Shelby County Today

May 17, 2018 - Officers at the Center Police Department celebrated National Police Week on Wednesday, May 16th thanks to the Center Police Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Center Police Department.

Chief Albers spoke to the officers, "We are here to honor National Police Week. To honor the guys before us who died in the line of service. To honor the guys who are still working and doing a good job everyday... We appreciate all of you and we are proud of the ladies auxiliary who does these things for us. Its very nice that they come in and provide us with cake and punch and a little something to make you feel good about what you do."

All the officers received a decorative block with their years of service and name on it, a balloon, and gift cards. The cake was donated by Wal-Mart. Sonic and Little Ceasar each gave gift certificates to all of the officers.

May 16, 2018 - Rodger G. McLane graduated from Mississippi College School of Law with his Doctor of Jurisprudence on Friday, May 11, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Downtown Jackson, Mississippi. 

While in law school, McLane clerked for Mindy McKay Morton Law and Baldridge Law Firm, both in Madison, Mississippi. As a third-year student, McLane served on the campus’ Law Student Bar Association as a 3L Senator-at-Large. McLane was also chairman of the campus Federalist Society, vice president of the campus American Civil Liberties Union, and 3L editor of The Legal Eye, the campus newspaper. While a 2L, McLane earned the American Jurisprudence Award for Best Paper in Entertainment Law. 

McLane graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, from Panola College with an Associates of Science in December 2010, and from Carthage High School in 2009. Before attending law school, McLane worked for The Panola Watchman for three years as a reporter and photographer and four years at KGAS Radio as a board operator and Saturday morning news host. 

McLane is the son of Rodger D. and Brenda LaGrone McLane, of Deadwood; brother of Brandi and Shane Kelley, of Carthage, and Lacie Fensom, of Deadwood; and uncle of Alyssa, Brenton, and Courtlyn Fensom, of Deadwood. McLane is the grandson of the late Ruby Warr, of Center; the late Jimmy and JoNell LaGrone, of Deadwood; and Wayburn McLane, of Wellman, Iowa.

May 15, 2018 - Minnie Jewel Richards Hawkins is a 1948 graduate of C. H. Daniels. Just think 70 years ago she was all smiles waiting to march across the stage and receive her diploma with hopes of starting on a higher education degree from Prairie View College in Prairie View, Texas, where she had been accepted. She finished in 1952 and became a teacher in the Houston area. Dr. Charles Tatum who was her classmate also went to Prairie View where he received several degrees and then returned there to teach geography for several years. He went on to receive his doctoral degree and has taught in other institutions and traveled worldwide. He and Minnie have been lifelong friends and talk regularly on the phone. They both have been supportive of the Daniels Alumni for many years. Minnie’s family lived across the street from the Daniels campus and owned much property near the school. She has submitted many memories about the school that occurred during her time there. The first and only School newspaper was printed while she was there, called The Danielette. It was interesting to read some of the articles written.

In August 1984, the Daniels High classes of 47-50 held their reunion at the San Augustine Inn. Minnie and several of her classmates, including my mother, Portia Kindle Garrett, were on the planning committee. Meetings were held in Houston and in Center. The reunion was well attended by ex-students and teachers. It was perhaps the beginning of the school reunions for Daniels alumni. During this time the classes presented a donation of $500 to Mr. James Campbell for the Shelby County College Center Fund (for a local branch of Panola Junior College in Center). Many of the alumni and their descendants have attended the college in the past years. We give accolades to Minnie Jewel for keeping the legacy alive for Daniels School.

May 12, 2018 - The 2nd Saturday in May is when Mail Carriers try to Stamp Out Hunger by collecting non-perishable donations in a bag by your mailbox. Saturday, May 12th is the day this year and the National Assocation of Letter Carriers (NALC) asks everyone to "Help us, Help Someone." The bags will be picked up and delivered to the local food bank. This is the 26th Annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive.