September 18 - September 22
Rated PG-13. Ends at 9:25pm

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Box office opens 7pm
Admission:
Adults $8, Children $7
Senior Citizens (Mondays) $6

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Around Town

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October 10, 2016 - (Album) - A fun fan favorite of the East Texas Poultry Festival is the Strut, Cluck, and Crow Chicken Clucking Contest which was held Saturday, October 8th with a large crowd attending. Youngsters of all ages took to the stage competing for Chicken Clucking bragging rights.

The following won their divisions:

Roosters and Hens Division
1st place - Cody Porter
2nd place - Dillon Reynolds
3rd place - Zachary Sanford

Pullets Division
1st place - Clayton Walker
2nd place - Shawn Chesser
3rd place - Karley Broadway

Chicks Division
1st place - Jose Valadez
2nd place - Will Hawkins
3rd place - Seth Sneed

Peeps  Division
1st place - Slayde Porter
2nd place - Cooper Collette
3rd place - Marvrick Woodfin

From left: Danny Foster, Bobby Daw, and Sammy Arnold

October 9, 2016 - The Center Noon Lions Club held their drawing for the 2016 Jeep Sport Wrangler fundraiser and East Texas Poultry Queen Madelynn Hutchins drew the winning ticket which belonged to Debbie Daw.

Daw's husband, Bobby Daw called her on the phone to inform her that the ticket he had bought earlier at the festival from Lions Club member Sammy Arnold and had put her name on it had won the Jeep. She was not impressed until Lions Club member Danny Foster took the phone and told her she had indeed won!

The next four tickets won $250 each. Over 420 tickets were sold. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit community projects.

October 4, 2016 - It's Poultry Festival Time!

Saturday, October 8, 2016

7:30am - Poultry Festival 5K Fun Walk/Run 
10:00am - Food / Arts & Crafts Booths Open

Quilt Show (Sponsored by Scull Timber Company) - 10:00am to 3:00pm in Historic Courthouse

Can-A-Rama - 10:00am to 3:00pm in First Ladies of Texas Building

Photography Show (Sponsored by Vieux Carre’ Photography) - 10:00am to 5:00pm at 106 Nacogdoches Street

10:00am - 4-H & FFA Broiler Show Sift 
11:30am - East Texas Community Choir 
12:00pm - Broiler Show 
12:00pm - Carnival Opens
12:00pm - The Randy Rant Band 
1:00pm - Patriotic Tribute by Charles Delaney
2:30pm - Johnson’s Lost Crowes
4:00pm - Darrin Morris Band
5:30pm - “Strut, Cluck and Crow” Chicken Clucking Contest (Platinum Sponsor Debrah J. Worsham, DDS)
6:00pm - Lion’s Club Jeep Drawing 
7:00pm - 4-H & FFA Broiler Show Auction

2016 East Texas Poultry Festival Food Booths

Tyson Foods (Chicken Tenders & Fries - 4 Coupons)
First Christian Church (Funnel Cake - 6 Coupons)
Shelby County Outreach (Moodyville Ribeye Sandwich - 7 Coupons)
Shelbyville Lions Club (Cheese Sticks - 4 Coupons; Jalapeno Poppers - 4 Coupons)
Mt. Zion Church (Turkey Legs - 8 Coupons)
Cathy Fields Scholarship (Sweet Shop - 2 Coupons)
Cathy Fields Scholarship (Chicken Spaghetti - 5 Coupons)
Shelbyville FCA (Corn Dog - 3 Coupons) 
Templo Principe de Paz (Chicken Fajita Taco - 1 Coupon; Pork Taco - 1 Coupon)
Friendship Baptist (Hamburger - 4 Coupons; Cheeseburger - 5 Coupons; Fries - 2 Coupons)
Mu Alpha Theta CHS (Nachos - 3 Coupons; Nachos w/ Chili - 4 Coupons)
St. Therese Catholic Church (Tamale - 2 Coupons; Gordita - 2 Coupons; Corn - 2 Coupons)
Triumph Church (Catfish, Fries, Hushpuppies - 8 Coupons; Crispito - 2 Coupons)
New Life Church (Taco Salad - 5 Coupons; Coffee - 1 Coupons)
First Baptist Church (Ice Cream - 3 Coupons)

