.  Meanwhile, the city of Hemphill is questioning who was picking up the tab on the installation of lines currently being installed by an out-of-state contractor to run service to the nursing home. Citizens are concerned coop members are paying for the installation.  None of the three Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative members from Sabine County, nor Warren were in attendance at the meeting.

LSU Health employees and concerned citizens rallied Wednesday morning against the privatization of the hospital.  More than a dozen people gathered outside the hospital to voice their opposition to budget and salary cuts at the facility, including Caddo Parish Commissioner Ken Epperson, who says they are adamantly against the possibility of privatization.  Among those in the small crowd were nurses and people who say they've used the hospital and don't want to see services cut, along with Louisiana State Representative Barbara Norton. This fiscal year the Shreveport hospital faced a $46-million deficit.  Recent cuts to Medicaid have impacted the LSU System budget, and the Department of Health and Hospitals has asked the public hospital system to find a new way to structure things to save money.  There have been rumors that there will be cuts here, even the possibility of selling the Shreveport hospital.  However, LSU Health Shreveport says no final decisions have been made.  While the systems hospitals in both Monroe and Pineville have already faced staff cuts, administrators say right now there is no plan for lay-offs or attrition at LSU Health Shreveport.

Like many schools in Texas, "spare the rod and spoil the child" might be considered the motto at Springtown High School.  But when two teenage girls there reportedly suffered bruises after being paddled by male assistant principals, some parents complained.  So the school district has changed its policy -- to expand, not abolish, corporal punishment. Board members voted Monday night to let administrators paddle students of the opposite sex, after Superintendent Michael Kelley cited a lack of women administrators to carry out spankings.  The new policy says a same-gender school official must witness the paddling, which is just one "swat,". In all cases, a parent must give written permission and request it in lieu of another punishment, such as suspension or detention. Texas law allows schools to use corporal punishment unless a parent or guardian prohibits it in writing. The issue of the student or educator's gender is not addressed, and there are no state standards on the minimum or maximum ages of students who can be spanked, according to the Texas Education Agency. 

 In Funeral Announcements

 

Willie B. Woodards, 66 of Garrison, passed away Friday in Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Funeral Services for Mr. Woodards will be held today at 1pm at Sweet Union Missionary Baptist Church in Garrison. Burial will follow at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Garrison.  He is survived by his wife Dorothy Woodards of Garrison, (4) sons Willie B. Woodards Jr and Vincent Woodards of Nacogdoches, Patrick Woodards and Allexander Woodards of Garrison

Choron Grimsley, 98, of the Short Community in Center passed away Monday at Pine Grove Nursing Home.  Visitation will be tomorrow starting at 2:00 p.m. until service time.  A military funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. No graveside service will follow; Burial will be at Short Cemetery. He is survived by his Wife, Bettye Grimsley of Center and a son Gerald Grimsley of College Station.

Mrs. Evelyn Keith, age 83, of Pineland, passed away Monday in Hemphill.  Her wishes were to be cremated and no services are planned.  She is survived by a son Ted Keith and a daughter Sybil Upton, both of Pineland.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 will be hosting a Blue Star/Gold Star observance at the Royal Buffet on Hurst Street at 6:30 p.m., this Friday. They would like to honor families who have a loved one on active duty with a Blue Star Banner and any family who has had a loved one killed in action during a time of war with a Gold Star Banner. If you would like to be an honored guest please contact Auxiliary President Becky Yates at 936-332-2032.

Personnel with the Better Business Bureau of Deep East Texas have a word of caution to residents in the area, especially senior citizens, to be aware of scam artist posing as employees of a paving business. Individuals claiming to be with a company known as the Daley Brothers or Blacktop Services are concentrating on elderly in smaller communities. Bill McGuire, president of the Better Business Bureau of Deep East Texas, said a man, identifying himself as a representative of the company, had gone to a woman's door and advised her he had just finished a driveway at a business, and was willing to make her a deal using leftover products from the project. McGuire advises the elderly to not open you door to a stranger going door to door. The B-B-B offers up these tips: Listen for high pressure sales tactics; stand strong, do not invite unsolicited sales people into your home; verify the company by checking with the B-B-B; and know your rights.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week. This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a man who paved the way for others. We would like to highlight Mr. Jack Barron. Jack Barron is a Center native and a 1930 graduate of Center High School. Jack went on to graduate from Texas A&M in 1933 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Jack has worked for the Texas State Highway Department as well as the Texas Forrestry Service. Jack takes pride in knowing that he helped build the state roads between Center and Nacogdoches along with the roads between Tenaha and Center. For many years, Jack owned and operated a lumber yard and paint store in Center named Builder's Supply. Jack also spent many years as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher at the first Baptist Church. Many people may not know that Jack is also an avid reader as well as a self published poet. Jack was married for 72 years up until the passing of his best friend a few years ago. When Jack was asked "What the key to living a long life was," he responded by saying, "To treat everybody right and to go to bed with a clear conscience." Jack Barron will be celebrating his 100th birthday Saturday, October 6th. We want to thank Center Native Jack Barron for his hard work and dedication to the place he calls home.

The Shelby County Grand Jury handed down an indictment of First Degree Capital Murder Tuesday against Bobbie Dwayne Grubbs and Debra Grubbs, stemming from the shooting of three in Joaquin earlier this year. Martha Avacedo Chan died from injuries sustained at the Joaquin Country Inn on April 27. Sam Watts and Marilyn Retamar, also received gunshot wounds, but survived the incident. The Grubbs have been in the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe after being captured near Cleveland. They're awaiting trial for charges there resulting from another incident, prior to the crime in Shelby County. Bobbie Dwayne Grubbs and Debra Grubbs will be transferred back to Shelby County to stand trial upon completion of their Montgomery County trial.

Nacogdoches County will have 20 less sheriff’s office employees effective with the new fiscal year budget that starts Oct. 1. County commissioners voted yesterday to cut the position as Nacogdoches County is facing a $2 million budget shortfall for the second straight year. The court also voted to raise more in property taxes by some $411-thousand, or 3.05 percent. The deficit is attributed to a drop in oil and gas revenues. A number of county residents were present to voice contest to the personnel cuts in the sheriff’s office, including sheriff-elect Jason Bridges. The new $24.2 million budget will cut 13-full-time jailers, two detectives, one courthouse deputy and nine part-time jail staff members. In all, 23 percent of the jail’s budget is being trimmed. The commissioners said the cuts at the sheriff’s office were the only place left to cut. Bridges said, it’s definitely going to place a burden on law enforcement.

The U.S. Census Bureau released two pieces of data Tuesday: poverty numbers and the median income for 2010. According to sources, the national poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1% which is up from 2000 and the highest it's been since 1993. Based on the census, ten states have been noted as having the lowest median income. Louisiana came in as the 5th poorest state in the country. The state has one of the lowest median incomes in the country with $41,896. Louisiana also has the 4th highest poverty rate in the U.S. and the 17th lowest unemployment rate. Currently, Governor Bobby Jindal has proposed the construction of a new gas-to-liquids facility, which is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs.

An updated ground and aerial survey indicates about 301 million trees have died in rural Texas because of the 2011 drought. The Texas A&M Forest Service said Tuesday that the figure comes from an examination of hundreds of forested plots statewide. The Texas agency last December announced a preliminary estimate of up to 500 million trees killed by the drought. The three-month extended review used ground inspections and before & after satellite images. The findings represent trees in rural, forested areas that died from drought, insect infestation or disease due to drought stress. The 301 million figure does not include trees that died in cities and towns. Experts earlier this year determined another 5.6 million trees in urban areas died as a result of the devastating drought.

Dave Campbell's high school football rankings are out heading into Week 4, and the undefeated Joaquin Rams have moved up two spots to No. 5 in the Class A, Division I rankings. West Sabine, also undefeated, has moved up two spots to No. 6. Meanwhile, the San Augustine Wolves have dropped out of the Top 10. Mason remains the No, 1 in Class A, Div. I. Munday is still on top of the Class A, Div. II rankings.

Carthage has taken over the No. 2 spot in the Class 3A rankings, up from third. The top team in Class 3A is Navasota. In Class 2A, Div. I, the No. 1 team is Cameron-Yoe, followed by Tatum, and Newton is No. 3, and Refugio is still No. 1 in 2A, Div. II.

Pearland Dawson is No. 1 in 4A, and Allen is the new No. 1 team in 5A.  Friday's high school football schedule includes: Center at Tatum; Shelbyville at Overton; Hemphill at San Augustine where it's homecoming; Tenaha at Sabine; Joaquin at Elkhart; Timpson at Burkeville; Garrison at Arp; and Logansport at St. Mary's.

It's Tuesday and that means Don Wall's Shelby County Coaches Show will be on the air at 7 tonight on Q-100, KQBB-FM, or streaming online at cbc-radio.com.
 

The Timpson City Council meets in special session this afternoon. The council will consider giving the Chief of Police Kent Graham the authority to hire officers without bringing them before the council, and approve hourly rate for new officers to be hired effective Oct. 1.  In addition, the Timpson City Council will consider approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Block Grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture; renewal of a CD account for Woodlawn Cemetery and the electric fund; and review quotes and consider authorizing the installation of an ADA ramp at MLK Park and the sidewalk adjacent to Woods Realty; and replacement of the sidewalk between the café and new public library.  That's a special called meeting of the Timpson City Council at 5 today.

 

Chireno High School principal Daniel Johnson was selected recently as a Texas Association of Secondary School Principals award winner. The 43-year old was named the organization's principal of the year from 17 counties in Region 7.  Johnson has been with the Chireno ISD since 2007, originally coming to the district to teach business and technology. He also serves as Chireno Junior High Principal.

 

The 36^th East Texas Poultry Festival hosted by Shelby County Chamber of Commerce will feature David Wonders – Texas Magic Ambassador on the Frances Oates Stage on Saturday, October 6.  Mr. Wonders and his chicken puppet will perform throughout the day and will visit attendees sharing balloon art.

The Chicken Fajita Lunch is set for Wednesday, September 26 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Chairman Bryan Wages invites everyone to come to the square and purchase lunch which includes two fajitas, chips, salsa and a drink for $7 per plate.

