Around Town
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department "Fill The Cruiser" truck is seen above loaded down with gifts.
December 19, 2025 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Department hosted a “Fill The Cruiser” event at the Historic 1885 Shelby County Courthouse on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were there to visit with little boys and girls so they could share their wishes for Christmas. The Grinch also made an appearance and was spotted without and within the walls of the courthouse as he no doubt plotted some sort of mischief.

Elves were spotted in the vicinity of Santa, and as with the one pictured above, some were large enough they needed a full-size tree to hide behind.

The Clauses are seen above waiting for excited boys and girls to share their Christmas wishes.
December 18, 2025 - Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 quilt raffle who are Ruby Everett, Pam Patterson, Brenda Hebert, Stephanie Harkness, and Brenda Guerron. Scrap Happy Quilters Group and James-Antioch Community Center would like to thank all who purchased tickets for our fundraiser.

December 17, 2025 - Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department members held their end-of-year meeting Christmas party at T&R’s Steaks and More in Center Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Volunteer Fire Chief Mark Odom greeted everyone and presented awards recognizing several members for their efforts throughout 2025.

Pictured are Wayne Coil (left) and Chief Mark Odom (right).
Wayne Coil was awarded, "Firefighter of the Year." Presented with, "Exceptional Commitment to Ticket Sales," award recognition were Amber Fuchsberger and Robert Fuchsberger. Amanda Treat-Brock was presented with the award for, "Most Improved Firefighter."

Pictured are (left) Amber Fuchsberger and Robert Fuchsberger (right).
“Appreciate everything everybody did this year in coming out and helping, and we just want to make sure everybody mainly stays safe,” said Chief Odom.
Treat-Brock thanked everybody for the success of the Christmas parade in Tenaha and for the presence of all the firefighters.

Pictured is, Amanda Treat-Brock.

December 16, 2025 - The University of Texas at Tyler recognize fall 2025 degree candidates during UT Tyler's Fall 2025 Commencement December 12-13 and two of the graduates were from Tenaha.
Maria Alvarado earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the School of Health Professions and received her diploma on Friday, December 12 in the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Perla Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from UT Tyler's College of Education and Psychology and was presented her diploma during the Saturday, December 13 ceremony.
December 13, 2025 - Timpson enjoyed having its 2025 Lighted Christmas parade last week, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Large turn out of spectators and a wonderful parade, parade entries that put all of our community in the Christmas spirit.

The Timpson FFA Greenhand group was awarded best theme, Student Greenhorn president Landree Jousan is pictured holding the trophy and Agriculture teacher Donna Sue Youngblood is also pictured in the group.

Pictured are Duncan Connell (left, holding "Louie") and Paul Smith (right).
Bink's Quickstop was awarded the people 's choice award. Robin and Duncan Connell issued out candy while sporting their 1933 Ford Truck with Louie as their mascot.
Our entire community showed support and enjoyed the FFA boosters fundraiser of hot chocolate, chicken and waffles afterwards with Santa Clause inside Tie and Timber Lodge.

Pictured are (from left): Amanda Radney, Joanna Lopez, Amy Lindley, Charlene Jackson, and Baylea Cockrell
December 11, 2025 - The December 4, 2025 program of the Woman's Reading Club was given by two wonderful community service organizations. Amy Lindley and Charlene Jackson of the Center Police Department represented Operation Blue Santa. Joanna Lopez, Amanda Radney, and Bailey Cockrell with F. L. Moffet Primary School represented Cookies & Cocoa.
Operation Blue Santa started in 2015 when Center Police Department officers decided to start providing toys for kids in the community. A free event is held each Christmas season for kids and families, where toys, books, and other donated items are distributed. F. L. Moffett will host their 5th annual Cookies & Cocoa event December 13, 2025 from 9:30 to 11:30 at Portacool Park. Kids of all ages will enjoy hot cocoa, tasty cookies, face painting, a bouncy house and more. Each child will leave with a good book!
After the programs, the reading club donated children's books to these outstanding programs.

December 8, 2025 - Thank you to John Michael Burns and Farmers Insurance for your generous support of the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center!

Pictured are (from left) Mary Roberts, Derrick Roberts, Joyce Johnson, and Larry "Dude" Jones.
December 5, 2025 - VFW Post 8904 members gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on a cold December 5, 2025, to honor those who served and those who lost their lives in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, 84 years ago.
Mary Roberts, Post Quartermaster, led the program and offered an opening prayer.

"It began when the Japanese aircraft appeared in the air above Pearl Harbor Hawaii just before 8am on a Sunday morning. When the attack ceased shortly before 10am, less than two hours after it began, American forces had paid a fearful price," said Roberts.
She stated 18 ships were either damaged or sunk, 180 aircraft destroyed, 2,403 were dead and thousands of others were wounded.
"Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke with forewarning words when he stated, 'No matter how long it may take for us to overcome the premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through absolute victory. With the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help me God," said Roberts.

Larry “Dude” Jones, Post Member, then placed the memorial wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Taps was then played as presented by Derrick Roberts, Post Commander.


November 5, 2025 - The time is here. The Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center's (SCCAC) Annual Christmas Toy Drive runs now through December 12!
How can you help? Pick up a tag for a child from the CAC office, donated toys or gift cards to local restaurants and shop, or give general donations to support year-round needs.
Drop off any donations Monday through Friday during office hours at 131 Tenaha Street, Center, Texas 75935.
Thank you for your support during this Christmas season!
Call with questions at 936-590-9864.
December 4, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, December 4.
The older we get, the more we worry about our legacy, about what we’ll leave behind, about how we’ll be remembered. Chester Greenwood was born on December 4, 1858, in Farmington, Maine, and he’s remembered as the guy who invented... ear muffs.
It gets really cold in Maine. Tonight’s forecast in Farmington is for a low of ZERO! So Greenwood’s invention wasn’t a small accomplishment. Well, it was small - just two clumps of fabric and a piece of wire - and who would even guess that ear muffs was a thing that had to be “invented,” like the telephone or the internet. Greenwood actually called them “ear protectors.” He was an inventor, not an adman.
But enough jokes about Chester Greenwood - and, believe me, I’ve got a few more - but I like to keep these devotions short. His invention may seem a bit trivial, but we’re still talking about it, and him, over a century later. And this Saturday, and the first Saturday in December every year, there’s a parade in Farmington, Maine, to celebrate Chester Greenwood Day. That’s a nice legacy.
Abraham is considered one of the mighty men of the Bible, a patriarch of the Old Testament, a hero of the faith. But when you look carefully at his life, you find that it was dotted with failures, and full of regrets. In the end, this was his epitaph - “Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”(Genesis15:6)
That’s a nice legacy.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com










