Shelby County Today

May 19, 2016 - After 12 weeks of setting weight loss goals, learning to prepare and eat healthy and tasty meals, participating in daily fitness activities, supporting each other through ups and downs and many, many “five-highs,” the 63 biggest losers of weight in Extension’s Step Up, Scale Down program were recognized, and the top three winners of weight loss were announced on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the Piney Woods Outreach Center.  All total, the group lost an astounding 414 pounds.  

The first place winner with 18.1% weight loss was Ja’Mense Bryant.  She was awarded a check of $700 and seven aerobic/yoga/kick-boxing lessons at I Fit on the Square along with gift certificates from Light and Champion, Oceano Spa and T/R’s Steaks and More.  The second place winner with 12.8% weight loss was Debbra Johnson.  She was awarded a check of $400 and a gift certificate to T/R’s Steaks and More.  The third place winner was Marlene Hernandez with a 9.6% weight loss.  She was awarded a check of $200 and a gift certificate from T/R’s Steaks and More.

As part of our fitness plan this year, teams were formed to “Walk Across Texas.”  These teams and solo walkers competed with each other to see who could walk the most miles over eight weeks.   Their goal was to walk at least 830 miles (the distance from Longview to El Paso) during this time period.  
At the conclusion of the 8 week program, the teams and individuals walked a total of 12,072 miles with The Shelby County Steppers team walking 3,255 miles and placing first in the team category.  This team is comprised of Cynthia Howard, team captain, Ann Grant, DeShun Gregory, Sheila Reeves, Debbra Johnson, Sherri Felder, Jennifer Gillaspie, and Tara Baylor.  

We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the following sponsors who supported this program and made it possible:  Nacogdoches Medical Center, Cline Family Medicine, Monco Motors, Piney Woods Outreach Center, Oceano Spa, T/R’s Steaks and More, and Light and Champion.

“Overall, this was a great way to lose some weight and learn how to make positive lifestyle changes,” said Jheri-Lynn McSwain, County Extension Agent.  McSwain added, “I’m so proud of all the participants in this year’s class.  They worked very hard to meet their weight loss goals and to become more physically active – and the results show.”  If you have questions about these wellness programs, please contact Jheri-Lynn McSwain, County Extension Agent – Family & Consumer Sciences at 598-7744 or jlmcswain@ag.tamu.edu.

May 19, 2016 - Shelby County AgriLife Agent Lane Dunn is a busy man. He has to be to “wear as many hats” as he does: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Horticulture, Community Economic Development, and 4H Youth Development. Any one of these could be a full-time job and he is responsible for all of them. He gave specific examples of the many AgriLife programs and activities in Shelby County to Timpson Area Genealogy and Heritage Society members and guests at their May meeting last Wednesday.

A graduate of SFA with a Master of Science degree and a former Center High School Ag teacher, Lane Dunn has been Shelby County AgriLife Agent for thirteen years. He may have left public school teaching behind but his love of working with young people remains. His face lights up as he talks about 4H and its benefits to young people. “4H helps create future leaders” he says. “You trick them into it. Give them something fun that they want to do and then make them tell others about their project when they are finished”. He cited a recent 4H taxidermy project as an example. “The kids loved doing it and they were so proud of their projects when they finished them!”, he says. He explained that many of the 4H'ers had never spoken in fron of a group before and found it difficult at first but their enthusiasm for their project got them through it.

January through March is an especially busy time for Lane. He spends over half his time travelling around the county helping young people prepare for upcoming agricultural shows. He helps with hoof trimming and and showmanship classes. In February there were 4H project meetings, Shooting Sports meetings, the San Antonio and Houston Livestock shows and a Forestry Pest Seminar which he co-hosted. In March there was the Shelby County Livestock Show. Dunn is quick to point out that Shelby County kids did very well at these shows, including his daughter, who won Breed Champion at Houston with her steer. She was also chosen as one of only 28 4H Livestock Ambassadors statewide. “Through the creation of the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program a new generation of knowledgeable, educated, and well-spoken youth have emerged in Texas to teach other youth and adults the skills of being good stewards, producers, and exhibitors of beef cattle, sheep, goats, and swine.”  The Ambassadors have travelled to South America and may go to Australia to promote Texas livestock.