The Doo Dah Parade sponsored by Center Tire Company will begin at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26 on the downtown Center square.  Participants will need to line up at the Farmers State Bank Drive-Thru at 4:00. The parade will circle the historic downtown square led by the Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce,

The Chicken Cooking Contest sponsored by Tyson Foods will be Wednesday, September 26 following the Doo Dah Parade on the downtown Center Square at 5:00 p.m. Come and sample the chicken recipes for $5 and vote for the People’s Choice Award. Volunteers include Chairmen Claudann Jones and Beth Brown, Renea Sanders, Daphne Lovell, Stacey O’Rear, Stacey Vandrovec, Kelly Jean Baty and Beverly Slatter. 

The Rooster Revel Auction created by the Center High School Agribusiness and Marketing students under the direction of Shana Brittain will be Wednesday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. on the east side of the Center square. The roosters can be bid on by businesses and individuals. To preview the collection visit the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce festival website page for current locations of the roosters according to chairman, Andi Foster.

For more information about the 36^th East Texas Poultry Festival visit our festival page at www.shelbycountychamber.com. For questions, call Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 936-598-3682 or email info@shelbycountychamber.com.

Shelby County Advocacy Center will be sponsoring a photo booth at the 36^th East Texas Poultry Festival hosted by Shelby County Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, October 6 on Shelbyville Street.  Come and get pictures with family and friends or Shelby Chick will be available.

Pre-festival activities start this week on Wednesday, September 26 on the downtown Center square.  Chicken Fajita lunch organized by Bryan Wages will begin at 11:00 a.m.   Lunch includes two fajitas, chips, salsa and a drink for $7 per plate. Gather around the square by 4:30 p.m. to enjoy the Doo Dah Parade with the Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce. 

After working up an appetite at the parade, chairmen Claudann Jones and Beth Brown say stay for the Chicken Cooking Contest sponsored by Tyson Foods at 5:00 p.m. on the east side of the square.  Tasting and voting for the People’s Choice winner is $5.

While enjoying the chicken recipes pick out a rooster to bid on at the Rooster Revel Auction created by the Center High School Agribusiness and Marketing students under the direction of Shana Brittain. Committee members Andi and Valerie Warren announced that County Judge Rick Campbell will be the auctioneer.

For more information about the 36^th East Texas Poultry Festival visit our festival page at www.shelbycountychamber.com. For questions, call Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 936-598-3682 or email info@shelbycountychamber.com.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 will be
hosting a Blue Star/Gold Star observance at the Royal Buffet on Hurst Street
at 6:30 p.m., Friday, September 28th.  They would like to honor families who
have a loved one on active duty with a Blue Star Banner and any family who
has had a loved one killed in action during a time of war with a Gold Star
Banner.  If you would like to be an honored guest please contact Auxiliary
President Becky Yates at becky@chiefimaging.com, telephone 409-584-3807 or 936-332-2032. 
 

• This Afternoon - Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South wind around 5 mph.
• Tonight - Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.
• Tuesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Tuesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
• Thursday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
• Thursday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
• Friday - A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
• Friday Night - A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
• Saturday - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
• Saturday Night - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
• Sunday - A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.

Local Arrest Report for September 22^nd & 23^rd

• Carlos Valencia, 21, of Lufkin, was arrested by DPS for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Louis Mora, 30, of Garrison, was arrested by Timpson Police on a Child Support Warrant.

• Christopher Waller of San Augustine was arrested by DPS for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Jerry Shutter of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Theft and Driving While License Invalid.

Here's a recap of  last Friday night's high school football action: In a thriller, the Center Roughriders improve to 4-0 with a 26-23 overtime win over Fairfield. A 32-yard field goal by Luis Garcia won it for the Riders. The Joaquin Rams are 4-0 after a 52-0 win against Burkeville; the Shelbyville Dragons pick up their first win, with a   8-6 decision over Groveton; the Garrison Bulldogs are 2-2 on the season after a come-from-behind, 26-23 victory against San Augustine. The Wolves drop to 1-2; and West Sabine outlast the Tenaha Tigers, 44-29. Tenaha is 1-3 on the season.  Other scores: Many takes a 74-48 win over the Logansport Tigers; Carthage beats Nacogdoches, 44-21; Longview 45, Lufkin 14; Buna over Hemphill, 46-6; Shepherd beats Diboll, 35-14; Bullard, 60-0 over Huntington; West-Orange Stark defeats Jasper, 17-7; Madisonville defeats Crockett, 34-28; Henderson takes a 37-13 win over Jacksonville; and Mount Enterprise defeats Cushing, 34-20.

College action, the SFA Lumberjacks lose to Texas State, 41-37 to drop to 1-3 on the season.

Come out and support the 2012 Patriots Challenge Open Bass Fishing tournament, this Saturday the 29th on Sam Rayburn Lake. There will be a guaranteed $3000 First Place prize based on 40 paid entries for the Patriots Division. Team entry fees are $200. Everyone is Welcome. Then there is a guaranteed $1000 First Place prize for the Hero's Division. No entry fee for veterans or active duty military. Every team will also carry the name and photo of one of our Texas fallen heroes to honor and remember their sacrifice. All proceeds from the tournament are used to help military heroes past and present and their families. For more information, call Manager Terry Sympson at 936-872-9266.

The Tenaha City Council has a special called meeting at 5:15 today, and among their agenda items will be the approval of the new fiscal year budget which begins Oct. 1, and setting the effective tax rate; discuss contract maintenance and mowing; and discuss maintenance of city-owned property. The council is also expected to go into executive session to discuss the purchase of property and discuss personnel. That's a meeting of the Tenaha City Council meeting at 5:15 this afternoon.

The Center City Council meets at 5 this afternoon and among the agenda items will be the issuance and sale of General Obligation Refunding Bonds; awarding an electric franchise to Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative; authorizing submission of a Community Development Fund Grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for park improvements; and authorizing submission of Baseball Tomorrow Grant Application for the Center Softball Complex. That's a meeting of the Center City Council at 5 this afternoon.

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court will have a special meeting at 9:30 this morning, and among the agenda items will be the adoption of the 2013 Sheriff and Constable Fees for Shelby County; accept or reject sealed bids on property located in the Joaquin ISD Woodland Shores survey; accept or reject trustee property located in the Jesse Amason survey to be donated to the City of Center for the purpose of expanding the Perry Sampson Park; and approve for Commissioner Pct. 3 Travis Rodgers to purchase a bob-tail dump truck through the Buy Board.  Additionally, during public comment, Jim Pate is to address the court about his concern regarding a public official using a county-owned vehicle for his campaigning purposes; and Ray Dees to present remodel plans for the old elementary school. Greg Smith with A-lert Roof Systems is to also make a presentation in regards to roof replacement on the probation department building.  That's a special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court at 9:30 this morning at the courthouse.

The Texas Workforce Commission has released August unemployment numbers, and those stats have shown improvement from July percentages.  Shelby County's unemployment rate for August was 7.2 percent, down from 7.7 a month earlier. Meanwhile, in San Augustine County, the unemployment remained in double-digits at 10.7 percent, somewhat better than the 11.1 in July.  Sabine County continues to have  the highest unemployment rate in the 12-county Deep East Texas region. Sabine County's August rate is 15.1 percent.  Other neighboring county August rates were: Nacogdoches at 6.7 percent; Angelina 7.0 percent; Jasper 10.1 percent; and Newton County 12.4 percent.  Compared to a year ago, the unemployment picture in Deep East Texas has improved as a whole.  As a whole, the Deep East Texas region has an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent, down from 8.9 in July. Statewide, unemployment is 7.0 percent.

A Garrison woman began a probation term last Friday after pleading guilty to shooting at her former employer's residence in June. 41-year old Danielle Rene Winters, will serve a five-year probated sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.  Nacogdoches County Sheriff's deputies arrested Winters after learning she had gotten intoxicated and took a gun to her former supervisor's residence and began shooting at it.  Winters had been fired from her job at Mr. Will's Bar and Grill earlier that week. She had only worked at the store for a few days when one of the manager's had fired her.

Officials safely recovered the missing Alabama teen over the weekend that had been the focus of a nation-wide search. Agents from the FBI took Charles Dean Partin and his wife, Julie into custody, and safely recovered 15-year old Ailene Lander and five other children Saturday morning near Cincinnati, Ohio.  While enroute from Dothan, Alabama, the family made a stop in San Augustine last Thursday morning seeking gas money from a local Pastor.  According to San Augustine County Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham, the pastor said Partin left the church and drove off with six children, stopping at Brookshire Brothers on State Hwy. 21 to get gas before heading west.  Dean Partin was arrested on a federal warrant for kidnapping. Julie Bethke was also arrested on a state warrant out of Alabama for interference with the custody of a minor. 

The number of West Nile virus infections in Louisiana has reached 251, with 36 new cases reported this past week, including cases in Bienville, Caddo and Webster parishes.  One new death has been added in the latest report, bringing the death toll from the virus so far this year to 11.  According to state health officials, there are eight new neuroinvasive disease cases reported last week along with 21 new West Nile Fever cases.  West Nile virus usually results in no symptoms. But it can cause West Nile fever, which produces flu-like symptoms. In some cases it can cause neuroinvasive disease, which can result in paralysis, brain damage or death.  Louisiana's health department says the state is experiencing its highest number of West Nile cases in years.

A judge's order that absolved Texas counties from purging potentially dead people from voter rolls before the November election is being challenged by state prosecutors. An October hearing will now likely determine whether county voting registrars will resume checking 81,000 names that the Social Security Administration has flagged as potentially dead. State elections officials say a state law passed last year requires counties to check voting rolls against the federal agency's list, which is known to have errors. That resulted in thousands of people receiving letters instructing them to confirm they're alive. A state district judge last week temporarily barred the state from enforcing the law. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Friday asked for that order to be dissolved. The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4.

In Funeral Announcements

Helen Marie Behrens, 78, of Montgomery, TX passed away Monday in Conroe. A graveside service will be held today at 11:00 am at the Old Tenaha Cemetery, in Tenaha.  Service entrusted to Mangum Funeral Home of Center.

Lawanda White, 83, of Center passed away at her residence Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. today at White Rock Baptist Church in Center. Burial will follow at White Rock Cemetery in Center.  She is survived by a daughter, Dianne Murphree of Kingwood.

Robert Michael Agnew, 50, of Tenaha, passed away Wednesday in Huntsville while working. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., tomorrow at Ramah Missionary Baptist Church in Tenaha. Burial will follow at Ramah Cemetery in Tenaha. He is survived by his parents: Robert & Judy Agnew of Tenaha, his wife, Molly Agnew of Tenaha, as as well 3 sons and 3 daughters.

