Arrest Report

3/28/14--3/31/14

Shelby County:

Joey Zorn, 39, Center, Criminal Mischief, Warrant-Criminal Mischief

Jeffery Chumbley, 48, Shelbyville, Driving While Intoxicated with Open Container, Possession of a Controlled Substance

Laderika Barnes, 37, Center, Driving While Intoxicated & Panola County Warrant-Forgery

Joshua Jacobs, 23, Shelbyville, Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief & Disorderly Conduct

Tommy Weatherton, 60, Gary, Driving While Intoxicated with Open Container, No Drivers License, Possession of a Controlled Substance & Possession of a Dangerous Drug

Joseph Matthews, 40, Center, Driving While Intoxicated

Clay E. Gates, 54, Center, Driving While Intoxicated-3rd or more

Cornelius Simmons, 32, Nacogdoches, Warrant-Assault Causing Bodily Injury/Family Violence & Warrant-Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

David Lawrence, 31, Center, Driving While Intoxicated

San Augustine County:

Christopher Emerson, 36, Broaddus, Shelby County Warrants-Burglary of a Building 3 Times & Theft

Sanchez White, 35, Round Rock, Motion for Adjudication-Possession of a Controlled Substance

Shieda S. Garrett, 19, San Augustine, Disorderly Conduct

A Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Residents hit with high winds during Friday evening’s severe thunderstorms spent their weekend sawing and picking up trees, limbs and structural damage as Mother Nature unleashed her furry on the East Texas and Western Louisiana area for the second straight day. Following last Thursday evening’s storms, Friday’s activity was more widespread with greater intensity, as straight-line winds in excess of 60 to 75 mph in some locations, hail and heavy rains pummeled the pineywoods region for about two hours. Shelby, San Augustine and Nacogdoches Counties were all hit with numerous reports of downed trees on roadways, powerlines and structural damage. Emergency responders, TxDOT, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative crews, and local citizens worked through the evening into the early hours Saturday to clear the aftermath. In Shelby County, the heaviest storm damage was in the southern portions of the county, especially from south of Shelbyville to the Huxley area, where high winds whipped apart a number of barns, tore roofing from houses, laid trees over on several residence and automobiles, and left a path of destruction. Northern San Augustine, northern Sabine and Nacogdoches County’s reported similar damage. Although a lot of the storm damage appeared to have been caused by a twister, the National Weather Service has not confirmed a tornado formed. Deep East Texas Electric Coop is reporting this morning service has been restored to all its customers, and report it’s the worst storm damage they’ve seen since Hurricane Rita in 2005.

A Tenaha truck driver was seriously injured Saturday night when his tractor trailer rig was involved in an accident with a suspected drunk driver in DeSoto Parish.

Louisiana State Police say 56-year old Arnold Fitzgerald, driving a salt water disposal truck, attempted to avoid a pickup that pulled in front of him on Hwy. 84, approximately one mile from I-49, when his rig overturned.

Authorities say 54-year old Joseph Hendrix of Shreveport was charged with DWI, vehicular negligent injuring and failure to yield when exiting a private drive, and booked into the DeSoto Parish Jail.

Fitzgerald sustained serious head injuries and was air lifted to University Health Hospital in Shreveport. Hwy. 84 was shutdown for some five hours to clear the wreckage.

The crash remains under investigation.

Local authorities are looking for the driver of a red pickup truck that was involved in an incident Sunday evening in Joaquin. DPS Trooper Keith Jones says 80-year old John Doris Walton of Joaquin was traveling westbound on the Hwy. 84 on-ramp at the Hwy. 7 & 84 intersection in a Jeep, when an unknown pickup failed to yield right of way, forcing Walton off the road and into the ditch. The Jeep rolled after striking a culvert, ejecting Walton from the vehicle. He was taken by life-flight to University Health in Shreveport for treatment of injuries. He was reported to be conscious when he left the scene. There are no other details available on the description of the pickup. If you have any information on this incident, you're asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.

Center Fireman responded to a house fire Sunday afternoon in the James Community spawned by the property owner burning a nearby shed. According to an article on ShelbyCountyToday.com, the residence at 131 County Road 3143 was owned by Johnny Brittain who was doing a controlled burn of the smaller structure when a gust of wind blew the fire to the house. The Center Fire Dept. was called shortly after 1 o’clock, and arrived to find the house completely engulfed in flames. Brittain was reported to have just moved out of the house.

The Texas Workforce Commission has released the February unemployment rates for the state and Texas is a full-point below the national average at 5.7 percent. In Shelby County, the February rate is the same as January’s at 6.4 percent, and down from this time a year ago when it was 7.1 percent. In San Augustine County, the unemployment rate is near double-digit, coming in at 9.7 percent, up slightly from 9.4 in January, and almost a point down from February 2013. Sabine County has one of the highest in the state at 12.9 percent. However, it’s better than the 14.3 a year ago and right at January’s rate. In neighboring counties, the unemployment rate in Nacogdoches County was 5.7 percent; Angelina County is 5.6 percent, and Panola County has one of the lowest in the state at only 4.5 percent unemployment.

The Texas Department of Transportation says construction to replace the U.S. Hwy 84 Bridge at the Texas/Louisiana state line continues with little to no impact to the traveling public at this time. TxDOT’s Kathi White says the project is progressing on schedule. Some of the jobs include dredging the river, working on box culverts in various locations, building drainage structures and conducting prep work for building the new eastbound bridge. The $20.8-million joint project between Texas and Louisiana is expected to be complete in the summer of 2016. The 78-year old current bridge is being replaced by a pair of one way two-lane bridges to provide a safer and more efficient crossing of the Sabine River. 

A tradition returns Saturday, May 10, for its 36^th year, as the annual Center Broadcasting-Shelby County Bass Anglers’ Take A Kid Fishing Bream Tournament is held on Toledo Bend at Huxley Bay Marina. KDET 930AM & 92.5 FM, and KQBB 100.5, together with the Shelby County Bass Anglers, invites all children ages 3 to 15 years old to register for the free tournament. Fishing begins at 6am, and all participants must be in the weigh-in line no later than 12:30pm. Entry forms can be picked up at the Center Broadcasting studios at 307 San Augustine Street in Center, Huxley Bay Marina, Scarber’s Grocery & Trail’s End & RV in Huxley, First Bank and Trust East Texas in San Augustine, or Hometown Tackle in Center.   Participants must be preregistered no later than May 3rd.  Trophies will be awarded to each group and prizes will be available for each participant.   For more information, contact the Center Broadcasting offices at 936-598-3304.

Watson and Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 75-year old Bobby Glen Rash of the Campti Community. He passed away Sunday at his residence. That’s pending service for Bobby Glen Rash at Watson & Sons.

Watson and Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 64-year old Royce Lee Williams of Center. He passed away Friday at his residence. He was retired from the City of Center where he served as a firefighter for over 20 years. Service will be at 2 today at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment to follow at Smith Cemetery in Shelby County. Among Royce Lee Williams’ survivors are sons, Eric Williams and Justin Williams, both of Center; and daughter, Jaclyn Eaves of Tenaha.

Watson and Sons Funeral Home announces graveside service for 78-year old Ronald Loy Williamson of Simpson, Louisiana. He passed away last Thursday in Longview. Graveside service will be at 2 Tuesday at Pine Island Cemetery in Simpson, Louisiana. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at Simpson Baptist Church. Among Ronald Loy Williamson’s survivors are his children, Daniel Williamson of Joaquin and Amanda Jones of Center. 

Despite the threat of storms, the Center Roughriders and Carthage Bulldogs got their District 20-3A baseball game in Friday night. However, it was all Carthage as the district leaders take a 10-1win to drop Center’s district record to 1-4, while Carthage moves on to 5-0. The Riders go to Central tomorrow night.

In Dist. 21-1A, the Joaquin Rams have moved into sole possession of second, after a 12-10 win over Cushing Saturday. Gage Belrose went 4 for 4 at the plate, with little brother Nate Belrose getting a game-winning triple in the Top of the 7^th to secure the win. The Rams will be at Mt. Enterprise Tuesday, and are tentatively to make up Friday’s missed game (due to weather) with Chireno at home Wednesday.

Elsewhere in other make up games today, Timpson will hosts Chireno at 5, to make up Saturday’s missed game; and Tenaha will go to district-leading Douglass for a 4:30 first pitch.

Word from Shelbyville is that all baseball and softball games that were scheduled for Friday and Saturday were cancelled due to weather. It’s not sure when those game will be made up.

The San Augustine Wolves get their second Dist. 23-1A win Friday, taking a 7-5 decision over Chester. The Wolves are 2-4, have a bye Tuesday, and will go to Burkeville Friday.

Softball Friday:

The Center Lady Riders take a tough loss against Carthage, losing 10-0. Center is 0-7, and will be at Central Thursday.

The Timpson Lady Bears game with Gary was also cancelled.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs are 8-0 after a 7-6 win Saturday over Elkhart. Garrison has a bye Tuesday, and will be home against Central Heights Friday.

The Timpson Bear Varsity track and field team won its third meet of the season Thursday when they took first in the Huntington meet. Timpson had 99 points, 9 points ahead of second-place Crockett, with Corrigan-Camden coming in third with 72 points. Timpson won the 800-meter relay; second in the 400-meter relay; first and second in the 800 meter run; took first and third in the 100 meter dash; first and second in the 200 meter dash; and won the mile run. The Timpson Boys JV was third in their division; and the Timpson girls took fourth in their division. The Bears have one final meet before district as they’ll be at New Summerfield Thursday.

The SFA Ladyjacks lose to Illinois-Chicago Saturday, 73-64, in the championship game of the Women’s Basketball Invitational in Chicago. The Ladyjacks become the first team in the program’s history to win three games in a post-season tournament.

A local mail carrier is lucky to be alive after a tree fell on to her vehicle yesterday afternoon. Kim Skinner of Timpson, a carrier for the Center U.S. Post Office was delivering mail around 1 o’clock when a tree fell, striking her Jeep on the driver’s side, and crushing the vehicle.

Ms. Skinner’s daughter, Rachel Edwards tells us her mother was driving and for some unknown reason, the tree fell on the vehicle, knocking Ms. Skinner out for 20 minutes. She regained consciousness, was able to call for help, and it took emergency personnel about an hour to find her.

Ms. Skinner was taken to Nacogdoches Memorial where she’s in ICU this morning with a hole in her lung, fractured ribs and glass in her head and hands. Ms. Edwards says her mother is conscious and alert. 

Photo courtesy of Jason Burch, Hughes Wrecker Service, Center.

Arrest Report

3/27/14--3/28/14

Shelby County: No Arrest Reported

San Augustine County:

Bobbie D. Grubbs, 44, Conroe, House for Shelby County, Capital Murder and two charges of Aggravated Assault

Shieda S. Garrett, 19, San Augustine, Disorderly Conduct

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Yesterday’s windy weather has reportedly led to a boat capsizing and the death of a Sabine County fisherman on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell tells us his department responded to the Ragtown Park area just after noon to the report of a capsized boat and possibly two stranded fishermen. Sheriff Blackwell says the deceased fisherman is identified as 63-year old Ronald Clegg of Bronson, who possibly passed out from exposure after spending more than two hours in 50 degree water. The sheriff says Clegg, along with 49-year old Kenneth White of Pineland, were trot lining, and were up against a stump, when the choppy water with approximate 3-and-a-half foot waves, slammed the vessel into the stump, causing the boat to capsize. Sheriff Blackwell says the older man, who was wearing a life jacket, clung to the stump, while the younger was able to hold onto the boat. White told officers he decided to try and paddle with the boat back to shore, while Clegg made the decision to stay put. It took White some two hours to cover the approximate 300-yard trek back to land, and said he saw his Clegg clinging to the stump when he arrived. However, soon afterwards, Clegg apparently passed out. White was able to call family members and 9-1-1 from a cell phone that had been underwater the entire time. Sheriff Blackwell said by the time they got boats in the water and made it to Clegg he was deceased. JP Pct. 2 Bert Furlow was called to the scene and pronounced Ronald Clegg deceased. Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens are conducting the investigation into the incident.

Reports of nickel size hail and moderate to heavy rain were reported over parts of the area Thursday afternoon as an outbreak of fast moving thunderstorms rumbled across the East Texas and Western Louisiana lakes area. These storms decreased during the evening, but additional development is expected today as the next short wave trough of low pressure swings across the south nudging a cold front toward the area. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern San Augustine County and southwestern Shelby County, as well as southeastern Nacogdoches County at 4 o’clock yesterday until 4:30. Just before 4, meteorologist detected a severe thunderstorm near Bland Lake in San Augustine County—12 miles southeast of Center, moving east at 70 mph with nickel size expected. Our forecast today calls for a 50 percent chanceof more thunderstorms, with the possibility of some being severe this afternoon. The system should clear out of the area by early Saturday making way for nice weekend weather.

The Shelby County and San Augustine County Sheriff’s Department had no reports of damage or emergency situations during the height of the storm outbreak.

Checking with Deep East Texas Electric Co-op, they had one outage during the height of the activity in Nacogdoches County when a tree fell on a power line in the Oak Ridge area affecting some 770 customers. Service was restored within about an hour.

At their called meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Center ISD Board of Trustees approved both agenda items 6-0, including an OK on the instructional materials allotment and Texas Education Knowledge & Skills certification for next school year; and authorizing administration to apply for a waiver to the state that will offset the loss of funding due to low attendance on March 3, due to bad weather.

In addition, the school board approved the hiring of Shelby Skeen as Digital Learning Coordinator; Zebbra Riggans as a Life Skills Aide; and Joyce Permenter as administrative assistant.

The CISD Board of Trustees have another called meeting at noon today, and among the agenda items will be discussion and consideration of proposals for lease of facilities and real property and possible personnel issues.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 93-year old Audrey Williams of Nederland, formerly of Joaquin. Service will be at 10 Saturday at Jackson Missionary Baptist Church, with burial to follow at Jackson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 this afternoon at Mangum Funeral Home. Among Audrey Williams’ survivors are 2 sons, Jerry Williams of Nederland and Forrest Williams of Salem, Ark.

Mangum Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 88-year old Ruthelma Lou Adams of Center. Graveside service will be at 2 Sunday at Newburn Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to service beginning at noon Sunday. Among Ruthelma Lou Adams’ survivors are two sons, Gale Adams and Riley Adams, both of Nacogdoches; a daughter, Lou Evelyn Adams of Center; and brother, J.W. Braden of Center. Lou Adams worked for the City of Center as a secretary for 14 years, Executive secretary for the Fairchild Law Firm for 17 years, First National Bank for 3 years and Hawkeye Hunting Club for 7 years.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 71-year old Dewey H. Rash of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 this morning at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, cremation to occur afterwards with interment in the Sardis Cemetery in Shelby County. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time today. Among Dewey H. Rash’s survivors, are his son, Dewey Hermon Rash, Jr. of San Augustine; daughter, Gayla Miller of Shelbyville; brothers, Thomas Rash of Arizona, Billy Rash of Lufkin, and Paul Rash of Lufkin; sisters, Betty Ramono of Oklahoma, Jeanette Buck of Houston and Pam Rash of Houston.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 78-year old Bill “Billy” Simmons of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Saturday at First United Methodist Church in San Augustine, with burial at Myrtle Spring Cemetery in Sabine County. Visitation will be 5 to 8 this evening at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. His survivors include daughters, Renae Simmons of Houston; Rhonda Simmons of College Station; Brenda Steptoe of San Augustine and Lisa Sandidge of Lufkin.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 88-year old Bernard Barclay. He passed away Thursday in San Augustine. Graveside service will be at 4 Saturday at the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Woodville. Among Bernard Barclay’s survivors are his sisters, Susie Martin of Larue and Julia Colbey of New Caney; and a brother, Bobby Joe Barclay of San Augustine.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 12-year old Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray of Tenaha. A Wake will be held from 7 to 9 this evening at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Benford Chapel Baptist Church in Tenaha with interment at St. John Cemetery in Tenaha. Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray is survived by his mother, Cassandra Horton of Tenaha, fathe, Rodney Gray of Tenaha; 2 sisters, Melisa McCollister of Center, and Latishana Gray of Tenaha; and 2 brothers, Rodney Gray of Tenaha and Devante' Gray of Center.

Community Funeral Home of Timpson announces funeral service for 77-year old Mrs. Lillie Mae Perry of Garrison. She passed away Wednesday at her residence in Garrison. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Mt. Olive CME Church in Garrison, with interment at North Redland Cemetery in Appleby. Lillie Mae Perry is survived by a sister, Velma (Doll) Bass Evans of Dallas; and a brother, James (Buddy) Bass of Dallas.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces pending service for 89-year old Mrs. Dora House of Joaquin. She passed away Thursday morning at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.

The Center Roughrider Tennis Team again dominated the district tournament held Wednesday in Center, coming away with 12 of 16 regional qualifiers. The Regional Tournament is set for April 14 & 15 in Bryan.

Taking first in boys’ doubles was Alec Lucas & Adam Reeves; while second place went to Kamden Lucas and Jesus Ruiz. In girls’ doubles, first place was Jayton Cassell and Jasmine Crawley; and second was Elizabeth Chadwick and Iliana Rojas. Taking second in boys’ singles was Dillon Reynolds; and there will be a playoff today for second and third, both Center players between Julie Garcia and Whitley Reed. In mixed doubles, a playoff today for second and third between Chris Dunn/Sheriden Cassell, and Nathan Stuever/Mallory Nehring. Zach Faucett played in boys’ singles and did not place.

In JV play, also won by Center, boys’ first place doubles went to Jack Eddins and Chris Luna; girls’ doubles, first to Rylee Hudspeth and Brylee Hendrix and second to Zoey Stuever and Kimberly Rodriguez. In boys’ singles, first to Nate Morris, second, Tony Garcia, third to Johan Gonzalez and fourth to Tyler Ferguson. The girls’ singles were won by Center’s Allison Langford in first and Faith Lengl in second. Congratulations to these Roughrider Tennis Players and Regional Qualifiers.

The Center Roughriders play host to district leading Carthage tonight, with JV starting at 4:30. The Bulldogs come in on a hot streak, having won 7 games in-a-row, and 11 of their last 12, while the Riders have lost 4 of their last 5 games.

Center is tied with Central for fifth at 1-3, while Carthage has a 4-0, a half game up on Hudson, who’s 4-1. Diboll’s in third at 3-1, and Jasper is 2-3. Huntington is 0-4.

In District 21-1A, the second round of play starts this weekend, with several teams playing two games in the next couple of days. The state’s No. 1 ranked team, Douglass leads the standings at 7-0, while Cushing in second at 5-1, and the Joaquin Rams are just a half-game back at 5-2. Timpson is in fourth at 5-3; Shelbyville & Martinsville are 2-5; and Tenaha is 0-6.

Today’s games: it’s Chireno at Joaquin, Tenaha at Douglass and Mt. Enterprise at Shelbyville.

Saturday’s action: Joaquin at Cushing, Shelbyville at Douglass, and Chireno at Timpson.

In District 23-1A Friday, Chester will be at San Augustine. As for the district race, state-ranked Colmesneil is 5-0; West Sabine and Zavalla are 4-1; Broaddus is 3-2; while Chester, San Augustine and Burkeville each have one win.

In District 19-2A, Garrison is tied for third at 3-2 with Groveton. State-ranked Central Heights is on top at 5-0, with Crockett at 4-1. Garrison will be at Elkhart today.

Softball today:

The Center Lady Riders are 0-6 and will host Carthage.

District 21-A begins the second round today, as Shelbyville is at No. 1 state-ranked Beckville, Gary at Timpson; and Joaquin has a bye.

The district standings have Beckville is 6-0; with Shelbyville at 5-2; Timpson’s 4-2; Joaquin at 4-3; and Martinsville is 0-8.

Also today, The Garrison Lady Bulldogs go to Elkhart. Garrison is 7-0.

The SFA Ladyjacks defeat the College of Charleston, 78-74 last night in the semi finals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. SFA will play the University of Illinois-Chicago at 3 p.m. Saturday for the WBI Championship. It’s the most wins by the Lady jacks in the program’s post-season history. 

Arrest Report

3/26/14--3/27/14

Shelby County:

Joey Zorn, 39, Center, Public Intoxication

Ami Lee, 32, Center, Possession of Marijuana

Craig Crocker, 25, Center, Public Intoxication

Anthony Robertson, 36, Tenaha, Driving While License Invalid & Rusk County Warrant-Driving While License Invalid

San Augustine County:

Jeffrey Sowell, 29, San Augustine, Probation Violation

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you plan on voting in the May 10 General Election, we're two-weeks away from the last day to register for the election. April 10 is the deadline, and you'll need to register at the Shelby County Clerk's Office. City elections will be held in Timpson and Tenaha; and school trustee elections in Timpson, Tenaha, Joaquin and Shelbyville ISDs. The Cities of Joaquin and Huxley only had incumbents file, so they have avoided the need for an election.

Here's a rundown of those contested races.

In the City of Timpson, the position of mayor has drawn two candidates, as incumbent Debra Smith is challenged by Councilman George Grace. There will be no council election, as incumbents Yvonne Ramsey and Ronnie Wolfe filed uncontested.

There will be three vying for two trustee positions on the Timpson ISD board of trustees, as incumbents Joyce Wolfe and Stephen Burgay are challenged by Jim Rader.

In the City of Tenaha, there’s two vying for position of mayor. Running for the job are current mayor Orinthia Johnson, and challenger Claudine Wilson Howard. Current councilman Mark Hickson will face Michael Baker for a one-year term. As for the two available two-year terms, incumbent Durand Steadman, Cliff Lloyd and Tommy Rinkle are seeking the seats.

At the Tenaha ISD, two trustee positions are up for election and three are running. Filing are incumbent Tracy Collins, and challengers Michael Ogden and Vickie Jernigan. David Fallin withdrew his name due to health reasons.

The Joaquin ISD will be filling three trustee positions with six running. The only incumbent to filed was John Paul Lawson. Also seeking seats are Rodney Harper, James Hamilton, Thomas Harvey, Chrisco Bragg and Pam Hearnsberger.

The Shelbyville ISD has two positions open, with four running. They are incumbents Tiffanne Klein and Faye Dale Allen, along with challengers Tim Bradshaw and Mark Bohannon.

Early voting for the city and school board races will be April 28 thru May 6.

Again, not all entities still observe the May election schedule, as some now wait until November. These include the City of Center and City of San Augustine, along with the Center ISD, San Augustine ISD, Broaddus ISD, and Excelsior ISDs.

The Texas Department of Transportation has corrected information we gave to you Wednesday. The semi-annual inspection on the U.S. Hwy. 84 bridge at Logansport, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., today, Thursday, not yesterday, as we had reported. This operation will require reducing the bridge to one lane using a pilot car to lead traffic across the structure. Motorists should be prepared for short delays during this time. Again, the Sabine River Bridge in Logansport will be down to one lane, today for inspection

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee’s 7th Annual Health & Fitness Fair is being held from 9 to 1 today at the Windham Civic Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to have various health screenings which include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, hearing screens, PVD screening, bone density tests, and heart awareness information. Event chairman, Meg Camp tells us over 40 booths are part of this year’s health & fitness fair. She says there’s a waiting list for the two mammogram units and she’s got a good list of blood donors signed up…but there’s room if you’d like to give.

The City of Joaquin is making plans for their centennial celebration to be held starting Friday, June 13 thru Saturday, June 14. Events including a gospel singing that Friday night at Joaquin High School featuring Joaquin native Trey Wilson, East Texas gospel group, The Stanley’s and other local singers. There’s no entry charge, but donations are welcome. Saturday, June 14, events include a parade at 10 a.m., vendor booths, a 42 tournament, horseshoes, washer toss, a Jaws of Life demonstration by the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Dept. and BBQ plates sold by the fire department. Prizes will be given for the oldest & youngest Joaquin citizen, longest married couple, person who traveled the greatest distance to attend, oldest Joaquin cheerleader, homecoming queen and football player, and a number of other recognitions throughout the day. Plus, there’ll be games and activities for all ages, and live music throughout the day. The day will be capped off with a concert at 7 at the Logansport River Front featuring the band Windstream from Shreveport, in addition to fireworks at 9 p.m. Centennial cookbooks, t-shirts and caps will be on sale at Joaquin City Office and at the celebration. All proceeds will be used for improvements to the city park and future events. Everyone is welcome to Joaquin to mark their 100 anniversary June 13 & 14.

