Shelby County Today

May 5, 2025 - (Photo Album) - The Center Intermediate School gymnasium was site of the First Responders Luncheon hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Friday, May 2, 2025.

Members of law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services, county precinct crews and highway department personnel were all welcome guests to the event.

All present shared in a barbecue meal prepared by Pete Low.

May 5, 2025 - The Center Woman’s Reading Club met May 1 at the First Methodist Church. Vice-President Bonnie Lucus opened the business meeting with the reading of the club collect. She announce the next meeting will be May 15 with Montie Jones as hostess. Mrs. Jones will also lead the installation of officers for the 2025-2026 year. Mrs. Jones also announced that after a letter requesting club membership and voted on by club members that Mrs. Anne Lane Bessinger will be the newest member of the Center Woman’s Reading Club. She is the daughter of the late Polly Lane Smith who was a dedicated and valued member of the club. The club welcomes Mrs. Bessinger.

Hope Johnson read a beautifully written thank you note to the club for her bridal shower thanking club members for her gifts as well as their friendship and making her feel so welcomed as a club member. Mrs. Watson reported that over six hundred dollars was donated by club members and a friend of hers for the family in need that she talked about at the last meeting as part of her book report on Saint Francis of Assisi who ministered to those in need. Before the meeting in which she presented the book report, she had invited members to bring their loose change to go to a family in need. Mrs. Watson expressed her own gratitude for the generosity of club members as well as the gratitude of the family who received the donation.

Ginia Hooper was both program hostess and program leader. She served a delightful luncheon that included luncheon meat, cheese, fruit and crackers. The luncheon was enjoyed by all. The cheese in the luncheon related to her book report titled 'Who Moved My Cheese?' written by Spencer Johnson. The book is a parable that provides important lessons about change that happens in everyone’s life with advice about how to handle change. The four characters in the story were mice named Sniff and Scurry and little people Hem and Haw. They are all in a maze looking for their special cheese but take different approaches and skills in finding the cheese with all four finding the cheese in section C of the maze for many days until the amount of cheese began to dwindle. Hem and Haw continued to go to section C while Sniff and Scurry realized when things changed they needed to change as well and look other places for the cheese. As in parables, there were life lessons for the reader to consider following when change happens in life. Ms. Hooper pointed out many lessons learned in the story that the reader can apply to his or her own life. The story is a metaphor of life that when change happens we need to change as well. She also said change is going to happen and we should plan for change. Change can be scary but we still need to prepare for it. Also being able to adapt and be open to new ideas will help us overcome the fear of change and be able to adapt. A person’s idea of success needs to change as one adapts to change. We need to accept that change in life is inevitable and learn to just enjoy the journey of where we are in the different phases of life.

Ms. Hooper went on to share with us about her own hero and role model her beloved mother Mrs. Ann Hooper who is a wonderful example of a person who not only accepts change in her life but embraces it as well. As a sixteen year old she married and moved from west Texas where she lived with her small family to east Texas where she lived in the same household as her husband’s large family. She faced the death of her husband at age 58 and later the deaths of two sons and a grandson. Her mother has experienced many joys and sorrows in her life and realizes that both joy and sorrow causes changes that she has learned to embrace. Her mother was also a very active person until recently when she fell ill. This has required another move to a nursing home facility. Yet through it all she has accepted and adapted to the changes she has faced in life and remains a happy person that finds joy in all of her life’s journeys. She is a living example of the lessons learned in the parable 'Who Moved My Cheese?'

April 28, 2025 - Texas Soil & Water Stewardship Week began today, April 28 and goes through May 4, 2025. This was approved in the Commissioners' Court meeting on April 9th, and signed by Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison.

Fannie Watson presents program to Reading Club.

April 21, 2025 - Members of the Center Woman's Reading Club met on Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Parlor of the First Methodist Church. After conducting the annual business meeting that included the election of club officers for the 2025 - 2027 term, approving the 25/26 budget as well as approving the amending of the By-Laws to ensure the systematic preservation of club records/history in partnership with the East Texas Research Center housed in the SFASU Steen Library, Mrs. Fannie Watson continued the Club's program of study with a program on the children's book, 'St. Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy'  by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr..

St. Francis turned away from his life of wealth and privilege to live with lepers, the "untouchables" of his society. He preached the idea of the sanctity of all life, becoming an advocate of all life, becoming an advocate of animal rights and environmentalism in a time when even human life often had little value. He found joy in owning nothing and giving everything away. Mr. Kennedy has retold Francis's story as a lesson and inspiration for his own children, and for children everywhere.

The members closed the meeting with the reading of the world-wide known, the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, which has been put to music and sung by choirs around the world. In addition, members were encouraged to share their "spare change" as a reminder that each of us can make a difference no matter how much we can give to help others. The program was fitting for the Easter season and was enjoyed by all present.

Article submitted by Alease Copelin