Shelby County Today

November 17, 2015 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club met at 11:30am on November 16, 2015 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church. Since Bill and Joyce Funderburk are planning to move from our community, we had a farewell cake for them and several spoke for all of us as to how much we will miss them. Ed Miller led the singing as we sang “We Gather Together” and “Come Ye Thankful People Come.”

Dot Bain, Betty Green, Ann Hooper and John Preston were the members present who celebrated a birthday in November. We sang to them. Joe Anderson introduced the guests: Marcia Jackson, Denise Merriman, Stephen Shires and Mac Warren. Vance Green asked the blessing on our food and everyone served themselves from the carried in dishes and the fried chicken.

Our guests were from the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center. We presented them a table full of toys and gifts for their clients. They presented the program telling us about the statistics of the magnitude of their jobs. They told about the various services they provide to families who need help with dealing with abuse. They provide a Forensic Interview, Therapy Services, Medical Services and Prevention Education and they become an advocate to families to help them work toward the healing process. The presentation helped us understand the importance of this service in our community. They gave out a flyer explaining signs of child abuse and how to report suspected child abuse.

Darlene gave a report from the nominating committee of nominations for offices for 2016. They are president – Joe Anderson, First Vice President – Linda Anderson, Secretary – Ellen Manning, Treasurer – Betty Green and reporter – Linda Bordelon. There were no other nominations so Joe Anderson called for the vote and we accepted the nominations as given.

Ann Forbes went over the Prayer List and there were more concerns added for us to remember in prayer. Joe Anderson thanked the kitchen helpers. Betty Green gave the Treasurer’s report. Ellen Manning read the minutes from the last meeting. Joe Anderson had us stand as he gave the closing prayer.

Submitted by Ellen Manning

November 16, 2015 - The office staff at the office of Kyle S.Coffin, DDS made a contribution to the benefit of U.S. Forces overseas last week by way of Operation Gratitude. Tonya Mince, office manager, stated there are so many troops in remote areas around the world where even the most basic of amenities are unavailable. Many troops who have been overseas for over 18 months in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and were expected to return for Christmas, have just had their time there extended.

Dr. Coffin and his office staff saw there was a need which needed attention and got to work.

"We just started thinking about things we could do over the holiday season, and we realized nobody in Center was doing this," said Mince

Items collected include such items as non-perishable food, sunscreen, Halloween candy, deodorant, coffee, and insect repellent.

Packages were prepared on Friday, November 13, 2015 and according to Dr. Coffin 84 lbs in all were shipped out.

According to the Operation Gratitude website, Operation Gratitude annually sends 150,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, plus personal letters of appreciation, to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors, Care Givers and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas. Their mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our Active Duty and Veteran communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to members of our Military. Each package contains donated product valued at $75-100 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than One Million Care Packages.

Another program which the office staff is working to benefit is Operation Christmas Child. More information can be found on Shelby County Today here

November 16, 2015 - The Piney Woods Photographic Society held its regular monthly meeting October 17th. The workshop for this meeting featured "Long Lenses" by Janet Hughes, with a monthly challenge of "Fall Colors". The Challenge results are:

First Place - Janet Hughes

 Second Place - Billie Jones

Third Place - Bobbie Jean Wood

The PWPS would like to welcome new member Haley Sullivan, Shelbyville, Tx. For more information contact club secretary Billie Jones, 936-598-7778.

November 16, 2015 - Janet Ritter, District Conservationist with the USDA-NRCS, was the guest speaker at the November 11 meeting of the Center Garden Club which met at the Community House in Center. She discussed Monarch Conservation which included migration, life cycle, food needs, host plants, and threats to monarchs.

Submitted by Linda Bordelon