Shelby County Today

November 13, 2015 - During the Joaquin High School Veterans Day program that was held Wednesday, November 11th, 2015, Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary announced the post winners of this year’s Voice of Democracy competition. The co-winners are Joaquin HS Senior Maddison Andres and Joaquin HS Sophomore Annalyn DeChamplain pictured with Post Chairman Larry Hume.

Each received a framed certificate and a check for $100.00 and will compete at the District level with results known at the end of the month. The post and auxiliary would like to thank each of the 26 students from Joaquin HS for their essay entries on this year’s theme “My Vision for America”. We wish Maddison and Annalyn the best at the next level of competition.

November 11, 2015 - The Center Women’s Reading Club met at the lovely home of Fannie Watson on November 5, 2015. President Janene Walker presided. The business portion of the meeting was conducted. The ladies of the Reading Club will be collecting Children’s Books to donate to Gary Rholes for his annual Christmas toy drive.

In keeping with the theme of famous women, and in honor of Veterans Day this month, Mrs. Watson chose the book American Wife by Taya Kyle. The book tells what it meant to be married to Chris Kyle, a loving man, highly lethal sniper and American hero. It is a moving tribute to her husband and captures the power of love and faith.

Taya and Chris met in a bar in San Diego, where Chris was stationed. At first Taya was not interested in him. He flirted and she shot him down. He was nice and unassuming. Soon after they met, Taya realized she had met the nicest man she would ever know. At the time they married, the divorce rate for Navy SEALS was 90-95%. It took two strong remarkable people like Taya and Chris, and their faith in God and each other, to make the marriage work.

Through his first two deployments, during which time he graduated to sniper status, Taya was the good patient wife. But at the third deployment she was not happy. She knew he loved being a SEAL more than anything, but she wanted him home. They had one 2-year old, with another child on the way.

Chris was deployed two more times before he decided it was time to stay home. The stress and pressure of his job was starting to take a toll on him. But the stress of leaving his life as a SEAL was not easy either. They moved to San Antonio, Texas. The marriage was strained but they were determined to work through it.

Writing “American Sniper” opened old wounds and fame left them exhausted, but their marriage had strengthened. By now Chris had started his own security and training business and found his own healing by reaching out to troubled veterans.

February 2, 2013 started out to be a good day as Chris and a friend and neighbor Chad Littlefield headed out to the gun range with Eddie Routh, a former Marine who was going through a difficult time. Taya and Chad’s wife were together with the children at a birthday party. Taya had text Chris several times before he stopped returning the texts. She knew something was wrong because Chris always returned her texts. Later in the day, her house was filled with family, friends and SEALS as word had gotten out that Chris and Chad had been shot and killed by Eddie.

Chris was buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin on February 12, 2013. Thousands of people lined the streets of the funeral motorcade. Over 7,000 people attended a two hour memorial service at Cowboy Stadium.

Their children, her faith, professional help, and the kindness of strangers help bring Taya out of her depression in the months following the shooting. Taya established the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation to work with military families. The skeleton of a frog is the symbol of a fallen SEAL.

Mrs. Watson concluded her program reminding everyone that it is lifelong privilege to honor our active Service Men and Women and our Veterans on Veterans Day, and on everyday of the week.

Delicious refreshments were served and the ladies enjoyed a time of fellowship.

November 11, 2015 - The Delta Gamma chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met November 9 in Center, which was catered by Lynne Locke. Members donated toys and books to the San Augustine Empty Stocking Fund.

The Delta Gamma Chapter is composed of key women educators from Sabine, San Augustine, and Shelby Counties.

Linda Bordelon, Publicity Chairman

November 9, 2015 - Santa Claus recently delivered an invitation to Alease Copelin, the recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award, to serve as Grand Marshal of the 16th annual Santa’s Christmas Parade presented by Shelby Savings Bank, which will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Mrs. Copelin was recognized at the annual Chamber of Commerce awards banquet for her contributions to many activities and organizations in Shelby County. Her leadership was noted in helping, creating and sustaining various programs including the Backpack Program that aids in fighting weekend hunger for school students, the community Flag Program, Project Graduation and Career Camp with many volunteers.

According to Randy Collard, Parade Chairman, vendor space is available free to churches, civic and non-profit organizations. Interested organizations must complete a vendor application and will be notified regarding acceptance. Approved vendors can set up from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the day of the parade in an assigned location on the Historic Courthouse lawn. During the parade afternoon the Daughters of the Republic William Carroll Crawford Chapter will host tours of the First Ladies in Texas Building.

Categories for the 2015 “Christmas Movies and Songs” themed parade will include Individuals, Schools, Businesses, Churches and Civic Organizations. Parade participants this year will be allowed to include their horses with special applicable rules and considerations. Judges will award cash prizes to the top three places in each category, First $100, Second $50 and Third $25 and the Overall Best in Show Float will receive $250 cash prize.

Parade float entry registration is free and completed applications must be returned to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce office by the entry deadline on Monday, November 23, 2015. Applications for the parade, vendor space and entry rules are now available at the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce office located at 100 Courthouse Square, A-101 on the historic downtown Center square or online at www.shelbycountychamber.com.

For more information please contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at (936) 598-3682 or info@shelbycountychamber.com