Click any story headline to open the article and share it using social media: Facebook, Twitter.
PG. Movie ends 9:35pm
Closed Wednesdays, Thursdays
Box office opens at 7:00pm. Showtime at 7:30pm.
Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children.
Senior Citizen's Night
Mondays - $6 Admission
936-598-3864
Around Town
April 12, 2022 - William Carroll Crawford Chapter of Daughters of Republic of Texas, J.J.E. Gibson Children of the Republic of Texas Flag Retirement Ceremony March 12, 2022.
John Austin Ford, Ian Williamson, and new member applicant, Pierson Waller of the JJE Gibson Chapter of the Children of the Republic of Texas held a Texas flag retirement ceremony following the William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas meeting Saturday, March 11, 2022.
Merle Howard presented the program on the history of the Lone Star Flag which led into the CRT demonstrating the protocol of folding the Lone Star Flag and separating the colors to respectfully retire the flags later. Navy Veteran, Sean Martin assisted the youth in the folding demonstration. They then, unfolded one flag and demonstrated how to separate the colors for retirement. Air Force Veteran, Don Casto assisted in the separation of the colors.
The meeting dismissed after a light lunch and the following DRT members, SRT members and CRT members met at the home of John and Merle Howard to retire the flags.
Present were, John Austin Ford and Ian Williamson of the CRT. DRT members were President Gina Ferren, Registrar Maggie Casto, Chaplain Vickie Martin, 1st Vice President Gail Sholar, Treasurer Merle Howard and husband John, Parliamentarian Judy Lee, Lynn Williamson, Patricia Harrison, and SRT members Don Casto, Sean Martin, and Nolan Sholar.
Merle Howard continued with the script to retire the flags as John Austin and Ian presented the blue rectangle, the white rectangle, the red rectangle and finally the Lone Star of the flags to the flame. During the process those present saluted the flags as they were retired.
The ceremony concluded with Navy Veteran, Sean Martin and Air Force Veteran Don Casto talking about their jobs in their branch of service for our country. Members thanked them for their service.
April 11, 2022 - Jumping Jelly Beans! We’re egg-cited because the Easter Bunny is coming to Town and Country Real Estate pm Friday, April 15, 2022 from 2pm until 4pm. Get your photo taken with the bunny and enjoy treats and more! Town and Country Real Estate is located at 114 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas 75935.
April 11, 2022 - Dutch Oven Cooking is meeting Saturday, April 16 at Boles Field. Lonnie King will be there with his authentic 122 year old chuck wagon. Set up is at 9am with food on the table at 12:00 noon. Visitors and prospective members welcome.
April 8, 2022 - Time to start your Spring Cleaning. The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce announces there will be an Electronic Recycle Day on Friday, April 22nd and a Shred Day on Friday, April 29th.
You may take your electronics (only electronics) to R&J Recycling and Disposal on Friday, April 22nd between the hours of 8am and 4pm. R&J Recycling and Disposal is located at 306 FM 2468, right before you reach the Portacool plant. Volunteers will be available to help unload your vehicle.
The mobile Shredding Unit will be available on the downtown square in front of the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 29th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Community members are invited to bring documents that need to be shredded.
Both services are provided free to the public as a service of the Shelby County Beautiful Clean program of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and our generous Sponsors:
- Farmers State Bank, Gold Sponsor for Shredding Services
- Republic Services, Presenting Sponsor for Recycling/Disposal Services
For more information please contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at (936) 598-3682 or info@shelbycountychamber.com.
From left: Kristin Peace (50 Women), Lisa McAdams (50 Women), Linda Miller (50 Women), Sheilah Reeves (50 Women), Ann Grant (50 Women), Jody Hooper (CCS), Lauren Hovey Bonner (CCS), Mark Lawrence (CCS), and J.J. Ford (50 Women).
April 7, 2022 - The 50 Women Impact group voted for Community Christian Services (CCS) of Joaquin to receive their grant for the first quarter of 2022. The total amount donated by it’s members to CCS was $10,900!
Community Christian Services was started in 2015 and to date serves an average of 210 households per month. Presently, the most urgent needs of CCS is cold storage and transportation. On the application submitted by CCS they described success as one food box at a time, “It is humbling to be a part of numerous volunteers gathering each week working together to help people, many of which they don’t even know.”
The 50 Women Impact group was started in November of 2017 and selects a non-profit organization to support each quarter of the year. Applications are due in February, May, August, and November. In total, the power of giving as one has distributed nearly $186,000 to worthy organizations!
