Shelby County Today

From left: Johnny Montemayor and Dr. Kyle Coffin stand beside Montemayor's watercolor "Chickens."

October 7, 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic mantra has been 'we are in this together' and Kyle Coffin, DDS is putting actions to the words by reaching out to local artists.

On September 28, the Facebook page Kyle S. Coffin DDS, PLLC posted, "We know that the art community has been hurt by the covid-19 pandemic with art galleries closed and trade shows not happening. We want to display your work on our walls and will share it on our social media pages (while giving our office a fresh look, of course)." With the post was an image of artwork by Jack Bartlett, an oil on canvas "Fall Water."

“Fall Water” by Jack Bartlett - Oil on canvas

Dr. Coffin was excited to share on October 6th, artwork by Johnny Montemayor will also be displayed at his office located at 514 Tenaha Street, Center, Texas.

The artwork is available for purchase as well as contact information for the artist if you wish to commission work.

October 3, 2020 (Photo Album) - The East Texas Poultry Festival Creative Arts Show had quite a few entries to the arts and crafts this year! Judges Angela Stanley, Nancy Dickerson, and Jerry Faulkenberry had a difficult time picking the winners. Many thanks to them for donating their time to the event!

Thanks to everyone who entered Artwork. Many thanks to the teachers who encouraged their students to enter! 

Kindergarten Art
1st Place - Della Graves
Honorable Mention - Della Graves

2nd Grade Art
1st Place - Jaxon Merritt
2nd Place - Keelan Wilburn
3rd Place - Kyree Thompson
Honorable Mention - Brennan Eberenz, Briley Williams, Aymar Hernandez, Brandon Hewitt, and Brianna Black

3rd Grade Art
1st Place - Alexia Swindle
2nd Place - Cannon Warr
3rd Place - Saylor Scarborough
Honorable Mention - Camille Whiteside, Tucker Shelton, Molly Collins, Jonathan Coleman, Lily Denby, Brayden Garden, Maci Mince, Cooper Raymond, Chloe Galaviz, Steven Smith, and Tatun Vickers

Youth Art
1st Place - Shelby Freeman
2nd Place - Brooklyn Penning
3rd Place - Joedan Litten

Adult Art
1st Place - Jeannie Gaines

Adult Woodwork
1st Place - Frankie Desoto

October 1, 2020 - The 44th Annual East Texas Poultry Festival opening ceremonies were held this morning on the Frances Oates Stage under the big tent for the first time at the John D. Windham Civic Center and past Poultry Festival royalty returned to the hen-house to officially open the festival with the cutting of the feather boa. Past Queens attending were Shana Bowen Brittain (1984), Terrie Moore Elliot (1988), Macayla Perry Hill (2013), Madelynn Hutchins (2016), and Kristen Orsak (2019). The current year's Poulty Festival Queen's Court which usually does the cutting of the feathers was unavailable due to the Chamber having to postpone the Queen's Pageant activities.

Shana Brittain (center) enjoyed the honor of cutting the feathers with Macayla Hill (left) and Terrie Elliot (right).

Josh Payne, ETPF Chairman, welcomed everyone to the festival which is presented by Farmers State Bank, "I just want y'all to know that we almost didn't have this this year but we met and decided this community needs it. We just trust that everybody will be responsible and we think everybody will have a great time. We couldn't ask for better weather."

Payne then thanked Focused Care of Center for sponsoring the opening ceremonies and gave thanks and appreciation to the Poultry Festival steering committee. He next introduced Malcolm Monroe, the new pastor at First United Methodist Church, who then gave the invocation, followed by the Center High School band who performed the National Anthem under the direction of Chris Smith.

Opening ceremonies missed several key ingredients due to COVID-19 limiting the ability of some to participate including the Timpson kindergarten students who have led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance for years at the festival. The show must go on and thanks to Shelby Chick the Pledge of Allegiance was honored at the event.

Shelby County Judge Harbison then gave a welcoming speech, "This festival brings all the people of the county together to celebrate the poultry industry which is a vital part of the county's economy." She ended by challenging everyone to make the world a better place to live urging everyone to be diligent during the festival to practice social distancing, wear your mask especially in a crowd, be kind, be respectful, be safe, be smart, be responsible and to remember the life you save may be your own or someone that you love.

David Chadwick, City of Center Mayor and President of Farmers State Bank, addressed those in attendance, "Quite a different group than we are used to seeing today but you know what? It still has the same excitement that we have had for 44 years." He commended the success and perseverance of the Poultry Festival and those who organize it each year.

Mayor Chadwick then gave an update on construction downtown which more than halfway complete and looks forward to the festival returning to downtown next year. "This is a year for adjustment and we have certainly adjusted to a different location with different rules and the Judge listed all the things that we need to do to take care of ourselves. But the one thing that we don't have to adjust is how much we enjoy one another. We are here to have a good time, we are here to be wise with what we do and we are here to celebrate East Texas to the fullest. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome. Enjoy."

September 30, 2020 - On Friday, October 2, 2020, at 1:30 (Central Standard Time) Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cmdr.) Nicholas "Nick" Sherrouse will retire from the U.S. Navy after completing 33 years of service to our Nation. The ceremony is being hosted by the Acting Director Defense Media Activity, Colonel Paul Haverstick. 

Lt. Cmdr. Sherrouse is a native of Timpson, Texas and he graduated from the Timpson Independent School District and enlisted into the Navy in November 1987.

Lt. Cmdr. Sherrouse has received a multitude of personal military decorations and honors to include the Joint Service Commendation Medals (2 stars), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals (6 stars), and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various unit and campaign awards.

He is married to Retired LSCM(EXW) Rebecca Sherrouse, U.S. Navy, of Cantonment, Florida.