In Funeral Announcements

James E. Luman, 53, passed away Sunday at his home in Joaquin.  Graveside Services will be at 10:00 a.m today at Mount Herman Cemetery in Center.

Kerry K. Whitton, 78 passed away Monday at Colonial Pines Health Care Center. Visitation will be tomorrow from 1:00 – 3:45 p.m at Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson followed by a private graveside burial at 4:00 p.m in Woodlawn Cemetery in Timpson.

Juanita Spears, 75 of Garrison passed away Monday in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be held Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m at Garrison Funeral Home with funeral services to follow at 11a.m. Burial will follow at Cold Springs Cemetery in Garrison.

David Lloyd Anderson, Sr., 70, of Timpson passed away Saturday at his home in Timpson. A memorial graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m Saturday in Turner Cemetery located on Kidd Cemetery Road in New Caney, TX.

Local Arrest Report for October 30^th

Douglas Creech, 35, of Carthage was arrested by Joaquin Police for Public Intoxication.

Dalton Miller, 20, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Hunting at Night.

Michael Lorton, 22, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Harboring a Runaway and Sexual Assault of a Child.

Billy White of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

This week’s high school football schedule has anticipation growing for several big district games in the area. On tap Friday night, it’s Timpson at No. 3 state-ranked Joaquin, featuring two unbeaten teams going at it for the district lead. Center Broadcasting will have live coverage of that game as our Shelby County Game of the Week on Q-100, KQBB-FM. Another key match-up has Alto at San Augustine in a battle for first place. Other games have Grapeland at Shelbyville; Garrison at Frankston; and Saturday night, it’s homecoming in Tenaha as the Tigers take on Evadale in a contest of two teams in first place. We’ll have the play-by-play of the Tenaha-Evadale game Saturday night on Q-100, KQBB-FM. The No. 22 state-ranked Center Roughriders have a bye.

A programming note, there will be a special 30 minute “bye-week” show for Rider fans at 7 Friday night on KDET, as Chris Watlington will host the program.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour Saturday night before going to bed, as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Remember, the old saying, “fall back”. You will get the hour of sleep back you lost last Spring.

You will be able to get an early start on your Christmas shopping this Friday and Saturday as the first Pinecone and Mistletoe Christmas Market is held at the Windham Civic Center in Center. The two-day holiday extravaganza is sponsored by The William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Vendors from all over East Texas are expected for a gigantic Christmas sales event. There will be shopping fun for the whole family. Bling, ornaments, arts, crafts, food, door prizes and surprises are expected. Times for the event are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The annual Center downtown night time lighted Christmas parade is set for 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1. The theme for this year’s parade is Enchanted Christmas Forest. The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade Committee says there will be fun and excitement for everyone. The parade will feature a special Grand Marshal, holiday floats, marching bands and of course Santa Claus. For more information, contact the chamber office at 936-598-3682.

It’s Halloween, and there are several family oriented events going on this evening.

Woodland Christian Church in Timpson invites you to come join them for their annual Fall Harvest Fest, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. They’re providing a safe and fun alternative for Halloween. They will have supervised hay rides so children may “trick or treat” at homes of church members. Games, prizes, food/refreshments will be provided. There will also be a cake walk for adults. A parade of costumes with prizes for participants will be held. Woodland Christian Church in Timpson at the intersection of Hwys. 59 & 84.

First Baptist Church of Tenaha is holding their annual trunk-or-treat from 6 to 8 this evening. They’ll have door prizes throughout the evening.

Town and Country Real Estate is having a haunted house from 4 to 6 this afternoon, located at 114 Nacogdoches Street on the Center Square. Candy will be given.

A “haunted trail” is being held in Timpson at 7, sponsored by the Timpson High School Class of 2013. The trail is located at 221 Hwy. 59 South in Timpson, look for signs. Cost is $2 for children 12 & under; $3 for adults; games tickets are 25 cents each.

Voting personnel in both Shelby and San Augustine Counties continue to report a “heavy” turnout of early voters heading into next Tuesday’s General Election.  As of 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, 3,039 had voted in Shelby County since early voting started Oct. 22. Although an exact number is not known, it’s reported to be a greater turnout so far than the 2008 General Election. There are 14,402 registered voters in Shelby County.  Shelby County voters can continue to vote early from 8 to 4:30 today through Friday at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square.  Meanwhile, San Augustine County has had 1,503 cast early ballots in the eight days of voting. Elections Administrator Deborah Woods says with three days left to vote early, voting is on course to be higher than the over 16-hundred that voted four years ago. San Augustine County has 6,159 registered voters.  In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 through Friday, at Ms. Woods’ office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broaddus Community Center.

A Shelbyville man was arrested earlier this week on felony arrest warrants obtained as a result of an undercover narcotics investigation, according to a press release from Shelby County Sheriff Newton Johnson.  50-year old Allen James Holm of Blue Bird Lane in Shelbyville, was taken into custody Monday morning and charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Holm allegedly sold the illegal drugs hydrocodone and xanax in Shelbyville to an undercover operative working under the direction of the Sheriff’s Department.  Bonds were set at $1,500 each per Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Maxie Eaves.

Early voting in Louisiana officially ended yesterday. Election Day is just a week away.  For the past few days, the lines outside the Caddo Registrar of Voters Office has been wrapping around the block.  The registrar's office says they've seen a huge increase in early voters this year. Nationwide, early voter turnout has greatly increased above 2008 election turnout numbers.  Voters in Texas and Arkansas still have a few more days to cast their early votes. Afterward, everyone will have to vote on Election Day, which is next Tuesday. Caddo Parish officials estimate that about more than 8,000 people voted early.  Bossier Parish officials reported about 6,700 early voters. DeSoto Parish had about 2,000.

A Texas toll road with the nation's highest speed limit will get signs warning drivers about wildlife after at least three incidents of vehicles colliding with animals in the first few days of the new 85 mph zone. The private company that runs the 41-mile portion of Texas Highway 130 said Tuesday temporary electronic message boards were being used until permanent signs can be installed.  According to SH 130 Concession Co. spokesman Chris Lippincott, the company decided to put up the signs based on early driving experiences on the north-south freeway designed as a bypass around Austin. The 85 mph portion opened last week.  Authorities say there have been at least three collisions, including two with wild hogs. No one in the vehicles were hurt.

In Funeral Announcements
 

James E. Luman, 53, passed away Sunday at his home in Joaquin.  Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be at 10:00 a.m. tomotrrow at Mount Herman Cemetery in Center.

David Lloyd Anderson, Sr., 70, of Timpson passed away Saturday at his home in Timpson. A memorial graveside service will be at 1:00 PM Saturday in Turner Cemetery located on Kidd Cemetery Road in New Caney, TX.

Local Arrest Report for October 29^th

Jonathan Bearden, 19, of Timpson was arrested by DPS for Driving While Intoxicated and No Driver's License.

Jimmy Turner, 44, of Timpson was arrested by Center Police for Driving While License Invalid.

Richard Sholar, 28, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Possession of Marijuana.

Allen Holm, 50, of Shelbyville was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Donald Lee, 29, of Center was arrested by DPS for Possession of a Controlled Substance and for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Ami Lee, 31, of Center was arrested by DPS for Possession of a Controlled Substance and for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

In sports, Dave Campbell’s high school football state rankings are out for Week 9, and the Center Roughriders have inched back up, and are No. 22 in the Class 3A poll. The 8-1 Riders were No. 25 last week. Meanwhile, the Joaquin Rams hang on to the No. 3 ranking in Class 1A, Div. I with an 8-0 mark.

Other East Texas teams receiving state rankings in Class 3A, include: Kilgore No. 7; Gilmer No. 8; West Orange-Stark No. 10 and Carthage is No. 11.Silsbee is No. 15 and Henderson No. 25. Navasota remains No. 1 in 3A.

In the Class A, Div. I rankings, Alto is No. 7, and Mason is the top team. In Class A, Div. II, Munday remains No. 1.

Class 2A, Div. II’s No. 1 team is Refugio, and Arp is No. 9; and 2A, Div. I’s top team is Cameron Yoe, with Newton No. 2.

In Class 4A, the No. 1 team is Pearland Dawson, with John Tyler No. 2, Nederland No. 10; Dayton No. 11; and Whitehouse No. 15; while in Class 5A, Katy is still No. 1 in the state.

This week’s high school football schedule has Timpson at Joaquin in a battle of undefeated playing for the district championship. Center Broadcasting will have live coverage of that game Friday night as our Shelby County Game of the Week on Q-100, KQBB-FM. Also scheduled is Alto at San Augustine in another big district game for a district title. In addition, Grapeland at Shelbyville; Garrison at Frankston; and Saturday night, it’s homecoming in Tenaha as the Tigers take on Evadale. The Center Roughriders have a bye this week. We’ll also have the play-by-play of the Tenaha-Evadale game Saturday night on Q-100, KQBB-FM.

A couple of programming notes, it’s Tuesday and we invite you to tune into Don Wall’s Coaches Show at 7 tonight on Q-100, KQBB. In addition, there will be a special 30 minute “bye-week” show for Roughrider fans at 7 p.m Friday night on KDET, as Chris Watlington will host the program during Center’s off week.

The basketball season is just around the corner and a couple of local girls’ teams are involved in a combined scrimmage tonight. Center andTenaha, in addition to Central, Laneville and Alto will be playing a controlled scrimmage in Tenaha. The season will tip-off for girls next week.

The Panola College Fillies volleyball team will be taking part in the Region 14 Tournament that gets underway Thursday in Baytown at Lee College. Eight teams are vying for a berth into the NJCAA National Tournament in Missouri next month. Panola’s first round opponent is Laredo Community College, with the match at noon Thursday. The top two teams from the tournament will advance to the national tourney.

Wednesday concludes National Bullying Prevention Month. Even though the observance ends, let’s not allow awareness of this issue go un-noticed. Center Broadcasting has been airing public service announcements, and working with experts in hopes of getting the word out about the increase in cyberbulling and its impacts. Texas school districts and law enforcement agencies have been making it more clear than ever they take the problem seriously. Raising awareness about the impact of threats, teases and taunts has gone beyond hallways and schoolyards. Cyberspace attacks range from sending cruel text messages to posting photos or videos on public Internet sites for the world to see. Please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Let authorities know if children are being bullied, they're not alone. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

San Augustine County held an all-day Community Partners Summit yesterday that focused on identifying existing and potential resources for expanding social services to county citizens. Representatives from four federal social service agencies flew all the way from Washington, D.C. for a one day meeting in San Augustine. The basis for the summit all started with a county judge wanting to see change in her rural community. San Augustine County Judge Samye Johnson spoke of a venture to the backwoods of San Augustine County. She met a very poor woman in desperate need of her medicines. Johnson came to her aid but has since learned that it's impossible to individually help all the others. A survey conducted by the SFA Social Work Department of at least 2,000 San Augustine County residents will create a starting point for change. The meeting went well and with the information obtained, there is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of citizens in San Augustine County. While bureaucratic ways are difficult to change, Judge Johnson is willing to try.

There’s four days left to vote early for next Tuesday’s General Election. Shelby County voters can continue to vote early from 8 to 4:30 today through Friday at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square. In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 daily, at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broaddus Community Center. Early voting will end Friday, Nov. 2.

The West Nile virus continues to infect and kill people in Louisiana's worst year since 2002. State health officials say people need to keep fighting mosquitoes. The health department says 139 people have come down with life-threatening neuroinvasive disease, and at least 13 of them have died. That compares to 24 deaths and 204 cases of encephalitis or meningitis in 2002. The total number of cases is 338 this year. That includes flu-like West Nile fever and diagnoses in people who never had any symptoms. The total in 2002 was 328, but Dr. Raoult Ratard says comparing those figures is like measuring with a rubber band, because far more people with mild disease and none at all are now getting tested.

The Texas Senate Education and Criminal Justice committees are meeting jointly to discuss how schools treat troublesome students. Members meeting Today in Austin will attempt a comprehensive review of school disciplinary practices. They'll also cover the disproportionate treatment of some groups of children and how often they're referred to law enforcement for criminal prosecution. The meeting comes a day after the monitoring group Texas Appleseed released results of a survey of 11 public school districts that serve a quarter of the state's public school students. The survey found officials spend $227 million a year on disciplinary programs and school security.

In Funeral Announcements

James E. Luman, 53, passed away Sunday at his home in Joaquin.  Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tomorrow at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Graveside Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Herman Cemetery in Center.

Local Arrest Report for October 27^th & 28^th

Billy Williams, 52, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Violation of Probation.

Vaughn Longino, 52, of Broadus was arrested by Center Police for Robbery.

Orbelin Pingda, 28, of Center was arrested by DPS for No Driver's License.

Darwin Moore, 43, of Port Arthur was arrested by DPS for Failure to Appear.

Brandy Owens, 28, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Criminal Trespassing.

Arnold Esparza, 21, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Violation of Probation.

Kelly Miller, 31, of Center was arrested by DPS for Driving While Intoxicated.

Leah Woodhatch, 20, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Robbery.

Tommie Hester, 58, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated and Failure to ID.

Mitchel Moore of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Violation of Protective Order.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

In sports, here’s a recap of last Friday night’s high school football action: the Center Roughriders improved their season record to 8-1, and clinch a playoff berth with a 51-6 win over Huntington. The Riders are now 2-1 in District 20-3A, as they enter a bye week, before closing out the regular season Nov. 9 against Jasper. Other district results saw Carthage defeat Jasper, 49-31. Carthage is 3-0, Jasper, 1-1, Huntington and Diboll are 0-2.

The Joaquin Rams and Timpson Bears remain undefeated and are headed for a showdown this Friday night in Joaquin for what is likely to be for the outright district championship. Joaquin took a 30-19 win over Beckville, while Timpson shutout Carlisle, 25-0. The Rams and Bears are 8-0, 3-0 in Dist. 9-1A, Div. 1. Last Friday night’s wins also assured Joaquin and Timpson a trip to the playoffs. Harleton defeated Big Sandy, 35-28 in the other district game. Harleton is 2-1, Beckville 1-2, and Carlisle and Big Sandy, 0-3 in the district standings. 

The District 10-1A, Div. I race has also come down to a two-team race for the championship, and will be decided Friday night when Alto comes to San Augustine. The Wolves beat previously unbeaten and state-ranked West Sabine, 20-8, and Alto defeated Grapeland, 36-12. Both SA and Alto are 3-0 in district. The Wolves improved to 6-2 overall. Meanwhile, the Shelbyville Dragons get win No. 2 of the season, as they take a 27-6 win over Cushing. The district standings behind San Augustine and Alto have West Sabine, Grapeland and Shelbyville at 1-2; and Cushing 0-3.  The Tenaha Tigers did not play Friday, but remain in first-place in the Dist. 11-1A, Div. 2 standings at 2-0.  Other local scores: Deweyville beat Hemphill, 56-26; Whitehouse over Nacogdoches, 52-21; Lufkin 40-7 over College Park; and Henderson defeats Bullard, 24-14.

The SFA Lumberjacks lose on the road at McNeese State Saturday, 35-24. SFA is 3-5 on the season, 2-2 in Southland Conference play.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors are hosting a new owner ribbon cutting for Center Health & Harmony with owner Beth Brown and manager Bonnie Henderson at 811 Nacogdoches Street at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Center Health & Harmony, formerly Center Health Foods, carries a large variety of health products. Refreshments will be served.

The final week of early voting is underway through this Friday for the Nov. 6 General Election.  Shelby County voters can vote early from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square. Early voting Tuesday through Friday will be from 8 to 4:30.  In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 daily, through Nov. 2 at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broaddus Community Center.  If you’d like to vote by mail, there’re several requirements to be met.A person must be: 65-years or older; be disabled; be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.  Applications to vote by mail must be made by tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 30, to either Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office, 598-6361; or in San Augustine County, Election Administrator Deborah Wood’s office, 275-0989.

Louisiana's constitution flatly says the right to bear arms shall not be abridged. But it also contains a clause that allows legislators to pass laws that bar people from carrying concealed weapons.  Voters will be asked whether they want to tinker with that language on Nov. 6. The second item on a list of proposed constitutional amendments would strike the exception and add language designed to strengthen already strong gun possession rights in the state.  Backers say it will give Louisiana the strongest gun protection in the nation, while opponents say it could negate prohibitions of concealed handguns on college campuses, in churches, and in government buildings and gun-free zones around schools.  The amendment is one of nine proposed constitutional changes that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Today kicks-off a month-long campaign to help stock the food pantry at Shelby County Outreach Ministries heading into the holiday season. Center Broadcasting Company, along with Ray Jones Chevrolet is proud to help sponsor the “Fill-a-Chevy” promotion event. We’re encouraging you, our listeners, to drop off non-perishable food items to Ray Jones Chevrolet in Center and help fill the bed of the specially-marked Chevy pickup truck, now through Nov. 29. As an added bonus, for each bag of groceries you leave, you’ll be qualified to win a $250 gift certificate from Covington Lumber, or an oil change for a year from Ray Jones Chevy. Help stock the Shelby County Outreach Ministries food pantry that assist families in Shelby and San Augustine Counties. Drawing for the gift certificate and oil change will be Nov. 30. “Fill-a-Chevy” this holiday season and help feed those in need. Again, we ask that no frozen or perishable food items be brought to Ray Jones Chevrolet.

