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March 26, 2015 - The 2015 Center Rotary Club 'Fun For Funds' fundraising event for the Catherine Pinkston Roughrider Scholarship Foundation was held at the John D. Windham Civic Center on Tuesday night March 24. The preliminary results are in and indicate at the close of the online auction the event brought in $33,350 for Center students.
For four hours Rotarians worked the phones, commentated on the internet, television, and radio to raise funds to help further the educations of those students worthy of receiving the benefit.
At the end of the night, the highest bid item was the Queen of the Sabine Cruse donated by Pineywoods Seafood which went for $1,610 bid by Will Lucas. The item bringing in the second highest dollar amount was an Axis Doe Hunt donated by Venado Creek Ranch which brought in $1,400 and was won by Richard Fausett.
A special item in the auction was a Cotton Bowl Package which was a college football playoff game and was donated by Blake and Eve (Andrews) Wiley in memory of Eve's dad and former teacher at Center ISD, Doug Andrews. The Cotton Bowl Package raised $500 in memory of Mr. Andrews and was won by Howell Howard. All the auction items together raised over $14,000 of the total amount raised. (Winning bidders list)
Rotary Club President J.J. Ford expressed appreciation of those who helped make the event a success, "Every year the Fun for Funds event relies on the generosity of businesses and residents who donate items for the auction. It was a nerve racking event for me because I feel it is an important fundraiser. Center ISD students are blessed to have this resource, the Catherine Pinkston Scholarship Foundation, and I am glad I had the opportunity to play a small part in helping to raise more scholarship money for the foundation."
Ford continued, "I don't think we can ever stop raising money for this great cause. As our population grows and the cost of a college education continues to rise, graduating students and their parents have the financial burden immediately put upon them. It is important we have the funds and such a wonderful thing to know that graduating students can turn to the scholarship foundation for assistance."
Roughrider Scholarship Foundation has presented 1,544 scholarships totaling $1,213,800 to graduating CHS students and is funded by donations, not just from Rotary, but from the community.
Businesses, individuals, and others who donated items to the auction were Monco Motor Company, SFA University, Center ISD, Blake and Eve (Andrews) Wiley, Frank Parker, Bill and Pam (Parker) Wall, Rick Campbell, Bob Reeves, Fairchild Price Haley & Smith, Campbell Portable Buildings, Venado Creek Ranch, Pineywoods Seafood, Pineywoods Beverage, All Hours Fitness, General Shelters, McAdams Propane Company, Back Country Furniture Designs, Tyson Foods, Epic Fit (Whitney Scarber), Sassy Red's Bakery, Darrell's Bar-B-Que, Sombrero's Mexican Grill & Cantina, Shelby County Today, East Texas Poultry Supply, Specter Inc., ACE Hardware of East Texas, db Metal Art (Delbert Beckham), Covington Lumber Company, Dr. Dixon Golden, All American Fireworks, Portacool, Light and Champion, Panola College, State Farm Insurance (Sandy Wheeler), East Texas Tilapia, Few Ready Mix, Dr. Keith Miller, Andres Chavez & Sons Landscaping & Mowing, Center Fixtures, Self Defense America, and Center Fire Department. Others who donated items or time for the event was Center Noon Lion's Club, Jason Fulbright, Rick Thompson, Greg Stuever, Tommy Hughes, Lisa McAdams, Pam Howard, Brookshire Brothers, and Chief Imaging.
Even though the auction is over, if you would like to make a monetary donation in honor of someone or in memory of someone, it's not to late. Go to www.funforfunds.org and click on 'Monetary Donation'. Or you can contact J.J. Ford, Rotary Club President, at rotaryclub.center@gmail.com with your donation request.
