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June 26 - June 30
Rated PG. Ends at 9:00pm
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Mininons and Monsters
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Admission:
Adults $8, Children $7
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936-598-3864
Around Town
July 10, 2017 (Photos - Album1, Album2) - Melon munchers and seed spewers competed in the speed eating and seed spitting contest to win the money prizes at the What-A-Melon Festival on Saturday, July 8, 2017 with the following results:
Seed Spitting
Children 0-7
1st place - Stephanie Santana
2nd place - Jacie Lee
3rd place - Mac Lee
Youth 8-15
1st place - Keith Frazier
2nd place - Josh Haltom
3rd place - John Ford
Women
1st place - Victoria Ford
2nd place - Isabel Santana
3rd place - Erica Santana
Men
1st place - Chad Haltom
2nd place - William Jacobs
3rd place - Calvin Smith
Speed Eating
Children 0-7
1st place - Stephanie Santana
2nd place - Jacie Lee
3rd place - Mac Lee
Youth
1st place - Neena
2nd place - Neera
3rd place - Franuel Araujo
Women
1st place - Jennifer Green
2nd place - Erica Santana
3rd place - Isabel Santana
Men
1st place - William Jacobs
2nd place - Chad Haltom
3rd place - Calvin Smith
July 9, 2017 - This is a picture and note made available by Angela Spann, to Shelby County Today, about recognition given to the memory of the late James Greer this weekend at the Dixie League State Baseball tournaments being played at Center.
What an emotional week it has been. James K. Greer went home to Jesus on Wednesday. Rebecca Greer and his family were generous to share him with so many people. His impact, specifically on the young men of this community, is overwhelming. He was a teacher, mentor, fan, grandfather, buddy, baptizer and friend to many youth.
Today, the 13 and 14-year-old teams competing in the Texas State Baseball Tournament will wear this decal on their helmets in honor of Mr. Greer.
July 8, 2017 (Album) - The What-A-Melon Pet Show drew an audience to the festival on Friday, July 7, 2017 to see which pet won the heart of the judges. In the end, Zema, a 5-year old female toy poodle, shown by Alyssa Bowers won Best in Show and the $50 prize money.
Celebrity emcee for the show was Jeff "CryptoHulk" Stewart. CryptoHulk introduced each participant and their owner giving them a chance to put their best paw or foot forward as was for Fuzzy, an 8 months old male Lionheart Rabbit.
Texas Watermelon Queen Chloe Brown assisted with handing out the awards. Below are the results of the 2017 What-A-Melon Pet Show:
Best Dog
1st place - Paris, a 4-year old female miniature Schnauzer, shown by Caitlyn Maddne
2nd place - Ruby, a 1-year old female terrier, shown by Jacie Lee
Best Mannered
1st place - Frankie, a 7 1/2 months old male Shih Tzu, shown by Paige Pinkston
2nd place - Delilah, a 4 months old female German Sheppard, shown by Madison Brown
Most Unusual Pet
Fuzzy, an 8 months old male Lionhead Rabbit, shown by Emma Madden
Pet with Most Unusual Trick
Buster, a 3-year old male Beagle, shown by John Ford
Smallest Pet
1st place - Bella, a 5-year old female miniature Schnauzer, shown by Morgan Matthews
2nd place - Bronco, a 4-months old male miniature Schnauzer, shown by Morgan Matthews
Biggest Pet
1st place - Rex, an 8-year old male Siberian Husky, shown by Steve Hampton
2nd place - Dolly, a 1-year old female Great Dane, shown by Madison Brown
Special thank you to the judges who are all avid pet lovers: Rena Rogers, Shanna Goodnight and Terry Goodnight.
July 8, 2017 (Photos Album1, Album2) - A large crowd gathered under the big tent for the 2017 East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant to see all the pageant entries take to the stage in their cutest watermelon attire. The pageant, hosted by Tonya Bailey with Bailey's Pageant, welcomed everyone and thanked sponsors of the event. Wiggins Farms donated $500 scholarship money for the pageant for the winner of the Miss (16-19) division.