Judge John Dietz has some deceptively simple questions to answer about how Texas finances public schools.  Article 7 of the Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to "make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools." The Travis County district judge must decide what amount of money is suitable, and how to define efficient.  The trial that began last week will likely last into January when the Legislature returns to Austin for its biennial, 140-day session. The last time lawmakers met they discovered they didn't have enough revenue to give schools what the school finance law's formula said they deserved, based on daily attendance.  So the Republican-controlled House rewrote the formula and gave them $4.8 billion less than the previous law required. The Republican-led Senate approved those cuts and slashed grants to schools by another $600,000. Republican leaders then announced that from then on, they will decide school budgets based on what funds are available, not what a formula says schools need.  In the meantime, lawmakers will spend this spring drafting a new budget for public schools. Conservatives have already drawn a line in the sand, insisting that more money is not the answer, while Democrats have made the issue the cornerstone of their campaign to rally support and regain relevance in Texas politics.

 In Funeral Announcements

 

Elsie Tee Rudd, 100, passed away Saturday at her home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. today at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial to follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. 

Ina Lofton, 71 of Garrison passed away Tuesday in Nacogdoches. Graveside services will be held today at 2pm in Glennwood Cemetery in Groveton.

Leffel Poindexter, 83, of Jasper, passed away Wednesday in Jasper. Visitation will be today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel in with burial following in the Attoyac Cemetery in San Augustine County.

Avis Buckner, 84, passed away Tuesday in Humble, Texas.  Visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 tomorrow at Watson & Sons Funeral Home with graveside services following at Johnson Cemetery in Joaquin. 

 Local Arrest Report for October 25^th

Kenneth Brown, 47, of Marshall was arrested by Center Police for Theft.

Mitchel Moore of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Assault and Family Violence.

The 22^nd annual Sassasfras Festival is this weekend in San Augustine. The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce has put together another fun-filled festival. There’s local entertainment scheduled to start tonight with the Ashton Hill Band at 7; there’s arts, crafts and food vendors; rides for the kids; a quilt show; dog show; photography exhibit; classic car show; a B-B-Q cook off; sidewalk sales by local businesses, and lots and lots of other events, including an Alzheimer Walk. For more information on the San Augustine Sassafras Festival, starting today and all-day Saturday, contact the chamber of commerce, 936-275-3610, or go to their website, www.sanaugustinetx.com.

Week 8 of the high school football season has several of our area teams vying for possible playoff spots. The 7-1 Center Roughriders, carry their No. 25 state ranking into Huntington tonight to play the winless Red Devils. The Riders are 1-1 in District 20-3A, a game back of 2-0 Carthage. Jasper is 1-0 and will be at Carthage tonight. A Center win will clinch a playoff berth. Diboll is 0-2 and has a bye.

The Rider Radio Team of Rob Payne and Chris Watlington and cast will describe the action on KDET, beginning with the stadium pre-game show at 7. The Rider game also streams at cbc-radio.com.

The state’s No. 3 Class 1A, Division I team, the 7-0 Joaquin Rams are celebrating homecoming tonight. Joaquin is 2-0 in District 9-1A, Div. I, tied with the Timpson Bears at 2-0, who are also undefeated at 7-0. Joaquin hosts 1-1 Beckville, while 0-2 Carlisle is at Timpson. The district’s other game has 0-2 Big Sandy against 1-1 Harleton.

Our Shelby County Game of the Week will feature the Joaquin-Beckville game, as Don Wall has the play-by-play starting at 7:20 on Q-100 KQBB-FM. We’ll also have the game’s live stream at cbc-radio.com.

The San Augustine Wolves are tied atop the District 10-1A, Div. I standings with Alto, with 2-0 marks, while West Sabine and Grapeland are a game back at 1-1. West Sabine is state-ranked at No. 10, and will be in San Augustine tonight to play the 5-2 Wolves, while No. 7 state-ranked Alto takes on Grapeland. The Shelbyville Dragons are on the road to Cushing, as both teams support 0-2 district records. The Tenaha Tigers have an open date tonight, as they lead the District 11-1A, Div. 2 standings at 2-0. Meanwhile, Evadale is 1-0, Burkeville 1-1, Mt Enterprise 0-1, and Sabine Pass 0-2. In action Staurday night, Evadale takes on Burkeville and Sabine Pass will be at Mt Enterprise.

The Garrison Bulldogs are 4-3 on the season, 2-1 in District, and are home to play West Rusk tonight. Some other area games: Ringgold at Logansport; Nacogdoches at Whitehouse; College Park at Lufkin; Bullard at Henderson; and Deweyville at Hemphill.

The SFA Lumberjacks are on the road in Lake Charles Saturday in a Southland Conference game with McNeese State.

San Augustine County will be hosting an all-day Community Partners Summit on Monday, Oct. 29, that will focus on identifying existing and potential resources for expanding social services to county citizens. San Augustine County Judge Sammye Johnson says the event is a partnership between Stephen F. Austin State University, local providers, state and federal partners convening around ways to better serve citizens of small and rural counties with scattered population. The summit will start at 9 a.m., Monday at the Museum Theater at 117 East Columbia in historic downtown San Augustine. Judge Johnson says the session will include presentations from local service providers describing the services their organization provides to the citizens of the county; list the dates and times their services are available in the county; and describe the application process. She also reminds each organization to tell them what San Augustine County can do to help them in their efforts to serve the community.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election continues. Shelby County residents can cast ballots from 8 to 4:30 today, with a special designated time from 12 to 4 Sunday afternoon at the Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square. Early voting next week begins Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 daily, at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and also from 9 to 4 at the Broaddus Community Center. San Augustine County voters are reminded they can also vote during an extended period from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both locations this Saturday, Oct. 27 only.

Shelby County voters are deciding on three county-wide offices, that of sheriff, between incumbent Newton Johnson, Jr. and Willis Blackwell; district attorney between incumbent Kenneth Florence and Steven Shires; and District Judge of the 123^rd Judicial District with incumbent Guy Griffin and Charles “Brick” Dickerson. Other races in Shelby County, are J-P Pct. 1, incumbent Maxie Eaves and Melissa Crouch; and Constable Pct. 3, incumbent Billy Hearnesberger and Roy Cheatwood. In addition, there’s a district-wide race for state representative, Dist. 9 between candidate elect Chris Paddie and write-in John McIntyre. There’s also a contested election in the City of Center, as Council Position 2 race has incumbent Charles Byndom opposed by Jerry Lathan. Early voting for this election is also being held at the Shelby County Clerk’s office. San Augustine County voters will also be selecting a First Judicial District Judge, as incumbent Craig Mixson is challenged by Jennifer Job (Jobe) Seale (Seal).

San Augustine ISD voters are deciding on a $5-million dollar bond issue for construction of a new athletic facility; and the selection of three school board members. Including Position 2 between William (Bub) Johnson and Jennifer Studdard; Position 5 Orvin Garrett and Dennis Barnes; and Position 7 between William Richards and James Moore. In addition, two San Augustine Constable races up for election. In Pct. 2, incumbent Jeff Mosby is challenged by Robert Pooh Wynn; and in Pct. 4, incumbent Ben Miller is opposed by Kevin Gratehouse.

According to an online story from KTRE-TV, there have been reports of illegal electioneering in the Shelby County DA’s race, as Republican candidate and current DA, Kenneth Florence , says his opponent, Democrat Stephen Shires’ supporters were handing out food from the Shelby County Child Advocacy Center’s food booth at the recent East Texas Poultry Festival, in bags marked for Shire’s campaign. Florence says the practice was against IRS code for non-profits. Shires says the accusation is much to do about nothing, and he believes nothing has gone on that was improper. Both Shires and Florence were members of the advocacy center board at the time. Another supposed campaign conflict arose in the past couple of months when Florence and his wife entered a Center restaurant and said Shires and advocacy center staff were having what appeared to be a luncheon meeting, in which Florence says, he was not invited to, adding he thought the luncheon may have been paid for with advocacy center monies. Florence has dropped a grand jury subpoena of bank and payroll records related to the matter. Florence has since submitted his letter of resignation from the advocacy center’s board. Florence mentioned in the report there are no truths to the rumor he’s planning to shut-down the child advocacy center and have staff members arrested.

The revenue department is holding a public hearing on proposed regulations that spell out limits on the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit. The tax break program's cost has grown much larger than estimated and has become a headache for Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration because of differing interpretations about what should be included. At Thursday's hearing, Regulations were proposed that would limit the tax credit program costs to an estimated $10 million, higher than initial projections but far less than analysts suggest the current law could cost. The regulations put forward by the Jindal administration would eliminate "flex-fuel vehicles" from being eligible for the tax break. Inclusion of those vehicles could drive the program's cost to up to $250 million a year.

A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its ruling that Texas can withhold state women's health care funding from Planned Parenthood clinics. The New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of appeals issued it ruling Thursday. State lawmakers cut off funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest health care provider in the Texas Women's Health Program. The health program provides family planning and other health services to more than 130,000 low-income women and is designed for those who might not otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek says the state has increased the number of doctors and clinics in the program to care for women who need to find new health care providers.

In Funeral Announcements

Teresa Whitton, 60, of Timpson, passed away Monday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.  Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. today at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel.  

Elsie Tee Rudd passed away Saturday at her home.  Visitation will be from

5:00 –  8:00 p.m. today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial to follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. 

Avis Buckner, 84, passed away Tuesday in Humble, Texas.  Visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 Saturday at Watson & Sons Funeral Home with graveside services following at Johnson Cemetery in Joaquin. 

With anticipation of the opening of the General Gun Season for deer hunters next weekend on Nov. 3, there will be a Special Youth Hunt for youngsters this weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday. Licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt deer by any lawful means during the Special Youth Hunt.

The CHS Cheerleaders will conduct their 2012 Mini Camp from 9 to 11, Saturday, October 27, at the Center High School Gym. Cost is $20 per participant. Registration forms are available at your child’s campus, or at the door Saturday. The mini camp is open to PreK through Fifth Grade. Showcasing and filming opportunities will start at 10:30. Camp participants will perform on Friday, November 9, at the Varsity football game vs. Jasper. For more information or questions call Jenny Cassell at 598-6173.

Friday night’s high school football schedule has Center at Huntington; West Sabine at San Augustine; Beckville at Joaquin, where it’s homecoming for the Rams; Carlisle at Timpson; Shelbyville at Cushing; West Rusk at Garrison; Ringgold at Logansport in the Tigers last regular season game; Deweyville at Hemphill; and Tenaha is open.

Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center at Huntington District 20-3A game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week features Beckville at Joaquin in a District 9-1A, Div. I contest on Q-100 KQBB FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

Festivals and Halloween related events going on this weekend:

The Excelsior PTO Halloween Carnival will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 in the Excelsior School Gym. Lots of games, food, prizes and fun!

The Huxley Volunteer Fire Department is having a Fall Festival at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 at the fire house in Huxley. There will be a huge 24 plus gun raffle, Bingo starting at 5, BBQ chicken plates ready at 6 p.m., plus children’s games, cake walk, and auction benefitting the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department. Among the items will be a quilt, donated by a group of ladies from Toledo Bend Baptist Church.

The 3rd annual Joaquin Spook House is being held this year at 9956 State Highway 84 E Joaquin. There will be a $1 entry fee. All proceeds go to the Relay for Life Team to benefit The American Cancer Society. Donations will also be accepted. It will be held, Saturday, October 27 from 8pm to 12am. For more info call 936-269-9473\or 936.332.0203\or 936.572.0441.

The Timpson Ministerial Alliance and Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Fall Festival, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 on the downtown square in Timpson. The event will feature games, surprises, treats and fun for the family. Plus, the movie, “Monster House”, will be shown starting at dark. You’re urged to come in fun costumes. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Most activities are for children, elementary age and younger.

There will be a Horse and Rider Costume Contest, sponsored by the Shelby County 4-H Horse Project, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28, at the home of Bob and Stacey Vandrovec in Huxley. There will be games on horseback plus games for non-riders. Refreshments will be provided. Horse must have negative coggins. For more information call 368-2752.

The 22^nd annual Sassasfras Festival is this weekend in historic downtown San Augustine. The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce has put together another fun-filled festival. There’s local entertainment scheduled to start Friday night with the Ashton Hill Band at 7. Saturday’s entertainment includes: The Dusty Boots Band with local artist Shane Mathews at 10 a.m.; a patriotic concert with Charles Delaney at noon; Cowboy Church Band at 1 p.m.; in addition to The Windham Family singers at 2 p.m.; Amanda Jo Johnson at 2:30; and the Throw Down Band wrapping up the day’s events at 4:30. The festival features lots of arts, crafts and food vendors, contest, and other events, including a 5K Fun Run and Walk and hay rides. For more information on the San Augustine Sassafras Festival, contact the chamber of commerce, 936-275-3610, or go to their website, www.sanaugustinetx.com.

The HOPE Clinic in Tenaha is having their first Halloween Ball from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Center Country Club. Admission is $65 a person, or $100 for a couple, which includes admission, two cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Costumes are encouraged. Funds raised will go to the new dental clinic. It’s a night for adults to come out and play. Between the music there will be a mummified auction, which includes sports memorabilia. Plans for the new dental clinic will be unveiled at the event. For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Sheila Martin at 936-248-4648.

If you’re a registered voter, you’re reminded early voting continues from 8 to 4:30 today and Friday, with a special designated time from 12 to 4 Sunday afternoon at the Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square.  In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 daily, through Nov. 2 at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broaddus Community Center. Ms. Woods reminds voters there will be an extended early voting time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both locations this Saturday, Oct. 27 only.  If you qualify, you can vote by mail for the General Election. Those qualifications include: a person must be 65-years or older; be disabled; be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.  Applications to vote by mail must be made by Tuesday, Oct. 30, to either Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office, 598-6361; or in San Augustine County, Election Administrator Deborah Wood’s office, 275-0989.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week.  This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a special man who is an inspiration to everyone who has had the privilege of meeting him.  We would like to highlight Mr. Tom Martin.  Tom is a Garrison native and has been a resident for many years.  Tom is a Garrison High School graduate and was a member of the first ever Garrison football team.  Tom also played on the school basketball and baseball teams.  Tom later worked with Southwestern Bell to which he retired after 37 years of service. Tom has been active in various civic and community organizations over the years and remains a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Garrison.  Tom was recently honored by being named the Grand Marshall of the 62nd Garrison Lions Club Homecoming Parade.  Tom has indicated that the keys to living a long life are eating healthy foods and exercising, to which he still does everyday.  We want to thank Mr. Tom Martin for being an inspiration as well as for providing a positive example for others to follow.  November 2nd, Tom Martin will be celebrating his one hundred first birthday. 

Louisiana Treasury Secretary John Kennedy says the state needs to slow down and not panic over its health care budget, especially when it comes to discussions about selling LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.  Kennedy agrees with Governor Bobby Jindal that changes are needed to overcome a potential $800 million loss of federal funds, but selling the state's-best managed hospital should not be an option.  Last month, LSU Medical Center employees, Caddo Commissioner Ken Epperson and State Representative Barbara Norton rallied outside the hospital saying that privatizing the facility would hurt jobs, salaries and the quality of service it gives to patients.  To date, LSU Medical Center says no decisions regarding cuts or a potential sale have been made. 

The Texas Public Utilities Commission will likely double the price cap on wholesale electricity in order to encourage more generation. PUC chairwoman Donna Nelson told the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday that raising the maximum price that a generator can charge is needed to make sure there is enough electricity available during peak periods plus a 13.75 percent reserve.  The Texas electricity market pays only for electricity provided, not for generating capacity. Officials say that low prices have kept generators from adding more capacity while demand has gone up. A shortage in generating capacity could result in a shortage if something unexpected happens, such as an unplanned breakdown or inclement weather.  According to sources, lawmakers have two options, either accept more outages or redesign the market to encourage more generation. One option was moving to a market that pays for installed capacity rather than the electricity supplied.  The commission will vote on the proposal Thursday.

In Funeral Announcements

 

Teresa Whitton, 60, of Timpson, passed away Monday at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.  Visitation will be from 5:00 –  8:00 p.m. today at Mangum Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. tomorrow at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel.  

Elsie Tee Rudd passed away Saturday at her home.  Visitation will be from
5:00 –  8:00 p.m. tomorrow at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial to follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. 

 Local Arrest Report for October 23^rd

Crystal Owens 33, of Logansport, LA was arrested by Joaquin Constables for Theft.

Michael Tapley 28, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While License Invalid and Resisting Arrest.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Newbern Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #1135 will be having their 24th annual chicken dressing dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday, October 26. Location: First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall in Center. Cost is a donation of $6. Dine in or take out. Proceeds benefit scholarship funds. For information, contact Dot Messer at 936-254-2003.

This week’s high school football schedule has Center at Huntington; West Sabine at San Augustine; Beckville at Joaquin, where it’s homecoming for the Rams; Carlisle at Timpson; Shelbyville at Cushing; West Rusk at Garrison; Ringgold at Logansport in the Tigers last regular season game; Deweyville at Hemphill; and Tenaha is open.

Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center at Huntington District 20-3A game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week features Beckville at Joaquin in a District 9-1A, Div. I contest on Q-100 KQBB FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

The 22nd annual Sassasfras Festival is this weekend in San Augustine. The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce has put together another fun-filled festival. There is local entertainment scheduled to start Friday night with the Ashton Hill Band at 7:00 p.m; there’s arts, crafts and food vendors; rides for the kids; a quilt show; dog show; photography exhibit; classic car show; a B-B-Q cook off; sidewalk sales by local businesses, and lots and lots of other events, including an Alzheimer Walk. For more information on the San Augustine Sassafras Festival, Friday and Saturday, contact the chamber of commerce, 936-275-3610, or go to their website, www.sanaugustinetx.com.

At their meeting Monday, the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents appointed Center native, Shirley Biggar Luna, as the executive director of marketing and public affairs. She’s a former associate director of SFA’s Office of Public Affairs, and will also be leading SFA’s strategic marketing efforst. Luna was appointed to fill the position on an interim basis in July of 2011. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at the university. Luna previously worked as a freelance writer as a newspaper reporter. Shirley is a 1982 graduate of Center High School.

