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Around Town
October 10, 2026 - VFW Post 8904 and members of the community gathered on Friday, October 9, 2026 on the Historic Courthouse square to remember those who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Larry Hume, Post Adjutant, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming and choosing to stand at the Veterans Memorial to remember. “Remembrance is not automatic. It’s something people decide to do and we are grateful that all of you decided to do it with us. Today, we gather to remember those who served in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom and the years that followed. And hold close the families that still carry what that war cost.”
Post Member Quartermaster Mary Roberts then led everyone in prayer for those who served in Afghanistan, the ones who came home and the ones who did not. She asked a special blessing on the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice. The pledge of allegiance was then recited by all in attendance.
Hume said, “The 7th of October, 2001, the United States of America answered the attacks of September the eleventh. Aircraft struck terrorist targets in Afghanistan, and Operation Enduring Freedom began. It became the longest war in our history. A generation of young Americans carried it into the mountains, on the roads, at the outposts, and at the gates. More than twenty-four hundred American service members died in that war. They came from big cities, from towns no bigger than Center, Texas, or Shelbyville. Five years ago, if you’ll remember, on the 26 of August 2021, thirteen of them were killed at Abbey Gate, outside of Kabul’s airport, in the last days before the withdrawal. We remember them this morning also; their names belong with the rest.
"Now, Shelby County, Texas, felt that war in the way that this country has felt every war. Staff Sergeant Kevin Casey Roberts was 25 years old. He was not born here but he married a Shelby County lady. He came to love this place, and asked to be buried among his people if something happened to him. On the 7th of May of 2008, in the Sabari District of Afghanistan, the vehicle that he was in struck an improvised explosive device, better known as an IED. He was a soldier of the 101st Airborne. He left a wife, Donnice, and two small children, Caehlen and Keeghan. And as he wished, he rests now in the West Hamilton Cemetery in Shelbyville, Texas.
"Then, five months later, on the 14th of October 2008, Specialist Cory Joseph Bertrand was killed the same way when his vehicle struck an IED. Cory was 18 years old - one month short of his 19 birthday. His mother Charlotte had signed his enlistment papers when he was 17. He told his family he had found a purpose to protect them and to protect his country. And he served with the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Hood. He rests in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, also in Shelbyville. I personally remember both of those funerals as I attended both of them. They were not symbols they were sons, one was a husband and a father, one was a young man who walked the place with his grandfather and both are ours. In their honor and in honor of those who served and sacrificed Comrade Erik Choron will lay our memorial wreath.
"A sacrifice does not end when the news moves on. It live in a kitchen, in a cemetery road, in a child who grows up on stories. This post will keep these stories. We will say the name, we will not let Cory or Casey or the thousands besides them slip into silence."
In honor of all those who fell in Afghanistan and those who survived the war but have since left us, the burglar, Derrick Roberts sounded Taps.
Following Taps, members in the audience shared of their service as well as the service of family members in Afghanistan.
October 9, 2026 - Shelby County Outreach Ministries would like to say thank you to all of our sponsors for this year’s ATV Raffle fundraiser. All of the proceeds from this event help feed the hungry and assist the needy in Shelby County. The Sponsors played an important role in making this fundraiser a huge success.
The winner of the 2026 Polaris 4-wheeler was Mr. Mickey Beasley. Congratulations, and enjoy your new ride!
This year, our sponsors were:
- Super Stars: Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
- Platinum: Bob and Joy Ann Havran, Shelby Savings Bank, In Memory of: Joy and Martin Weaver, K & L Contractors
- Gold: Knights of Columbus, BOM Bank, Lydia Baptist Church, Patroon Baptist Church Youth Group
- Silver: Farmers State Bank, HOPE Community Medicine, John Michael Burn - State Farm Ins. Agent, Automotive Collision, Zack’s Tint Shop, Ihlo Sales & Import, Sabine State Bank
- Bronze: Mangum Funeral Home, First Methodist Church of Center, Boles Feed Store, Center Furniture.