Franklin Ronald “Ronnie” Jackson, Sr., 69, of Joaquin passed away Wednesday at Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, LA.  Visitation will be Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home.  Graveside Service will be 5:00 p.m. Saturday at Jackson Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Hewitt Jackson of Joaquin, a son, Franklin Ronald Jackson of Joaquin and a daughter, Veressa Joy Jackson of Joaquin.

Esther A. Fields, 95, passed away yesterday while at East Texas Hospice in Tyler. Visitation will be at the Watson and Sons Funeral home from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday at Watson and Sons Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at Sardis Cemetery on FM 414 in the Sardis Community.

Donald E. Storm Sr., 74, of Joaquin, passed away Monday at his residence.  A military honors graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 24 at Houston National Cemetery in Houston.  He is survived by Wife, Marion Lavern Storm of Joaquin, 2 Daughters Donell Storm Sutcliffe of Nacogdoches, Tracey Tanton of Evadale, and a son Donald E. “Butch” Storm Jr. of Center.

Avalia "Boya" "Gopher" Roy, 70, of Tenaha passed away Wednesday in Tenaha.  Funeral Services are pending at Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson.

Shelby County Democratic Party Chairman Benny Russell has confirmed in a press release that the Democratic nominee for Shelby County Constable Pct. 2, has been disqualified from the November General Election.  Russell did not mention the candidate’s name in his release, but Center Broadcasting was able to confirm through election records, that incumbent Constable Shad Sparks, violated the Election Code by submitting his application and filing fee to the Shelby County Democratic Party to have his name placed in nomination in the Democratic Primary; however, on May 29, the day of the primaries, he chose to vote in the Republican Primary. Russell said by doing this, Sparks became ineligible for a place on the ballot for the succeeding General Election.  Russell said this was an unfortunate situation, and he certainly sympathized with the candidate. However, this did not happen because of dirty politics, or the personal efforts of another candidate, individual or group to remove this individual from office. Russell went on to say the only individual responsible for this disqualification is the individual himself.

On Wednesday September 12th, at approximately 12:50 p.m. The Shelby County Sheriff's Dept. received a 911 call from a concerned citizen regarding a burglary in progress on County Road 2650.  Arrested and booked into the Shelby County Jail were 24 year old Thomas Christopher Lynn Hogan of Center, and 17 year old Justin Lamar Taylor of Center. Both were charged with Burglary of a Building a State Jail Felony. Their bonds were set at $5,000.00 per JP1 Maxie Eaves.  One suspect fled on foot into a wooded area. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Dept. has obtained a warrant on Brandon Smith who is still at large at this time. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Brandon Smith is encouraged to call the Shelby County Sheriff's Dept. and report his location.

The man accused of calling in the LSU bomb threat on Monday has been indicted by a federal grand jury.  According to sources, William Bouvay, 42, of Baton Rouge, was charged with willfully conveying false information by attempting to destroy property by means of explosives.  If convicted, this charge carries a sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  The case is being investigated is by several local, state and federal agencies and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frederick A. Menner, Jr.

Retail gasoline prices across Texas and nationwide have slipped 2 cents this week.  AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price at the pump settled at $3.65 per gallon statewide. Retail gasoline prices across the country average $3.85 per gallon.  The travel group says Texarkana has the most expensive gasoline in Texas at an average $3.69 per gallon. The cheapest gasoline statewide is in Corpus Christi, El Paso and Galveston at $3.61 per gallon.  AAA Texas says retail gasoline prices are expected to go down through year's end. Experts say the demand for gasoline has declined along with the end of the summer driving season. Some refineries that suspended operations in late August as Hurricane Isaac hit Louisiana have been returning to normal.

 In Funeral Announcements

Donald E. Storm Sr., 74, of Joaquin, passed away Monday at his residence. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., today at Watson & Sons Chapel.  A military honors graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 24 at Houston National Cemetery in Houston.  He is survived by Wife, Marion Lavern Storm of Joaquin, 2 Daughters Donell Storm Sutcliffe of Nacogdoches, Tracey Tanton of Evadale, and a son Donald E. “Butch” Storm Jr. of Center.

Lupe Yates, 50, of Nacogdoches, passed away Monday in a Nacogdoches hospital.  Funeral services for will be held today at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Lawanda White, 83, of Center passed away at her residence yesterday.  Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow at White Rock Baptist Church in Center. Burial will follow at White Rock Cemetery in Center.  She is survived by a daughter, Dianne Murphree of Kingwood

Helen Marie Behrens, 78, of Montgomery, TX passed away Monday in Conroe. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:00 am at the Old Tenaha Cemetery, in Tenaha.  Service entrusted to Mangum Funeral Home of Center.

Avalia "Boya" "Gopher" Roy, 70, of Tenaha passed away Wednesday in Tenaha.  Funeral Services are pending at Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson.

Robert Michael Agnew, 50, of Tenaha, passed away Wednesday in Huntsville.
Services are pending at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.
 

Local Arrest Report for September 19th

• Francisco Patron, 29, of Houston, Texas was arrested by Timpson Police for Smuggling.

• Roy Anding, 31, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.
  

• Jaimee Price, 25, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.
  

• Steve McCoy, 19, of Center  was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary.
  

• Brent Jackson of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Using Dyed Fuel in a Taxable Manner.

• All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

The chicken cooking contest deadline is tomorrow by close of business. The East Texas Poultry Festival Chicken Cooking Contest sponsored by Tyson Foods. The 2012 contest will be held Wednesday September 26, immediately following the Doo Dah Parade on the downtown Center square with judging at 5:00 p.m. There will be three categories for competition: Men, women and youth with $100.00 prize for 1st place in each category, $50.00 for second and $25.00 for third place. There will also be a Peoples Choice Award and Best Dressed Table Award. Once the judging is completed the area will be opened for a sample tasting to attendees for $5.00 per person. Chicken Cooking Contest Recipe books will be available for $2.00. Chicken must be the main ingredient of the recipe. Recipes may be delivered to the County Extension office or email Daphne Lovell at dllovell@ag.tamu.edu. For more information call the Shelby County Extension office at 598-7744.

Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary invite the community to join them in their annual observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day tomorrow at 11 am in the Historic Shelby County Courthouse. The program will include the “Missing Man Table” by the Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Post members will perform the VFW Memorial Ritual. Charles Delaney will be there to perform the National Anthem and sing various patriotic songs. For more information contact VFW Post 8904 Quartermaster at 598-2976.

Louisiana received more than $17 million in federal grants Wednesday to help community colleges expand job training programs through partnerships with private companies located near them. Bossier Parish Community College will lead nine community colleges in several states with a $14.7 million federal grant focused on information technology. The federal money for Louisiana is just a slice of the $500 million in grants to U.S. community colleges and universities around the country. Nine Louisiana community colleges will be able to develop or revamp their core informational technology curriculum that offers students an entry-level certification in cyber security, industrial IT and health informatics. According to Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, "This strategic investment will enhance ties among community colleges, universities, employers and other local partners while ensuring that students have access to the skills and resources they need to compete for high-wage, high-skill careers."

A suburban Dallas county has reported its fourth West Nile-related death and at least the 55th reported in Texas. A Plano health department statement says a Plano resident is the Dallas suburb's second West Nile death. Collin County officials say the death is the fourth in the county, all of whom have been older than 80 years old and with other medical problems. The death brings to at least 29 the number of West Nile deaths reported from the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Federal health officials say this is the nation's worst year for the mosquito-borne virus since it was discovered in New York 13 years ago. Texas has about half of the U.S. deaths from the illness.

In Funeral Announcements

Donald E. Storm Sr., 74, of Joaquin, passed away Monday at his residence. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., tomorrow at Watson & Sons Chapel. A military honors graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 24 at Houston National Cemetery in Houston. He is survived by Wife, Marion Lavern Storm of Joaquin, 2 Daughters Donell Storm Sutcliffe of Nacogdoches, Tracey Tanton of Evadale, and a son son Donald E. “Butch” Storm Jr. of Center

Lupe Yates, 50, of Nacogdoches, passed away Monday in a Nacogdoches hospital. Funeral services for will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Helen Marie Behrens, 78, of Montgomery, TX passed away Monday in Conroe, TX. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:00 am at the Old Teneha Cemetery, in Tenaha, TX . Service entrusted to Mangum Funeral Home of Center.

Lawanda White, 83, of Center passed away at her residence yesterday. Funeral Services are pending at this time.

Arrest Report for September 18^th

Ricky Ingram, 50, of Gary, Texas was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Public intoxication.

James Christopher Flow, 27 of Center was arrested by Joaquin Constables for Burglary of a Habitation.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

This week’s high school football schedule has Center at Fairfield; Garrison at San Augustine; West Sabine at Tenaha in the Hall of Honor game; Burkeville at Joaquin; Shelbyville at Groveton; Logansport at Manny; and Timpson is open.

Center Broadcasting will have the Center-Fairfield action on KDET beginning with the Roughrider Pre-Game Show at 7 as Rob Payne, Chris Watlington and team describe the action. The Shelby County Game of the Week will feature Burkeville at Joaquin with Don Wall handling the play-by-play starting at 7:20 on Q100, KQBB. You're reminded that both games will also stream online at cbc-radio.com.

The Center Middle School Roughriders will travel to Price-Carlisle on Thursday. 8th grade teams will not be playing; 7th grade A & B teams will be the only participants. The first game will start at 4:30 p.m. 

Opening day of Shelby County Youth Football will be this Saturday, September 22, in Center. The first teams will kick-off the day beginning at 8am with Flag (5yr) Timpson vs Center, and Tackle 8-9 Shelbyville vs Center Purple. Come out and support the youth of Shelby County.

Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary invite the community to join them in their annual observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day on Friday, September 21st, 2012.  The program begins at 11 am in the Historic Shelby County Courthouse.  There are 83,417 Americans still missing from World War II to present time and the third Friday of September is set aside each year to remember their sacrifice.  The program will include the “Missing Man Table” by the Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Post members will perform the VFW Memorial Ritual.  Charles Delaney will be there to perform the National Anthem and sing various patriotic songs.  Questions or more information contact VFW Post 8904 Quartermaster at 598-2976.

