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Rated G. Movie ends 9pm
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
July 14, 2016 - Every year Hochheim Branch members choose certain organizations in the community to donate to. On June 23, 2016 branch official, Becky Maidic, presented Hochheim Prairie Insurance Branch 110 donation checks to Center, Shelbyville, Timpson, and Tenaha Volunteer Fire departments.
July 14, 2016 - Every year Hochheim Prairie branch members choose certain organizations in our community to donate to. On July 13, 2016 branch official, Becky Maidic, presented a donation to the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library. Pictured: Becky Maidic and Sandra Davis.
July 13, 2016 (Seed Spitting Photos, Speed Eating Photos) - With Rotary Club President, Jason Balkcom, leading the events, a group vied for prize money and bragging rights at the What-A-Melon Festival's most competitive events - Seed Spitting and Speed Eating.
The Seed Spitting kicked off at 4pm Saturday, July 9th with festival goers taking their turn trying to propel their seeds the furthest. Each contestant had two tries before the official mark was made by Rotarian Scott Stanfield. When the seeds were no longer flying through the air, and the audience thought it safe again, contestants surrounded the official speed eating table and took to seeing who could down their watermelon slice the quickest in a display, which certainly would have horrified the everyday well-mannered diner.
The following left victorious:
Seed Spitting
Kids
1st place - Artura Montemayor
2nd place - Kenny Montemayor
3rd place - Stephanie Santana
Youth
1st place - Raylee Askew
2nd place - Franuele Arayo
3rd place - Caine Snell
Women
1st place - Isabelle Santana
2nd place - Erica Santana
3rd place - Brittany Shofner
Men
1st place - Rob Payme
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Chris Matis
Speed Eating
Kids (0-7)
1st place - Fisher Bright
2nd place - Zac Payne
3rd place - Arturo Montemayor
Youth (8-15)
1st place - Neera Smith
2nd place - Neena Smith
3rd place - Raylee Askew
Women
1st place - Brittany Shofner
2nd place - Cindy Shofner
3rd place - Barbara Harding
Men
1st place - Marthen Lumingkewas
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Nehemias Santana
July 12, 2016 - Prior to the start of the What-A-Melon Festival, food vendors attended an emergency food handlers class hosted by Jheri-Lynn McSwain, AgriLife Extension Agent for Shelby County, on July 6, 2016 in the community room of the Shelby County Courthouse.
Food vendor workers learned the do's and don'ts of food handling including information about foodborne illness and outbreak which are often linked to not following time and temperature rules, poor personal hygiene, and cross-contamination. The standard two-hour course covered potentially hazardous foods, food handling, hygiene for food employees, and reporting processes.
Food fundraisers or carnival food vendors are required to have food handler certification and/or a temporary food single event permit. For more information about food handler certification and permits, visit www.dshs.texas.gov and search for 'food temporary permit.' Rayla Navarro is the Retail Foods/General Sanitation representative for Health Services Region 4/5 North. She can be contacted at her office at 912 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas at 936-598-1232.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food Handler Program is dedicated to the health and safety of the citizens of the state, educating food service employees in the principles of food safety to produce safe food products for Texas consumers.
Special thank you to Jheri-Lynn McSwain for hosting the course which allowed many of the vendors to be able to participate in the festival.
July 12, 2016 - Emergency personnel honored Jim Forbes following funeral services held in Center on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Center.
The Center Fire Department ladder truck was stationed near Oaklawn Memorial Park on State Highway 7 East where the funeral procession would pass beneath.
Mr. Forbes was a Center City Councilman, weatherman, and formerly a fireman with the Center Fire Department. In recognition of his service to the fire department he was transported from the church to his final resting place on the Center Fire Department's 1939 Seagrave fire engine.
Also escorting the procession were Center Police Officers and the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department.
During the service at Oaklawn Memorial Park the final call for Mr. Forbes #413 was announced over the Center Fire Department frequency.
Read Mr. Forbes obituary: James William Forbes
July 12, 2016 (Album 1, Album 2) - A large crowd attended the 2016 East Texas What-A-Melon Festival pageant Saturday morning, July 9, 2016. Contestants dolled up in their cutest watermelon attire and took to the stage as family gathered under the big tent.
