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Around Town
March 2, 2016 - Members of the Center Woman’s Reading Club met on February 18th at the lovely home of Bille Sue Payne. President, Janene Walker presided. Following a short business meeting Barbara Prince reviewed the book Saved by Her Enemy, by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak.
Saved by Her Enemy is a journey of two different people from opposite sides of the world, of faith, of experience, and of expectations.
Don Teague was a respected journalist, a Christian and family man. When September 11th happened, Don had an overwhelming feeling that his life was going to change. It was shortly after that, that he ended up being hired by NBC News, and sent to Baghdad.
Rafraf grew up in Baghdad in a devout Muslim family. She was one of ten children. The family lived in a small middle class house. She was 10 years old when the Gulf War started. She would sit home and watch the war outside her window. The bombings were colors in the sky and noises. Her parents would tell the children it was bad people attacking them – Americans.
Rafraf was very smart. She had a near photographic memory. After completing school, the Government decided where students would go school, and what they would study. The Government sent Rafraf to major in English. Despite her fear of Americans Rafraf became a translator for NBC in 2003. She was making more money than her father had ever been able to earn. But with the job and the money came threats to her life. She was working for the “enemy”. She was torn; quit the job and give up the income for her family or continue to work and risk death.
It was while working as a translator when Rafraf and Don Teague met. They struck up an unlikely friendship. The two were on assignment together at a local school when insurgents bombed the school. The two were nearly killed. Don gave his body armour to Rafraf. No one was killed that day, but Rafraf couldn’t understand why her own people would kill her own people and why a foreigner would give her his body armour. She says it was a wakeup call.
Don Teague talked to his wife Kiki following the bombing and asked permission to bring Rafraf back to live with the family. Don, Kiki and Don’s fellow correspondents mobilized to get Rafraf out of the country and to the safety of the United States.
Within a year, Rafraf had left everything and everyone she knew and moved in with the Teague family. She left her faith, her family and her culture to live with a middle class Christian family. She spent two years in the US before being granted political Asylum since insurgents had targeted and threatened her family after she left Iraq. It was too dangerous for her to return home. During her time in the United States, Rafraf underwent a cultural and religious transformation. She went from a sheltered Muslim girl to a modern American girl. In 2008 she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Delicious refreshments were served after the program.
March 2, 2016 - Pineywoods Beekeepers Association President Mike Bordelon, who owns and operates Heavenly Honey Apiary on Toledo Bend Lake at Huxley, demonstrated "How to Split a Bee Hive" to members of the Deep East Texas Beekeepers at their March 1 meeting in San Augustine.
Photo (from left) Mike Bordelon and Kitty Bennefield, President of the Deep East Texas Beekeepers.
Submitted by Linda Bordelon
March 1, 2016 - Album - A political rally was held at the Joaquin ISD cafeteria on Saturday, February 27, 2016 for candidates in Joaquin, Precinct 3 as well as county-wide candidates.
The event was well attended by candidates, fire department representatives and area residents. During the event a hamburger plate fundraiser was held by the fire department. Each candidate was presented with five minutes to speak and two minutes to respond to any questions from the audience.
Candidates present for the event included (in the order they spoke):
Joaquin City Council candidate, Frankie Cooper.
Precinct 3 Constable Candidate Roy Cheatwood.
Precinct 3 Constable Candidate Scott Burkhalter.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Candidate Travis Rodgers.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Candidate Charles Barr.
County Tax Assessor/Collector Debora Riley.
County Attorney Candidate Ken Florence.
County Attorney Candidate Gary Rholes.
Sheriff Candidate Willis Blackwell.
Sheriff Candidate Ricky Allen.
123rd District Judge Candidate LeAnn Kay Rafferty.
123rd District Judge Candidate Mike Parker.
Following each candidates speech and interaction with the audience, cakes and pies provided by the Joaquin VFD Ladies Auxiliary and were auctioned with each candidate first having the opportunity to give the opening bid.
March 1, 2016 - VFW Post 8904 held a ceremony on the Center square in front of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse to honor those who served during Operation Desert Storm.
"The Gulf War, was named as we know it Operation Desert Storm, began on January 17, 1991. Coalition Forces from 34 nations led by the United States began an aero-bombardment of Iraq. A week later on February 24th a ground assault began the liberation of Kuwait and advancement into Iraqi territory.