The 2012 East Texas Poultry Festival pageant candidates, escorts, children of the court, parents and sponsors enjoyed an evening of laughter, dancing and fun at the 2012 Texas Barbecue held at the JOI Ranch. While enjoying a delicious dinner the candidates, escorts and children of the court were introduced and a dance-off was held. The queen’s court will be treated this week to a social to enhance social skills and increase personal development.  The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce will hold the Queen’s Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Center High School cafetorium. Reserved and public seating is available. Open seating is $5. To contact the chamber for reserved seating call 936-598-3682.

A Rooster Revel 2012 Reveal & Meet the Artist event was held Monday at the Center High School Agriculture Department. After meeting the artists, host businesses picked up their limited edition Rooster Revel 2012 metal art silhouettes to take back and display at their location until Monday, September 24. Then each silhouette will be displayed on a special float in the Doo Dah parade on Wednesday, September 26 at 4:30 p.m.  Immediately following the Doo Dah parade on Wednesday, September 26 and in conjunction with the Chicken Cooking Contest sponsored by Tyson Foods, an auction will be held for a select number of the Rooster Revel 2012 collection beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the east side of the downtown historic Center square.  The exclusive Rooster Revel 2012 metal art silhouettes designs were created and hand painted by the Center High School Agribusiness and Marketing students led by Shana Brittain. Each original metal art silhouette is signed by the student artist, numbered and dated. Buyers will be recorded in a history book establishing ownership and origin as well as receiving a Certificate of Authenticity.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week.  This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a man who is a true American Hero.  We would like to highlight Mr. Earl Brannon.  Earl Brannon is a Tenaha native and Vietnam War veteran.  Brannon served as a combat medic in the Medical Army Division assigned to Alpha Company, 5th/46th Infantry Battalion.  On March 2, 1970,  Brannon didn't hesitate as he moved through a heavily mined area to a wounded comrade’s position. Fully aware of the possibility of additional enemy activity, he skillfully began administering emergency first aid to the wounded soldier. While treating his comrade, Private Brannon was severely wounded when a second well-concealed explosive device was triggered. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he denied himself medical attention until his fallen comrade was treated.  Not only were Brannon’s actions instrumental in saving the life of his comrade but also his actions in the minefield gave inspiration to his entire unit.  An award for Private Earl Brannon's act of Valor was published in July of 1970, however Brannon never received it.  Finally years later, on September 15, 2012 Earl Brannon was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor at his Army division’s annual reunion in Atlanta, Georgia. We want to thank Tenaha Native Earl Brannon for his acts of heroism and selfless service to this country.  

The wife of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will be in Shreveport today.  According to sources, Ann Romney will arrive at the Shreveport Downtown Airport some time this morning from Dallas to attend a private fundraising event.  The Romney campaign will not reveal where the event will take place or how much money will be raised, only that Ann Romney will be coming from attending a similar function in Dallas.  Press Secretary Sarah Haley says Mrs. Romney is a big part of Governor Romney's campaign because "she has the ability to relate to so many people out there. She's endured multiple sclerosis and breast cancer and a lot of health issues."  Today's event in Shreveport will be closed to the media.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is looking for piece of equipment containing potentially dangerous radioactive material that was lost Tuesday by an oil and gas crew in a rural part of West Texas.  The sealed radioactive source, a small stainless steel cylinder approximately 7 inches long and an inch across, contains Americium-241/Beryllium. The device is not considered highly radioactive but could expose someone who comes in close contact with it for an extended period of time to a harmful dose of radiation. The cylinder is stamped with the words “danger radioactive” and “do not handle” along with a radiation warning symbol.  Anyone who sees it should stay at least 25 feet away and notify local law enforcement.  The Texas National Guard unit based in Austin is assisting with the search.

This week’s high school football schedule has Center at Fairfield; Garrison at San Augustine; West Sabine at Tenaha in the Hall of Honor game; Burkeville at Joaquin; Shelbyville at Groveton; Logansport at Many; and Timpson is open.

There’s been a shake-up in Dave Campbell’s high school state football rankings after the Week 2 action. The Tenaha Tigers and Garrison Bulldogs have both dropped out after losing games last weekend. The San Augustine Wolves and Joaquin Rams have both moved up a position in the Class A, Division I rankings.  San Augustine is now ranked No. 6, while Joaquin is No. 7 in the state. West Sabine also moved up to No. 8. The top team in Class A, Div. I is Mason.  In Class A, Div. II, Munday is still No. 1.  Meanwhile, in Class 3A, Carthage has moved up to No. 3, and Navasota is the new No. 1 team.  Class 2A, Div. I’s No. 1 team remains Cameron-Yoe, while Tatum continues to hold onto the No. 2 spot.  In Class 2A, Div. II, Refugio is No. 1.  Class 4A’s new No. 1 team is Pearland Dawson; and Lake Travis is the top team in 5A.

San Augustine County Sheriff's deputies made another arrest in connection to a copper theft ring Sunday. Patricia Ebarb was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and two counts of theft.  The group of suspects allegedly stole a large amount of copper from the Deep East Texas Electric Co-op and tried to sell it at local scrap metal recycling business.  Ebarb, 40, of Milam, is still being held in the San Augustine County Jail and her bond has been set at $35,000.  According to Gary Cunningham, the chief deputy for the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office, his department obtained an arrest warrant for Ebarb after she was spotted in the company of another one of the suspects, Collis Simmons Jr., when he allegedly tried to sell the stolen copper at a San Augustine metal recycling business. Simmons is still on the run.  Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. announced that a $10,000 reward is being offered for the first report made regarding the known whereabouts of Simmons, resulting in his arrest and conviction for theft of copper wire.  Simmons is a white male, 35, height 5’4” weighing 130 lbs. He has short brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on his arms.  Anyone with information that can lead to Simmons' arrest should contact his or her local law enforcement agency or the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office at (936) 275-2424.

Gold Star Awards were presented to local 4-H members this past Sunday at the Tenaha ISD Cafeteria.  Olivia Worsham of Joaquin 4–H Club and Bobby Vandrovec of Shelbyville 4–H Club were named for the 4-H Gold Star Awards at the 2012 4-H Banquet.  Other awards were the “I Dare You” awards, given to Tory Davis and Konner Windham. Dr. Mark Jousan was awarded the 2012 Friend of 4-H.  Guest Speaker, Shelby County Game Warden Mike Hansen encouraged 4–H members to always give 100%, be positive role models in their communities, guard their reputations in their communities, exhibit leadership and to always thank the adults in their lives who help and support them in their endeavors.

According to DPS officials, a three-vehicle wreck took place around 4:25 last Friday on Highway 96 and has resulted in the arrest of one driver. The accident was near near Folsom Chapel Road (FM 2026). According to reports, a 1996 camouflage Dodge Ram 1500 owned and driven by Franco Mauro, 41, of Center failed to control speed on the wet roadway. The driver of the truck struck a 2008 silver Dodge Avenger driven by Marina Leann Forbes, 21, of Center with passengers James Forbes, 50, and a one-year-old minor child. The car was then pushed into a 1994 white Ford Ranger pickup truck, that was preparing to make a left turn onto FM 2026, driven by Jerry Dean Lovett with a 10-year-old minor child passenger. The driver of the truck was arrested at the scene for failure to control speed and no drivers license.

Constables have been teaming up to track down those responsible for numerous burglaries in the Timpson area in the past couple of months.  The City of Timpson Sewer treatment plant  was the target of three burglaries during July and August.  The thieves were looking to steal the transformers and then sell the copper from within.  In late august, there were two burglaries on both sides of FM 1645 in Stanley Burgay, Precinct 5 Constable’s, area and there were two that were in Zack Warr, Precinct 1 Constable’s, territory. Vandalism has also been a recent issue in the area and law enforcement is seeking those responsible.  However, thanks to combined efforts, most the cases have resulted in felony charges for the suspects involved.  Constable Burgay has encouraged citizens in the community to try and keep a watchful eye out for anyone that might be suspicious in their area.

Students at Louisiana State University were allowed back into their dorms Monday night, hours after the Baton Rouge campus was evacuated due to a bomb threat.  Law enforcement officers have been on high alert since a call came into the East Baton Rouge Parish 911 center at 10:32 a.m. with an unspecified threat about a bomb on school grounds.  That prompted a campus-wide evacuation as well as a building-by-building search by law enforcement officers. In a 4:45 p.m. press conference, LSU police officials indicated school buildings would reopen individually, once they are deemed safe.  By around 8 p.m., all residential life facilities on the LSU campus were back to normal operations and students were allowed back in.

The Air Force chose a woman Saturday to lead its basic training unit at a Texas base where dozens of female recruits have alleged they were sexually assaulted or harassed by male instructors within the past year.  Col. Deborah Liddick is taking command of the 737th Training Group, bringing a distinctly new face of authority to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Six male instructors have been charged with crimes ranging from rape to adultery, and there are others still under investigation. The Air Force announced Liddick's appointment in a statement that didn't mention the sex scandal or highlight choosing a woman to lead a unit where the number of women identified by military investigators as potential victims is approaching 40.  About one in five recruits at Lackland are women, while most instructors are men.

In Funeral Announcements

Jimmye Elaine Watkins Wallace, 80, of Joaquin, passed away Friday in Carthage. Funeral Services were held over the weekend at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. She is survived by Husband Joe Neil Wallace of Joaquin, and daughters Elaine Carol Hall Looney of Lufkin and Nancy Evelyn Hall Keeling of DeBerry.

Local Arrest Report for September 15-16^th

• Jamison Swindoll, 24, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Public Burglary of a Vehicle.

• Steven Lynn Lee of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Obstruction/Retaliation, Assault, and Driving While Intoxicated.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a Court of Law

A Hunter Education Course has been set for September 24th through September 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the San Augustine Gun Shop. Applicant must attend all three days to be certified. Minimum age of certification is nine years of age. The cost is $15 and checks are to be made payable to the San Augustine Gun Shop.  Applicants will need to bring or have your social security number, mailing address, a pencil and highlighter.  Every hunter, including out of state hunters, born on or after September 2, 1971 must successfully complete a Hunter Education Training Course.  To register you need to contact the San Augustine Gun Shop at 936-275-5459.