Monetary donations made during 2015 Fun for Funds
Shelby Savings Bank - $5,000; Farmers State Bank - $3,000; Center Lions Club - $3,000; Janie Cuculic (In memory of Gail Cuculic) - $2,250; AEP SWEPCO - $1,000; Bill "Scooter" and Pam (Parker) Wall (In memory of F.E. & Doris Parker) - $1,000; John Black Insurance - $550; Sabine State Bank - $500; Jerry & Barbara Pinkston - $500; Sharon Nelson & Steve Oates (In memory of Dr. Joe B Hooker) - $250; Doyle, Billie & Selina Luman (In memory of Greg Luman) - $200; Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative - $100; Bound's Insurance - $100; Hardy's Machine & Welding - $100; Mettauer Insurance - $100; Montie Jones Insurance - $100; Paul Pustka / Farm Bureau - $100; Danny & Andy Foster (In honor of all Center Graduates who have crossed the threshold of Center ISD) - $100; Cline Family Medicine - $100; Axley & Rode - $100; Bobbie Nutt (In memory of Charles Nutt) - $100; Eileen Beard - $100; Richard Fausett - $100; Morrison Insurance - $50; Casey Williams / Edward Jones - $50; Gary Rholes (In memory of John Mitchell. Rholes will match up to $50 for any other donations in Mitchell's memory) - $50; Gary Rholes (In honor of Judge Charles Mitchell. Rholes will match up to $50 for any other donations in Mitchell's honor) - $50; Stephen Shires (In honor of Charles Mitchell) - $50; Rick Campbell (In honor of Charles Mitchell) - $50; Wendell Johnson (In memory of Gene Fields) - $50; Wendell Johnson (In Memory of Jack Bell) - $50; Bob Reeves - $50; Rick Campbell - $50; Bob Reeves (In honor of Judy Bowers) - $50; Gary Rholes (In honor of Judy Bowers) - $50; Rick Campbell (In honor of Judy Bowers) - $50; Gary Rholes (In honor of Portia Gaines) - $50; Rick Campbell (In honor of Portia Gaines) - $50; Robbie Williams / A1 Bail Bonds (Challenges all other bondsmen) - $25.
March 25, 2015 - Mayor Mike Wood received a visit from the Pink Heals Gregg County Chapter fire truck which was loaded down with firemen on Monday, March 23, 2015 during the fire department's monthly meeting.
It was slightly different to hear sirens on approach to the fire department instead of the more common sound of them leaving en-route to a fire or other emergency. The sirens instead were announcing the arrival of the Pink Heals fire truck with one of the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (JVFD) trucks leading the way.
As the trucks arrived, firemen poured from the meeting hall of the department with Mayor Mike Wood, a 40 year fireman with the department in their company. Once the fire trucks came to a halt in front of the department, and the occupants of the building were standing out front, JVFD Fire Chief Perry Pugh announced, "Mayor, this is for you." Pugh regarded Elmer Mathews who was also present and stated it was for him as well. Although he is not battling cancer, he has had recent health struggles.
The Pink Heals firemen each greeted Mayor Wood and embraced him, followed by his daughter Janie Jones. Wood was emotional at the great show of support and stated, "Thank y'all, thanks so much. I'm overcome." Wood was then asked to sign the Pink Heals fire truck, which he did and then posed with friends, family, fellow firemen and the Pink Heals firemen.
Janie Jones, Mike Woods daughter, contacted Steve Denfeld, Gregg County Pink Heals President and his wife Tammy and asked them to pay her father a visit, "A young lady from Carthage had brain cancer and they came to her house because her dad is in the fire department in Carthage, which Randy Leidtke is a member of the Carthage Fire Department, so he volunteers with them and that's kind of how I originally found out about it. I contacted them and they said, 'we'll go wherever, you tell us where you want us to go and we'll go there.'"
Jones shared some about how Pink Heals became what it is today, "It started out as a thing for women, you know because of the pink, and they just kind of expanded from there. They don't take donations, what they get they give to somebody else and if they go to a fundraiser or something all the money that's raised at that fundraiser goes to say Texas Oncology [ for example], they don't keep any of the money or anything."
