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Around Town
Jeff "CryptoHulk" Stewart emceeing the 2015 Pet Show
July 6, 2017 - Come out and sign your favorite pet up for the What-A-Melon Festival pet show which starts at 6pm Friday, July 7 under the big tent on the downtown Center Square. Pet sign-up starts at 5:30pm.
Celebrity emcee for the pet show is Tenaha resident Jeff "CryptoHulk" Stewart, a wildlife expert and Cryptozoologist. An encounter when he was 15-years-old with something in the woods led Stewart to cryptozoology, which he describes as the study of undiscovered and undocumented animals. He goes out looking for animal species that have yet to be scientifically proven.
Appearances include Monsters and Mysteries in America, Survivorman Bigfoot and Finding Bigfoot while Jeff also has been featured on over 100 podcasts and is a regular guest on Moore Outdoors with Chester Moore on KLVI AM radio in Beaumont Tx. Jeff spends most days in the river bottoms of Eastern Texas investigating the strange weird tales which come from every corner of East Texas.
Pets of all kinds are welcome. Dress them up in watermelon attire to help them win the hearts of the judges. No large farm animals please. Pet owners are responsible for controlling and cleaning up after their pets.
July 7, 2017 - Album - This has been a good year for watermelons in Shelby County with sixteen of the twenty-six watermelon entries weighing over 100 pounds according to Mayor David Chadwick who was the official weigh-in judge!
In 2015 none of the watermelon entries tipped the 100 pound mark and in 2016 only four of the entries exceeded the triple digits. Both of those years Doug Cogswell of Joaquin took home the big prize money. However, the Johnson Family took back bragging rights and the cash winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Olivia Johnson who held the 1st place title for five years in a row, 2009-2013, regained the 1st place slot.
Royce Johnson, a relative of the top three growers, said in 20 years of participating in What-A-Melon he hasn't seen this many big melons at one time. Mother nature has been good this year with the right amount of rain as too much rain was the culprit in 2015 causing only low weights and half the entries. This year it even rained during the weigh-in.
The Rotary Club of Center presented over $5,000 in prize money. Emcee for the watermelon weigh-in was Jason Balkcom, past-president of the club and festival chairperson. He announced the results throughout the event and the prize money was presented to the winning growers by Texas Watermelon Queen Chloe Brown.
A special thank you goes to 936 Crossfit for coming out to help with moving the large number of heavy entries.
Shelby Savings Bank, City of Center, and Focused Care of Center are Platinum Sponsors for the festival. Deep East TX Electric Coop, East Texas Poultry Supply, and Farmers State Bank are Gold Sponsors for the festival.
Watermelon Weigh-in Results
1st place and $2,500 - (melon #27) Olivia Johnson, 142.50 lbs
2nd place and $600 - (melon #30) Jenny Johnson, 136.00 lbs
3rd place and $500 - (melon #33) Louise Johnson, 135.25 lbs
4th place - (melon #7) Rex Rains, 127.00 lbs
5th place - (melon #28) Renee Johnson, 125.25 lbs
6th place - (melon #34) Faith Kruebbe, 121.00 lbs
7th place - (melon #29) Shelby Johnson, 120.25 lbs
8th place - (melon #31) Catch Bragg, 119.75 lbs
9th place - (melon #32) Dylan Jones, 118.50 lbs
10th place - (melon #26) Cherish Bragg, 114.00 lbs
11th place - (melon #3) Dylan Lout, 111.00 lbs
11th place - (melon #35) Hope Kruebbe, 111.00 lbs
12th place - (melon #2) Ali Brooke Lout, 107.50 lbs
13th place - (melon #24) Doug Cogwell, 106.00 lbs
14th place - (melon #8) Sophia Rains, 105.00 lbs
14th place - (melon #19) Will Lucas, 105.00 lbs
15th place - (melon #4) Shad Lout, 96.00 lbs
15th place - (melon #11) Jaleigh Johnson, 96.00 lbs
16th place - (melon #14) Whitney Johnson, 93.25 lbs
17th place - (melon #10) Tate Johnson, 93.00 lbs
18th place - (melon #9) Hali Simpson, 87.00 lbs
19th place - (melon #1) Casey Lout, 84.00 lbs
20th place - (melon #23) Lexie Bliss Terrell, 81.00 lbs
21st place - (melon #6) Colby Lout, 79.25 lbs
22nd place - (melon #5) Eli Lout, 79.00 lbs
23rd place - (melon #25) Amber Terrell, 77.00 lbs
Past years 1st place melons
2016 - Weighed 112.00 lbs, Doug Cogswell of Joaquin (Cogswell Wins Largest Watermelon Competition at 2016 WAM Festival)
2015 - Weighed 96.00 lbs, Doug Cogswell of Joaquin (Cogswell Wins Largest Watermelon Contest; Melon Weights Low Due to Rain)
2014 - Weighed 144.00 lbs, Jimmy Matthews of Joaquin
2013 - Weighed 163.25 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2012 - Weighed 168.75 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2011 - Weighed 146.5 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2010 - Weighed 147.00 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2009 - Weighed 153.25 lbs, Olivia Johnson of Center
2008 - Weighed 151.75 lbs, Darrell Matthews of Joaquin
July 6, 2017 - The Shelbyville Lions Club will be selling funnel cakes and sweet tea along with raffle tickets for our upcoming drawing in October.