Here's a recap of Friday night's high school football action from across the area: the Center Roughriders improved to 3-0 on the season with a 27-14 win over Atlanta. The Rider offense came up with 433 yards, including 266 yards passing from quarterback Dalton Horton. The Joaquin Rams remain undefeated at 3-0, as they took a 28-26 win over Hemphill; and the Timpson Bears are off to a 3-0 start after a 32-6 victory against Union Grove.  Tenaha and Garrison, meanwhile, drop to 1-2 on the season. The Tigers lost to Alto, 54-18, giving up 42 points in the second half ; while the Bulldogs fell short in the final minute, as Brook Hill came away with a 24-20 win over Garrison.  The San Augustine Wolves get into the win column for the first time, with a 26-14 win over Deweyville, as Tony Hubbard rushed for 148 yards. The Wolves are 1-1. The Logansport Tigers also got win number one, as they outlasted Red River, 34-28.  The Shelbyville Dragons are still in search of their first win of the season, as they lost to Price Carlisle, 50-12. Shelbyville is 0-3.  Lufkin hands Nacogdoches a 45-7 whipping; and Carthage over Chapel Hill, 30-6. 

Local Law enforcement is looking for 18 year old white male, Stephen Bryan McCoy who is wanted for warrants for four burglaries, thefts, and property damage. If you have any information in regards to his location please call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE.  You don’t have to give your name and you could earn up to $1,000 in reward money if your information leads to the arrest of the suspect.  This month Center Crime Stoppers has paid one cash reward of $435 to a tipster who information lead to a theft ring and three arrest.

Candidate Bobby Jindal promised more transparency in government. Gov. Bobby Jindal seems to have forgotten that promise.  His philosophy seems to be that transparency is OK as long as he chooses what the public can see.  The right of citizens to view public records was established under the 1940 "Sunshine Laws."  That right was reaffirmed in 1974, when the state adopted a new Constitution. It clearly states that "No person shall be denied the right to examine public documents except in cases established by law.  That basic right is in conflict with a measure called the "deliberative process exemption," which Jindal personally pushed for during his first term. The exemption can deny public access to documents that have anything to do with the governor's office.  The Jindal administration's right to withhold public records was recently challenged by two lawsuits.  While documents have been provided to the parties involved, many parts of the documents information was marked out and were virtually unreadable.  The matter is unresolved and suits are still pending.

University of Texas officials were defending their decision to wait more than an hour before evacuating due to a bomb threat.  The Texas school received the first threat around 8:35 a.m. from a man claiming to belong to al-Qaida, officials said. The caller claimed bombs placed throughout campus would go off in 90 minutes, but administrators waited more than an hour before blaring sirens on the campus of 50,000 students and telling them to immediately "get as far away as possible" in emergency text messages.  Authorities said they started searching buildings for explosives before the alert was issued.  The campus was deemed safe and reopened at noon with the remainder of Fridays classes being canceled with other activities scheduled on the campus to resume at 5 p.m.

In Funeral Announcements

Danny Akridge, 54, of Center, passed away Sunday at his residence.  Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., today at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Center.  He is survived by (2) Sisters Carolyn Fenley of Center and Susan Toomer Nacogdoches along with (2) Brothers Billy Akridge of Center and Gene Akridge Nacogdoches.

Jewel “Munch” Garrett, 93, of San Augustine, passed away Monday at her daughter's home.  Visitation will be tomorrow from 12:30-6:30 p.m. At Garner & Son Mortuary.  Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m., at the True Vine Baptist Church.  Burial will follow in Redland Cemetery.  She is survived by (2) sons Paul Roberts of Houston Ray Roberts of California along with (2) daughters Mattie Davis and Margaret Hale, both of San Augustine.

Local Arrest Report for September 12^th

• Lee Ray Isaac, 64, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Curtis Adkins of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Aggravated Assault causing Bodily Injury.

The East Texas Poultry Festival Doo Dah Parade chairman Carolyn Lamb announces Center Tire Company as the 2012 parade sponsor.  Pre-registration for the parade is not required.  Participants will need to line up at the Farmers State Bank Drive-Thru at 4:00. The parade will circle the historic downtown square led by the Shelby County Junior Chamber of Commerce at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26.

Chicken Cooking Contest recipes are to be submitted by Wednesday, September 19 according to Claudann Jones.  The contest, sponsored by Tyson Foods on Wednesday, September 26 will follow the Doo Dah Parade on the downtown Center Square at 5:00 p.m. Trophies and cash prizes will be given to the top cooks by categories including People’s Choice and the Best Dressed Table.  To enter the contest, send recipes by email to dllovell@ag.tamu.edu or call 936-598-7744 until September 19.  If you are not a cook, come out at 5:00 p.m. on the east side of the square and try all the dishes for a $5 charge.

High School football action Friday has the Center Roughriders at home to play Atlanta; Joaquin at Hemphill; Tenaha at Alto; it's homecoming in Shelbyville as the Dragons host Carlisle; Union Grove at Timpson; San Augustine at Deweyville; Garrison takes on Brook Hill in Bullard; Logansport at Red River; and Nacogdoches at Lufkin.

The Rider-Atlanta game can be heard on KDET, while the The Shelby County Game of the Week will be the Shelbyville-Carlisle matchup, which will air on Q-100, KQBB. Both games will also stream on cbc-radio.com.

Center City Council has approved an engineering agreement for work authorization to move the public infrastructure portions of the Downtown Master Plan toward installation.  The work authorization involves the City’s engineer, Bob Staehs, to begin work with a team including White Oak Studios to complete field surveying and develop initial construction plans and documents capable of use for detailed cost estimates, schedule of construction and application for funding opportunities. With $50,000 for the Street Economic Development Committee and $75,000 budgeted, the City is ready to move forward with this project.  The city also approved Resolution 2012-20 accepting TxDOT design and plan for installation of a traffic signal at Tenaha and Timpson/Porter Streets.  Another approved item was Ordinance 2012-14, establishing the rates and fees for City water, sewer, garbage and other fees. Rates for residential and commercial are increased roughly 2.5% for water, 3% for sewer and 1.2% for garbage. The average customer monthly bill will increase by roughly $1.55.

A car wreck on State Highway 87 North nearly took the life of the driver, were it not for the quick actions of two good samaritans.  According to DPS at approximately 5:50 p.m. Saturday a Ford Taurus driven by Ricky Lynn Price, 48, of Mt. Enterprise was traveling northbound on State Highway 87 North, where the roadway becomes two-lane. Price crossed the center line into the southbound traffic lanes and continued into the southbound barrow ditch. The vehicle crashed into the woods where it came to rest on its side.  Two men that were driving by the scene of the crash stopped their vehicles and rushed to help Price whose vehicle was beginning to catch on fire when the men arrived at the scene. Newman and Gene Klepper reportedly worked together to get Price out of the vehicle with Klepper breaking the rear window, and Newman crawling inside the flaming car to pull Price out. At the time that the men were able to free Price from the vehicle, the entire car quickly caught on fire.  Price was transported by ACE EMS to Shelby Regional Medical Center for treatment of non incapacitating injuries, and Newman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

New Orleans will receive $27.3 million in grants from the federal government to help cover some of the city's costs stemming from Hurricane Isaac.  The grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, were announced Wednesday. Some of the money will reimburse the city for labor and equipment for a variety of emergency protective measures including police patrols and operation of major drainage systems and pumps.  Other costs reimbursed will include debris and removal and cleaning of mud, silt and sand from street drainage catch basins.

Texas higher education officials say the state could help more poor students go to college by reducing the maximum amount awarded under the state's financial aid program.  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymund Paredes tells state lawmakers that unless they put more money into the TEXAS Grant program, they should consider allowing it to cover only academic costs, such as tuition and books.  Paredes testified before the Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday. He says the change would reduce the amount some students get, but would allow the program to reach more students who would not be able to afford college on their own.  Board officials say the change would have to be made by the Legislature, which reconvenes in January.

Local Arrest Report for September 11^th

• Tawana Cartwright, 41, of Nacogdoches was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Habitation and Theft by Check.

• Justin Taylor, 17, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Building.

• Thomas Hogan, 24, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Building.

• Arvin Mackey II, 52, of Timpson was arrested by Timpson Police for Public Intoxication.

• Darrin Murray, 35, of Center was arrested by DPS for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Chad Gray, 22 of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Violation of Probation for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The Center Garden Club will meet today at twelve noon at the Windham Civic Center.  Activities will include a plant exchange, review of the new website, and a video presentation of last years club activities.  All members and guests are welcome.  That's a Center Garden Club meeting today at noon.

Driving at high speeds leads to single car accident on FM 414 around 2:45 Tuesday afternoon.  Justin Darrell Shofner, 19, was driving his 1998 Toyota 4 Runner at a high rate of speed southbound when the vehicle swerved off the roadway. Shofner overcorrected and then traveled across the roadway and exited on the left 4 tenths of a mile north of CR 3083. Shofner's vehicle then struck a mobile home belonging to Martha Rash. Damages to the Mobile Home were sustained, however no one was home at the time of the incident. DPS responded to the scene and Shofner was cited for unsafe speed.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the week.  This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a man who remains behind the scenes when the cameras are rolling.  We would like to highlight Mr. Walter "Buster" Bounds.  Buster was born and raised in Center and is a 1962 graduate of Center High School.  Buster has offered selfless service and his talents to both local and statewide organizations.  When the City of Center needed a Charter, Buster was a Vice Chairman on the board and helped write the Charter.  Buster was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the Texas Dental Examiners Board in Austin along with the Texas Professional Insurance Agents Board.  Buster is a former president of the Center Jaycee's, Lion's Club as well as the Chamber of Commerce.  He has also served on the country club board and with the Boy Scouts.  Buster's hobby of photography has also been an asset to community as he has recorded numerous community activities to include the Poultry Festival.  Since 1971 Buster has operated the family business, Bounds Insurance Agency.  We want to thank Buster Bounds for his many years of dedicated service to the City of Center.  

Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office is charging a Garrison man with leaving his four children, all under the age of six, home alone while he took a relative home.  Iaian Wells Crippen, 27, is charged with state-jail felony abandoning a child.  According to the arrest report, deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of County Road 128, at 7:23 p.m. following a call for a welfare check. The deputies reported four children, all under the age of six, were at the home alone.  About 45 minutes after the call came in, the mother and father arrived home, with CPS officials and deputies waiting for them.  The parents explained they had left to take a relative home from work.  The report states CPS did not wish to take custody of the children and they turned the children over to the mother. Deputies arrested Crippen.  The report states charges will likely be filed on the mother.

