Shelby County Today

August 8, 2017 - Center FFA Officers cut the ribbon for the Center ISD New Ag Science Building before those attending toured the 10,500 square foot building which houses specialized classrooms for agribusiness, animal science, floral design, power, structure, and technical systems, and a meeting room.

FFA Chaplain Makayla Mayo lead the invocation at the ribbon cutting for the Center ISD new Ag Science Building 1 before Center FFA Chapter President, Kaden LaRock spoke, "On behalf of the Center FFA officer team, I would like to thank all the people that came to support us and all the people that made this happen for us. And we can promise you that great things will be happening in this building."

Superintendent James Hockenberry spoke about how this event came to be, "It was approximately 6 to 7 years ago that we were discussing the future of our CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs and where the student interests truly laid. And at that time we conducted a student survey and overwhelmingly the students wanted to see an expansion of the Agriculture Science programs." He went on to say one of the first programs to emerge from the survey was the vet-tech program which had to be housed inside the Center High School main campus in the old homemaking room and how the armora of program made it evident that animals were in the building.

Hockenberry, "I do want to talk about the moment the decision was made to start construction here... You know the board president and superintendent relationship is unique. You spend a lot of time with each other and Mr. (James) Greer and I over the last several years had many conversations, almost daily, and they revolved around school, agriculture, and Texas A&M. And if it wasn't those three topics, I'm not sure if we were really talking about anything. But his heart was for kids. His heart was for agriculture and he loved this school. And this building is the intersection of agriculture and the school and he wanted to see it happen. So, it was April of 2016, and we had a couple of students recite the FFA Creed at a board meeting and we also had a couple of concepts for buildings, this one and the tennis courts that were being presented that night. And it was his efforts and his will to push the concepts, not only from a drawing, but to what you see here today." Hockenberry then asked for a few moments of silence to remember Mr. James Greer and the impact that he had and his legacy that he will leave as we walk through the hallways of this building today. "We're going to miss him."

"Never the less, this is a happy day. This is for the students today, tomorrow and well into the future. This building has allowed for Center ISD to expand their offerings, to have those specialized classrooms we so desperately needed to meet the future needs of our students and the programs. No longer will we have dogs and other animals walking the halls of the main campus, they will be out here," said Dr. Hockenberry smilingly before inviting everyone to tour the building.

Makayla Mayo (Chaplain), Mallory Fausett (Historian), Jaylee Sims (Sentinel), Kalei LaRock (Reporter), Maddie Russell (Treasurer), Madison Kirby (Vice President), and Kaden LaRock (President). Not pictured: Carsen Vickers (Secretary)

FFA Officers inside their main meeting room.

August 8, 2017 - The Center Athletic Booster Club is holding a raffle with a 2017 Polaris Ranger "Camo" Crew 900 as the prize. 

Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 and may be purchased at the Athletic Office located at Center High School or from any Booster Club member.

The drawing will take place at the final 2017 Varsity Football game versus Kilgore on November 3rd.

The Polaris is currently located at The Shelby Savings Bank on Selma Street for viewing.

August 2, 2017 - A large group of supporters gathered at the Shelby County Courthouse Wednesday, August 2, 2017 in recognition of the “Love Like Victor Day” proclamation.

The group joined Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison on the third floor of the courthouse in the 273rd Judicial District Courtroom.

The proclamation read as follows:
Whereas, the people of Shelby County have adopted the slogan “Love Like Victor” in memory of the late Victor James Lee who died in a tragic school bus accident May 2017, and
Whereas, Trent Sims, age 12, of Shelbyville - a devoted friend of Victor Lee, asked the people of Shelby County to donate flowers and help him place flowers at the Oaklawn Cemetery where Victor Lee is buried at with a desire to show love like Victor, and
Whereas, his desire to place flowers on all the graves that did not have flowers, and
Whereas, now going one step further to make an annual “Love Like Victor” Day - to distribute flowers at Oaklawn Cemetery and/or the cemetery of your choice for the purpose of an annual day to remember Victor James Lee.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Judge Allison Harbison, do hereby proclaim May 15 of each year forward, “Love Like Victor” Day.

I encourage all local communities to take this time to remember the tragic death of Victor James Lee and the adopted slogan “Love Like Victor” by placing floral offerings at Oaklawn Cemetery and/or the cemetery of your choice.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of August 2017.

Allison Harbison
Shelby County Judge

The parents of Victor Lee, James and Janice Lee of Shelbyville, and Trent Sims were each given a signed copy of the proclamation. Brandi Hodges, the mother of Sims, expressed the next cemetery they plan to cover in flowers is Shelbyville Cemetery which has 460 graves according to the Shelby County Historical Society and Museum’s website. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/cem_pics/cem_shvilleH.htm

July 31, 2017 - Nine Shelby County firefighters recently completed a week of training at the 88th Annual Texas Municipal Fire/ Rescue Training School, held at Brayton Fire Field in College Station, Texas. Brayton Fire Field is the largest fire/ rescue training facility in the world.

Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department Firefighters Levi Manali, Vincent Raybon, and David Pierce, along with Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter Austin Barna, completed Firefighting Phase II. Phase II covers a wide range of subjects, from forcible entry to interior structural firefighting. Students also received instruction in fire behavior and the use of ladders on the fireground. They also took part in three live burn classes, designed to simulate conditions inside an actual structure fire.

Joaquin VFD Firefighter Michael Bates completed Firefighting Phase III, which covers subjects like positive pressure ventilation, water supplies, and live burns of petroleum fire projects.

Joaquin Assistant Chief/ Fire Marshall Jeremy Boyett and Assistant Fire Marshall Justin Boyett completed Fireground Tactics, which covers subjects ranging from reading smoke to the Incident Command System. Joaquin VFD Secretary/ Treasurer Rusty Wilson served as a first year instructor on the Firefighting Phase I, SCBA project, which teaches students the importance of using their self contained breathing apparatus, as well as search and rescue tactics. It also provides instruction on the proper care and maintenance of SCBA.

Joaquin VFD Training Officer Stephen Ewing served as a fifth year instructor on Firefighting Phase II, Structural Burn Complex, which uses live fire scenarios to instruct students in interior structural firefighting techniques.

The Annual Municipal School attracts students from across the state of Texas. This year's attendance totaled just over 1,600 students, and used almost 500 guest instructors.