The Texas Watermelon Queen Chloe Brown assisted with handing out awards and crowning the winners of each division. Below are the results of the pageant:
Grand Supreme for ages 0-5 years - Aryn McAdams
Grand Supreme for ages 6 and up - Steff Moore
People's Choice winner - Mary Katherine Johnson
Baby Miss 0-11 months
Baby Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Rory Wilson
Best Smile - Addilyn Moore
Most Beautiful - Aryn McAdams
Best Fashion - Mia Lloyd
Princess - Tayley Williams
Princess - Adalynn Whitney
Princess - Mia Lloyd
Princess - Addilyn Moore
Princess - Aryn McAdams
Princess - Keeleigh Denby
Toddler Miss 12-23 months
Toddler Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Emory Gomez and Anniston McSwain
Best Smile - Emory Gomez
Most Beautiful - Savanna Barton
Best Fashion - Anniston McSwain
Princess - Gracie Sanford
Princess - Blakely Raymond
Princess - Savanna Barton
Princess - Addlyn Hendricks
Princess - Mary Katherine Johnson
Princess - Hattie Owens
Tiny Miss 2-3 years
Tiny Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Emory Thornton
Best Smile - Olivia Randle
Most Beautiful - Cherrish Choice
Best Fashion - Emory Thornton
Princess - Makayla Messer
Princess - Kirstie Parks
Princess - Emma Moore
Princess - Ainslee Gibson
Princess - Olivia Randle
Princess - Cherrish Choice
Little Miss 4-5 years
Little Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Emma Stapleton
Best Smile - Shelbey Nail
Most Beautiful - Emma Stapleton
Best Fashion - Remi Lofton
Princess - Aryana Groze
Princess - Laura Moody
Princess - Presley Williams
Princess - Remi Lofton
Princess - Khaley Fletcher
Princess - Shelbey Nail
Princess - Baylee Parent
Princess - Justice Boyd
Petite Miss 6-8 years
Petite Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Lakynn Bowers
Best Smile - Sofia Bocangegra
Most Beautiful - Lakynn Bowers
Best Fashion - Nicole Hooks
Princess - Nicole Hooks
Princess - Dixie Nail
Princess - Sofia Bocangegra
Preteen 9-12 years
Preteen East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Carolyn Mathis
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Carolyn Mathis
Teen 13-15 years
Teen East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Zoe Horton and Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Smile - Zoe Horton
Most Beautiful - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Fashion - Zoe Horton
Miss 16-19 years
Miss East Texas What-A-Melon Pageant Queen - Steff Moore
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Steff Moore
July 8, 2017 (Album1, Album2, Album3, Overall Results) - All of the 5K racers have crossed the finish line and the final results are in. Antonio Chavez and Madison Brown clinched the overall top spot for the second consecutive year. Chavez improved his time of 18:45 last year by nearly 3 minutes with 15:51 this year. Brown also ran a faster race with a time of 23:49 under last years 24:18.
Wiggins Farms and Luke Brown Farms donated watermelons for the event to help hydrate 5K participants as well as sponsored the event along with Farmers State Bank, JBA Financial, and Boles Feed Store. Special thank you to the John D. Windham Civic Center and the City of Center for the use of their facility.
Overall Male
1. (Bib# 165) Antonio Chavez, Time 00:15:51.54
2. (Bib# 172) Jacob Garcia, Time 00:16:37.78
3. (Bib# 116) Jesus Gonzalez, Time 00:16:42.30
Overall Female
1. (Bib# 110) Madison Brown, Time 00:23:49.95
2. (Bib# 171) Sunshine Haley, Time 00:24:58.84
3. (Bib# 113) Deborah Chadwick, Time 00:25:33.78
Female 5 - 12
1. (Bib# 122) Kaylee Underbrink, Time 00:40:38.70
2. (Bib# 142) Anayeli Martinez, Time 00:40:42.91
3. (Bib# 161) Destiny Thompson, Time 00:53:49.41
Female 20 - 29
1. (Bib# 110) Madison Brown, Time 00:23:49.95
2. (Bib# 109) Fabiola Solis, Time 00:33:32.80
3. (Bib# 148) Olivia Worsham, Time 00:34:03.09
Female 30 - 39
1. (Bib# 169) Sammie Bell, Time 00:35:45.45
2. (Bib# 164) Marlene Hernandez, Time 00:41:08.37
3. (Bib# 121) Shanna Wiggins, Time 00:44:18.15
Female 40 - 49
1. (Bib# 171) Sunshine Haley, Time 00:24:58.84
2. (Bib# 163) Sarah Shires, Time 00:34:03.56
3. (Bib# 123) Jeneva Underbrink, Time 00:37:41.98
Female 50 - 59
1. (Bib# 113) Deborah Chadwick, Time 00:25:33.78
2. (Bib# 127) Hermila Mendoza, Time 00:30:06.64
