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June 19 - June 30
Rated PG. Ends at 9:00pm
Coming Soon:
Mininons and Monsters
Closed Wed. & Thurs.
Box office opens 7pm
Admission:
Adults $8, Children $7
Senior Citizens (Mondays) $6
936-598-3864
Around Town
July 18, 2016 - The 16th annual Comal county shotgun invitational was held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio July 16-17.
This shoot had over 350 kids from across Texas participating and is known as the State Warm up shoot.
Shelby County was represented by four 4h shooters. Hagan Craig, Lance Holloway, Colton Gutermuth & Logan Holloway.
Results are as follows;
Junior division:
Hagan Craig placed 5th in Skeet & 5th in Whizbang.
Intermediate division:
Lance Holloway placed 5th in Whizbang.
Senior 1 Division:
Logan Holloway placed 1st in sporting clays
High Point Overall (HOA) in the Senior I Category was Logan Holloway.
We would like to say Congratulations on a job well done representing Shelby County.
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding 4-H, please give us a call at 936-598-7744.
July 15, 2016 - A large crowd gathered including Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and members of the community to welcome Chicken Express on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at their Chamber Ribbon Cutting.
Pam Phelps, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, and Meg Camp, Ambassador President, congratulated owners Steve and Selena Windham on the new business. The Windhams thanked everyone for coming and for the support the community has given them since the restaurant opened April 18th.
The restaurant employs just under 40 employees and during the first week of opening took over 9,500 orders which set a record. After the ribbon cutting, Selena Windham reminisced about the opening week and how busy they were. She and other employees took turns trying to help direct traffic because of the number of customers coming into the restaurant. Steve Windham said the first week they had daily deliveries coming in to restock the restaurant. The second week was almost as busy as the first and now they have leveled out to two full truck deliveries each week.
The Windhams spoke about the startup process and how efficient Chicken Express Corporate was with the layout of the restaurant and training of the employees. The first week went very smoothly thanks to corporate having staff come in and work with them every step of the way which ensured the Chicken Express reputation of providing fast, friendly service of the best quality food!
Chicken Express is located at 323 Tenaha Street in Center and has a selection of items on the menu from fish, chicken, chicken tenders and hot wings. They have several sides including fried pickles, cheese sticks, corn nuggets and fried okra. Their serving sizes range from single servings to family size orders and a catering service reputed to be able to feed a small army.
July 15, 2016 - Center Christian Academy still has openings in the following grades:
Pre-K 3
Kindergarten
3rd-4th
5th-6th
9-12th
Limited openings in the following grades:
Pre-K 4
1st-2nd
Offering daily after school care until 5:00 -- also considering Friday care. Call 936-572-3660 OR 936-598-7156 to speak with our secretary for more info. www.centerchristianacademy.org to download forms and for more info. School starts August 15.
Joanna Birdwell 936-591-4328 if you have questions or need anything. Thanks.
July 14, 2016 - Every year Hochheim Branch members choose certain organizations in the community to donate to. On June 23, 2016 branch official, Becky Maidic, presented Hochheim Prairie Insurance Branch 110 donation checks to Center, Shelbyville, Timpson, and Tenaha Volunteer Fire departments.
July 14, 2016 - Every year Hochheim Prairie branch members choose certain organizations in our community to donate to. On July 13, 2016 branch official, Becky Maidic, presented a donation to the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library. Pictured: Becky Maidic and Sandra Davis.
July 13, 2016 (Seed Spitting Photos, Speed Eating Photos) - With Rotary Club President, Jason Balkcom, leading the events, a group vied for prize money and bragging rights at the What-A-Melon Festival's most competitive events - Seed Spitting and Speed Eating.
The Seed Spitting kicked off at 4pm Saturday, July 9th with festival goers taking their turn trying to propel their seeds the furthest. Each contestant had two tries before the official mark was made by Rotarian Scott Stanfield. When the seeds were no longer flying through the air, and the audience thought it safe again, contestants surrounded the official speed eating table and took to seeing who could down their watermelon slice the quickest in a display, which certainly would have horrified the everyday well-mannered diner.
