Click any story headline to open the article and share it using social media: Facebook, Twitter.
PG-13 Movie Over at 9:15pm
Coming Soon:
Unsung Hero
Gift Certificates Available!
Closed Wednesdays, Thursdays
Box office opens at 7:00pm. Showtime at 7:30pm.
Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for children.
Senior Citizen's Night
Mondays - $6 Admission
Around Town
August 24, 2016 - The water on San Augustine Rural WSC no longer requires boiling.
On August 15, 2016, we issued a Boil Water Notice due to a breakage in a line on FM 2213, which included the entire Roberts Community, and all customers South of City Lake. This also included all customers on 96 South and County Roads south of Bob Evans Equipment located on Hwy 96 in San Augustine, Texas. This was issed for safety precautions. We have corrected the problem and tested the water. The tests were good, therefore, the Boil Water Notice is lifted.
Our system has taken the necessary actions to be sure of adequate pressure, disinfectant levels, and/or bacteriological quality and has provided TCEQ with testing results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling as of August 23, 2016.
The water no longer requires boiling as August 23, 2016.
If you have questions, contact Charles Sharp 936-288-0489.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
If a customer wishes to reach TCEQ, they may call 512-239-4691.
August 23, 2016 - Joaquin, Texas World War II Veteran, Mr. A. J. Procell has been selected by the Honor Flight Austin to be a part of a trip to the World War II Memorial in Washington D. C. This is a special Victory over Japan (VJ Day) event that will take place September 2nd, 2016.
Mr. Procell served in the US Navy and was aboard the USS North Carolina in Tokyo Bay when the formal surrender by the Japanese Empire took place on September 2, 1945. He lived and witnessed history that most of us have just read about.
VJ Honor Flight Austin #35 will leave Austin Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday, September 1st at 12:45 pm and arrive in Washington D. C. at 4:55 pm where the group of WW II Veterans will be taken to their hotel, have dinner and spend the night. The next morning, September 2nd starts at 7:30 am with breakfast and arrival at the Arlington National Cemetery at 9:00 am for a tour and witnessing the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. The WW II Memorial VJ Ceremony begins at 11:00 am with lunch to follow. The group will then visit the Vietnam, Korean War, Navy, Iwo Jima and Air Force Memorials. After a full day their flight back leaves at 5:45 pm and arrives in Austin at 8:05 pm.
The mission statement of Honor Flight is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. Their goal is to help every single veteran in America, willing and able of getting on a plane or a bus, visit THEIR memorial. There is no cost to the veteran other than getting to and from the airport. More information about this wonderful organization can be found at http://www.honorflightaustin.org/
Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 is proud to sponsor Mr. Procell and will provide his transportation to and from Austin.
August 23, 2016 - The "Center Garden Club" presents Lois Chandler from Center with "Yard of the Month" for August 2016. She loves her gardens and has planted many Lantanas. These perennials grow vigorously most of the year. The butterflies, bees, & hummingbirds feed from her flowering garden. Perennials and Texas have a long history together. Center Garden Club thanks you Lois for planting the Perfect Perennial Garden!
Submitted by Jackie Hancock
August 22, 2016 - Send in your child's first day 'Back-to-School' photo for the 2016-2017 school year to be posted on the Shelby County Today announcement page! Email a photo with the text you would like posted with it. Email it to info@shelbycountytoday.com
August 20, 2016 - A 100th birthday celebration was held for Mrs. Oma Lee Kyles on August 15, 2016 at Pine Grove Nursing Home. Family and friends gathered to honor and celebrate Mrs Kyles' special day.
Jerry Lathan, City of Center Councilman, was the master of ceremonies and the son-in-law of Mrs. Kyles, "We are glad you came in and I hope you stay here with us a little while, we won't be here that long but we just want to appreciate this lady that her made a hundred years. That means she knows more about that past than any of us. We thank God for everything that we do and the days that we are here."
Reverend Robert Gibson, Pastor of Mt. Zion CME Church, gave the prayer giving thanks until the Lord for Mrs. Kyles and every one of her 100 years. Following the prayer, Ruby Faye Wilson sang 'Someone To Care;' Beverly Griffin sang 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord', and DeNita Kyles Jones sang 'When I See Jesus, Amen'
Mrs. Kyles was also honored by a letter from the President of the United States, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
We are pleased to join your family and friends in wishing you a happy 100th birthday. As you celebrate this extraordinary milestone, we hope you take a moment to reflect as the many memories you have made over the past century. Your generation has shown the courage to persevere through depression and war, and the vision to broaden our liberties through changing times. We are grateful for your contributions to the United States of America, and we wish you all the best for the coming year.
