Shelby County Today

December 7, 2024 - The Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Passionate Portraits Photography during a ribbon cutting event held Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Paul Smith, Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce President, introduced the owner of Passionate Portraits Photography, Cara Breaux, and spoke some about her business.

“As far as I know this is the only studio Timpson’s ever had and we're very proud to have her and we hope all the Timpson will come out and surrounding areas and support her and as far as the owners of Tie and Timber and Lodge. We're very proud to have her here. She'll be very helpful to do photos during weddings, events and stuff and she will even help us coordinate a lot of weddings and stuff. So Cara we’re very proud to have you here and we're looking forward to a great time here in Timpson, Texas. 

Breaux specializes in all things family, maternity, newborn, children, seniors, and couture and she offered some background about her years of photography experience and about her portfolio.

“I’ve been doing photography for over 11 years now. I specialize in family, couture, maternity, newborns, and children of all ages. I've been published over 300 times, made the front cover and back cover of magazines. I want to say at least 10 times, if not more. I have a client closet of couture gowns, maternity gowns, newborn outfits, first cake smashes, all the above. I do outdoors, as well as the studio, but my love is definitely leaning towards the studio even more. But I'm proud to be here.” 

Appointments can be made by calling Breaux and she will meet her clients at the studio location for a consultation.

Mayor Debra Smith stated, “The city’s super excited. I think this is going to be a great asset to our community, having not only the Tie and Timber Lodge when we get fully open, but having Miss Cara and all of her beautiful gowns and outfits for the families to make lasting memories.”

Passionate Portraits Photography is located at 397 Jacob Street, Unit 1, and Cara Breaux can be reached by calling 847-505-9126 to make an appointment and you can also look up Passionate Portraits Photography on Facebook.

Passionate Portraits Photography has a variety of backdrops to choose from, as well as available clothing for photo shoots.

Things at the Tie and Timber Lodge, where Passionate Portraits Photography is located, continue to develop and show promise of an exciting venue and hotel in Shelby County.

December 3, 2024 (Photo Album) - The downtown historic square in Center was full of Christmas cheer as a large crowd gathered for the first Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Opening the celebration was Chris Watlington, “Welcome to a first, there is no way of knowing how we’re supposed to do this because we’ve never done it before. But that Christmas tree has been several years in the works with a lot of folks working hard - it’s beautiful.” Watlington gave recognition to the Christmas Committee made up of community volunteers and special recognition to Doug Gay, the Committee Chairman. Their hard work made the downtown Tree Lighting ceremony happen along with additional decorations being added to the downtown square.

An invocation was brought by Malcolm Monroe, Pastor at First Methodist Church in Center. He gave thanks for the gift of the magnificant tree, thanks for the community who has come together for the celebration, and thanks for God's gift this Christmas season - the birth of Jesus.

Abundant Love Youth Choir

Music was then performed by Danny Paul Windham and a couple of the Packs of Strays (Sally Windham and Reese Monroe). Next to bring Christmas music to the tree lighting was the Abundant Love Youth Choir.

At 6pm, it was time for the grand event - the tree lighting and special guest Silver Bell Motley had the honor of pushing the button and lighting the tree after Santa did a countdown from 10.

Silver Bell Motley pressed the button to light the tree!

Sponsors who helped to make the tree lighting possible:

• Santa Sponsor - Farmers State Bank
• Jingle Bell Sponsors - HOPE Community Medicine; Shelby Savings Bank; Tomlin Insurance; Windham Family Dental; Candy Cane Sponsors; Center First UPC; General Shelters of Texas; Hallmark Fixtures Operation; HR Group; Shelby County Chamber of Commerce; and Specter, Inc.
• Bright Star Sponsor - Brock’s Rocks
• Nutcracker Sponsors - Bounds Insurance; Focused Care of Center; Center Glass (2 Sponsorships); Chadwick Family; Elliott & Waldron/Shelby County Title; Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, LLP; Focused Care of Center; Gatherings; Granny B’s Sno Cone; Ihlo Sales & Import; Island Breeze Daiquiris; JBA Financial Services; Johnstone Brokerage; Mettauer Law Firm; Morrison Insurance; Scull Timber; Tammy Steptoe Realty; Three Birds Photography; Toledo Finance; Town & Country Real Estate; Watlington, Shires & Pierce; and Wolfpack Industries
• Elf Sponsors - Action Team Realtors/Laura Rowe; Bites & Brew; Blake Furniture; Mr. and Mrs. James Camp; Chambliss Real Estate (2 Sponsorships); Law Office of April Prince; Lush Nail Spa; Masterson Insurance; Primp Salon; Sandy Cox – State Farm Insurance; Shelby County Farm Bureau – David Hailey; Susan Snider; and Timberwolf Lake Works

November 21, 2024 - The staff of the Fannie Brown Booth Library have been busy boxing books with the help of the JCCs and volunteers. Between 350 and 400 boxes of books have been moved to storage. We moved shelves and furniture out of the library into the Redditt room with the help of the JCCs and volunteers. We had a young man come and take apart the counter. He also helped disassemble the double wide shelves and move them into the Redditt Room. The carpet installers have prepped the floor and installed the carpet. The next step will be the installation of new lighting.

Corn Hole Tournament 1st Place Winners

November 19, 2024 (Photo Album) - Storm clouds cleared just in time for the 7th Annual Fall Festival of Hope to bring people to the downtown Center square on Saturday, November 9th for a good cause - to support Boo's Battle Support Fund. The festival activities included a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, cake 'dance' walk, bouncy house, 42 tournament, corn hole tournament, and a vendor bingo.

Corn Hole Tournament Winners (26 Players)
1st Place - Canon Hatcher / Richard Smith
2nd Place - Polar Bear / Zach Hicks
3rd Place - Platt Matt / Micheal Liem

42 Tournament 1st Place Winners

42 Tournament Winners (14 Players)
1st Place - Jeremy and Ashley Snider
2nd Place - Donny Fountain / Billy Neal
3rd Place - Rodger and Karen Fancher

The festival raised nearly $11,000 thanks in large to event sponsors. Every $1,000 helps one person who is battling cancer.

Thank you to everyone who came to the festival regardless of the dreary weather.

Thank you sponsors! Shelby Savings Bank, Magnolia Family Medicine, Magnolia Health & Wellness, Cornerstone Construction, Freedom Heavy Duty Parts, First Baptist Church of Haslam, Boles Feed, Ay Wood Products, Subway - Joaquin, Chrisco Bragg Plumbing, H & H Investments, 4G Contractors, Maple Springs Baptist Church, Wanda Scruggs, LPC-S, Brookshire Brothers - Joaquin, Jacobs Welding & Fab, LLC, Armadillo Signs, and Ram House Cafe.