People won't see as many new road projects in the coming months in DeSoto Parish. Several projects have been tabled because of budget issues.  To understand why the Parish faces millions of dollars in cuts, you have to take a few steps back.  Parish administrators say it all starts with oil and gas production.  According to DeSoto Parish Police Jury Administrator Steve Brown, a couple of years ago the parish had 60-something active drilling rigs.   Just a couple of months ago the count was down to less than 10.  Because sales are down so dramatically, the parish sales tax revenues are down about 70% from a year ago. That drop means less money for improvements. Parish staff says they expected a downturn, but the size of the downturn surprised them.  Brown said DeSoto Parish has money in savings in case of an emergency, but they are trying to tighten their belt by cutting projects so they don't have to dip into that fund.

Two more West Nile virus deaths have been reported in North Texas. Health officials said Tuesday that a Fort Worth man in his late 70s with underlying medical conditions is the sixth death related to the virus in Tarrant County this year.  Dallas County health officials say a man in his 60s also with underlying medical conditions is the 15th such death in the county.  That brings the 2012 West Nile death toll in Texas to at least 50. Federal health officials say this is the nation's worst year for the mosquito-borne virus since it was discovered in New York 13 years ago. Texas has about half of the U.S. deaths from the illness.  Several Texas counties have been spraying pesticide to help reduce the mosquito population.

In Funeral Announcements

Danny Akridge, 54, of Center, passed away Sunday at his residence.  Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Center.  He is survived by (2) Sisters Carolyn Fenley of Center and Susan Toomer Nacogdoches along with (2) Brothers Billy Akridge of Center and Gene Akridge Nacogdoches.

Fairy Graves, 88, of Center, passed away Monday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.  Visitation will be today from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. tomorrow at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park.  He is survived by his wife Geneva Graves of Center, a son Fairy Michael Graves of Dallas and a daughter Vickie Patricia Orsak of Longview.

Local Arrest Reports for September 10th

• Steve Smith, 22, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Vehicle and Unpaid Fines.

• Walter Norwood, 43, of Timpson was arrested by Tenaha City Marshalls for Tampering with Evidence and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

• Amanda Peace of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

• Demetrius Moye of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Child Endangerment.

High School football action this week has the Center Roughriders back home to play Atlanta; Joaquin at Hemphill; Tenaha at Alto; it’s homecoming in Shelbyville as the Dragons host Carlisle; Union Grove at Timpson; San Augustine at Deweyville; Garrison at Brook Hill; and Logansport at Red River.

Dave Campbell’s high school football rankings are out and several area teams are receiving state recognition. In Class 3A, Carthage has climbed to No. 3, and Henderson is 13th. LaMarque holds onto the No. 1 position in 3A after two weeks into the season. In Class 2A Division I, Cameron-Yoe is still No. 1 in the state, while Tatum is No. 2 and Newton No. 3.  Meanwhile, in Class 2A Division II, Garrison dropped to No. 10, Arp is ranked 5th, and Refugio remains the top team in the division. In Class 1A Division I, the Joaquin Rams have cracked the Top 10, and are ranked No. 8 this week, while the San Augustine Wolves are No. 7 again, West Sabine is 9th, and Price Carlisle is No. 10. Mason is No. 1 in 1A Division I. In Class 1A Division II,Tenaha inches up to No. 9, and Mount Enterprise is up to No. 6. Munday is the top team in 1A Division II. In Class 5A, Dallas Skyline is No. 1, and in Class 4A, Leander is the new No. 1 team.

Come join the Center community at Whataburger today in support of Roughriders Athletics Booster. Whataburger is located at 811 Hurst St. 25% of all purchases made at Whataburger from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm will be donated to the Roughrider Athletics Booster Club. Everyone who makes a purchase this evening can also enter to win free Whataburger for 1 year - that's 52 FREE Whataburgers . Be sure to stop by and support Roughrider Athletics Booster.

Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary invite the citizens of Shelby County to join them at their annual Patriot Day Observance, today at the Veterans Memorial located on the grounds of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse.  The program will begin at 9:30 am and include a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, lowering of the colors to half-staff, memorial wreath laying, bagpipes by Joaquin Mayor Mike Wood, rifle honors by Shelby County Sheriff Newton Johnson, Jr. and his deputies.  The program will be closed out at 9:46 a.m., with the playing of Taps by David Treadaway of Bugles Across America.Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary invite the citizens of Shelby County to join them at their annual Patriot Day Observance, today at the Veterans Memorial located on the grounds of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse.  The program will begin at 9:30 am and include a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, lowering of the colors to half-staff, memorial wreath laying, bagpipes by Joaquin Mayor Mike Wood, rifle honors by Shelby County Sheriff Newton Johnson, Jr. and his deputies.  The program will be closed out at 9:46 a.m., with the playing of Taps by David Treadaway of Bugles Across America.

At last Saturday night’s Shelby County Ducks Unlimited Banquet, several attendees were honored during the event. Among those was the family of the late Jacob Hughes, who was presented a plaque for their contributions to DU. Hughes’ memory was honored by the auctioning of the Jacob Hughes Memorial Shotgun 75th Annual Top 100 Remington Versa Max, which was the first item during the live auction. Among the honorees were Shelby County DU founding members, Jerry Phelps and James Crelia; Port-A-Cool CEO Billy Llyod; District Judge Guy Griffin and wife, Cindy; Yazoo Thomas was presented the Ducks Unlimited National Regional Director of the Year 2011-2012 award; and DU area chairman Nathan Phelps accepted the Texas DU Top 20 chapter award, the Teal Growth Award; and the DU President’s Top 100 chapter award on behalf of the Shelby County Chapter.

San Augustine County authorities arrested a man Friday wanted out of Washington on three child sex assault warrants.  Sheriff's office Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham said his office received a tip that Sherman Clay Roberts, 58, was living in San Augustine County. Roberts has three warrants for his arrest out of Washington; two for rape of child and one for failure to register as a sex offender.  Once deputies positively identified Roberts, they placed him under arrest for a new charge of failure to register, as he had not registered as a sex offender in San Augustine County.  Cunningham said the charges date back to 1992. The failure to register warrant was obtained in 2008.  Cunningham said he is working with Washington authorities to see if they will extradite Roberts.

LSU Health Shreveport held a briefing at Noon on Monday to give an update on the status of the hospital. Recent cuts to Medicaid have impacted the LSU System budget, and the Department of Health and Hospitals has asked the public hospital system to find a new way to structure things to save money. This fiscal year the Shreveport hospital faced a $46-million deficit.  There have been rumors that there will be cuts here, even the possibility of selling the Shreveport hospital.  However, LSU Health Shreveport says no final decisions have been made.  While the systems hospitals in both Monroe and Pineville have already faced staff cuts, administrators say right now there is no plan for lay-offs or attrition at LSU Health Shreveport.  Right now, the hospital has a plan to keep running as a public hospital with no staff cuts through June 2013, but that is subject to change as they look for ways to fund the hospital long term.

A third death from West Nile virus has been reported from a Texas Red River county. Cooke County has reported the West Nile death of a 76-year-old man who lived in the southwestern part of Gainesville. Cooke County Emergency Manager Ray Fletcher said that he was the first county resident to die of the mosquito-borne virus.  West Nile deaths also have been reported from two other Red River counties in Texas. One each has been confirmed in Montague and Lamar counties.  That brings the 2012 West Nile death toll statewide to at least 48. This is the worst year ever for West Nile in Texas, which has about half of the nation's deaths from the illness.

In Funeral Announcements

Lizzie Berry 83, of San Augustine passed away Friday at Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin.  Visitation will be today from 12:30 p.m. Until 6:30 p.m. at Garner & Son Mortuary.  Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. tomorrow at the Mount Dena Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Mount Dena Cemetery.

Judge Jack Pierce, 84, longtime district judge in the East Texas area, passed away on Thursday.  Visitation will be at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse on today from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the 145th District Courtroom.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches.  Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Mae Alice (Parrish) Burns, 81, of Houston, passed away Monday in Shreveport, LA.  Visitation will be today from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home.  Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. tomorrow in Restland Cemetery in Tenaha.

Shelton Keith Bryant, 44, of Missouri City, Texas passed away Tuesday at his residence in Missouri City, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm today at Community Funeral Home in Center. Funeral Services will be tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at the Triumph First Pentecostal Church in Shelbyville.

Willie James Grisby Jr., 58, of Center passed away Saturday night at his home.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center.  He is survived by a Daughter, Kristen Cartwright of Houston and 2 brothers, Eric Grisby of Center and Michael Charles Grisby of Houston.

Alvin Eddie Miller, 74, of Joaquin, passed away yesterday in Austin.  Miller served on the Joaquin I.S.D. school board for nine years and was president for several years.  Visitation will be held at Watson and Sons Funeral Home tomorrow from 6 to 8 pm. A service celebrating Eddie's life will be held at Watson and Sons Funeral Home on Sunday at 4 pm.  Graveside service will follow at Ramah Cemetery.  Eddie is survived by his wife, Jeanne and 3 sons Larry Miller, Dr. Jason Miller and Dr. Kevin Miller. 

High school football hits local gridirons tonight and here's the games scheduled: the Center Roughriders look to go 2-0 on the season as they're on the road to Longview to play the Class 4A Pine Tree Pirates. We invite you to join Rob Payne and Chris Watlington and their team for the play-by-play on KDET beginning with the stadium pre-game at 7. The Shelby County Game of the Week will pit the 1-0 Joaquin Rams at the 0-1 Shelbyville Dragons. Don Wall describes the action on Q-100, KQBB FM starting with pre-game at 7:20. You can also hear the Center-Pine Tree and the Joaquin-Shelbyville games online at cbc-radio.com.

Elsewhere, the 1-0 Garrison Bulldogs are in Tenaha to play the 0-1 Tigers; the Timpson Bears look for the second win of the season as they travel to Cushing; Loyola at Logansport to play the 0-1 Tigers; Tyler Lee at Lufkin; and Henderson at Nacogdoches, in the Dragon's season opener.

By the way, we have directions to Pine Tree ISD's football stadium on our website, found at cbc-radio.com, or on our Facebook page at Center Broadcasting Company, Inc. while there, be sure to "Like" us.