Thank you, once again, to all of our sponsors.
October 7, 2026 (Photo Album) - Mark Segovia of Joaquin was the final contestant to be able to withstood the heat at the 50th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival in the Wing-It competition on Saturday, October 3 on the Frances Oates stage under the big tent.
The contest started with five contestants who had six minutes to eat three wings followed by a burn period. The hot sauce came to the contestants in the following order: Frank's Buffulo Hot Sauce (Mild), Elijah's Xtreme Father and Son Handcrafted Ghost Pepper Sauce (Heat Level: ~450,000 Scoville heat units (SHU)); Elijah's Xtreme Xtreme Regret Screaming Hot Sauce (Heat Level: ~800,000 SHU); Dave's Gourmet Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce (Heat Level: ~1,000,000 to 1,250,000+ SHU); and (wasn't used) Heatonist Hot Ones The Last Dab XXX Hot Sauce (Heat Level: Over 2,000,000 SHU).
The first of the final two contestants to pull off their gloves was Weston Boyd which left Segovia as the sole survivor.
1st place winner - Mark Segovia
2nd place - Weston Boyd
Winning the 8th Annual Wing It contest, Segovia joins the League of Fire Champions: (2025) Nickolas Smith of Center; (2024) Adam Vigil of Huxley; (2023) Matthew Kay; (2022 - tied) Allen Nestle of Center and Weston Boyd of Georgetown; (2020) Ray Fountain of Center; and (2019) Jason Filz of Huxley.
October 6, 2026 (Photo Album) - Peeps, Chickens, Pullets, Roosters and Hens took to the Frances Oates Stage at the 50th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival to entertain festival goers for the Chicken Clucking "Strut, Cluck, and Crow" contest! Over the years artistic creativity has entered the contest with contestants broadening their performance to go beyond the chicken noises and scratching. Enjoy the video of the event!
The results of the contest are below:
Peeps (Ages 5 and under)
1st place - Tuff Hatcher
2nd place - Oliver Newton
3rd place - Angel Rodriguez
Participants: Favor Steele, Ella Newton, Sabryn Carroll, and Laklyn Carroll
Chicken (Ages 6-11)
1st place - Jax Merchant
2nd place - Alayna Kirby
3rd place (tied) - Liam Windham, Genesis Rodriguez, and Octavia Raney
Participants: McKinley Pigg, Millie Windham, Danyon Smith, Hudson Eaves, Grace Allen, McKenna Rayne Slaydon, Jackson Camp, Westin Hail
Pullets (Ages 12-16)
1st place - Zac Payne
2nd place - Shelby Ballard
Roosters and Hens (Ages 17 and up)
1st place - Dr. “Rooster” Clayton Paul Windham
2nd place - Barbara Harding
3rd place - William Jacobs
Participants: Carleigh Hail and Alan Miller
Peeps
Chicks
Pullets
Roosters and Hens
October 7, 2026 - For 50 years, the Poultry Festival has brought our community together to celebrate our poultry industry, our local businesses, and most importantly, the wonderful people who make Shelby County such a special place to call home.
This past weekend, we celebrated 50 years of traditions, friendships, family, fun and hometown pride.
A celebration this big does happen without many dedicated volunteers, sponsors, businesses, civic organizations and community members. Thank you to all the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make it a success!
A Huge Thank You to all our Generous Sponsors! The Poultry Festival, and all our other annual events, would not be possible without your generosity and support.
Also, we would like to thank General Shelters of Texas for donating the ticket booths; Spartan Structures for donating the coupon booth; Ace Hardware for donating the fencing, Brookshire Brothers for sponsoring the Coke Booth; Center Motor ATV for the use of several ATVs and allowing the dumpsters to site on their property: Republic Services for donating the dumpsters; First Baptist Church for allowing the use of the Family Life Center gym for the Creative Arts, Photography and Quilt Shows; Raymond Construction for moving the ticket booths. Thank you to Portacool for donating the street barriers. Thank you to Badders Law Firm for the use of their property for our dining area and a Huge thank you to Jason Mitchell and the City of Center Parks staff who kept the Festival clean.
