Shelby County Today

March 6, 2020 - The Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center (SCCAC) would like to thank everyone who helped make this year's Princess Ball a success!

It was a wonderful evening, made possible only through the generous support of businesses and individuals in our community.

We would like to thank this year's sponsors and donors: Dazzle Me Pink & Blue, Boom Boom Photo Booth, Brookshire Brothers, Center High School Culinary Arts Department, Cornerstone Construction, Farmers State Bank, Few Ready Mix, GCS Cakes by Cindy Metteauer, Hughes Florist, Lawrence Davis Photography, New Mexico Credit, Nix Forest Industries Inc., Paul and Debra Smith, Quickstop Stores, Red River Credit, Rusty Wilson Photography, Shelby Savings Bank, Snell Photography, Texan Credit, Texas Glacier Ice, The Coral Cactus, Timpson Career and Technology, and Trails End Grocery & RV.

We would also like to thank our tireless volunteers who worked hard to make everything look beautiful for our guests of honor. We appreciate you all so much!

March 3, 2020 - Focused Care of Center hosted a chili cook-off on February 28, 2020, and it was a tight competition between the participants.

As the chili was being judged and sampled, bowls were handed out to residents for them to enjoy.

After the judges tabulated their results Tina Hutto, Activity Director, announced the winners. They are as follows: 1st Place - Johnnie Perry; 2nd Place - Pattie Harkness; and Third Place - Cassandra McDaniel.

Guest judges included Bobby McCauley, Joey Hudnall and Marcus Hafford.

Holding the check (from left) are TVAS representatives Annette Alva, Secretary, and Tracy Lee, Administrator, and they are surrounded by members of the 50 Women of Impact who were present at the awards meeting.

February 28, 2020 Update - The total collected by 50 Women of Impact for the Timpson Ambulance Service was $10,300 which brings the total amount of monies the group has donated to $98,900!

February 20, 2020 - During their first meeting and award night of 2020 the 50 Women of Impact raised their total donated monies to nearly $100,000 when they voted to give the money collected in the first quarter of the year to the Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service. A check for $9,000 plus was presented to the ambulance service and was accepted by Tracy Lee, Administrator, and Annette Alva, Secretary.

Lee presented the program describing the organization to the group of ladies. The Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service (TVAS) is a non-profit and was started in 1977. It is the only free standing 100% volunteer EMS organization left operating in the state of Texas. It is not funded by any outside entities, such as cities, counties, or hospitals. TVAS operates solely on donations and monies collected from insurance on patients that they carry to the hospitals.

According to their application, TVAS is presently working on obtaining another ambulance to replace a 2004 ambulance that has 126,000 miles on it and to replace the tin siding on the ambulance building due to deterioration. TVAS houses its one ambulance and operates out of the same building which is 31 years old.

Even though the TVAS is a volunteer organization it has the same capabilities and obligations to its patients as any paid ambulance service. This includes the ability to serve patients with medical help and state required paperwork. TVAS also sponsors the Timpson Community EMS Training Program. This is a licensed school to teach EMRs and EMTs. This turns out state certified staff to go out and serve the surrounding cities and counties in Texas.

At the beginning of the meeting, a founding member of the 50 Women of Impact welcomed new members letting them know how the program works. Due to a smaller crowd she encouraged new members saying, "(We are) for busy women who want to make a difference in their community but have so many obligations that sometimes this meeting works with their schedule and sometimes it does not. So, we have members who will be here and then the next time we meet they will email their vote in because they have something else they need to do. We are glad you are all here and we are excited about what this year is. And if you've seen the things we've sent out, y'all, I am just blown away that this year we are going to hit 100,000 dollars! That is just crazy!" She finished by explaining the 50 Women of Impact stepped out on faith two years ago and boom - it worked.

The 50 Women of Impact group organized and held their first meeting in November of 2017 with the hopes of getting 50 women to give $100 each quarter for a combined contribution to an elected organization. The first meeting surpassed the 50 women with 94 inaugural members. The group has continued to grow and meet once a quarter to donate funds. Past recipients are the Shelby County Welfare Board; AgriLife Extension, Shelby Family Consumer Science program; Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library; Boo's Battle Cancer Fund; Shelby County Outreach Ministries; Jon, Macy and Misty Bush Foundation; HOPE Community Medical to establish a Fund to Help with Medical Needs for Working People; Timpson Food for Thought Pantry; and Community Christian Services of Joaquin.

Including the $9,000 from this meeting, the total money donated by the 50 Women of Impact is $97,600 with more coming in!!!

February 27, 2020 - Gene Hutto, VFW 8904 Post Commander, presented Center High School teacher Nicholas Wheeler with his First Place framed certificate and check for $100. Wheeler was selected as the post Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020.

Gene Hutto, VFW 8904 Post Commander, presents Teacher of the Year awards
to Nicholas Wheeler (left)

Wheeler is a graduate of Panola College and Stephen F. Austin State University.  For the past five years, he has taught Business and Finance at Center high School. His role encompasses leading and developing future business leaders in America. Wheeler is married and has three children.