2016 Steering Committee

Festival Chairman - Jim Sawyer
Festival Co-Chairman - Josh Payne
Festival Coordinator - David Chadwick
Grounds Coordinator - Rick Campbell
Carnival - Buster Bounds
Chicken Fajita Luncheon - Bryan Wages
Electrical - Rob Payne
Festival Tent Coordinator - Roy Blackshear
Entertainment - Danny Paul & Sally Windham 
Fence - John Howard
Arts & Crafts Booths - Polly Montemayor
Security Coordinator - Bobby Daw
Broiler Show - Lane Dunn 
Chamber Booth - Rose Specter
Quilt Show & Can-A-Rama - Jheri-Lynn McSwain
Photography Show - Billie Jones
Chicken Cooking Contest - Natalie Oswalt
Queen’s Court - Caroline Corbell

Thursday, October 6, 2016

10:00am - Opening Ceremonies (Sponsored by High Roller Wells) on Historic Downtown Center Square

  • Invocation - Rev. Bobby Bressman, First Baptist Church
  • National Anthem - Center High School Band, Director Chris Smith
  • Pledge to the Flag - Timpson ISD Kindergarten
  • Cutting of the Feathers - 2016 East Texas Poultry Festival Queen Madelynn Hutchins & Court
  • Welcome - County Judge Allison Harbison, Center Mayor David Chadwick, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Meg Camp

Quilt Show (Sponsored by Scull Timber Company) - 10:00am to 3:00pm in Historic Courthouse

Can-A-Rama - 10:00am to 3:00pm in First Ladies of Texas Building

Photography Show (Sponsored by Vieux Carre’ Photography) - 10:00am to 5:00pm at 106 Nacogdoches Street

10:00am - Food / Arts & Crafts Booths Open
10:10am - F.L. Moffett Kindergarten Classes
10:10am - Phelps, Fults, Rogers
10:20am - Fuller, Fitzgerald, Covington, Grande
10:40am - Rowlett, Fisher, Hamlin, Araiza
11:30am - “Flashback to the Past” Shelbyville Fourth Grade Classes
12:00pm - Center Elementary First Grade Classes
12:00pm - Ruiz, Bennett, Cordray, Bryan
12:10pm - Cox, Elder, Caraway
12:20pm - Stewart, Sullivan, Jurecka, Penner
12:40pm - Center Elementary Second Grade Classes
12:40pm - Hooper, Campbell, Klein, Radney
12:50pm - Clary, Lyles, Hill, Helms
1:00pm - Hroncich, Ward, Knebel
1:10pm - Center Elementary Third Grade Classes
1:10pm - Mathews, Murry, Barlett, Schultz
1:20pm - Gregston, Parker, Corbell, Crouch
1:30pm - Chisenhall, Wheeler, Dutton
2:30pm - Open Microphone
4:00pm - Carnival opens
6:00pm to 10:00pm - Carnival Arm Bands $18
6:30pm - Improv – Center High School Theater
7:00pm - Danny Paul Windham and The Pine Hill Review, Thomas Morrison and the Pack of Strays

Friday, October 7, 2016

10:00am - Food / Arts & Crafts Booths Open

Quilt Show (Sponsored by Scull Timber Company) - 10:00am to 3:00pm in Historic Courthouse

Can-A-Rama - 10:00am to 3:00pm in First Ladies of Texas Building

Photography Show (Sponsored by Vieux Carre’ Photography) - 10:00am to 5:00pm at 106 Nacogdoches Street

11:30am - Center Christian Academy Pre-K3 and Pre-K4
12:00pm - Homegrown & Homemade - Danny Paul, Sally Windham and Friends
1:00pm to 5:00pm - Carnival Arm Bands $18
1:30pm - Pep Rally
3:00pm - Open Microphone
5:00pm - Carnival Continues

Gospel Night
5:30pm - The Parmer Family
6:15pm - Hands of Praise Revival Tabernacle UPC
6:45pm - Unspeakable Praise First Pentecostal Church of Joaquin
7:00pm - The Borders Sisters
7:30pm - Stellar Walker, Vocalist with First United Methodist Church of Center
8:00pm - Chassity Davis, Vocalist
8:30pm - Center First United Pentecostal Church Praise Team

October 6, 2016 (More Photos) - Dollies and flutter bums took to the stage bringing 50's sounds to the East Texas Poultry Festival. The Shelbyville 4th graders sang 'At the Hop,' 'Yakety Yak,' 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,' 'The Twist,' 'Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay,' and 'Always Be Together.'