A part of history will be in Timpson Thursday morning when “No. 844” will be making a service stop en route to Houston for Union Pacific Railroad’s 150th anniversary. No. 844 is the last steam locomotive build for Union Pacific, and is scheduled to stop in Timpson at 11:15 Thursday morning, and is expected to be there for about 30 minutes while crew members service the 68-year old engine. Everyone is invited to come out to see the locomotive.

If you’re a customer on the Sand Hills Water Supply, and you were without water, due to a water line being cut on Monday October 22, you need to boil your water until further notice.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election has reported to be “heavy”, according to election officials in Shelby County. At the close of voting Tuesday afternoon, there had been 952 voted early at County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office. Early voting continues from 8 to 4:30 today, Thursday and Friday, with a special designated time from 12 to 4 Sunday afternoon at the County Clerk’s office on the Center Square. In San Augustine County at 4 p.m. Tuesday, 420 had voted early. Of those, 273 were in San Augustine and 147 in Broaddus. In San Augustine County, early voting is taking place from 8 to 4 daily, through Nov. 2 at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broaddus Community Center. Ms. Woods tells Center Broadcasting that there will be an extended early voting time from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both locations this Saturday, Oct. 27 only. To vote by mail, a person must meet these requirements. Be 65-years or older; be disabled; be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible. Applications to vote by mail must be made by Tuesday, Oct. 30, to either Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office, 598-6361; or in San Augustine County, Election Administrator Deborah Wood’s office, 275-0989.

Police Investigators reported at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that a Louisiana woman who said she had been set afire by white supremacists, actually inflicted her injuries herself. Sharmeka Moffitt was found in a city park in Winnsboro, in rural northeastern Louisiana, on Sunday night with burns over 90% of her body. The 20-year-old told police she had been attacked and set ablaze by three men who wrote “KKK” on her car, but Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas said Tuesday afternoon that evidence found on a cigarette lighter and a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid showed “this was not an attack, but a self-inflicted incident.” Moffitt was in critical but stable condition at a Shreveport hospital Tuesday night, according to Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Bettye McCoy.

Motorists, start your engines. It's opening day for the last leg of a Texas toll road with the nation's fastest speed limit. The final 41-mile stretch of Texas Highway 130 will open today after three years of construction. The speed limit will be 85 mph. The toll road is intended to help alleviate the increasingly crowded Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, which are two of the state's largest metropolitan areas. The new stretch will be from Mustang Ridge, about 10 miles south of Austin's international airport to Interstate 10 just east of Seguin. A 50-mile stretch bypassing Austin is already open. Tolls for personal vehicles displaying an electronic toll tag will be about 15 cents per mile. But no tolls will be collected until Nov. 11.

Local Arrest Report for October 22^nd

Louis McKee 38, of Nacogdoches was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.

Terry Bridges 54, of Tenaha was arrested by Timpson Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Justin Bridges 29, of Tenaha was arrested by Timpson Police for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Speeding.

Maxine Moore 48, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Failure to ID.

Breane Skyler 17, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Fleeing  from Police, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Dave Campbell’s high school football rankings for Week 8 and the Center Roughriders have slipped from No. 19 to No. 25 this week in the Class 3A poll, after last week’s loss to Carthage. Other east Texas teams in the 3A state rankings include: Kilgore at No. 7, Gilmer No. 8, West Orange-Stark 10, and Carthage inches up to No. 11, and Coldspring is No. 12. Navasota is still No. 1.  The Joaquin Rams remain the No. 3 ranked team in Class 1A, Division I, and Alto has moved into the Top 10 at No. 7, while West Sabine drops to No. 10 after their loss to Alto. Mason remains the No. 1 team in 1A, Div. I. In Class 1A, Div. II, Munday holds on to the top spot.  In Class 2A, Div. I, the top two teams are unchanged, as Cameron Yoe is No. 1, followed by Newton at No. 2. Troup is up to No. 8 after beating Tatum.  The 2A, Div. II rankings have Refugio at No. 1, and Arp is 10th.  Class 4A’s No. 1 is still Pearland Dawson, John Tyler is 3rd; and Class 5A’s No. 1 team is Katy.

This week’s high school football schedule has Center at Huntington; West Sabine at San Augustine; Beckville at Joaquin; Carlisle at Timpson; Shelbyville at Cushing; West Rusk at Garrison; Ringgold at Logansport in the Tigers last regular season game; and Tenaha is open.

A programming note: tune in to Don Wall’s Coaches Show at 7 tonight on Q-100, KQBB FM.

Pre-registration for the second annual Sassafras Festival Old Fashion Fudge Making Contest is underway through Wednesday, Oct. 24. The competition is open to everyone, with cash prizes for winners over age 12. Judging and sale of winning entries will take place, Saturday, Oct. 27 during the upcoming Sassafras Festival. Only homemade fudge will be accepted, and recipes must be attached with entry. No fudge requiring refrigeration will be accepted, and participants must submit full batch of fudge. The contest is for amateurs and no business entries will be allowed. For information, contact the San Augustine County Chamber, 936-275-3610.

It’s Sassasfras Festival week in San Augustine, as the 22nd annual event will be held this Friday and Saturday. The San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce, in addition to volunteers, have put together another fun-filled festival. Among some of the events is the 5K Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday; the festival’s BBQ cook-off; a festival food challenge at 11 a.m. Saturday at Imogene’s Café and Homemade Baked Goods on the square. The challenge will be to see who can eat the most hot wings in 10 minutes. Entry is $10 per person and the contest is for anyone 18 or older. Entries are also being taken through tomorrow, Wednesday for the homemade fudge contest. For more information on the San Augustine Sassafras Festival, contact the chamber of commerce, 936-275-3610.

If you’re a train buff or enjoy seeing history, you’re invited to Timpson Thursday morning when “No. 844” will be making a service stop en route to Houston for Union Pacific Railroad’s 150th anniversary. No. 844 is the last steam locomotive build for Union Pacific, and is scheduled to stop in Timpson during a 13-thousand mile, 15-state tour. No. 844 will be in Timpson at 11:15 Thursday morning, and is expected to be there for about 30 minutes while crew members service the 68-year old engine. After it leaves Timpson, the locomotive is scheduled to be in Lufkin Thursday afternoon for an overnight stay. The No. 844 can run up to speeds of 110-mph, but according to Union Pacific officials, they do not run her that fast. The train is more than 114 feet long with a water capacity of over 23-thousand gallons and weighs more than 454 tons. The No. 844 has made appearances at Expo 74 in Spokane, Washington; the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans, among other historical events. The locomotive is scheduled to arrive in Houston Saturday.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 today thru Friday at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the downtown Center Square; and in San Augustine County from 8 to 4, through Nov. 2 at Elections Administrator Deborah Woods’ Office at 225 North Harrison, in the El Camino Justice Center.

At the Region 21 UIL Marching Contest Saturday in Longview, the following bands were awarded first division superior honors: Center, Shelbyville, Tenaha, Carthage and Nacogdoches. Second division ratings went to Timpson, Joaquin and Garrison. The San Augustine band received a 3rd division rating. Congrats to all bands!

Citizens of Center are invited to make plans to attend the next “Coffee with the Mayor”, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30 in the lobby of the Windham Civic Center.  Mayor David Chadwick says the city is looking at a very busy year. He added the council has just adopted the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, which provides for the continuation of several major improvement projects. This is a great opportunity for citizens to directly ask questions of their Mayor and elected officials.  Some of the projects which will be discussed are the new sidewalk and trail extensions, the initial design of the Downtown Streetscape Plan, the renovation and expansion of Community House, and the expansions of Center Park and Perry Sampson Park.  The event does not require an RSVP and is an informal come-and-go setting.

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court met yesterday.  The court approved the lesser of two bids for a bob-tail dump truck for Commissioner Pct 3. The court accepted the low bid by Performance Trucks. Delivery time is in two weeks.  Finally, Commissioner Rodgers discussed the spraying of weeds on county road right-of-ways . The approximate cost for each precinct is estimated to be $6,250. The effects of the spray last any where from from 3 to 4 years. The court is looking into paying the overall amount out of the ROW budget.  Court adjourned promptly at 9:48am.

The San Augustine County Commissioners’ Court meets at 9 this morning and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action include, a Justice of the Peace request for purchasing electronic devices; the 2013 resolution for indigent Defense Grant Program; information regarding grounds maintenance; the Ike 1 Disaster Recovery Project; and airport signage mocks and prices. In addition, commissioners will consider Legal Shield to present employees offer for legal protection; the Premise Policy; and discussion of the Oct. 29 Community Partners Summit to be held in conjunction with SFA following the recent community needs assessment. That’s a meeting of the San Augustine County Commissioners’ Court at 9 this morning.

Shelby County District Attorney Kenneth Florence says the body of 54-year old Danny Akridge of Center, was exhumed last week and sent to a Dallas forensic lab in order to rule out foul play in his death.  Akridge died in September, and the family has requested the exhumation to answer any questions about the death. Florence had the body exhumed last Friday, and did say there was blood at the scene of the death, but that could have been from natural causes.  Akridge’s body was found in his home off of State Highway 7 West in the Aiken Community. A preliminary autopsy came back inconclusive and Akridge was buried at Mt. Herman Cemetery on Sept. 13.

In Funeral Announcements

Elsie Tee Rudd passed away Saturday at her home.  Visitation will be from

5:00 –  8:00 p.m. Thursday at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial to follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. 

Local Arrest Report for October 20^th & 21^st

Aldemir Bautista 23, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated.

Emilie O'Rear 29, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Theft.

Charles Lupe 57, of Houston was arrested by Timpson Police for Driving While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana.

Justin Bridges 29, of Tenaha was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Assault causing Bodily Injury.

Antonio Gaston of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Driving While Intoxicated.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Here’s a recap of Friday night’s high school football and the district standings. The Center Roughriders’ undefeated season came to an end, as the Carthage Bulldogs took a 45-29 win. The Riders drop to 7-1 on the season, 1-1 in District 20-3A. Carthage, meanwhile improves to 6-2, 2-0 in district. Jasper shuts-out Diboll, 45-0, as Jasper’s now 1-0 in district, and Diboll is 0-2. Huntington had a bye and is 0-1.  The Joaquin Rams and Timpson Bears remain perfect on the season with 7-0 marks. The Rams took a 38-19 win over Big Sandy, and the Bears came away with a 32-7 win over Beckville. Both Joaquin and Timpson are 2-0 in District 9-1A, Division I. It’ll likely come down to a Nov. 2 meeting between the two teams for the district championship. Beckville is now 1-1 in district. Harleton is 1-1, after beating Carlisle, 34-13, in Friday’s other district game. Carlisle and Big Sandy are 0-2.  The San Augustine Wolves and Alto are tied atop the District 10-1A, Division I standings at 2-0. SA beat the Shelbyville Dragons, 35-12, and Alto defeated West Sabine, 40-26. Grapeland beat Cushing, 19-2 Friday. West Sabine and Grapeland are 1-1, while Shelbyville and Cushing are 0-2. San Augustine and Alto will play Nov. 2. 

As for District 11-1A, Division II, the Tenaha Tigers are alone in first place at 2-0, after the Tigers held off Mt Enterprise, 35-32. Burkeville defeated Sabine Pass, 30-16 Friday. Evadale is 1-0, Burkeville 1-1, Mt Enterprise 0-1, and Sabine Pass, 0-2 in the standings.  Other scores: Haynesville defeats Logansport, 49-6; Groveton over Hemphill, 51-14; Corsicana beats Nacogdoches, 28-7; and Lufkin over Bryan, 47-7.

This week’s high school football schedule has Center at Huntington; West Sabine at San Augustine; Beckville at Joaquin; Carlisle at Timpson; Shelbyville at Cushing; West Rusk at Garrison; Ringgold at Logansport in the Tigers last regular season game; and Tenaha is open.

Homecoming was a celebration for the SFA Lumberjacks Saturday, as they take a 44-10 win over Nicholls State in Southland Conference Play. The Jacks improve to 3-4, 2-1 in conference play.

Center Broadcasting has learned the annual Trick or Treating on the Center Square has been canceled for this year. The event has been sponsored by the Center Business Association in the past, but due to the disbanding of the CBA, trick or treating on the square will not take place this year. According to JoAnna Martin, former president of the Center Business Association, there were several factors for the event not taking place this year. She said, “One of the primary factors is that the sponsoring organization, the CBA, has disbanded its activities”. She added as the event grew, it was an over-burden to many people, city services and businesses. Plus, the safety of children and traffic safety was another concern, and some businesses on the square were no longer participating.  We will be telling you this week of a number of Halloween and Fall Festival events where children and families can have safe fun.

Citizens of Center are invited to make plans to attend the next “Coffee with the Mayor”, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30 in the lobby of the Windham Civic Center.  Mayor David Chadwick says the city is looking at a very busy year. He added the council has just adopted the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, which provides for the continuation of several major improvement projects. This is a great opportunity for citizens to directly ask questions of their Mayor and elected officials.  Some of the projects which will be discussed are the new sidewalk and trail extensions, the initial design of the Downtown Streetscape Plan, the renovation and expansion of Community House, and the expansions of Center Park and Perry Sampson Park.  The event does not require an RSVP and is an informal come-and-go setting.

Before the big game Friday night, Roughrider fans got a chance to witness the crowning of the 2012 Homecoming Queen and Princess.  Congratulations to Center High School Homecoming Princess Jayton Cassell and to the Homecoming Queen Tiara Hubbard.

The Joaquin ISD Board of Trustees will meet at 6 tonight, and among the agenda items will be discussing a vacancy on the school board and possible appointment of a new member.

Shelby County District Clerk Lori Oliver reminds us the jury that had been summoned for today, Monday, for the 273rd District Court, Judge Charles Mitchell, presiding, has been canceled. All cases have been passed or settled. Again, if you had been called for jury service today, in the 273rd District Court in Shelby County, you have been excused and do not have to appear until you receive a future summons.

When the Center City Council meets this afternoon, they are expected to approve a resolution denying a proposed rate increase by Centerpoint Energy. The proposed increase would be to the customer charge portion of a monthly bill, and would be as much as 81 percent to a larger volume customer, and 65 percent for a residential customer. There will also a third reading and awarding of an electric franchise to Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative. In addition, the council will discuss the upcoming dedication ceremony at Mull Cemetery, to be held at 10 a.m., Oct. 27 and the Coffee with the Mayor event at 7 a.m., Oct. 30. That’s a meeting of the Center City Council at 5 this afternoon at City Hall.

The Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will have a special meeting this morning, and among the agenda items will be a citizen address by G.W. Strong concerning the condition of County Road 3016; consider and possibly take action regarding a resolution to apply for a Texas Community Development Block Grant through the Texas Department of Agriculture; and accept or reject bids for a bob-tail dump truck for Pct. 3. In addition, Commissioner Travis Rodgers will discuss county road right-of-ways sprayed for weeds; Colleen Doggett will be adding a new member, Vanessa Davis to the Shelby County Historical Commission; and accept or reject proposal to lease the gym at the old elementary school for Zumba lessons. That’s a special meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court at 9:30 this morning.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election is underway today through Nov. 2 across the State of Texas. Locally, voters in Shelby County cast early ballots at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the south side of the Center Square. Today, Monday, you can vote early from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.  There’s also a contested election in the City of Center, as Council Position 2 race has incumbent Charles Byndom opposed by Jerry Lathan. Early voting for this election is also being held at the Shelby County Clerk’s office.  Early voting in San Augustine County is being held from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m., today through Nov. 2 at the Elections Administrator’s Office at 225 North Harrison, opposite end from the county jail.

The Louisiana National Guard has identified the substance that exploded Monday at Camp Minden.  According to a statement released Friday, the substance that exploded was a smokeless powder that does not pose a threat outside of Camp Minden.  The force of the blast from the underground bunker shook homes and businesses in Webster Parish and rattled nerves when it happened around 11:30 p.m. Monday. Early Tuesday morning, crews from Explo Inc., discovered that one of their storage areas had exploded and reported the incident to the Louisiana National Guard. Following this report, the Louisiana National Guard notified local authorities and the Louisiana State Police of the explosion in accordance with standard protocol.  The incident is under investigation by the State Police.  It could take weeks before a determination is made as to what caused the blast.

The ideological divide that has marked the Texas State Board of Education reached a fevered pitch three years ago when an intense fight over how to teach evolution put the state in the national spotlight. The board dominated by a large social conservative bloc eventually reached a compromise that dropped a requirement for Texas public schools to teach the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolution and encouraged teachers to consider "all sides" of scientific theories.  The debate could heat up again next year when the board is set to adopt new science textbooks for classrooms across the state. But all 15 of the board's spots are on the ballot in the Nov. 6 elections, a chance for voters to decide how much conservative influence they want on a panel responsible for establishing the state's public school curriculum. 

In Funeral Announcements

Funeral services for Alma Wimberly of San Augustine will be held at 11:00 a.m. today at Rose-Neath’s Southside Chapel. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Strong Cemetery in Huxley.

Graveside services for Bo Hearnsberger of Garrison will be held today at 1:00 pm at Cold Springs Cemetery. 

Funeral services for Jack Hawkins of Center will be held at 2:00 p.m., today at Watson & Sons Chapel. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center. 

Visitation for Johnnie Lee Bryan Ryan of Chireno will be today at 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Broaddus Cemetery in Broaddus.

Memorial Services for Dorris Ann Sibley Baggett will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Liberty Hill Cemetery in San Augustine.