Some elected officials in San Augustine County will be seeing a $3,600 salary increase as ordered by the San Augustine County Commissioners' Court. Effective Oct. 1, when the new budget year begins, all four county commissioners, along with the sheriff, will have their salary go up 8.6 percent from its current rate.  The commissioners' and sheriff's salary, which are the same, will see a jump to $41,912 annually, up from $38,312.  The San Augustine County Commissioners had included the salary increase in their new budget proposal.  In an August meeting of the commissioners' court, during the budget process, the San Augustine County justice of the peace were asking for a salary increase, since they had received a five percent increase last year. There was no action taken on the matter.

DPS Trooper Jimmy Faulkner responded to the scene of a hit and run yesterday around 2:30 p.m.  The incident occurred at the intersection of FM 417 and State Hwy 87S in Shelbyville. Stuart Bennett, 43 of Center was was stopped facing south to turn left onto FM 417.  Bennett's 2005 Chevrolet Equinox was struck head on by a green Dodge pickup that was traveling north on the wrong side of the road.  The driver of the Dodge fled the scene of the accident, therefore no citations were issued.

Texas will soon open a stretch of highway with the highest speed limit in the country, giving eager drivers a chance to rip through a trip between two of the state's largest metropolitan areas. The Texas Transportation Commission has approved a speed limit of 85 mph for a 41-mile toll road several miles east of the increasingly crowded Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. But while some drivers will want to test their horsepower and radar detectors, others are asking if safety is taking a backseat.  The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 85 mph speed limit at a public meeting on Aug. 30. However, the speed limit increase won't take effect until November. 

Start at 658 Rough Rider Dr, Center, TX  75935-5141

1. Start out going east on Roughrider Dr toward Hurst St / US-96 - 0.5 mi

2. Take the 1st left onto Hurst St / US-96. Continue to follow US-96 - 11.1 mi

3. Stay straight to go onto US-59/Ml Anderson Dr. Continue to follow US-59 N. - 14.4 mi

4. Stay straight to go onto US-59-BR N. - 1.8 mi

5. Turn left onto E Panola St / US-79-BR W / US-59-BR W.  0.05 mi

6. Take the 1st right onto N St Mary St / US-59-BR. - 0.6 mi

7. Turn left onto TX-572-SPUR / Cottage Rd. Continue to follow TX-572-SPUR. - 1.4 mi

8. TX-572-SPUR becomes TX-149. - 29.5 mi

9. TX-149 becomes TX-322. - 0.6 mi

10. Stay straight to go onto TX-281-LOOP N / FM-1845 N. - 0.5 mi

11. Turn left onto TX-281-Loop / W Loop 281 / FM-1845. Continue to follow TX-281-Loop N / W Loop 281. - 6.6 mi

12. Turn left onto Pine Tree Rd / FM-1845. - 1.1 mi

13. 1709 PINE TREE RD is on the left.

Finish at 1709 Pine Tree Rd, Longview, TX  75604-1909

 In Funeral Announcements

Mae Alice (Parrish) Burns, 81, of Houston, passed away Monday in Shreveport, LA. Visitation will be tomorrow from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday in Restland Cemetery in Tenaha.

Judge Jack Pierce, 84, longtime district judge in the East Texas area, passed away on Thursday. Visitation will be at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse on tomorrow from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the 145th District Courtroom. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Lizzie Berry 83, of San Augustine passed away Friday at Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin. Visitation will be tomorrow from 12:30 p.m. Until 6:30 p.m. at Garner & Son Mortuary. Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Mount Dena Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Mount Dena Cemetery.

Willie James Grisby Jr., 58, of Center passed away Saturday night at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center.

Local Arrest Report for September 5th
 

• Cleveland Payne, 43, of San Augustine was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.

• Melvin Chavis, 18, of Logansport, Louisiana was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.

• Gary Patrick Simms, 28, of Mount Pleasant was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Criminal Trespassing.

• Walter David Norwood, 43, of Timpson was arrested by Timpson Police for No Drivers License.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law

The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce Annual Civic uptown downtown Auction will take place this Saturday, September 8 at the Expo Building beginning at 6:00 p.m. The evening will begin with a delicious catered meal including all the trimmings for $20 per person. The evening will include a live auction, raffles, door prize drawings, and games galore. For more information, contact the Chamber office at 936.275.3610.

The Shelby County Ducks Unlimited Chapter will hosts its 34th Annual Dinner at the Windham Civic Center on Saturday, September 8, at 5:30 to Celebrate DU's 75th Anniversary. Doors open at 5:30pm. The all-you-can-eat seafood banquet will feature auctions and raffles of wildlife and sporting art, many firearms, as well as goods and services donated by area businesses. For ticket info contact Nathan Phelps at 936.591.2047.

There will be a final football sign up for the Shelbyville area today. Contact Joey Hagler at 903-488-8929 or Mark Davis at 936-332-0906. All other areas will be able to sign up until Thursday with a $20 late registration fee.

A Coach's Meeting for the Shelby County Youth Football League is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, September 8th, at Wright Dodge in Center.

The Center Roughrider Freshman and JV football teams will host Longview Pine Tree at home, starting at 5 this afternoon with the Freshman, and the JV to follow.

This week's high school football schedule has: Center at Longview Pine Tree; Garrison at Tenaha; Joaquin at Shelbyville; Timpson at Cushing; Loyola at Logansport; Henderson at Nacogdoches; and San Augustine is open. The Center-Pine Tree game can be heard on KDET; while our Shelby County Game of the Week on Q-100 KQBB features Joaquin-Shelbyville. The broadcasts can also heard at cbc-radio.com.

The Joaquin Water System and the Haslam Water System will experience disruption in water service from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, September 10, due to construction by the City of Logansport. The City of Logansport is making the tie in on the water line that feeds the City of Joaquin & Haslam System.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors announce the expansion of Care Plus Ambulance Service to Shelby County. Owners Brad and Traci Parsons and manager Richard Brunk invites the public to the grand opening ribbon cutting at 521 Shelbyville Street at 11:30 a.m., this morning. To receive services from Care Plus call 409-384-5590.

The Department of Public Safety is seeking criminal charges against a Garrison truck driver accused of killing a Diboll man in a traffic accident in August. According to DPS spokesman David Hendry, the evidence will be turned over to the Nacogdoches County District Attorney's Office and presented to a future grand jury to be considered for indictment on a charge of criminally negligent homicide for Jerome Charez Bryant, 37. Catarino Perez, 56, died in the accident on Aug. 28 on US 59 South in Nacogdoches County. According to a previous report, Bryant was driving a 2006 Mack truck on FM 2782 and pulled into the southbound lane of US 59, in front of Perez's 2000 Toyota Echo. Perez died on the scene.

Another top leader of LSU's Health Care System is out. Dr. Roxane Townsend will no longer lead the LSU Health Care Services Division, which runs seven of the 10 university public hospitals. State leaders made the announcement Wednesday without explanation. The move comes fewer than two weeks after the LSU System's top health care leader, Fred Cerise, was ousted from his job after clashing with the Jindal administration about budget cuts.

A court-martial due to start in the case against a Texas Air Force basic training instructor accused in a sex scandal at a San Antonio air base was delayed without explanation Wednesday. The trial of Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford had been scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. But no attorneys were present as the scheduled start time passed. Finally, trial judge Col. Donald Eller entered the courtroom, picked up a blue binder and left without comment. Crawford is accused of having a wrongful sexual relationship with a trainee, wrongfully providing and consuming alcohol with a trainee, committing adultery with the trainee and making a false official statement. He's the latest instructor at Lackland to face trial in the sweeping sex scandal involving basic training instructors at the air base.

In Funeral Announcements

Delbert Gene Clepper, 77, of Timpson, passed away Monday in Garrison. Visitation will be held today from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Graveside services will follow at 2:00 pm at the Mt. Olive Cemetery.  He is survived by his wife Pat Clepper of Timpson; Sons: Edward Gene Clepper of Timpson and Doye Cantrell of Timpson. Services are under the direction of Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson.

Mae Alice (Parrish) Burns, 81, of Houston, passed away Monday in Shreveport, LA.  Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mangum Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery in Tenaha.

Judge Jack Pierce, 84, longtime district judge in the East Texas area, passed away on Thursday.  Visitation will be at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the 145th District Courtroom.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches.  Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Lizzie Berry 83, of San Augustine passed away Friday at Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin.  Visitation will be Friday from 12:30 p.m. Until 6:30 p.m. at Garner & Son Mortuary.  Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Mount Dena Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Mount Dena Cemetery.

Willie James Grisby, 58, of Center passed away Saturday night at his home.  Services are pending.

Local Arrest Report for September 4^th

• Victoria Lacy Clifton, 17, of Center was arrested by DPS for Possession of Marijuana.

• Justin Clint Fuller, 23, of Center was arrested by DPS for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

• Raphael Najera Gonzalez, 38, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated and Driving While License Invalid.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law

The Center Fire Department was called out twice last night for similar calls involving fallen tree limbs.  The first emergency call sent fireman to the 100 block of Center Street where a large tree limb fell causing a power line to break loose from the residence and fall across the roadway.  The breaker box and meter loop exploded when the wire was pulled from the house. The area was secured with cones until electrical repairs could be made.  Along with downed electrical wires, Suddenlink cables were also ripped loose causing cable television outage in the area.  The second emergency call sent fireman to 1015 Florence Street where a limb had also fell down on power lines thereby causing damage to the meter loop at that residence.

The San Augustine County Courthouse Elevator will be under construction and out of service. The improvements to the elevator are expected to be complete within 2 weeks.  During this time, you can expect construction noise. Due to the noise disturbance, arrangements have been made to halt construction during all scheduled court hearings within this period. Should you have any questions, please contact the County Judge’s Office.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week.  This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a man who has provided selfless service, no matter the weather, rain or shine.  We would like to highlight Mr. Jim Forbes.  Back in 1968, a Channel 12 meteorologist asked Jim if they could place a weather station on his property temporarily until another location could be found.  Jim jumped at the opportunity to assist the United States Weather Service.  As fate would have it, Jim has always supplied East Texans with important weather information, thanks to the weather station that still sits on the Forbes property forty-four years later.  Jim worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service for 20 years and was also a volunteer fireman for 31 years.  In 1993, Jim was elected to a seat on the Center City Council where he has served continuously for the past 18 years.  Over the years, Jim has also found time to write numerous articles for local newspapers.  Above all, Jim is a dedicated family man.  Jim and his wife, Anna, have been married for 59 years and have three children, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.  We want to thank Jim Forbes for his many years of dedicated service to not only the City of Center but also East Texas.   