The Timpson American Legion Post 90, the Personal Excellence Program, and Timpson Youth Advisory Council are sponsoring “Spring Youth Activities” Day this Saturday, March 29, at So So Park in Timpson. They’ll start at 11:30 am until approximately 7:30 pm. There will be activities for the kids that will include a Video Game Tournament (in the Community Center), Volleyball, Disc (Frisbee) Golf, short hikes around the park, and so on. Food such as Chips, Drinks, and Sweets will be available for purchase and the proceeds will go to benefit students and American Legion Post 90. All are invited to come and enjoy the park, play video games, and just have fun!

The Center High School Lady Rider Golf Team took third place at the Grapeland Sandies Golf Classic Tuesday in Crockett. Making up the Lady Rider Team is Senior-Ruth Santana, Freshman-Kailey Agnew, Freshman-Madison Agnew, Freshman-Callie Johnson and Coach Alden Reeves. Seven girls' teams took part in the event. The District Boys and Girls golf tournament will be held next Wednesday & Thursday at the Neches Pines golf course in Diboll.

The District 21-A golf tournament was held at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Nacogdoches this week, and the Joaquin Lady Ram and Ram golfers will be advancing to the regional golf tournament. The Lady Rams took first place, while the Ram linksters were second behind Cushing.

Weather permitting; Center High School is hosting its annual JV & Varsity Track Meet—The Rider Relays, starting at 4 p.m. this afternoon at Roughrider Stadium.

Meanwhile, San Augustine is hosting the S.A. Alumni Relays today as a number of area teams will be taking part, including Tenaha. Timpson tracksters go to Huntington; and Garrison at the West Rusk Relays.

Baseball Friday:

The Center Roughriders will take on district leading Carthage Friday night. The Riders are 1-3 in Dist. 20-3A, while Carthage is off to a 4-0 start.

In Dist. 21-1A, its Chireno at Joaquin, Tenaha at Douglass and Mt. Enterprise at Shelbyville.

Saturday’s action, Joaquin at Cushing, Shelbyville at Douglass, and Chireno at Timpson.

In District 23-1A, Chester at San Augustine

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches' Rankings are out for the week and Douglass is No. 1 in Class A, while Colmesneil is 10th, with West Sabine No. 13. Hughes Springs is tops in 2A with Central Heights No. 17. In 3A, College Station is No. 1, with Diboll up to No. 2; and in 4A, Moody is the top team, and Pearland has moved into the No. 1 spot in 5A.

Softball Friday:

The Center Lady Riders are still in search of their first district win and will host Carthage.

In other district action, Shelbyville at Beckville, Gary at Timpson, and Joaquin has a bye.

Garrison will go to Elkhart

The Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll has Beckville still No. 1 in 1A; Natalia is No. 1 in Class 2A; LaGrange is the top ranked team in 3A, with Hudson No. 6, Carthage No. 11; Barbers Hill is the 4A No. 1 softball team; and Katy Cinco Ranch is the 5A No. 1 team.

The SFA Ladyjacks basketball team is playing College of Charleston tonight in the semi-finals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 73-year old Willie “Bill” Denby of the Dunnigan Community near Shelbyville. Service will be at 11 this morning at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel, with graveside service to follow at Patroon Cemetery. Among his survivors are his wife, Betty Windham Denby of Dunnigan; children, Tony Denby of Dunnigan, Earlene Mitchell of Gooberhill, and Timmy Denby of Lout Town; sisters, Ruby Risinger of Gooberhill and Delsia Powell of Gooberhill.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 42-year old Cynthia Gail (Adams) Hutto of Center. Service will be at 3 this afternoon at Mangum Funeral Home, with burial at New Hope Cemetery in Center. Among Cynthia Gail (Adams) Hutton's survivors is her husband, Rayford Hutto of Center; mother, Shirley Adams of Center; children, Bobby Hutto, David Hutto and Chris Hutto, all of Center; brothers and sisters, Montie Jo Adams of Center, Bobby Adams of Center, James Lee Adams of Nacogdoches, Sylvia Ann Adams of Center, Annette Gill of San Augustine and Jerry Moore.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 93-year old Audrey Williams of Nederland, formerly of Joaquin. She passed away Tuesday at her home in Nederland. Service will be at 10 Saturday at Jackson Missionary Baptist Church, with burial to follow at Jackson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 Friday at Mangum Funeral Home. Among Audrey Williams’ survivors are 2 sons, Jerry Williams of Nederland and Forrest Williams of Salem, Ark.

Mangum Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 88-year old Ruthelma Lou Adams of Center. She passed away Wednesday at Rock Haven Nursing Home in Nacogdoches. Graveside service will be at 2 Sunday at Newburn Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to service beginning at noon Sunday. Among Ruthelma Lou Adams’ survivors are two sons, Gale Adams and Riley Adams, both of Nacogdoches; a daughter, Evelyn Adams of Center; and brother, J.W. Braden of Center.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 87-year old Joyce Lavern Hadley of San Antonio, formerly of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 this morning at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with burial at Antioch Cemetery in San Augustine County. At the request of the family, memorials and donations can be made to the San Augustine Public Library, or to the Antioch Cemetery, San Augustine.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 71-year old Dewey H. Rash of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Friday morning at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, cremation to occur afterwards with interment in the Sardis Cemetery in Shelby County. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday. Among Dewey H. Rash’s survivors, are his son, Dewey Hermon Rash, Jr. of San Augustine; daughter, Gayla Miller of Shelbyville; brothers, Thomas Rash of Arizona, Billy Rash of Lufkin, and Paul Rash of Lufkin; sisters, Betty Ramono of Oklahoma, Jeanette Buck of Houston and Pam Rash of Houston.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for longtime civic leader, 78-year old Bill “Billy” Simmons of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Saturday at First United Methodist Church in San Augustine, with burial at Myrtle Spring Cemetery in Sabine County. Visitation will be 5 to 8 Friday evening at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. His survivors include daughters, Renae Simmons of Houston; Rhonda Simmons of College Station; Brenda Steptoe of San Augustine and Lisa Sandidge of Lufkin.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 12-year old Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray of Tenaha. A Wake will be held from 7 to 9 Friday at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Benford Chapel Baptist Church in Tenaha with interment at St. John Cemetery in Tenaha. Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray is survived by his mother, Cassandra Horton of Tenaha, fathe, Rodney Gray of Tenaha; 2 sisters, Melisa McCollister of Center, and Latishana Gray of Tenaha; and 2 brothers, Rodney Gray of Tenaha and Devante' Gray of Center.

Hawthorne Funeral Home of Carthage announces funeral service for 97-year old Mrs. Irene Campbell of Gary. She passed away Monday in Gary. Service will be at 10 this morning at Eastside Baptist Church in Gary, with burial at Gary Cemetery. Among Irene Campbell's survivors is her daughter, Sue Koonce of Tenaha.

Arrest Report

3/25/14--3/26/14

Shelby County:

Christina Channel, 31, Timpson, Panola County Warrants-Theft by Check

David Bradley Battles, 36, Shelbyville, San Augustine County Warrant-Criminal Non-Support, Driving While License Invalid & Failure to Appear, Original Charge-Driving While License Invalid

San Augustine County:

Eric LePaul Mosby, 39, San Augustine, Failure to Comply as a Sex Offender & Tampering with Governmental Records

David Reppond, III, 37, Lufkin, Parole Violation-Larceny

Melissa Marshall, 32, Broaddus, Hindering Apprehension

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A fire last week at a San Augustine County residence where a man’s body was found inside the burned structure has now turned into a homicide investigation. Yesterday, the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release saying they’re working the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office. San Augustine County Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham says 62-year old Kavy Neil Sowell’s body was found in the burned remains of a mobile home on County Road 3200 late in the evening on March 17. Chief Cunningham said preliminary autopsy results say Sowell’s body had multiple gunshot wounds, which resulted in his death, and did not say if the gun shots were fired by the suspect, or if they were from ammunition in the house. It’s reported Kavy Neil Sowell was a gun collector, and according to a neighbor, may have possibly had a land dispute with another individual, but Chief Cunningham would not speculate. Firefighters from San Augustine, Broaddus, and Powell Town responded to the blaze, but they had difficulty battling the fire because of exploding ammunition inside the residence. If you have any information that can assist in the investigation, you’re asked to contact Lufkin Crime Stoppers at 936-639-TIPS. Chief Cunningham said since San Augustine does not have a crime stoppers, Lufkin has offered to assist with theirs. He added there’s no connection between the incident and Lufkin. All calls and tips are anonymous and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest related to this crime. 

A sex offender is off the streets, as one of the Texas 10 Most Wanted, turned himself in to the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday. Thirty-nine year old Eric Lapaul Mosby of San Augustine is still being held in the San Augustine County Jail with no bail set. By the way, the $5,000 that was being offered will not be paid since the arrest was not the result of a tip, according to the DPS. Mosby’s criminal history includes sexual assault of a child, failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, and aggravated assault, according to the DPS notice issued Monday. Mosby was convicted in 1997 for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Since 2007, he has been arrested multiple times for failure to register as a sex offender. This violent criminal past has led him to being wanted for failure to comply with sex offender registration, tampering with a governmental record, and probation violation.

The Center ISD Board of Trustees will have a called meeting at 12 noon today to consider and take action on, including instructional materials allotment and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Certification for 2014-2015; and authorize administration to apply for Low Attendance Days Waiver so as not to lose state funding due to no school during the recent winter weather. The school board may also consider resignation and employment of personnel.

This Saturday, March 29^th, is Vietnam Veterans Day in the State of Texas and the Texas Vietnam Memorial will be dedicated in Austin. In observance of the day VFW Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary will join with the family of Larry S. Byford (KIA, Vietnam, June 23, 1967) at the Fannie Booth Brown Library to donate a book titled "A Name On A Wall" written by an Englishman, Mark Byford.  Post Quartermaster Larry Hume says it’s a great book about Larry Byford from Shelby County and his father Lawry Byford who served in WW II. The public is cordially invited, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.

Toe tappin’, foot stompin’ Western Swing and traditional country music is coming to San Augustine with the opening of Ayish Hall this Friday evening. Located in the old cotton gin near the overpass and old caboose behind the log cabin, the venue will feature live music and an open dance floor. Grand opening is at 7 Friday night, and among the artiest will be The Sugar Moons, The Texas Tumbleweed, Cowboy poet and story teller Derek Duncan, and special guest artists Steve Carpenter and Hillary Melton-Fiscus. According to owner Shane Matthews, its live music like you haven't seen or heard in a long time. Admission is $5

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 75-year old Donald Ray Stephenson of Timpson. Service will be at 10 this morning at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at 2:30 at Zion Hill Cemetery in Lovelady. Among Donald Ray Stephenson’s survivors are his wife, Mary Stephenson of Timpson; children, Rusty Stephenson of Dayton, Nikki Johnson of Dayton, Debra Vick of Silsbee, Thomas King of Timpson, Angelia Palmer of Silsbee, Tammy Mikesh of Timpson, and Billy Dickerson of Nacogdoches; a brother, Henry Melvin Stephens, Jr. of Baytown, and sister, Betty Garcia of Pearland.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 7-and-a-half month old Annabella Raiyne Byrd of Center. Service will be at 2 this afternoon at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Good Hope Cemetery. Among Annabella Raiyne Byrd’s survivors are her parents, Korey & Keisha Byrd of Center; big brother, Peyton Byrd of Center; big sister, Valerie Byrd of Center; grandparents, Patricia Byrd & Bill Barcheers of Center, Carl Emerson of Logansport, Glen Byrd of Joaquin and Dorothy & Bill Gattis of Joaquin; and great grandmother, Barbara “Big Nanny” Bryan of Broaddus.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 73-year old Willie “Bill” Denby of the Dunnigan Community near Shelbyville. He passed away Monday at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Service will be at 11 Thursday at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel, with graveside service to follow at Patroon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 today at Mangum Funeral Home. Bill Denby was retired from Deep East Texas Electric Co-op after 50-years of service. Among his survivors are his wife, Betty Windham Denby of Dunnigan; children, Tony Denby of Dunnigan, Earlene Mitchell of Gooberhill, and Timmy Denby of Lout Town; sisters, Ruby Risinger of Gooberhill and Delsia Powell of Gooberhill.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 42-year old Cynthia Gail (Adams) Hutto of Center. She passed away Monday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Service will be at 3 Thursday at Mangum Funeral Home, with burial at New Hope Cemetery in Center. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 this evening at the funeral home. Among Cynthia Gail (Adams) Hutton's survivors is her husband, Rayford Hutto of Center; mother, Shirley Adams of Center; children, Bobby Hutto, David Hutto and Chris Hutto, all of Center; brothers and sisters, Montie Jo Adams of Center, Bobby Adams of Center, James Lee Adams of Nacogdoches, Sylvia Ann Adams of Center, Annette Gill of San Augustine and Jerry Moore.

Mangum Funeral Home announces pending service for 93-year old Audrey Williams of Nederland, formerly of Joaquin. She passed away Tuesday at her home in Nederland. Among Audrey Williams’ survivors are 2 sons, Jerry Williams of Nederland and Forrest Williams of Salem, Ark.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces service for 74-year old Mrs. Olga Mims Hughes of Timpson. Service will be at 2 this afternoon at Taylor Funeral Home Chapel, with interment to follow at Corinth Cemetery in Timpson.  Among Olga Mims Hughes’ survivors are her husband, Gerald Hughes of Timpson; son David Hailey of Timpson; daughter, Debbie Golden of Center; daughter-in-law, Jill Hailey of Timpson; step-daughters, Ellen Kennon and Patricia Merliss, both of Dallas; and sisters, Lorene McEntire and Marian Gentry, both of Timpson.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 71-year old Dewey H. Rash of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Friday morning at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, cremation to occur afterwards with interment in the Sardis Cemetery in Shelby County. Among Dewey H. Rash’s survivors, are his son, Dewey Hermon Rash, Jr. of San Augustine; daughter, Gayla Miller of Shelbyville; brothers, Thomas Rash of Arizona, Billy Rash of Lufkin, and Paul Rash of Lufkin; sisters, Betty Ramono of Oklahoma, Jeanette Buck of Houston and Pam Rash of Houston.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 87-year old Joyce Lavern Hadley of San Antonio, formerly of San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Thursday at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with burial at Antioch Cemetery in San Augustine County. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. At the request of the family, memorials and donations can be made to the San Augustine Public Library, or to the Antioch Cemetery, San Augustine.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for longtime civic leader, 78-year old Bill “Billy” Simmons of San Augustine. He passed away Monday in Houston. Service will be at 11 Saturday at First United Methodist Church in San Augustine, with burial at Myrtle Spring Cemetery in Sabine County. Visitation will be 5 to 8 Friday evening at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. His survivors include daughters, Renae Simmons of Houston; Rhonda Simmons of College Station; Brenda Steptoe of San Augustine and Lisa Sandidge of Lufkin.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces service for 63-year old Charles "Hundy Bear" Earl Hester of Center. Service will be at 1 today at Triumph Church in Center, with interment at Westview Cemetery. Among his suvivors are 3 brothers, C.W. Gillaspie, Bennie Ray Gillaspie and Tommy Lee Lathan, all of Center; 3 sisters, Lillie Helen Thedford, Saint Ella Faye Gardner, and Della Mae Johnson, all of Center; a son, Michael Williams of Center; and a daughter, Latoya Jackson of Lufkin.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 12-year old Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray of Tenaha. He passed away last Thursday in Carthage. A Wake will be held from 7 to 9 Friday at Community Funeral Home Chapel in Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Benford Chapel Baptist Church in Tenaha with interment at St. John Cemetery in Tenaha. Ja'merion La'Vincent Roe Gray is survived by his mother, Cassandra Horton of Tenaha, fathe, Rodney Gray of Tenaha; 2 sisters, Melisa McCollister of Center, and Latishana Gray of Tenaha; and 2 brothers, Rodney Gray of Tenaha and Devante' Gray of Center.

In sports,

The Center Roughrider soccer team came up short in their bi-district playoff game in Crockett last night, losing in overtime to Bryan Rudder, 3-1. Bryan Rudder gets the Waco/Lampasas winner in the second round.

Baseball last night:

The Center Roughriders lose to Jasper, 5-2, dropping the Riders to 1-3 in the District 20-3A race. Jasper improves to 2-4. The Rider JV came away with a 13-3 win over Jasper. Center will hosts one of the district front-runners, Carthage Friday night.

The Joaquin Rams shut-out the Timpson Bears, 7-0, to give Joaquin a 5-2 Dist. 21-1A record, while Timpson falls to 5-3. Meanwhile, Cushing beats Shelbyville, 10-7, dropping the Dragons to 2-5, and Tenaha comes up short against Mt. Enterprise, 8-7 in 8 innings, as the Tigers go to 0-6.

Friday’s games, Chireno at Joaquin; Tenaha at Douglass; and Mt. Enterprise at Shelbyville.

Saturday’s action, Joaquin at Cushing, Shelbyville at Douglass, and Chireno at Timpson.

In District 23-1A, Colmesneil beats the San Augustine Wolves, 19-1, as S.A. goes to 1-4; West Sabine over Broaddus, 15-2, making West Sabine 4-1, and Broaddus 3-2. Also, Zavalla beat Brookeland, 15-2. Friday’s games include Chester at San Augustine.

The Garrison Bulldogs beat Groveton, 4-2 last night.

Softball:

The Shelbyville Lady Dragons take a 3-2 win over the Joaquin Lady Rams, improving Shelbyville to 5-2, and Joaquin goes to 4-3. Timpson had a bye.

Friday, Joaquin has a bye, Shelbyville at Beckville, and Gary at Timpson.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs are 7-0 after a 5-0 win over Groveton. Garrison will go to Elkhart Friday.

Center High School will be hosting the UIL District Tennis Tournament today and Thursday.

Tomorrow, Center High School is hosting its annual JV & Varsity Track Meet—The Rider Relays, starting at 4 p.m. at Roughrider Stadium.

San Augustine will be hosting the S.A. Alumni Relays tomorrow as a number of area teams will be taking part, including Tenaha. Timpson tracksters go to Huntington; and Garrison at the West Rusk Relays.

An East Texas man with ties to San Augustine, Tenaha and Nacogdoches has been added to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list. A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to the capture of 39-year old Eric Lapaul Mosby has a violent criminal past and is wanted for failure to comply with sex offender registration, tampering with a governmental record and probation violation. Mosby has previously worked in the poultry industry, and his criminal history includes sexual assault of a child, failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and aggravated assault. Mosby was convicted in the 1997 for the sexual assault of a 14-year old girl, and since 2007, has been arrested multiple times for failure register as a sex offender. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous. Eric Mosby is 6-1, approximately 250 pounds, and may be using the alias “Hambone”. He has multiple tattoos, including a bone on his neck, a tiger on his right shoulder and a woman on his left shoulder. He also has a notice scar near his left eye. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Eric Mosby, you’re asked to Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), or your local law enforcement. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous.

Arrest Report

3/24/14--3/25/14

Shelby County:

Brandon McCollister, 29, Center, Warrant-Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle

Hai Ler Dee, 18, Center, Possession of Marijuana

Justin Taylor, 18, Center, Assault-Family Violence

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A San Augustine County man was taken into custody last weekend for an incident where he set his girlfriend’s automobile on fire in January. 41-year old Billy Ray Perry of San Augustine was arrested on an outstanding warrant and charged with a state-jail felony charge of arson of a building, habitation, or vehicle, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. According to San Augustine County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham, the incident occurred on Jan. 26 when Perry and his girlfriend got into an argument, and he went outside and set her 2002 Volkswagen Beetle on fire, destroying the vehicle. Perry posted $25,000 bail and was released from Jail Sunday. He’s to appear in front of a San Augustine grand jury today.

San Augustine County Commissioners will meet at 9 this morning and among their agenda items for discussion and possible action will be travel vouchers; Series 13A Fund for Veteran Assistance Grant; Hazard Mitigation proposals; flag poles from the circle to the courthouse; cell phone for Commissioner Pct. 4; and resolution for the employee handbook policy. The Court will also discuss and take appropriate action concerning the Aon Fire Protection Corporation proposal at the county jail. In addition, County Judge Sammye Johnson will present commissioners education certificate of completion for mandatory continuing education.

The 27th Annual Center Rotary Club Fun for Funds auction will be held tonight starting at 6 p.m. All proceeds go to the Catherine Pinkston Roughrider Scholarship Foundation, with last year’s event raising $60-thousand.

Rotary Club President Thomas Morrison says the event helps to fund Center High graduates’ post high school education.

You can view the auction on Center Cable TV Channel 2, on the internet at funforfunds.org, or listen to Q-100, KQBB radio. Bids can be placed over the phone or by internet, according to Morrison.

Some of the featured items on tonight’s auction include: an insulated deer stand, retail value of $1,500; a Queen of the Sabine Dinner Cruise for 10 for valued at $1,200; a 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team framed signed lithograph $1,000 value; a Weatherby 12 gauge Pump shot gun valued at $375; a Johnny Manziel autographed photo, $200; and a set of 4 Houston Texan game tickets valued at $700. There are a number of other items you’ll be able to bid on tonight and assist with the Roughrider Scholarship Foundation.

By the way, Morrison tells us on-line bidding will begin around noon today, and you’ll be able to keep up with bidding and make bids via computer and your personal device. 

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee’s 7th Annual Health & Fitness Fair will be held this Thursday at the Windham Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to have various health screenings which include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, hearing screens, PVD screening, bone density tests, and heart awareness information. There will be two mammogram units and a blood mobile on site.  To register for a mammogram please contact Daphne Lovell at 936-598-3223 and to sign up to give blood please contact Meg Camp at 936-657-1944. 

The Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo & Steer Show is Thursday thru Saturday at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center. Performances are 7:45 nightly, with Mutton Bustin’ starting at 7. Thursday’s special-no tickets to purchase, $2 donation per person benefiting Azelway Children’s Services. One day admission is $7, and a two-day armband for $10. Saturday night is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink”. Everyone is asked to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. Tickets are available at outhousetickets.com. Stock contractor is Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo with specialty act: Mark Swingler.

Mangum Funeral Home announces pending service for Willie “Bill” Denby, of Shelbyville. He passed away Monday at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Among Willie “Bill” Denby’s survivors are his wife, Betty Denby of Shelbyville; and children, Tony Denby, Earline Mitchell and Timmy Denby, all of Shelbyville.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home of San Augustine announces pending service for 87-year old Mrs. Joyce Hadley of San Antonio, originally of San Augustine. He passed away Sunday in San Antonio.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 71-year old Dewey H. Rash of San Augustine. He passed away last Friday in San Augustine. Service will be at 11 Friday morning at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, cremation to occur afterwards with interment in the Sardis Cemetery in Shelby County. Among Dewey H. Rash’s survivors, are his son, Dewey Hermon Rash, Jr. of San Augustine; daughter, Gayla Miller of Shelbyville; brothers, Thomas Rash of Arizona, Billy Rash of Lufkin, and Paul Rash of Lufkin; sisters, Betty Ramono of Oklahoma, Jeanette Buck of Houston and Pam Rash of Houston.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces funeral service for 98-year old Mrs. Eunice Hardin of Timpson. Service will be held at 2 today in Taylor Funeral Home Chapel, with interment Wednesday afternoon in Bean Cemetery in Kirbyville. Among Eunice Hardin’s survivors are her daughters, Doris Pass Hicks of Nacogdoches, and Virginia Pass Bonnett of Timpson.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces service for 74-year old Mrs. Olga Mims Hughes of Timpson. She passed away Monday at her residence. Service will be at 2 Wednesday at Taylor Funeral Home Chapel, with interment to follow at Corinth Cemetery in Timpson. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Taylor Funeral Home. Among Olga Mims Hughes’ survivors are her husband, Gerald Hughes of Timpson; son David Hailey of Timpson; daughter, Debbie Golden of Center; daughter-in-law, Jill Hailey of Timpson; step-daughters, Ellen Kennon and Patricia Merliss, both of Dallas; and sisters, Lorene McEntire and Marian Gentry, both of Timpson.

Dorman Funeral Home of Orange announces graveside service for 62-year old Donnie Terrell Parker of Orange. Graveside service will be at 2 this afternoon at Folsom Chapel Cemetery in Center. Among Donnie Terrell Parker’s survivors are his wife, Janice of Orange; mother Jean Reeves of Center; daughter, Leslie Brown of LaPorte; son, Chris Brown of Orange; sisters, Jena Fuller & Debra Diverdi, both of Center; and brother, Clint Parker of Center.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 75-year old Donald Ray Stephenson of Timpson. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 10 Wednesday morning at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at 2:30 at Zion Hill Cemetery in Lovelady. Among Donald Ray Stephenson’s survivors are his wife, Mary Stephenson of Timpson; children, Rusty Stephenson of Dayton, Nikki Johnson of Dayton, Debra Vick of Silsbee, Thomas King of Timpson, Angelia Palmer of Silsbee, Tammy Mikesh of Timpson, and Billy Dickerson of Nacogdoches; a brother, Henry Melvin Stephens, Jr. of Baytown, and sister, Betty Garcia of Pearland.