Dunn also speaks with pride about a garden planted as part of the Community Economic Development in which proven techniques of fertilization and insect control were demonstrated. The vegetables grown were then given to Shelby County Community Outreach Ministries to distribute to residents who are physically unable to go to the supermarket. They also had a tomato variety trial, looking for the varieties with the best taste and disease resistance.

As expected, Mr. Dunn asked if there were any questions at the end of his talk and that was when the audience pounced. It seemed that ever person had come with a question..or two..for the county agent. “What is this and how can I get rid of it in my lawn?” (You're too late this year. Apply a pre-emergent weed control in September.) “Are red ladybugs or orange ones the good ones?” (Red is good.) “How can I keep hogs off my property?” (Electric fences are a lot of trouble but they seem to be effective.) “What about hog traps?” (Hogs are smart and have become wary of the old-style traps. If a hog steps on metal it will back away. 'Corral traps' are most effective.) “Why can't we sterilize them?” (Sterilization works but there is great concern about the possibility of accidentally sterilizing other species.) “Can peanuts be grown in Shelby County?” (Probably not very successfully.) “Why do my tomatoes get blossom end rot?” (Lack of calcium and sporadic rainfall.) After all the audience's questions had been answered, Mr. Dunn gave out his telephone number saying “If you need more information, just call me.” Many undoubtedly will.

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.

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May 18, 2016 - Album1, Album2, Album3 -  Six teams gathered on Joaquin High School's baseball field to play kickball on Saturday, May 14, 2016 to participate in the #KickinitwithB Kickball Fundraiser for Brooklyn Oliver.

Darrell Martinez organized the fundraiser to aid in paying for a medical procedure for Oliver, back surgery to realign her spine, in Dallas.

"We felt like its what God would want us to do. Their family does so much for our church and this was an opportunity to truly give back to them and let them know how much we care for and love their family," said Martinez. "Any small amount can help in a big situation like this and we are trusting the Lord that Brooklyn will be completely healed and walk through the doors at our church again."

The tournament began at 8am Saturday morning and lasted until around 3pm in the afternoon. Medals were given for first, second and third place and Oliver presented the medals to the teams as they earned their placement in the tournament.

Arriving in third place were the Oddballs who were defeated by the Inkspots. The Oddballs and Texas Big Hair then competed for the third place position with the Oddballs taking a little off the top to defeat Texas Big Hair.

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Final match of the tournament was between the Inkspots and Smashers. The Inkspots were defeated by the Smashers earlier in the tournament; however, they were able to climb the bracket to face them once again. The Smashers splattered the Inkspots in the final outcome placing the Inkspots in second place and the Smashers in first place to win the tournament.

Oliver presented the medals once again to the finalist teams. In turn Oliver was presented with a trophy in her honor.
 
Martinez was thankful to all who participated in the event and helped it to come to fruition.

"I just want to thank my wife Courtney and friend Josh Hickman for helping me turn this into a special event. Without them I couldn't have done it," said Martinez. "And we give God all the glory for the turn out we had. And we'd also like to thank all of the people and businesses that sponsored the event. Joey Kendricks Painting, Joaquin/Timpson Quickstop, East Texas Press, Big Texas Hair and everyone that came out to play and volunteer."

The event was succesful in raising just over $800 to benefit Brooklyn and her family.

May 18, 2016 - The Center Garden club is pleased to announce the winners of the National Garden Club poetry contest!  Each year, the National Garden Club holds a poetry contest to excite and encourage our youth to express and explore their creative thoughts through different types of poetry. NGC's Poetry Contest enables our youth to embrace their creativity through the art of writing.  This year's winners were Kindergarten students Destin Lane Moore (1st place), Wendy Palma-Carrillo (2nd place) and Madeline Reese Cassell (3rd place). These students worked under the instruction of Ms. Betty Martin, librarian and GT teacher at F. L. Moffett Primary School.

Center Elementary School students that placed in the NGC poetry contest were 2nd graders Zykerius Barnes (1st place), Franil Patel (2nd place) and Jaxon Olade (3rd place). Third grade students Anna Marie Amburn (1st place) and Hollie Herndon (HM) also were awarded certificates. These students were under the instruction of Mrs. Inez Hughes, CES fine arts and GT teacher. Congratulations!