Awards presented in 2021:
1st quarter - Shelby County Expo $11,100
2nd quarter (Tie) - Shelby County Outreach Ministries $5,600 and Cole DePriest Scholarship Fund $5,600
3rd quarter - Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center $11,100
4th quarter - Shelby County Outreach Ministries’ Senior Nutrition Site/Meals on Wheels $11,100
Pictured above are (from left): Ruth Gonzales, Shelby County Deputy Chief; Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1; Anna Register, SCCAC Shelby County Coordinator; Marlene Hernandez, Family Advocate; Denise Merriman, SCCAC Executive Director; Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge; Tanner Peace; Shelby County Sheriff's Captain/SCCAC board President; Anabel Emmons, SCCAC board member; Jimmy Lout, Commissioner Precinct 2; Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4; and Stevie Smith, Commissioner Precinct 3.
April 4, 2022 - Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center (SCCAC) staff and board members were present at the recent Commissioners’ Court meeting held Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in preparation for Child Abuse Awareness Month.
A proclamation was presented to the commissioners and was approved through a motion in favor.
Denise Merriman, Shelby County Children's Advocacy Executive Director, introduced board members and staff members who accompanied her to court. They were: Marlene Hernandez, Family Advocate; Anabel Emmons, board member; Anna Register, Shelby County Coordinator; and Tanner Peace, board President.
“I have enjoyed every minute of being able to work with the Advocacy Center, it’s truly amazing what those ladies do there and how they’re able to help the kids of our community,” said Peace. “I do want to appreciate the support that we’ve had from the [Commissioners’] court on disbursing the [Child Safety] Fee.”
Peace went on to report in the last two weeks they have had 25 new child cases, and he stated how much every bit of support and monetary assistance they receive is beneficial to the children of Shelby County.
Judge Harbison described the proclamation to the commissioners once again stating that it indicates April 2022 is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
She reminded everyone in court the annual butterfly release will be on April 7, 2022, 4:30pm on the Center square at the Historic 1885 Courthouse.
Judge Harrison encouraged anyone with children to attend the event and participate in the butterfly release.
“That’s always a really fun event, a lot of the kids come and the butterflies get released, and it’s really pretty cool,” said Judge Harrison.
April 1, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and the Auxiliary honored Veterans of Somalia with a wreath laying at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Courthouse on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Post Quartermaster Larry Hume stated, "Americans consider themselves to be a compassionate people, and the United States military has a long tradition of humanitarian relief operations both within and outside the continental United States, but never has this humanitarian impulse proven more dangerous to follow than in 1992 when the United States intervened to arrest the famine in the midst of an ongoing civil war in the East African country of Somalia."
Hume continued, “Ultimately hundreds of thousands were saved, but unintended involvement in Somalian civil strife cost the lives of 30 American Soldiers, four Marines, and eight Air Force personnel during the years of 1992 to 1994. The American military has established the conditions for peace in the midst of a famine and civil war but unlike later in Bosnia, the factions were not exhausted in the fighting and were not yet willing to stop killing each other and anyone caught in the middle. There was no peace to keep and the United States withdrew all military combat troops in March of 1994.
“The American G.I. had as always done their best under difficult circumstances to perform a complex, and often confusing task, but the best military in the world can only lay the foundation for peace; they cannot create peace itself."
In honor of the Veterans who served in Somalia, Past Post Commander Mike Langford placed the the memorial wreath. Taps was then sounded as presented by VFW Post Commander Gene Hutto in honor of those lost in Somalia and those who served and survived, but have since passed.
April 1, 2022 - Center Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Friday, April 1st on the southwest side, inner section of the downtown square beginning from 8am through noon.
A wide variety of plants will be available, such as succulents, bromeliads, Kalanchoes, begonias, verbenas, stagleaf ferns, etc., as well many indigenous plants. All offered at VERY reasonable pricing.
Do come early while the plant selection is at its best; you are sure to find many of Nature’s delights that can be yours!
March 29, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary recognized National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, stated the Vietnam War Recognition Act was signed into law by 45th President Donald Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day.
"49 years ago March 29, 1973 the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam and Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war," said Hume. "Two years later April 30, 1975 the last few Americans in South Vietnam were airlifted out of Saigon and it fell into communist forces."
Hume continued, "The Vietnam War has a long history, starting in 1955, the war went on until the official ending date of 1975," said Hume.
2.7 million Americans served in the Vietnam War and five of those who were killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old, while the oldest killed was 62 years old. Eight women, who were nurses, died in Vietnam. One of them died by enemy fire and the other seven were either killed by plane or helicopter crash. 61% of those killed in Vietnam were younger than 21 years old and the average age of those killed was 23.1 years.