Mangum Funeral Home announces service for 7-and-a-half month old Annabella Raiyne Byrd of Center. Service will be at 2 Wednesday at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Good Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Mangum Funeral Home. Among Annabella Raiyne Byrd’s survivors are her parents, Korey & Keisha Byrd of Center; big brother, Peyton Byrd of Center; big sister, Valerie Byrd of Center; grandparents, Patricia Byrd & Bill Barcheers of Center, Carl Emerson of Logansport, Glen Byrd of Joaquin and Dorothy & Bill Gattis of Joaquin; and great grandmother, Barbara “Big Nanny” Bryan of Broaddus.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces service for 63-year old Charles Hester of Center. Service will be at 1 Wednesday at Triumph Church in Center, with interment at Westview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Community Funeral Home in Center.

The Center Roughrider soccer team has a bi-district playoff game at 5 this afternoon in Crockett as they take on Bryan Rudder at Crockett High School. The winner gets the Waco/Lampasas winner in the second round.

The Timpson ISD now has a girls’ athletic coordinator. Josh Jourden was hired by the school trustees at the March 18 board meeting. Jourden will also serve as girls’ head basketball coach, and is coming to Timpson from Poteet. Jourden brings a successful resume to Timpson ISD, having won a state championship last year, and numerous state, regional and district championships. Timpson ISD Superintendent Dr. Mid Johnson said Timpson is excited about bringing a coach of Coach Jourden’s caliber in the district that will work not only to build a winning girls’ basketball program, but will also work with the other girls’ coaches to improve the participation and performance of our female athletes and those programs.

Baseball today:

The Center Roughriders will attempt to put back-to-back district wins together when they host the Jasper Bulldogs tonight. Diboll and Carthage lead the district at 3-0; Hudson is 3-1; while the Riders are tied with Central at 1-2 in fourth place; Jasper is 1-3; and Huntington is 0-4.

In Dist. 21-1A, Joaquin goes to Timpson; Shelbyville at Cushing; and Tenaha at Mt Enterprise. Douglass leads the district at 7-0, Cushing has one loss; Timpson is 5-2; Joaquin is 4-2; Shelbyville has two wins; and Martinsville with a win; and Tenaha is 0-5.

Over in Dist. 23-1A, Colmesneil will be at San Augustine; and Broaddus at West Sabine today. Colmesneil is on top of the district standings at 4-0; while the Wolves and Burkeville are 1-3. Broaddus, West Sabine and Zavalla are all tied for second at 3-1.

Dist. 19-2A, Garrison goes to Groveton today. Central Heights leads the district at 5-0, with Crockett and Groveton at 3-1. Garrison and Elkhart are 2-2.

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches’ Association state rankings were released last Thursday and Douglass is still No. 1 in Class A, with Price Carlisle 7^th, and West Sabine 10^th; in Class 2A, Brock is No. 1; College Station High School is the top team in 3A with Diboll ranked 6^th; Corpus Christi Moody is No. 1 in 4A; and Southlake Carroll tops the 5A rankings.

Softball today:

The Center Lady Riders are 0-6 and are home against Jasper.

In Dist. 21-1A, the Joaquin Lady Rams and Shelbyville Lady Dragons tangle to start the second round of district in Shelbyville; Timpson has a bye. Beckville is 6-0, while Joaquin, Shelbyville and Timpson are knotted at 4-2.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs start the second go-round of district at Groveton. Garrison is leading Dist. 19-2A with a 6-0 record.

Center High School will be hosting the UIL District Tennis Tournament Wednesday and Thursday.

Also on Thursday, the Center High School JV & Varsity Track Meet starts at 4 p.m. at Roughrider Stadium.

The husband and wife accused of a triple shooting in Joaquin almost two years ago, were arraigned last Friday morning in Shelby County. Bobbie and Deedra Grubbs appeared before 273^rd District Judge Charles Mitchell, with both entering pleas of not guilty to the charges of Capital Murder and two-counts of Aggravated Assault.

The Grubbs are charged with the April 27, 2012 death of Martha Acevedo-Chan, and the shooting assault of Quinton Watts and Marilyn Retamar at the Joaquin Country Inn.

With the victim’s family members present, Shelby County District Attorney Kenneth Florence presented the indictments to the court. He was joined by newly deputized assistant DAs Ralph Guerrero and Wesley Mau, who were provided by Attorney General Greg Abbott to assist in trying the cases scheduled for May 12 & 27.

In a press release, Florence expressed his appreciation to AG Abbott, and said both men come at the expense of the state of Texas.

The Grubbs both received court-appointed local attorneys, as John R. Smith will represent Bobbie Grubbs, and Deck Jones on Deedra Grubbs’ behalf. Both were also offered plea deals by the state, and have seven days to respond. The agreement is for life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 30 years.

District Attorney Florence added in the press release, that it’s simply not possible to singly handle a case of this magnitude while handling the general affairs and caseload of the office on a daily basis. He said the budget cuts the DA’s office has been through in the past two years of having its budget cut 37 and-a-half percent, and doing away with the assistant DA position in October were too much.

The Grubbs face additional charges in Harris County after beating and robbing a woman before fleeing to Shelby County. They were apprehended in Cleveland after stealing a car to flee the crime scene at the Joaquin motel.

A citizen’s tip has lead to the arrest of a Center man, and the recovery of a stolen pick up and possible stolen firearms. Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shad Sparks says Rodney Cooley was found at a residence at 449 Country Road 4415 by Investigator John Pope and Deputy Roy Bailey on Thursday. A 2010 Chevrolet Pick up, reported stolen from Longview was located along with two possible stolen guns. During the investigation, authorities discovered Cooley was also wanted out of Nacogdoches County. Rodney Cooley was booked into the Shelby County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a Failure to Appear Warrant.

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court will have a special meeting at 9:30 this morning, and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action will be Commissioner Pct. 3 Travis Rodgers addressing the court in regards to the hiring of a full-time and part-time employee to fill recent vacancies on his road crew. The openings occurred with the recent death of an employee, and another leaving to take a job elsewhere.

In addition, Sheriff Willis Blackwell is expected to make a request for May 4-10 be known as National Correction Officers and Employees Week.

The commissioners will also consider the appointment of Bob Reeves to fill a recent vacancy on the Shelby County Appraisal Board. The action is prompted by the recent passing of board member Billy Walton.

In another action item, the court will discuss and possibly take action on the renewal of Property Insurance coverage through the Texas Association of Counties.

Finally, there will be discussion and possible action on the dispersion of the Child Safety Fee. According to Deanne Sample, County Judge administrative assistant, the Child Safety fee of $1.50 was adopted in the fall of last year, the same time as the Road & Bridge $10 fee, with the amounts added to every vehicle registration. The Child Safety feel can only be used for specific things, and a percentage must be sent to municipalities in the county. Ms. Sample said the county keeps an administrative fee, and the rest can be kept by the county or given to such organizations like the Children's Advocacy Center and CASA or others that the county feels fit the criteria. After several months of collecting the fee, the Commissioners will discuss when and how to divide the monies.

The Center Planning and Zoning Commission met last Thursday, and voted to deny a rezoning request for a proposed Mexican Food restaurant at 223 Travis Street. Around 8 to 9 households showed up or sent letters to voice their concern and disapproval, citing there was already an establishment of that nature in the neighborhood. The P & Z did approve a specific use permit for the structure at 419 Carroll Street, the location of the former Treasure Trove, to be used as a Hispanic church. The site had been a church previously.

The Center City Council will consider these two items when they meet in regular session at 5 this afternoon. In addition, the council will approve participation in the State of Texas Cooperative Purchasing Program; a resolution denoting April as Fair Housing Month; a change order for MLK Drive Reconstruction Project; and appointments to the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Board of Directors.

Shelbyville High School dominated the District 21A Academic UIL Spring Meet held at SFA on last Thursday. Shelbyville is Back-To-Back District Champions and qualified twenty-eight students in seventeen events for the Regional Meet. Kylee Windham received the plaque for District 21A High Point Individual by scoring an impressive sixty-one individual points when she placed first in Ready Writing, first in Feature Writing, first in News Writing, fourth in Headline Writing and fourth in Editorial Writing. Overall, Shelbyville UIL participants had an unofficial 487 points; while Cushing finished with 276; Timpson with 197.5; Alto with 140; and Joaquin with 93.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 75-year old Donald Stephenson of Timpson.

Mangum Funeral Home announces pending funeral service for 7-month old Annabella Byrd of Center. She passed away Friday at Children’s Medical Center Hospital in Dallas. Among Annabella Byrd’s survivors are her parents, Korey & Keisha Byrd.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial service for 83-year old Mrs. Wanda Mayo Koonce of the Silas Community near Timpson. She passed away last Thursday in Nacogdoches. Memorial service will be at 11 this morning at Taylor Funeral Home Chapel. A visitation for family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. before the service. Among Wanda Mayo Koonce’s survivors are her husband, Bertie Koonce of Timpson; sons, James Henning of Austin, Raymond Henning of Mt. Home, Idaho, and Lee Henning of Pineland; daughter, Karla Henning of Timpson; step-sons, Keith Koonce of Center and Kenneth Koonce of Houston; and a step-daughter, Kelly Parker of Shelbyville.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces funeral service for 98-year old Mrs. Eunice Hardin of Timpson. She passed away Saturday in Garrison. Funeral service will be held at 2, Tuesday in Taylor Funeral Home Chapel, with interment at 2 Wednesday in Bean Cemetery, Kirbyville. A visitation for family and friends will be 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Monday this evening at Taylor Funeral Home. Among Eunice Hardin’s survivors are her daughters, Doris Pass Hicks of Nacogdoches, and Virginia Pass Bonnett of Timpson.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces service for 82-year old Robert Lee Barnett of Center. Service will be at 2 today at Watson & Sons Chapel, with military honors graveside at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Among Robert Lee Barnett’s survivors are daughters, Wanda Jones of Center and Carolyn Knapp of Oregon; and a son, Michael Barnett of Idaho.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for longtime Center businessman, 94-year old D.S. (Shug) Jones of Center. He passed away Saturday at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Graveside service will be at 5 this afternoon at Oaklawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at Watson & Sons Funeral Home from 3:00 p.m. until service time. Among D.S. (Shug) Jones’ survivors are his brother, Joe Lewis Jones of Center; and his children, Dalton Brittain Jones of Center, Damon Jones of Center, Leisa Jones Webster and Roderick Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorial donations to First United Church of Center, Alzheimer Association, or Center Roughrider Scholarship Fund in memory of D.S. (Shug) Jones.

Dorman Funeral Home of Orange announces funeral service for 62-year old Donnie Terrell Parker of Orange. He passed away Saturday at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Graveside service will be at 2 Tuesday at Folsom Chapel Cemetery in Center. Among Donnie Terrell Parker’s survivors are his wife, Janice of Orange; mother Jean Reeves of Center; daughter, Leslie Brown of LaPorte; son, Chris Brown of Orange; sisters, Jena Fuller & Debra Diverdi, both of Center; and brother, Clint Parker of Center.

In sports,

Center Roughrider power lifter Garrett Stanley has taken the silver medal after placing second in his weight division at the Texas High School Power Lifting State Meet held over the weekend in Abilene. Stanley had a total weight of 1,415 pounds, just 20 pounds behind first place. Actually, he was the best in the squat and dead lift. In addition, team mate Devincent Hoyt just missed medaling, with a fourth-place finish in the 220 pound class; Kiounis Williams was fifth in the 198 pound division; and Rider Zach Verhalen was 10^th in the 275 pound division.

Shelbyville Dragon Kal Metcalf placed 7^th in the 242 pound class. Congratulations to these local student-athletes.

The Center Roughrider soccer team has clinched a playoff spot and will enter the state playoffs tomorrow afternoon as they take on Bryan Rudder in a 5 p.m. start at Crockett High School.

Baseball Friday:

The Center Roughriders were clicking Friday night, taking a 14-1 mercy-rule win over Huntington in five innings. The victory is the first in District 20-3A for the Riders who improve to 1-2. Center will be home Tuesday night to play 1-3 Jasper.

Other 20-3A action Friday, it was Carthage over Hudson, 11-6; and Diboll beat Jasper, 8-2. Carthage & Diboll are on top of the standings at 3-0, while Hudson drops to 3-1.

In Dist. 21-1A:

On Friday, the Timpson Bears get a no-hitter from Hunter Smith to shut-out the Shelbyville Dragons, 4-0; and take a 16-10 decision over Martinsville on Saturday. The wins give Timpson a 5-2 record. Shelbyville played Chireno Saturday and came away with a 12-2 win. The Dragons are 3-3.

The Joaquin Rams take a 5-4 win over Martinsville Friday, improving Joaquin’s record to 4-2.

Tenaha’s game Friday with Chireno was postponed and rescheduled as part of a double-header on April 15. Saturday, the Tigers lost to Cushing, 5-4, to drop Tenaha to an 0-5 district record.

In Friday’s highly anticipated match up between state-ranked teams from 21-1A, it was all Douglass, as the No. 1 ranked Indians shut-out Cushing 7-0. Douglass beat Mt Enterprise Saturday, 15-0, to go to 7-0 atop the district standings. Douglass has allowed 3 runs in those seven wins.

In Dist. 23-1A, the San Augustine Wolves notch their first district win Friday, 20-14 over Brookeland. S.A. is now 1-3. Colmesneil defeats Broaddus, 13-3, and West Sabine shuts-out Burkeville, 11-0.

Dist. 19-2A: The Garrison Bulldogs take an 11-1 win over Palestine Westwood, giving Garrison a 2-2 record. Central Heights beats Groveton, 5-4. Central Heights is 5-0.

Softball Friday:

The Center Lady Riders can’t seem to find their offense as they fall to Huntington, 10-0, and drop to 0-5 in Dist. 20-3A.

In Dist. 21-1A, it’s a three-way tie for second, between Timpson, Joaquin and Shelbyville. The Timpson Lady Bears get a 7-0 shut-out win over Chireno, the Joaquin Lady Rams take a tough 10-0 loss to the state’s No. 1 ranked team, Beckville, and the Shelbyville Lady Dragons get a 12-2 win over Martinville. Beckville leads the district at 6-0.

In Dist. 19-2A, the Garrison Lady Bulldogs are 6-0 after a 16-0 shutout of Palestine Westwood.

A history making season came to an end for the SFA Lumberjacks last night in San Diego, as UCLA beat SFA, 77-60 in the Round of 32. The Lumberjacks advanced with their first-ever NCAA Tournament win Friday night, a thrilling 77-75 decision over Virginia Commonwealth.

The SFA Ladyjacks are headed to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Final Four after beating Boise State, 80-59 Saturday. SFA travels to play College of Charleston.

On tap today: the Center Boys’ Golf team is at the Grapeland Tournament being played at the Crockett Country Club. The Lady Rider golf team will be in Crockett Tuesday. This is the final tune-up tournament for Center golfers as district will be held next week.

The District 20-3A middle school track and field meets are being held today. The girls’ meet is at Diboll, with the boys’ in Center starting at 3:45 at Roughrider Stadium.

In Timpson today, there’s a Jr. High meet taking place after school.

Finally, The Rayovac FLW Series bass tournament was held over the weekend on Toledo Bend out of Cypress Bend Park, and Russell Cecil of Willis won the three-day event with a 15 fish total of 61.09 pounds, winning $33,000 in prize money and a new Ranger rig. Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches was third, Lendell Martin, Jr. of Nacogdoches was 8^th, and Phillip Crelia of Center was 11^th.
This Thursday thru Sunday on Sam Rayburn, it’s the FLW’s Texas Tussel, with take-off from Cassels-Boykin County Park at Zavalla.

Arrest Report

3/21/14--3/24/14

Shelby County:

Mandel Roberts, 36, Timpson, Driving While Intoxicated with Child Under 15.

Janette Malecha, 42, Center, Assault-Family Violence

Regelio Hernandez, 49, Tenaha, Driving While Intoxicated

Jimmy May, 33, Joaquin, Disorderly Conduct

Marcus Yarbrough, 37, Center, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Driving While Intoxicated (2nd offense), Driving While License Suspended with Prior Conviction & Possession of Marijuana.

Carman Garcia, 41, Center, Public Intoxication

Mary Nadine Risinger, 43, Center, Criminal Mischief & Terroristic Threat

San Augustine County:

Christopher Martin, 34, San Augustine, Criminal Trespass & Public Intoxication

Troy L. Hopson, 23, Burkeville, Public Intoxication

Billy R. Perry, 41, Broaddus, Warrant-Arson of a Building/Vehicle Causing Damage & Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

When the smoke had cleared from around the Windham Civic Center Saturday afternoon, awards were presented to the winners in the first Shelby County Grill Fest Barbecue Contest. The event was sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society and 18 teams took part. The top-three winners in each of three meat categories were awarded cash prizes—including $1,000 for first; $750 for second, and $500 for third. A trophy was presented to overall grand and reserve champions.

Coming away with Grand Champion honor was the Wild Willis Kookers from Willis, with head cook Lang Chapman; reserve champion went to Team Rage of Rusk, with head cook Braun Cyr. Wild Willis Kookers had the first place chicken and third place brisket; meanwhile Team Rage took third in chicken and second in pork spare rib.

Grill Fest chairman, Mark Ivey told Center Broadcasting he and the grill fest committee were very pleased with the turnout of participants, and the overall success of the event.

In addition, 11 teams took part in the 42 tournament, with the team of Lynn Johnson and Louise Johnson earning the title of 42 Tournament Champions.

Meanwhile, 15 washer pitching teams participated in the event, with Brian Dean and Joey Lawson taking the win.

Here’s the list of top three finishes in each meat category:

Chicken:

1^st place-Wild Willis Kookers

2^nd place-Farmers State Bank, Center, head cook Joey Lawson

3^rd place-Team Rage

Pork Spare Ribs:

1^st place-Farmers State Bank, Center

2^nd place-Team Rage

3^rd place-Uncle Willy’s Redneck Mafia, Hemphill, head cook Tommy McGee

Brisket:

1^st place-All Smoked Up, Jacksonville, head cook Oley Willis

2^nd place-Uncle Willy’s Redneck Mafia

3^rd place-Wild Willis Kookers

The Paxton Water System has issued a boil water notice for customers in the Jackson/Joaquin area that were out of water Friday, March 21.

To endsure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use until further notice.

If you have any questions, contact Vince DiVerdi, 936-590-9177.

*Today A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm.Cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

·  Tonight A chance of rain and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

·  Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

·  Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

·  Monday A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office is saying the 15-year old female that was the subject of an Amber Alert after she came up missing last month, was sexually assaulted.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office says they have concluded their investigation and during interviews with the victim, family members and friends, the victim did go with the suspect voluntarily, but the sheriff’s office also believes the victim may have felt pressured to go with the suspect.

Twenty-seven year old Juan Delacruz, who reportedly is an illegal alien, and may have lived in Center, had a fixation on this victim for several months. The sheriff’s office says they can see where he has manipulated her during this time. Delacruz was located at a construction site in Lubbock, and the teen was found at a motel room there—two days after coming up missing. Warrants for charges of Enticing a Child, a 3rd degree felony, and Sexual Assault of a child, a 2nd degree felony were issued against Delacruz. A charge of kidnapping was dropped after the suspect confessed to the sexual assault, which occurred in Nacogdoches County.

Sheriff Jason Bridges also stated that Delacruz also has a pending hold on him from the border patrol and expects more charges to be filed in Lubbock for crimes that occurred there while he had the juvenile.

The Center Independent School District has graduated into the new age of digital delivery of information with the launch this week of the Center ISD and Campuses mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

According to Center ISD Superintendent Dr. James Hockenberry, the app enables parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff to quickly access all of the who, what, when and where for all of the Center ISD schools. Dr. Hockenberry added the app is free and can be found in the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching “Center ISD”.

Among the uses are: news and information; view calendars for general events, athletics, clubs and school organizations; find faculty and staff contact info; get important documents & other media; and access quick links to school menus, online gradebook system and more.

Dr. Hockenberry said putting the app into operation will greatly broaden the Center ISD’s ability to communicate with the parents, students and community.

Two Joaquin men and a Logansport woman were arrested this week by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with the theft of scrap metal and wiring in the Logansport area.

Chief Deputy Horace Womack says the suspects removed the objects from an uninhabited mobile home off Hwy. 191 and sold it at a scrap yard in Center.

Arrested were 46-year old Curtis Bryan Estes, 20-year old Joshua Douglas Prewitt, and 39-year old Kelly Michelle Rogers—all charged with 3 counts of Criminal Trespassing and 3 counts of Theft under $500.

Chief Womack said the trio was caught red handed Wednesday in the process of removing items of metal from the residence. DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s officials say they had a previous complaint at the same location on Monday, and after receiving a call that the suspects had returned, they were taken into custody.

All three admitted to their involvement in the thefts, having been to the residence on three prior occasions, and taking the metal and selling it in Center. 

The San Augustine County Commissioners' Court will meet at 10 this morning with the only agenda item being a public meeting to open Hazard Mitigation Proposals. According to County Judge's assistant/project manager Sandy Jenkins, the Hazard Mitigation Action Plan is a requirement for certain federal grant opportunities, and can be a mechanism for economic growth, job opportunities, local investment and expanded tax base. In addition, mitigation planning is to identify and take preventative actions for disasters of all types. The action plan must be updated every 5-years.

District Clerk Lori Oliver had notified Center Broadcasting that the jury summoned for Monday, March 24 for the 123rd District Court, Honorable Charles "Brick" Dickerson Presiding, has been cancelled. All cases have been passed due to a defense motion for continuance. Anyone receiving a summons for Monday in the 123^rd District Court in Center, you have been released from jury service until you receive a future summons.

The San Augustine County Livestock Show & Fair continues thru Saturday at the San Augustine County Fairgrounds. Today's activities include the fair exhibits display from 3 to 6 p.m.; and the broiler show at 4:30 p.m., and market rabbit show at 5 p.m., with a Dance starting at 7. On Saturday, it's a busy show day, beginning at 9 with market hogs, followed by lambs, goats, the heifer show, and steer show. An appreciation rib dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with the awards presentation at 6:30, and livestock & fair auction at 7.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a smokey haze rolling over Hurst Street Saturday, its all part of the first Shelby County Grill Fest Barbecue Cook-off--"Chillin' & Grillin' taking place at the Windham Civic Center.

Barbecue teams are vying for over $67-hundred in prize money, and trophies. The cook-off is sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society and will feature three cooking categories, according to Chairman Mark Ivey. The Pork Spare Ribs competition is sponsored by Specter, Inc., the home of T/R's Steaks and More and Endless Possibilities Catering. The Chicken cook-off category is sponsored by Tyson Foods, and the Brisket showdown is sponsored by Center Livestock Auction, Co.

The day's events will begin at noon for spectators. Entries will be accepted for the Washer Pitching Contest, sponsored by Shelby Savings Bank. An outdoor Show & Shine Classic Car exhibit will be hosted by the Shelby County Cruisers. The crowd will be entertained with live music presented by Farmers State Bank beginning at 3 with Danny Paul Windham and the Pine Hill Review, followed at 6 by the Ashton Hill Band.

The 42 tournament will begin Friday night, March 21 at 7 p.m., with the finals on Saturday, sponsored by Covington Lumber & Construction. The tourney will be in Foster Hall at the Civic Center.

The fun-filled day is assisted by Pitmaster Sponsors Liberty Tax Service, Texas State Bank, East Texas Poultry Supply, Impressions Advertising, 4C Electrical Services, Ray Jones Chevrolet and McAdams Propane.

Tasting samples from Grill Fest will be shared at 5 p.m. in Foster Hall. An all-day, come and go pass is $10. An awards presentation will follow with category sponsors presenting prize checks and trophies.

Tickets and t-shirts are available in Center at Center Glass, Hughes Florist, Elite Hair Design and Center Health and Harmony.

The Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and Ladies Auxiliary will have an observance at 10 a.m. Monday morning at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse to mark the 15^th anniversary Operation Allied Forces to halt humanitarian devastation that was unfolding in Kosovo. Two American Army helicopter pilots died on May 5, 1999 when they crashed serving their country. The public is cordially invited to attend Monday’s observance.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee’s 7th Annual Health & Fitness Fair will be held on Thursday, March 27 at the Windham Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to have various health screenings which include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, hearing screens, PVD screening, bone density tests, and heart awareness information. There will be two mammogram units and a blood mobile on site.  To register for a mammogram please contact Daphne Lovell at 936-598-3223 and to sign up to give blood please contact Meg Camp at 936-657-1944. 