The following left victorious:
Seed Spitting
Kids
1st place - Artura Montemayor
2nd place - Kenny Montemayor
3rd place - Stephanie Santana
Youth
1st place - Raylee Askew
2nd place - Franuele Arayo
3rd place - Caine Snell
Women
1st place - Isabelle Santana
2nd place - Erica Santana
3rd place - Brittany Shofner
Men
1st place - Rob Payme
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Chris Matis
Speed Eating
Kids (0-7)
1st place - Fisher Bright
2nd place - Zac Payne
3rd place - Arturo Montemayor
Youth (8-15)
1st place - Neera Smith
2nd place - Neena Smith
3rd place - Raylee Askew
Women
1st place - Brittany Shofner
2nd place - Cindy Shofner
3rd place - Barbara Harding
Men
1st place - Marthen Lumingkewas
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Nehemias Santana
July 12, 2016 - Prior to the start of the What-A-Melon Festival, food vendors attended an emergency food handlers class hosted by Jheri-Lynn McSwain, AgriLife Extension Agent for Shelby County, on July 6, 2016 in the community room of the Shelby County Courthouse.
Food vendor workers learned the do's and don'ts of food handling including information about foodborne illness and outbreak which are often linked to not following time and temperature rules, poor personal hygiene, and cross-contamination. The standard two-hour course covered potentially hazardous foods, food handling, hygiene for food employees, and reporting processes.
Food fundraisers or carnival food vendors are required to have food handler certification and/or a temporary food single event permit. For more information about food handler certification and permits, visit www.dshs.texas.gov and search for 'food temporary permit.' Rayla Navarro is the Retail Foods/General Sanitation representative for Health Services Region 4/5 North. She can be contacted at her office at 912 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas at 936-598-1232.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food Handler Program is dedicated to the health and safety of the citizens of the state, educating food service employees in the principles of food safety to produce safe food products for Texas consumers.
Special thank you to Jheri-Lynn McSwain for hosting the course which allowed many of the vendors to be able to participate in the festival.
July 12, 2016 - Emergency personnel honored Jim Forbes following funeral services held in Center on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Center.
The Center Fire Department ladder truck was stationed near Oaklawn Memorial Park on State Highway 7 East where the funeral procession would pass beneath.
Mr. Forbes was a Center City Councilman, weatherman, and formerly a fireman with the Center Fire Department. In recognition of his service to the fire department he was transported from the church to his final resting place on the Center Fire Department's 1939 Seagrave fire engine.
Also escorting the procession were Center Police Officers and the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department.
During the service at Oaklawn Memorial Park the final call for Mr. Forbes #413 was announced over the Center Fire Department frequency.
Read Mr. Forbes obituary: James William Forbes
July 12, 2016 (Album 1, Album 2) - A large crowd attended the 2016 East Texas What-A-Melon Festival pageant Saturday morning, July 9, 2016. Contestants dolled up in their cutest watermelon attire and took to the stage as family gathered under the big tent.
Judges of the pageant were Amy Permenter, Angel Washington, and special guest Carla Lynn Penney, of Vienna, Georgia. Penney was crowned the 2016 National Watermelon Queen during the annual National Watermelon convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in February. Her trip to the festival was sponsored by Wiggins Farms
The Supreme Queens of the pageant were announced to be Emory Gomez for ages 0-5 years and Karley Broadway for ages 6 and up. Both received a $250 scholarship sponsored by Wiggins Farms which was presented to them by Penney.
The pageant results are as follows:
Mister East Texas What-A-Melon - Stetson Spinks
Best Smile, Most Handsome, Best Fashion - Stetson Spinks
Baby (Ages 0-11 months)
Baby Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Blakely Raymond
Best Smile - Gracie Sanford
Most Beautiful - Blakely Raymond
Best Fashion - Emory Gomez
Princesses - Savannah Barton, Taegan Dawson, Gracie Sanford, Kellyanna Binfet, McCartney Agnew
Toddler (Ages 12-23 months)
Toddler Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Oakley Lowe and Emory Thornton
Best Smile - Oakley Lowe
Most Beautiful - Emory Thornton
Best Fashion - Sadie Jernigan
Princesses - Swazie Steptoe, Ellie Parks, Addelynn Davis, Sadie Jernigan, Ella Impson
Tiny (Ages 2-3 years)
Tiny Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Justice Boyd
Best Smile - Justice Boyd
Most Beautiful - Jayla Barkins
Best Fashion - Madelyn Olivas
Princesses - Kirstie Parks, Madelyn Olivas, Jayla Barkins, Melina Barrera, Cadence Shadix
Little (Ages 4-5 years)
Little Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Sofia Bocanegra
Best Smile - Sofia Bocanegra
Most Beautiful - Aryana Groze
Best Fashion - Laura Moody
Princesses - Laura Moody, Aryana Groze
Petite (Ages 6-8 years)
Petite Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rhiana Lane
Best Smile - Carolyn Mathis
Most Beautiful - Rhiana Lane
Best Fashion - Bailey Shadix
Princesses - Bailey Shadix, Carolyn Mathis
Preteen (Ages 9-12 years)
Preteen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Smile - Mahalia Ratcliff
Most Beautiful - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Fashion - Macey McSwain
Princess - Macey McSwain
Teen (Ages 13-15 years)
Teen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rebekah Bridges
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Rebekah Bridges
Miss (Ages 16-19 years)
Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Karley Broadway
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Karley Broadway
All attending the pageant were made more comfortable in the hot summer heat by Portacools' Portable Evaporative Coolers donated for use at the festival by Portacool. The pageant was hosted by Bailey's Pageants.
