Shelby County Today

May 31, 2017 (More Photos) - Despite storms Sunday night, a crowd gathered at First United Methodist Church in Center on Monday, May 29th for a Memorial Day program hosted by the Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8904 and the Auxiliary.

Bro. Aubie McSwain of First Christian Church gave the invocation to begin the ceremony which was followed by Sr. Vice Newton Johnson, Jr. and Jr. Vice Jason Samford performed the posting of the Ceremonial Rifle.

Excelsior ISD student Marissa Crawford then sang the National Anthem. Milagros Luna, Miranda Prnka, and Reagan Hovey who are recent Joaquin graduates then assisted Past Post Commander Mike Langford with leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance in a way which the late Red Skelton spoke on his television program in 1969 to students who had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class.

Langford began the start of Skelton’s words, “I’ve been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?”

The Joaquin students each took turns saying:

I - “Me, an individual, a committee of one.”
Pledge - “Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.”
Allegiance - “My love and my devotion.”
To the flag - "Our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!"
of the United - "That means that we have all come together."
States - “Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country."
And to the Republic - “Republic. A state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people"
For which it stands, One Nation under God - “One Nation, meaning 'so blessed by God'"
Indivisible - “Incapable of being divided."
With Liberty - “Which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation."
And Justice - “The principle or quality of dealing fairly with others."
For all. - “For All. Which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine."

Langford then continued with Skelton’s words, "Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our Country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD."

Following a welcome by Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, the Service Song Medley was played on the piano by Ann Harmon. As each branch of service was represented in the medley, anyone who served or had a family member who served in that branch were invited to stand.

Hume introduced Darby Hughes from Joaquin HS who won the VFW Post 8904 and District 19 Voice of Democracy contest. Hughes recited her winning speech and was presented a plaque by Post Commander Gene Hutto.

The roll call of honor was then read while VFW and Auxiliary members and anyone attending who wished to help took turns placing a flower on the Memorial Wreath for each name read. A moment of silence was then held to honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Leigh Porterfield sang “God Bless America” and to end the program Taps was presented by John Piersol, Post Service Officer.

Those remembered in the Roll Call of Honor are listed below (**Missing in Action):

Philippine Insurrection (1): Elijah Webb

Civil War (21): Thomas Baker, Frank Biggar, Richard Sweezer Biggar, James Tapley Booth, D. C. Brandon, James Moore Choate, Stephen Choppell Christian, Joseph Duncan, W.J. Freeland, Oscar F. Hall, James Harkness, James Travis Hopkins, Andrew Frank Hughes**, Sam Houston Latham, Stephen R. Latham, David Milford Mouser, Benjamin Franklin Newman, Stephen N. Power, Benjamin Henry Schooler, James Madison Soloman, G. H. Stevens

World War I (30): Preston Archer, Norfleet Armstrong, Clyde Chance, Jimmie E. Chandler, Freddie F. Choate, Roy Copeland, Norman G. Crocker (1st Texas A&M Grad & Shelby Co. Soldier killed in WWI), Jodie M. Ferguson, James E. Fielder, Louis Franklin, Bert Gordon, Ira A. Hoffman, Fred R. Lindsey, Charles W. McBride, Ferman H. McCann, Clyde T. Morrison, John B. Norman, Stephen H. Oates, Kirt C Ramey, Alexander D. Ramsey, John Sharp, Ernest H. Shipp, John Stanton, Joe Taylor, Wilburn Taylor, John W. Temple**, Nathaniel H. Tims, Boss Turner, Noah H. Warr, John Yeary

World War II (124): John C.B. Alford**, Ernest W. Allen, Ralph L. Amoss, John C. Anderson, Nolan R. Anderson, Lloyd L. Andrews**, Leroy Anding, Bruce C. Baker, Jr., Marvin Beard, James L. Beckham, Ray W. Bolton, Joseph B. Brannon, Richard Dale Bray, Urdong Brinson, Bryan Nelson Brittain, Thomas B. Brittain, Lee O. Brunson**, John B. Bryn**, E.T. Burgess, Jr., Ben H. Burns, Emory C. Campbell**, Jack E. Carter, Huston Cartwright, Rayford H. Ceal, Philip H. Childs**, James Alton Cleveland**, Royce C. Collum, Bobbie Compton, Joseph S. Connell, Ivey O. Cooper, Marvin K. Crausby, Delton Cravey, Richard E. Crawford, Troy F. Crawford, Bobby Allen Crump, Bailey B. Davis, Early E. Davis, Robert E. Daw, Jr., Lewis V. Dockens**, Reed H. Dominy**, Roy V. Duncan**, Austin E. Dunaway, William P. Durham, Arlie L. Eddins, O.J. Edwards, Robert Henry Essery, Dewey L. Evans, Louis Fishman, Charles R. Frame, Everett A. Gaines, Tom Gant, Randle B. Golden, E. C. Gunnels, Hubert B. Haley**, Hulen M. Hardage, Pershing H. Harvey**, Walter Bruce Henry**, Ralph D. Herndon, Dudley D. Holt, J.W. Honeycutt, William S. Hopkins, Roy D. Hughes, Arther T. Hutcherson, Walter B. Hutto, Leroy Johnson, Curtis Jolley**, Carl H. Jones, Johnnie L. Jones, James R. Kirkland, Willie D. Lathon**, Johnnie M. Lee, Howard L. Lovell, Clarence M. Mahan, Earnest M. Mahan, Charlie D. Majors, Bryan McCollum, Jr., James A. McDaniel**, William Lee Meek**, John R. Miller, John W. Minter, Roy H. Mitchell, Thomas L. Mitchell, Jimmie H. Mott, Hoya B. Murphy, L.C. Netherly, Kenneth N. Nicholson**, Steve Henry Oates, Pershing Pate, James E. Pate, Jack T. Powell, Arlen R. Rhame, Ben R. Rhodes, Postell Richard, Darwin A. Risinger**, George O. River, Jr., John C. Scott**, Benjamin M. Simon, Hugh J. Smith, Choron Smothermon**, Rennie C. Snider, Jr., Johnny F. Stack**, Robert Swanzy, James P. Tindol, William R. Todd, Richard R. Wallace**, Vernon B. Walters, Sidney E. Watson, Arvin D. Webb, Harold M. Webb, Robert H. Wharton**, E. C. White, Marion Bedford Whiteside, Jr.**, Robert Wilburn, Claude M. Wilkerson**, Clifton Williams, Eligie P. Williams**, Elmer E. Williams, Ray D. Williams**, Wrayful Willis, Julius R. Windham, Melvin T. Windham, Sil Winfrey, Jr., Harry H. Womack, Albert Youngblood, Gilbert Youngblood