After years of hearings and appeals, a once-fired Bossier City Police officer will head to the Louisiana Supreme Court this morning.  Philip Vernon was fired in 2009 after he helped arrest Bossier Parish prosecutor Sherb Sentell at a local casino.  Vernon was fired for reportedly filing a false report.  When Vernon was reinstated, he went through the district courts to get back-pay and to have a 90-day suspension removed from his record.  That has not happened yet. But all seven justices at the Louisiana Supreme Court have agreed to hear his case. The case is expected to begin at 9:30 am today. It's likely to take a few weeks before a decision is made.

Texas has begun a program that could lead to private companies doing routine maintenance on interstate highways to save money. Acording to sources, the Texas Department of Transportation is considering outsourcing routine upkeep on stretches of interstates. The work would include repaving, mowing, litter pickup and sign repair.  A five-year pilot project started this summer. The $26 million program involves an Australian company, Transfield Services, and a 100-mile stretch of I-45 in the Houston area.  TxDOT spokeswoman Kelli Reyna says the anticipated savings would involve less overtime work for state maintenance employees. The agency has projected up to $120 million in savings over five years.

In Funeral Announcements

Judge Jack Pierce, 84, longtime district judge in the East Texas area, passed away on Thursday.  Visitation will be at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the 145th District Courtroom.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches.  Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Lizzie Berry 83, of San Augustine passed away Friday at Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin.  Services are pending.

Willie James Grisby, 58, of Center passed away Saturday night at his home.  Services are pending.

Local Arrest Report for September 3^rd

• Nancy Lee Strahan, 40, of Houston was arrested by Center Police for Evading Arrest in a Vehicle.
•  
• Karmen Wall of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law

This week's high school football schedule has Center on the road to Longview Pine Tree; Garrison at Tenaha; Joaquin at Shelbyville; Timpson at Cushing; Loyola at Logansport; and San Augustine is open. The Center-Pine Tree game can be heard on KDET; while our Shelby County Game of the Week on Q-100 KQBB features Joaquin-Shelbyville. The broadcast are also streamed on cbc-radio.com.

Dave Campbell's high school football rankings are out after "zero" week, and the new No. 1 team in 3A is LaMarque, and Carthage is No. 3; in 2A, Div. I, Cameron- Yoe is the top-ranked team, with Tatum No. 2 and Newton No. 3, while Crockett is No. 10. Class 2A Div. II, Refugio is No. 1, while Garrison is No. 6 and Elysian Fields No. 10. The top team in Class 1A, Div. I is Mart, with Alto No. 6, and San Augustine dropped from No. 3 to No. 7. The No. 1 team in Class 1A, Div. II is Munday, Mount Enterprise is No. 8 and Tenaha drops from No. 2 to No. 10. The No. 1 team in Class 5A is Dallas Skyline and tops in 4A is John Tyler.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call Saturday night that a man had been shot.  Sheriff Deputies arrived on scene to discover the victim Willie Grisby, Jr. had been fatally shot. Emergency officals were called to the scene, however the victim was pronouced dead at his residence.  Eric Cazelle Grisby, 40, was taken into custody without incident, and booked into the Shelby County Jail, where he was charged with Murder in the first degree. Grisby's bond was set at $75,000 and is currently confined in the Shelby County Jail. 

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office has released the names of three men and a woman connected to the murder of a man Friday night.  Tommy John Gill, 32, of Trinity; James Henry Lunsford, 23, of Jasper; and Charlie Jay Gill, 69, of El Campo, are charged with first-degree murder and are being held on a $1 million bond. Sarah Kay Lunsford, 19, of Jasper, is charged with misdemeanor A failure to report felony with death results. She is being held on a $5,000 bond.  The victim is Ryan Dockens, 39, of Brookeland.  Friday night, the sheriff's office received a fight in progress call in the northern part of Jasper County.  Deputies arrived to a residence on CR 219 in Brookeland and found that the four suspects fled into a wooded area behind the residence.  According to the report, Deputy John Cooper found a 39-year-old man face down on the porch with wounds to his head, face and upper torso. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Hundreds of Isaac evacuees are headed back home to South Louisiana.  The Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness confirms that starting around 10:00 pm Monday night, evacuees at the Jewella Avenue shelter began boarding buses for the long ride home.  Most of them will be taken to post-storm shelters that are set up in the parishes where they live.  The transports started with evacuees who had confirmed jobs. Transports were expected to continue until after midnight and then start up again mid-morning on Tuesday.  Director Sandy Davis said that by Wednesday, most of the 1,000 evacuees housed at the Jewella Avenue shelter would be back in South Louisiana.

Authorities have identified the 25-year-old fan who died after falling from a fifth-floor escalator while attending a preseason Houston Texans' game at Reliant Stadium.  The Harris County medical examiner's office identified the man late Friday as Jonathon Kelly of Houston. No other details were immediately provided.  Police say the fall appears to have been an accident.  Frantic witnesses called police after seeing the man fall about 60 feet from a fifth-floor escalator during Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.  Stadium officials say staffers monitor fan safety at each escalator. Escalators near where the fall occurred were closed for inspections, but officials expressed confidence in their safety.

 In Funeral Announcements

Judge Jack Pierce, 84, longtime district judge in the East Texas area, died Thursday. Visitation will be at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., in the 145th District Courtroom. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, located at 411 North Street in Nacogdoches, Texas. Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce is introducing a new raffle as one of its games in the Civic Auction that will take place on Sept. 82. There will be one winning ticket, and that winning ticket will receive all the gift certificates from 14 area restaurants. The total value of the gift certificates at the present time is $960. Raffle tickets will sell for $10 each. You can win almost $1000 in food certificates if you hold the winning ticket. Tickets may be purchased from any Director or Officer of the Chamber or see Tracy at the Log Cabin. The winner does not need to be present.

The Center/Shelby County Ducks Unlimited Chapter will hosts its 34th Annual Center Dinner at the Windham Civic Center on Saturday, September 8, at 5:30 to Celebrate DU's 75th Anniversary. Doors open at 5:30pm. The all-you-can-eat seafood banquet will feature auctions and raffles of wildlife and sporting art, many firearms, as well as goods and services donated by area businesses. Proceeds from the event will go to support Ducks Unlimited’s wetlands and waterfowl habitat conservation efforts in East Texas. For ticket info contact Nathan Phelps (936.591.2047) or Wil Blackshear (936.488.0512).

Over the next year there will be numerous short films produced in East Texas area by Quest Media Group & David Masterson Productions Inc. Open casting call will be held this Wednesday at the Shelby County Courthouse in Center from 5pm till 7pm in hopes of finding new talent. This open casting/crew call is for anyone interested in working on short films or acting, novice or experienced. No minors unless accompanied by a parent please. At audition you will be interviewed, asked to read a few lines on camera, and get some photos taken during the process. All this will go in our database and be referenced for the upcoming films by casting directors as needed. If you are selected, you will be contacted. Online submissions are accepted – please include head shots, full body shots, and personal data. Contact David Masterson for more information at 936.591.2971.

Don't forget, Don Wall's Coaches Show will be on tomorrow night at 7pm on Q-100, KQBB. Don will be discussing the outcome of week one's games with Coach Terry Ward of the Tenaha Tigers; Coach Wayne Gandy of the Joaquin Rams, Center Roughrider head coach Kevin Goodwin; and Coach Jim Bradford of the Shelbyville Dragons. Tune in at 7 each Tuesday evening for Don Wall's Shelby County Coaches Show on Q-100, KQBB.

Week one of the high school football schedule is in the books and here are the results: On Friday, Center over Buna 33-30, The Joaquin Rams put down the Tenaha Tigers 22-6, Mount Enterprise toppled Shelbyville 18-8, Garrison took the victory from Hemphill with a decisive 47-21 win, Jacksonville slipped by Carthage with a score of 34-30 and on Saturday, the Timpson Bears mauled All Saints Episcopal 25-14.

Lake Naconiche was officially opened to the public Saturday morning. Now anglers in Nacogdoches County have new spot to catch fish. For the first 14 days the lottery system will limit how many boaters can come in and enjoy the lake. Lake Officer Bill Plunkett says the lottery was necessary because of the limited amount of parking available to accommodate boat-trailer combinations. Construction on the park was funded through a combination of federal and county funds. Plunkett says Lake Naconiche Park will serve as a fun attraction for the public as well as an economic booster. Now after decades of planning and construction fisherman can finally cast their line in Lake Naconiche.

A Sabine County woman is jailed and another man is on the run in connection to a copper theft from the Deep East Texas Electric Co-Op earlier this month. A San Augustine scrap yard contacted the sheriff's office when Paula Jackson, 41 tried to sell suspicious metal at the business. Deputies later searched her Sabine County home. A man wanted for evading arrest was inside but escaped again. The metal is believed to have been stolen at the six mile substation. The break-in created a fire and hundreds of power outages for Sabine County residents. San Augustine Sheriff's Deputies have seized a pickup, electric wiring and other suspected stolen items from Jackson's home.

A federal judge has sided with Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Bernette Johnson in her legal effort to become the state's first black chief justice. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled Saturday that Johnson had the seniority to succeed Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball when she retires early next year. Johnson had sued to block her colleagues from deciding the matter. When voters elected her in 1994, Johnson at first filled an appeal court seat but was assigned to serve on the Supreme Court full-time under terms of a civil rights lawsuit settlement. Some argued that Justice Jeffery Victory, who has served since 1995, has served longer than Johnson. They wanted the Louisiana Supreme Court to settle the question. Johnson's attorney James Williams' praised Morgan for issuing "the right ruling"

A Texas Judge has ordered the Boy Scouts of America to produce secret files it keeps to prevent accused pedophiles from becoming employees of or volunteers for the organization. District Judge Martha Tanner in San Antonio issued the order Tuesday for the Boy Scouts to turn over all of its "ineligible volunteer" files created between 1985 and 2011 as part of a lawsuit. The suit was filed by a former scout who was sexually assaulted by an assistant scoutmaster in 2004 and 2005. The scoutmaster was convicted and is serving 60 years in prison. The victim is now seeking unspecified damages against the Boy Scouts and its Alamo Area Council in San Antonio, alleging they failed to protect him. The Boy Scouts says its files aren't relevant to the suit.