Week 7 of the high school football season is a big one in District 20-3A, as the undefeated, and No. 19 state-ranked Center Roughriders host the No. 12 ranked Carthage Bulldogs in an early district schedule clash for what could be for the district championship. Both Center and Carthage are 1-0 in 20-3A. The Riders have a 7-0 season mark, while Carthage is 5-2 on the season. Center Broadcasting has complete coverage of the homecoming contest as Rob Payne, Chris Watlington and the Rider Radio Team call the game on KDET and online at cbc-radio.com. The stadium pregame show begins at 7. In the other District 20-3A game tonight, Jasper goes to Diboll and Huntington is open.

The Center Broadcasting Shelby County Game of the Week will pit the San Augustine Wolves at Shelbyville to play the Dragons in a District 10-1A, Division I contest. The Wolves are 4-2, and 1-0 in district, and are tied with West Sabine and Alto for the district lead. Meanwhile, the Dragons are 1-5, and have an 0-1 district mark. Don Wall describes the action starting at 7:20 on Q-100, KQBB FM, and streaming online at cbc-radio.com.

Good game down the road in Pineland tonight, as Alto takes on No. 5 ranked West Sabine.  The top-two teams in District 11-1A, Div. II will be meeting, as the Tenaha Tigers travel to Mt Enterprise to play the Wildcats. Tenaha is 1-0 in district, 3-4 on the season, while Mt Enterprise is 4-2 for the year, and will be playing their first district game; the No. 3 state-ranked Joaquin Rams are on the road to take on 4-2 Big Sandy tonight for a District 9-1A, Div. I match-up. The Rams are 6-0, and are tied with Timpson and Beckville atop the district standings at 1-0. Big Sandy is 0-1 in district. Timpson is at Beckville tonight, as the Bears are also 6-0, while Beckville is 3-3 on the season.

In other action tonight, the Logansport Tigers are at Haynesville; Garrison is open; Nacogdoches at Corsicana, and Lufkin at Bryan. 

It’s homecoming at SFA this weekend, as the Lumberjacks come off their bye week with a 3 p.m. kick off Saturday against Nicholls State in a Southland Conference game at Homer Bryce Stadium.

Early voting will start Monday for the Nov. 6 General Election and there are five contested races in Shelby County. The office of Shelby County Sheriff has incumbent Newton Johnson, Jr., challenged by Willis Blackwell; the Shelby County District Attorney election features incumbent Kenneth Florence against Stephen Shires; the District Judge 123rd Judicial District race pits incumbent Guy Griffin challenged by Charles “Brick” Dickerson; for Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, incumbent Maxie Eaves is challenged by Melissa Crouch; and in Constable Pct. 3, incumbent Billy Hearnsberger against Roy Cheatwood. In addition, State Representative Dist. 9 race has candidate elect Chris Paddie challenged by write-in candidate John McIntyre.   Early voting is being held at Shelby County Clerk Allison Harbison’s office on the Center Square. Those times include: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22 and Monday Oct. 29; from 8 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 28, is the only weekend early voting opportunity.  Meanwhile, San Augustine County voters will be selecting a First Judicial District Judge, as incumbent Craig Mixson is challenged by Jennifer Job (Jobe) Seale (Seal). Also, San Augustine ISD voters have a $5-million dollar bond issue for construction of a new athletic facility to vote on; and the selection of three school board members.  Early voting for the San Augustine ISD bond and trustees election will be from 8 to 4, Oct. 22 through Nov. 2 at the Elections Administrator’s Office at 225 North Harrison, opposite end from the county jail.  There is also several other federal, state and district-wide races up for election, including U.S. Senator; U.S. Representative; and of course President.

The City of Center Police Department wants to alert the public to a rash of car burglaries around town. In an attempt to help catch suspect(s) involved, the Center Crime Stoppers are now offering a Reward of $1,000 for the recovery of property or arrest of person(s) involved in these crimes! One of the burglaries occurred sometime between September 9, and September 19, involving unknown suspect(s) entering a vehicle located at 630 Tenaha Street. There the suspect(s) took a nickel plated Smith and Wesson 357 magnum model # 19, revolver. The barrel was six inches long and it was complete with a basket weave holster. If you have any information please, call Center Crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE or send a web tip at www.centercrimestoppers.com and remember you don’t have to give your name.

Two East Texans are in jail this morning, accused of stealing a van in Dallas, kidnapping the driver and then driving to Nacogdoches.  And police say one of the suspects was just let out of a Dallas jail before the crime was committed.  Police say they don't know why the 2 suspects choose this car or why they decided to take the woman with them but it appears to be a random crime.  29-year-old Tommy Simmons got a bus ticket to Nacogdoches on his way out of a Dallas prison but apparently decided to take a different way home. Nacogdoches police say Simmons met 18-year-old Michelle Tortora of Dallas at a train station and the two stole a van from a Macy's parking lot in Dallas with a 42-year-old woman inside.  According to authorities, the two drove about three hours and then stopped at a gas station in Nacogdoches to release the victim.  The victim is now back home in Dallas. Both suspects are charged with felony aggravated kidnapping and unlawful used of a vehicle.  Simmons and Tortora are being held in Nacogdoches County Jail until they can be transferred to Dallas.

This week, the Webster Parish 911 call center has been inundated with more than 300 calls from panicked residents. The underground bunker explosion at Camp Minden Monday had Minden residents on edge, wondering what the cause of the blast was.  Several of the callers confused the loud explosion with someone trying to break into their home. According to sources, extra 911 call center dispatchers had to be called into work to handle the demand of the high call volume. The blast occurred at an underground bunker operated by Explo Systems Inc. on land leased by Camp Minden. While Explo Inc. is responsible for the housing of the munitions, the cause of the blast is still unknown.

A  judge stopped an East Texas school district on Thursday from barring cheerleaders from quoting biblical scripture on banners at high school football games, acknowledging their argument that it violates their free speech rights.  District Judge Steve Thomas granted an injunction requested by the Kountze High School cheerleaders allowing them to continue displaying such banners pending the outcome of a lawsuit set to go to trial next June.  Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed court papers to intervene in the lawsuit and sent state attorneys to support the cheerleaders' position that the district's ban violated their free speech rights. The Texas Education Code also states that schools must respect the rights of students to express their religious beliefs.

In Funeral Announcements
 

Charles “Corkey” Eppes, 84, of San Augustine passed away Friday October 5th in San Augustine.  A visitation service will be held at Wyman Roberts Chapel today from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Burial will be in San Augustine City Cemetery.

Bo Hearnsberger, 77 of Garrison, passed away Monday in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be held today from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Garrison Funeral Home in Garrison. Graveside services will be held tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Cold Springs Cemetery.  He is survived by his Wife, Anita Hearnsberger of Garrison along with 2 Daughters, Elizabeth Squier of Nacogdoches and Alecia Moulder of Garrison.

Johnnie Lee Bryan Ryan, 70, of Chireno, passed away Monday in Houston.  Visitation will be today and tomorrow from the hours of 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Broaddus Cemetery in Broaddus. She is survived by her husband Jackie Ryan and a daughter Rose Stubblefield of Chireno

Jack Hawkins, 80, of Center, passed away Tuesday at Garrison Nursing Home in Garrison. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., tomorrow at Watson & Sons Chapel. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  He is survived by his wife Ann Hawkins of Center and two daughters, Joanne Shillings of Center and Sheryl Graves of Lake Murvaul.

Alma Wimberly, 99, of Shreveport and formally of Huxley  passed away yesterday in Shreveport.  Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. tonight at Rose-Neath Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow at Rose-Neath’s Southside Chapel. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Strong Cemetery in Huxley.

Dorris Ann Sibley Baggett, 88, of San Augustine, passed away on Wednesday in San Augustine.  Memorial Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Liberty Hill Cemetery in San Augustine. The family chose cremation and only visitation at the graveside.  She is survived by two daughters Janette Smith of San Augustine and Wanda Allen of Austin.

Local Arrest Report for October 17^th

Adria Polley, 23, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Violation of Probation.

Jason Hughes, 67, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Lyntel Smith, 36, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Retaliation.

Corey Dewayne Garrett, 19, of Nacogdoches was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Evading Arrest.

Center Jr. High Roughrider football teams will play Carthage at home starting at 4:30 this afternoon at Roughrider Stadium.  This week's high school football schedule has: Carthage at Center, where it's homecoming for the Riders; San Augustine at Shelbyville; Tenaha at Mt Enterprise; Joaquin at Big Sandy; Timpson at Beckville; Logansport at Haynesville; and Garrison is open.  Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Carthage game on KDET, as Rob Payne, Chris Watlington and the Rider Radio Team describe the action. Our Shelby County Game of the Week will feature San Augustine at Shelbyville on Q-100, KQBB-FM, with Don Wall handling the broadcast. Both games will be streaming live at cbc-radio.com.

The new Fall festival in the area is Happenings at Shelbyville Hill Fest, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 20, in downtown Shelbyville. The fest is sponsored by the non-profit group, 4Factor. Planned activities include a Queen of the Hill Pageant, an Apple Dessert Contest, where cooks of all ages can compete and showcase their favorite apple dishes, a classic car show and a dominoes competition. Among the line-up of musical entertainment will be The Blake Brothers Bluegrass Band, and local musicians, Megan and Thomas Morrison. Adding to the mix will be a variety of food and artisan vendor booths, photography venues, an old-fashioned dessert and cake walk, and a children's area with face painting, pumpkin decorating and bean bag tossing and much more. A note to parents, bring your kids in their Halloween costume and take their photo with the pumpkins! If you would like to enter the dominoes competition, you are urged to contact Suzanne Walker at 936-591-1655 since tables are limited to 20 two-man teams. Entry fee is $5. The Happenings at Shelbyville Hill Fest this Saturday, and admission is free!

The 62nd annual Garrison Lions Club Homecoming will be held this Saturday. The parade starts at 2 p.m., with B-B-Q at 4, followed by the cake auction at 5. There will be activities at the Kiddie Korner, and a variety of live entertainment spotlighting local talent, including Christian Country, Billy Cranford, George Muckleroy and Paul Barr. The grand marshal for the parade will be 100-year old Tom Martin, a life-member of Lions Club International. The Garrison Lion Club invites you to come out Saturday for the annual Garrison Lions Club Homecoming.

When early voting begins Monday for the Nov. 6 General Election, among the ballot issues for San Augustine ISD voters to decide will be $5-million bond to build a new athletic facility for the school district. San Augustine ISD Superintendent Walter Key says with passage of the bond issue, there will be no increased cost to taxpayers, as the district will pay off the remainder of a 5-year old bond currently charging five-percent interest. The new bond, according to Key, would be for 5-years at less than 3-percent interest. He says this would mean an estimated savings of $2 million to the San Augustine ISD.  San Augustine school district voters will also be deciding on three trustee races, including Position 2 between William (Bub) Johnson and Jennifer Studdard; Position 5 Orvin Garrett and Dennis Barnes; and Position 7 between William Richards and James Moore.   Early voting for the San Augustine ISD bond and trustees election will be from 8 to 4, Oct. 22 through Nov. 2 at the Elections Administrator's Office at 225 North Harrison, opposite end from the county jail.

Customers on the McClelland Water Supply that were without water yesterday are under a boil water notice on FM 2661 and Highway 87 south of East Liberty until further notice.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week. This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a special lady who is an inspiration to everyone who has had the privilege of meeting her. From the Lakeside Village Assisted Living Center, we would like to highlight Ms. Grover Hicks. Ms. Hicks is a Center native and has called Shelby County her home for many years. Ms. Hicks started working with Southwestern Bell in 1942 and was a faithful employee for 28 years up until the time she retired in 1970. She has been active in various civic and community organizations over the years and remains a longtime member of the First Baptist Church. Ms. Hicks loves people and enjoys being in the company of family and friends. The 23^rd Psalm is a passage from the Bible that she cherishes and considers to be one of her favorites. Ms. Hicks has never been in the hospital, nor has she ever had any serious health issues, to which she gives all credit to God. Ms. Hicks indicated that the keys to living a long life are eating the right foods and living a clean life. We want to thank Ms. Grover Hicks for being an inspiration as well as for providing a positive example for others to follow. Today, Grover Hicks is celebrating her one hundred third birthday. In celebration, she will be honored at Lakeside Village at three o’clock. Friends and family are invited to come for coffee and cake.

 In Funeral Announcements
 

Charles “Corkey” Eppes, 84, of San Augustine passed away Friday October 5th in San Augustine.  A visitation service will be held at Wyman Roberts Chapel tomorrow from 5-7 pm.  Burial will be in San Augustine City Cemetery.

Bo Hearnsberger, 77 of Garrison, passed away Monday in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be held tomorrow from 5pm to 7pm at Garrison Funeral Home in Garrison. Graveside services will be held Friday at 1pm at Cold Springs Cemetery.  He is survived by his Wife, Anita Hearnsberger of Garrison along with 2 Daughters, Elizabeth Squier of Nacogdoches and Alecia Moulder of Garrison.

Local Arrest Report for October 16^th

Michael Frazier, of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Assault and Family Violence.

Antonio Barrios, of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Assault and Family Violence

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

This week’s high school football schedule has: Carthage at Center, where it’s homecoming for the Riders; San Augustine at Shelbyville; Tenaha at Mt Enterprise; Joaquin at Big Sandy; Timpson at Beckville; Logansport at Haynesville; and Garrison is open.  Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Carthage game on KDET. Our Shelby County Game of the Week will feature San Augustine at Shelbyville on Q-100, KQBB-FM. Both games will be streaming live at cbc-radio.com.  Center Jr. High Roughrider football teams will play Carthage at home starting at 4:30 Thursday at Roughrider Stadium.

The HOPE Clinic in Tenaha is having their first Halloween Ball from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Center Country Club. Admission is $65 a person, or $100 for a couple, which includes admission, two cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Costumes are encouraged. Funds raised will go to the new dental clinic. It’s a night for adults to come out and play. Between the music there will be a mummified auction, which includes sports memorabilia. Plans for the new dental clinic will be unveiled at the event. For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Sheila Martin at 936-248-4648.

The 22nd annual San Augustine Sassafras Festival will be held Oct. 26 & 27. Pre-registration for the second annual Sassafras Festival Old Fashion Fudge Making Contest is underway through Wednesday, Oct. 24. The competition is open to everyone, with cash prizes for winners over age 12. Registration is also underway for the Sassasfras Festival 5K Fun Run/Walk to be held at 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27. Early entry is $25 until Oct. 19, with late entry, $30. The event benefits the San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce community beautification projects.  In addition, entries are being accepted for the Sassafras Festival BBQ Cook-off, with meats judged to include: sliced brisket, pork ribs and chicken halves. Also, a “festival food” challenge will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Imogene’s Café and Homemade Baked Goods on the San Augustine Square. Anyone 18 or older will be allowed to participate. The challenge will be to see who can eat the most Hot Wings in 10 minutes. Entry fee is $10 per person. For more information on the San Augustine Sassafras Festival, Oct. 26 & 27, contact the chamber.

It’s Homecoming week in Center and among the activities will be the Center High School Homecoming Pep Rally at 3 Friday afternoon in the CHS Gym, and prior to the start of the Riders game with Carthage, the recognition of sweethearts and beaus, class duchesses, in addition to the crowning of the 2012 homecoming queen and princess will take place at 6:55 at Roughrider Stadium.  The annual Alumni Association meeting is scheduled from 9 to noon, Saturday, at the Windham Civic Center. The Hall of Honor Award will be presented during the meeting; and the Homecoming Parade will be at 4, Saturday, on the downtown Center Square.

A sleeping man was arrested yesterday morning in Shelbyville. 35 year old Darrin Murray was discovered sleeping in his green Dodge pickup that was parked in a grassy area near Double J's in Shelbyville around 8:00 am. Both DPS and Shelby County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene. Murray was arrested for Public Intoxication and was later booked into the Shelby County Jail.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that Bernette Johnson will be the court's next chief justice, resolving a legal dispute that wound up in federal court. The court's ruling Tuesday says Johnson's years of appointed and elected service on the court give her the seniority that entitles her to succeed Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball early next year. Justice Jeffrey Victory had argued he had more seniority than Johnson and deserved the position. Johnson had filed a federal lawsuit to block her colleagues from deciding the matter. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled in her favor last month. Johnson will be the court's first black chief justice.

The Texas Commission on the Arts survived Gov. Rick Perry’s effort to zero it out last year, but with half its previous budget. Now, as the 2013 legislative session approaches, the spotlight is on the agency again. The agency awards grants to arts and cultural organizations and will have handed out about $2.8 million for fiscal year 2012, down from $6.6 million the previous year. Arts advocates are attesting to its importance to Texas communities, legislators are asking questions about its operation and a sunset report recommends that it remain open, but with a few changes. According to reports, Investment of state money in the arts stimulates economic development and draws more than $1 million in federal and regional arts funding to Texas that wouldn’t be available otherwise. A requirement that at least two board members come from counties with populations below 50,000 would remain, according the recommendations. Another suggestion was that the Legislature give clear authority for the commission’s grant-making practices. Lawmakers will decide whether to follow those suggestions when they meet in January.

In Funeral Announcements

Charles “Corkey” Eppes, 84, of San Augustine passed away Friday October 5th in San Augustine.  A visitation service will be held at Wyman Roberts Chapel Thursday from 5-7 pm.  Burial will be in San Augustine City Cemetery.

 Local Arrest Report for October 15th

Steven Bledsoe, 26, of Logansport, Louisiana was arrested by Center Police for Failure to ID.

Brandon Loftin, 30, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Theft.

Tara Taylor, 39, of Joaquin was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs Theft.

Jeremy Sims, 32, of Shelbyville was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Possession of Marijuana and Theft.

