Around Town

August 11, 2015 - Center Garden Club members attended an SFA lecture recently and learned about incorporating well-adapted edible plants into residential landscapes for both food and aesthetic value.
Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens hosted a Les Reeves Lecture on Thursday, June 11 2015 in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building. Tim Hartmann, Earth-Kind program with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, presented "Gardening for Food or Beauty- Why Not Both?"
The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month at SFA's Pineywoods Native Plant Center with a rare plant raffle held after each program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series fund are always appreciated.
August 11, 2015 - Are you interested in becoming a foster/adoptive parent? Grace Manor is a Child-Placing Agency that is dedicated to improving the lives of children. We are licensed to certify foster, foster-to-adopt, and adoptive families.
Grace Manor recruits and trains foster/adoptive families to help take care of children who have been removed from their biological homes either temporarily or permanently.
Every child deserves a home, and it is our mission to ensure that children have a safe place to stay while they receive services to help them heal and prepare for permanent placement. To learn more about becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent, call Jordan Schmidt at 936-598-3611. We look forward to hearing from you!

August 10, 2015 - CASA of Deep East Texas wishes to thank Eddie Turk, Alexis Robertson, Hayleigh Smith, and Savannah Robertson for their support of our county's foster children.
During his family's garage sale, Eddie sold cold drinks. Money he received from these sales was donated to CASA.
Alexis, Hayleigh, and Savannah purchased School Supplies for one of our Kindergarten students.
These four children are wonderful examples of caring hearts in our community. Each had the biggest smile as they discussed their wish to share with a foster child. Their volunteering is best expressed by this Dr. Seuss quote: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's Not!"

August 8, 2015 - I'm So Fancy Boutique held their ribbon cutting on Friday, August 7, 2015 at their location in Center. The business was welcomed by members of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (SCCOC) Ambassadors.
Introducing owners Angie Tomlin and Shellie Henry was SCCOC Ambassador J.J. Ford. Tomlin expressed her appreciation to everyone for attending the event and she gave a brief history of the business which had it's inception in September 2014 as an online retailer.
"A lot of people still don't know we're here and we're hoping this brings in a lot more. We have a lot of people online still asking where our business is, because we do sell online, but we want people to know that it's here and things that we offer," said Tomlin.
The boutique carries an array of women's clothing and accessory options. Tomlin says they look forward to expansion in the future and to provide even a greater variety than what they provide today, "Now that we have a place to come in a try on we're hoping to get in to start selling plus sizes also."
The hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday from 10am-5:30pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm. I'm So Fancy Boutique is located at 1110 Tenaha Street, Suite 3 in Center.


August 7, 2015 - A ribbon cutting for the Heart Institute of East Texas was held on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at their location in Center. The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and members of the community were present to welcome the facility and it's staff.
Phillip LaCorte, Practice Administrator at Heart Institute of East Texas, introduced Dr. Ilyas Khan Mohammed, M.D., F.A.C.C., who is board certified in cardiovascular diseases, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine and who has been a great addition to the team since last November.
Dr. Mohammed said, "We are a team of 9 cardiologists based out of Lufkin extending our services to Deep East Texas." "We have the capability to provide everything from the cardiovascular prospective whether it is general cardiology, primary cardiology where somebody is looking into investing into just good cardiovascular health, screening for any cardiovascular diseases to the management and treatment of the most sophisticated cardiovascular conditions being heart attaches or blockages any where in any part of the body, " explained Dr. Mohammed.
Team members introduced by Dr. Mohammed was Dr. R. Bachireddy, J.S. Chandra, V.R. Kovvali, Dr. K.L. Hudson, Dr. M.M. Khan, Dr. C.K. Mani, Dr. R.V. Kedia, and Dr. F.Y. Benraouane. Dr. Mohammed ended saying, "We are proud to be here. We are looking forward to serving the community and enjoy the support from the community here. Thank you so much for coming."
Following a brief history, Meg Camp, Ambassador President, spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Ambassadors, "We are very excited about you being here. Dawn [Barnes], thank you for building this beautiful building. I can see exciting things to come here in Center. We love for anybody to come who cares about our people here in Shelby County. We are very appreciative."
The Heart Institute of East Texas is partnered CHI St. Luke's Health. Jeff Fatheree, Physician Liaison spoke, "CHI is committed to providing the highest level of Health Care everywhere we go. And being in East Texas we certainly want to continue that. Our partnership with the Heart Institute has allowed us the opportunity to reach into some areas that we may not have been able to reach into before. I was very pleased to be a part of being able to come up here and find a good location for Dr. Ilyas to come in and begin his practice in Shelby County."
The Heart Institute of East Texas has been providing exceptional care without exception since 1982. It is the mission of the Heart Institute of East Texas to provide a full continuum of high-quality, cost-effective, proactive diagnostic and therapeutic heart and vascular services. The Heart Institute of East Texas is identified as the premier cardiology group committed to serving and enhancing the well-being of the residents in the East Texas region.
The Heart Institute of East Texas is located inside the Medical Specialists Center at 233 Hurst Street, Suite B. Additional services located inside the Medical Specialists Center are Moonrise Mental Health, James VanMeter, D.N.P., R.N., P.M.H.N.P.; Lavender & Lace, Marcia Nelson (Midwife) M.S., R.N., C.N.M., I.B.C.L.C.; Jane Todd, M.D., General Practice; East Texas Foot Associates, Dr. Matthew Daugherty, D.P.M. and Aurora Concepts.