The four Pink Heals firemen who were present include: Steve Denfeld, Longview Fire Department; Dennis Gage, Retired Kilgore Fire Chief; Tim Crawford, White Oak Volunteer Fire Department; Randy Leidtke, Carthage Fire Department.
Tammy Denfeld, Pink Heals Volunteer, was with the firemen and explained the effect the program can have on someone fighting cancer and how the program works, "We've gone to people's houses that are terminal, when you can make someone that's terminal smile that's awesome"
"We're off tour right now, they'll go back on tour in a couple months. I went from Longview up through Tennessee, Mississippi, part of Louisiana all the way up to Virginia with them. I was gone about two weeks," said Denfeld. "I'll leave out again and go from Shreveport I think [Las] Vegas this time. We just all rotate, we've got over 14,000 volunteers and it's nine months, it's pretty cool. They just go and they give this program away to communities that are willing to do it, so that you could keep your stuff local."
If you have a request for Pink Heals of Gregg County you can reach them by email at pinkhealsofgc@gmail.com by Facebook at Pink Heals of Gregg County or through Twitter at PHGreggCounty.
March 24, 2015 - The 2015 Center Rotary Club 'Fun For Funds' fundraising event for the Catherine Pinkston Roughrider Scholarship Foundation was held at the John D. Windham Civic Center on Tuesday night March 24. The preliminary results are in and indicate at the close of the online auction the event brought in $33,300 for Center students.
For four hours Rotarians worked the phones, commentated on the internet, television, and radio to raise funds to help further the educations of those students worthy of receiving the benefit.
Leading up to the event, Rotarians acquired items from willing businesses and individuals who wish to support the scholarship program. Further information will be provided on the outcome of the fundraiser once all monetary donations have been received.
If you would like to make a monetary donation in honor of someone or in memory of someone, it's not to late. Go to www.funforfunds.org and click on 'Monetary Donation'. Or you can contact J.J. Ford, Rotary Club President, at rotaryclub.center@gmail.com with your donation request.
March 24, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Monday March 16, 2015 Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kurtes Lawrence, while on routine patrol in the Joaquin area, discovered methamphetamines on a man on County Road 3315.
During the course of a traffic stop, Deputy Lawrence received information that the driver has been known in the past to be in possession of narcotics. Deputy Lawrence conducted a consensual search of the vehicle and found a small plastic bag that contained a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamines.
A field test was conducted and showed a positive result. The driver, Benjamin “Bubba” Malone, 28, of Joaquin was arrested for possession of a controlled substance as well as two outstanding warrants and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Justice of Peace Pct 1, Maxie Eaves, set bond at $3,000 for the Possession of Controlled Substance.
March 24, 2015 - A Chireno man lost his life in Center as the result of an industrial incident Monday. Emergency crews responded to a call at CenTex Manufacturing (Dragon Inc.), located at 946 Loop 500 in Center, at 2:32pm when it was reported a tank had fallen on an employee.
According to a press release from the Center Police Department, at 2:46pm it was discovered that Steven Lawrence Garcia, 24, of Chireno had fallen into a piece of machinery.
When emergency personnel arrived, it was learned Garcia had fallen into an industrial auger and suffered injuries resulting in his death.
Responding to the scene were the Center Police Department; Center Fire Department; ACE EMS; Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1; and Mangum Funeral Home.
This investigation is ongoing with the Center Police Department and CenTex Manufacturing.
March 23, 2015 - A crash involving a Grand Marquis and a large body of water occurred on Sunday in the Moodyville area.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, on Sunday, March 22 at 3:30am Deron Bowlds, 31, of Logansport was traveling east in a cream 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis on State Highway 7 East when, according to Bowlds statement, he swerved left to miss a deer in the roadway.
The Marquis traveled off the roadway to the left and down a hill where it struck a tree and continued down the hill and into a large pond where it came to rest in three feet of water.