The City of Center also honored Mrs. Kyles with a proclamation declaring August 15, 2016 to be Oma Lee Kyles Day. Councilman Lathan read the proclamation signed by Mayor David Chadwick to all attending.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison spoke, "I'm so honored to be here to wish you a happy, young, 100th birthday. May we all strive to be as elegant and has as much dignity and be as blessed as you are."
Molly Clark spoke about Mrs. Kyles and her relationship to Ossie Cartwright who was one of men to assist Bob Parker, the County Clerk in 1866, to move the County Records from Shelbyville to Center in the middle of the night. Cartwright had 13 children and Mrs. Kyles is one of only two still living grandchildren of Cartwright.
A poem written in her honor: A century is 100 years and Oma Lee lived each one. She could tell many things she has seen and has done. She survived a fire and was kicked by a horse. But with strength and endurance has run this long course. There was pain to endure and ruts to stay in. With much to be done she knew she must win. All 100 years we celebrate with love. Your family and friends wish you blessing from above. Stay tough and keep smiling so others can see how rewarding your life will continue to be. Written by LaVerne Ross.
Following everyone's well wishes, all sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed delicious slice of her 100th Birthday cake.
Special appreciation was given to the staff of Pine Grove Nursing Home and Heart 2 Heart Hospice for the wonderful work that they do.
August 19, 2016 - A New Member Ribbon Cutting was held for Affinity Hospice on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at their office located at 1400 Tenaha Street, Suite C, in Center. Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, community members, family and friends gathered to celebrate the new location.
Jackie Authement, Manager of Affinity Hospice, expressed what a privilege and honor it is to be a part of this community and then spoke about Affinity Hospice, "Our focus is trying to help people to live life to the fullest until the very end and to get the maximum out of life. And for us it is just more than taking care of people, it's a ministry."
Authement joked about choosing who would have the opportunity to talk and continued, "The fact of the matter is this. I look and I see all these little children and I see adults and parents but it just breaks my heart that we are pushing God out of everything that we do. He is pushed of schools, He's getting pushed out of the work place, but I'm gonna tell you, you can't push God out of the death and dying process. You can't. And so I'm privileged to be able to say, its an honor for us when we are working with patients, we aren't just working with the patients." He finished saying, "You take care of the physical needs, the emotional needs, the social needs, but the spiritual needs is probably the most critical. And it's not just the patient, we work with the family. So, you work with families through the whole process."
Meg Camp, Chamber of Commerce Ambassador President, said,"We want to thank you. We want to thank you for coming to Shelby County and for investing into our community."
Affinity Hospice provides a team of professionals and volunteers that work with the family during an illness and provides a special way of caring for patients facing end of life decisions.
August 19, 2016 - Would like to say a big “Thank You” to the Shelby County Cookers, Tyson Foods and the community for their donations to assist Asia Garrett. Asia’s surgery went very well and is now able to assume normal daily functions.
Thanks
August 19, 2016 - A capacity crowd of Timpson Area Genealogical and Heritage Society members and guests were held spellbound for an hour last Wednesday as Timpson resident Hans Polk recounted the story of his Holocaust survival. Born into a Jewish family in Amsterdam in 1937, Hans Polk was three years old when the Nazis invaded The Netherlands in 1940. Soon thereafter the persecution of Dutch Jews started, beginning with a requirement that all Jews wear a Star of David on their clothing, followed by prohibitions against attending public events, shopping at non-Jewish stores, and employment in certain occupations. Polk's father, David, was fired from his job in the Mayor of Amsterdam's office for being Jewish. By 1943 the Polks knew what was coming and made a secret arrangement with a non-Jewish family next door to hide the Polk's only child, Hans, from the Nazi's when they came to arrest them. On June 20, 1943 Hans' parents handed their six-year-old son across the fence to the care of their neighbors just prior to their arrest. He never saw his parents again.
Hans lived with the neighbors for a while, but since they were risking their lives by hiding him, they sent him to an orphanage run by Jews dressed as priests and nuns. Hans was eventually adopted out of the orphanage by a Dutch family but after the war ended he was sent to a facility for Jewish boys. From there he was sent to Israel in 1948, where at age 11, he fought in the war to establish the Jewish nation. Polk said that he disliked Israel and returned to The Netherlands when he could. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 where he became a citizen, married an American Catholic, and raised a family, eventually converting to Catholicism himself. Following the death of his first wife, Polk married a woman who had ties to the Timpson area, which brought them here.