"When the war ended on February 28th, 1991 148 American had died in battle, which included 15 female soldiers. There were another 145 non-battle deaths and 467 wounded," said Hume.
Hume remarked there were no Desert Storm veterans at the ceremony, which was unfortunate. In honor of those veterans that served, and those that lost their lives, Auxiliary member Sandy Risinger placed the memorial wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial where it was to remain until sunset.
Taps was played as presented by John Piersol, VFW Post 8904 member.
March 1, 2016 - The Center Women’s Reading Club met at the lovely home of Suzanne Ihlo on January 21st. President, Janene Walker presided over the Annual Meeting. The Club approved the 2016-2017 Budget.
Suzanne Ihlo presented a program on Edna Gladney, an incredible lady who fought for children’s rights and adoption reform. Born in Milwaukee in 1886, Edna Gladney was labeled as “illegitimate” from birth and, as an adult, lobbied for that label’s removal from all birth certificates.
Edna was born on January 22 to Minnie Nell. Her mother was not married and was only seventeen when Edna was born. Edna never knew her birth father. Minnie married when Edna was seven years old. In 1904, Minnie sent Edna to live with an aunt in Ft. Worth. She hoped the climate would help Edna’s health. She also hoped that by moving Edna into a completely new society, no one would find out that Edna was illegitimate. Being illegitimate at that time was a huge stigma.
While in Fort Worth, Edna met Sam Gladney in 1906. Sam was ten years her senior and worked at Medlin Flour Milling Company. The two eloped. In 1913, the Gladneys moved to Sherman, Texas so that Sam could open his own milling company, Gladney Milling. Edna joined the Sherman Civic League and started inspecting local meat markets and public restrooms for cleanliness. Edna, along with eight other ladies also addressed the Poor Farm and horrible living conditions. They white washed the building, burned the trash and took the children to Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society (TCHAS).
By 1910, Edna had joined the Board of Directors for the TCHAS and established the Sherman Nursery and Kindergarten for Working Women, a free day nursery to help poor working families by watching their children. In 1927, Edna was named Superintendent of the TCHAS.
After her husband died in 1935, Edna continued to make the welfare of unwanted children the center of her life. She placed abandoned children with adoptive families. She worked hard to place the right children with the right parents.
Edna lobbied the Texas legislature to have the word “illegitimate” kept off birth certificates of adopted and abandoned children. In 1936, Texas was the first state in the southwest to legally remove the stigma of illegitimacy
In the 1950s, Edna also helped to get a bill passed that gave adopted children the same inheritance rights as biological children.
In 1950, the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society bought the West Texas Maternity Hospital, which was renamed the Edna Gladney Home – now The Gladney Center for Adoption.
In 1941, MGM released the movie “Blossoms in the Dust”, starring Greer Garson who portrayed Edna Gladney.
Edna Gladney passed away in 1961, but her legacy lives on through the tens of thousands of children for which she spent her life crusading. She never adopted a child herself, she loved them all.
Delicious refreshments were served and the ladies enjoyed a special time of fellowship.
February 26, 2016 - The family of Ashley Elizabeth Beene would like to thank each of you for your prayers, cards, donations, fundraisers, and many acts of kindness that everyone has shown to them while waiting for her transplant and after Ashley's passing. We truly appreciate all of the support and love during this time.
With love and God Bless,
The Beene, Matthews, and Pearce Families
February 26, 2016 - The Center Rotary Club President Anna Lee presented a $250 donation for the Community Garden to AgriLife Extension Agents Jheri-Lynn McSwain and Lane Dunn during their Tuesday meeting at the John D. Windham Civic Center.
The Result Demonstration and Community Garden Project will be managed by the AgriLife Extension office; however, it will be a community effort involving local civic groups, community members, and youth groups.
The project will provide an opportunity to complete community service hours and to learn general horticultural practices while providing fresh produce to local food banks. A Result Demonstration Garden will allow visitors to learn about vegetables and plants that grow well in Deep East Texas.
Photo submitted by Anna Lee.
February 25, 2016 - Dollar General in Timpson held a ribbon cutting on Monday, February 22, 2016 at their new location at 251 North 1st Street.
Dustin Norris, Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce Representative, welcomed the business and its staff including manager Kim Sirois to the new location.
"Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for over 75 years and has had a store in Timpson since 2001. They have been selling products from America's most trusted manufacturers. There are over 12,000 stores in 43 states and we certainly proud to have one here in Timpson," said Norris.