Michael Boswell, of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Possesion of a Controlled Substance.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

The 98th annual Texas Forestry Associations’ meeting gets underway today and goes through Thursday at Hotel Fredonia in Nacogdoches. If you’re a timberland owner, forester, consultant, industry representative, logger or anyone interested in forestry, you’re invited and urged to attend. The Texas Forestry Association has engaged an excellent line up of speakers to address topics for everyone who has an interest in the forest of East Texas. Exhibitors will be set up throughout the meeting with the latest information on a variety of products and services. Some 400 attendees are expected to participate in the three-day meeting. For more information and schedule of events on the TFA’s annual meeting, go to texasforestry.org.

DPS Authorities were called to the scene of a one vehicle accident yesterday on Hwy 84 just before 699. The accident happened sometime around 1:45pm when a tractor trailer traveling eastbound left the road and overturned. The driver of the tractor trailer was 33 year old Jeffrey Wofford 33, of Humble, Texas. According to sources, Wofford failed to stay in the single lane, then left the roadway where he struck a pine tree, at which point the trailer turned over on its side. The driver was was issued a citation for failure to drive in a single lane and was later transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center with minor injuries.

A San Augustine man has pleaded guilty to an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl, accepting an eight-year prison sentence. The sheriff's office began investigating the case in 2011 when officials at a school in the county reported rumors of the girl having a sexual relationship with an adult. Billy Gene Childress, 56, waited until a jury had been selected for his trial before deciding to plead guilty, according to District Attorney Kevin Dutton. Childress' daughter, Margaret Childress who assisted her father will plead guilty to a lesser charge, after agreeing to testify against her father.

A logging crew discovered human remains in a densely wooded area of San Augustine County last week, authorities revealed on Monday. Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Gary Cunningham said the crew called in the report of the skeletal remains last Monday. Investigators arrived on the scene and suspected the bones were that of a human and sent photos to a forensic anthropologist at the University of North Texas. The anthropologist confirmed the bones were that of a human.  Cunningham said the remains were boxed and shipped to North Texas to determine circumstances of the death and who the person was. Cunningham would not reveal the exact location of where the remains were found in order to protect the investigation.

A loud boom has people looking for answers. Authorities began getting reports just before 11:30 p.m. that people heard an explosion from areas including: Minden, Doyline, Haughton, South Bossier and Shreveport. Some callers also reported seeing a bright light flash in the sky when they heard the boom. Officials from the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office has crews searching for the source of the noise. According to Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton they definitely had something happen in Webster Parish last night. Sheriff Sexton confirms all of the explosion manufacturing facilities and natural gas facilities in Webster Parish have been ruled out as the source. Sexton adds that there is a "possibility that a meteor did hit the ground" in the area, but deputies have not pinpointed an exact location. Sheriff Sexton said, first thing this morning, helicopters will be in the air to look for any damage.

Ted Cruz won the Republican nomination for Texas' open U.S. Senate seat as a tea party insurgent and major underdog. Now he heads into the general election the prohibitive favorite and is busy reconciling with a state GOP establishment he long bashed as too moderate. Still, Cruz became a national symbol of tea party might when he upset Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a 14-year veteran of Texas politics endorsed by Gov. Rick Perry and much of the state GOP mainstream. Cruz's new opponent, former Democratic state Rep. Paul Sadler, says Cruz is a political novice who is too extreme for even a state as conservative as Texas where no Democrat has won statewide elected office in nearly 20 years. Cruz continues to campaign across Texas, striking a decidedly populist tone while pledging to reign in federal spending and get the "government's boot off the necks of small businesses." Early voting in Texas is open from Oct. 22-Nov. 2, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 Local Arrest Report for October 13^th & 14^th

• Erik Herrera, 20, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Sarah Polk, 43, of San Augustine was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Order of Confinement.

• Aldolpho Hernandez, 20, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Disorderly Conduct.

• Rickey Woods, 22, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Assault, Theft, and Possession of Marijuana.

• Gary Simon II, 28, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Evading Arrest.

• Amanda Calhoun, 28, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Injury to a Child.

• Ivan Musico, 20, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Assault, No Driver's License, Failure to Appear.

• Edward Moorman, 38, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

• Tommy Lacy, of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Driving While Intoxicated with a Child.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Here’s a recap of Friday night’s high school football: the Center Roughriders open District 20-3A play with a 38-0 win over Diboll. The Riders are now 7-0 on the season, heading into Friday night’s homecoming game against the rival Carthage Bulldogs. Carthage also won their district opener, 56-0 against Huntington, and Jasper beats Cohen College Prep of New Orleans, 68-0 in a non-district tilt. The Joaquin Rams kept their season record unblemished, with a 20-16 win over Carlisle in the District 9-1A opener, as the two state-ranked teams clashed. The Rams are 6-0. Meanwhile, the Timpson Bears open District 9-1A, taking a 27-7 win over Harleton. The Bears are also 6-0 on the season. In another District 9-1A game, it was Beckville over Big Sandy, 21-18. The San Augustine Wolves opened District 10-1A with a 68-20 win over Grapeland, as the Wolves improve to 4-2 on the season, and the Shelbyville Dragons drop to 1-5, after state-ranked West Sabine takes a 58-8 win in a District 10-1A opener. The Tenaha Tigers are off to a 1-0 start in district, after a 46-22 win over Burkeville. The Tigers are 3-4 on the season. The Garrison Bulldogs beat Winona, 36-14, to improve to 2-1 in district, 4-3 on the season.

In other games, Jacksonville over Nacogdoches, 35-22; The Woodlands beat Lufkin, 49-21; Hemphill shuts out Anderson-Shiro, 35-0; Alto beats Cushing, 61-0; Hallsville defeats Marshall, 42-20; Longview gets the best of Rockwall Heath, 52-27; Tatum over White Oak, 28-21; and Gilmer defeats Henderson, 28-26.

A programming note. We remind you of Don Wall's Shelby County Coaches Show at 7 Tuesday night on Q-100, KQBB-FM.

There’s a new festival for the area as the first Happenings at Shelbyville Hill Fest will be held this Saturday, Oct. 20, in downtown Shelbyville. The fest is sponsored by 4Factor, with activities planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Headlining the festival will include musical entertainment with The Blake Brothers Bluegrass Band, and local musicians, Megan and Thomas Morrison. Other planned activities include a Queen of the Hill Pageant, crowning the first event queen, an Apple Dessert Contest, where cooks of all ages can compete and showcase their favorite apple dishes, a classic car show and a dominoes competition. Adding to the mix will be a variety of food and artisan vendor booths, photography venues, an old-fashioned dessert and cake walk, and a children’s area with face painting, pumpkin decorating and bean bag tossing and much more. Festival admission is free of charge.

The SFA School of Social Work, in conjunction with San Augustine County are conducting a county needs assessment. County Judge Sammye Johnson says the survey can help the citizens of San Augustine County by correctly identifying issues and areas of opportunity, and collected data will help the community receive increased grant funds. A copy of the survey can be found online at the San Augustine County website. All surveys are 100 percent anonymous and confidential, according to Judge Johnson. She added for best results, they need 35% of the adult population of San Augustine County to complete the survey. Assessments can be returned by mail or in person to the county judge’s office in the San Augustine County courthouse. If you have questions, you can call the county judge’s office at 936-275-2762, or the SFA School of Social Work, 936-468-5105. Results will be available this Winter.

The Texas State Comptroller says September sales tax revenues for Shelby County are down over 24% from the same period last year in the latest sales tax figures from August sales. This drop, according to local economic forecast, has been attributed to a significant decrease in oil and natural gas production in the area. Almost all reporting entities in Shelby County reported decreases in the October payments. The City of Center had a sales tax drop of 26%; a 46% decrease in the City of Huxley, 12% in the City of Joaquin, and 34% percent decrease in the City of Tenaha. The City of Timpson showed the only increase in sales tax revenues in the county, with an almost 20% rise in the past year. Timpson’s payments to date for 2012 have jumped over 37.5%. For year to date, Shelby County payments were down 6.5% from 2011 to 2012. In San Augustine County, September sales tax revenues were down over 5% for the latest period, including an over 5.5% drop in the City of San Augustine. The City of Broaddus’ sales tax payment was up over 2% for this period. San Augustine County’s payments to date are up over 7% in the past year. Nacogdoches County’s payment this period was up 6%; Panola County down 14%; and Sabine County’s payment was up almost 22%. Comptroller Combs said sales tax revenue in September was up 11.6 percent statewide, compared to September 2011. Statewide, October local sales tax allocations are up 9.1 percent compared to October 2011.

Authorities believe a 10-year-old missing person case in Nacogdoches County could be connected with this week's discovery of skeletal remains in San Augustine County.  The small amount of bones were found Monday in a deeply wooded area of rural San Augustine County.  According to Nacogdoches County Chief Deputy Terry Masten, there is a possibility that these remains could belong to a missing person reported to the Nacogdoches County constable's office approximately ten years ago and that's due to the fact that the missing person's vehicle was found in close proximity to where those skeletal remains have been located.  DNA testing will confirm if the remains belong to the missing man.  Texas Rangers are investigating the case along with the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office. 

Louisiana state agencies have released a 43-page report that provides an overview of the state's tax structure and the $6.8 billion in tax breaks on the books. The report, released last week, was put out by the Department of Revenue and Department of Economic Development. It is designed as tax system guide in advance of the 2013 legislative session, when Gov. Bobby Jindal has said a revamp of Louisiana's tax code will be his top priority. The report also comes as a legislative study panel is combing through the more than 460 tax breaks that the state has to determine if they are worth the cost in lost tax revenue. The tax structure guide is available at: www.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com.

More than 17 percent of the people who register to vote never make it to the ballot box, and according to new research, these people tend to be poor or uneducated. Research also suggests, however, that more of these people would vote if officials made it more convenient. The most basic duty of any candidate is to get supporters to the polls, and researchers at Austin Community College and Texas State University discovered the 2.3 million non-voters in Texas broke down as 34 percent Hispanic, 5 percent African American and 61 percent everyone else. More than 13.1 million Texans had registered to vote by July 1, and that number is likely to grow to more than 13.5 million. That's 71 percent of the voting age population of 18.2 million people. If 2008 is any indication, only 8 million Texans will decide who wins the election in November. Early voting in Texas is open from Oct. 22-Nov. 2, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. That time period is shorter than other states, some of which allow early voting a month ahead of the Nov. 6 election day.

In Funeral Announcements

Patricia Roberts, 66 of Center, passed away October 6th at Nacogdoches Hospital.  Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 10:00 am at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  She is survived by her Husband Ed Roberts of Center.

Local Arrest Report for October 11^th

Randall Rushing, 25, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Evading Arrest.

Charles McGhen, 35, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Public Intoxication.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

According to Timpson Chamber of Commerce President, Paul Smith, the Fall Festival will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 on the downtown square. The Chamber is working with the Timpson Ministerial Alliance during their Trunk-a-Treat. There will be an outdoor movie, along with a concession stand. Money raised will go towards the park project; re-building the amphitheater at So-So Park. The movie will be “Monster House”, and will start about dark. Area churches would appreciate any candy donations or other items to be given to young children. Any non-perishable items such as pencils and school supplies would be great giveaway items.

This years Center High School Homecoming activities will begin next Friday, October 19th. To kicks things off, there will be a pep rally at 3:00 pm in the Center High School gym. Later on at 6:55 p.m. the Sweethearts and beaus of clubs and organizations will be recognized followed by introduction of the class duchesses and crowing of the Princess and Queen. Then at 7:30 it is time for some Homecoming Fottball action as the Roughriders do battle with the Carthage Bulldogs. On Saturday, October 20, the Annual Alumni Association Meeting will begin at 10:00 am at the Windham Civic Center. The CHS Alumni Committee has selected Dan Dellinger and Bill Haley as the 2012 Hall of Honor inductees. Dan Dellinger is a 1953 graduate of Center HS and Bill Haley is a 1962 graduate of Center HS. Dan's induction is presented posthumously as he passed away January 5, 2012. Finally, the Homecoming parade will begin at 4:00 p.m Saturday afternoon on the downtown Center square.

The Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce announces the opening of three new businesses. Remote World, located in downtown Timpson, next to the newspaper office, is a computer technology business. A ribbon cutting at Remote World will be held by the chamber at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16. Also, Platinum 27, owned by Cheryl Washington, will be opening soon next to Gerald Mackey Insurance. In addition, Dashboard Bookkeeping, owned by Timpson native Chad Pate has recently opened. Dashboard Bookkeeping is located in the Cobb Building at the intersection of Highways. 59 and 84.

Tonight will see all local high school football teams involved in district play. The 6-0, No. 23 state-ranked Center Roughriders go to 1-5 Diboll in the District 20-3A opener. Center Broadcasting will have play-by-play coverage of the Riders on KDET and streaming online at cbc-radio.com, with Rob Payne, Chris Watlington and the Rider Radio Team describing the action.

The Shelby County Game of the Week on Q-100 KQBB-FM will feature two state-ranked, undefeated teams in the District 9-1A, Division I opener. The Carlisle Indians are at Joaquin to play the Rams. Joaquin comes in ranked No. 4 in the state, while Carlisle is ranked No. 5. Don Wall describes the action beginning with pre-game at 7:20 on Q-100 and streaming online at cbc-radio.com. In another District 9-1A, game, the 5-0 Timpson Bears host 4-1Harleton; 1-4 Grapeland at San Augustine to play the 3-2 Wolves in the District 10-1A, Division I opener; winless Burkeville in Tenaha to play the 2-3 Tigers; and the 1-4 Shelbyville Dragons go to Pineland to play 5-0, No. 6 ranked West Sabine in District 10-1A action. Also, the 3-3 Garrison Bulldogs, who are 1-1 in district, will be in Winona; and Logansport has an open date. Other games of local interest: Huntington at Carthage; Jacksonville at Nacogdoches; The Woodlands at Lufkin; Anderson-Shiro at Hemphill; Big Sandy at Beckville; and Cushing at Alto.

At the Pineywoods Fair in Nacogdoches today, it’s Kids Day with Farm Bureau from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.; market goat judging begins at 9, with market lamb judging to start at 1 o’clock; at 3, it’s agricultural mechanics judging; and the midway rides will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. It’s Coca-Cola Midnight Madness, bring an empty Coke product and receive a $12 discount armband for unlimited rides. Without the Coke product, armbands are $17. Glen Lenderman will also be entertaining from 7:45 until 9 tonight at the 35th annual Pineywoods Fair at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center. Saturday’s schedule starts with the beef heifer show at 10; the midway opens at noon till midnight; cheerleading competition at 12:30; junior tractor pull at 4 p.m.; ag mechanics sale at 4; and the premium sales of barrow, broilers, goats, lamb and rabbits at 6 Saturday evening. The 35th Pineywoods Fair winds up Sunday with an all-u-can ride carnival armbands from 1 to 5 Sunday afternoon for $12.

Center Broadcasting Company has been telling you this week ways to prevent bullying and awareness facts surrounding the social issue as part of National Bullying Prevention Month. We’re hoping the series of news stories and public service announcements are making parents and the public more aware of the problem and how to prevent bullying. Here’s another bullying prevention and awareness fact: Silence is no longer an acceptable response to bullying. Adults, students, and educators can no longer look away when they see bullying. Ignoring it won’t work. Everyone needs to be empowered with options to respond. During National Bullying Prevention Month, please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Let the proper authorities know if children are being bullied, they're not alone. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

The November 6th ballot on Election Day will not only include big names, it will also contain nine amendments to the Louisiana constitution that may be hard to understand. Many of them will appear in what could be considered tough, technical, legal language- not easily understood by the average voter.

The Public Affairs Research Council has once again constructed a guide that explains the pros and cons of each amendment in language that is much easier to understand. You can get a copy of the PAR Guide to the 2012 Constitutional Amendments by visiting www.parlouisana.org. PAR urges voters to read the guide and don't go into the vote booth without having made up your mind on the amendments.

While retail gasoline prices have soared in California, prices at Texas pumps have hardly budged. The weekly AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch released Thursday shows regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $3.55 per gallon, just a penny more than last week. That's at a time when the national average climbed 3 cents to $3.81 per gallon as refinery problems fueled a 50-cent increase in California's average gasoline price to $4.67 per gallon. The cheapest gasoline in Texas this week is found in Galveston, where the average price fell a penny to $3.50. The most expensive remains in Amarillo, where the average price remained unchanged at $3.60.

Today is Thursday, Oct. 11, the 285th day of 2012 with 81 follow.

Those born on this date are:

Clergyman Mason Locke Weems, who invented the story of George Washington and the cherry tree, in 1759; Englishman George Williams, founder of the YMCA, in 1821; food industry pioneer Henry John Heinz in 1844; former first lady and author Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884; choreographer Jerome Robbins in 1918; writer Elmore Leonard in 1925 (age 87); football Hall of Fame member LaVell Edwards in 1930 (age 82); country singer Dottie West in 1932; actor/singer Ron Leibman in 1937 (age 75); singer Daryl Hall in 1946 (age 66); sports columnist Thomas Boswell in 1947 (age 65); football Hall of Fame member Steve Young in 1961 (age 51); actors David Morse in 1953 (age 59), Joan Cusack in 1962 (age 50) and Luke Perry in 1966 (age 46); and golfer Michelle Wie in 1989 (age 23).

On this date in history:

In 1811, the first steam-powered ferry in the world started its run between New York City and Hoboken, N.J.

In 1868, Thomas Alva Edison filed papers for his first invention: an electrical vote recorder to rapidly tabulate floor votes in the U.S. Congress. Members of Congress rejected it.

In 1950, the Federal Communications Commission issued to CBS the first license to broadcast color television.

In 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

In 1975, "Saturday Night Live" premiered with George Carlin as host and musicians Janis Ian and Billy Preston on the bill.

In 1984, financier Marc Rich agreed to pay the U.S. government nearly $200 million, biggest tax fraud penalty in American history.