Hawthorn Funeral Home in Carthage announces funeral service for 77-year old Mr. Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire of DeBerry. Service will be at 1 this afternoon at Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow in Shady Grove Cemetery in Panola County. Among Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire’s survivors are his wife, Shirley McGuire of DeBerry; children, Dwain McGuire of Carthage, David McGuire of Carthage, Diann Wilhite of Fruitvale, Denise Gray of Carthage, and Dollie Aaaron of DeBerry; brothers, Oliver Roger McGuire of Hawaii, Albert Thomas “Pat” McGuire of Grandbury, and Calvin McGuire of Elysian Fields.

Hicks Mortuary of Center announces service for 39-year old Mr. Tony O. Ware of Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at the East Liberty Baptist Church, with interment in the Thompson Cemetery in Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Hicks Mortuary. Among Tony O. Ware's survivors are, his mother, Ella Faye Ware of Center; 2 sons, Xavier Ware and Ja'Brayln Ware both of Center; 2 daughters, I'Ceyonna Ware of Center and Nakia Roland of Timpson; a sister, Teresa Arline of Center and a brother, Reginal Ware of Houston.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial graveside service for 83-year old Ben Gene Cooper of Coronado, Ca. Service will be at 3:30 Saturday at the Dixon Cemetery in the Weaver Community near Timpson.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home of San Augustine announces a graveside service for 62-year old Neil Sowell of the Norwood Community. He passed away Monday in San Augustine County. Service will be at 2 Sunday in Sowell Cemetery in San Augustine County. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2 Sunday.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 82-year old Robert Lee Barnett of Center. He passed away Thursday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Sunday at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 2 Monday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with military honors graveside at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Among Robert Lee Barnett’s survivors are daughters, Wanda Jones of Center and Carolyn Knapp of Oregon; and a son, Michael Barnett of Idaho.

Percy Garner & Son Mortuary announces graveside service for 73-year old Patricia Ann Holman Greer of Midwest City, OK. She passed away March 12 in Oklahoma. Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greer Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 6:30 today at Percy Garner & Son Mortuary.

Percy Garner & Son Mortuary of San Augustine announces service for 76-year old Cecile L. Davis of Hemphill. She passed away Sunday in Nacogdoches. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church in Hemphill with burial at Macedonia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 1 Saturday at the church.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces a memorial service for 94-year old Mrs. Henry Lee Cooper of Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Kingdom Hall in Center.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces service is pending for 63-year old Mr. Charles Hester of Center. He passed away Thursday at Memorial Health System of East Texas in San Augustine.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces pending service for 12-year old Jamerion Gray of Tenaha. He passed away Thursday at East Texas Medical Center in Carthage.

In sports,

The Texas High School Power Lifting state meet will be held tomorrow in Abilene, and six local lifters are hoping to medal. Four Center Roughriders will be participating, including Kiounis Williams, Garrett Stanley, DeVincent Hoyt and Zach Verhalen; while Shelbyville’s Kal Metcalf will also be there. In addition, Adam Mason of Joaquin will be a state alternate.

Center High School Freshmen Octavious Evans has been recognized by 24-7 Sports Recruiting Services as one of the top ten freshmen football players to watch in the State of Texas. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Evans finished last season with 67 receptions for 734 yards, and scored eight touchdowns. He also saw significant time on defense. He will be one of the top playmakers in East Texas this coming season despite the fact he will only be a sophomore, according to the recruiting service.

 Baseball Today:

The Center Roughriders are on the road to Huntington with JV first pitch set for 4:30, varsity at 7. The Riders are 0-2 in Dist. 20-3A, just ahead of last place Huntington, who’s 0-3. Hudson is atop the standings at 3-0, while Carthage and Diboll are 2-0, and Jasper and Central are 1-2.

Dist. 21-1A Baseball: 2-2 Shelbyville at 3-2 Timpson; Martinsville at 3-2 Joaquin; 0-4 Tenaha at Chireno; and #12 Cushing tangles with top-ranked Douglass in Cushing-both teams are undefeated. 

In Dist. 23-1A, it’ll be a game between two teams looking for their first wins, as 0-3 San Augustine is at 0-2 Brookeland. Broaddus and Colmesneil are on top of the standings at 3-0; West Sabine and Zavalla are 2-1; and Burkeville is 1-2. Chester is 0-2.

Dist. 19-2A: 1-2 Garrison at 0-3 Palestine Westwood. Central Heights is leading the pack at 4-0 with Groveton at 3-0; Crockett & Elkhart are 2-1; and Woden is 0-3.

Softball today:

The Center Lady Riders are back in action today as they head to Huntington in search of their first District 20-3A win. The Lady Riders are 0-4.

Other games scheduled today, in Dist. 21-1A, Chireno at 3-2 Timpson; 4-1 Joaquin at district-leading and No. 1 state-ranked 5-0 Beckville; 3-2 Shelbyville at Martinsville; and in Dist. 19-2A, 4-0 Garrison at Palestine Westwood.

The SFA Lumberjacks will take on Virginia Commonwealth at 6:30 tonight in San Diego in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The game is being telecast on TruTV. If the ‘Jacks win tonight, they will face the winner of the UCLA and Tulsa game in the second round of the tournament.

Last night in Nacogdoches, the SFA Ladyjacks take a 59-51 win over Texas State in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. The winner advances to play the Boise State-Grand Canyon winner.

The Timpson Bear Band March for Music 5K run will be Saturday beginning at 9am in So-So Park in Timpson. The fee will be $25 with a shirt included. Just to purchase a shirt it will be $15. You can register tomorrow morning from 8am-9am and the fee will be $15 without a shirt. All proceeds go to the THS Bear Band. 

Arrest Report

3/20/14--3/21/14

Shelby County:

Robert Cooley, 49, Tenaha, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle & Failure to Appear, Original Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance

Matthew Simmons, 29, Nacogdoches, Warrant-Burglary of a Habitation

Kelsey Oliver-Harris, 22, Tyler, Violation of Probation, Original Charge: Failure to ID

San Augustine County:

James O. Brown, 47, San Augustine, Parole Violation, Original Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Local track and field teams are taking part in meets today:

The Center Roughriders and Lady Riders will be at Waskom; Shelbyville, San Augustine and Tenaha head to West Sabine; and Timpson and Garrison are at Cushing.

Baseball Friday:

The Center Roughriders will be out to stop a 4-game skid as they return to action tomorrow night in Huntington. The Riders are 0-2 in Dist. 20-3A.

Dist. 21-1A Baseball Friday: Shelbyville at Timpson; Martinsville at Joaquin;Tenaha at Chireno; #12 Cushing tangles with top-ranked Douglass in Cushing. 

In Dist. 23-1A, San Augustine at Brookeland; and Garrison at Palestine Westwood.

The Texas Girls Association Softball Poll is out for the week and the No. 1 Class A team is Beckville; Natalia is No. 1 in Class 2A; the top 3A team is LaGrange, with Carthage No. 4 and Hudson No. 10; in 4A, Richmond Foster is tops; and the No. 1 team in 5A is Atascosita.

Softball Friday:

The Center Lady Riders have opened Dist. 20-3A with three-straight loses and will be in Huntington Friday night trying to turn things around.

Other games, Chireno at Timpson; Joaquin at district-leading and No. 1 state-ranked Beckville; Shelbyville at Martinsville; and 4-0 Garrison at Palestine Westwood.

The Texas High School Power Lifting state meet will be held Saturday in Abilene, and six local lifters are taking part. After winning region, four Center Roughriders will be participating at state, including Kiounis Williams, Garrett Stanley, DeVincent Hoyt and Zach Verhalen; while Shelbyville’s Kal Metcalf will also be there. In addition, Adam Mason of Joaquin will be a state alternate.

The SFA Lumberjacks will take on Virginia Commonwealth at 6:30 Friday in San Diego in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. This marks only the second time in the program's history that SFA has played in the NCAA tourney, and they're No. 12 seed in the South Region. If the ‘Jacks win Friday night, they will face the winner of the UCLA and Tulsa game in the second round of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the SFA Ladyjacks will host Texas State at 7 p.m. tonight at William R. Johnson Coliseum as part of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. The winner advances to play the Boise State-Grand Canyon winner.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 91-year old Robbie Hartt of the Arcadia Community. Graveside service will be held at 1 this afternoon at Powdrill Cemetery in Shelby County. Visitation will be held prior to the graveside service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Robbie Hartt is survived by a daughter, Brenda Middleton of Fort Worth; sons, Donald Williams of Mount Pleasant and Ronald Wayne Williams of Harleton; step-sons, Lynn Hartt of Center, Robert Hartt of Garrison and Glenn Hartt of Appleby; step-daughter, Tammy Dutton of Sherman; sisters, Martha Crippen and Jane Cooper; and sister-in-law, Odessa Powdrill.

Hawthorn Funeral Home in Carthage announces funeral service for 77-year old Mr. Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire of DeBerry. Service will be at 1 Friday at Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow in Shady Grove Cemetery in Panola County. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Among Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire’s survivors are his wife, Shirley McGuire of DeBerry; children, Dwain McGuire of Carthage, David McGuire of Carthage, Diann Wilhite of Fruitvale, Denise Gray of Carthage, and Dollie Aaaron of DeBerry; brothers, Oliver Roger McGuire of Hawaii, Albert Thomas “Pat” McGuire of Grandbury, and Calvin McGuire of Elysian Fields.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial graveside service for 83-year old Ben Gene Cooper of Coronado, Ca. Service will be at 3:30 Saturday at the Dixon Cemetery in the Weaver Community near Timpson.

Hicks Mortuary of Center announces service for 39-year old Mr. Tony O. Ware of Center. Service will be at 1 Saturday at the East Liberty Baptist Church, with interment in the Thompson Cemetery in Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Friday at Hicks Mortuary. Among Tony O. Ware's survivors are, his mother, Ella Faye Ware of Center; 2 sons, Xavier Ware and Ja'Brayln Ware both of Center; 2 daughters, I'Ceyonna Ware of Center and Nakia Roland of Timpson; a sister, Teresa Arline of Center and a brother, Reginal Ware of Houston.

Percy Garner & Son Mortuary announces graveside service for 73-year old Patricia Ann Holman Greer of Midwest City, OK. She passed away March 12 in Oklahoma. Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greer Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 6:30 Friday at Percy Garner & Son Mortuary.

Percy Garner & Son Mortuary of San Augustine announces service for 76-year old Cecile L. Davis of Hemphill. She passed away Sunday in Nacogdoches. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church in Hemphill with burial at Macedonia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 1 Saturday at the church.

3/18/14--3/19/14

Shelby County:

James Allen Price, 26, Joaquin, Violation of Probation, Original Charge: Theft

James Kade Williams, 23, Joaquin, Public Intoxication

James Eric Raybon, 44, Logansport, Warrant-Burglary of a Habitation

San Augustine County:

Daniel Norris, 36, Vidor, Motion for Enforcement/Grand Jury Indictment-Criminal Non Support

Jacordney Brown, 26, San Augustine, Possession of Marijuana

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The first two months of 2014 has kept the Shelby County Sheriff's Office quite busy. Chief Deputy Shad Sparks released the calls for service the department made, in addition to the arrest in January and February. For the first month of the year, deputies made 688 calls for service, while 525 were made in February. Chief Sparks said this does not include walk in complainants nor on view incidents observed by deputies. The Sheriff's Office had a total of 94 booked into the jail in January, and 91 booked in February.

The Nacogdoches County Commissioners' Court has appointed Commissioner Jerry Don Williamson as judge pro-tem until April 1, at which time county judge elect Mike Perry will be sworn in that capacity. The action came yesterday after Joe English resigned last Friday to pursue employment with another county. Perry won the Republican Party Primary election and is the candidate-elect since he has no opponent in November.

Will there be another chapter to the Shelby County Judge’s election saga? On our local newscast yesterday morning in the 8 o’clock hour on KDET, it was noted Shelby County Judge Rick Campbell had commented to KTRE-TV following Monday night’s ballot recount, he saw some things he would need to look at (during the recount process) that looked out of the ordinary to him, and he would make up his mind what he was going to do in a couple of days. I reached out to Campbell Tuesday to see if he’d like to make a comment concerning that statement, and he responded, “no comment,” and added he had quote, “lost by three votes and it was over”. Allison Harbison came away with 1,633 votes to 1,630 for Campbell after the recount. 

Over is Sabine Parish, the school system and the American Civil Liberties union settled a lawsuit last week sparked by the treatment of a Buddhist sixth-grader whose parents say he was harassed with Christian beliefs at the Negreet School. Allegations say a teacher declared Buddhism stupid, and the school regularly incorporated Christian prayer into classes and school events and scrolled Bible verses on an electronic marquee in front of the school. The agreement was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Shreveport, and contains a long list of prohibited Christian-belief practices the school must adhere to. The lawsuit was filed in January against the Sabine Parish School Board, and science teacher Rita Roark, on behalf of Scott & Sharon Lane, and their three children. A test Roark gave included religious references that included this fill-in-the-blank entry: "Isn't it amazing what the ______ has made!!!!" When the Lanes' son "did not write in Roark's expected answer (LORD), she belittled him in front of the rest of the class," the lawsuit said. The only monetary disclosure in the settlement was $4,000 awarded to Sharon Lane to cover past costs of transporting the boy to Many for school. The Sabine Parish School Board must also provide the youngster with bus transportation as he continues to attend school in Many.

We told you back in January that Huxley Bay Marina & Restaurant had new owners and would soon have a grand opening. According to Buck & Sandy Jordan, they're planning to stage such an event on April 2. The Jordans purchased the property from Bob & Stacy Vandrovec, who'd closed the marina and restaurant in June of last year after running the business for 20 years. The Jordans have done some remodeling and changes, and have several grand opening events planned for next month, including a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. on April 2, and a free guided fishing trip with Steve McKenzie and a night stay in the motel will be raffled at the door. The marina, fishing lodge, and RV Park have been up and running for about a month now. For reservations, call (936) 368-2494. The Jordans say they can’t wait to meet everyone!

The average price for a gallon of regular gas statewide is running about $3.32 a gallon, up seven cents in the past week, according to gasbuddy.com. In Louisiana, a gallon’s also averaging $3.22. Nationally, the average is $3.51, up another three cents for the week, but down some 15-cents from this week a year ago. Here at home, checking prices this morning, prices are up from 10 to 14 cents this week. The lowest we found in Center this morning was at EZ Mart on Hwy. 96 North, Tenaha Hwy., where it’s $3.29 a gallon. Prices are projected to climb possibly another quarter through early summer before they begin a decline.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces graveside service for 48-year old Brenda Lee Martin James of Huntington. Graveside service will be at 11 this morning in the Attoyac Cemetery in San Augustine County.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 80-year old Earl Lee McSwain of Center. Service will be at 2 this afternoon at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at Old Salem Cemetery in Shelby County. Among Earl Lee McSwain’s survivors are four siblings, Janie Johnson of Cleveland, Maxine Jernigan and Christene Mahan of Center, and Bob McSwain of Irving. Earl McSwain and his wife operated Earl's Nursery for many years.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 91-year old Robbie Hartt of the Arcadia Community. She passed away Sunday in Mount Pleasant. Graveside service will be held at 1 Thursday at Powdrill Cemetery in Shelby County. Visitation will be held prior to the graveside service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Robbie Hartt is survived by a daughter, Brenda Middleton of Fort Worth; sons, Donald Williams of Mount Pleasant and Ronald Wayne Williams of Harleton; step-sons, Lynn Hartt of Center, Robert Hartt of Garrison and Glenn Hartt of Appleby; step-daughter, Tammy Dutton of Sherman; sisters, Martha Crippen and Jane Cooper; and sister-in-law, Odessa Powdrill.

Hawthorn Funeral Home in Carthage announces funeral service for 77-year old Mr. Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire of DeBerry. He died Tuesday in Tyler. Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire was raised in the Paxton Community of Shelby County, graduating from Tenaha High School in 1955. Service will be at 1 Friday at Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow in Shady Grove Cemetery in Panola County. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Thursday at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Among Jimmie Luther “Wimpy” McGuire’s survivors are his wife, Shirley McGuire of DeBerry; children, Dwain McGuire of Carthage, David McGuire of Carthage, Diann Wilhite of Fruitvale, Denise Gray of Carthage, and Dollie Aaaron of DeBerry; brothers, Oliver Roger McGuire of Hawaii, Albert Thomas “Pat” McGuire of Grandbury, and Calvin McGuire of Elysian Fields.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial graveside service for 83-year old Ben Gene Cooper of Coronado, Ca. Service will be at 3:30 Saturday at the Dixon Cemetery in the Weaver Community near Timpson. Ben Gene Cooper was a 1946 graduate of Timpson High School.

Hicks Mortuary of Center announces service for 39-year old Mr. Tony O. Ware of Center. He passed away Saturday. Service will be at 1 Saturday at the East Liberty Baptist Church, with interment in the Thompson Cemetery in Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Friday at Hicks Mortuary. Among Tony O. Ware's survivors are, his mother, Ella Faye Ware of Center; 2 sons, Xavier Ware and Ja'Brayln Ware both of Center; 2 daughters, I'Ceyonna Ware of Center and Nakia Roland of Timpson; a sister, Teresa Arline of Center and a brother, Reginal Ware of Houston.

Tuesday's baseball:

In District 21-1A, The Timpson Bears and Joaquin Rams improved their records to 3-2 with wins last night. The Bears defeat Tenaha, 12-8, and The Rams beat Shelbyville, 5-3. Tenaha is 0-4, and the Dragons are 2-2.

State-ranked Cushing beat Mount Enterprise, 15-1, to improve to 3-0. #12 Cushing tangles with top-ranked Douglass Friday in Cushing.

Friday’s other Dist. 21-1A games have Shelbyville at Timpson; Martinsville at Joaquin; and Tenaha at Chireno.  

In Dist. 23-1A last night, in a battle of two state-ranked programs, #13 Colmesneil shuts-out #10 West Sabine, 1-0. Colmesneil is 3-0, while West Sabine goes to 2-1. No score available on the San Augustine-Broaddus game.

The Center Roughriders had a bye last night and will be at Huntington Friday night. The Riders are 0-2 in Dist. 20-3A.

The Garrison Bulldogs also were off last night, and will be at Palestine Westwood Friday. Garrison is 2-1 in district.

Softball yesterday:

The Timpson Lady Bears take a 9-7 win over the Joaquin Lady Rams. Timpson improves to 3-2, while Joaquin drops their first district game, and goes to 4-1.

District leading Beckville is 5-0, taking a 15-0 win over Martinsville.

Friday’s games: Chireno at Timpson; Joaquin at Beckville; and Shelbyville at Martinsville.

In Class 2A action last night, Woden over Central Heights, 12-0. The Garrison Lady Bulldogs had a bye, and will be at Palestine Westwood Friday.

The Center Lady Riders were off last night, and will try to bounce into the win column for the first time this season in district when they play at Huntington Friday.

Track & Field Thursday: The Center Roughriders and Lady Riders will be at the Wakom meet; San Augustine and Tenaha head to West Sabine; and Timpson and Garrison are at Cushing. 

A public hearing will be held at 7 Thursday night in Center, as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department seeks public comment and opinion on potential changes of fishing regulations regarding Toledo Bend Reservoir. The proposal involves the change of harvest regulations for blue and channel catfish to a 50-fish daily bag limit in any combination, of which no more than five blue or channel catfish longer than or equal to 30 inches could be retained. The current regulations (no minimum length limit and 50-fish daily bag limit in any combination, of which no more than five blue or channel catfish longer than or equal to 20 inches may be retained) were implemented on all border waters in September 2011 in collaboration with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The hearing will be held at the Fannie Brown Booth Library at 619 Tenaha Street. The public is encouraged to attend the public meeting and provide comment on proposed changes.

History has been made in Shelby County. Following last night’s manual recount of the ballots cast in the March 4 Republican Party Primary, for the first time, there will be a female county judge come January.

After all ballots were inspected and counted, challenger Allison Harbison again took the most votes, this time by a three-vote margin, 1,633 to 1,630 for County Judge Rick Campbell. The hand counting turned up three more votes for Ms. Harbison than what she had on March 10 when the provisional ballots were figured in, while Judge Campbell was able to pick up one vote from a week ago.

The manual recount was requested by Campbell following the one-vote loss, and the task of recounting the over 3,000 ballots took some five hours.

Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield had this comment last night. “We are blessed to live in a place with excellent candidates and so many folks willing to serve their fellow citizens by working in various capacities to conduct every phase of our elections. We owe them our sincere gratitude”.

Center Fireman responded to a house fire around 7:15 Monday morning to a residence on Old Airport Road, in the 18-hundred block of County Road 3754. Center Fire Chief Keith Byndom says a shortage in an electrical strip where several other electrical appliances were plugged, including a heater, appeared to be the source of the blaze at the residence of Michael Smith. No one was reported home during the incident. Chief Byndom said fire destroyed one room of the house, and firemen were able to contain the blaze to avoid spreading--although the remainder of the structure had extensive smoke and water damage. The house was reported to be owned by D.S. Jones.

According to a Facebook post, Mike Smith has been a long-time driver for Texas Glacier Ice in Center. The family of three, including Smith, his wife and son, a seventh grader at Center ISD, lost all their belongings. If you can assist the Smith family with clothing, pots, pans, or any other household items, you’re asked to contact Bob Reeves at Texas Glacier Ice, 936-598-6600.

A San Augustine man remains behind bars on numerous charges after an incident last Friday. 58-year old Wallace C. Clifton was arrested for assault of a public servant, resisting arrest, search or transport and disorderly conduct. San Augustine Police report Clifton was also tasered twice during the incident on Holman Street. Officers were dispatched to the area where Clifton was in the middle of the road shouting profanities around small children. When the officer asked Clifton to calm down, he began curing him, and when an attempt was made to subdue the subject, a fight ensued. The officer was able to break free, pulled his taser, and ordered Clifton to the ground. That’s when he became agitated after several commands from the officer, and said to the officer, “tase me”. The incident report said the taser malfunctioned on a first attempt, but was successful a second time. Clifton was given a follow up shock when he failed to comply with the officer. When he was rolled onto his side, Clifton allegedly spat in the officer’s face. Backup assistance from the San Augustine County Sheriff’s office arrived, and Clifton was place in a patrol unit, he allegedly used both feet to kick the door, which struck the officer in the stomach and knocked the breath out of him. Clifton was taken to San Augustine Memorial Hospital where he was cleared by a doctor for incarceration. He was then transported to the San Augustine County Jail.

DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers needs your help in finding the thieves that took brass and steel valves over the weekend from oil storage tanks in Keatchi, that resulted in the contamination of a creek. DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office officials say the valves were taken from tanks owned by the J O’Brian Operating Company. The open valves caused 60 barrels of oil and 375 barrels of salt water to pour into the creek. Law enforcement say water and soil were contaminated, but cleanup crews were able to contain the spill to the creek area. If you have any information that leads to the arrest of the thieves, DeSoto Parish Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward. Call 800-505-7867.

The Timpson City Council meets at 5:30 this afternoon, and among the agenda items for possible action will be considering the American Legion Post #90's request to place the Wall of Honor at So-So Park; advertise for bids to repair the amphitheater at So-So Park; approval of early voting clerks and election judge and clerks for the May 10 election; enter into an inter-local agreement with the Timpson ISD to have a joint election; and  possible action on a sewer problem on Austin Street at the Methodist Church with J&D Construction and Goodwin-Lasiter. Department reports will also be given. In the municipal court report for the month of February, over $35-thousand in fines and fees were given by the city's police department, of which $18-thousand is the city of Timpson's share.

The Joaquin City Council has a regular meeting at 6 this evening, and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action will be approval of an excessive force & equal rights resolution as part of grant requirements; an update on drought contingency plan; and renewal of copier contract.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 91-year old Robbie Hartt of the Arcadia Community. She passed away Sunday in Mount Pleasant.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 56-year old Mary J. Abel of Broaddus. Service will be at 2 this afternoon in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with interment in the Broaddus Cemetery. Among Mary J. Abel’s survivors is her husband, Sim Abel of Broaddus; mother, Mildred Chapman of Broaddus; daughter, Carol Barnett of Etoile; and brother, Andrew Chapman of Broaddus.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces graveside service for 48-year old Brenda Lee Martin James of Huntington. Graveside service will be at 11 Wednesday morning in the Attoyac Cemetery in San Augustine County. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 Tuesday at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 80-year old Earl Lee McSwain of Center. He passed away Saturday at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 2 Wednesday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at Old Salem Cemetery in Shelby County. Among Earl Lee McSwain’s survivors are four siblings, Janie Johnson of Cleveland, Maxine Jernigan and Christene Mahan of Center, and Bob McSwain of Irving.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial graveside service for 83-year old Ben Gene Cooper of Coronado, Ca. Service will be at 3:30 Saturday at the Dixon Cemetery in the Weaver Community near Timpson. Ben Gene Cooper was a 1946 graduate of Timpson High School.

