Shelby County Today

August 12, 2020 - OSHA generally recommends that employers encourage workers to wear medical masks or cloth face coverings at work to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. OSHA recently issued frequently asked questions (FAQ) guidance to address inaccurate claims that these masks and face coverings cause unsafe oxygen or harmful carbon dioxide levels for the wearer. Get the facts here.

August 12, 2020 - Shelby County Historian Walter Bounds shares a glimpse back to 1991 when the medical equipment in the closed Shelby General Hospital was shipped to Ukraine, Russia. The project was done by the Texas Baptist Men's organization who purchased the equipment, disassembled it, and shipped it to the Ukraine as a humanitarian act.

The 15 minutes of video gives a glimpse inside the now gone old hospital since it was torn down this month after the property was sold to Kelby McCall of Lufkin under KMJR Properties, LLC. The county accepted the offer from McCall during their May 20, 2020 meeting for $150,001 with the condition of the clearing of the property.

The building served the county after the hospital closed as a location for the county's probation department. However, the property had deteriorated over the years and had become uninhabitable without major renovations and the county chose to move probation to new locations.

Shelby County opened Shelby General Hospital on Hurst Street on October 1, 1959 – a modern one-story brick building with 39 beds. All local doctors serviced this hospital but primarily Dr. L. S. Oates and his son, Dr. Steve Oates. Within ten years the hospital was expanded but the voters were expressing displeasure about the debt. The hospital closed in the 1980s.

This video shows local men from First Baptist Church, Center, Texas who volunteered sweat equity to the project. The clip opens with Wayne Christian who is now a Texas Railroad Commissioner saying, "We're going to Russia with Love from Center, Texas."

August 6, 2020 - Center Police Department would like to say thank you to Mr. Thay Khourn (Mr. Lee) for his generous donation of water to the Police Department. Mr. Lee, who is the owner of Johnny’s Liquor, Superquick, Gooddays, and J & B Liquor has been a long time supporter of the PD and has donated on several occasions. The CPD is very appreciative of his support and sends out a big 'Thank You!'

August 4, 2020 - It's a dream came true for Heather Harbison as she celebrated a new location ribbon cutting for TCS Bistro, formerly The Century Shoppe. With a large group of family and friends and Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, TCS Bistro invites the community to come experience their new diverse menu of great food.

“All I can say about Heather (Harbison’s) new place is that if you have not eaten here yet, you are missing out,” said Ambassodor President Stephanie Elswick. “We certainly appreciate her new location, we appreciate all the work and effort that you have put into this new location as well as establishing your business.”

“This has been a dream. My parents had restaurant grocery store businesses from the time I was little,” expressed Harbison. “Its finally come together and I thank my family and all my friends for all the hard work they helped me put in. And I thank the community because without y’all I could not be here. It’s really been a dream come true and God has blessed my family very much and thank you all.”

TCS Bistro offers the same great food in a beautiful newly renovated building with a drive-thru window. Dine-in or order to go. Call ahead for pick up order at 936-598-4453. She also sells gourmet coffees and continues to sell Corksicles. The new location is at 315 Tenaha Street and hours are 9:00am until 7:00pm. Come and see what the new menu has to offer which now includes a breakfast menu.

Heather first took over The Century Shoppe in 2015 when she purchased the business from Selena Watson. One year later she moved The Century Shoppe (TCS) from Shelbyville Street to the Hurst Street location and now to Tenaha Street.