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Around Town
May 27, 2026 - Following the meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court held May 27, 2026, representatives with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #83 out of Nacogdoches presented a bullet proof vest to Chris Davis, Courthouse Security Officer.
Representatives with the DAV were Commander Christopher P. Borel, and Richard Lundie.
May 26, 2026 - The 2026 Summer Reading/Discovery Program at the Fannie Brown Booth Library will kick off on Thursday, May 28th. We have some really great programs planned for the summer. So come by the Library anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday to pick up summer packs and schedules.
May 25, 2026 - (Photo Album) - VFW Post 8904 and community members participated in a Memorial Day activity honoring those that served by placing flags on the graves of service members on May 25, 2026.
The group gathered at Oaklawn Memorial Park and began moving row by row to locate graves and place flags appropriately.
The effort took approximately 30 minutes, and as all who participated departed, the recognition of the patriotism of those that served was evident by the display of flags on the cemetery grounds.
May 21, 2026 - Happy Tails Adoption Center was overjoyed when two of our long-term dogs got adopted during this year's Empty the Shelter campaign.
Daryl came to us 6 months ago from our local police department. The ACO saw Daryl roaming the streets of Center, TX. Daryl made us smile and laugh countless times as he demonstrated his goofiness on a daily basis. And he's a huge love bug. We're so happy to see him with his furever family!
Kai had been with us 600+ days when his new family found him at our shelter. He had originally come to us during our first onsite event in 2024. His mom had to move away and couldn't take him with her.
Kai became one of our mascot dogs. We all love him so much! The poor fella got adopted out twice only to boomerang back to the shelter. But he found his match last week. He and his new dad wrestled, ran and played while his new mom completed the paperwork. We are ecstatic for him and his family!
We will be forever grateful to the Bissell Pet Foundation for including us in this year's Empty the Shelter campaign.
May 20, 2026 - The 50 Women Impact Group awarded the 2026 second quarter grant in the amount of $10,900 to the Shelby County Christmas Committee. Accepting the check on behalf of the Christmas Committee was Doug Gay, Committee Chairman.
In 2024, a small group of community volunteers with a passion for Christmas and community, come together with a vision and plan to purchase a community Christmas tree and decorations for everyone to enjoy. The first annual Christmas Tree Lighting was held that same year and was a huge success thanks to the many generous businesses and individuals through their one-time contributions.
The next year the City of Center helped to expand the decorations by offering the many decorations purchased in the past by Frances Oates. These ‘retro’ decorations, the carousel and Santa with reindeer, were revitalized and put back into service by the committee. Also, Hallmark Center Fixture Operations and Windham Family Dental made a donation which purchased the “Hallmark Card” frame and the Merry Band of Reindeer giving family picture opportunities to the decorations. The 2025 Christmas Tree Lighting was once again a success!
The Christmas Committee then set a goal of “growing” the Christmas tree another six feet as well as re-purposing a 13-piece Nativity Set donated by Hallmark Center Fixture Operations with all new lights, add more twinkle trees around the courthouse and four corners of the square, add lights to the shrubs, and purchase luminary lights to outline the property.
The Christmas Committee expresses their appreciation to the 50 Women Impact group! The committee's wish is the 50 Women Impact group knows this next Christmas season when they see the families, couples, and individuals on the downtown square enjoying the decorations that they helped with adding more Christmas magic for all.
The Fifty Women Impact Group is comprised of women across Shelby County who come together four times each year to donate funds to a non-profit organization in Shelby County. An application is completed, members are provided information regarding each applicant and vote on the quarterly recipient. This quarter's giving brings the groups total grant awards to $364,900 since its start in November of 2017.
Membership in the group has grown to 110 members and is open to any woman who wants to help make a positive difference with a quarterly donation of $100. "The power of giving as one" is the motto and the group continues to make a positive difference across the county!
May 18, 2026 - The inside renovation of the Fannie Brown Booth Library is complete and the library is now open for all activities.