Bowlds was able to escape from the vehicle and no injury was reported as a result of the crash. He was issued a citation for no driver's license.
March 23, 2015 - Rosehill Road in Timpson was the scene of a house fire early Sunday morning which the Timpson Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to fight.
Just before 5am the firemen were dispatched to the scene of the fire at the residence of Bobby "Bud" Hendricks with the Timpson Police Department and Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service also at the scene to provide support. Upon arrival at the scene, the fire was fully involved and after the firemen fought the fire for some time, the assistance of the Tenaha VFD was requested at 5:30am.
A tanker truck was delivered by Tenaha VFD and the two departments worked to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread of the fire.
It's believed the fire started in either the kitchen or living room of the house and the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
March 20, 2015 - Prior to the start of Joaquin City Council meeting, Mayor Mike Woods made a presentation to three Joaquin citizens who have over the past year proved to be a valuable asset to the city before council began discussion of changes to Water and Gas Rates.
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Mayor Wood expressed appreciation first to Taylor Wilkerson, "During our Centennial Celebration we had a young lady who worked extra hard, every time you looked around she was accomplishing something along with the committee but she worked to make things fall into place and it was just a great experience for everybody and she had a lot to do with it. So at this time, we would like to show our token of appreciation by giving Taylor Wilkerson a [plaque]." The plaque said - Your timeless effort during the celebration of our town's Centennial helped make the occasion a great success. May your future be bright, successful, and God's speed."
The second individual to be recognized was Donna Fitzgerald. Wood said, "When I took office, there was some confusion going on and we were fortunate to get Donna Marshall Fitzgerald to come in as our city secretary along with a really good city council. We have had a pretty good couple of years of peaceful and accomplishing city government. As Mrs. Fitzgerald retires here in March, I would like to give her this award on behalf of the city council." The plaque says - To Donna Fitzgerald, your work as city secretary from March 2010 through March 2015, the City of Joaquin is grateful for your contributions and hope you enjoy a happy retirement, peaceful days ahead.
"And last but not least," finished Mayor Wood. "The previous mayor was kind enough to award me with a distinguished service award and I feel like we have a guy here who as fire chief has earned that so he is the second person to get this and its well deserved. I know that our citizens are well protected and that his efforts, which many of you never see, are appreciated by all of us. We owe a lot to our fire chief, Perry Pugh." The plaque said - Distinguished service award, Chief Perry Pugh. Grateful recognition for outstanding dedication to the citizens of Joaquin as a fire fighter and a fire chief. Always going above and beyond the call of duty to do the three things that fire fighters do: save lives, protect property, and suppress fire. God's speed Perry Pugh. Presented by a grateful mayor and city council of Joaquin, Texas, March 2015.
Following the recognition of Wilkerson, Fitzgerald, and Pugh, the Joaquin City Council meeting was opened by Mayor Wood. Council members present were Bill Baker, Pat Gray, Pat Gray, and Lee Vern Stotts-Gilliam. Not present at the meeting was Ben Brittain and Mike Atkinson.
Discussion of the Water and Gas rates was held and a three part motion was made and approved to adjust Water and Gas Rates. The three part motion was to (1) increase the current $50 water connect fee to $100 with a $100 deposit to stay the same for a total of $200 for new water service; (2) no longer accept letter of credits from other utility companies; and (3) no longer offer customers summer vacation rates for gas service. Customers already on summer vacation will remain so and just have the $25 reconnect fee. Once reconnected, the customer would then be charged each month at least the minimum amount during the whole year. 'Summer vacation' was allowing a customer to put their account on hold for an average of 7 months a year and not be charged the base amount of a little more than $14 per month during those 7 months.
After the approval of rate changes, a Joaquin citizen, Earlene Polley, spoke to the council concerning what she says is the horrible condition of East Saddle Street. The road has terrible pot holes, needs cleaning up of garbage and clearing of weeds. Mayor Wood apologized that the council would not be able to repair the road completely at this time due to funding; however, he said they would do what they could including clearing the weeds and patching the holes as best as possible. After the meeting adjourned, Lee Vern Stotts-Gilliam offered to assist Polley with scheduling a clean up day to help with getting the trash dumped in the area cleaned up.