July 8, 2016 - Album - Antonio Chavez and Madison Brown were the overall winners of the 5th Annual What-A-Melon 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning, July 9, 2016.
Chavez had a finishing time of 18:45 and Brown's time was 24:18. Wiggins Farms donated watermelons at the event to help keep participants cool and handed out slices after participants crossed the finish line.
Participants lined up on the Center square early in the morning to begin the race. Center Police Officers traveled with the runners at the beginning and end of the line of runners to provide safety as they traveled the route. Following the race awards were presented by 2016 National Watermelon Queen Carla Lynn Penney, of Vienna, Georgia.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library.
(Update) Complete results are in and can be viewed here: What-A-Melon Crawl 5K Results
The run results according to age division is as follows:
Fun Run
1st place - Cori Lawson
2nd place - Logan Galindo
Madeline Cassell
Savannah Cassell
Cayden Askew
Male Open Winners
1st place - Antonio Chavez
Male No Age Provided
1st place - Joe West
Male 12 and Under
1st place - Lance Holloway
2nd place - Seth Shamblin
Male 13 to 19
1st place - Ruben Soto
2nd place - Corles Bstament
Male 20 to 29
1st place - Marcos Angel
2nd place - Moises Arcibar
Male 30 to 39
1st place - Jeremiah Soape
2nd place - Matthew Gregston
3rd place - Juan Monsivais
4th place - Scott James
Male 40 to 49
1st place - Steve Allen
2nd place - Keith Davis
3rd place - David Wheeler
Male 50 to 59
1st place - David Wheeler
Male 60 and Over
1st place - Chandra Atholi
2nd place - Carlos Gray
Female Open Winners
1st place - Madison Brown
Female No Age Provided
1st place - Dorothy West
2nd place - Sarah Fletcher
3rd place - Alice Pate
Female 12 and Under
1st place - Adreia Sanchez
2nd place - Riley Ross
3rd place - Hannah Ross
Female 20 to 29
1st place - Camille Stanfield
2nd place - Carolina Angel
3rd place - Promise Lunsford
4th place - Candice Turner
5th place - Destiny Russell
6th place - Ana Gutierrez
7th place - Ting Snider
8th place - Ashton Askew
9th place - Brittany Gilchrist
Female 30 to 39
1st place - Jenny Rhodes
2nd place - Courtney Sanchez
3rd place - Porfi Williford
4th place - Summer Jackson
5th place - April Broughs
Female 40 to 49
1st place - Sabrina Smith
2nd place - Yanci Hendricks
3rd place - Marisela Almanza
4th place - Benita Collard
5th place - Anjanette Dunn
6th place - Cindy Furlow
Female 50 to 59
1st place - Hermilla Mendoso
2nd place - Margo Griffith
3rd place - Karen Gray
4th place - Laree Bounds
5th place - Lori Davis
6th place - Shandra Russell
7th place - Kathy Baily
8th place - Karen Cunningham
9th place - Kay Ross
Female 60 and Over
1st place - Ann Bridges
2nd place - Nina Barnett
Sponsors for the event were Farmers State Bank, John Black and Associates, Baldwin Tree Service, Boles Feed and East Texas Poultry Supply. Shelby Savings Bank sponsored 25 of their employees to participate in the 5K.
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