The 40th East Texas Poultry Festival is a 'Fat City.'

Slang of the 50s (http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/staffdev/social%20studies/pdf/slang%20of%20the%201950s.pdf)
Flutter bum: a good-looking boy
Dolly: cute girl
Sounds: music
Blast: a good time
Fat City: a great thing or place; Happy; a good situation

October 6, 2016 (Photos) - F.L. Moffett kindergarten classes took to the stage and performed Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the 40th East Texas Poultry Festival to a large crowd of spectators.

Coming soon are photos of Shelbyville 4th graders and Center Elementary students who also entertained festival goers.


Click the above image for a larger view

October 6, 2016 - The 40th East Texas Poultry Festival has kicked off as members of the community flocked to the big tent on the Center square for the opening ceremonies October 6, 2016.

Jim Sawyer, Festival Committee Co-Chairman, welcomed everyone and thanked sponsors of the event. Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge participated in the opening event and she said, "This is a time for the whole county to come together, cross county rivals in football are friends here."

Incoming Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Meg Camp also made a statement welcoming everyone, "Welcome, on behalf of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce we welcome you to the 40th East Texas Poultry Festival."

"It is a time to celebrate our chicken industry, the poultry industry here in Shelby County, what a vital industry it is for all the growers and all the children who have been actively raising those chicks, I can't wait until this Saturday with the broiler show," said Camp.

Camp thanked all of the volunteers who commit their time to the poultry festival and make the event possible. She stated Jim Sawyer and Josh Payne are co-chairmen of the festival and they are supported by a steering committee of around 30 people. She stated the Chamber Ambassadors, Junior Chamber members and Ambassador children who will be helping in the coke booth.

Madelynn Hutchins, East Texas Poultry Festival Queen and court were on stage and they were all introduced by Sawyer. Following their introduction, the Queen performed the ceremonial cutting of the feathers.

During the event, Timpson Kindergarten students recited the Pladge of Allegiance and the Center High School Band performed the Star Spangled Banner.

October 5, 2016 - SWEPCO personnel departed the Fayetteville Service Center early Wednesday, October 5, bound for Macon, GA, to assist Georgia Power with restoration from Hurricane Matthew. Additional personnel from Rogers and Greenwood, Ark. joined the Fayetteville group en route.

SWEPCO has crews going to Georgia from Longview, Texarkana, Shreveport, and Fayetteville. The roster includes supervisors, line, service, engineering, support and fleet employees.

An additional 50 contractor personnel were released from SWEPCO to work in Orlando, Florida.

Pictured are (from left) Lt. Jeremy Bittick, Sgt. Chris Knowlton, and Chief Jim Albers.

October 4, 2016 - The Center Police Department announces the appointment Center Police Officer Chris Knowlton to Sergeant.

Chief Jim Albers pins Knowlton's sergeant badge to his uniform.Knowlton has been employed with the department since July 11, 2009 and since then has served as a patrol officer and Narcotocs Detective. He is currently the Assistant SWAT Commander of the department.

Currently, Knowlton holds an Advanced Peace Officer License with the State of Texas and holds additional TCOLE certificates, some of which include: Field Training Officer; Basic Narcotics Investigator; Basic Instructor; Basic Firearms Instructor; Basic, Advanced and Advanced Hostage Rescue SWAT Certificates; Police K-9 Training (Basic Handler).

Knowlton has also achieved his Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences with an Area of Specialization in Law Enforcement Administration and an Area of Professional Development in Public Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is also currently a Law Enforcement Instructor for the Angelina College Police Academy.

October 4, 2016 - The "Center Garden Club" proudly announces the Yard of the Month to the Jaimes family. Lisa Albers and Judy Matthews present the Yard of the Month sign to the family.

This is the time to dig and divide your spring perennials. Your Tulips and Dutch hyacinths should be chilled at 45 degrees for a minimum of 45 days in the refrigerator. Wait until mid-December to plant chilled bulbs. Oh yes...don't forget to remove damaged or dead branches. Please, keep your garden tidy as plants wind down for season.