Korea (7): Clifford Hughes, Johnny V. Mena, Bobbie F. Mock, Billy Clyde Stephenson, Leonard Williams, Willie J. Wilson, Willie E. Windham**

Vietnam (9): Ted Wane Adams, William Larry "Shorty" Andrews, Jimmy Dalton Barnett, Mac Curtis Buckley, Larry S. "Possum" Byford, Ray Jr. Chatelain, William Henry Eaden, Jerry Lynn Hughes, Taylor D. Johnson, Calvin R. Patrick

Iraq (1): Larry E. Polley, Jr.

Afghanistan (2): Kevin C. Roberts and Cory J. Bertrand

May 30, 2017 - Sheridan "Faith" Parks was chosen by Timpson High School staff as the Daughters of the American Revolution "Good Citizen". 

Faith and other recipients were recognized at a luncheon held at Stephen F. Austin State University in the Grand Ballroom. 

TISD congratulates Faith on this recognition and wishes here the the best in her future endeavors.  

May 30, 2017 - The XI Alpha Delta Rho Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi recently donated to The Rainbow Room for their supply closet.

The sorority presented the check to Mrs. Alice Pate, pictured with Sorority members: Alison Scull, Anna Stuever, Denise Merriman, and Jennifer Jones.

Beta Sigma Phi is primarily a social and cultural organization that incorporates service as part of its activities. The motto for Beta Sigma Phi is Life, Learning and Friendship.

We are proud to be able to donate funds to local child-serving organizations to assist with their unique programs and services.

May 26, 2017 - The City of Joaquin swore in newly elected council members and its first woman mayor at the May 16, 2017 meeting after the council canvassed the votes of the May 6, 2017 General Election.

FBC Haslam Pastor Bro. Jody Hooper led everyone attending the meeting in prayer outside the city office door. He prayed for the city and its council and for families in Joaquin and Shelbyville who were recently affected by tragedies.

Outgoing council member Joe Long spoke a few words before the new council was sworn in, "I just want to let everyone know it has been an honor and privilege to serve on this council for the past few years. I truly believe we leave the city and the council in far better condition than when I arrived here two years ago. We didn't always agree, nor should we, but it was during our debates that we made the tough decisions that put our city in a better position to succeed. I wish all the best to the next council, mayor and the people of Joaquin."

Mayor Bill Baker also spoke a few words agreeing with what Long had just said, "I appreciate the time that people gave me to serve the city of Joaquin and it has been a great council. Since 2010, me and you have been together Mrs. Pat [Gray] and we didn't always agree but we did come to an agreement and I would also like to congratulate the people elected to the council and mayor." Baker expressed his hope the council would continue to work with new businesses who have expressed a desire to come into Joaquin. One potential business Baker mentioned could bring 50 new jobs to Joaquin, "I would like to remind the incoming council and mayor of our tax abatement program which has done wonders to get these new businesses up here. And hopefully we can get some more people employed in Joaquin, Texas."

Baker then turned the meeting over to Justice of the Peace Margie Anderson who swore in the new council members Cathy Atkinson, Mike Cummings, Jr., and Doug Shook. Atkinson and Cummings, Jr. won the May 6th General Election for the two at large council positions. Shook won as an unopposed candidate in a special election called to finish out the more than one-year term remaining for council member Ben Brittain who resigned earlier in the year.

The new mayor Pat Gray was then sworn in. Mayor Gray said, "I want to thank y'all; I love you for being here. It's kind of a new chapter turned over in my life and I hope I can fill those shoes." Mayor Gray then began addressing each agenda item with the following results by the council:

Items approved:
7. Approved the previous month's minutes
8. Approved payment of bills
9. Selected Frankie Cooper as Mayor Pro Tem
10. Approved removing former mayor and council members from city accounts
11. Approved adding new Mayor Pro Tem to city accounts
12. Approved renewal of Certificate of Deposit with Texas Bank and updated current City Secretary and Mayor to accounts

The Joaquin City Council held a special called meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 2:30pm. Following executive session which pertained to personnel matters, the council approved promoting a part-time employee, Billy Barnett, to a full-time position and approved to advertise for a part-time administrative staff position and a temporary part-time public works laborer.