August 7, 2015 - The Shelby County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension agent, Mrs. Jheri-Lynn Smith McSwain asked the Center Garden Club to assist with her in a four week program. The title of the program was "Learn, Grow, Eat and Go" (garden lessons).
The program was held at the Piney Woods Outreach Center. Two sessions were held per day with approximately fifty children, plus several adults in attendance.
On week one, the students learned that eating something is not just tasting; it is using all five of your senses! Each student gave a separate grade for each sense: sight, smell, feel, sound, and taste. The students participated in a daily sampling and evaluation of a new vegetable or fruit.
Week two, they learned about the plant parts that we eat and the nutrients to make our plants grow.
Week three, the students glued vegetable seeds onto paper towels. This is called "paper towel gardening". The students then went outdoors to plant their paper towels in the wooden raised beds, built by local businesses. The teams had specific responsibilities to make sure that the gardens were cared for.
On final week four, all students learned about what nutrients fueled their body. They include: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. Without these daily nutrients our body cannot perform at it's very best! Last, but not least, students participated in the "Fruity Beauty & Blind Test." Each sampled a bite-size piece from four different apples. Then they were asked to describe the names of these apples.
I believe the members of the Center Garden Club enjoyed these weeks just as much as the children. We thank Jheri-lynn, the ladies of Piney Woods Outreach Center, and most of all ...... the many wonderful children and adults whom we will always remember!



August 6, 2015 - On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors of the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center, thank you to the many amazing supporters who generously gave backpacks, school supplies and donations to help SCCAC kids return to school prepared for success!
The mission of the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center is to promote the emotional and physical healing of child abuse victims by uniting the efforts of public agencies and enlisting community support to optimize the prevention, detection, assessment, investigation, and prosecution of child abuse cases.
August 6, 2015 - The Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center (SCCAC) now has a new swing set for kids to enjoy while visiting. Police Explorers Post 843 have been constructing the swing set this week with material donated by Raymond Construction and should complete the project on Sunday, August 9.
Denise Merriman, SCCAC Director, said, "We are very excited at the Advocacy Center that our CAC kiddos will soon have a swing set to enjoy when they visit. Thank you to Center Police Explorers (Tyler Morris, Taylor Morris, Koby Whisenant, and Officer Maegan Wright, Post Advisor) for their time and labor and to Raymond Construction for donating the materials!"
August 5, 2015 - The Texas State Organization of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International selected the Timpson and Tenaha News, Inc. and Our Town Times, Inc. to receive a 2014-2015 Media Award in recognition of excellence in coverage of local chapter news.
Delta Gamma, the local chapter, recommended the newspapers for this honor because they consistently published articles about outstanding programs and projects.
Nora Robinson, 2nd vice president, presented the Media Award for the Timpson and Tenaha News to Rhonda Samford who worked with Mrs. Hilda Pena while this newspaper was in operation and continues to be the print production manager for Our Town Times, Inc. Fannie Watson, chapter president, presented the Media Award to Chad Pate owner, publisher and editor of Our Town Times, Inc.
August 3, 2015 - Center Weather Stats For July
Highest Temp was 101 degrees on 7-30-2015
Highest Temp on Record was 110 degrees on 7-26-1954
Lowest Temp was 71 degrees on 7-01-2015
Lowest Temp on Record was 55 degrees on 7-15-1967, 7-07-1970 and 7-08-1972
Rainfall recorded was 1.37 inches
Average Monthly rainfall is 3.31 inches
Below Average by 1.94 inches
Highest Recorded for this Month was 10.19 inches in 2002
Lowest Recorded for this Month was 0.19 inches in 1947
Total Rainfall through July is 51.13 inches
Average Rainfall through July is 31.24 inches
Average Yearly Rainfall is 54.20 inches
No Triple Digit Days this year until it was 100 degrees on 7-29-2015 and 101 degrees on 7-30-2015..
Stay Cool!!!










