Shelby County Today

From left: Ashleigh Earwood, Crystal McCauley, Alice Pate, Ann Hale, Starla Hall, Kristin Berry, Keith McKnight and Donald Hale

December 20, 2017 - Alice Pate was presented an appreciation plaque by Child Protective Services which said, “We would like to thank Mrs. Alice Pate in recognition of her years and dedication and commitment to the children of Shelby County.” Presenting the plaque to Pate was Investigator Keith McKnight.

Pate has been a volunteer with the Shelby County Community Partners Rainbow Room for many years. The rainbow room is a valuable resource for Child Protective Services by helping to provide necessities and more for children who are victims of abuse and neglect when they are removed from a home.

She has been a voice for child abuse prevention by helping to draw awareness during the month of April with the Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign and helping with the Blue Ribbon Tree ceremony also held annually to recognize the number of child abuse victims in Shelby County.

Pate announced her retirement recently and Child Protective Services wishes her the best during this new chapter of her life.

Judge Rafferty draws the winning ticket with Officer Steve Thornburgh

December 19, 2017 - On Monday, December 18th winners were drawn at the court house with the help of Judge Leanne Rafferty and Center Police Department Officer Steve Thornburgh. Congratulations to our IPAD winner, Avery Faulkner, and to our Mossberg 410 Gun winner, Mark Hopkins. Another to big thank you to everyone that purchased raffle tickets for the gun drawing and everyone that brought in a toy for the IPAD drawing.

Monday the 18th was also the last day to turn in applications for Blue Santa. We will now start sorting through toys and lists to make sure we have all we need. No more applications will be accepted but you can still donate toys if you want to help out.

After hearing that she won the IPAD drawing, Avery Faulkner, a 13-year-old student of Shelbyville ISD said, “She felt in her heart that someone else could use the IPAD more than her.” She said she wanted to donate it to the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center.

To accept the donation of the IPAD for the SCCAC was Executive Director Denise Merriman. Merriman states, “There are children that go there for counseling and interviews, and sometimes they have to wait, or they may be too nervous to talk to someone. Having the IPAD there for them to play on may make their time there a little less stressful.“

Merriman wants to thank Avery for her kind heart and says, “That not many 13-year-olds would give up such a nice prize.”

December 19, 2017 - Colette Metcalf sent in the following poem Jack Mack, years ago, would play on KDET at Christmastime. The tape recording of the peom he played was recited by Abe Snake.

The poem and additional Jack Mack's writings can be read at the library or the Shelby County Museum in the book, "Hey, Jack Mack!"

Was the night before Christmas and I'd just started to snore
When this piney-wood rooter come slidin' through the door
Grandma and Grandpa was dippin' their snuff,
And the reason I was in bed, I'd done had enough (snuff).
Then out across the road I heard such a clatter,
I run out on the porch to see what was the matter.
I was standing' there wondering what was makin' all them sounds,
When here come Robert Risigner after a pack of foxhounds.
He was screamin' and hollerin', tryin' to get 'em to stop,
And I heard Grandpa say "A fox what eats slop?"
About this time from out in the rear,
I heard somethin' sounded like a truck strippin' gears.
I jumped off the porch, ran around to the back,
And here come Jack Mack with that hog in a sack.
He run up the steps and fell through the door
'Cause he'd slipped where Grandpa had spit on the floor.
About this time, the hog split the sack,
And Risinger's foxhounds hit me right in the back.
I was scramblin' around tryin' to get my eyes to focus,
And here comes Robert and runs over bo'fus.
He jumped up and run, and I heard him holler:
"If they catch that rooter, I'll sell 'em all for a dollar!"

December 15, 2017 - The Center High School JCC students collected toys at the Christmas on Roughrider Drive Festival on December 14. The toys will be donated to the Center Police Department to help with their Blue Santa Program.

Pictured from left to right: JCC members: Taylor Nichols, Ana Guerrero, Brisieda Sanchez, and Alexis Fields