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Around Town

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#ProjectCemetery #LoveLikeVictor

July 25, 2017 (More Photos - Album1, Album2) - ProjectCemetery was a success and Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery was glowing with color from all of the flowers placed on graves by the volunteers who arrived to help.

The project started when Trent Sims went to visit Victor Lee's grave and place flowers on it. Sims realized the graves all represented someone like Victor's grave did and didn't understand why they didn't all have flowers.

After much giving from members of the community and local businesses, enough flowers were gathered to cover the cemetery with flowers for each grave and the date of July 22, 2017 was selected for ProjectCemetery to commence.

Volunteers arrived to help distribute the flowers and Sims' mother, Brandi Hodges, thanked everyone for giving to make the project happen as well as coming to help.

Prior to everyone placing the flowers, a balloon release was held in rememberance of Victor Lee. The balloons were released by kids there to help and friends of Victor. Many in the crowd wore their 'Love Like Victor' shirts.

According to Brandi Hodges, a proclamation is in the works for an annual "Love Like Victor Day" which will be signed by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison. Hodges said, "We do not have a date set at this time, but I will make an announcement once that information becomes available. The public is welcome to attend the signing ceremony. Susan Lafitte Watkins with the Light and Champion, proposed the idea and took the necessary steps to put the plan into action."

To keep up with Project Cemetery and Love Like Victor on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/Love-Like-Victor-1442303829172681/

July 21, 2017 - In 1979, Wayne Fults found an odd bottle marked “Jasper Bottling Works” in a gulley in Sabine County. Having grown up around Pineland, he was no stranger to old “coke bottles” in ditches, but this one was different. It was short, thick, and had some sort of wire aparatus in the opening. Fults assumed it had been the product of a bottle manufacturer in Jasper but he wanted to know more. Thus began a nearly 40 year fascination with antique soft drink bottles that Mr. Fults shared with the Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society at their July meeting last Wednesday.

Fults showed the strange bottle to his grandfather, who had been born in 1895, to see if he could shed any light on Wayne's find. His grandfather knew exactly what it was: an old “sody water” bottle. Wayne's grandfather said he had first seen “sody water” in Center when he was a boy. It was in just such a bottle that he and other family members were given one soda water each by a store operator. His grandfather twisted and pulled on the wire in the stopper but it would not come out. Finally his brother showed him that one opened the bottle by striking the wire with one's hand, forcing the stopper down into the bottle with a “pop”. His grandfather's soda was strawberry flavored and he, having never had a soft drink before, turned it up and tried to gulp it down. Fults says the soda foamed up in his grandfather's mouth, came out his nose, burning all the way, and got all over his fresh clothes. The experience was so unpleasant that he never drank another soft drink.

Naturally effervescent beverages like beer and some wines have existed for thousands of years, but the process by which this effervescence could be added artificially wasn't discovered until the 19th century. These “carbonated” soft drinks could only be found at the soda fountain of pharmacies, served from the spigot in a glass. Bottling soda water was another matter. It was easy to produce a bottle thick enough to withstand the pressure created by a carbonated drink, but it was not until 1894 that a patent was issued for the Hutchinson Patent Spring Stopper, the type first encountered by Wayne's grandfather, which used a wire device to hold the stopper inside, rather than outside, the bottle. The pressure inside the bottle pressed the rubber and steel stopper ever more tightly against the inside of the bottle's opening, creating an effective seal and making the bottling of carbonated soft drinks possible. Only by pushing the stopper back into the bottle could the bottle's contents be accessed. Soft drink bottlers began opening up all over, ordering their Hutchinson bottles from large glass factories in the North, but having their company's name molded into the side, as in Wayne's Jasper Bottling Works bottle.

Fults doesn't know when the first Timpson Bottling Works opened, but assumes it was around 1900. He thinks it is possible that there was more than one bottler given that some early bottles in his collection are marked Timpson Bottling Works, while other Hutchinson bottles of the same era are marked Timpson Bottling Company, with variations thereof.  Because the stopper of a Hutchinson bottle could not be removed, washing and sanitizing the bottle for re-filling was difficult. The invention of the familiar crimped metal crown cap in the early 20th century spelled the end of the Hutchinson  bottle but it allows bottle collectors to date a bottle's manufacture.

Fult's has a number of Timpson Hutchinson bottles as well as later crown-cap bottles in his collection. However, he has never seen a Timpson bottle from the 1920s, leading him to conclude that Timpson Bottling Works failed in the teens, possibly as early as 1913. This theory is supported by the fact that he has a newspaper article from 1928 announcing that a bottling plant was coming to Timpson. The bottles in Wayne's collection from the early 20th century are all of the “utilitarian” type, with no ornamentation. Those from the 1930's are in the “art deco” style, with greater attention to aesthetics and ornamentation in their design. Margie Holt brought one of that style to the meeting, which Mr. Fults revealed was from 1931 by decoding the numbers stamped on the bottle's bottom.