Hans Polk now knows his parents' fate. Following their arrest, they were sent to the Sobibor Prison Camp in Poland where his research of Nazi documents reveals they were executed soon after their arrival. Polk said that Sobibor had no cremation ovens as some other camps had, so the bodies of those executed there were burned in the open air. “The Germans kept perfect records” he said as he shared copies of those containing his parents' names with the TAGHS audience.
Polk asked attendees to close their eyes and imagine their homes and families, what they had done that morning, and all that they hold dear and familiar. “I am here to tell you that you can lose it all,” he warned. “No one knew the depth of Hitler's hatred for the Jews when he came to power.” Polk continued that genocide did not end with the Nazis and World War II. It continues up to the present day in the Middle East and Africa. Unless we are vigilant, it could happen here he cautioned.
TAGHS meets at 2PM on the third Wednesday of each month in the Meeting Room of the Timpson Public Library, located on the corner of Austin and Bremond streets. The public is invited.
August 18, 2016 - (Album) - The Tenaha Business Men's Club held their monthly meeting August 18, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Tenaha where the guest speaker for the day was Bradley Allen, Precinct 4 Commissioner.
Claudine Howard, Club President, thanked everyone at the meeting for being there to celebrate George Bowers 80th birthday.
"I know he's been a friend to everybody in this room and he's always been kind of special to me, so when I get to be his age I expect everybody to be here for mine," said Howard.
Howard said she has known Bowers for a long time and she read some biography information on him. He was born in 1928 in Flat Fork with a father named Jesse and mother Mary Etta. Bowers graduated in 1946 and he was married to Laura Petty in 1948 and they were together for 61 years before her passing in 2009. They had children Theresa and Naylor.
Bowers was a founder of the Business Men's Club in 1952 and was the initial director of Citizens State Bank from 1960 to present. He was mayor of Tenaha for an estimated 54 years.
"He's not only been a business man, an elected official, but he's been a friend to most everybody in this town and especially in this room, or you would not be here today I'm sure," said Howard.
Bowers thanked Howard and said in jest he had about a 2-hour speech planned, but the meeting was running late.
"I just want to thank all of you for coming out today, if you did come to help me celebrate. 88 years Terry, reckon you'll make it? Golden years, that's what we celebrate now, the golden years and we enjoy it. You know what the golden are preacher? The first half of the time you spend trying to remember somebody's name, the other half of the time you're trying to find a restroom. That's what you've got to look forward to," said Bowers.
Several people attending the meeting stood and shared thoughts and memories of Bowers.
During the meeting Linda Perry, Club Secretary, read the minutes from the July 14 meeting aloud.
Howard asked John Whitworth to give an update of the Back to School Bash being held in Tenaha and he deferred to Austin Barna to inform the meeting.
"The Back to School Bash is going to be on August 20 from 10am to noon, that's where we'll be handing out school supplies," said Barna.
He said donations have been received from multiple businesses including Scull Timber, First National Bank Tenaha, and Whistle Stop by the time of the meeting.
"I think right now we're at about $600 that we've received. I know the Tenaha Youth Center with Jimmy Bowlin, he's received some checks and things like that and other donations," said Barna.
He stated they're going to use the donated funds to buy as many school supplies as possible and hand them out to as many people and students as possible. He stated the Tenaha City Marshal's office would have a car at the event and Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department would also have a truck at the event for kids to view. The Tenaha Cheerleaders and Tigers Dolls are tentatively scheduled to be there. Grilled chicken and snow cones are also planned to be served.
Howard offered for the club to approve a donation to the Back to School Bash and a motion carried to approve a $200 donation.
John Whitworth informed everyone of a new ministry taking place at First Baptist Church Tenaha at 5:30pm every Wednesday night the church will have "Homework Haven" to provide tutoring for students who may need help with their studies.
Scott Tyner, Tenaha ISD Superintendent, gave a report on upcoming school activities. Regarding the Back to School Bash he stated the demographics are so diverse at the school, many can't afford a lot of the supplies that are needed and it's a great help. He thanked the Businessmen's Club for their contribution.