"In 2021, last year there were less than 850,000 Vietnam veterans alive of the 2.7 million who served, and the median age is 68." said Hume.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. has over 58,000 names of Americans who died in the Vietnam War. The state of Texas lost over 3,400 and only California and New York had more.
"Shelby County, Texas, as in wars previously and since answered the call to duty and paid the price losing 10 soldiers, one sailor, and another Marine who died in a training accident while preparing to deploy with his unit in Vietnam," said Hume.
In an effort to keep their memory alive, the names of Shelby County Vietnam Veterans who died in service to the United States of America, their names were read aloud by Auxiliary members Jan Ramsey, Theresa Hume, and Mary Fausett, Auxiliary President.
The names that were read are as follows:
- Adams, Ted W. - Private First Class - Born in Beaumont, Texas, July 31, 1944. Inducted into the US Army November 14, 1965. Killed in action November 15, 1966, age 22. Buried in the Tennessee Cemetery, Timpson, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 12 E, Line 76.
- Andrews, William L. "Shorty" - Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Shelby County, Texas, October 25, 1945. Inducted into the US Army in 1965. Killed in action February 16, 1967, age 21. Buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 15 E, Line 38.
- Barnett, Jimmy D. - Private First Class - Born in Joaquin, Texas, February 28, 1943. Inducted into the US Army May 1967. Killed in action March 26, 1968, age 25. Buried in the Jackson Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 46 E, Line 28.
- Buckley, Mac C. - Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas, July 11, 1945. Inducted into the US Army 1967. Killed in action July 5, 1968. Buried in the Westview Cemetery, Center, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 53 W, Line 16.
- Byford, Larry S. "Possum" - Private First Class - Born in Center, Texas, May 1, 1945. Inducted into the US Army October 1965. Killed in action June 23, 1967. Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 22 E, Line 52.
- Chatelain, Ray A. - Seaman First Class - Born in Louisiana May 6, 1946. Joined the US Navy October 1965. Killed in an explosion aboard the USS Forrestal. Buried in the Longstreet Cemetery, Longstreet, Louisiana. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 E, Line 50.
- Eaden, William H. - Sergeant - Born in Timpson, Texas, August 12, 1939. Joined the US Army December 13, 1961. Career soldier killed in action November 12, 1965. Buried in the Mount Gillion Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 3 E, Line 42.
- Hughes, Jerry L. - Sergeant - Born in Center, Texas, July 17, 1946. Inducted into the US Army May 1966. Killed in action July 12, 1967. Buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 23 E, Line 59.
- Johnson, Taylor D. "Sonny" - Major - Born in Joaquin, Texas, December 15, 1929. Joined the US Army 1953. Career soldier. Killed in action January 28, 1966. Buried in the Joaquin Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas. Awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 4 E, Line 103.
- Lightfoot, John B. - Corporal - Born in Shelby County, Texas, July 27, 1952. Joined the US Marine Corps June 14, 1971. Killed in a training accident in Louisiana while preparing to deploy to Vietnam. Buried in the McClelland Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas.
- Lynch, Samuel R. - Specialist Fourth Class - Born in Nacogdoches, Texas, May 26, 1949. Inducted into the US Army 1969. Killed in action December 12, 1970. Buried in the White Rock Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 6 W, Line 130.
- Patrick, Calvin R. - Private First Class - Born in Houston, Texas, November 23, 1950. Inducted into the US Army November 30, 1968. Killed in action May 25, 1969. Buried in the Wimberly Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas. Awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Vietnam Memorial Panel 24 W, Line 106.
Isaac Reeves, US Navy Vietnam Veteran, then placed the memorial wreath.
Hume offered for all present to remember any of the veterans mentioned and any other veterans they may know, and several spoke up.
In honor of two individuals missing in action, Hume was wearing a bracelet with the name of Capt. Carl Jackson who has been missing since June 27, 1965; and Theresa Hume was wearing a bracelet with the name of Col. Charles Levis who has been missing in action since April 2, 1972.
Mary Fausett was wearing a shirt, given to her by her cousin Jon Wallenius, who was in the First Cavalry Division and was in the Ia Drang Valley.
Taps was then played as presented by Gene Hutto, Post Commander.
Hume reminded everyone the next observance scheduled will be held on Thursday, March 31, at 9am, in recognition of those who served in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
March 29, 2022 - The Fannie Brown Booth Library is planning our annual spring book sale for April 28-30, 2022 (Thursday-Saturday). We are taking donations of books in good shape except encyclopedias and textbooks.
Pages