Mr. Fults brought an astonishing array of Timpson bottles for display at the meeting, including both Hutchinson and crown-cap types in different variations. Some were stamped Timpson Bottling Works, while others were stamped Timpson Bottling Company, or TBW. He also displayed three wooden soft drink cases marked Timpson Bottling Works, which he says would have been used for shipping new bottles as well as the collection of used bottles for return to the plant for re-filling. Unlike more familiar crown-cap bottle cases, these Hutchinson bottle cases have lids and were designed to have the bottle placed top down rather than up.  Another unusual item he displayed was a crown-cap Timpson Bottling Works bottle about 20% larger than the other bottles. He has never seen another like it and doubts that it was used for soft drinks, but possibly syrup or perhaps even beer. No one in attendance knew its purpose either.

Mr. Fults was accompanied to the meeting by Casey Roby, a fellow collector who is putting together a bottling museum in Silsbee. Casey said the displays are about 80% complete and he hopes to have it open soon. A number of other bottle collectors had seen the announcements of the subject and theis month's TAGHS meeting and came as guests as well. Wayne still seekes out bottles from East Texas and Western Louisiana and maintains a website featuring his collection at fults.org.

The Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 2PM in the meeting room of the Timpson Public Library, located on the Corner of Austin and Bremond Streets. The public is always invited.

July 20, 2017 ALAMOSA, Colo. - Ellerie Saucer, of Center, graduated from Adams State University, Alamosa, Colo., during the Spring 2017 Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, in Plachy Hall. Saucer received a Master of Art in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health.

Adams State awarded 447 graduate degrees, for the 2016/2017 academic year. Graduate degrees were awarded in art, counselor education, higher education administration and leadership (HEAL), human performance and physical education (HPPE), humanities: United States history, humanities: cultural resource management; Master of Business Administration, music education, and teacher education.

Dr. William Lipke, professor of music, performed a special selection of music and a slide show featuring the graduate students was included in the ceremony.

The University of Texas at Tyler Announces 2017 Spring Dean’s List

July 20, 2017 - Joshua Shofner Burns, a 2015 Center HS graduate, was listed on the Spring 2017 President's Honor Roll.

The University of Texas at Tyler has named 412 students, as well as 76 pharmacy students, to the Dean’s List for the 2017 spring semester, President Michael Tidwell announced.

In order to qualify for the university Dean’s List, a student must have completed 12 or more semester hours of undergraduate college-level credit in the awarding semester with a grade point average of at least 3.75. Students named to the President’s Honor Roll are not named to the Dean’s List. To be considered for such recognition in any semester, a student must qualify as a matriculated student pursuing a first bachelor’s degree. The Dean’s List is awarded in fall and spring semesters only.

To qualify for the Dean’s List in the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, a student must have completed nine hours during a session with a grade point average of at least 3.75. There were two eight-week sessions during spring 2017. Pharmacy students will take nine credit hours each session.

Click here for the full list.

The University of Texas at Tyler Announces Spring 2017 President’s Honor Roll

July 20, 2017 - Maggie Bush, a 2014 Timpson ISD graduate, was listed on the Spring 2017 President's Honor Roll.

The University of Texas at Tyler has named 570 students to the President’s Honor Roll for the 2017 spring semester, President Michael Tidwell announced.

In order to qualify for the President’s Honor Roll at The University of Texas at Tyler, a student must have completed, in one semester, 12 or more semester hours of undergraduate college-level credit with a grade of “A” in all courses. To be considered for such recognition in any semester, a student must qualify as a matriculated student pursuing a first bachelor’s degree. The President’s Honor Roll is awarded in fall and spring semesters only.

Click here for the full list.

From left (Back row): Coach Shea Williams, Rotary President Scott Stanfield, Head Coach Joey Williams, Coach Grant McDonald, Heather McDonald, (Front row) Rotary District 5910 District Governor Rhonda Herrington, and five team members.

July 20, 2017 - The Rotary Club of Center and the Center Lions Club each made a $500 donation to the Center 6U T-Ball Champions, who are the Dixie Youth Baseball South Region Division I Champions, for their World Series trip. The team left for Ruston, Louisiana on Thursday, July 20, 2017 to compete in the Dixie Youth Region III World Series 6U T-Ball tournament.

The team, led by head coach Joey Williams, is scheduled to face Idabel, AR on Friday, July 21st at 10:30pm in game 1 of the tournament, at 3pm in game 4 against Shreveport, American and then at 7:30pm in game 8 against Alexandria, National. On Saturday, July 22nd they will play at 10:30am against Texarkana East, AR in game 12 and at 3pm against St. Martin, Miss in game 15.