3. (Bib# 120) Ellie Fullinwider, Time 00:47:14.46
Female 60 - 69
1. (Bib# 118) Marcy Aldridge, Time 00:31:13.54
2. (Bib# 124) Loretta Waldrop, Time 00:40:16.36
3. (Bib# 149) Debrah Worsham, Time 00:44:01.63
Female 70 - 100
1. (Bib# 128) Dottie West, Time 00:50:18.83
Male 5 - 12
1. (Bib# 158) Diego Ruiz, Time 00:35:32.62
Male 13 - 19
1. (Bib# 165) Antonio Chavez, Time 00:15:51.54
2. (Bib# 172) Jacob Garcia, Time 00:16:37.78
3. (Bib# 116) Jesus Gonzalez, Time 00:16:42.30
Male 20 - 29
1. (Bib# 159) Brayan Ruiz, Time 00:19:25.76
2. (Bib# 136) Jonaton Rangel, Time 00:22:14.91
3. (Bib# 125) Matt Cecil, Time 00:48:58.43
Male 30 - 39
1. (Bib# 160) Thomas Morrison, Time 00:23:55.44
2. (Bib# 107) C.J. Goings, Time 00:25:35.98
3. (Bib# 153) Walter Horn, Time 00:35:36.58
Male 40 - 49
1. (Bib# 119) Wayne Hornbuckle, Time 00:23:02.25
2. (Bib# 155) Matt Chamness, Time 00:39:34.47
3. (Bib# 157) Barrett Underbrink, Time 00:57:03.83
Male 50 - 59
1. (Bib# 106) Bill Small, Time 00:27:40.56
2. (Bib# 162) Willie James, Time 00:29:55.85
3. (Bib# 117) John Black, Time 00:30:11.73
Male 60 - 69
1. (Bib# 144) Jim Sawyer, Time 00:30:02.47
Male 70 - 100
1. (Bib# 129) Joe West, Time 00:50:17.44
July 7, 2017 - Race bibs and shirts can be picked up in front on John C. Rogers store on the square on Shelbyville Street from 5:30pm until 6:30pm Friday, July 7th. They can also be picked up before the race at the John D. Windham Civic Center.
Registration is available starting at 6pm before the race Saturday, July 8th. The fun run will begin at 7:00am and the 5K at 7:30am at the John D. Windham Civic Center. Both events are for people of all ages. You can walk or run either event. Strollers are acceptable.
For those registering on race day, the cost is $25 for the Fun Run and $25 for the 5K. Shirts are available for the first 125 entries so sign up fast!
Related article: What-A-Melon 5K to Benefit Children’s Advocacy Center, New Race Course (Form Added)
July 7, 2017 - The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce would like to announce that Center Glass is under new ownership. As of July 1, Justin and Anna Lee became the new owners of the company. The public and Chamber members will be invited to a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new ownership at a later date.
Center Glass is a family owned business specializing in auto, residential and commercial glass installation, shower doors, mirror replacement and drop ceilings. All of the same friendly faces remain there to help you with all of your glass needs! Go by and see or call Tiffany Pope, Office Manager, or Brian Lewis, Project Manager at (936) 598-9190 for any assistance.
For more information please contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at (936) 598-3682 or info@shelbycountychamber.com.
Jeff "CryptoHulk" Stewart emceeing the 2015 Pet Show
July 6, 2017 - Come out and sign your favorite pet up for the What-A-Melon Festival pet show which starts at 6pm Friday, July 7 under the big tent on the downtown Center Square. Pet sign-up starts at 5:30pm.
Celebrity emcee for the pet show is Tenaha resident Jeff "CryptoHulk" Stewart, a wildlife expert and Cryptozoologist. An encounter when he was 15-years-old with something in the woods led Stewart to cryptozoology, which he describes as the study of undiscovered and undocumented animals. He goes out looking for animal species that have yet to be scientifically proven.
Appearances include Monsters and Mysteries in America, Survivorman Bigfoot and Finding Bigfoot while Jeff also has been featured on over 100 podcasts and is a regular guest on Moore Outdoors with Chester Moore on KLVI AM radio in Beaumont Tx. Jeff spends most days in the river bottoms of Eastern Texas investigating the strange weird tales which come from every corner of East Texas.
Pets of all kinds are welcome. Dress them up in watermelon attire to help them win the hearts of the judges. No large farm animals please. Pet owners are responsible for controlling and cleaning up after their pets.
July 7, 2017 - Album - This has been a good year for watermelons in Shelby County with sixteen of the twenty-six watermelon entries weighing over 100 pounds according to Mayor David Chadwick who was the official weigh-in judge!
