Shelby County Today

From left: (seated) Ellen Manning, Judge Allison Harbison, Bobbie Nut, (standing) Peaches Conway, Beaula Webster, Jennifer Fountain, Shawna Walker, and Debbra Johnson

October 1, 2018 - A Proclamation was signed October 1, 2018 by County Judge Allison Harbison declaring October 7, 2018 to be Texas Extension Education Association Week. The signing was witnessed by Texas Extension AgriLife Club members.

October 1, 2018 - The 42nd East Texas Poultry Festival Doo Dah Parade, sponsored by Center Tire Company, was held Wednesday on the Historic Downtown Center Square. Spectators enjoyed the Queen’s Court candidate floats, civic organization and business entries. Junior Chamber of Commerce students led the parade. Gold Sponsors for the Doo Dah Parade are Ihlo Sales and Imports and Professional Title Services.

According to parade chairman, Marco Palleras, trophy winners include: First Place – Windham Family Dental; Second Place – Lawn Chair Brigade; Third Place – Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The Queen’s Court parade winners are Sweepstake Award – Abi Hooper; Presidential Award – Kalei LaRock; Mayor’s Award – Jocelyn Berry and Honorable Mention – Macayla Mayo.

The festival will begin with opening ceremonies presented by Farmers State Bank at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 4.

September 28, 2018 - The 42nd Annual East Texas Poultry Festival Queen’s Scholarship Pageant, platinum sponsor High Roller Wells, LLC, will be held Saturday, September 29, 2018 and last year's Queen Macey Jo Hanson will crown the Miss East Texas Poultry Festival Queen 2018 in the Center High School Cafetorium. The coronation ceremony will begin at 6pm. General admission is $5.

Since the end of August, ten queen candidates have been enjoying various events including a welcome party, a social dinner, dancing with the court, a masquerade ball, Doo-Dah Parade, and a mother/daughter brunch. The young ladies have learned social etiquette, interview practice, and a multitude of skill sets which will prepare them for future experiences.

2018 Queen Candidates

​Princess McKenzie Murry is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mick Murry. She is escorted by Colt Leach who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Leach. Miss McKenzie is sponsored by Raymond Motors.

Princess Jasmine Cooks is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert King and Mr. Johnny Cooks. She is escorted by Kurtrick James Allen who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Allen. Miss Jasmine is sponsored by Mettauer Law Firm.

Princess Mallory Fausett is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Fausett. She is escorted by Dayton Bush who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bush. Miss Mallory is sponsored by Hometown Tackle and Marine.

Princess Rachel Powell is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Powell. She is escorted by Levi Harville who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Harville. Miss Rachel is sponsored by Advantage Forestry, Inc.

Princess Jocelyn Berry is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Berry. She is escorted by Jayden Hicks who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hicks. Miss Jocelyn is sponsored by Hicks Mortuary.

Princess Keelan Williams is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Williams. She is escorted by Keaton Watlington who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Watlington. Miss Keelan is sponsored by Hot Headz Hair Studio and Noble Children's Services.

Princess Kalei LaRock is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Daniel LaRock. She is escorted by Kutter Milford who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Shaun Milford. Miss Kalei is sponsored by LaRock Consulting.

Princess Makayla Mayo is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Warr, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mayo. She is escorted by Bobby Walker who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Walker. Miss Makayla is sponsored by Wiggins Farm.

Princess Caroline Scull is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Scull. She is escorted by Logan Holloway who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Holloway. Miss Caroline is sponsored by Bounds Insurance.

Princess Abigail Hooper is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Hooper. She is escorted by Brayden Strong who is the son of Mr. Michael Strong and Ms. Krista Warr. Miss Abigail is sponsored by River Gen Poultry Farm.

Children of the Court 2018

Ella Eaves, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Eaves
Andrew Pinkston, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pinkston

Faith Snider, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hayden Snider
Blake Collard, son of Dr. and Mrs. Randy Collard

Landree Jousan, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Jousan
Weston Wulf, son of Mr. and Mrs. Deuce Wulf

September 27, 2018 - Bill O’Neal gave a history of Texas in World War I to the Shelby County Museum on October 18, 2018. He first gave the group a parameter on world war. There had not been a war in nearly a century since the Napoleonic War which lasted into the early 1800s. This spilled over to the United States for War of 1812. World War I started in 1914 in Europe. The fighting lasted more than 4 years. When the United States got into the war in April of 1917, the war was 2 ½ years old at that time and the United States was only in the war for 1 ½ years. The U.S. had a small army at that time but was able to send over 2 million men to the war.

O’Neal then stated “Let me mention Texas’ role in the war. We had an odd thing happen to us. Texas has a very strong military history. It goes back to the Texas Revolution and the war with Mexico. Men were ready to fight. Every county in Texas was asked to provide a company, mostly cavalry, to the cause against Mexico. Shelby County which was under populated in part due to the Regulator-Moderator War came up with 2 companies for the war effort. The people who were Regulator types, remember this war was fought from 1840-1844 and the Spanish American War started in 1846 formed their own company and so did the other group of men, the Moderators. Texas had a strong military tradition. World War I was a warm-up to the World War II.”

Texas had 5,000 die in WWI and one lady.

Switching to World War II, the most decorated hero of WWII was Audie Murphy, a Texan. Thirty-six medal of honor winners of WWII were from Texas. Texans enlisted or were drafted in excess of the percentage of the nation's population. Although the state had 5 percent of the United States population, it provided 7 percent of those who served in the armed forces. By the end of the war 750,000 Texans, including 12,000 women, served in the armed forces.

“Let me tell you about a lead up to WWI; no one else had this. Texas was having a great deal of border trouble with Mexican banditos in early 1910 or so along the Rio Grande. One huge raid took place on the King Ranch. The Germans were encouraging this as they wanted the U.S. to stay out of the war. Poncho Villa lead a raid in 1916 on Columbia, New Mexico robbing a bank, killing and burning the town. U.S. troops were already stationed at Ft. Bliss. And boy did the U.S. respond. General John J. Pershing was assigned to put an army together to invade Mexico and catch Poncho Villa. Ultimately, we had 36 thousand men who went to Mexico. It was a 10-month operation which was nearly a year, 1916-1917. It was at this time we entered WWI in Europe. This is where we learned to do things on a big scale.” explained O'Neal.

When WWI rolled around in the spring of 1917, General Pershing was the only living officer who had ever held a large command. He was a natural selection to be in charge of the American Expeditionary Force. This included the 36th division which is going to cover itself with glory during WWI and WWII. The 36th division was a Texas National Guard division that got federalized for WWI and for WWII. These were Texas boys.

Texas in WWI had 4 big encampments for training the soldiers. They were Fort Bliss, Camp Bowie, Camp Travis, and Camp Logan. During WWI twenty million people died plus the ones from the world-wide flu epidemic of 1918.

Mr. O’Neal shared stories of various men who served during WWI. He gave his history students extra credits for these interviews. The students could also interview home front people who helped with the war effort. This is oral history that would have been lost forever if Mr. O’Neal had not realized so many of the veterans of WWI were dying. 

There is a video of Mr. O’Neal’s program on Texas in WWI at the Shelby County Museum if anyone would like to hear the full program. Come by and see the full program.