Also in 1984, Kathryn Sullivan, flying into orbit abroad the space shuttle Challenger, became the first American woman to walk in space.

In 1994, the Pentagon reported that Iraqi troops were withdrawing from the Iraq-Kuwait border. Their deployment had brought the U.S. Navy and Marines to the Persian Gulf less than a week earlier.

In 1996, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Jose Ramos-Harta and Carlos Ximenes Belo, who worked for freedom for Timor-Leste, where famine and repression had killed one-third of the population.

In 2002, Congress gave U.S. President George W. Bush its backing for using military force against Iraq.

In 2004, actor Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the movies and strenuously pushed spinal cord research after he was paralyzed in an accident, died at the age of 52.

In 2005, desperate Pakistani earthquake survivors ambushed army trucks carrying relief supplies as the reported death toll in Pakistan and India topped 42,000.

Also in 2005, nine insurgent attacks killed at least 55 people in Iraq, including one suicide bomber who drove into a crowded market in Talafar.

In 2006, Cory Lidle, a 34-year-old right-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees, was killed when the light plane he was flying crashed into a 50-story residential building in New York.

In 2007, military reports said Taliban-affiliated fighters stepped up attacks on the Pakistani military near the Afghanistan border. The four-day death toll was put at 60 Pakistani soldiers and 200 militants.

Also in 2007, the Dow Jones industrial average reached record of 14,198.10.

In 2008, the U.S. State Department removed North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. In return, North Korea agreed to give international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities and to continue disabling its plutonium processing project.

In 2009, three hostages and four Taliban militants died when Special Forces stormed Pakistani army headquarters to rescue 42 hostages.

In 2010, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proposed a halt to West Bank settlement construction if Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

In 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama's $447 billion jobs bill was blocked by the Republican-dominated Senate, failing to receive the 60 votes needed to proceed to debate. Obama said he would fight on and urged GOP leaders to offer an alternative plan.

 Local Arrest Report for October 10^th

• Donnell Thompson, 27, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Theft.

• Tyler Ray Martin, 17, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Assault.

• Roy Boatwright, 32, of Fairfield was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Building.

• Kennie Wayne Gay, 42, of Timpson was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Assault and Family Violence.

• Tyrhonda Sharp, 32, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Fraud.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Crappie Fest 2012 will be held this Saturday. The event is a Crappie fishing tournament opened to everyone, with the weigh in on the Downtown San Augustine Square. Crappie anglers will be allowed to fish Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, or public waters in San Augustine County. The Crappie tournament is sanctioned by the National Organization Crappie U.S.A. with the winners automatically qualifying for the National Championship. For information can contact Tracy Cox at The Chamber of Commerce 936-275-3610. Terry Sympson at Jackson Hill Marina 936-872-9266, or you can go online to the chamber’s website for complete rules and entry information. The tourney is sponsored by Wulf Outdoor Sports and hosted by the San Augustine Chamber, Xtreme Crappie and Jackson Hill Marina.

This week’s high school football action has all local team in district play Friday night. The Center Roughriders go to Diboll; Grapeland at San Augustine; Burkeville at Tenaha; Shelbyville at West Sabine; Harleton at Timpson; Garrison at Winona; Price Carlisle at Joaquin, and Logansport is open.

Other games see Huntington at Carthage; Jacksonville at Nacogdoches; The Woodlands at Lufkin; Anderson-Shiro at Hemphill; Big Sandy at Beckville; and Cushing at Alto.

Center Broadcasting will have the play-by-play of the Center-Diboll game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week will be the Joaquin-Price Carlisle match-up, on Q-100 KQBB-FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

Center Middle School football will be in Diboll today, and games will start at 4:30. Teams playing include 7th B, 7th A 8th B, 8th A.

At the Pineywoods Fair in Nacogdoches today, Midway rides open at 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. featuring one person pays, one rides free. Stickers are available at the gate. The Market Barrow judging is at 6 p.m., and the Angelina College Singers will be performing at 6. That’s the 35th annual Pineywoods Fair at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center, now through Sunday. For more information, go to nacexpo.net.

According to Shelby County Sheriff Newton Johnson, arrest warrants were executed on 21 year old Lee Isaac Garrett last week who is currently in the Caldwell County jail on unrelated charges. The arrest warrant’s were obtained as a result of an undercover Narcotics investigation; the suspect allegedly sold illegal drugs (cocaine) on Grand Street in Timpson to an undercover agent working under the direction of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on Lee Garrett for 2 charges of Manufacture and Delivery of Controlled Substance, a State Jail Felony. He will be transported back to Shelby County when he clears his charges in Caldwell County.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week. This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a couple who has been a support and an inspiration to the local community. We would like to highlight Bob & Patsy Fairchild. The Fairchild's are the longest Roughrider season ticket holders to date. For the past 59 years Bob & Patsy have faithfully attended Center Roughrider games to cheer on their team. Bob was part of the original group in 1957 that formed Center Youth Baseball. Bob has served for many years as a coach as well as a supporter. Both Bob and Patsy have served in their church as Sunday School teachers for many years. Bob has also also served as a Church Deacon. Bob is a graduate of the University of Texas as well as the UT Law School and was known as one of the defense attorneys in the state of Texas. This past Friday Night the Fairchilds were honored for their 59 years of dedication to not only the Center Roughriders but also the youth of this community. We want to sincerely thank Bob & Patsy Fairchild for their tireless commitment to standing up and supporting our community.

Center Broadcasting Company has been passing along a series of facts and prevention suggestions, in addition to public service announcements in dealing with bullying – a nationwide epidemic affecting our children. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and we encourage you to be aware of these bullying facts: The two keys to creating change are: increasing awareness that bullying has lifelong impact, and giving people the tools they need to respond effectively. In addition, students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. More than 55 percent of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. Student education of how to address bullying for peers is critical, as is the support of adults. During National Bullying Prevention Month, please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Let people know if children are being bullied, they're not alone. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

Gov. Bobby Jindal spent Wednesday in Virginia, campaigning for Republican Mitt Romney's presidential bid. A schedule put out by the Romney campaign said Jindal joined Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell for three campaign stops throughout the day, to rally Romney supporters. The Louisiana governor's traveled extensively during this election season to support GOP candidates and causes and to fundraise for them. In the last month, Jindal's been to Nevada, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Montana and New Hampshire.

A Texas man whose lawyers argued was mentally ill and incompetent for execution was put to death Wednesday evening for killing a 12-year-old girl more than a decade ago. Jonathan Green, 44, received lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last-day appeals to spare him. A judge earlier this week stopped the punishment, but an appeals court overturned the reprieve. Then 11th-hour appeals delayed the punishment nearly five hours past the initial 6 p.m. execution time and as the midnight expiration of the death warrant neared. Green was pronounced at 10:45 p.m. Green's lethal injection is the 10th this year in Texas and the first of four scheduled for this month in the nation's most active death penalty state.

Funeral Announcements

Benita Payne English passed away Saturday in LaPlace, Louisiana.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., today at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville.  She is survived by Husband: Raymond C. Payne of Laplace, Louisiana.

All local high school football teams will be in district play Friday night. The Center Roughriders go to Diboll; Grapeland at San Augustine; Burkeville at Tenaha; Shelbyville at West Sabine; Harleton at Timpson; Garrison at Winona; in a featured game of state-ranked undefeated, Price Carlisle at Joaquin, and Logansport is open. Other games see Huntington at Carthage; Jacksonville at Nacogdoches; The Woodlands at Lufkin; Anderson-Shiro at Hemphill; Big Sandy at Beckville; and Cushing at Alto.

Center Broadcasting will have the play-by-play of the Center-Diboll game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week will be the Joaquin-Price Carlisle match-up, on Q-100 KQBB-FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

Center Middle School football will be in Diboll Thursday, and games will start at 4:30 Thursday. Teams playing include 7th B, 7th A 8th B, 8th A.

Crappie Fest 2012 will be held this Saturday. The event is a Crappie fishing tournament opened to everyone, with the weigh in on the Downtown San Augustine Square. Crappie anglers will be allowed to fish Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, or public waters in San Augustine County. The Crappie tournament is sanctioned by the National Organization Crappie U.S.A. with the winners automatically qualifying for the National Championship. For information can contact Tracy Cox at The Chamber of Commerce 936-275-3610. Terry Sympson at Jackson Hill Marina 936-872-9266, or you can go online to the chamber’s website for complete rules and entry information. The tourney is sponsored by Wulf Outdoor Sports and hosted by the San Augustine Chamber, Xtreme Crappie and Jackson Hill Marina.

The Pineywoods Fair gets underway today at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center. The 35th annual event will run through Sunday. Youth animal and AG mechanic projects, cheerleading competition, carnival and plenty of food, arts and crafts will be available on the midway. Among the events today will be broiler judging at 9 a.m.; the midway opening from 4 to 11 p.m.; cheerleading competition at 5:30; and ride-a-mania from 6 to 10 p.m. where discount armbands to ride all the carnival rides for $12 with 3 can goods, or $17 without can goods. Armbands will be sold from 5 to 9 p.m. This year’s Pineywoods Fair is the first in the newly renovated Nacogdoches County Expo Center. For more information on events and things happening, you can go to www.nacexpo.net.

It’s also National Fire Prevention Month, and this week is Fire Prevention Week. Center Broadcasting, in partnership with local fire departments, are airing fire prevention tips voiced by fire chiefs from Shelby and San Augustine County fire departments. The American Red Cross is urging families and businesses to learn how to protect themselves and others from fires. Last year, the Red Cross responded to about 63,000 home fires across the country by providing comfort and basic necessities to more than 82,000 families. The Red Cross, local fire fighters and Center Broadcasting recommend:

-- Install smoke alarms on every level of the house and inside bedrooms.

-- Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Test each alarm monthly by pushing the test button.

-- Ensure that household members know two ways to escape from every room and designate a place to meet outside of your house in case of a fire. Practice your plan at least twice a year.

-- Follow your escape plan in case of fire. Get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for additional fire safety tips.

Today is National Bullying Prevention Month Unity Day. We’re asking you to join Center Broadcasting Company and wear orange shirts or orange ribbons to promote awareness of bullying and strategies to avoid it. We’re also airing a series of public service announcements in hopes of making parents and the public more aware of the problem and how to best prevent bullying. Here’s a few bullying prevention and awareness facts: Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets. Witnesses often report feeling unsafe, helpless, and afraid that they will be the next target. Also, bullying is a community side issue that must no longer be ignored or thought of as a rite of passage. Students, parents, and educators all have a role in addressing bullying situations and changing school culture.

During National Bullying Prevention Month, please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

This is Tuesday, Oct. 9, the 283rd day of 2012 with 83 to follow.

Those born on this date:

C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb in 1941 (age 71); The Who bassist John Entwistle in 1944; rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame member Jackson Browne in 1948 (age 64); Nobal Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams in 1950 (age 62); writer/actor Robert Wuhl in 1951 (age 61); television personality Sharon Osbourne in 1952 (age 60); football Hall of Fame member Mike Singletary in 1958 (age 54); film director Guillermo del Toro in 1964 (age 48); actors Tony Shalhoub in 1953 (age 59); Scott Bakula and John O'Hurley, both in 1954 (age 58), Michael Pare in 1958 (age 54) and Zachery Ty Bryan in 1981 (age 31); British Prime Minister David Cameron in 1966 (age 46);and golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam in 1970 (age 42).

On this date in history:

In 1888, the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., was opened to the public.

In 1934, King Alexander of Yugoslavia was assassinated by a Croatian terrorist during a state visit to France.

In 1974, Oskar Schindler, the German businessman credited with saving 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust, died at the age of 66.

In 1975, Andrei Sakharov, father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, became the first Soviet citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1983, James Watt, facing U.S. Senate condemnation for a racially insensitive remark, resigned as U.S. President Ronald Reagan's interior secretary.

In 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" opened in London.

In 1989, the Soviet news agency Tass, under Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of increasing openness in society, reported a flying saucer visit to the Soviet Union.

In 1992, NASA announced that the unmanned Pioneer spacecraft was apparently lost after orbiting Venus for 14 years.

In 1997, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned after Communist members of Parliament withdrew their support for his coalition government.

In 2001, the Pentagon reported the destruction of seven terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and, claiming control of the skies over Afghanistan, launched heavy airstrikes against Taliban garrisons and troop encampments.

In 2002, the Washington-area sniper claimed a seventh victim with the slaying of a man at a gas station near Manassas, Va.

Also in 2002, as stock prices continued to fluctuate wildly, the Dow Jones industrials closed at 7,286.27, a five-year low.

In 2004, the death toll in the double bombings in the central Pakistani city of Multan reached 40 with 100 others injured. The explosions caught a crowd of Sunni Muslims leaving an anniversary gathering.

Also in 2004, John Howard won a fourth term as Australian prime minister.

In 2005, as the 7.6-magnitude earthquake death toll soared near the reported 40,000 mark in Pakistan, a massive relief effort was under way in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. India reported 650 dead and Afghanistan four.

In 2006, North Korea announced it had conducted an underground nuclear test.

Also in 2006, the U.N. Security Council approved South Korean Foreign Secretary Ban Ki-moon as the next U.N. secretary-general to succeed Kofi Annan.

In 2007, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at a record high of 14,164.53 points.

In 2008, in the most active day in New York Stock Exchange history, investors sold off stocks in a panic. The Dow Jones industrial average plummeted 679 points -- 7.3 percent -- falling more than 300 points in the last hour to close at less than 9,000 for the first time in five years.

In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

In 2010, with the midterm elections less than a month away, and with millions of dollars from special interest groups, Republicans were reported outspending Democrats by as much as 2-to-1 in some races where Democrats once held sizable leads.

Also in 2010, a Scottish aid worker held hostage in Afghanistan was killed supposedly by her captors during an attempt to rescue her.

In 2011, in the worst outbreak of street violence to hit Egypt since the February collapse of the Mubarak regime, 24 people were reported killed and around 200 were injured. 

 Funeral Announcements

Mike Wilburn, 54, of Center passed away Sunday at his home.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am today at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  He is survived by his wife Janet Shofner Wilburn of Center along with two daughters Misty Wilburn and Micah Youngblood, both of Center.

Benita Payne English passed away Saturday in LaPlace, Louisiana.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., tomorrow at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville.  She is survived by Husband: Raymond C. Payne of Laplace, Louisiana.

Patricia Roberts, 66 of Center, passed away Saturday at Nacogdoches Hospital. Service arrangements to be made at a later date.  She is survived by her Husband Ed Roberts of Center.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce office has reported that they have some keys, glasses and a phone being held in the lost and found. If you lost some personal items while attending the Poultry Festival this past week, please contact Meg at the Shelby County Chamber office at 598-3682.

 Local Arrest Report for October 8^th

Shaunice Smith, 24, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Burglary of a Habitation.

Terry Louis Bridges, 54, of Tenaha was arrested by Tenaha City Marshalls for Possession of Marijuana.

Marcus Cartwright, 29, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Public Intoxication.

Edward Horton, 56, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Criminal Trespassing.

Lawonda Polley, 43, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Criminal Trespassing, Theft of Property, and Failure to Appear.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

Center Broadcasting has reports that a Logansport Middle School teacher has resigned following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a student. The name of the teacher involved, and type of inappropriate activity is not known, but according to DeSoto Parish School Superintendent Walter Lee, the teacher is male, and was described by Lee to be a “good teacher, with no problems in the past.” The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has said they’re pursuing information regarding the allegations, and there has been no arrest, and it’s not known if any charges will be filed. Lee added the teacher voluntarily resigned his position with the Logansport Middle School.

San Augustine County Commissioners’ Court will be meeting this morning, and among the items for discussion and consideration include: the 2013 Adopted Budget from San Augustine Central Appraisal District; justice of the peace’s request for purchasing electronic devices; and signing an application to apply for a 2013/2014 Texas Community Development Block Grant through the Texas Department of Agriculture. That’s a regular meeting of the San Augustine County Commissioners’ Court at 9 a.m this morning.

Center Police responded to the scene of a two vehicle accident yesterday at around 10:30 am. The accident occurred on highway 96 South in front of Center Automotive. A Napa Auto parts delivery vehicle driven by 53 year old Luke Clark was struck from behind by 43 year old Chadwick Bradshaw's Toyota truck. Witnesses report that The Napa Auto truck was stopped and attempting to make a left turn into the business' parking lot. ACE EMS was on the scene to transport Clark to Shelby Regional Hospital. According to officials, Bradshaw was cited for failure to control speed as well as failure to provide proper insurance.

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court convened yesterday to discuss and consider action for items on the agenda. Mrs. Shirley Shofner addressed the court in regards to the elementary school remodel proposal and probation department roof repair proposal. She informed the court that while the old elementary school is not a historical landmark, the school should not be torn down. As a part of Center history, the school should be remodeled. However, no action was taken. Timpson Mayor, Debra Smith, addressed the court concerning nuisance abatement on property #11388. The Mayor is looking to obtain bids in order to sell the property to a private individual so it can be cleaned up. The court then approved resolutions for the Texas Department of Transportation to repair bridges all over the county through the use of federal funds. Judge Rick Campbell then reviewed bids that had been submitted for Timpson property # R11480 and # R11482 located in the John Foster Survey. Upon recommendation of the court, the bids submitted by Henry L. Cruz were accepted for $501 each. The court then reviewed and accepted bid for gravel, gas and janitorial services. R&D Distributing was awarded the bid for gravel, Off Road Diesel was awarded the bid for fuel. No bid was submitted for tires. While Jo Stone’s $2500 bid for janitorial services wasn't the lowest bid submitted, the court decided to accept her bid since she already working for the county and for the fact that she was in attendance which allowed the commissioner’s to reemphasize their expectations per the contract. The final item for discussion was concerning the one-year contract with ACE EMS to be the primary for 911 calls within the county with the exception of the Timpson area. The commissioners accepted the contact and noted that the contract could be renewed for another year unless there was a breach of contract. The court then Adjourned at 10:23am.