This is the 2nd year the Shelbyville Lions Club will participate in the Watermelon Festival. Proceeds go toward our scholarship fund, emergency assistance fund for families in need, supporting local children attending Lions Camp for the disabled, numerous Lions Club International projects and a long term goal of establishing a permanent facility for the SLC and Shelbyville Community.
Raffle items include a Traeger Pellet Smoker, Portacool, Core 15 AR, Rossi 410, Henry Golden Boy, Savage 110 with scope, Marlin 336 with scope and a Century Arms 9mm Canik. The drawing will take place on October 21, 2017 during our Happening at Shelbyville Hill Fest.
Thank your for supporting the Shelbyville Lions Club!
July 6, 2017 - It's What-A-Melon Festival time on the downtown square! Come bring the kids out and enjoy the rides along with festival activities including the festival's signature event, Largest Watermelon, which has 26 entries this year! Weighing of the melons starts at 6pm following opening ceremonies which is at 5pm.
Arm bands are available all three nights of the festival. Bands are $20 per night and are good Thursday night from 5:30pm until 10pm; Friday night from 5:30pm until 10:30pm and Saturday night from 5:30pm until 10:30pm.
Special thanks to Shelby Savings Bank, City of Center, and Focused Care of Center who are Platinum Sponsors for the festival and to Deep East TX Electric Coop, East Texas Poultry Supply, and Farmers State Bank who are Gold Sponsors for the festival. Don't forget to buy a festival t-shirt (article link) for a souvenir you can enjoy for years!
Entry buttons are $5 per person and are good for all 3 days of admission. Free admission for children ages 5 and under.
Thursday, July 6th
5:00pm - Opening Ceremony (related article)
6:00pm - Largest Watermelon Weigh-In which has 26 entries!!!
7:00pm - Entertainment – Gospel Night
7-8:00pm - Strong Triump Church
8-9:00pm - Prince of Peace
9-10:00pm - The Thompson Brothers
10:00pm - Festival Closes
Friday, July 7th
5:00pm - Rides & Vendors Open
5:30pm - Pet Show – Sign Up
6:00pm - Pet Show
7-8:00pm - Drew Miller
10:30pm - Festival Closes
Saturday, July 8th
7:00am - Kid’s Fun Run *
7:30am - 5K Watermelon Crawl * (article link)
10:00am - What-A-Melon Queen Pageant (article link)
3:00pm - Rides & Vendors Open
4:00pm - Seed Spitting & Speed Eating Contests
5:00pm - Entertainment Under the Big Tent
5-6:30pm - Jeremy Bowley and Legal Limit
6:45-8pm - Kelly Amburn and the Texas Thunder Band
8:15-10pm - Zack Mason and the Jars
10:30pm - Festival Closes
* Events to be hosted at the Windham Civic Center. 146 Express Blvd. Center, Texas 75935
Related articles:
- What-A-Melon Festival T-Shirts are Ready!
- 2017 Texas Watermelon Queen Coming to Festival
- Watermelon Growers Invited to Enter Largest What-A-Melon Contest
- Early Entry Deadline June 10th for What-A-Melon Festival Pageant
- What-A-Melon 5K to Benefit Children’s Advocacy Center, New Race Course (Form Added)
- Rotary Club Reveals Winner of 2017 What-A-Melon Logo Contest
July 4, 2017 - Shelby County Criminal defense lawyers Deck Jones and Jeff Adams stood upon the Historic 1885 Courthouse June 30, 2017 to celebrate the significance of Independence Day as a part of a statewide effort by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
Lynda K. Russell was scheduled to participate; however, she was unable to attend due to another engagement.
Jones explained for the audience attending the event, 241 years ago there was a committee appointed by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence, it was a five person committee, and out of that committee they appointed Thomas Jefferson to write the first instrument. After about three weeks, he came forward with that instrument to which the committee made some changes, and made a final draft which they presented to Congress the end of June 1776.