I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Center Police Department as well as to our other local law enforcement agencies for their outstanding service during this year’s Festival. Their presence, professionalism and dedication helped ensure a safe and enjoyable weekend for all attendees. We are so grateful for their continued commitment to protecting our community and supporting our local events. Thank you!
We are looking forward to Celebrating the 51st Anniversary of the Poultry Festival next year!
October 5, 2026 - Families flocked to the 50th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival on Thursday morning, October 1 to watch F.L. Moffett students from kindergarten to second grade perform on the Frances Oates Stage, a tradition of the festival for decades. To see photos, click the below albums. Also, enjoy the videos of their performances.
F.L. Moffett Kindergarten Classes
Group 1 (Araiza and Nunez classes) - Photo Album
Group 2 (Bailey, Brewster, and Horn classes) - Photo Album
Group 3 (Fults and Motley classes) - Photo Album
First Grade Classes
Group 1 (Gonzales, Spence, and Yarborough classes) - Photo Album
Group 2 (Ruiz and Ventura classes) - Photo Album
Group 3 (Collins and Ruiz-Soto classes) - Photo Album
Second Grade Classes
Group 1 (Logsdon and Wells classes) - Photo Album
Group 2 (Nunez, Ribera, and Roberts classes) - Photo Album
Group 3 (Davis, Hairgrove, and Helms classes) - Photo Album
October 3, 2026 - The 50th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival Open Photography Show wrapped up on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The exhibit was on display all three days of the festival with visitors given the opportunity to vote on their favorites. All the entries were exceptional, and the judges were faced with the challenge of selecting the winners from all the photos submitted. Thanks to all the competitors and volunteers for their interest and hard work.
Special Awards
Adult’s Best of Show - B J Wood
Adult’s People’s Choice - B J Wood
Piney Woods Photographic Society Award - B J Wood
Janet Windham Hughes Memorial Landscape Award - Debra Cockrell
Donna Warren Holt Memorial Flower Award - B J Wood
Adult’s Animals
1st place - Janice Carter
2nd place - Janice Carter
3rd place - Dustin Liggitt
Honorable Mention: LeaAnn Robertson
Adult’s Urbana
1st place - B J Wood
2nd place - B J Wood
3rd place - Kathy Luna
Adult’s Flowers
1st place - Janice Carter
2nd place - B J Wood
3rd place - Janice Carter
Honorable Mention: B J Wood
Adult’s Fine Art
1st place - Bobbie J Wood
2nd place - Janice Carter
3rd place - Billie F. Jones
Honorable Mention: Bobbie Jean Wood
Adult's Digital Manipulation/Photo Restoration
1st place - Billie F. Jones
Adult’s Poultry
1st place - B J Wood
2nd place - B J Wood
Adult’s Scenics
1st place - B J Wood
2nd place - Debra Cockrell
3rd place - Bobbye Stone
Honorable Mention: B J Wood
Adult’s People
1st place - B J Wood
2nd place - B J Wood
3rd place - Billie F. Jones
September 21, 2026 - The Center Garden Club held their first meeting of the 2026 / 2027 year in the home of Lisa Albers. The meeting was called to order by club president Carolyn Bounds.
Plans and events were discussed for the coming year including hosting the Tyler Area Council NGC (National Garden Club) Small Standard Flower Show with the theme Celebrate the Harvest. The show will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026 at the Center Community House on 425 San Augustine Street. The show will be open to the public from 2pm to 4pm.
Guests for the September meeting were (left to right) Katie Kelly, Diane Phelps, Rose Specter and Esther Elizondo.
Article and photo submitted by Carol Newman
October 1, 2026 - Following the 50th Annual Poultry Festival open ceremony, Shelbyville 4th graders rocked the stage and took the crowd to a "Flashback to the 50s" singing 'At the Hop,' 'Yakety Yak,' 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,' 'The Twist,' 'Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay,' and 'Always Be Together.'