Judges of the pageant were Amy Permenter, Angel Washington, and special guest Carla Lynn Penney, of Vienna, Georgia. Penney was crowned the 2016 National Watermelon Queen during the annual National Watermelon convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in February. Her trip to the festival was sponsored by Wiggins Farms
The Supreme Queens of the pageant were announced to be Emory Gomez for ages 0-5 years and Karley Broadway for ages 6 and up. Both received a $250 scholarship sponsored by Wiggins Farms which was presented to them by Penney.
The pageant results are as follows:
Mister East Texas What-A-Melon - Stetson Spinks
Best Smile, Most Handsome, Best Fashion - Stetson Spinks
Baby (Ages 0-11 months)
Baby Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Blakely Raymond
Best Smile - Gracie Sanford
Most Beautiful - Blakely Raymond
Best Fashion - Emory Gomez
Princesses - Savannah Barton, Taegan Dawson, Gracie Sanford, Kellyanna Binfet, McCartney Agnew
Toddler (Ages 12-23 months)
Toddler Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Oakley Lowe and Emory Thornton
Best Smile - Oakley Lowe
Most Beautiful - Emory Thornton
Best Fashion - Sadie Jernigan
Princesses - Swazie Steptoe, Ellie Parks, Addelynn Davis, Sadie Jernigan, Ella Impson
Tiny (Ages 2-3 years)
Tiny Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Justice Boyd
Best Smile - Justice Boyd
Most Beautiful - Jayla Barkins
Best Fashion - Madelyn Olivas
Princesses - Kirstie Parks, Madelyn Olivas, Jayla Barkins, Melina Barrera, Cadence Shadix
Little (Ages 4-5 years)
Little Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Sofia Bocanegra
Best Smile - Sofia Bocanegra
Most Beautiful - Aryana Groze
Best Fashion - Laura Moody
Princesses - Laura Moody, Aryana Groze
Petite (Ages 6-8 years)
Petite Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rhiana Lane
Best Smile - Carolyn Mathis
Most Beautiful - Rhiana Lane
Best Fashion - Bailey Shadix
Princesses - Bailey Shadix, Carolyn Mathis
Preteen (Ages 9-12 years)
Preteen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Smile - Mahalia Ratcliff
Most Beautiful - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Fashion - Macey McSwain
Princess - Macey McSwain
Teen (Ages 13-15 years)
Teen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rebekah Bridges
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Rebekah Bridges
Miss (Ages 16-19 years)
Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Karley Broadway
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Karley Broadway
All attending the pageant were made more comfortable in the hot summer heat by Portacools' Portable Evaporative Coolers donated for use at the festival by Portacool. The pageant was hosted by Bailey's Pageants.
July 8, 2016 - Album - Antonio Chavez and Madison Brown were the overall winners of the 5th Annual What-A-Melon 5K Run/Walk Saturday morning, July 9, 2016.
Chavez had a finishing time of 18:45 and Brown's time was 24:18. Wiggins Farms donated watermelons at the event to help keep participants cool and handed out slices after participants crossed the finish line.
Participants lined up on the Center square early in the morning to begin the race. Center Police Officers traveled with the runners at the beginning and end of the line of runners to provide safety as they traveled the route. Following the race awards were presented by 2016 National Watermelon Queen Carla Lynn Penney, of Vienna, Georgia.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library.