Baseball today:

The Center Roughriders have a bye, and will return to action Friday at Huntington.

The 0-2 San Augustine Wolves will be at 2-2 Broaddus.

The 0-3 Tenaha Tigers at the 2-2 Timpson Bears.

The Joaquin Rams go to Shelbyville to play the Dragons. The Rams are 2-2, and Dragons 2-1 in district.

Garrison is 1-2, and is idle today, and will travel to Palestine Westwood Friday.

Softball today:

The Center Lady Riders are 0-3 in district and have a bye. They'll return to action Friday at Huntington.

Meanwhile, Joaquin will be at Timpson; Shelbyville at Gary; and Garrison has a bye.

The Center Lady Rider golf team is playing at Neches Pines in Diboll today.

The Center Roughrider and Lady Rider soccer teams will wrap up the regular season tonight. The Riders go to Jacksonville, while the Lady Riders are home against Jacksonville.

Arrest Report

3/17/14--3/18/14

Shelby County:

Gregory Loyd Carrico, 45, Lufkin, Public Intoxication

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Arrest Report 3/14/14--3/17/14

Shelby County: Carter Garner, 51, Center, Failure to Appear; Original Charge: Criminal Trespass

Dorantus Brock, 38, Center, Evading with Vehicle, Evading Arrest and Assault Causing Bodily Injury-Family Violence

Katina Evans, 38, Tenaha, Criminal Trespass, Violation of Parole-Original Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance

Nichole Rhodes, 26, Logansport, Driving While Intoxicated

Joshua Fuller, 28, Center, Cameron Parish, Louisiana Warrant-Distribution of Marijuana

San Augustine County: Wallace C. Clifton, 58, San Augustine, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest Search Transport, Assault of a Public Servant.

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

There will likely be closure in the Shelby County's Judge's Republican Party Primary by the end of today, as a manual recount of ballots in the race will take place at 5:30 this afternoon at the Shelby County Courthouse. After almost two weeks of going through a one-vote difference, challenger Allison Harbison and incumbent County Judge Rick Campbell, as well as the citizens of Shelby County will know officially who'll be the candidate elect for the position.

County Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield says tonight's manual recount will use a Texas Election Code-prescribed tally system, which uses two teams consisting of four people each. On each team, two people will view a ballot with one calling out the name which is bubbled in on that ballot. They will alternate calling out the names on subsequent ballots to avoid fatigue and mis-statement. The other two people on the team will each have a tally form and make a hash mark for the candidate whose name is called. Ms. Porterfield added that process will be repeated for each ballot cast in the primary election, and the ballots are counted one precinct at a time. She said having two teams working simultaneously should cut the time required for completion.

However, she adds it will be a lengthy process with over 3,000 ballots to read and tally. Ms. Porterfield told Center Broadcasting it could be anywhere from two to four hours to complete the recount process.

Ms. Harbison took the most votes in the primary election last week by one vote, and held that one-vote margin when last Monday's two provisional ballots were figured in.

Today's recount has been requested by Judge Campbell.

Saturday night’s line of thunderstorms that preceded the latest cold front brought with it primarily rain to our area, almost an inch-and-seven tenths, according to Jim Forbes. We were spared the brunt of the storms here in Deep East Texas and Western Louisiana as cooler daytime high temperatures Saturday kept the outbreak of severe storm activity at a minimum. The strongest storms stayed just south of the immediate area, as penny to quarter-size hail was reported just north of Lufkin around 1 a.m. Sunday.

There were also reports of area-wide electrical power outages from SWEPCO and Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative during the height of the storm activity after 8 Saturday night. In the Center area SWEPCO is saying just over 1,000 customers in Shelby County, and almost 250 in DeSoto Parish were without electricity during the evening, but service was restored by midnight to most areas. It's believed the Shelby County outage was brought about by a tree that fell upon power lines.

DETEC is reporting minimal outages reported during the storms, these were primarily south of Joaquin off FM 139, and also in Panola County along FM 699, and more numerous outings in Sabine County.

A slow warming trend and mostly clear weather can be expected from midweek until the next cold front arrives this weekend.

Texas Tobacco-Free Kids Day is Wednesday, and Center ISD Director of Programs, Angela Lawson is encouraging everyone in the Center ISD and the surrounding areas to play educational lessons and activities associated with the day's events. March 19 will mark an annual day of awareness that encourages people of all ages to live tobacco-free lifestyles. The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University's goal is to get every school in Texas involved in the effort to influence people in the schools and communities to make healthy choices by not using tobacco products today and in the future.

The San Augustine County Livestock Show & Fair is set for this Thursday thru Saturday at the San Augustine County Fairgrounds. The events kick-off Thursday with the San Augustine County 4-H Council's Chili Cook-off at the Youth Exhibit Barn. Serving to the public will be at 5:30 and its all-you-can eat for $5. Awards will be presented to first, second and third places for Best Chili, and awards will be presented for cooking area "Showmanship", and "Peoples Choice Chili".

The Friday activities include the fair exhibits display from 3 to 6 p.m.; and the broiler show at 4:30 p.m., and market rabbit show at 5 p.m., with the Dance starting at 7. Saturday, March 22, is a busy show day, beginning at 9 with market hogs, followed by lambs, goats, the heifer show, and steer show. An appreciation rib dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with the awards presentation at 6:30, and livestock & fair auction at 7.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 78-year old Shirley Marie Collins Williams of Shelbyville. She passed away Thursday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Service will be at 11 this morning at Community Funeral Home Chapel, with interment at Bennett Chapel Cemetery in Shelbyville. Among Shirley Marie Collins Williams’ survivors are, two brothers, Willie Kellum of Denver, CO., and LJ Kellum of Texarkana; and a sister, Nevagene Sanders of Center.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces pending service for 94-year old Mrs. Henry Lee Cooper of Center. She passed away Friday at San Augustine Memorial Hospital.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home of San Augustine announces funeral service for 71-year old Mrs. Clemie “Becky” Rebecca Barlow of San Augustine. Service will be at 10 this morning in the White Rock Baptist Church in San Augustine, with interment in Corinth Cemetery in San Augustine County. Among Clemie Becky” Rebecca Barlow’s survivors are, a daughter, Ondrea Fournier of Canada; and a sister, Lena Beth Payne of Livingston.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 56-year old Mary J. Abel of Broaddus. She passed away Thursday in Tyler. Service will be at 2 Tuesday in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with interment in the Broaddus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 today at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. Among Mary J. Abel’s survivors is her husband, Sim Abel of Broaddus; mother, Mildred Chapman of Broaddus; daughter, Carol Barnett of Etoile; and brother, Andrew Chapman of Broaddus.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces graveside service for 48-year old Brenda Lee Martin James of Huntington. She passed away Saturday in Lufkin. Graveside service will be at 11 Wednesday morning in the Attoyac Cemetery in San Augustine County. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 Tuesday at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home. 

Two Shelby County power lifters brought home hardware from the Texas High School Women’s Power Lifting Association State Meet held last Friday in Corpus Christi. Joaquin’s Chole Brown and Shelbyville’s Harlie Hagler were silver medalist in their respective weight classes. Brown totaled 375 pounds lifted in the 105-pound division, and Hagler ended with 800 pounds in the 181-pound division. Also placing was Jessica Sanford of Shelbyville, who finished 8^th in the 225+ weight class. Congratulations to these young ladies!

At the Region III Division 2 Texas High School Power Lifting Association Meet held March 6 in Rusk, the Center Roughriders took first place out of 28 teams participating. Center also qualified four lifters for the state meet to be held this Saturday in Abilene. They include: Kiounis Williams, first in the 198-pound division; Stanley Garrett, second place in the 165-pound division; Devincent Hoyt, second in the 220-pound division; and Zach Verhalen, second in the 275-pound division.

In addition, Shelbyville’s Kal Metcalf will be participating in the state power lifting meet this week. Metcalf was second in the region March 1 in Elkhart.

Baseball Friday:

The Center Roughriders take a tough loss in District 20-3A action, a 3-2 decision to the state-ranked Diboll Lumberjacks at Roughrider Field. The loss drops the Riders to 0-2 in district, while Diboll is 1-0. In other district action Friday, it was Hudson over Huntington, 3-1; and Jasper beats Central, 2-0.

Center has a bye Tuesday, and will return to action Friday at Huntington.

In San Augustine, the Wolves took a thumping from the state-ranked West Sabine Tigers, losing 21-1. Broaddus shut-out Zavalla, 4-0 Friday. San Augustine is now 0-2, and will be at 2-2 Broaddus Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the Tenaha Tigers and Martinsville Pirates had plenty of offense, Martinsville just had a little more when the final out was made, as the Pirates take a 19-16 win over the Tigers. Tenaha is 0-3 and will host 2-2 Timpson Tuesday.

The Garrison Bulldogs came up short in their district game with Crockett on Friday, losing 5-4. Garrison is 1-2, and will be idle Tuesday, and travel to Palestine Westwood Friday.

Tuesday’s baseball schedule also includes: Joaquin at Shelbyville,  the Rams are 2-2, and Dragons 2-1 in district.

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches’ state rankings came out last week, and Douglass remains the No. 1 team in Class 1A, while West Sabine has moved to No. 9. In 2A, Brock is the top team; College Station remains No. 1 in 3A, with Diboll No. 6; Corpus Christi Moody is on top in 4A; and the 5A top team is Southlake Carroll.

Softball on tap Tuesday:

The Center Lady Riders have a bye, and will return to action Friday at Huntington; Meanwhile, Joaquin will be at Timpson; Shelbyville at Gary; and Garrison has a bye.

The Center Roughrider Golf Team is playing at Neches Pines Country Club in Diboll today, while the Lady Rider golfers will be playing there on Tuesday.

The Center Roughrider and Lady Rider soccer teams will wrap up the regular season Tuesday night. The Riders go to Jacksonville, while the Lady Riders are home against Jacksonville.

The SFA Lumberjacks won the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Saturday night with a 68-49 decision over rival Sam Houston State. The Jacks improve to 31-2 on the season were rewarded a 12-seed from the NCAA Tournament committee, and will play Virginia Commonwealth in the first round in San Diego on Friday. The will play the winner of UCLA and Tulsa in the second round.

The SFA Ladyjacks could not complete the Southland sweep on Sunday, falling in the championship game of the Southland Conference Tournament to Northwestern State by the final score of 62-44. After winning their first regular season conference championship since 2010, the Ladyjacks could not win the conference tournament and get to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. 

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE

DEVELOPING AND MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 60 MPH ACROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING. THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...AND EVEN SOME SMALL HAIL IN THE STRONGER STORMS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM A TENTH TO NEAR ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH PER HOUR WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

·  Tonight Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Low around 60. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

·  Sunday A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

·  Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind around 10 mph.

·  Monday Partly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 5 mph.

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF EAST TEXAS AND 
LOUISIANA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. 

THERE’S A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS BUT ISOLATED TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY BUT THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH BY SUNDAY MORNING.

·  Today Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

·  Tonight Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 59. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

·  Sunday A chance of rain and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

·  Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

·  Monday A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

In sports,

Joaquin’s Chloe Brown is participating in the State Power Lifting Meet today in Corpus Christi. She’s currently ranked 2^nd in the state.

Baseball:

The state’s top-ranked 1A team, the Douglass Indians took a 16-0 win over the Timpson Bears yesterday in a ten-rule shortened game in Timpson. Douglass improves to 4-0, while the Bears fall to 2-2. Timpson will be home to play 0-2 Tenaha Tuesday.

Today's action: The Center Roughriders will host No. 5 state-ranked Diboll, starting with JV at 4:30. This is Diboll's district opener. Central, Carthage and Hudson are 1-0, while Huntington and Jasper join Center at 0-1. Diboll is 11-2 on the season, while the Riders have an overall record of 9-7.

Other games: Tenaha at Martinsville; Crockett will be at Garrison; and No. 10 state-ranked West Sabine at San Augustine.

Softball:

The Center Lady Riders fall to 0-3 in district play after a 6-3 loss at Hudson last night. The Lady Riders are open Tuesday, and will be home to play Diboll a week from today.

In college basketball: The SFA Lumberjacks will take on rival Northwestern State at 5 this afternoon in the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Semi-Finals at the Ferrell Center in Katy. The winner advances to the conference tournament final Saturday night, and a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Arrest Report

3/13/14--3/14/14

Shelby County:

Davis Kline, 28, Center, Driving While License Suspended and Possession of Marijuana

Milisa M. McCollister, 26, Center, Warrant-Credit/Debit Card Abuse & Violation of Probation, Original Charge: Failure to ID

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains in a wooded area in the western part of the county Wednesday afternoon. 

Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham said a timber management company surveyor made the find, and his department has no idea about the identity of the person, and not sure if they are a man’s or woman’s. Chief Cunningham said the remains had been there for an extended time.

The San Augustine County Sheriff’s Department gathered the skeletal remains from the area Thursday morning, and they were sent to a forensic anthropologist at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville for DNA analysis.

It’s not known if there was any other evidence found at the scene that would ID the person.

Sales-tax revenues in Shelby and San Augustine counties showed a downward trend, according to information released by the state comptroller's office this week.

In Shelby County there's been a 2.5 percent decrease in payments made to taxing entities from the same period a year ago. In Center, the February check was down just over 2 percent, with the city receiving a payment for just under $202-thousand. For the year to date, Center's about one percent ahead of 2013.

Center City Manager Chad Nehring said while oil & gas is the obvious contributor to the decline locally in tax-revenues, we’re most likely seeing the real lasting impacts of 2009-2010 national, regional and local economic changes, including the closure of Bruce Hardwood Floors. He added that was simply overshadowed by significant oil/gas activity and the retail/commercial expansion that accompanied it.

Elsewhere in Shelby County, Joaquin's the only city showing an increase from this month a year ago. Joaquin's payment for February is $16-thousand, and almost $62-thousand for the year. Both Huxley and Timpson are showing double-digit decreases in payment from February last year. Huxley is down almost 29 percent, receiving a check for $1,100; and Timpson's payment is $14,500, a 15 percent drop from a year ago. The City of Tenaha's February sales-tax payment is down 4-and-a-half percent, as the city received a payment of $5-thousand this month.

San Augustine County's sales-tax revenue has seen a 15 percent drop from this time in 2013. The City of San Augustine's payment was $19-thousand, 15 percent less than a year ago, while Broaddus' was almost 19 percent less, at $23-hundred. However, Broaddus has seen a 104 percent increase year-to-date. In San Augustine County, tax-revenue payments to date are running five percent behind 2013's. In Nacogdoches County, their sales-tax revenue for February has seen an almost 11 percent decrease in the past year.

Statewide, February sales-tax revenues are up 5.8 percent from the same period a year ago.

The sales tax figures represent January sales reported by monthly tax filers.

In Nacogdoches County, the county judge announced he was stepping down immediately. Judge Joe English’s resignation is effective at 5 p.m. today. In a letter to the commissioners’ court yesterday, English said he had accepted a position with another county. In the March 4 primary election, Republican candidate Mike Perry was the leading vote getter. It’s not known at this time if Perry will be appointed to fill the position since he was the candidate elect, not having a Democratic opponent in November. The Nacogdoches County Commissioners’ Court will be meeting Tuesday morning to discuss appointment of an interim judge.

Next Saturday, March 22, savory smoke will be filling the air around the Windham Civic Center as the Shelby County Grill Fest Barbecue Cook-off is held. The cook-off is sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society and will feature three cooking categories, according to Chairman Mark Ivey. The Pork Spare Ribs competition is sponsored by Specter, Inc., the home of T/R's Steaks and More and Endless Possibilities Catering. The Chicken cook-off category is sponsored by Tyson Foods, and the Brisket showdown is sponsored by Center Livestock Auction, Co. The day's events will begin at noon for spectators. Entries will be accepted for the Washer Pitching Contest, sponsored by Shelby Savings Bank. An outdoor Show & Shine Classic Car exhibit will be hosted by the Shelby County Cruisers. The crowd will be entertained with live music presented by Farmers State Bank beginning at 3. The 42 tournament will begin Friday night, March 21 at 7 p.m., with the finals on Saturday, sponsored by Covington Lumber & Construction. The tourney will be in Foster Hall at the Civic Center. The fun-filled day is assisted by Pitmaster Sponsors Liberty Tax Service, Texas State Bank, East Texas Poultry Supply, Impressions Advertising, 4C Electrical Services, Ray Jones Chevrolet and McAdams Propane. Tasting samples from Grill Fest will be shared at 5 p.m. in Foster Hall. An all-day, come and go pass is $10. An awards presentation will follow with category sponsors presenting prize checks and trophies. Tickets and t-shirts are available in Center at Center Glass, Hughes Florist, Elite Hair Design and Center Health and Harmony.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of service for 72-year old Sue Hale of Splendora. Service will be at 11 this morning at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at Dunnigan Cemetery in Shelbyville. Among Sue Hale's survivors are children, Larry Oxner of Spring, Suzanne Collums of Sheridan, Ark., and Michelle Harris of Splendora; sisters, Betty Risinger of Shelbyville and Donna Hale of Cleveland; and brother, James Hale of Patroon.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 72-year old Donna Wilburn of Center. She was retired from Farmers State Bank after 32 years service. Funeral Service will be at 3 this afternoon at Watson & Sons Chapel with interment at Wimberley Cemetery in Shelbyville. Among Donna Wilburn’s survivors, is her husband, Price Wilburn of Center; sons, Ronald Wilburn of Shelbyville, Timbo Wilburn of Center, and Keith Wilburn of Silverton; and aunt, Mae Furlow of Shelbyville.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 80-year old Sue Smith of Center. Graveside service will be at 12 noon Saturday at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library, First Baptist Church of Center, or to Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation in Plano, Texas.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial mass for 64-year old James Randall "Toby" Robicheaux of Nacogdoches. Service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Timpson. Visitation will be from 2:30 to 3 Saturday at Taylor Funeral Home. The family requests that in place of flowers or plants, donations by made to the Spinal Research Foundation.

Percy Garner & Son Mortuary of San Augustine announces funeral service for 86-year old Mrs. Lerlean Holmes Lane of Tyler. He passed away March 8 in Tyler. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 6:30 today at Percy Garner & Son Mortuary. Service will be at 1 Saturday at Cedar Grove Baptist Church, with burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Arrest Report

3/12/14--3/13/14

Shelby County:

Gabriel Hernandez, 20, Center, Driving While Intoxicated

San Augustine County:

Milton U. Cramer, 29, Pineland, Attorney General Capias-Child Support

Christopher Emerson, 36, Broaddus, Nacogdoches County Warrants-Retaliation & Theft

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

It came as little surprise yesterday when County Judge Rick Campbell made a formal request to Shelby County Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield that he wanted a recount of the ballots in the March 4 Party Primary Election. After a one-vote defeat to Allison Harbison, and Campbell saying he was going to ask for a recount—it came down to just when he would make a formal request.

Ms. Porterfield said a manual recount of the ballots concerning the Shelby County Judge’s race will take place at 5:30 Monday afternoon at the courthouse. She said a Texas Election Code-prescribed tally system will be used, and it’ll be a lengthy process since there are over 3,000 ballots to count.

Ms. Porterfield had notified before lunch yesterday in case there was a recount, it would be done two working days after today’s canvassing, which is Monday. She said after checking with the election code, anytime there are two or fewer candidates in a race, the deadline is 5 p.m. of the second business day after the canvass.

The recount is not open to the public.

Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison, who’s also the county election administrator has provided the balloting information from the Tuesday, March 4 Party Primary Election and Shelby County was definitely "Red", which was to be expected with two county-wide races in the Republican Party Primary, the county judge and treasurer, that resulted in the winner as being the candidate elect. In Shelby County, 85 percent, or 3,304 of the 3,897 voters that cast their ballots did so in the Republican Primary. Overall, 27 percent of the county's 14,362 registered voters came out.

In San Augustine County, Election Administrator Deborah Woods advises 1,286 voted in last week's party primary, that's 21 percent of the 6,064 registered voters. Of that number, 859 voted Republican, or 67 percent. There will be a run-off election on May 27 for the Republican Party County Commissioner Pct. 4 position between Steve Bryan and David McEarchern (McKatherine) as neither candidate was able to come away with a clear majority. Bryan had 138 votes to 128 for McEarchern in the four candidate field that pulled in 354 voters.

Former State Rep. Wayne Christian is also involved in a run off in May, as he'll face off with Ryan Sitton for the Republican Party nominee for State Railroad Commission.

The last day to register in time for the runoff is April 28; and early voting runs from May 19 through May 23. Remember, if you voted in a party primary, you can only vote in that same party's runoff. If you did not vote in the March 4 Primary, you may still vote and can vote in the runoff election for either party.

According to the co-op’s Brittany Johnson, scam artists call a home or business posing as a Deep East Texas EC employee and threaten to shut off service unless the consumer provides immediate payment by credit, debit, or by purchasing a pre-paid debit card. Be aware that Deep East Texas EC will not call members and threaten immediate disconnection. Rather, Deep East Texas EC sends written notice and makes courtesy calls to delinquent accounts prior to disconnection.

Should you receive a call that seems like a scam, the cooperative encourages you to hang up and call Deep East Texas EC directly at 1-866-392-2547 or 936-229-4000 to be certain you are dealing with an official representative of the cooperative. If you’ve been contacted by a scammer, you should report the incident to the sheriff’s department.

Center based Port-A-Cool has been named the Grainger 2013 Supplier of the Year. Port-A-Cool was presented with the top Partners Perfomance Award at Grainger's annual supplier conference held recently in Rosemont, Illinois. Grainger's the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products serving businesses and institutions, recognizes a select group of suppliers for outstanding performance throughout the year through its Partners in Performance award program. Port-A-Cool earned the top honor among more than 3,200 active suppliers. CEO Ben Wulf, said Port-A-Cool has had a strong partnership with Grainger for almost 20 years and they are honored to be recognized by the Grainger team. He added Port-A-Cool looks forward to a long, successful future of supplying portable evaporative cooling units.

The San Augustine Garden Club will present their first home and garden show, tomorrow & Saturday, March 14 and 15 at the Historic Museum Theatre in downtown San Augustine. Tickets are $5. The event will feature talented, garden-loving vendors and exhibitors showcasing a wide variety of products. Hours for the show are 9 to 4, Friday, and 8 to 3, Saturday.

Mangum Funeral Home announces a memorial graveside service for 77-year old Gladys Diane Warr, of Center. Service will be at 2 today at Fairview Cemetery in Center. Among Gladys Diane Warr’s survivors are her twin brother, Dr. Winston Warr of Tucson, AZ; and a sister, Vickie Warr of Center.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 72-year old Donna Wilburn of Center. She passed away Wednesday in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 this evening at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 3 Friday at Watson & Sons Chapel with interment at Wimberley Cemetery in Shelbyville.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of service for 72-year old Sue Hale of Splendora. She passed away Tuesday in Houston. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 Friday morning at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at Dunnigan Cemetery in Shelbyville. Among Sue Hale's survivors are children, Larry Oxner of Spring, Suzanne Collums of Sheridan, Ark., and Michelle Harris of Splendora; sisters, Betty Risinger of Shelbyville and Donna Hale of Cleveland; and brother, James Hale of Patroon.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 80-year old Sue Smith of Center. Graveside service will be at 12 noon Saturday, March 15 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library, First Baptist Church of Center, or to Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation in Plano, Texas.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial mass for 64-year old James Randall "Toby" Robicheaux of Nacogdoches. He passed away Jan. 19 in Nacogdoches. Service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Timpson. Visitation will be from 2:30 to 3 Saturday at Taylor Funeral Home. The family requests that in place of flowers or plants, donations by made to the Spinal Research Foundation.

In sports,

Baseball Wednesday:

The Joaquin Rams evened their District 21-1A record at 2-2, with a 15-0 shutout win over the Tenaha. The Tigers drop to 0-2. Joaquin goes to Shelbyville Tuesday, while Tenaha is scheduled to be at Martinsville Friday evening—both district games.

On tap today in a district game: Class 1A's top ranked team, Douglass will be at Timpson in a 2 o’clock first pitch. Douglass is 3-0, while Timpson is 2-1.