Bracket play will begin Sunday, July 23rd. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Championship Bracket, a single elimination bracket.

Tournament schedule and bracket

2017 King and Queen Jerry Lathan and wife, JoyceJuly 19, 2017 - The C.H. Daniels High School Reunion was held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 30, July 1, 2, 2017 in Center, TX at the Windham Civic Center. The Friday event was a meet and greet gathering at the Hampton Inn meeting room where games and conversations were held. Refreshments were served to everyone’s delight and pictures were taken. Saturday morning parade was a hit for the few brave walkers and several riders in the balloon decorated cars along the route from MLK/Shelbyville Hwy to Perry Sampson Park. A video of this parade and the balloon release in memory of Mr. Perry Sampson was taken and is available upon request from attendees and others.  Mr. Sampson was the principal of the high school when it closed. More conversation, music and food were waiting for the classmates at the Hampton Inn but many rested or assisted with the decorations at the Civic Center.

There was almost one hundred in attendance at the banquet on Saturday night. A procession of the Committee, the 2015 king and queen followed by the Golden Classes 2016 and 2017 (1966 and 1967 graduates) opened the program.  The opening prayer was given by Rev. Arthur Cloudy who is a 1967 graduate. There was a lovely display representing the Class of 1967 set up by classmate and committee member Juanita Williams McClelland.   Accolades as always go to Sandra Hinson Latham for her decorating skills to emphasize the black and gold in keeping the legacy alive for C. H. Daniels High. A great photo corner was provided for individual and group pictures.  This year the golden classes received medallions and certificates as a token of their anniversary.

C.H. Daniels Reunion Committee Members

The 1966 Basketball State District Champs and representatives received medallions for their achievement of 50 year anniversary. This team was recognized in 2016 in San Antonio at the State Basketball Tournament and the committee felt it necessary to do the same in the hometown.  The new king and queen were presented and crowned: Jerry Lathan and his wife, Joyce. They received the crowns from the 2015 king and queen, Mr. Michael Mitchell and Mrs. Edwina Mitchell (both teachers during the 60s).  

A speaker, Mr. Hughie Allen, a former Daniels student in the 50’s and a new method of remembering the fallen Bobcats were added to the reunion program.  There were many new faces in attendance which was very much appreciated since this reunion is for all classes from Daniels High and their descendants and friends in an effort to keep the legacy alive with scholarships for upcoming high school students.

The “Dear Daniels High” school song closed the program followed with a closing prayer. 

Class of 1966

The colorful souvenir booklet was a big hit again. Thanks to those who purchased ads and to Michelle for the printing. The reunion committee of six: Joyce Johnson, Sandra Latham, Joan Garrett, Shirley Hewitt, Juanita Williams-McClelland, and Imogean Williams continue to extend invitations to others to join to continue this effort to Keep the Legacy Alive. Thanks goes out to others who made it successful.

Melissa Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, gathered with family and friends for a meal at a local restaurant following her swearing in Monday, July 17, 2017.

July 17, 2017 - Melissa Crouch was sworn in as the Justice of the Peace for Shelby County Precinct 1 on Monday, July 17, 2017. Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison administered the oath of office to Crouch.

Melissa Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1Shelby County Commissioners recently appointed Crouch temporary Justice of the Peace of Precinct 1 until the public can elect a permanent Justice of the Peace. The appointment was set to take effect July 17.

The swearing in ceremony took place at the Shelby County Courthouse, where it was well attended by family, friends and additional county officials.

July 14, 2017 - Today, traveling down Mansfield Road going into Shreveport, I was blessed to see the sky full of hot air balloons and wanted to share. They were so pretty and filled the sky over Shreveport.

I later found out it was the Red River Balloon Rally U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship being held in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana July 14-15, 2017 on the LSUS campus. I personally loved all of the colorful balloons but my favorite was the WWJD balloon. It just was a beautiful sight and I thought others might enjoy it too.

July 12, 2017 - The transfer of the gavel was done June 27, 2017 at the Rotary Club meeting when Club President Jason Balkcom swore in Scott Stanfield as the new President.

Balkcom said, "Scott Stanfield, you have been selected by the members of this Rotary Club to guide its affairs during this coming year. You have been entrusted with an important responsibility that will help shape the club's future."

"Incoming President Stanfield, you have been elected to the office of President of the Rotary Club of Center by its members. It is an expression of their confidence in your leadership," continued Balkcom.

Stanfied responded, "I, Scott Stanfield, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Rotary Club of Center, and that I will to the best of my ability give support and assistance to the District Governor and to Rotary International and that I will uphold the constitution and bylaws of this club."

Balkcom then bestowed the gavel to Stanfield as a symbol of the transfer of the administration of the club. Thank you for serving.

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