(Update) Complete results are in and can be viewed here: What-A-Melon Crawl 5K Results
The run results according to age division is as follows:
Fun Run
1st place - Cori Lawson
2nd place - Logan Galindo
Madeline Cassell
Savannah Cassell
Cayden Askew
Male Open Winners
1st place - Antonio Chavez
Male No Age Provided
1st place - Joe West
Male 12 and Under
1st place - Lance Holloway
2nd place - Seth Shamblin
Male 13 to 19
1st place - Ruben Soto
2nd place - Corles Bstament
Male 20 to 29
1st place - Marcos Angel
2nd place - Moises Arcibar
Male 30 to 39
1st place - Jeremiah Soape
2nd place - Matthew Gregston
3rd place - Juan Monsivais
4th place - Scott James
Male 40 to 49
1st place - Steve Allen
2nd place - Keith Davis
3rd place - David Wheeler
Male 50 to 59
1st place - David Wheeler
Male 60 and Over
1st place - Chandra Atholi
2nd place - Carlos Gray
Female Open Winners
1st place - Madison Brown
Female No Age Provided
1st place - Dorothy West
2nd place - Sarah Fletcher
3rd place - Alice Pate
Female 12 and Under
1st place - Adreia Sanchez
2nd place - Riley Ross
3rd place - Hannah Ross
Female 20 to 29
1st place - Camille Stanfield
2nd place - Carolina Angel
3rd place - Promise Lunsford
4th place - Candice Turner
5th place - Destiny Russell
6th place - Ana Gutierrez
7th place - Ting Snider
8th place - Ashton Askew
9th place - Brittany Gilchrist
Female 30 to 39
1st place - Jenny Rhodes
2nd place - Courtney Sanchez
3rd place - Porfi Williford
4th place - Summer Jackson
5th place - April Broughs
Female 40 to 49
1st place - Sabrina Smith
2nd place - Yanci Hendricks
3rd place - Marisela Almanza
4th place - Benita Collard
5th place - Anjanette Dunn
6th place - Cindy Furlow
Female 50 to 59
1st place - Hermilla Mendoso
2nd place - Margo Griffith
3rd place - Karen Gray
4th place - Laree Bounds
5th place - Lori Davis
6th place - Shandra Russell
7th place - Kathy Baily
8th place - Karen Cunningham
9th place - Kay Ross
Female 60 and Over
1st place - Ann Bridges
2nd place - Nina Barnett
Sponsors for the event were Farmers State Bank, John Black and Associates, Baldwin Tree Service, Boles Feed and East Texas Poultry Supply. Shelby Savings Bank sponsored 25 of their employees to participate in the 5K.
July 8, 2016 - There will be a prayer vigil and moment of silence at 12:00 Noon today on the San Augustine square in the vicinity of Columbia Street facing the Courthouse area in support of the families of the brave officers who lost their lives last night in Dallas. The Mayor of Dallas announced that they will be doing one there at Noon and has asked that all who can across our great State and the Nation join with them. Please come out and give your support if you can.
July 7, 2016 - Album - The melons have been weighed and four exceeded the 100 lbs! Doug Cogswell clinched the contest for the second year in a row with his 112 lb melon followed by Lexie Terrell in second place with her 104 lb entry and third place to Olivia Johnson's 103 lb melon.
Over $5,000 was given in prize money with $2,500 going to the first place winner. The complete weigh-in results were as follows with prize money:
1st place - Doug Cogswell, 112 lbs ($2,500)
2nd place - Lexie Terrell, 104 lbs ($600)
3rd place - Olivia Johnson, 103 lbs ($500)
4th place - Jenny Johnson, 101 lbs ($400)
5th place - Amber Terrell, 99.5 lbs ($300)
6th place - Whitley Johnson, 96.5 lbs ($250)
7th place - Tate Johnson, 95.0 lbs ($200)
8th place - Jaleigh Johnson, 93.5 lbs ($150)
9th place - Louise Johnson, 86.0 lbs ($100)
10th place - Renee Johnson, 85.5 lbs ($80)
11th place - Jimmy Matthews, 85.0 lbs ($70)
12th place - Shelby Johnson, 82.0 lbs ($60)
936 Crossfit was instrumental in helping the weigh-in to go smoothly as representatives of the gym volunteered to help move the melons. Those individuals were Grant Belrose, Joe Welch and Jose Bueno.
Following a busy day at the courthouse, Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison provided the unbiased opinion at the scales as she was the official judge of the weigh-in.
July 6, 2016 - The 27th Annual What-A-Melon Festival is underway following the ceremonial cutting of the watermelon on the Center square July 6, 2016.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison wielded the knife and cut the melon. She was accompanied by 2015 Miss What-A-Melon Jaden Washington, outgoing Center Rotary President Anna Lee, Center Police Chief Jim Albers, and Shelby County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Duchess Abigail DePriest.
Once the melon was cut, those present partook of a slice of the melon.
Check the What-A-Melon Schedule of events here.
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