Click to enlarge

Hutchins being crowned 2016 ETPF Queen

October 1, 2016 (More Photos - Album1, Album2- The Center High School Cafetorium was filled without an empty chair available to view the coronation ceremony of the East Texas Poultry Festival Queen's Scholarship Pageant as the 2015 Queen Kamaryn Smith placed the crown on the new 2016 Queen, Madelynn Hutchins. 

With Chris Watlington serving as the master of ceremonies, candidates were escorted onto the stage and introduced to the audience while they demonstrated their stage presence. The children's court then join the queen candidates on stage and were interviewed by Watlington concerning their experiences during the Poultry Festival pre-events especially having the opportunity to ride in the Doo-Dah Parade.

Past East Texas Poultry Festival Queens (from left) Shana Brittain, Dr. Carmen Mackey, Audra Richburg, Madison Jones, Megan Hart, Sarah Harkness, Makayla Perry, and Zoey Stuever.

Special guests attending the Scholarship Pageant were past queens who Watlington introduced and welcomed to the stage to discuss their experiences with past pageants. Past Queens attending were 2014 Queen Zoey Stuever, 2013 Queen Makayla Perry, 2010 Queen Sarah Harkness, 2009 Queen Megan Hart, 2008 Queen Madison Jones (The first 'Junior' queen, pageant contestants had to be in their junior year of high school,) 2008 Queen Audra Wilburn Richburg (The last 'Senior' queen,) 1999 Queen Dr. Carmen Mackey, and 1984 Queen Shana Brittain.

The final walk of honor was made by Queen Kamaryn Smith with her escort Austin Craig by her side before awards were given and the top candidates were announced.

The top three candidates were Madelynn Hutchins, Rylee Morris, and Emma Locke. The interview question asked of them by Watlington was 'What does success mean to you?'

Miss Hutchins referenced her experience with FFA and setting goals, "In my life, success means to me setting a goal and taking steps to get there and one day achieving that goal. And that is the best feeling ever, that sweet success that other people may not realize but that you on the inside know you worked really hard to get there."

Miss Locke responded, "Success to me is not only personal gain but accomplishing a goal that not only helps yourself but everyone around you and that your family and friends and everyone else can be proud of. To be successful doesn't necessarily mean that you win but that you accomplish the goal that you set yourself to do. I feel that success is important in our life because without goals we would never have a set mountain to reach so to speak."

Miss Morris' answer to the question was, "Success to me would have to be achieving your goals whether that would be being a good example which is my goal, I try throughout everything that I do to be a good example and show that hard work pays off and or whether that be going to college which is also one of my goals. Going to college and eventually going to medical school and becoming a surgeon. Also, I believe that success could also mean being a mother. I think that was one of my personal goals, being a mother and raising a good family to hold values that are true to me."

First runner-up was announced to be Rylee Morris and second runner-up was Emma Locke.

Additional awards given were:

Doo-Dah Parade
Sweepstakes Award - Madelynn Hutchins
Presidential Award - Lexi Moody 
Mayor's Award - Jessye Massey
Honorable Mention - Alexia Baldwin

Miss Congeniality - Lexi Moody

Committee Award - Elizabeth Chavez

Essay
Winner - Emma Locke
1st Runner-up - Rylee Morris
2nd Runner-up - Madelynn Hutchins 

Most Photogenic
Winner - Emma Locke
1st Runner-up - Lexi Moody
2nd Runner-up - Madelynn Hutchins and Katelyn Jackson

Social Skills
Winner - Emma Locke
1st Runner-up - Rylee Morris
2nd Runner-up - Madelynn Hutchins

Grade Point Average
Winner - Katelyn Jackson
1st Runner-up - Rylee Morris
2nd Runner-up - Emma Locke

Community/School Participation
Winner - Katelyn Jackson
1st Runner-up - Rylee Morris
2nd Runner-up - Madison Kirby and Madelynn Hutchins

Interview
Winner - Madelynn Hutchins
1st Runner-up - Karley Broadway
2nd Runner-up - Rylee Morris

Stage Presence
Winner - Madelynn Hutchins
1st Runner-up - Rylee Morris
2nd Runner-up - Karley Broadway and Emma Locke

Grand Duke - Cale Hall, Kaden LaRock and Austin Craig

Related article - 2016 East Texas Poultry Festival Queen's Scholarship Pageant

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