Friday: The Center Roughriders will host No. 5 state-ranked Diboll, starting with JV at 4:30. The Riders are 0-1, while Diboll is 1-0; Crockett will be at Garrison; and No. 10 state-ranked West Sabine at San Augustine.

Softball yesterday:

The Joaquin Lady Rams improve their district record to 4-0 with an 11-1 win over the Martinsville Lady Pirates in five innings. Joaquin will be at Timpson next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Garrison Lady Bulldogs get their second shutout win in as many days with a 10-0 decision over Crockett. Garrison is 5-0 in district, and go to Palestine Westwood March 21.

The Center Lady Riders will try to bounce into the win column when they play at Hudson today, starting with JV at 4:30.

Joaquin’s Chloe Brown will participate in the State Power Lifting Meet tomorrow in Corpus Christi. Brown won Region III Meet in White Oak a couple of weeks ago, setting a meet record in her 105-pound division as she dead-lifted 300 pounds; bench pressed 115 pounds and squatted 260 pounds. She’s currently ranked 2^nd in the state. In addition, Joaquin’s Adam Mason will be an alternate at the State Power Lifting Meet, after placing 3rd in the 220 pound class.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 72-year old Sue Hale of Splendora. She passed away yesterday in Houston. Funeral service is pending for Sue Hale.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 53-year old Patricia Carrol Daniels Green of Joaquin. Service will be at 11 this morning at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment to follow at Lone Cedar Cemetery in Joaquin. Among Patricia Carroll Daniels Green's survivors are her husband, David Allen Green of Joaquin; daughter, Amber Opaline Evans of Athens, Georgia; sisters, Debbie Parker of Cotton Port, Louisiana, Bobbie Floyd of Tenaha and Jeanie Brunson of Dallas; and a brother, Rex Allen Clevenger of Liberty.

Mangum Funeral Home announces a memorial graveside service for 77-year old Gladys Diane Warr, a lifelong resident of Center. She was a bank clerk at Farmers State Bank for many years. Service will be at 2 Thursday at Fairview Cemetery in Center. Among Gladys Diane Warr’s survivors are her twin brother, Dr. Winston Warr of Tucson, AZ; and a sister, Vickie Warr of Center.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 80-year old Sue Smith of Center. Graveside service will be at 12 noon Saturday, March 15 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library, First Baptist Church of Center, or to Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation in Plano, Texas.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial mass for 64-year old James Randall "Toby" Robicheaux of Nacogdoches. He passed away Jan. 19 in Nacogdoches. Service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Timpson. Visitation will be from 2:30 to 3 Saturday at Taylor Funeral Home. The family requests that in place of flowers or plants, donations by made to the Spinal Research Foundation.

To keep you up-to-date with the latest in the Shelby County Judge’s race. After challenger Allison Harbison took the most ballots last Tuesday night after the party primary election, and Monday night when the provisional ballots were counted—both one-vote wins, Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield told me yesterday, that incumbent Judge Rick Campbell had not yet submitted a formal request asking for a re-count. The votes will be canvassed tomorrow, and Campbell will have until 2 p.m. Friday to make a request for a re-count. Judge Campbell told us Monday night he would be asking for a manual re-count of ballots.

Down in Tyler County, sheriff’s officers have four suspects in custody in connection with the January double-murder of a Zavalla couple. The arrests came yesterday, the same day a Tyler County grand jury indicted four family members, Kristen, Letha, Paul and Cameron Westfall on a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity in the deaths of Nathan “Brad” and Krystal Maddox, who were ambushed and gunned down as they were leaving a church in Colmesneil on Jan. 18 following a court-ordered visitation with Maddox’s 4-year old daughter. Nathan Maddox was Kristen Westfall’s former husband. She, along with her mother and father, and brother were apprehended following a traffic stop in Colmesneil. They were booked into the Tyler County Jail with bond set at $1-million apiece. 

Several East Texas school districts have received ratings from the Financial Allocation Study of Texas or FAST to reflect both academic progress and spending at their district and campuses. The FAST rating uses a scale from one to five stars indicating its success in combining cost-effective spending with the achievement of measurable student academic progress. Five stars reflect the strongest relative academic progress combined with the lowest relative spending. Among 4 1/2 Stars are the Joaquin ISD and Central Heights ISDs; Tenaha ISD rated 4-Stars; 3 1/2 Star school districts are Garrison ISD & Martinsville ISD; and Timpson ISD was rated at 3 Stars. Center ISD, in addition to San Augustine, Shelbyville and Broaddus ISDs rated 2 1/2 Stars. 55 state school districts earned the highest rating of 5 Stars, and this included the SFA Charter School and Woden ISD. FAST is updated annually using the most recent data from the Texas Education Agency.

Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell has announced that Shelby County citizens are being invited to become associate members of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas. The sheriff says there’s been an increased number of citizens wanting to assist law enforcement officials, and build a strong partnership in the fight against crime, and joining the association would help provide the funding that’s vital to the department’s mission of making our communities safer places to live, work and play. A press release says membership invitations will go out in the mail over the next several weeks, and funding allows the Sheriff’s Association of Texas to provide critical training, technical resources and legislative support on key criminal justice issues to law enforcement officers across the state. The Sheriff’s Association of Texas was founded in 1874, and does not make solicitation by phone.

There's a new district ranger for the Sabine and Angelina National Forest. Kimpton Cooper was recently named to the post. Ranger Cooper brings a wealth of forestry experience and knowledge to the job, according to Forest Supervisor Mark Van Every. Cooper grew up in Jasper and graduated Jasper High School. He's spent most of his Forest Service career in Oregon and Washington. Cooper said he was really excited about returning to East Texas and looking forward to learning about, and getting involved with local communities the National Forest serves here in Sabine and Angelina National Forest. The Sabine National Forest is in Shelby, San Augustine, Sabine, Jasper and Newton counties, with the Angelina National Forest in Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Jasper counties.

Last Sunday, the Center FFA Floral Design Team competed in the hands on design competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There were schools from all over the state of Texas competing. Each designer had 40 minutes to make a bridal bouquet and 45 minutes to create a show piece on the theme "Hometown Treasures" for which each competitor brought a prop that represented their home town. 20 contestants were chosen for the finals in which they each had 20 minutes to make a design for a "Surprise Situation".  Cecilia Soto placed 2nd and won $750, Adela Reyes 3rd $500, Tarsheanna Bauer 6th $100 and Taighen Mathews 8th $100. Rebeca Hernandez was also a top 20 finalist. Also competing on the team were Macayla Perry and Julie McSwain. Floral design is taught at Center high School by Shana Brittain. The design team will be competing again on April 12th at College Station in the regional Texas Florist Association Jr cup.

We get a number of calls here at the station pertaining to free grocery giveaways, and today's one of those. Pineywoods Outreach Ministries in Center, will be distributing groceries from 11am-1:00pm. today at 255 Haley Drive in Center. Please bring proof of residence, identification and a box. If it’s your first time, please see Deronda.  Also, Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley community will be at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Center at 9 a.m. until food is gone this Saturday. You're asked to bring proof of residence, and only one box per household will be given.

The San Augustine County Livestock Show & Fair is set for March 20 thru March 22 at the San Augustine County Fairgrounds. The events kick-off Thursday, March 20 with the San Augustine County 4-H Council's Chili Cook-off at the Youth Exhibit Barn. Entry fee is $35 per team, and each cooking team is asked to service their chili to the public. Cooking starts at 12noon, with judging at 4:30. Serving to the public will be at 5:30 and its all-you-can eat for $5. Awards will be presented to first, second and third places for Best Chili, and awards will be presented for cooking area "Showmanship", and "Peoples Choice Chili". A team can consist of one chief cook and three assistants. For more information on entering your chili cooking team, call 936-275-3644.

The Friday, March 21 activities include the fair exhibits display from 3 to 6 p.m.; and the broiler show at 4:30 p.m., and market rabbit show at 5 p.m., with the Dance starting at 7. Saturday, March 22, is a busy show day, beginning at 9 with market hogs, followed by lambs, goats, the heifer show, and steer show. An appreciation rib dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with the awards presentation at 6:30, and livestock & fair auction at 7.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas statewide is running about $3.25 a gallon, up four cents in the past week, according to gasbuddy.com. In Louisiana, a gallon’s also averaging $3.22. Nationally, the average is $3.48, up another three cents for the week, but down some 19-cents from this week a year ago. Here at home, checking prices this morning, lowest we found was at EZ Mart on U.S. Hwy. 96 north, Tenaha Hwy., where it’s $3.19 a gallon.

It was the District 20-3A opener for Center Roughrider Baseball last night, and the Hudson Hornets take a 7-5 win. The Riders fall to 9-7 on the season, and will be home Friday night as the No. 5 state-ranked Diboll Lumberjacks come to town.

The Timpson Bears improved their district record to 2-1 with a ten-run rule, 14-4 win yesterday over Mt Enterprise. Timpson is 6-3 on the season, and will be home to take on No. 1 state-ranked Douglass at 2 Thursday afternoon. The Indians are 8-1.

The Joaquin Rams come up short in their District 21-1A game at Douglass, as the state’s top-rated team comes away with a 7-1 win. The Rams are 1-2 in district, and are home to play the Tenaha Tigers at 4 today.

In Softball:

The Joaquin Lady Rams are 3-0 in district after a 14-2 win at the Chireno Lady Owls yesterday. The Lady Rams take on Martinsville at home this afternoon in a 1 o’clock first pitch.

The Timpson Lady Bears pick up a 15-2 ten-run rule win over the Martinsville Lady Pirates yesterday. Timpson is idle until a March 18 game at home against Joaquin.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs are 4-0 in district after an 18-0 blistering of Central Heights yesterday. Kylie Murdock pitched a one-hitter. Garrison will host Crockett at 2 this afternoon.

The Center Lady Riders are 0-2 in district, and will play at Hudson tomorrow, starting with JV at 4:30.

Arrest Report

3/10/14--3/11/14

Shelby County:

Kenneth Hendricks, 38, Center, Bond Surrender; Original Charge: Theft

Terry Burch, 38, Center, 6 Bond Surrenders, including 3 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2 Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Criminal Mischief

Brittany Horn, 19, Joaquin, Warrant-Failure to Stop and Exchange Information

Cody Edward Whitehead, 32, Maydelle, Driving While Intoxicated

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Shelby County Judges race is one step closer to closure after the anticipated provisional ballots were revealed by the Early Election Ballot Board yesterday afternoon, with the outcome, again, favoring challenger Allison Harbison, by a one-vote margin, 1,630 to 1,629 for incumbent Rick Campbell. Each candidate picked up one vote out of the five possible provisional ballots from last Tuesday’s Republican Party Primary election.

Ms. Harbison expressed her appreciation to her family, friends and supporters after the announcement was made.

Meanwhile, Judge Campbell said he’s not throwing in the towel just yet. Saying he’s wanting a re-count.

Republican Party Chair Leigh Porterfield says the votes will be canvassed Thursday, and the candidates have until 2 p.m. Friday to request a re-count. Campbell added he’ll be asking for a manual re-count—not totally sold on the automated method.

After last Tuesday’s balloting, Ms. Harbison had 1,629 to 1,628 for Campbell. We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date when additional details become available.

At their meeting yesterday, Shelby County Commissioners were presented bridge inspection reports by TxDOT representative Nancy Smith, who listed four bridges in the county in need of replacement. According to an article on Shelby County Today.com, these included three on County Road 4323, and the Mill Creek Bridge on County Road 1006, which are scheduled for replacement in 2015. A bridge on County Road 1510, not on the list, was mentioned by County Judge Rick Campbell and Commissioner Pct. 1 Roscoe McSwain, as needing immediate attention. Ms. Smith said if the bridge is in dire need of repair, to go ahead to do repairs and credit would be put on another project. County Judge Rick Campbell noted during the meeting, that’s it’s a known fact many county road bridges in Shelby County are regularly handling excessive loads of 80 to 100-thousand pounds from agricultural related traffic, which is putting stress on the structures.

Tenaha Volunteer Fireman assisted in the search for a young boy Sunday afternoon in the Old Center Community that ended with the youngster being found unharmed. The Panola County Sheriff’s Office says the six-year old wondered off from his father, who was looking at property on Panola County Road 430. The father reportedly searched for his son around an hour before calling the sheriff’s office. Shortly after 1:30 Sunday afternoon, the child was found safe. Tenaha Fireman assisted Woods Volunteer Fire Dept. and other volunteers with the search. 

With the Jasper Air Show set this weekend, I recently had a caller on The General Store inquire about the Center air show, which is sponsored by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. I was informed by a chamber representative yesterday that an air show will not be held this year, with hopes of one returning in 2015. However, the chamber will be hosting a Young Eagle Rally on May 17. This is where a youngster has the opportunity to fly with an experienced pilot, discover how airplanes work and how pilots ensure safety is the prime concern. We’ll have more information on the Young Eagles Rally as the event draws closer.

The 27th Annual Center Rotary Club Fun for Funds auction will be held Tuesday, March 25, starting at 6 p.m. This year, the event will return to its original format with the event being broadcast via cable, radio or internet. Bids can be placed over the phone or by internet. All proceeds will go into the Roughrider Scholarship Foundation. Last year, the Fun for Funds project raised $60,000 for the scholarship fund. To make Fun for Funds the success it has been for so many years, businesses, groups and individuals across the county donate time, money and items to the auction. If you would like to make a donation of money or auction items, contact a Center Rotarian. Monetary donations can be made in honor or in

memory of individuals. The Roughrider Scholarship Foundation is completely donor-supported by individuals, community and civic-minded groups. Donations of any amount or kind (i.e., land, stock, guns or automobiles) can be made to the Foundation, which is managed by a Board of Directors who contribute their efforts without compensation. The Roughrider Scholarship Foundation is a Charitable Organization under the IRS Tax Code 501(c) (3) making your contribution fully tax deductible. 

The San Augustine County Livestock Show & Fair is set for March 20 thru March 22 at the San Augustine County Fairgrounds. The events kick-off Thursday, March 20 with the Chili Cook-off. Cooking starts at 12noon, with judging at 4:30. Serving to the public will be at 5:30 and its all-you-can eat for $5. Friday's activities include the fair exhibits display from 3 to 6 p.m.; and the broiler show at 4:30 p.m., and market rabbit show at 5 p.m., with the Dance starting at 7. Saturday, March 22, is a busy show day, beginning at 9 with market hogs, followed by lambs, goats, the heifer show, and steer show. An appreciation rib dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with the awards presentation at 6:30, and livestock & fair auction at 7.

The Texas High School Baseball state rankings are out, and Douglass is the No.1 Class 1A team, while Price Carlisle is No. 2, West Sabine is ranked No. 10 and Cushing No. 12. In Class 2A, Sunnyvale is top ranked, with Central Heights No. 16. Class 3A’s top team is College Station, with Diboll No. 5, and Carthage at No. 20. Top team in 4A is Moody and Cy Ranch is the No. 1 team in 5A.

The Timpson Bears and Cushing got an early start on the week, playing a district game yesterday, with the state-ranked Bearkats coming away with an 8-1 win. Cushing improves to 2-0, while Timpson drops to 1-1. The Bears are back on the diamond today starting at 2 at Mt Enterprise, and will be home to play No. 1 ranked Douglass at 2 Thursday in Timpson.

The Center Roughriders open District 20-3A play today at Hudson. The Riders are 9-6 on the season, while Hudson is 7-3. The Hornets are also the defending district champs. First pitch is 4:30 for JV, followed by varsity at 7.

In other district baseball games today, the Joaquin Rams go to Douglass; the Tenaha Tigers at the Shelbyville Dragons; Zavalla at the San Augustine Wolves; and the Garrison Bulldogs go to Central Heights.

In Softball: The Center Lady Riders are 0-2 in district, and will play again Thursday when they go to Hudson.

Today's schedule: Joaquin goes to Chireno; Garrison at Central Heights, and Martinsville will be at Timpson.

Last night: Timpson vs. Shelbyville

Mangum Funeral Home announces pending service for Dianne Warr, a lifelong resident of Center. She passed away Saturday in Center. Funeral service is pending. Among Dianne Warr’s survivors are: a sister, Vickie Warr of Center, and a brother, Dr. Winston Warr of Tucson, AZ.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 53-year old Patricia Carrol Daniels Green of Joaquin. She passed away Saturday in Tyler. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 Wednesday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment to follow at Lone Cedar Cemetery in Joaquin. Among Patricia Carroll Daniels Green's survivors are her husband, David Allen Green of Joaquin; daughter, Amber Opaline Evans of Athens, Georgia; sisters, Debbie Parker of Cotton Port, Louisiana, Bobbie Floyd of Tenaha and Jeanie Brunson of Dallas; and a brother, Rex Allen Clevenger of Liberty.

Taylor Funeral Home of Timpson announces a memorial mass for 64-year old James Randall "Toby" Robicheaux of Nacogdoches. He passed away Jan. 19 in Nacogdoches. Service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Timpson. Visitation will be from 2:30 to 3 Saturday at Taylor Funeral Home. Among James Randall "Toby" Robicheaux's survivors are, his sister, Joycelyn Robicheaux Todd of Sugar Land, formerly of Timpson; and a brother, John "Ronnie" Robicheaux. The family requests that in place of flowers or plants, donations by made to the Spinal Research Foundation.

Shelby County Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield has confirmed the Early Voting Ballot Board will be meeting at 5:30 this afternoon, Monday to review and process the outstanding Provisional Ballots from the March 4th Primary. After the board accepts the results of the ballots, we'll know more concerning the results of the Shelby County Judge's race. Challenger Allison Harbison came away with a one-vote persumptive win over Rick Campbell in last Tuesday's Party Primary Election.

Today’s the final day the five provisional Republican Party Primary voters in Shelby County have to present their ID to voter registrar Debora Riley to certify their vote in last Tuesday’s election.

Shelby County Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield says there’s a possibility the ballot board could be meeting tonight to review and accept those provisional ballots, if not, they’ll meet Tuesday as scheduled. T

he ballot board’s meeting is closed to the public, and only one representative for each candidate can attend. The big question is will those five voter’s ballots change the Shelby County Judge’s race, after last Tuesday’s one-vote presumptive victory by challenger Allison Harbison over County Judge Rick Campbell.

Whoever comes away with the least votes, Ms. Porterfield says may or may not decide to have a re-count done. She added they’ll have two days after this Friday’s canvassing, to send written notice to her. She said a recount could be by re-running the ballots in the tabulating machine, or by hand.

By the way, if there’s a tie, Ms. Porterfield said there would be another election on primary run-off day, May 27, for the Shelby County Judge’s race.

The Texas unemployment rate for January was the lowest since November of 2008, according to information released last Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. The state’s rate fell to 5.7 percent, down from 6 percent in December 2013. Texas also remained below the nation’s January unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. In Shelby County, the January rate is 6.4 percent, down slightly from December, and a full percentage from a year ago. San Augustine County’s rate was 9.4, almost two percentage points lower than Jan. 2013. In neighboring counties, Sabine County was down somewhat to 13 percent, still one of the highest in the state, but better than a year ago when they it was 15 percent. Nacogdoches County’s unemployment is 5.6 percent, and Panola County is 4.4 percent.

The Tenaha ISD Board of Trustees will be meeting at 5:30 Monday, and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action will be renewal of the Texas Kids First Student Insurance; the district paid Telehealth Benefit Program administered by First Financial Group; calling for a Public Board Meeting for May 19 to discuss Federal programs; and approving a day to replace the lost day due to inclement weather. The Tenaha school board will also consider approval of the 2014-2015 statewide educational consulting & counseling associate’s contract.

There’s a short agenda for the Center City Council when they meet at 5 today. The Council will approve partial closure of Civic Center Drive for the Chamber’s Grill Fest on March 22; and will vote to approve extension of listing agreement with Town & Country Real Estate for property at 305 Nacogdoches Street.

The Shelby County Commissioners’ Court has a regular meeting at 9:30 this morning, and among the possible action items will be a presentation by Nancy Smith of TxDOT, who’ll address the court to give an update on off-system bridge inspections and possible replacements.

Garrison Funeral Home was in charge of service Sunday for 41-year old Wendy Curbow Pinkston of Nacogdoches. Service was held at Garrison Funeral Home with burial at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Garrison. Among Wendy Curbow Pinkston’s survivors are daughters, Whitney Rhodes of Timpson, and Candace Rhodes of Douglass; a son, Kolten Rhodes of Douglass; sisters, Nancy Finchum of Nacogdoches and Darla Boatwright of New Mexico and a brother, Casey Curbow of New Mexico.

Garrison Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 79-year old Marjorie Rider McDuffie of Nacogdoches. She passed away last Thursday in Nacogdoches. Graveside service will be at 11 this morning at Cold Springs Cemetery in Garrison. Among Marjorie Rider McDuffie’s survivors are her husband, Billy Joe McDuffie of Nacogdoches; son, Joe McDuffie of Houston; daughter, Patti Fougerousse of Lufkin, Texas; and brother, Harold Rider of Carthage. The family has requested that donations be made to the ALS Association.

Wyman Roberts Funeral Home announces service for 77-year old Mrs. Wanda (Evett) Johnson of the Attoyac Community in San Augustine County. She passed away Friday in San Augustine County. Service will be at 2 today in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with interment in the Attoyac Cemetery. Among Wanda Evett Johnson’s survivors are a son, Perry Johnson of Prescott, Ark., daughter, Connie Wood of Humble; sister, Ima Hazel Evett Kirby of Jasper; and brother, Leonard Evett of San Augustine.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces a graveside service for 80-year old Sue Smith of Center. She passed away Saturday at Pine Grove Nursing Home in Center. She was a longtime employee of Farmers State Bank. Graveside service will be at 12 noon Saturday, March 15 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Among Sue Smith’s survivors are a daughter, Lynda Lee Hernandez of Garland; daughter-in-law, Melissa Lee of Center; sister, Margarite Hathorn of Center; and brothers, Larry Smith of Center and Steve Smith of Dallas. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library, First Baptist Church of Center, or to Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation in Plano, Texas.

The Center Roughriders won one of four games played at the Hallsville Builders Baseball Tournament. Center opened Thursday with a 4-1 loss to Pleasant Grove, beat Mt. Pleasant in Friday’s first game, 7-4, lost to Spring Hill, 8-6, and lost to Pittsburgh, 9-5 Saturday.

The Riders will open district tomorrow night at Hudson.

The Garrison Bulldogs went 2-for-2 at the Kirbyville Tournament getting wins over Hampshire-Fannett and Beaumont Ozen, while losing to West Orange-Stark and Port Arthur Memorial.

In other district baseball games Tuesday, the Joaquin Rams go to Douglass; Cushing at Timpson to play the Bears; the Tenaha Tigers at the Shelbyville Dragons; Zavalla at the San Augustine Wolves; and the Garrison Bulldogs go to Central Heights.

In softball:

The Center Lady Riders are off until Thursday when they go to Hudson to play the defending state champs. Last Week in District 20-3A play, the Lady Riders lose to Carthage, 10-4 on Tuesday, and to Central on Friday.

Last Friday, the Joaquin Lady Rams get 17 runs in the bottom of the third to take an 18-3 run-rule win over Gary. The assault was led by Fallin Jackson’s three-run homer. The Lady Rams are 1-0.

State-ranked Beckville run-ruled the Timpson Lady Bears Friday, 15-0 in four innings. Timpson is 1-1, while Beckville goes to 2-0.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs are 2-0 in district after a 5-1 win over Groveton Friday.

Softball today: the Timpson Lady Bears head to Shelbyville to play the Lady Dragons.

Tuesday: Joaquin goes to Chireno; Garrison at Central Heights, and Martinsville will be at Timpson.

The UIL crowned the new boys’ state basketball champions Saturday in Austin. Ponder beats Tatum in the 2A Final, 65-56; Mumford over Muenster, 63-57 in the 1A, Div. 1 championship game; and Water Valley over Laneville, 68-44 for the 1A, Div. II title. Dallas Madison defeats Houston Yates for the 3A title, 82-70; and Dallas Kimball comes away with the 4A; and Galena Park North Shore grabs the 5A championship.

The SFA Lumberjacks ended Southland Conference play Saturday with an 18-0 record, defeating Central Arkansas, 85-61. In addition, SFA extended their home winning streak to 33, and season win streak to 26 games. SFA will enter the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy as the No. 1 seed, and play at 5 p.m. Friday.