October 2, 2026 - For over a century, Joaquin Lodge No. 856 has been a foundational pillar of its community. The lodge is currently celebrating its Quasquicentennial, marking 125 years of continuous fellowship and service from 1901 to 2026. To commemorate this historic milestone, local brethren recently gathered with community leaders and state Masonic officers at the Joaquin Masonic Lodge building for a special anniversary celebration.
From left: Robert Register; Scott Sims JD; Vance Jordan Chaplin; John Henry Holloway III - DDGM 15; Jimmy Wgstaff WM; Clint Walker JW; Tommy Spurlock Treasurer; Stephen Jean Tiler; and Jerry Agnew SS
The story of Joaquin Lodge No. 856 is intimately tied to the founding of the town itself. In 1884, Benjamin Franklin Morris granted a right of way across his property and provided a 100 acre townsite to the Houston, East & West Texas Railway (HE&WT) on the condition that a railroad depot be established there. As the community of Joaquin emerged as a railway station in 1885, new residents and opportunities flowed into the area. This rapid commercial and population growth set the stage for local Master Masons to seek a permanent meeting place of their own.
Joaquin Masonic Lodge #856
Freemasonry was already deeply established in Shelby County through earlier Masonic communities in Willow Grove and Tenaha. As the new railroad shifted the local population toward Joaquin, 20 members of Tenaha Lodge No. 737 demitted in 1901 to organize a new lodge in the growing railway town. Their dedication was rewarded on October 21, 1901, when Grand Master Nat M. Washer granted a temporary dispensation to begin their work. Following a charter recommendation in December, Joaquin Lodge No. 856 was regularly constituted on January 18, 1902. Built on the Masonic principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, the lodge grew rapidly, reaching approximately 100 members by 1913.
Grand Lodge Officers (from left) RW Greg Payne DDGM 20; RW Chad Lagrone GC; RW H.N. Chip Green GSW; MWGM Jim Rumsey MWGLTX; RW James Smith DDGM 27; W William Farmer GT; and RW John Henry Holloway III - DDGM 15
The recent 125th anniversary celebration brought this rich history to life, drawing a large general attendance of local members and statewide dignitaries. The event was highlighted by the presence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Texas, Jim Rumsey, who led ceremonial duties alongside Joaquin Lodge's Worshipful Master, Jimmy Wagstaff. The Grand Lodge of Texas was heavily represented by visiting officers, including RW Greg Payne, RW Chad Lagrone, RW H.N. Chip Green, RW James Smith, W William Farmer, and District 15 Deputy Grand Master RW John Henry Holloway III.
Worshipful Master Jimmy Wagstaff (right) and Most Worshipful Grand Master Jim Rumsey (left).
50 Year Service Award Recipient Haywood Delett Edwards with MWGM Jim Rumsey
A central moment of the gathering was the presentation of a 50 Year Service Award to Haywood Delett Edwards, honoring his half century of steadfast dedication to the fraternity. The local community also formally recognized the lodge's enduring impact when Joaquin Mayor Rusty Wilson made a special community service presentation to the brethren.
Mayor Rusty Wilson Presentation from City of Joaquin to the Lodge brethern for Community Service
Today, Joaquin Lodge No. 856 continues the legacy started by its 20 founding members. Guided by Worshipful Master Jimmy Wagstaff and a dedicated corps of officers, including Senior Warden Robert Wallrath, Junior Warden Clint Walker, Secretary John Paul Sledge, Treasurer Tommy Spurlock, Tiler Stephen Jean, Senior Steward Jerry Agnew, Junior Deacon Scott Sims, and Chaplain Vance Jordan, the lodge remains an active force in the area. As the brethren celebrate 125 years of navigating changing times, they remain dedicated to supporting their neighbors and fulfilling their timeless mission of "Making Good Men Better".
Jeff Cummings – Joaquin Lodge Member
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