Tyner stated fundamental literacy is a very strong focus in the elementary school with such a diverse ethnic group as attends the school. With many barriers that may face different groups, literacy is a challenge that can take time, so they are starting early. Mathematics; however, is a more universal language and can be easier. An accelerated reading program has been started which Tyner says is built in such a way it makes students want to read.
Big initiatives at the high school level include vocational expansion. Tyner stated tuition free dual credit has always been offered for liberal arts courses and vocational courses and the budget has been expanded for this year with 21 students expected in dual credit classes. Fourteen additional students are expected in vocational, welding and things of that nature. The school has also started a new medical coding program.
"For the tax payer, good news, we're the only school district in the county that has lower taxes this year," said Tyner.
He said the school board helped a lot last year and has helped in refinancing the bonds from the building project of 2008 - 2009.
Our tax rate's at $1.16 and change, which is almost a two cent decrease from the last one," said Tyner.
Tyner stated football is moving forward and they would be scrimmaging with New Diana on August 18. He said the band is at about 87 kids now.
This is a legislative year and Tyner said there will be a lot of meeting in Austin, "I read the Lieutenant Governor's interim charges for the House Committee on Education. Just a lot of things about funding formulas. As we know the school finance lawsuit was won by the plaintiffs and then overthrown by the Supreme Court. What he's looking at is trying to base things solely on efficiency and performance, which is going to open up a lot of other questions for them and get property values out of the mix on funding."
Bradley Allen, Precinct 4 Commissioner, shared information on recent projects which were completed and upcoming projects. He spoke of an area where three bridges have just been finished in conjunction with the state in his precinct.
"When I first took office, I think we had 44 bridges and I think we're down to about 34 now. We try to culvert everything that we can culvert when we take a bridge out," said Allen.
Allen told the club members the fiscal year for the county begins on October 1 and getting toward the end of the year money runs short.
"I've got two precincts, I don't have any more mileage than any other commissioner, but I do have two precincts since I've got two towns. That's because we've got two constables, Precinct 4 which is Tenaha and Precinct 5 which is Timpson," said Allen.
He stated they try and keep the maintainers in his area on either end of his precinct so they are readily available. Allen stated their job is one that is never ending. According to Allen, there are over 205 miles of road to be maintained in his precinct.
"We've got a lot of projects, in fact we're working on one right now, we're going to pave this old Tenaha Highway and we're down there now on the far end of it trying to get everything ready for oil," said Allen.
According to Allen, the Old Tenaha Road is about eight miles and during the time Rick Campbell was the county judge, Allen sought a grant from the state to work on the road.
"That's come through and the state's gonna help us out with that, so we're planning on oiling that road, or I don't know if we're going to use oil or cold mix," said Allen
He explained whatever they put on the road they currently are shaping it, crowning it, cutting ditches and installing new culverts.
Allen said there are three bridges being replaced in his precinct including Flat Fork, West Creek and a third one. He said the state is very helpful and he thinks the roads are a lot better than they've been in a while. Allen said this is his third term and he has about two years remaining on the current one. He said he was proud of the support he received from Tenaha this last election.
August 18, 2016 - The Center Rotary Club presented a $2,000 check to the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library on Tuesday, August 16, 2016. The donated funds were proceeds from the What-A-Melon Festival 5K which was held Saturday, July 9th. The chairperson for the 5K was Rotary club member Scott Stanfield.
The club meets at noon on Tuesdays for a luncheon meeting at the John D. Windham Civic Center. However, for their last meeting they were guests of the library enjoying their luncheon in the Redditt Room. Kathy Sawyer, the newest member of the library team, presented a program on the library and the services they offer which have helped to maintain the library's involvement in the community.
Since 2011, funding for the library has changed drastically as government funding was cut which the facility relied on for day to day operating expenses. The Friends of the Library was started to help offset the deficit left by the cut backs.
Sawyer said, "This library is pretty amazing actually. The city is very supportive of us, we certainly could not function without the support we get through the city. But other than that we are strictly funded through our donations and grants."
Describing some of the changes in the funding, Sawyer described some of the new plans the library has, "We are going to be asking our community to donate to the library based on sponsorship. Sponsor the library card, the actual cards, they are very expensive. Just little things like that individuals, businesses can actually sponsor." The library plans to roll out the new sponsorship program in October.
Additional future plans for the library include building partnerships with other area libraries or media centers. The library is already a part of the Piney Woods Digital Consortium which gives library users a large selection of online eBooks and audio books.
For more information about the Fannie Brown Booth Library, visit it online at http://www.centerlibrary.org/
Pages