Arrest Report

3/7/14--3/10/14

Shelby County:

McClendon Harrison, 25, Richmond, Warrant-Violation of Probation, Original Charge: Assault

Angela Cordova, 30, Timpson, Possession of a Controlled Substance

Adam Pleasant, 28, Center, Possession of a Controlled Substance

Kenneth Boyd, 39, Shelbyville, Warrant-Theft of Livestock

April Bowers, 38, Joaquin, Failure to Appear, Original Charge: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Terry Burch, 38, Center, Possession of a Controlled Substance; Warrant-Burglary of a Building

Justin Channel, 31, Douglass, Nacogdoches County Warrant-Failure to Appear, Original Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance

Kenneth Blackwell, 30, Joaquin, Driving While Intoxicated-2^nd

LaShekietha Johnson, 37, Center, Theft

Salomon Matias-Perez, 32, Center, Driving While Intoxicated

Bobby Molina, 26, Joaquin, Driving While Intoxicated with child under 15

Arvin Mackey II, 53, Timpson, Possession of a Controlled Substance

Larry Barrett, 24, Garrison, Possession of a Controlled Substance

San Augustine County:

Isamel Olalde, Driving While Intoxicated-1^st

James Brown, Criminal Trespass

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Last week The Midnight Smokers BBQ team rolled into Smoking on the Red in Bossier City, and rolled out as the Grand Champions of the competition. They competed against fifty- two teams from five different states in four categories including Chicken, Ribs, Pulled Pork and Brisket. They placed sixth in chicken, seventh in  Ribs, and took first place in pulled pork, accumulating enough points to take Grand Champion. With the win the team has qualified to compete in the American Royal Invitational in Kansas City on October 4-5, which is the largest cook off competition in the world. Five hundred teams will be competing in this competition. For locals to get a sampling of their work, The Midnight Smokers will be in Center competing in the Chillin & Grillin cook off on March 22 at the Windham Civic Center. Members of the team are all employees of the Tenaha ISD, they include: David Sims and Joshua Campbell of Tenaha, and Steven Shires of Gary.

The former DeSoto Parish Schools Superintendent was in state district court in Mansfield earlier this week to be arraigned on four felony charges. Walter Lee pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony theft and one count each of public contract fraud and malfeasance in office. The charges stem from allegations that come from an audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office. Lee is accused of double-billing expenses to the school district and to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, on which he currently serves. He's also accused of personally benefiting from the return of a leased vehicle and intentionally performing his duties as a superintendent in an unlawful manner. A pretrial date has been set for April 22.

A shooting in Panola County Wednesday night has left a man dead. Sheriff Kevin Lake issued a press release and said that 43-year old Leonard Digilormo of Carthage was found dead of a gunshot wound at a house on U.S. Hwy. 79 in the River Hill community in northeast Panola County. Sheriff’s deputies responded before 8 p.m. to a domestic disturbance involving weapons at the house near the Sabine River. Short time later deputies arrested 17-year old Koby Michael Yoder of Carthage, and charged him with murder of his step-father. Yoder is being held at the Panola County Detention Center.

If you live in East Center and had your electrical power interrupted briefly late Thursday afternoon, there’s a good reason. Just before 5 o’clock an older model Cadillace struck a utility pole causing the outage. Center Police are investigating the incident. They say the driver was on Noble Street, which is also County Road 2050, left the roadway and ran into the pole. The unidentified individual was taken by ACE EMS to a Nacogdoches hospital for injuries.

The Tenaha ISD Board of Trustees will be meeting at 5:30 Monday, and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action will be renewal of the Texas Kids First Student Insurance; the district paid Telehealth Benefit Program administered by First Financial Group; calling for a Public Board Meeting for May 19 to discuss Federal programs; and approving a day to replace the lost day due to inclement weather. The Tenaha school board will also consider approval of the 2014-2015 statewide educational consulting & counseling associates’ contract.

Don't forget to turn your clocks forward one hour Saturday night before going to bed, as Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday. That's right we lose an hour of sleep, but do get longer daylight heading into Spring & Summer. Remember, that's "spring" forward one hour. This twice-yearly ritual of adjusting the clocks serves as an excellent reminder to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces service for 19-year old Jordan LeBlanc of Timpson. Service will be at 11 this morning at Center First United Pentecostal Church, with interment at Borders Cemetery in Shelby County. Jordan LeBlance is survived by his parents, John and Sherry LeBlanc of Center; fiance’, Ashley Clifton of Timpson; a brother, Joseph LeBlanc of Timpson; a sister, Jasie LeBlanc of Center; paternal grandparents, Maison and Edith LeBlanc of Center; and maternal grandparents, Wayne and Floye Parker of Center. An account has been opened at Austin Bank in Timpson to assist the family with funeral expenses.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 70-year old Loretta Childress of Joaquin. She Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 Saturday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment to follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park. Among Loretta Childress’ survivors are her husband of 51 years, Charles Childress of Joaquin, a son, Todd Childress of Logansport; and brother, Thomas Childress.

McNutt Funeral Home of Conroe announces a memorial service for 56-yearold Angela Clark Corbell McCaa of Conroe, formerly of Center. Memorial Service will be at 11 Saturday in her childhood home located at 5069 FM 414 in the Campti Community of Shelby County. Among Angela Clark Corbell McCaa’s survivors are her husband, Jerry McCaa of Florida; a son, Will Corbell of The Woodlands; and a brother, Blain Clark of Shelby County.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 76-year old Minister Versie Lee Wilson of Center. Service will be at 2 Saturday at Triumph First Pentecostal Church in Shelbyville, with interment at St. John Cemetery in Tenaha. Among Minister Versie Lee Wilson’s survivors are two sons, Larry Thomas of Center, and Kenneth Thomas of Center; three daughters, Sharon Barkin of Center, Selvia Atkins of Joaquin and Adnora Johnson of Center; and a brother, Johnny Yarbrough of Houston.

Cason Monk-Metcalf  Funeral Directors of Nacogdoches announces a memorial service for 85-year old Thelma Joyce Tompkins, of Nacogdoches. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. today, at First Baptist Church Nacogdoches. A private graveside service will be held at Sunset Cemetery in Nacogdoches at a later time. Thelma Joyce Tompkins was a 1945 graduate of Timpson High School. Among her survivors are her husband, Homer; and daughters, Brenda Tompkins Fuller of Round Rock, and Patti Tompkins Goodrum of Nacogdoches; and a brother, Joe Dan Hairgrove of Timpson. The family requests that memorial donations be offered to The Nacogdoches Treatment Center, or the Parkinson Disease Foundation.

Ten Center High School Power lifters competed yesterday in the Texas High School Boys Regional Power lifting Meet in Rusk. These athletes competed in 5 different power lifting meets to qualify for a position at region. The regional qualifiers include: Hairo Salazar, a sophomore, and ranked at #10, Daniel Rodriguez, Sophomore, came in at #8, Joe King, Freshmen, at #4, and Jamie Hubbard, sophomore who made the cut coming in at #10. Senior Garrett Stanley had an amazing year in power lifting, and qualified in the #1 spot with a whopping 1440 pounds. Kiounis Williams is also a Senior, and was the #1 qualifier in his weight class with a best lifting total of 1460 pounds. Another Senior, and veteran qualifier is Jose Vallejo, who qualified at #6 . Junior Devincent Hoyt came in at #3 in his weight class, Another Junior Esteban Garza sealed a spot at #9, and Junior Zach Verhalen who was ranked #3 going into regional. Other lifters from Center that came in just short of qualifications are JaCarlos Hall, Cole Hudspeth, Adrian Johnson, and Pedro Mendoza. Results of yesterday’s meet are not known at this time.

The Center Roughrider baseball teams opened play Thursday in the Hallsville Builders Tournament, and were handed a 4-1 loss by Pleasant Grove. This is the same team the Riders had defeated 2-1 last week in Kilgore. Center has two games today in Hallsville, at 10 this morning and 12:30 this afternoon. The Riders also have a game at the Hallsville tournament at 10 Saturday morning.

Also today: the San Augustine Wolves go to Beckville in non-district action; the Garrison Bulldogs are playing in the Kirbyville Tournament today.

In a district baseball game today, the Joaquin Rams host Mt Enterprise. The Timpson Bears and Shelbyville Dragons have byes.

On Wednesday, #1 state-ranked Douglass shut-out the Shelbyville Dragons, 18-0, in district play.

In Softball:

The Lady Riders have their second district game today at home against Central; the Timpson Lady Bears go to Beckville; Gary at the Joaquin Lady Rams; the Chireno Lady Owls at the Shelbyville Lady Dragons and the Garrison Lady Bulldogs at Central Heights.

In track & field: The Timpson Bears have taken their second varsity team championship in as many weeks as they won the Beckville meet yesterday.

Over in Nacogdoches last night, the SFA Lumberjacks defeat Oral Roberts, 83-72 to run their winning streak to 25 games, and improve to 17-0 in Southland Conference play. SFA closes out conference at 6 Saturday night at home with Central Arkansas.

Also, don’t have all the particulars, but the Joaquin Ram Tennis Team came away with a number of first and second place finishes at the Nacogdoches tennis tournament on Thursday.

Today at the UIL Boys' State Basketball Tournament in Austin, semi-final action has the 2A semis, with Aransas Pass vs. Ponder and Tatum taking on Bushland; the 1A, Div. II semis, Water Valley vs. Nazareth and Laneville vs. Cumby Miller Grove; and the 5A semis, Galena Park North Shore vs. DeSoto and Converse Judson against Allen.

Yesterday's 1A, Div. 1 semi: Muenster over Grapeland, 65-64.

Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 29 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division tournament of the season on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. For his victory, Castledine earned $55-hundred. Castledine said he caught most of his weight on a 6th Sense Crush 500DD crankbait and a Carolina rigged prototype 7-inch Kicker Fish Bubble Fry.

Arrest Report

3/5/14--3/6/14

Shelby County:

James Elliott Perry, 36, Center, Warrant-Capias Profine, Original Charge: Driving While Intoxicated; Order of Confinement, Original Charge: Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Edward Moorman, 39, Center, Driving While Invalid with Previous Conviction

Kimberly Staley, 35, Nacogdoches, Burglary of a Habitation

Patricia Simmon, 31, Nacogdoches, Burglary of a Habitation

Demetrice Martin, 33, Center, Driving While License Invalid with Previous Conviction

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

We brought you a news story Monday concerning a missing San Augustine County man, and authorities are saying they don’t suspect foul play is involved in the disappearance of 53-year old Allen Ray McKinney on Feb. 21. S

an Augustine County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham is saying his department has tried to locate McKinney using traditional methods but to no avail. He said family members weren’t initially concerned, thinking he may have gone off on an excursion, and Chief Cunningham says McKinney had not had any arguments with family members, and doesn’t have any physical or mental issues, and no known drug problem.

Authorities do know McKinney used his cell phone once within 48 hours of missing, and used his debit card to make small cash withdrawals in Lufkin and Splendora, and a small purchase in Galveston County.

Allen Ray McKinney was last seen leaving his home at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 driving a 1999 Green 4-door Ford Explorer with Texas License plate C-R-G 0751.

Allen Ray McKinney is described to be 5-11, 230 pounds, with mostly gray, shaved hair with blue eyes.

If you have any information regarding the location of Allen Ray McKinney, you’re asked to contact the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Department at 936-275-2424.

As you probably know by now, the Republican Party Primary Election for Shelby County Judge ended in a one-vote presumptive victory for challenger Allison Harbison over Rick Campbell Tuesday night, and with five provisional ballots to be certified, the official outcome remains in question.

To give you an idea where things stand at this time, Center Broadcasting spoke with County Clerk Harbison yesterday, who’s also the county election administrator, and she said the 10 provisional ballot individuals from Tuesday’s voting—five from each political party that were allowed to vote, despite not having their ID, had until this next Monday to go to Voter Registrar Debora Riley’s office and be certified.

Ms. Harbison said each of the provisional voters was instructed by the precinct voting judge where they were allowed to vote, to present their ID in proper time to Ms. Riley’s office.

She added the county’s ballot board, which is made up of selected Democratic and Republican voters that meet after each election, will likely gather Tuesday, at which time the process of having a manual recount of the county judges’ race would in all likelihood begin.

Ms. Harbison said it’s up to Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield to assemble a group to conduct a recount.

A Shelby County based health-care provider has expanded its reach with the opening of a facility in Sabine County. East Texas Extended Care of Timpson opened the doors Monday to the Pineland Clinic. The clinic is located in the Pineland Pharmacy building, the old Shockey building at 105 Timberland Hwy. East Texas Extended Care is open from 8 to 4, Monday thru Friday, with walk-ins accepted. The facility is staffed by a Family Nurse Practioner and Sabine County native, Sharon Byley. A 30-year nursing veteran, Byley graduated West Sabine High in 1977.

East Texas Extended Care has plans to open another clinic this summer in San Augustine, as well as Center later this year. East Texas Extended Care is owned by Center natives, Justin Timmons and Dawn Barnes.

The Center ISD board of trustees will have a regular meeting at 6 tonight.

Among the agenda items for discussion and consideration will be 2014-2015 school transfer agreement; distribution of a proposed framework for graduation requirements and endorsements per HB5 Legislation impacting the Class of 2018 and beyond; review and discussion of school finance trial; and consideration and approval of the 2014-2015 School Calendar.

In addition, the school board will go into closed session to discuss employee and personnel issues and real property. The CISD trustees will also recognize Center Middle School Beta Club State Contest Winners and National Contest Qualifiers.

There's a vegetative problem on Toledo Bend and the Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance recently met to discuss management of giant Salvinia that's covering over 6,000 acres of the border reservoir.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has several means to control the spread of the invasive plant on the lake, the first and most popular is spraying of herbicides. Lake residents are warned to be cautious before going this route and contact Texas Parks and Wildlife before doing the spraying on their own.

Residents were advised they should be proactive to help control the spread of Salvinia. Continue to clean off boats when leaving the water, and be sure no Salvinia is left on the boat or trailer when you leave the water. It's illegal to drive down the road with Salvinia on a trailer.

Those looking for tips on controlling or combating giant Salvinia, should contact Thomas Decker, Aquatic Invasive Species Biologist with Texas Parks & Wildlife at 409-698-9121, ext. 240.

More information can also be found by visiting the Toledo Bend Bi-State alliance website at toledo-bend.com/alliance

The average price for a gallon of regular gas statewide is running about $3.22 a gallon, up three cents in the past week, according to gasbuddy.com. In Louisiana, a gallon’s also averaging $3.22. Nationally, the average is $3.46, up another nickel for the week, but down some 23-cents from this week a year ago. Here at home, checking prices this morning, lowest we found was at Wal-Mart, and the Valero on San Augustine Street in Center, where it’s down 6-cents in the past week, to $3.17 a gallon. 

If you're looking for good, fun entertainment, the San Augustine Women's Service League presents the 12th annual Night of the Stars tonight, Friday & Saturday evenings at the San Augustine Historic Museum. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds fund San Augustine community projects and scholarships. Tickets are available at Heart Strings on the square in San Augustine. If you need tickets, call 275-3484.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces service for 19-year old Jordan LeBlanc of TimpsonVisitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Watson & Sons. Service will be at 11 Friday at Center First United Pentecostal Church, with interment at Borders Cemetery in Shelby County. Jordan LeBlance is survived by his parents, John and Sherry LeBlanc of Center; fiance’, Ashley Clifton of Timpson; a brother, Joseph LeBlanc of Timpson; a sister, Jasie LeBlanc of Center; paternal grandparents, Maison and Edith LeBlanc of Center; and maternal grandparents, Wayne and Floye Parker of Center. An account has been opened at Austin Bank in Timpson to assist the family with funeral expenses.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces funeral service for 70-year old Loretta Childress of Joaquin. She passed away Tuesday at her residence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 Friday evening at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Service will be at 11 Saturday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment to follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park. Among Loretta Childress’ survivors are her husband of 51 years, Charles Childress of Joaquin, a son, Todd Childress of Logansport; and brother, Thomas Childress.

McNutt Funeral Home of Conroe announces a memorial service for 56-yearold Angela Clark Corbell McCaa of Conroe, formerly of Center. Memorial Service will be at 11 Saturday in her childhood home located at 5069 FM 414 in the Campti Community of Shelby County. Among Angela Clark Corbell McCaa’s survivors are her husband, Jerry McCaa of Florida; a son, Will Corbell of The Woodlands; and a brother, Blain Clark of Shelby County.

Community Funeral Home of Center announces funeral service for 76-year old Minister Versie Lee Wilson of Center. He passed away last Friday night at Green Acres Nursing Center. Service will be at 2 Saturday at Triumph First Pentecostal Church in Shelbyville, with interment at St. John Cemetery in Tenaha. Among Minister Versie Lee Wilson’s survivors are two sons, Larry Thomas of Center, and Kenneth Thomas of Center; three daughters, Sharon Barkin of Center, Selvia Atkins of Joaquin and Adnora Johnson of Center; and a brother, Johnny Yarbrough of Houston.

Cason Monk-Metcalf  Funeral Directors of Nacogdoches announces a memorial service for 85-year old Thelma Joyce Tompkins, of Nacogdoches. She passed yesterday in Nacogdoches. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, at First Baptist Church Nacogdoches. A private graveside service will be held at Sunset Cemetery in Nacogdoches at a later time. Thelma Joyce Tompkins was a 1945 graduate of Timpson High School. Among her survivors are her husband, Homer; and daughters, Brenda Tompkins Fuller of Round Rock, and Patti Tompkins Goodrum of Nacogdoches; and a brother, Joe Hairgrove of Timpson. The family requests that memorial donations be offered to The Nacogdoches Treatment Center, or the Parkinson Disease Foundation.

District 21-1A baseball score from Tuesday, the Timpson Bears defeat the Chireno Owls, 20-3 in the district opener. The win gives the Bears a 5-2 season record. Yesterday, Cushing takes a 6-4 win over the Joaquin Rams, dropping the Rams to 6-3 on the season.

Baseball scheduled today: the Center Roughriders start play in the Hallsville Builders Tournament through Saturday. Center’s first game is at 7 tonight; they play again at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Friday; and at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Garrison Bulldogs begin play in the Kirbyville Tournament today.

Friday: the San Augustine Wolves go to Beckville in non-district.

In a district game Friday, the Joaquin Rams host Mt Enterprise; and the Timpson Bears and Shelbyville Dragons have byes.

In Softball:

District game earlier this week, Beckville over the Shelbyville Lady Dragons, 14-2.

The Lady Riders have their second district game Friday at home against Central; the Timpson Lady Bears go to Beckville; Gary at the Joaquin Lady Rams; the Chireno Lady Owls at the Shelbyville Lady Dragons and the Garrison Lady Bulldogs at Central Heights.

Track & Field (including boys and girls): today, Tenaha and San Augustine are at the Shelbyville meet; Timpson goes to Beckville; and Garrison heads to Troup.

Friday track: the Center Roughriders and Lady Riders will be in Newton.

In men’s college basketball last night from Tyler, the Panola Ponies lost a 73-71 first-round Region 14 N-J-C-A-A game to Kilgore College. The setback ends Panola’s season.

The SFA Lumberjacks have a Southland Conference game at 8 tonight at the Johnson Coliseum. The Jacks put their 24-game win streak on the line against Oral Roberts.

The boys’ state UIL basketball tournament gets underway this morning in Austin. First two semi-final games are the Class 1A, Div. I, featuring Muenster taking on Grapeland and Mumford against Smyer; that’s followed by the 3A semis, Dallas Madison vs. San Antonio Houston; then 4A semis, Beaumont Central taking on Dallas Kimball; and Schertz Clements vs. Amarillo. Friday’s semis include Class 2A, Class 1A, Div. II, and 5A.

The District 22 1A, Div. I girls’ all district basketball post-season honors and all-district teams have been announced:

MVP: JaKera Land, Sr,, Shelbyville

Offensive POY: Annabeth Vaughn, Jr. Joaquin

Defensive POY: Daisy Sequeda, Jr., Martinsville; and Shantivia Gray, Sr., Tenaha

Newcomer of the Year: Bailey Rabalais, FR, Shelbyville; Kensi Bowlin, FR, Martinsville

Coach of the Year: Stephany Carter, Shelbyville

1^st Team All-District

Jalysa Steadman         SR                   Tenaha

Eboni Moore                SR                   Tenaha

Karlee Burnaman        SO                   Martinsville

Ali Baty                        JR                    Shelbyville

Jabria Jenkins              SO                   Shelbyville

Malorie Martinez          SR                   Joaquin

Amber Gage                 SR                   Gary

2^nd Team All-District

Myleah Davis               JR                    Martinsville

Ryley Beckham            JR                    Gary

Ryleigh Yates              SR                   Joaquin

Adaisa Cartwright        R                    Shelbyville

Ta’Kameria McClure     JR                    Tenaha

Honorable Mention

Ashton Griffin               SO                   Tenaha

Tierra Henderson         SR                   Tenaha

Kaitlyn Humphreys       JR                    Martinsville

Alexis McElroy               FR                   Martinsville

Ty Ross                         JR                    Joaquin

Kathrine Patrick            SO                   Joaquin

Ava Stephens               SR                   Joaquin

Meagan Sewell             JR                    Gary

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a missing person alert for a Tenaha man. According to a press release, James Evans, a white male, reported to be 6-1, 190 pounds, with short dark hair and a possible mustache, was reported missing from his home at 249 Sugar Hill Road just before 6 o’clock Wednesday morning. The father of the individual, Jackie Eaves, informed authorities, he awoke to find his son missing. The father advised his son has the mental capability of an 11-year old, and suffers from mental illness. He reportedly left the home with two gray pull behind suitcases, along with a X-Box system. If you have any information on the where about of James Eaves of Tenaha, you’re asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 598-5600.

When the ballots had been counted last night, the Shelby County Judge’s race saw a difference of one vote, with challenger Allison Harbison coming out on top, 1,629 to incumbent Rick Campbell’s 1,628 in the Republican Party Primary, making Ms. Harbison the “presumptive winner”, as there are five provisional ballots to certify, which could have one of the closest races in Shelby County history come down to certification.

Republican Party Chairperson Leigh Porterfield said regardless of how the provisional ballots come out, she felt a recount would likely be requested by whoever had the least amount of votes in the race.

Ms. Harbison said it will be up to Voter Registrar Debora Riley to verify the five provisional ballots and those individuals have six days to bring in photo ID so they can be counted.

It’s now wait and see in the Shelby County Judge’s race, as the democratic process unfolds

In the other Shelby County-wide race, challenger Anne Blackwell won the Republican Party county treasurer’s race by defeating incumbent Joan Rodgers, 1,725 to 1,400. Ms. Blackwell is the candidate elect since there’s no Democratic Party challenger.

Elsewhere in the Republican Party Primary, in the JP Pct. 1 race, Melissa Crouch avoids a run-off by taking 50.81 percent of the ballots, with 819 votes, to Barbara Scates’ 519, and William Eddins with 274. Ms. Crouch is the party nominee and will face incumbent Maxie Eaves in the General Election.

In the JP Pct. 2 race, Marla Denby over Mark E. Swift, 359 to 199. Ms. Denby will take on Jerry Powell in November; and in the JP Pct. 5 race, Mike Crouch over T.L. Williams, 168 to 115. Crouch, who’s the triplet brother of Melissa Crouch will face off with incumbent Jim Powers in November.

Over in the Democratic Party Primary, incumbent County Commissioner Pct. 4 Bradley Allen has won re-election, by defeating Howard Sparks, 216-128. In the JP Pct. 4 race, Jenny L. Hicks over Shonda Clifton, 79-42.

In the San Augustine County Commissioner Pct. 4 Republican Primary race, there will be a run-off between Steve Bryan and David McEarchern (McKatherine). Bryan had 138 votes to 128 for McEarchern. The run-off will be May 27. The other race candidates, Joe Hanks had 49 votes and Jim Sower with 39.

Other election results, former State Rep. Wayne Christian will be in a runoff for State Railroad Commissioner after he led the ticket with 42 percent of the votes, and will face Ryan Sitton who was able to pick up 30 percent.

Nacogdoches County: Mike Perry has won the county judge’s race avoiding a run-off in a three candidate field; and in Panola County, they have their first female judge, as LeeAnn Jones wins the primary election; and State Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches has won re-election.

We know more details of a three-vehicle accident that took the life of a Shelby County man, as well as a Houston-area man Monday night near Tenaha.

According to DPS Communications in Texarkana, 19-year old Jordan LeBlanc was southbound on U.S. Hwy. 59 at 9 p.m. when he was struck head-on by a 2003 Ford F-150 pick up driven by 63-year old Jackie Price of Spring.

he accident report says Price’s vehicle was northbound in the southbound lanes of traffic, when he hit LeBlanc head-on, causing the vehicle to spin around and t-bone a Toyota Camry, driven by Crystal McClendon of Bastrop, Louisiana.