Center Broadcasting Company is participating in National Bullying Prevention Month. This week, we’re airing a series of public service announcements in hopes of making parents and the public more aware of the problem and how to best prevent bullying. Did you know students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than other students? Additionally, in some cases, bullying has led to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. During National Bullying Prevention Month, please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 10 is called Unity Day. We're asking you to join us and wear orange shirts or orange ribbons to promote awareness of bullying and strategies to avoid it. Let people know if children are being bullied, they're not alone. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

The City of Shreveport plans to cut nearly 10 percent of its budget for next year. The proposed 2013 budget spends about $50 million less than 2012. City staff will present the budget publicly for the first time at the Shreveport City Council meeting today. City staff says the 2013 budget reminds them a lot of 2010 when the country was hit hard by the recession. One of the biggest reasons for the cuts is that sales tax revenues are down. Shreveport's Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Brian Crawford, says some of those cuts came from key departments in the general fund like police and fire. He says those departments won't be able to replace all of the equipment and won't have as much money in their training budgets, but the current budget proposal does not cut any staff or services. The city council will have until December 11, 2012 to make changes and approve a final budget.

Texas is one of five states to shun a national sex offender registry created in 2006, citing cost concerns. According to officials, it would take an estimated $38 million to modify the state's existing registry program. Therefore, the state is willing to risk losing about $1.4 million in grant money to help local agencies enforce the law, they say. Members of the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee made the decision to not participate in the registry following an interim meeting. Local law enforcement officials have testified that complying with the program would add more sex offenders to the state's already extensive registry. About 70,000 sex offenders were registered in Texas as of August, according to the state Department of Criminal Justice.

Funeral Announcements
 

• Mike Wilburn, 54, of Center passed away Sunday at his home.  Visitation will be held today from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am tomorrow at Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  He is survived by his wife Janet Shofner Wilburn of Center along with two daughters Misty Wilburn and Micah Youngblood, both of Center.

• Patricia Roberts, 66 of Center, passed away Saturday at Nacogdoches Hospital. Service arrangements to be made at a later date.  She is survived by her Husband Ed Roberts of Center.

• Benita Payne English passed away Saturday in LaPlace, Louisiana.  Services pending with Watson & Sons Funeral Home.

Local Arrest Report for October 6^th and 7^th

• Roland Diaz, 27, of Center was arrested by DPS for Public Intoxication.

• Cody Bush, 28, of Center was arrested by Center Police for Driving While Intoxicated and Resisting Arrest.

• Stanley Calloway Jr., 48, of Timpson was arrested for Public Intoxication.

• Ashley Hammond, 24, of Farmer's Branch was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana.

• Tyqwuon Bussey, 18, of Timpson was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana, 7 counts of Evading Arrest, No Driver's License, No Seat Belt, and Failure to Appear.

• Elvis Berry of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Failure to Display Driver's License and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

At the Patriot Challenge Bass Tournament held September 29 on Sam Rayburn, two Shelby County anglers took the championship from among 24 teams that took part. The team of Stan Burgay and Lance Hughes had an overall winning total of 16.12 pounds, including a 4.80 big bass. Fishermen braved the rain to help raise money for Jackson Hill’s Outdoor Freedom Program that has helped Terry and Connie Sympson to sponsor over 400 military members, Wounded Warriors and family members. A contribution was also made to the Wounded Warriors Association of East Texas.

In the Battle of the Pineywoods, Saturday in Houston, Sam Houston State held off a late charge by Stephen F. Austin, as the Bearkats defeat the Lumberjacks, 51-43, as both teams combined for 962 yards of offense. Sam Houston improves to 3-2 on the season, 1-1 in Southland Conference play, while SFA drops to 2-4, 1-1 in league play.

A recap of Friday night’s high school football action, saw the Center Roughriders improve to 6-0 as they head into the opening week of district, with a 48-13 win over Corrigan-Camden; the San Augustine Wolves are 3-2 on the season after a 38-33 defeat of the Tenaha Tigers. Tenaha is 2-3 on the year; the Timpson Bears are 5-0, with a thrilling 27-26 homecoming win over Mount Enterprise; the Garrison Bulldogs are 1-1 in district, and 3-3 on the season with a 59-6 homecoming victory against Hawkins; and Plain Dealing hands the Logansport Tigers a, 42-26 homecoming loss.

Other area games: Carthage beats Rusk, 54-14; Tatum over Diboll, 38-6; Madisonville defeats Huntington, 61-6; Pine Tree beats Nacogdoches, 28-21; Carlisle over Overton, 45-14; and West Sabine defeats Burkeville, 62-6.

The Center City Council meets in regular session at 5 this afternoon, and among the items for consideration and possible action will be to approve an ordinance of second reading to award electric franchise to Deep East Texas Electric Co-op. The agreement is needed since the co-op does have customers within the city of Center, but does not have a contract with the city. The council is also expected to enter into an inter-local cooperation contract with Texas Department of Public Safety for the Failure to Appear Program through the municipal court; and award sale of tax delinquent property on Garrett Street and Cemetery Street. That’s a meeting of the Center City Council at 5pm today.

The Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be meeting at 9:30 this morning, and among the agenda items for discussion and possible action will be a contract with ACE EMS for 9-1-1 calls in the county; placing a Nuisance abatement on a parcel of property in the county, and discuss and possibly take action on approving resolutions for bridge replacement by TexDot. In addition, commissioners are expected to accept or reject bids on two pieces of property in the City of Timpson, Timpson ISD and Shelby County. Also on the agenda is Shirley Shofner, who will address the court concerning the old elementary school remodel proposal and the probation department roof repair proposal. That’s a meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court at 9:30 am this morning.

The highlight of the 36^th annual East Texas Poultry Festival Saturday was the broiler show and auction, as Shelby County 4-H and FFA students showed their pens of chickens in hopes of making the sale. Ryan Baker of the Timpson FFA took Grand Champion honors with his birds purchased by Farmers State Bank for $7,500. Baker was also awarded a scholarship for being the highest placing senior in the show. Reserve Grand Champion was awarded to Aston Lucas of the Center FFA, and her chickens were purchased by Ace Hardware and East Texas Poultry for $5,500. Some 44 students qualified for the sale.

The recipients of the Mooseberg Awards were also recognized Saturday night, honoring the outstanding broiler growers from Tyson Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride. Tyson of Center and Nacogdoches top producers were “Five Empty Pocket Farm”, owned by Henry and Shelly Hudspeth. The Tyson of Tenaha and Carthage top growers were “Myrtle Head Farm”, owned by Will and Kelly Lucas. Tyson’s top growers were Jeff and Betty Parker.

In an attempt to bring awareness to a serious social issue facing our children, Center Broadcasting Company is participating in National Bullying Prevention Month. Beginning today, we’ll be airing a series of public service announcements in hopes of making parents and the public more aware of the problem and how to best prevent bullying. More than 160-thousand U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied; and bullying directly affects a student’s ability to learn. Students who are bullied find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades and lose self esteem, self-confidence and self-worth. During National Bullying Prevention Month, please remember these key messages; unite communities; raise awareness; educate others and inspire action. Wednesday, Oct. 10 is called Unity Day. We're asking you to join us and wear orange shirts or orange ribbons to promote awareness of bullying and strategies to avoid it. Let people know if children are being bullied, they're not alone. Unite and be a champion against bullying.

Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover expects to undergo surgery this week after a fall outside a Caddo Parish elementary school on Wednesday, October 3. Rod Richardson, Director of Communications for the City of Shreveport, gave the update to a crowd at the Louisiana Film Prize award ceremony Sunday afternoon. Mayor Glover is still recovering at a Shreveport hospital from last week's fall. An MRI showed the mayor tore tendons in both of his quadriceps. Richardson did not specify how much longer Mayor Glover would be hospitalized, but did say he expects the surgery to happen in the middle of this week.

The voter registration deadline on Tuesday marks an important turning point for the Texas elections. According to the Texas secretary of state, about 4.5 million Texas Republicans voted in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. Democrats, though, are not nearly as consistent. The number of Texans registered to vote in presidential elections in 2008 increased to 12.7 million and by July 2012, about 13.2 million people had registered to vote in this year's primary runoffs. Both Republicans and Democrats have been working hard to sign up as many supporters as they can, and the applications are pouring in. Registering to vote, though, does not necessarily mean that a person will cast a ballot. In the last two presidential elections, only 58 percent of those who registered followed through. That's why party organizers will hound those whom they register with postcards, phone calls and door knocks, to make sure their supporters vote. This year's general election will likely see more Texans vote than ever before, but the most disturbing statistic remains the percentage of Texans who don't vote, about 54 percent. Early voting begins Oct. 22.

Funeral Announcements

Francis King, 104, of Tenaha died Sunday in Herman Hospital in Sugarland.  Visitation will be today at St. John Baptist Church in Tenaha from 6-8pm. Funeral Services will be Tomorrow at St. John Baptist Church in Tenaha at 12:00 noon. Burial will be at Bobo Cemetery in Tenaha.  She is survived by 2 sons, William King of Killeen, Texas and Robert King of Haymarket, Virginia along with 3 daughters, Doris Mosely of Tenaha, Ola Evans of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Ada Smith of Houston.

Donner Ray Hoyt, 49, passed away Monday at Memorial Hospital in San Augustine.  Funeral Services will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. At Roberts Baptist Church in San Augustine. Burial will follow at Roberts Cemetery in San Augustine.  Arrangements are being handled by Community Funeral Home in Center.

 Local Arrest Report for October 4^th

• James Brown of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine Police for Public Intoxication.

All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty before a court of law.

High school football enters Week 5 tonight, as it's the last game before the start of district play for most teams. However, some schools have already started. The local lineup has Corrigan-Camden at 5-0 Center, in the Roughrider's final tune-up before the start of district. It's also "Pack the Place Pink" night at Roughrider Stadium. Other games of interest include: two 2-2 teams, the San Augustine Wolves at the Tenaha Tigers; Mount Enterprise, with a 4-1 mark at 4-0 Timpson, where it's homecoming for the Bears; Hawkins at 2-3 Garrison for the Bulldog's homecoming, and second district game. Garrison is 0-1 in district; Plain Dealing at Logansport for the Tiger's homecoming; the 5-0, No. 4 state ranked Joaquin Rams and 1-3 Shelbyville are both open.

Additionally, Carthage at Rusk; Nacogdoches at Pine Tree; and Lufkin is open. Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Corrigan-Camden game on KDET as Rob Payne, Chris Watlington and the Rider Radio Team describe the action. The Shelby County Game of the Week will feature San Augustine-Tenaha on Q-100 KQBB FM with Don Wall handling the play-by-play. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

The November General Election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 6. Voters did not have to vote in the May 29th Primary Election in order to qualify to vote in the General Election. Whether you voted or not in the Primary, you may vote for whomever you choose in November. Eligible Texans who are not registered to vote must register by Oct. 9 to vote in the General Election. The first day of early voting for the General Election is Oct. 22.

Notice is hereby given that a Regular meeting of the Governing Body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse in order to deliberate and consider action on various items. That's a Shelby County Commissioners’ Court meeting Monday at 9:30 in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse.

Garbage/debris dumpsters will be available to the public from 9 a.m,. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, October 6th. Dumpsters will be located at the county barn in Center and Joaquin and beside Timpson City Hall.

A 42-year-old San Augustine County man found himself behind bars after he allegedly fired a .22-caliber rifle during an argument with his estranged wife Wednesday afternoon. Gary Cunningham, chief deputy of the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office, said that deputies responded to a disturbance call at a house located near FM 3250 in western San Augustine County. He said, based on what the complainant told the deputies, she and Nix, her estranged husband, got into a heated argument after he was served with divorce papers. During the altercation, Nix allegedly brandished a rifle and fired it but not necessarily in the woman's direction. Nix then fled the scene. SACSO deputies apprehended Nix a short time later. He allegedly had a .22-caliber rifle with him when he was arrested. Richard Nix is still being held in the San Augustine County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. No bond has been set at this time.

The LSU governing board has agreed to deepen cuts to the university-run public hospitals by another $152 million. The cuts will fall across seven south Louisiana hospitals, eliminating dozens of inpatient beds and 1,500 jobs. Hospital system leader Frank Opelka outlined the budget cuts Thursday, and the LSU Board of Supervisors approved the slashing plans without objection. Opelka says he is working on plans with private health care facilities to help pick up the patients who won't receive care from LSU after the cuts. But it was unclear if those agreements were yet in place.

Texas is among 23 states that received shipments of a steroid used to treat back pain but is now linked to a rare fungal meningitis outbreak. The outbreak has killed at least five and sickened 35 people, but none in Texas. Christine Mann is a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. She confirms the painkiller produced by the New England Compounding Center was shipped to Texas. The Framingham, Mass.-based company has recalled three lots of the drug. While the agency is looking for cases linked to the product, officials haven't been able to confirm any so far.

Funeral Announcements
 

Howard Ford Windham, 82, of Center passed away Monday at his residence.   Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. today at  Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial will follow at Folsom Chapel Cemetery.  He is survived by his wife Mary Chandler Windham of Center, a daughter Nadine Risinger and a son Landon Windham, both of Center.

Donner Ray Hoyt, 49, passed away Monday at Memorial Hospital in San Augustine.  Funeral Services will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. At Roberts Baptist Church in San Augustine. Burial will follow at Roberts Cemetery in San Augustine.  Arrangements are being handled by Community Funeral Home in Center.

 Local Arrest Report for October 3^rd

Killian Richey, 22, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Burglary of a Habitation.

Kelsey Oliver, 21, of Timpson was arrested by Timpson Police for Disorderly Conduct.

Charles Edwards IV, 18, of Timpson was arrested by Timpson Police for Disorderly Conduct.

Richard Nix, of San Augustine was arrested by San Augustine County Sheriffs for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law.

The November General Election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 6. Voters did not have to vote in the May 29th Primary Election in order to qualify to vote in the General Election. Whether you voted or not in the Primary, you may vote for whomever you choose in November. Eligible Texans who are not registered to vote must register by Oct. 9 to vote in the General Election. The first day of early voting for the General Election is Oct. 22.

Tomorrow night’s high school football lineup has Corrigan-Camden at Center in the Roughrider’s final tune-up before the start of district play. It’s also “pack the place pink” night at Roughrider Stadium. Other games of interest include: San Augustine at Tenaha; Mount Enterprise at Timpson, where it’s homecoming for the Bears; Hawkins at Garrison for the Bulldog’s homecoming; Plain Dealing at Logansport for the Tiger’s homecoming; Joaquin and Shelbyville are both open; Carthage at Rusk; Nacogdoches at Pine Tree; and Lufkin is open.

Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Corrigan-Camden game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week will feature San Augustine-Tenaha on Q-100 KQBB FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

There will be a combo 9/JV game at Roughriders stadium at 5:30 tonight vs. White Oak. There will only be one game!

Center Roughrider D.J. Bolton has been nominated for the Gridiron Legends Player of the Week award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. D.J. is one of ten nominees for the weekly statewide award, which is 100% decided by fan voting. The poll, located at www.texasfootball.com closes at noon tomorrow.

The Timpson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Timpson ISD and the City of Timpson invite you to the Timpson Bear Homecoming festivities Friday. There will be a parade at 3, pep rally on the downtown plaza at 3:30, with homecoming pre-game activities at 7 at the stadium.

Everyone is invited to the 36th East Texas Poultry Festival hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. with the Opening Ceremonies on the Frances Oates stage sponsored by Farmers State Bank. For the complete schedule of events for the 36th East Texas Poultry Festival visit the festival page at www.shelbycountychamber.com. For questions, call Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 936-598-3682.

The first Chicken Run 5K Run/Walk will be held at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, during the East Texas Poultry Festival. All proceeds to benefit the Shelby County CASA. Cost to participate will be as follows is $25 – 5K participant; $15 - 5K participant (student k-12); and $10- Kids Race (100 yd). For more info contact Anna Lee at (936)598-5688.

After being indicted by a Nacogdoches County grand jury on Tuesday, Jerome Charez Bryant, 38, was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail on a state-jail felony charge of criminally negligent homicide. According to Texas Department of Public Safety officials, Bryant was driving a Mack log truck on FM 2782. When Bryant pulled into the southbound lane of Highway 59 and cut right in front of Catarino Perez's car, the Diboll man was killed instantly. The family says they have nothing to gain from the indictment; their only hope is that justice is served.

A cheaper, quicker, cleaner and less stressful way to get to and from Dallas-Fort Worth could soon be coming to Shreveport-Bossier. Local and state officials from Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas are hoping Amtrak can extend services further into the ArkLaTex. Currently, Amtrak operates a 'Texas Eagle' route, stretching from San Antonio all the way to Chicago, using Union Pacific rails. A $750,000 dollar feasibility study is looking to see how profitable it would be to add Shreveport-Bossier to that route. While many questions are being asked, one is concerning the potential revenue stream from the standpoint of how many people would be coming to the area, so that a project and cost analysis of the plan could be done. According to Louisiana representative, Roy Burrell says the state economy, unemployment rate, and even the environment would improve if this project gets the green light. Burrell believes this Amtrak project is very important to Louisiana for the additional tourism it would create. The feasibility study is expected to be finished by March 2013. The actual implementation of the route into Shreveport-Bossier could come later that year.