Norris continued to describe the many items offered at the tore and the benefit of employment opportunities for area residents. He also stated spending locally inside of online and outside of Timpson's tax area insures tax dollars remain in Timpson.
"Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to recognize Dollar General for their contribution to our community over the past 15 years and we welcome this opportunity to celebrate with them as they begin their next 30 in their new location," said Norris.
Sirois performed the honor of cutting the ribbon in front of the store surrounded by employees and community representatives.
February 24, 2016 - Local beekeepers Mike and Linda Bordelon, who own and operate Heavenly Honey Apiary on Toledo Bend at Huxley, presented a program to the Hemphill High School Garden Club, "Cabbage Patch Kids" on February 22. Students were able to ask questions and share their knowledge of bees during the discussion.
Photo (from left): Classroom teacher Kristi McDaniel, Hemphill Garden Club Committee Chairman Mary Ann Tompkins, and Mike and Linda Bordelon.
Submitted by Linda Bordelon
February 22, 2016 - Texas A&M Agrilife Extension hosted a groundbreaking for the Shelby County Community Garden on February 17, 2016 at the Shelby County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Arena on State Highway 7 East in Center.
Shelby County Extension Agents Jheri-Lynn McSwain and Lane Dunn led the ceremony which had a large attendance from community leaders, civic organizations, business owners and local citizens. Dunn extended appreciation to all those attending the event and said it demonstrated the great community support they have received.
McSwain shared some of the history of plans for the garden leading up to the groundbreaking, "This was a dream and it really started with Pam White, and I know y'all remember Pam, she was a real blessing to our community. She just really had it upon her heart to help feed the hungry in Shelby County."
Pam White was Shelby County Outreach Ministries Executive Director until she passed away April 29, 2014. McSwain shared how Pam Phelps, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; and David Chadwick, City of Center Mayor; have shared in that dream with White of establishing the garden.
"It's not so much a dream as meeting a need," said McSwain. "We're real excited to be able to come together as a community, as a county, as a city and put this garden together with all y'all's support and help feed our hungry individuals, our senior citizens in our county and that is our goal. AgriLife with our background and our educational experience can help lead that trail and make that happen, so we're thrilled about that."
Dunn said one thing for which the garden will be utilized is demonstration and will assist AgriLife in growing different varieties of plants to see how they fare in the Shelby County area, " We're very excited about that, so we can say, 'Hey, this tomato grew best right here in Shelby County,' or 'this plant grew best right here in Shelby County,' so it's going to be a dual purpose garden."
Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, described how McSwain and Phelps began discussions with her in March 2015. A piece of property, which carries liability insurance was an important part of the operation and although operations were considered, the time to plant had passed.
"Last November we started looking and this was just the most obvious place, because the county owns this property, we already pay liability insurance on this property so it truly is not going to cost us one cent. All it's going to take is some love and some work and some cooperativeness," said Judge Harbison.
Originally it was planned to install the garden at the front of the Shelby County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Arena property; however, plans now are to locate the project at the back of the property.
"We are very blessed to have this and coming together and then the county being the leader, the headquarters for this project, it did all work out," said Pam Phelps, "Lane I'd like to thank you, and we are so blessed to have Jheri-Lynn who has the experience, here in the county today that's done this before, so with her leadership will be a great success."
Sherry Harding, Shelby County Outreach Ministries Executive Director, said she is very excited about the community coming together on this project, and taking care of the people in need.
"God has called us to be his hands and feet, and it takes us filling in the gap for people who cannot and our seniors who've worked hard all their lives and they have big whether to buy food or medicine, pay their bills," said Harding. "So, last year we served over 20,000 meals to our senior citizens through our nutrition program, and we provided over 4,000 people food through emergency food boxes."
Harding is enthusiastic about the options which will be made available to people Outreach Ministries helps by way of the garden.
"We're very excited to have this fresh fruit and vegetables come in, because a lot of times they can't buy those items and we didn't have them before to give, so we're very excited about the nutritional value and what it's going to mean to our seniors and I really appreciate everyone that's taken part," said Harding.
Sponsors who were thanked and listed during the event included Woodmen of the World, Center Rotary Club, Center Noon Lions Club, Shelby County Farm Bureau, Center Garden Club, Shelby County Sheriff's Posse, General Shelters, Shelby County Judge and Commissioners, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Donald Monroe.
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