Both LeBlanc and Price were pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. McClendon and a passenger, LaToya McClinton, were taken by ambulance to ETMC in Carthage for non life threating injuries. We were told by a family member, LeBlanc was headed home to Timpson from work in Carthage when the accident occurred.

He was a 2013 graduate of Center High School, and was a member of the Timpson Volunteer Fire Dept.

Funeral Service for Jordan LeBlanc will be at 11 Friday morning at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.

A Shelby County based health-care provider has expanded its reach with the opening of a facility in Sabine County. East Texas Extended Care of Timpson opened the doors Monday at the Pineland Clinic. The clinic is located in the Pineland Pharmacy building, the old Shockey building at 105 Timberland Hwy.

East Texas Extended Care is open from 8 to 4, Monday thru Friday, with walk-ins accepted. The facility is staffed by a Family Nurse Practioner and Sabine County native, Sharon Byley. A 30-year nursing veteran, Byley graduated West Sabine High in 1977.

East Texas Extended Care has plans to open another clinic this summer in San Augustine, as well as Center later this year. East Texas Extended Care is owned by Justin Timmons and Dawn Barnes, both Center natives.

Obits:

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces service for 19-year old Jordan LeBlanc of Timpson. He passed away Monday in Panola County. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 Thursday at Watson & Sons. Service will be at 11 Friday at Watson & Sons Chapel, with interment at Borders Cemetery in Shelby County. Jordan LeBlance is survived by his parents, John and Sherry LeBlanc of Center; fiance’, Ashley Clifton of Timpson; a brother, Joseph LeBlanc of Timpson; a sister, Jasie LeBlanc of Center; paternal grandparents, Maison and Edith LeBlanc of Center; and maternal grandparents, Wayne and Floye Parker of Center.

Watson & Sons Funeral Home announces pending service for 70-year old Loretta Childress of Joaquin. She passed away this morning at her residence. Service is pending for Loretta Childress.

McNutt Funeral Home of Conroe announces a memorial service for 56-yearold Angela Clark Corbell McCaa of Conroe, formerly of Center. She passed away Tuesday in Conroe. Memorial Service will be at 11 Saturday in her childhood home located at 5069 FM 414 in the Campti Community of Shelby County. Among Angela Clark Corbell McCaa’s survivors are her husband, Jerry McCaa of Florida; a son, Will Corbell of The Woodlands; and a brother, Blain Clark of Shelby County.

Soccer last night, the Nacogdoches Golden Dragons defeat the Center Roughriders, 4-0.

The Center Tennis team competed in a rather large tournament last Thursday & Friday in Nacogdoches. Schools included Kingwood, Livingston, Tyler All Saints, Tyler Grace, Palestine, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, John Tyler, Trinity, Jacksonville, Diboll, Central Heights, and Center. Among the top finishers included: Boys Doubles A team: Adam Reeves/Alec Lucas - 1st Place; Girls Doubles A team: Jayton Cassell/Jasmine Crowley - 2nd Place;  and Girls Doubles B team: Faith Lengle/Brylee Hendricks - 2nd Place.

At last week's Center Lady Rider Softball Tournament, the Lady Riders took an 11-7 win over Nacogdoches in the championship game.

The Lady Riders have their second district game Friday at home against Central; the Timpson Lady Bears go to Beckville; Gary at the Joaquin Lady Rams; the Chireno Lady Owls at the Shelbyville Lady Dragons and the Garrison Lady Bulldogs at Central Heights.

The Garrison girls are 2-0 in district after an 8-0 shutout against Elkart.

District baseball result from yesterday, the Garrison Bulldogs open up with a 10-0 win over Elkhart.

Baseball scheduled Thursday: the Center Roughriders start play in the Hallsville Builders Tournament through Saturday; and the Garrison Bulldogs take part in the Kirbyville Tournament.

Friday: the San Augustine Wolves go to Beckville in non-district.

In a district game Friday, the Joaquin Rams host Mt Enterprise; and the Timpson Bears and Shelbyville Dragons have byes.

Track & Field (including boys and girls): Thursday, Tenaha and San Augustine are at the Shelbyville meet; Timpson goes to Beckville. By the way, Timpson boys won the Colmesneil meet last week; and Garrison heads to Troup.

Friday track: the Center Roughriders and Lady Riders will be in Newton.

The Panola College Men's Basketball game was cancelled for last night due to the weather and has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. tonight at Tyler Junior College’s Wagstaff Gym. The Ponies will take on Kilgore in the NJCAA Regional Finals.

The boys’ state UIL basketball tournament gets underway tomorrow morning in Austin. First two semi-final games are the Class 1A, Div. I, featuring Muenster taking on Grapeland and Mumford against Smyer; that’s followed by the 3A semis, Dallas Madison vs. San Antonio Houston; then 4A semis, Beaumont Central taking on Dallas Kimball; and Schertz Clements vs. Amarillo. Friday’s semis include Class 2A, Class 1A, Div. II, and 5A.

The District 22-1A, Div. 1 boys’ basketball all-district selections have been announced:

MVP - Keontas Davis, Tenaha Senior

Offensive Player of the Year - Jacobey Ivy, Tenaha Senior

Defensive Player of the Year - Marcus Edwards, Shelbyville Junior; Levi Enloe, Martinsville Senior; and Chevis Gregory, Tenaha Senior

Newcomer of the Year - Colton Goeke, Tenaha Sophomore and Noah Berney, Martinsville Sophomore

Coach of the Year - Coach Todd Bodden, Tenaha

First Team: JJ Boykins, Shelbyville Sophomore; Tyler Davison, Tenaha Junior; Deandre Thomas, Tenaha Junior; Jonas Hill, Martinsville Sophomore; Josh Brown, Gary Junior; Colton Coleman, Gary Senior; and Zae Cooper, Joaquin Senior

Second Team: Trey Robertson, Martinsville Sophomore; Cody Bridges, Gary Senior; Shakur Johnson, Timpson Junior; Gavin Pierce, Timpson Junior; Justin Hooper, Joaquin Freshman; Octavian Burrell, Shelbyville Sophomore; CJ Watson, Shelbyville Junior; and JR Hill, Tenaha Senior

Arrest Report

3/4/14--3/5/14

Shelby County:

David Len Weaver, Jr., 34, Center, Two charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving While License Invalid, No Insurance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Lamarcus Alfredrick Smith, 36, Laneville, Driving While License Invalid.

Keri Harkness, 22, Shelbyville, Warrant-Aggravated Assault of a Child.

Christian Melancon, 40, Nederland, Possession of Marijuana.

Ashley Phillips, 25, Center, Possession of a Controlled Substance.

San Augustine County: No Arrest Reported

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Today is Party Primary Election Day, as your normal precinct polling locations are open from 7 to 7.

In Shelby County, there are two contested races in the Democratic Primary; and five in the Republican Primary.

In the Democratic primary, the commissioner Pct. 4 race incumbent Bradley Allen is faced by Howard Sparks; and in the Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Democratic Primary, Shonda Clifton is up against Jenny L. Hicks. The winner of these two races will be the candidate elect for the office since there’s no Republican Party candidate to face in November.

As for the Republican Party primary, the Shelby County judges’ race features incumbent Rick Campbell against current county clerk Allison Harbison; and in the county treasurer’s primary it’s challenger Ann Blackwell and incumbent Joan Rodgers. These two races will also make the winner the candidate elect, because of no Democratic Party candidate to face in the Nov. General Election.

The Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Republican primary has three candidates as William Eddins, Melissa Crouch and Barbara Scates are vying for a win; JP Pct. 2 pits Marla Denby and Mark E. Swift; and in Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Republican primary, T. Lee Williams goes up against Mike Crouch.

In San Augustine County, there’s one contested race, that being in the Republican Primary for County Commissioner Pct. 4. Candidates include, Steve Bryan, Joe Hanks, Jim Sower and David McEachern.

You're reminded you must have a photo ID in order to vote today.

Center Broadcasting will have post-election coverage Tuesday night beginning at 7 on air, Facebook and our website at cbc-radio.com. You can carry our programming with you anywhere on your personal device; just download the free app at Tune In Radio.

There will be a special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners' Court at 9:30 Friday morning for the purpose of discussing and possibly taking action regarding the Senate Bill 1747 to prioritize project list for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grant Program and accepting county road reports for filing in the minutes of the Commissioners' Court.

Four Shelbyville High School power lifting athletes are headed to state competion. Sophomore Kal Metcalf placed 2nd at the Regional Power lifting Meet last Saturday in Elkhart, and will be competing in Abilene March 22.  Kal lifted 250 lb. Squat; 310 lb Bench; 510 lb Dead Lift. Also, Lady Dragons Sophomore Jessica Sanford and junior Harlie Hagler will compete at the Girls State Power lifting Meet in Corpus Christi on March 14. Savannah Talbert will be an alternate.

Center 4H member Konner Windham placed 8th in the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo Young Guns Skeet Shoot this past weekend. Konner shot an 82 out of 100 on Friday and a 71 out of 100 on Saturday to place 8th.  She won $250, a plaque, shell bag, and a Belt Buckle. There were 400 contestants and 131 4H and FFA members. Also participating from Center were Tory Davis and Jacob Locke.

The Panola Ponies basketball team is playing in the N-J-C-A-A Regional Finals at 8 tonight against Kilgore at UT-Tyler.

Panola College inducted 5 new members to the Athletic Hall of Fame last month, including Joaquin product, Don W. Bounds who played baseball at Panola College from 1960-61; and San Augustine native Steve Winfield, who suited up for the Pony's baseball team from 1976 to 77. Also inducted were Todd Haney, Mildred Hodge Griffith, and James Gray--a three sport standout in Carthage. The ceremony was held with a large crowd of family and friends on hand.

Baseball games scheduled today, weather permitting: It's the district openers, as the Joaquin Rams host Cushing; the Timpson Bears go to Chireno; Elkhart at the Garrison Bulldogs; non-district, Woden at San Augustine.

The Douglass at Shelbyville Dragons games scheduled for today has been cancelled.

Softball district games today, depending on the weather: The Center Lady Riders at Carthage; Timpson Lady Bears at Gary; Beckville at the Shelbyville Lady Dragons; Elkhart at the Garrison Lady Bulldogs; and the Joaquin Lady Rams have a bye.

The Center Roughrider JV Tennis Team will be playing in the Jacksonville Tournament on Thursday. The event was rescheduled from today due to weather.

The Center Middle School Track Meet in Carthage to have been held Monday has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 6th beginning at 3:30 P.M. There will be no field events, RUNNING ONLY.

Soccer tonight: The Rider and Lady Riders teams have district games against Nacogdoches. The Riders go to Nacogdoches and the Lady Riders are home.

The Lady Rider golf team is scheduled to play in Elysian Fields today.

Arrest Report

3/3/14--3/4/14

Shelby County:

Evette Dichel Bratchett, 31, San Augustine, Theft

Ray Neuwirth, 21, Center, Theft & Warrants-8 counts of Credit Card Abuse

Christy Hollingsworth, 24, Shelbyville, Public Intoxication

San Augustine County:

Isidro Castillo, Public Intoxication

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Arrest Report

2-28/14--3/3/14

Shelby County:

Ami Lee, 32, Center, Theft of Firearm

Marcie Olalde, 41, Tenaha, Panola County Warrant- Theft By Check

Kevin Robinson, 25, Center, Accident Involving Damage to Building

Morgan Magee, 30, Shelbyville, Warrant-Burglary of a Building

Marvin Taylor, 35, Joaquin, Retaliation

Tim Paul Chandler II, 23, Center, Warrant-Assault-Family Violence

Rogelio Romero, 50, Joaquin, Warrant-Order of Confinement-Original Charge: Driving While Intoxicated

David Fountain, 46, Tenaha, Driving While Intoxicated with Child Under 15

Jeremy Tyrone Sophus, 27, Center, Evading Arrest with a Vehicle, Possession of Marijuana

San Augustine County:

Johnny Adams, Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone, Tampering/Fabricating Physical Evidence

Ricky Lara, Galveston County Warrant-Bond for Bail Jumping

James Brown, Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone, Obstructing Highway Passage

Donny Holman, Two Charges Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

Eduardo Santana, Assault-Family Violence

Reminder: All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

At the 2014 Shelby County Livestock Show and Sale last Saturday, Grand Champion Steer honors went to Chris Dunn of Center 4-H, who’s animal sold to Farmers State Bank for $3,750; Grand Champion Market Hog was shown by Kelsey Adair of Center 4-H, and sold to Shelby Savings Bank, McAdams Propane, Port-a-Cool, Hunter Buildings, and County Judge Rick Campbell for $2,250; Grand Champion Market Goat went to April Ramsey of the Timpson FFA and sold to Mackey Cattle Company for $1,900; and Grand Champion Market Lamb was shown by Kayleigh Scroggins of Timpson FFA, and sold to Azure-Midstream for $1,500.

Reserve Grand Champion Steer was Ethan Wood of Joaquin FFA, and was purchased by XTO for $1,800; Reserve Grand Market Hog went to Lance Holloway of Center 4-H and bought by Heritage Land Bank for $2,200; the Reserve Grand-Market Goat was shown by Emma Martin of Joaquin FFA, and bought by Farmers State Bank for $1,200; and the Reserve Grand Market Lamb went to Madison Fleming of Timpson FFA, and sold to XTO for $1,200.

The Grand Champion Heifer of this year’s Shelby County Livestock Show was shown by Ethan Wood of Joaquin FFA; Reserve Grand Champion Heifer was shown by April Ramsey of Timpson FFA; Champion Bull, Lauren Neal of Joaquin FFA; Champion Market Rabbits, Allison Odom of Shelbyville 4-H; and Reserve Champion Market Rabbits, Kirsti Jernigan of Shelbyville 4-H.

At last Thursday’s DETCOG Board meeting in Crockett, executive director Walter Diggles said the DETCOG staff had picked up all the fiscal files from the FBI seized during last month’s simultaneous raid in Jasper of the DETCOG offices, Diggles’ home and the church he pastors. Diggles advised the board the agency has heard nothing new from the officials involved in the federal investigation, and said he has continuing confidence in the agency’s accountability, internal controls, its audits, and that DETCOG looked forward to the report from the investigation. Diggles thanked the board, staff and friends for their prayers and support the past month.

Early voting came to an end Friday for Tuesday’s Party Primary Election and at the end of the day, 995 Shelby County voters had cast their ballots early, with 863 voting Republican, and 132 Democrat. There are also 198 Republican mail ballots that have been sent out, and 34 Democratic. It’s possible some of those may not come back in to be counted. Compared to four years ago, the total number of early votes in person and by mail was just 523. Tomorrow is Party Primary Election Day across Texas, as polls are open from 7 to 7, and you vote at your normal precinct polling locations regardless of party.

In Shelby County, there are two contested races in the Democratic Primary; and five in the Republican Primary.

In the Democratic primary, the commissioner Pct. 4 race has incumbent Bradley Allen against Howard Sparks; and in the Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Democratic Primary, Shonda Clifton goes up against Jenny L. Hicks. The winner of these two races will be the candidate elect for the office since there’s no Republican Party candidate to face in November.

As for the Republican Party primary, the Shelby County judges’ race features incumbent Rick Campbell against current county clerk Allison Harbison; and in the county treasurer’s primary it’s challenger Ann Blackwell and incumbent Joan Rodgers. These two races will also make the winner the candidate elect, because of no Democratic Party candidate to face in the Nov. General Election.

The Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Republican primary has three candidates as William Eddins, Melissa Crouch and Barbara Scates are vying for a win; JP Pct. 2 pits Marla Denby and Mark E. Swift; and in Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Republican primary, T. Lee Williams goes up against Mike Crouch.

In San Augustine County, there’s one contested race, that being in the Republican Primary for County Commissioner Pct. 4. Candidates include, Steve Bryan, Joe Hanks, Jim Sower and David McEachern.

You're reminded you must have a photo ID in order to vote tomorrow.

Center Broadcasting will have post-election coverage Tuesday night beginning at 7 on air, Facebook and our website at cbc-radio.com.

The filing window came to a close last Friday for the May 10 General Election for school districts and cities, and there will be several contested elections this spring. City elections will be held in Timpson, Tenaha, and Joaquin; and school trustee elections in Timpson, Tenaha, Joaquin and Shelbyville ISDs. The Cities of Joaquin and Huxley only had incumbents file, so they have avoided the need for an election.

In the City of Timpson, the position of mayor has drawn two candidates, as incumbent Debra Smith is challenged by Councilman George Grace. There will be no council election, as incumbents Yvonne Ramsey and Ronnie Wolfe filed uncontested.

There will be three vying for two trustee positions on the Timpson ISD board of trustees, as incumbents Joyce Wolfe and Stephen Burgay are challenged by Jim Rader.

In the City of Tenaha, there’s two vying for position of mayor. Running for the job are current mayor Orinthia Johnson, and challenger Claudine Wilson Howard. Current councilman Mark Hickson has withdrawn for running for re-election to a full two-year term and will face Michael Baker for a one-year term. As for the two available two-year terms, incumbent Durand Steadman and Tommy Rinkle will fill those openings without an election.

At the Tenaha ISD, two trustee positions are up for election and five are running. Filing are incumbents Mark Looney and Tracy Collins, and challengers David Fallin, Michael Ogden and Vickie Jernigan.

The Joaquin ISD will be filling three trustee positions with six running. The only incumbent to filed was John Paul Lawson. Also seeking seats are Rodney Harper, James Hamilton, Thomas Harvey, Chrisco Bragg and Pam Hearnsberger.

The Shelbyville ISD has two positions open, with four running. They are incumbents Tiffanne Klein and Faye Dale Allen, along with challengers Tim Bradshaw and Mark Bohannon.

Early voting for the city and school board races will be April 28 thru May 6.

Again, not all entities still observe the May election schedule, as some now wait until November. The City of Center and City of San Augustine, along with the Center ISD, San Augustine ISD, Broaddus ISD, and Excelsior ISDs now wait till November.

A Shelby County financial institution is attempting to recover monies from a foreclosed Nacogdoches business. Texas State Bank in Joaquin is the first and third lien holders of the closed Hotel Fredonia. Texas State Bank began foreclosure proceedings in December—a month after the hotel’s owner, Susan Reents filed for personal bankruptcy protection in federal court. Reents closed the property in November after acquiring it for $2.5 million five years earlier. She later invested a million dollars in renovation. A foreclosure sale is scheduled for tomorrow, while another’s been put on hold while due diligence is done. Texas State Bank’s foreclosure notice says the owner owes them over $1.7 million, which is growing daily. There’s also a $145-thousand federal tax lien against the Hotel Fredonia. If a foreclosure sale takes place, it’ll be at 10:30 Tuesday at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse.

Mangum Funeral Home was in charge of service for 8-week old Bentley Banks Samford of Tenaha. He passed away Thursday at ETMC in Carthage. Service was Sunday at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Ramah Cemetery in Tenaha. Among infant Bentley Banks Samford’s survivors are his parents, Nicholas Samford & Ashley Cumby of Tenaha; sister, Brooklyn Angel Cumby; brother, Ashton Chase Lee Cumby; grandparents, Ronald & Rhonda Samford of Tenaha, and Teresa and Tommy Barber of Duncanville; and great grandparents, Patricia & James Barber, Brenda Powell and Shirley Samford.

Both the Tenaha Tigers and San Augustine Wolves took tough semi-final losses at the Class 1A, Div. 1 Region III Boys’ Basketball Tournament at Tyler Junior College Friday. Tenaha suffered an 83-49 setback to Grapeland, while San Augustine comes up short, 75-72 in overtime to LaPoynor. In Saturday’s Region Final, Grapeland beat LaPoynor, 85-71 to advance to the state tournament in Austin this week.

At the Class 2A Region III Final in Nacogdoches Saturday, #2 Tatum gets a bucket at the buzzer to take an 84-82 overtime win over #1 Kountze to earn a berth into the state tournament

Meanwhile, at the Class 3A Region III Final in Huntsville Saturday, Houston Yates over Navasota, 103-86, sending Yates to Austin.

The girls’ crowned new basketball state champs Saturday:

1A, Div. 1, Plains beats Kerens, 57-44; 1A, Div. II, Nazareth over Calvert, 82-41; 2A, Wall defeats Brock, 48-44; 3A, Waco LeVega beats Argyle, 47-42; 4A, Canyon over McKinney North, 49-42; and 5A, Manvel defeats two-time defending champ Duncanville, 58-53. Duncanville had won 105 games in-a-row.

The District 20-3A basketball coaches have released the all-district selections, and the Center Roughriders grabbing post-season honors are Freshman Octavious Evans, Newcomer of the Year; First Team all-district, junior CJ Garner, and senior DeJalen Preston, who also was named academic all-district; second team all-district, senior Jacorey Bolton; and honorable mention, freshman Kyle Parks, junior Quinn Jackson and senior Jamarcuss Jones.

The Panola Ponies basketball team qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Regional Finals with a 91-74 victory over Bossier Saturday night. They will play Kilgore at 8 pm on Tuesday night at UT-Tyler.

The Center Roughriders won 2 of 4 at the Kilgore Oil Belt Classic Baseball Tournament over the weekend. The Riders took a 3-2 win over Kilgore on Thursday, and 2-1 against Pleasant Grove Saturday, losing to Central Heights, 5-1 and Nacogdoches, 5-2. The Riders are 8-3 on the season and will be in the Hallsville Tournament starting Thursday.

Howabout golf? The Center Roughriders are in Elysian Fields today at Crooked Hallow Country Club, weather permitting; and the Lady Rider linksters will be in Elysian Fields tomorrow.

Finally, at the H.O.P.E. Clinics’ Big Easy 5K Saturday in Tenaha, Summer Koltonski of Shelbyville was took first place with a time of 20:51; second was Sandra Kessler of Shreveport at 21:41.4, and third, and the first man was Jeff Hanson at 21:45.

After going from near 70 Sunday to the mid-20s this morning, the Artic Cold Front that barreled into our neck of the woods didn’t leave as much a mess as it did in other parts of East Texas. We were sparred an accumulation of ice that others have experienced, along with snapped trees onto power lines and dangerous driving conditions. SWEPCO is reporting no outages in Shelby or Panola Counties, and DETEC says other than a couple of minor outages in Nacogdoches County as the front passed, things are reported to be OK. The hardest hit areas are generally the I-20 corridor, northward and back to Dallas, where ice did accumulate and driving conditions have been slowed or at a stand-still along I-20, primarily in the Tyler area westward. We have another round of moisture coming into the area tonight and early Tuesday with a threat of freezing rain and sleet as temps dip to the upper 20s overnight.

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
LOUISIANA...NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...EAST TEXAS AND NORTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE FOUR
STATE AREA WITH MUCH COLDER AIR SPILLING INTO THE AREA.
RAIN AND SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN THE COLDER AIR BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.
A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL. TEMPERATURES WILL
DROP SHARPLY WITH PASSAGE OF THE BOUNDARY AND LATER DURING THE
NIGHT READINGS WILL CONTINUE TO FALL TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING.
THE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL ALLOW THE RAIN TO BRIEFLY CHANGE OVER
TO FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET JUST BEFORE PRECIPITATION COMES TO AN
END. HOWEVER...NO SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE OR SLEET ARE
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

THERE WILL BE PERIODS RAIN AND SHOWERS JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER
DAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD WITH COLD TEMPERATURES
DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH
A CHANCE FOR A WINTRY MIX.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR DEEP EAST TEXAS AND NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA ON SUNDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY INTO THE EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY OCCUR, GIVEN THE DEEP MOISTURE SUPPLY AVAILABLE FROM THE GULF AND PACIFIC AND TRAINING OF STORMS ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE SURFACE BOUNDARY. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST SUNDAY NIGHT AS MUCH COLDER AIR SPILLS SOUTH INTO THE REGION BEHIND THE FRONT.

Both the Tenaha Tigers and San Augustine Wolves took tough semi-final loses at the Class 1A, Div. 1 Region III Boys’ Basketball Tournament at Tyler Junior College Friday. Tenaha suffers an 83-49 setback, while San Augustine comes up short, 75-72 in overtime to LaPoynor. Grapeland takes on LaPoynor at 3:30 today in the Region III Final. The winner advances to the state tournament in Austin next week.

At the Class 2A Region III Boys’ Tournament in Nacogdoches Friday, semi-final matches saw Kountze over Jarrell, 85-74; and Tatum defeat Marlin, 79-28. Kountze plays Tatum at 12 noon today for the Region III Championship, with the winner going to Austin.

Today: A chance of drizzle, then a slight chance of rain after noon. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 73. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a chance of rain after midnight. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 34. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48.