The library thanks all of you for your patience and we invite the public to come see what has been done to the library.
Also, a big thank you to the City of Center, Mayor David Chadwick, City Manager Chad Nehring, and the City Council for the library renovation.
Sandra Davis, Library Director
Presented by Badders Law Firm
Hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
May 11, 2026 - The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Teacher Appreciation reception, presented by Badders Law Firm and hosted by the Shelby County Chamber, was held on Wednesday, May 6 at the Windham Civic Center in Center at 4:30 p.m. The reception is held annually to salute and recognize the dedicated administrations and teaching staff of all the Shelby County school districts. The Chamber of Commerce Education committee presented each school campus Teacher of the Year with a Certificate of Recognition and announced the Shelby County Teacher of the Year for Elementary and Secondary schools. This is a time when gratitude and appreciation is expressed to the educators throughout the county. Congratulations to all the Campus winners!!
The Elementary Teacher of the Year is Jennifer Leach, a teacher at S.W. Carter Elementary School. The Secondary Teacher of the Year is Haley White, a teacher at Center Middle School. Congratulations to these outstanding Educators!
Thank you to all the table sponsors and businesses who donated gifts for door prizes!
From left: Haley White and Jennifer Leach
May 6, 2026 (Photo Album) - The Shelby County Elementary Teacher of the Year was awarded to Jennifer Leach and the Shelby County Secondary Teacher of the Year was awarded to Haley White during the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Teacher Appreciation reception held Wednesday, May 6th at the Windham Civic Center in Center. The reception recognized the dedication of all the campus teachers of the year with each campus administrator praising their teacher before presenting them with a Certificate of Recognition. Each teacher was then presented a letter by Texas Representative of District 11, Joanne Shofner.
Door prizes donated by area businesses were given out with enough for each teacher to receive one gift and some receiving two gifts.
The Teachers of the Year from the Shelby County School Campuses are:
F.L. Moffett Primary School – Diane Horsley
Center Elementary School – Kenneth Horsley
Center Middle School – Haley White
Center High School – Melissa Munoz
Center Roughrider Academy - Meredith Morris
Excelsior ISD – Caroline Cox
S.W. Carter Elementary – Jennifer Leach
Shelbyville Middle School – Deanna Metcalf
Shelbyville High School – Heather Pinkston
Tenaha Elementary School – Marcia Albert
Tenaha Middle/High School – Nicci Cooper
Timpson Elementary – Kambry Wallace
Timpson Middle School – Donna Sue Youngblood
Timpson High School – Lacey Gandy
Thank you to all our Sponsors and to all the businesses who donated gift items for helping us recognize our wonderful teachers, countywide, for all they do for our community and our students.
Presenting Sponsor is Badders Law Firm. Gold sponsors for the event are Farmers State Bank, HR Group and Shelby Savings Bank. Silver Sponsors are McWilliams Heating Cooling Plumbing and Ray Jones Chevrolet.
Host Table Sponsors are Action Team Realtors of Center, Aurora Concepts, BOM Bank, Doches Credit Union, Mathews Real Estate, Panola College – Shelby County, Raymond Motor Company, Tuxedo Springs and Windham Family Dental. Spotlight tables are Diamond B Coffee and Shelby Insurance Agency.
Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were honored to serve First Responders at the luncheon. From left: Brandy Filz, Amanda Treat-Brock, Pam Hall, Nicole Shedd, Vickie Horton, Taighen May, Andi Foster, and Leon Aldridge
May 8, 2026 - (Photo Album) - SC Chamber First Responders Appreciation Lunch - Presented by Badders Law Firm
The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Center Independent School District hosted an Appreciation Lunch for First Responders, presented by Badders Law Firm on Friday, May 1st. Pete Low cooked a delicious barbeque meal.
First Responders including police officers, department of public safety officers, constables, Sheriff Deputies, firemen, medics, Game Wardens and law enforcement officials were the honored guests.