In 2015 none of the watermelon entries tipped the 100 pound mark and in 2016 only four of the entries exceeded the triple digits. Both of those years Doug Cogswell of Joaquin took home the big prize money. However, the Johnson Family took back bragging rights and the cash winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Olivia Johnson who held the 1st place title for five years in a row, 2009-2013, regained the 1st place slot.
Royce Johnson, a relative of the top three growers, said in 20 years of participating in What-A-Melon he hasn't seen this many big melons at one time. Mother nature has been good this year with the right amount of rain as too much rain was the culprit in 2015 causing only low weights and half the entries. This year it even rained during the weigh-in.
The Rotary Club of Center presented over $5,000 in prize money. Emcee for the watermelon weigh-in was Jason Balkcom, past-president of the club and festival chairperson. He announced the results throughout the event and the prize money was presented to the winning growers by Texas Watermelon Queen Chloe Brown.
A special thank you goes to 936 Crossfit for coming out to help with moving the large number of heavy entries.
Shelby Savings Bank, City of Center, and Focused Care of Center are Platinum Sponsors for the festival. Deep East TX Electric Coop, East Texas Poultry Supply, and Farmers State Bank are Gold Sponsors for the festival.
Watermelon Weigh-in Results
1st place and $2,500 - (melon #27) Olivia Johnson, 142.50 lbs
2nd place and $600 - (melon #30) Jenny Johnson, 136.00 lbs
3rd place and $500 - (melon #33) Louise Johnson, 135.25 lbs
4th place - (melon #7) Rex Rains, 127.00 lbs
5th place - (melon #28) Renee Johnson, 125.25 lbs
6th place - (melon #34) Faith Kruebbe, 121.00 lbs
7th place - (melon #29) Shelby Johnson, 120.25 lbs
8th place - (melon #31) Catch Bragg, 119.75 lbs
9th place - (melon #32) Dylan Jones, 118.50 lbs
10th place - (melon #26) Cherish Bragg, 114.00 lbs
11th place - (melon #3) Dylan Lout, 111.00 lbs
11th place - (melon #35) Hope Kruebbe, 111.00 lbs
12th place - (melon #2) Ali Brooke Lout, 107.50 lbs
13th place - (melon #24) Doug Cogwell, 106.00 lbs
14th place - (melon #8) Sophia Rains, 105.00 lbs
14th place - (melon #19) Will Lucas, 105.00 lbs
15th place - (melon #4) Shad Lout, 96.00 lbs
15th place - (melon #11) Jaleigh Johnson, 96.00 lbs
16th place - (melon #14) Whitney Johnson, 93.25 lbs
17th place - (melon #10) Tate Johnson, 93.00 lbs
18th place - (melon #9) Hali Simpson, 87.00 lbs
19th place - (melon #1) Casey Lout, 84.00 lbs
20th place - (melon #23) Lexie Bliss Terrell, 81.00 lbs
21st place - (melon #6) Colby Lout, 79.25 lbs
22nd place - (melon #5) Eli Lout, 79.00 lbs
23rd place - (melon #25) Amber Terrell, 77.00 lbs
Past years 1st place melons
2016 - Weighed 112.00 lbs, Doug Cogswell of Joaquin (Cogswell Wins Largest Watermelon Competition at 2016 WAM Festival)
2015 - Weighed 96.00 lbs, Doug Cogswell of Joaquin (Cogswell Wins Largest Watermelon Contest; Melon Weights Low Due to Rain)
2014 - Weighed 144.00 lbs, Jimmy Matthews of Joaquin
2013 - Weighed 163.25 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2012 - Weighed 168.75 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2011 - Weighed 146.5 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2010 - Weighed 147.00 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2009 - Weighed 153.25 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2008 - Weighed 151.75 lbs, Darrell Matthews of Joaquin
July 6, 2017 - The Shelbyville Lions Club will be selling funnel cakes and sweet tea along with raffle tickets for our upcoming drawing in October.
This is the 2nd year the Shelbyville Lions Club will participate in the Watermelon Festival. Proceeds go toward our scholarship fund, emergency assistance fund for families in need, supporting local children attending Lions Camp for the disabled, numerous Lions Club International projects and a long term goal of establishing a permanent facility for the SLC and Shelbyville Community.
Raffle items include a Traeger Pellet Smoker, Portacool, Core 15 AR, Rossi 410, Henry Golden Boy, Savage 110 with scope, Marlin 336 with scope and a Century Arms 9mm Canik. The drawing will take place on October 21, 2017 during our Happening at Shelbyville Hill Fest.
Thank your for supporting the Shelbyville Lions Club!
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