Around Town

December 11, 2017 - The Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center would like to thank Wright Chrysler Jeep Dodge and everyone who donated to "Stock a Ram for Santa".
Thank you for giving to the children in our community. Your thoughtfulness makes the Christmas season more joyful for us all!

December 11, 2017 (Photos coming soon!) - With 23 to 27 degree temperatures, Antonio Chavez was the first to cross the finish line at the Ugly Sweater 5K on Saturday, December 9th hosted by CHS Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) with a time of 17:22.32 and an average speed of 10.7 mph.
The winner of the Ugly Sweater contest was Benjamin Prostell.
Money raised will help HOSA purchase supplies and travel to state and national conferences.
Race Results by age division:
8th grade and under
1st place - Alan Valadez
2nd place - Jose Valadez
High School & under
1st place - Antonio Chavez
2nd place - Jesus Gonzalez
3rd place - Fabian Morales
Ages 20-29
1st place - Vanessa Goings
2nd place - Jenny Nichols
Ages 30-39
1st place - Benjamin Prostell
2nd place - Charles Goings
3rd place - Sally Ross
Ages 40-49
1st place - Holly Burns
Ages 50-59
1st place - Robin Conway
2nd place - Donna Bowden
3rd place - Becky Harkness
December 8, 2017 (Application Form) - "Santa Rides a Motorcycle" will make its 37th and final run in memory of Ed Roberts who operated "Santa Rides a Motorcycle" here in Shelby County, to supply children with toys for Christmas.

Toy donations are needed to help make Santa Rides a Motorcycle's final run a success. A toy drop off day on the downtown Center Square is Saturday, December 9th from 11am until 5pm. The family said, "We want to make this the best last Santa Rides a Motorcycle."
The process is simple. Members of the community or the families themselves turn in requests for children. Each child’s information, name and age, is filled out on a request sheet and then the toys, which have all been donated, are bagged for the family. Once bags are ready to go, volunteer from each area collect the bags and deliver them to the parents – hopefully without the children seeing!
Roberts said in a 2009 interview with Shelby County Today, “It’s not about me but about these kids that get these toys! It is a fun thing and something I want to do the rest of my life.”
Roberts passed away May 7 of this year at the age of 74. He finished out his life doing what he loved - helping families to have a better Christmas!
For more information or any questions, contact Heather at 936-488-2278.
December 8, 2017 - My wife, Bonnye Sholmire, passed away on Thanksgiving, November 23, 2017, after battling cancer for a long time. She and I both grew up with very little and it became her passion to provide as many Christmas gifts for needy kids as possible wherever we lived. Her final wish was no flowers, just give to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots or any local group providing gifts for needy kids.
The outpouring of support for Bonnye’s final wish has been overwhelming and I want to thank everyone who has given something for kids this Christmas season. Bonnye would be proud and very happy to know about the many kids you have given so generously to in her memory.
Many, many thanks and Merry Christmas to each and every one,
Bob Sholmire

December 7, 2017 - (Album1, Album2) - The Miss Merry Christmas and Mister Happy Holiday's pageant had a "Magical Disney Christmas" on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Center Middle School. The following contestants won the hearts of the judges:

Grand Supreme: (0-23 month) Aryn McAdams, (2-5 years) Cherrich Choice, and (6-16 years) Morgan Thomasee
Baby Miss Merry Christmas (0-11 months) - Daisy Smith
Tiny Miss Merry Christmas - Scarlett Miller
Toddler Miss Merry Christmas - Emma Moore
Little Miss Merry Christmas - Camille Whiteside
Petite Miss Merry Christmas - Maria Flores
Preteen Miss Merry Christmas - Baylee Whiteside
Teen Miss Merry Christmas - Mahayia Ratcliff
Miss Merry Christmas Peoples Choice - Remi Ward


December 7, 2017 - Shelby County 4-H Textile’s project is happy to announce their partnership with VFW post 8904 and Texas Extension Education Association (TEEA) XYZ Homemaker’s Club in the Quilts of Valor program. The Quilts of Valor program is a national non-profit organization that was formed in 2003 to recognize and honor local servicemen and women touched by conflict or war. As of July, over 161,000 quilts have been presented across the U.S. The quilts presented are a token of appreciation that says, “thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor.”
According to Sherry Riley, Director of the Shelby County Veteran’s Office, there are over 400 veterans on active file in our area.
4-H Textile project members, made up of youth ages 9 to 18, are pleased to participate in this special recognition and community service project by designing, sewing, and quilting an award that can be used by a veteran as either a lap or bed quilt. These lifetime awards will be stitched by the 4-H’ers with love, prayers and healing thoughts and will also let these recipients know that the local community is thankful for their service and sacrifice.


December 6, 2017 - The winner of the big green egg raffled by Joaquin Masonic lodge is Javey Jamison, pictured standing behind his new big green egg grill. Pictured from left to right are members of Joaquin Masonic Lodge presenting him with his prize: Randy Bonner, Clifford Hamilton, Vance Jordan, Jay Wilson, and Bobby Wilburn.
Our raffles support our ability to award several scholarships each year to graduating seniors at Joaquin High School. We greatly appreciate the community's support that allows us to continue making this investment in our youth.
December 5, 2017 - Center Police Department would like to announce the winner of our Christmas Wreath. Congratulations to Janet Adams of Center.
J.J. Ford came by the PD on Monday December 4th, and was asked for her assistance in drawing the name. Ms. Adams was excited to get the phone call about the beautiful Christmas Wreath. CPDLA would like to thank everyone for the purchase of their tickets and their support of our Local Law Enforcement.

December 5, 2017 - The Shelby County Community Partners Rainbow Room will be closing effective on December 29, 2017, following an extensive search to find an individual or organization to continue the project. Current board members will step down after many years of volunteer service to Child Protective Services.
All remaining items in the Rainbow Room will be donated to the Children's Services Board in San Augustine and will continue to be used for children in Shelby and San Augustine Counties. All funds remaining after Christmas will be donated to the Child Advocacy Center and will continue to be used for abused and neglected children in the two counties.
The Community Partners volunteers have expressed their deep appreciation to the community for their overwhelming concern and support for children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
December 5, 2017 - Ace Hardware of East Texas would like to congratulate the following winners of our open house door prizes:
Bobby Barrerez, Timmy Belrose, Emilee Elliott, Paula Lout, Jesse Johnson, Terry Cummings, Terri Elliott, Joyce Wolf, Anita Smith, and Victor Mosby
We wish everyone a Happy Holidays and thank you for shopping with us !