The Texas attorney general and secretary of state agreed Wednesday to lift a deadline for purging as many as 68,000 people from the voting rolls because a federal database shows they are possibly deceased, said attorneys for four living voters who made the list. Voting registrars will continue to purge the names of approximately 13,000 voters who are confirmed dead, but not those whom the state only suspects might be deceased and cannot reach by mail. Texas has done similar purges in the past, relying on the state's Vital Statistics Unit. The new wrinkle was using the federal data, which is known to have errors. That change was approved by state lawmakers in 2011. Some counties and Democrats worried the process would disenfranchise voters. The Texas secretary of state's office argued that the Legislature passed the new law overwhelmingly and that voters won't be turned away on Election Day if they don't respond to the letter. The secretary of state threatened to cut off election funding to counties that did not comply with the requirement.

It’s now time for the Center Broadcasting Community Spotlight of the Week. This Week’s Community Spotlight will be shedding light on a man who has invested in the local community. We would like to highlight Mr. Jim Sawyer. Jim is a 1978 graduate of Sam Houston State University. Jim is a long time member of the First Methodist Church of Center where he is a member of the choir as well as a member of various committees. Jim has served the community in various capacities throughout the years. Jim has been a board member with the Center Independent School District, been on the board of directors, as well as the president of the Shelby County Appraisal District, and held the treasurer position with the Center Noon Lions Club. In his free time, Jim likes to officiate baseball and basketball. However, lately Jim has been very busy with chicken. Jim is the Chairman of the East Texas Poultry Festival. We want to thank Jim Sawyer for his hard work and investment in our community.

Funeral Announcements

Howard Ford Windham, 82, of Center passed away Monday at his residence. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. today at Watson & Sons Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow at  Watson & Sons Chapel.  Burial will follow at Folsom Chapel Cemetery.  He is survived by his wife Mary Chandler Windham of Center, a daughter Nadine Risinger and a son Landon Windham, both of Center.

Donner Ray Hoyt, 49, passed away Monday at Memorial Hospital in San Augustine.  Funeral Services will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. At Roberts Baptist Church in San Augustine. Burial will follow at Roberts Cemetery in San Augustine.  Arrangements are being handled by Community Funeral Home in Center.

 Local Arrest Report for October 2^nd

• Jason Wade Alvis, 17, of Joaquin was arrested by Joaquin Police for Public Intoxication.

• Robert Lee Bandy, 31, of Tenaha was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Melodie Pilot, 23, of Shelbyville was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Driving While Intoxicated and Violation of Probation.

• Gaberil McMillan, 31, of Logansport, LA was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for No Valid Inspection and Failure to Appear.

• Austin Lee Rojas, 17, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs Violation of Probation.

• All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law.

Center Roughrider D.J. Bolton has been nominated for the Gridiron Legends Player of the Week award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. D.J. is one of ten nominees for the weekly statewide award, which is 100% decided by fan voting. The poll, located at www.texasfootball.com, closes Friday at noon.

Center Broadcasting will have coverage of the Center-Corrigan-Camden game on KDET, while the Shelby County Game of the Week will feature San Augustine-Tenaha on Q-100 KQBB FM. Both games will also be streaming at cbc-radio.com.

Center JV football will be hosting White Oak this Thursday, Oct 4th starting at 5:30 pm.

This week’s football schedule has Corrigan-Camden at Center in the final tune-up before the start of district play. It’s also “pack the place pink” night at Roughrider Stadium. Other games include San Augustine at Tenaha; Mount Enterprise at Timpson, where it’s homecoming for the Bears; Hawkins at Garrison for the Bulldog’s homecoming; Plain Dealing at Logansport for the Tiger’s homecoming; and Joaquin and Shelbyville are both open.

At last weekend’s N-I-R-A college rodeo in Carthage, the Panola College teams won both the men’s and women’s championship for the first time in the history of the program. Over 500 contestants from 17 different universities and community colleges took part. “I am really proud of the group that we have this year. They have worked very hard in the arena and in the class room. Their hard work is starting to pay off,” stated Coach Dameon White. Panola Men’s Team finished the rodeo with 575 points, 25 points more than Sam Houston State University. The Panola Women’s Team finished with 330 points, 46.67 points ahead of Sam Houston State in second.

Registration is being held through Friday of this week for the upcoming San Augustine Chamber of Commerce Crappie Fest 2012. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 13. The event is a Crappie fishing tournament opened to everyone, with the weigh in on the Downtown San Augustine Square. Crappie anglers will be allowed to fish Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, or public waters in San Augustine County. Signups are held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the chamber of commerce office in San Augustine. Weigh-in will start at 3p.m. The Crappie tournament is sanctioned by the National Organization Crappie U.S.A. with the winners automatically qualifying for the National Championship. Anyone interested in participating or wanting additional information can contact Tracy Cox at The Chamber of Commerce 936-275-3610 or Terry Sympson at Jackson Hill Marina 936-872-9266. The tourney is sponsored by Wulf Outdoor Sports and hosted by the San Augustine Chamber, Xtreme Crappie and Jackson Hill Marina.

Festival co-chairmen Jim Sawyer and Hollie Adams invite everyone to the 36th East Texas Poultry Festival hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. with the Opening Ceremonies on the Frances Oates stage sponsored by Farmers State Bank. Brother Alvin Davis will deliver the invocation, Center High School Band will perform the National Anthem, Timpson ISD Kindergarten will lead the Pledge to the Flag, Queen Sterling Parker and her court will cut the feathers, and the Welcome will be brought by County Judge Rick Campbell, Center Mayor David Chadwick and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Chad Nehring. For the complete schedule of events for the 36th East Texas Poultry Festival visit the festival page at www.shelbycountychamber.com. For questions, call Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 936-598-3682.

The first Chicken Run 5K Run/Walk will be held at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, during the East Texas Poultry Festival. All proceeds to benefit the Shelby County CASA. Cost to participate will be as follows is $25 – 5K participant; $15 - 5K participant (student k-12); and $10- Kids Race (100 yd). For more info contact Anna Lee at (936)598-5688.

The Timpson Police Department has added (2) Officers to the Department effective October 1st. With the addition of these Officers the Timpson Police Department is now able to provide around the clock Police Services to the City Of Timpson in an effort to better protect and serve the citizens. Officer Michael Williams, comes to the Timpson Police Department with over 4 years of experience as a Police Officer, and has further certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician, and a Fire Fighter. Officer Jimmy Jones comes to the Timpson Police Department from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and has over 20 years experience in Law Enforcement working patrol, investigations, crime scene photography, and evidence collection. Chief Graham would like to thank Mayor Debra Smith, and the Timpson City Council for their support in the hiring of these (2) Officers.

A Barksdale Air Force Base soldier will be soaring to new heights. Staff Sgt. Porsha Cook has worked inside the gym at Barksdale Air Force Base for the past year. Her mission has been making sure equipment along the gym floor is picked up, visitors share the courts, and asking for proper ID at the front desk. However, from now on she will be asking more important questions. Cook was handpicked to be a flight attendant exclusively for the United States of America. That includes working on Air Force One. Cook, who was promoted to staff sergeant during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon, said she has never been a flight attendant before, but she was picked from among 78 applicants across the country. Cook will leave in the coming weeks to start three months of intense training right in the thick of election season.

The verbal jabs flew fast Tuesday night in Texas during the U.S. Senate debate, with Democrat Paul Sadler calling his heavily favored, tea party-backed opponent Ted Cruz a “troll” and Cruz labeling Sadler an unapologetic liberal scheming to raise taxes. The pair bickered with such frequency that it was often hard to hear or understand either one of them. Trailing badly in the polls and in fundraising, Sadler came out swinging. In the first of two scheduled debates before next month’s election, Cruz and Sadler sat facing one another in a round-table format intended to encourage back-and-forth exchanges. But the two moderators repeatedly admonished Sadler to let Cruz finish his answers. The pair is vying to replace retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, but the race looks like a cake walk for Cruz. A poll released hours before the debate showed the Republican leading Sadler 50 percent to 24 percent among Texans surveyed — though it also showed that 26 percent of participants were undecided. A Democrat has not won statewide office in deeply conservative Texas since 1994.

Funeral Announcements

Howard Ford Windham, 82, of Center passed away Monday at his residence.  Funeral Services are pending at this time.

Local Arrest Report for October 1^st

• David Cox, 31, of Shelbyville was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Assault and Family Violence.

• Abel Dimas, 41, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Public Intoxication.

• Chantel Horton, 26, of Shelbyville was arrested by Timpson Police for Assault.

• Percy Ratcliff, 62, of Center was arrested by Shelby County Sheriffs for Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct, and Possesion of Drug Paraphernalia.

All Suspects are Innocent Until Proven Guilty Before a Court of Law.

This week’s football schedule has Corrigan-Camden at Center in the final tune-up before the start of district play. It’s also “pack the place pink” night at Roughrider Stadium. Other games include San Augustine at Tenaha; Mount Enterprise at Timpson, where it’s homecoming for the Bears; Hawkins at Garrison for the Bulldog’s homecoming; Plain Dealing at Logansport for the Tiger’s homecoming; and Joaquin and Shelbyville are both open.

Center Roughrider D.J. Bolton has been nominated for the Gridiron Legends Player of the Week award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. D.J. is one of ten nominees for the weekly statewide award, which is 100% decided by fan voting.  The poll, located at www.texasfootball.com, closes Friday at noon.  Additionally, a facebook page that should help you spread the word virally through the community: www.facebook.com/GridironLegends.  Best of luck to D.J. in the voting.

Southwestern Electric Power Company is alerting customers in its service area of a telephone scam that they say appears to be targeting Hispanic households, but has the potential to affect all customers.  They say the scam involves a telephone call in which the caller claims to represent SWEPCO or its parent company, American Electric Power. The customer is told that a certain amount of money must be paid immediately or service will be shut off. The caller usually suggests that the customer purchase a prepaid money card and then provides instructions for using that card to paying the amount supposedly due on the account.  SWEPCO is advising all customers to be aware of the scam and points out that the company does not suggest the purchase of money cards as a way to pay electric bills.  Information on legitimate options for paying bills is available at swepco.com or by calling the company's Customer Solutions Center, toll free, at 1-888-216-3523.

Dave Campbell’s high school football rankings are out after Week 4, and the Joaquin Rams have inched up a spot in the Class 1A, Division I rankings, as Joaquin is now No. 4 in the state with their 5-0 record, heading into a bye week. Right behind Joaquin is Price Carlisle at No. 5. The two will square off in Joaquin Oct. 12. Pineland-West Sabine holds on to No. 6. Mason remains No. 1 in 1A, Div. I, while Munday retains the 1A, Div. II top spot.

The No. 1 team in Class 3A is Navasota, while Carthage drops to No. 12 from No. 2 after their setback to Whitehouse. Other East Texas teams in the 3A Top 10 include Kilgore at No. 7, Gilmer 8th, and Henderson is No. 17. Navasota is again No. 1 in 3A.  In Class 2A, Div. I, Cameron Yoe remains No. 1, with Newton at No. 2, and Tatum drops to No. 10 from No. 2 after their loss to Center. By the way, the Roughriders are not showing up in Dave Campbell's 3A poll, yet. However, Max Preps Poll has Center ranked # 9 among Texas’ 3A teams.

The No. 1 team in 2A, Div. II continues to be Refugio. No. 1 in Class 4A is Pearland Dawson, and Katy’s the new No. 1 5A team.

The Shelby County Sheriff Department joined efforts with other local agencies on on Friday following a call concerning a missing man.  The call came in at around 7:14 p.m. that a white male by the name of Jonathan Burrows, age 30, had left the house where he was staying at approximately 5:30 a.m. and had not returned.  Officers immediately responded to that location and started a search for Mr. Burrows.  He was last seen walking down F.M. 138.  The search was conducted Friday night, all day Saturday through Sunday morning.  At approximately 9:40 a.m. Mr. Burrows was found lying in a pasture off FM 138.     Mr. Burrows appeared to be suffering from hyperthermia and exposure.  Burrows was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, by Ace Ambulance service.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has its first black chief judge.  Monday was Judge Carl E. Stewart's first day as chief judge of the New Orleans-based appeals court. The Shreveport resident succeeds Judge Edith H. Jones, who stepped down from the post.  62-year-old Stewart has served as a state judge in Caddo Parish and was later elected to Louisiana's 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.  The 5th Circuit hears appeals from cases in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday proposed a four-year tuition freeze for incoming college freshmen and suggested that some of the money the state spends on schools should be tied to the number of students they graduate.  Perry, who announced his education priorities during a news conference at a Dallas high school, also called on schools to give families a better understanding of the amount of money they'll spend on college, depending on how long it takes the student to graduate.  Perry challenged universities last year to come up with $10,000 or less bachelor's degrees and he said that so far, nine institutions in Texas currently offer or have announced plans for such degrees.  Perry said that a four-year tuition freeze for incoming freshmen not only gives them certainty about the amount they'll be paying each year but also provides incentive for them to finish their degrees on time.  He said less than 30 percent of students at Texas' four-year institutions graduate in four years and only 58 percent have a degree in six years.

A recap of last Friday night’s high school football action: The Center Roughriders ran their season record to 5-0, with a 43-30 win over the Class 2A state-ranked Tatum Eagles. Two other local teams remain undefeated on the season. The state-ranked Joaquin Rams are now 5-0, with a 46-21 victory against Elkhart; and the Timpson Bears improve to 4-0, with a 61-13 thrashing of Burkeville. In addition, the Tenaha Tigers have evened their season record to 2-2 after defeating Sabine, 20-7; the San Augustine Wolves are also 2-2 with a 46-6 win over Hemphill; and the Shelbyville Dragons come up short to Overton, 25-20, to drop to 1-3 on the year. The Garrison Bulldogs opened district with a 41-7 loss to Arp, and see their season record go to 2-3. Other results: Mt Enterprise whips Colmesneil, 57-20; Whitehouse beats Carthage, 29-27; Hallsville hands Nacogdoches a 40-12 setback; and in 4 overtimes, Lufkin outlasts A&M Consolidated, 71-68.

This week’s schedule has Corrigan-Camden at Center in the final tune-up before the start of district play. It’s also “pack the place pink” night at Roughrider Stadium. Other games include San Augustine at Tenaha; Mount Enterprise at Timpson, where it’s homecoming for the Bears; Hawkins at Garrison for the Bulldog’s homecoming; Plain Dealing at Logansport for the Tiger’s homecoming; and Joaquin and Shelbyville are both open.

The 36^th annual East Texas Poultry Festival Queen’s Scholarship Pageant was held last Saturday night, and crowned as the 2012 queen is Sterling Parker, daughter of Mr.& Mrs. Kelly Parker of Shelbyville. First runner-up is Nicole Grissom and second-runner up is Whitney Haddox. The top three contestants received scholarships, in addition, the other queen contestants were awarded $100 scholarships. Outgoing queen is Olivia Worsham. Taking Most Photogenic was Emily Rodriguez and Miss Congeniality was awarded to Jasmine Crowley and Jayton Cassell. Escort Award went to Jordan Powdrill.

The weekend was filled with excessive rain-fall amounts. Rain began falling Saturday morning and increased throughout the day into the early morning hours Sunday. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches were common, including isolated amounts in excess of 8 inches being reported in Nacogdoches County, northwest of Appleby. In Shelby County, the National Weather Service is reporting an observer reported over 5 inches, south-southwest of Huxley. As of 4:30 this morning, official weather observer Jim Forbes had recorded 7.5 inches in Center. There was also a report of 5.65 inches by James Greer, between Center and Tenaha. There were numerous reports of water over roadways throughout the area. Flash Flood watches and lake wind advisory continued well into Sunday night. A flood warning will extend until Tuesday morning for the Attoyac Bayou near Chireno with minor flooding occurring. The bayou is expected to fall below flood stage by early afternoon today.

Sunday moning's low level flooding led to the death of a Nacogdoches County woman after the vehicle she was in was swept from the roadway. Jimmy Pipes, 53, and his daughter-in-law Chanda Pipes, 35, both of Martinsville, were traveling in a green Mustang on FM 95 near CR 434 when their vehicle was caught in the current of about 7 to 9 inches of floodwater, pushing their vehicle into Palafox Creek a little after 7 a.m. Saturday. Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly before 7:00 a.m. They managed to rescue the driver who was in the swift floodwater holding on to a tree. The body of his passenger, was not located for several hours. Their vehicle was apparently swept downstream and has yet to be recovered. Although no major highways are closed at this time, Nacogdoches County has several County Roads and Farm-to-Market Roads that have water across the roadway. Several areas of Nacogdoches County have suffered electrical power loss due to downed trees falling across power lines. For your own safety, please do not attempt to cross flooded roadways or go around barricades and do not approach downed power lines.

Sen. Mary Landrieu announced Friday that the City of Shreveport is getting a $1.2 million grant to support the city's growing film industry. The grant money comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to build storm drainage infrastructure to support Millennium Film Studios. The funding is expected to create 50 jobs and, as Mayor Cedric Glover says, help the city get $5 million more in private investment. According to Sen. Mary Landrieu "With their Oscar win, Moonbot studios showed the world that the Shreveport film industry is a force to be reckoned with." Senator Landrieu also said "These funds will provide for important infrastructure improvements that will help this sector to continue to grow and thrive and the grant should also act as a catalyst for redevelopment in downtown and the Ledbetter Heights community."

A small earthquake and a subsequent aftershock lent an element of "surprise" to the overnight hours in a suburb west of Dallas. Authorities reported no serious damage from Saturday's late-night quakes, just cracked walls and pictures being knocked down. The unscathed Dallas-Fort Worth airport, near the epicenter, kept up with normal flight operations. And emergency officials said they had no indications of any injuries. The initial earthquake, measured at a preliminary magnitude of 3.4, struck at 11:05 p.m. Saturday and was centered about 2 miles north of the Dallas suburb of Irving.