To end the meeting, Mayor Woods expressed his appreciation to the council, "You know I have been a missing face for two weeks and I appreciate y'all carrying on without me, you do a good job. I could not ask for a finer council and I will try to be here next month."
Action Taken on Agenda Items: 3. Approved previous month's minutes. 4. Approved payment of bills with a correction - remove entry for a payment pertaining to Christmas Festival which was on the financial report in error. 5. Tabled till next meeting Discussion and Action on Gas Supply Agreement. 6. Approved changes on Water and Gas Rates - increase water connection fee to $100, no longer accept letter of credits, and no longer offer 'summer vacation'.
March 20, 2015 - According to a press release from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department a property owner had his stolen property returned following an investigation by the Sheriff's Department and Stanley Burgay, Constable Precinct 5, which led to of arrest of two suspects.
Shelby County Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports Shelby County Sheriff's Department Investigators DJ Dickerson and Kevin Windham and Constable Stanley Burgay have been investigating theft of property from the Timpson area.
During the course of the investigation, it was found that a Kenneth Dewayne Hendrick and a Horace Roger Hendrick, both of Timpson, had sold property that was positively identified as property which was stolen from the Edwards' property.
Kenneth Dewayne Hendrick, 39, was arrested for the charge of Theft >= $1500<20k, Enhanced, Felony 3. Horace Roger Hendrick, 41, has an active warrant for his arrest for the charge of Theft >= $1500<$20k, Enhanced, Felony 3.
The property that was recovered, being 150 creosote poles and (4) rolls of barbed wire were recently relinquished to the owner Mr. Lawrence Edwards. the owner Mr. Lawrence Edwards.
April 17, 2015 - Commissioners, County Judge, law enforcement, and members of the community attended a public hearing in the community room of the Shelby County Courthouse on Thursday, April 16, 2015 concerning trash and public nuisances in unincorporated areas of the county.
The prompting for the public meeting being held was because of the number of calls fielded by County Officials concerning trash and public nuisances. Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison explained, "We are aware of the (trash) problem and are very concerned about the problem."
Harbison opened the meeting up inviting the members of the audience who signed to speak to address the commissioners. First to speak was Donnis Adams who addressed health issues he says he has had as the result of dead chickens being dumped on his road. Adams said, "I was diagnosed with Avian TB (tuberculosis) from my neighbor dumping his dead chicken carcasses. If you go out by my driveway right now, I just mowed my yard, there is a pile of white chicken feathers right beside my drive. Now, I want to make sure anything you guys may do does encompass dead animals being dumped in the county." Adams listed health issues he states he now has because of Avian TB which included glaucoma and deteriorated vision leading to blindness in one eye, a hole in his lung the size of a golf ball, hearing problems which he said are the results of the treatments he has undergone to try and kill the Avian TB. He continued to speak about the dumped dead carcasses stating, "It's dangerous to you and it's litter."
Another concerned citizen spoke and also addressed an issue they are having with their neighbor who has farm animals. According to the concerned citizen, the neighbor is disposing of the guts of animals being slaughtered right next to the their property and at times on their property. Photographs were presented to Commissioner Jimmy Lout since it was occurring in his precinct.
Buren Lowe was the last concerned citizen to speak, "Its embarrassing to say that it seems like our county has become so trashy. It's heartbreaking to go down some of our back roads and see the amount of trash that is throwed out." Lowe suggested the county instigate some kind of program which would encourage people to not throw out trash much like the Texas litter campaign - Don't Mess With Texas. "We don't have any place in Shelby County for people to dispose of their goods. I commend the commissioners for being on board again about the recycling program which is a great asset to recycle some of our waste; its really great. I would love to see Shelby County have a landfill that would afford the people of Shelby County [a place] to take their goods because we've got to dispose of them somewhere, there's really no place to dump them," expressed Lowe. He finished saying, "It's just really, really embarrassing being a Shelby County person to drive down our roads and see how bad it looks."
