Shelby County Today

June 10, 2020 - Daniel Chavez of Center, Texas was listed on the President's Honor Roll at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. The President's List are undergraduates who have achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in all work attempted while enrolled in not less than 12 semester hours. The university recognized Chavez for earning the honor for the Spring 2020 semester.

June 9, 2020 – The American Electric Power Foundation has awarded a total of $29,500 to five East Texas nonprofits in Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s (SWEPCO) service area providing additional health and human services in response to COVID-19.

Grant dollars will aid organizations in expanding services and accommodating increased caseloads.

The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and its utility operating units, including SWEPCO.
Organizations receiving funds include:

1. CASA of Harrison County, $4,500, to assist with additional cases and the needs of sponsored children and their families in special circumstances.
2. Rusk County Salvation Army, $5,000, to help with an increase in food pantry requests from new families applying for assistance.
3. Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center, $10,000, to address increased domestic violence and sexual abuse cases as well as general counseling needs.
4. Mission Marshall Food Pantry, $5,000, to help with an increase in food pantry requests from new families applying for assistance.
5. Shelby County Child Advocacy Center, $5,000, to address increased domestic violence and sexual abuse cases as well as general counseling needs.

“We are excited to hear how these funds are making a positive impact in our communities,” said Mark Robinson, External Affairs manager in Longview. “Our partner agencies are aware of specific needs in our community and are diligently providing relief for those experiencing difficult situations.”

Roxanne Stevenson, Executive Director of The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center, said for many children, home isn’t safe. It’s where abuse happens.

“Without teachers and other protective adults interacting with kids regularly due to the pandemic, cases of severe abuse are on the rise,” she said. “This generous AEP Foundation grant allows us to provide case coordination, advocacy, therapy, and other intervention services so children can heal.”

In Shelby County, funds will enable remote access to child advocacy services.

“COVID-19 forced our agency to rapidly find and implement new ways of working,” said Denise Merriman, Shelby County Child Advocacy Center. “We are so fortunate that we did not also have to scramble to find funding for these changes. The grant from the AEP Foundation allowed us to pay for many of the expenses that resulted in moving to remote service delivery. We are grateful for their support during this critical time."

Similarly, food pantries have experienced an increased demand for services.

“Thanks to the generous grant from the AEP Foundation, we can walk alongside the worried guests in need to provide food items and help alleviate at least one of their concerns during this difficult time,” said Mission Marshall Food Pantry Manager Darlene Dotson.

The AEP Foundation has provided nearly $3 million in emergency funds to support basic human needs (food, shelter, and housing assistance) and other COVID-19 related emergencies across the AEP system. The fund previously donated $42,000 to Longview's Meals on Wheels Ministry.

“We are truly grateful for the generous gift from the AEP Foundation," said Tiffany Damskov, Marketing and Development director for the Meals on Wheels Ministry. "Their donation helped us to continue providing meals for the East Texas seniors and disabled clients in their service area.”

The AEP Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.

The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger.

The AEP Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio.

June 8, 2020 - Hunter Sample graduated from Timpson High School Class of 2020 with Honors. Hunter has been very involved both academically and socially in all aspects of his high school career.

His accomplishments include: Varsity Football for all 4 years including making the 4th round of playoffs his Sophomore year; Varsity Football Honorable Mention his Senior year; Golf 2 years; Track 1 year; Baseball 1 year; Basketball 1 year; Band 1 year; FFA for 4 years including FFA Officer for 3 years serving as First Vice President, Sentinel and Reporter; FCCLA 4 years; Youth Advisory Council (YAC) 2 years; Jr. Chamber of Commerce 1 year; Class President 1 year; Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Market Lamb participant 1 year; Shelby County Livestock Show participant 2 years including receiving Grand Champion Market Lamb in 2018; UIL Accounting; Dairy Cattle Judging; and Forestry Judging.

Hunter also had 24 college credits from Panola College including certifications in OSHA, Fork Lift Operation, CPR and EMT. Studies include a multitude of Agriculture classes, EMT, General Business, and many other subjects. He currently works at Wal-Mart and plans on attending Panola College in the fall to pursue a degree in business or agriculture.

Hunter was awarded several scholarships in 2020 including the Clint & Clay Donnan Memorial Scholarship, Deep East Texas Electrical, Shelby County Go Texan, Bone Hill Foundation, Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce, and the De'Undria Jackson Memorial Scholarships.

Hunters parents are Jason and Deanne Sample of Center, grandparents are David and Sandi Sample, Debbie Samford and Don Lovell of Center and great-grandparents Ura Lovell and Adell Livingston of Center.

We are very proud of Hunter and his accomplishments and wish him the best for his future. Congrats Hunter!

June 5, 2020 - During the COVID-19 Pandemic, healthcare workers of all qualifications have been the main frontline response to caring for those with the illness as well as protecting from the virus the most vulnerable who are already living under a nurses care.

Healthcare workers are the ones we turn to when we can't take care of ourselves and their dedication to their job are some of the greatest sacrifices there have been.

In honor of those healthcare workers, local businesses, organizations and residents gathered together for a multi-venue Healthcare Worker Appreciation Parade.

All participants gathered on the Ivan Smith parking lot from which the procession led by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department traveled to the following locations: Holiday Nursing Center, Focused Care of Center, Cline Family Medicine, Aurora Concepts, Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department, Pine Grove Nursing Center, Lakeside Village Assisted Living, Dialysis Clinic Incorporated (DCI), Golden Eye Clinic, Vision Source, Hope Community Medicine, and Nelson Family Practice.

The parade participants wanted these healthcare workers and all the healthcare professionals in Shelby to know just how much we all appreciate what they do, saving our lives every day.

A special shout out to Hospice Care and Home Health workers, many of whom were in the parade of vehicles even though they themselves are healthcare workers. They are always willing to support their fellow healthcare workers in the various fields. Driving in the parade was A Pineywoods Home Health, Affinity Hospice, Heart to Heart Hospice and Heart's Way Hospice.