Public servants and peace officers carry a responsibility for maintaining order, enforcing the law and protecting the lives and property of our citizens. Often, service involves personal sacrifices and even personal danger. The appreciation lunch recognizes the contribution law enforcement makes to the community.
Thank you to all our Generous Sponsors. Presenting Sponsor was Badders Law Firm. Gold Sponsors were Focused Care of Center, Spartan Structures and Specter Inc. Silver Sponsors were Brock’s Rocks, BTS Disposal, Farmers State Bank, H&R Block, McWilliams Heating Cooling and Plumbing and Ray Jones Chevrolet. Table Sponsors were: Aurora Concepts, BOM Bank, C&J A/C & Electrical, CenterPoint Energy, Hope Community Medicine, Mathews Realty, R&D Distributing, Raymond Motor Company, Republic Services, Shelby County Today, Shelby Insurance Agency, Shelby Savings Bank, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance and Wright Dodge. Thank you to Chicken Express for donating all the tea.
Thank you to everyone to helped, especially the Center ISD Maintenance Staff.
From left: Dr. Jane Todd, Gene Hutto, Richard Lundie, Ike Reeves, Theresa Hume, Larry Jones, Larry Hume, Derrick Roberts, and Erik Choron
May 7, 2026 - VFW Post 8904 along with a few others held a Loyalty Day ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, in front of the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on the Historic Downtown Square.
Loyalty Day is on May 1st every year, however, due to inclement weather, the program was rescheduled this year to the following Monday, May 4th.
Derrick Roberts started the program, “Good morning, everyone. Thank you guys for joining us today for our Loyalty Day program.” He then asked Post 8904 Chaplain Richard Lundie to give the invocation. “Father God, we’re here today, on this Loyalty Day morning to affirm our loyalty to the United States of America. As good citizens, we affirm that we hold our citizenship as a sacred trust between one another and with you.”
Roberts then shared the following, “Some of the holidays we celebrate, honor great Americans, while others recognize great moments in our history. But one, ‘Loyalty Day,’ celebrates everything, from the moment we delivered our Declaration of Independence to the British, to the moment we gathered here this morning.
“Loyalty Day is a celebration of America and everything our country stands for. Loyalty Day asks us to pause for a moment and we look back at where we’ve been, and ahead to where we will want our nation to go.
“Originally observed as “Americanization Day” in 1921 and enacted into public law by congress in 1958. Loyalty Day celebrates the legacy of freedom and the shared ideals that bind our great nation together. While initially established to counterbalance the May 1 celebrations of the communist party in the United States, this day has endured as a permanent fixture on America’s calendar.
“Even as the communist threat has greatly diminished over the years but perhaps is being revitalized, Loyalty Day remains a day worth recognizing, and we can’t think of a group we had rather spent Loyalty Day with than you here today.
“Today, we must remind ourselves, others and ourselves, that there is no substitute for loyalty, and we must pledge to maintain a free society in which loyalty is respected and encouraged.
“Loyalty Day is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of Loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedoms.”
In an act of reaffirmation, the group recited the Pledge of Allegiance which was followed by the placing of the Loyalty Day wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial by Comrade Erik Choron.
Roberts finished by saying, “What American freedoms are you thankful for? I am thankful that we can gather as a group like this today without fear of reprising. We can voice our opinions among our fellow citizens. I am even more thankful that every time our VFW visits here, we will always find a group of loyal Americans. Today is not an official holiday but rather an observance that we make that many are unaware of, and would have gone unrecognized in Shelby County today if you had not been here. Again, thank you for being here this morning, I ask you to go out and share this day with someone who is unaware.”
The VFW Post 8094 will gather on the downtown Center square on Friday, May 8, 2026 to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of VE Day. The remembrance will begin at 10am with the laying of a Memorial Wreath in honor of those who served, those killed in action, and those still missing in the European Theater during World War II.
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