Commissioner Precinct 2 Jimmy Lout spoke about the dumpsters being available; however, the dumpsters don't allow tires or household trash. Sheriff Willis Blackwell said, "That's mainly what we run into on the road is household garbage. That's were the problem is; they don't have anywhere to go with them black sacks coming out of the kitchen." Chief Deputy Shad Sparks expounded on the procedure the Sheriff's Department has when trash dumping is reported, which included, after the investigation reveals to whom the trash belongs, is to give them an opportunity first to pick it up. He said they often find that many of the people dumping don't have the funds to afford monthly trash pickup which means they are also not going to be able to afford a ticket for dumping either. Sparks said, "If they don't pick it up or they are repeat offenders, we write them a dumping ticket. If they can't pay for it, they get an FTA (Failure to Appear) and they go to jail."
The discussion of using prisoners to clean up on work detail was brought up and Sheriff Blackwell answered, "There has to be a certified peace officer to take those prisoners out of that jail and go somewhere with them, so it's not a question of whether a jailer could take them out and work them, we can't. It has to be a certified peace officer with them." Sparks added saying "We would love to have a work detail, that's not an issue with us, everybody is just short-handed right now." It was mentioned that cleaning up the roadways has been used for community service time for people who couldn't pay citations off or for teenagers who had gotten in trouble as a learning lesson or as a deterrent.
There were a number of citizens from Huxley who were unable to attend the meeting. Harbison said, "In the last three and a half months, the ones that I have heard the most about are close to Toledo Bend or on Toledo Bend... I have three or four different things (letters with photographs) here from the same community and I've done some research on it and I have a paper that was prepared by the legal council of the Texas Association of Counties and there are actually laws on the books already that covers public nuisance. It defines the public nuisance and everything that we've talked about today is classified in this as a public nuisance."
"I think that we probably just need to start an abatement program to utilize the laws that are already in the health and safety code. One of the laws says that it's a public nuisance if they're keeping, storing or accumulating rubbish including newspapers, abandoned vehicles, refrigerators, stoves, furniture, tires, cans on the premises in a neighborhood or within 300 feet of a public street for 10 days or more," stated Harbison. She continued, "There are laws already there and I think we should look at enforcing them. I think turning a blind eye to them is not the best way to do it. I just want to let the public know I empathize with their problems and that I really do want to work towards a solution."
Harbison spoke on behalf of the commissioners' court saying, "We really don't want to have a law that impedes anybody from doing anything on their private property because you bought that property and you paid for that property."
The way the law works would be a citizen would file a complaint with the commissioners and they would decided during commissioners' court if it is in fact a public nuisance. If it is approved to be a nuisance, the court would send out a notice giving the property owner a time period to clean it up. If the property owner fails to comply, they can be fined. In the long run the county could hire someone to clean it up and a lien could be placed by the county against the person's property. It would be a civil case.
"I'm not for telling anybody what to do on their property, but if you're living 300 feet of a public road, if it's dead carcasses by your property that is impeding your well being and your health, I think it's our duty to look into this and to do what we can to help the community. I may be dead wrong but I don't think it's infringing on anybody's private rights if the laws that are already on the books are enforced," stated Judge Harbison.
Take pride in your community and help keep it beautiful. Lowe suggested a new slogan - "Don't Trash Shelby County"
- Educate all your family and friends about littering and how bad it is.
- If you see a litterbug, you can report it on the Don't Mess With Texas and Texas will send the litterer a Don’t mess with Texas litterbag along with a letter reminding them to keep their trash off of our roads.
- Form a community service group to help with picking up litter.
- Foster respect for a clean city among school children, visitors to parks, patrons of fast-food, and smokers.
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