Additional changes were added and it was once again presented to Congress on July 3, 1776. Between that time and July 4, 1776 the members of the Continental Congress signed the document and started publishing it on July 5. In honor of that, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association had representatives read the Declaration of Independence in 254 counties across Texas.
July 3, 2017 - Toledo Finance celebrated their 50th Anniversary with the help of the community, customers, family and friends stopping in to congratulate them on their 50 years. As part of the celebration and as a thank you to everyone who stopped in, door prizes were given away including a patio set with lots of accessories.
Leslie Jordan, District Supervisor, said, "Thank you to everybody who came out to help us celebrate our 50th year in business. It was humbling to see the turn out of not only customers but neighbors in the business community who just stopped in to congratulate us. We want everyone to know we are here to help when they need us."
Jordan continued to talk about the company and how they work to help people establish their credit without getting them stuck in a high-cost loan such as payday loans which can be a very costly way to borrow. They come due sometimes within a 2-week period and if paying in full, the loan may not seem to be too bad; however, extending the loan can carry big fees and high interest. When you make a payment here it doesn't just go to interest, it goes towards your balance.
Toledo Finance has fixed interest rates and a fixed repayment period. The loan application is easy and can require much less documentation than a bank would require explained Jordan.
They offer small loans such as credit starter loans, signature loans, and secured loan for up to $1,340. Small loans are the answer for those unexpected emergencies or utility bills, special trips or purchases such as Back-to-School clothes and supplies, or the much wanted or needed small home improvement project.
According to toledocorp.net, Toledo Finance was started in 1967 when Pat Buddin opened Toledo's first office on December 1st with a goal to be the best in every community served. Being the best creates a great working environment with opportunity for advancement for its employees who deliver the best small loan experience for the customers. Toledo Finance now has 70 office locations across the state of Texas and every office lives the motto: “Our Community, Our Customers, Our Pleasure.”
July 3, 2017 - The 2017 What-A-Melon Festival t-shirts have arrived and are available for purchase at Shelby Savings Bank main branch, Farmers State Bank main branch and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. All shirts are $15 each.
The What-A-Melon Festival starts Thursday, July 6th with opening ceremonies at 5pm and the Largest Watermelon contest weighing in at 6pm. The festival runs through Saturday, July 8th.
Jason Balkcom, President of the Rotary Club of Center, revealed the winner of the 2017 What-A-Melon Festival logo contest to be Kayarra Emerson, an 11th grader at Center High School, at the club's May 16th meeting. It's her design which incorporated the festival theme with the Rotary wheel in the middle that is on all the festival t-shirts!
Related article: Rotary Club Reveals Winner of 2017 What-A-Melon Logo Contest
July 3, 2017 - Independence Day is a beautiful holiday. Spend time with friends and family, barbecue, fireworks, and the biggest thing to me personally is the display of patriotism!
American flags flying all over the place is one of the most beautiful sights! With that in mind, I just wanted to share a quick tip on displaying the flags. I've seen it quite a few times over the past month with new flags going up and that is the direction of which the Texas Flag is flying. It is a very common mistake. Just remember one of these two tips!
- First, the white of the flag always faces the sky and the red (blood) is to the ground!
- Second, if the star is not pointing straight up, then it's upside down!
Y'all have a very fun and safe holiday and remember, Freedom isn't free. The ultimate sacrifice has been made by many for us to celebrate this along with all other holidays!
Jason Samford
VFW Post 8904
Jr Vice Commander
July 3, 2017 - The 2017 Pleasant Grove Cemetery Homecoming on Saturday, July 1, was a fun-filled day! We visited with friends and family, stuffed ourselves full of good food, and sang our hearts out inside Pleasant Grove MBC (Thanks, Josh Crawford!). We look forward to the 2018 celebration and sincerely hope that many, many people will join us to celebrate the living and to honor those who have gone on before us.
Pleasant Grove Cemetery is located at 1440 County Road 1470.
June 30, 2017 - The Texas Junior High Rodeo Association held its annual state competition recently in Gonzales, Texas. Contestants from all ten regions of Texas competed against the best in the state in various categories. In order to qualify for state, a contestant must finish in the top ten standings for the year in their Region. Lieza Klein of Shelbyville represented Region V of TJHRA in barrel racing, pole bending, and in the TJHRA Princess contest.
Lieza did an outstanding job at state. In pole-bending, she made the short-go, which is the equivalent of going to the finals, and finished 13th out of over 100 contestants in that event. In the Princess contest, Lieza finished as first runner-up in a very close competition in which she won the speech presentation and also won first in the horsemanship category.
Lieza returns home as the reigning Region 5 TJHRA Princess.
Congratulations on a strong positive representation at TJHRA State and best of luck in the upcoming rodeo season.