Watch Night- Sunday Decemeber 31, 2023 @ 10:30PM 

Triumph First Pentecostal Church Shelbyville, Tx New Harmony Community 

Come help us worship Bishop Roosevelt Swindle, Pastor 

Pleasant Grove MBC would like to invite you and your family to the first annual Winter Fest! We will have candy, games, a cake walk, a fire for S'mores, and other wonderful things! Winter Fest will be on December 30th at Pleasant Grove MBC, located at 1440 CR 1470, Timpson, TX. It is between Center and Timpson. It will begin at 5 pm. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Bro. Josh Crawford at 572-5303 or find him on Facebook. Thank you and have a very Merry and blessed Christmas!

 TRI COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION WILL BE HOSTING A BOARD ELCTION FOR THE REP OF POOR ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 18, 2023 FROM 8:30AM-3:30PM AT TRI COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION 1016 PARTIN ROAD SAN AUGUSTINE TEXAS 75972 AND ALSO FROM 9AM-3PM AT THE TRI COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER TEXAS EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE , WE'RE ASKING ALL TO COME AND CAST YOUR VOTES.

Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports the arrest of Sarah Elizabeth Ramon, 28, of Joaquin. Ramon turned herself in Tuesday, December 19, 2023, and was booked into the Shelby County Jail. This arrest is the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Investigators. Ramon was arrested on Indecency with a Child (F-3); Sexual Assault of a Child (F-2), Improper Relationship between Educator and Student (F-2). Ramon is currently awaiting arraignment by a Shelby County Magistrate. This is an ongoing extensive investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

Chamber of Commerce Seeks Award Nominations

The 101st Annual Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Celebration & Awards, presented by Farmers State Bank, will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024. We will celebrate and recognize the achievements of 2023 and welcome a new year.

The highlight of the Celebration is our Awards presentations the Farm Family of the Year award, Young Citizen of the Year award and the Distinguished Service Award.

Nominations are being solicited from residents of Shelby County for the Young Citizen of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award. The Young Citizen of the Year was established in 1966 to recognize and encourage the young people in the area involved in community service. To be eligible, the nominee must be at least 18 up to 39 years of age, a resident of Shelby County during at least six months of the year for which the award is given, and not a previous recipient.

The Distinguished Service award is presented to an individual who has shown faithful and outstanding service to the community over a number of years. The selection criteria process for these awards include personal involvement that enriches the general welfare of our communities, participation in a wide variety of community activities, specific contributions to some area of the community, leadership, personal or business progress, ability to cooperate with individuals, civic, religious or social organizations. Candidates must be considered to be of integrity, sound character and generally well respected. Nomination forms are available on our website and at the Chamber offices. Written nominations including additional letters of support regarding the qualifications of the nominee should be sent to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, 100 Courthouse Square, A-101, Center, Texas 75935 by Friday, December 29, 2023.

Drive-thru food pantry will be Saturday, Dec. 16th , 9 am @ Hillcrest Baptist Church in Center, TX. Must have photo-ID, proof of residency and be in line by 9:30 am to receive a box. Merry Christmas!

The Piney Woods Photographic Society will hold their December meeting this Saturday, 12/16/23, at the First Methodist Church, 211 Cora St., Center, Tx. from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Current and former members, family and friends are invited to come and enjoy some good food and good fellowship. Come and meet the PWPS group and Merry Christmas to all!

Center ISD is aware of the state-wide threats going around to various districts throughout the state. Center ISD has NOT received any threats at this time. We have been in communication with Region VII and are staying apprised of the situation. The FBI, State and local law enforcement are working vigilantly and have decided that these are hoax threats according to Region VII. Only one district in Region VII has received this email. Our district will continue to monitor this situation, and will keep you informed.

It’s the time of year that we celebrate the season of giving. Many are struggling to find just the right gift for their loved ones (who have everything) or would like to give a gift in memory of their loved ones who are now living in Heaven. Shelby County Outreach Ministries is a wonderful place to give. With each monetary gift, a star is placed on our front windows to celebrate and remember your loved ones. We have seen such an increase in need in our community this year. People are struggling to pay bills, buy medicine, or purchase food for their families. Most of the senior citizens we serve are surviving on $600 or less monthly. Your monetary gift would be the gift that keeps on giving and would allow your friends and family to share love in their name. Please remember that the best gift given to us all was Jesus Christ. He is the real reason for the season. There are several ways to give monetary gifts to help those in need. You can donate through our website using PayPal. Just go to shelbycountyoutreach.org [1] and click donate. You can always stop by our office and give your gift directly and see firsthand what we do to help the less fortunate. If you would like to send your monetary gift through the mail, you can send it to PO Box 1029 Center, TX 75935. Give a gift today and honor your loved one throughout this holiday season. For more information, call us at 936-598-4990. Thank you, and we hope you have a blessed Christmas.

Santa’s Christmas Parade Winners Announced The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade Committee announces the winners of the 2023 Annual Santa’s Christmas Parade, which was held this past Saturday, December 2nd. The theme for the parade was “A Fairy Tale Christmas”. Winners by Category are:

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY: 1st Place – Matt Carrington

SCHOOL CATEGORY: 1st Place – Center High School Marching Band 2 nd Place – CHS Varsity Cheerleaders 3 rd Place – CHS Chapparals

CHURCH CATEGORY: 1st Place –St. Therese Catholic Church 2nd Place – Hillcrest Baptist Church 3rd Place –Neuville Baptist Church CIVIC ORGANIZATION CATEGORY: 1st Place – Center Girl Scout Troup #102175 2nd Place – Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department 3 rd Place – East Texas Disciples Christian Motorcyclist Association

BUSINESS CATEGORY: 1st Place – Chop Shop Salon 2nd Place – Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center 3rd Place –McDonald’s O’Reilly Group

Overall Best in Show – St. Therese Catholic Church Thank you to all our sponsors: High Roller Wells, Presenting Sponsor; City of Center, Float Competition Sponsor; Dazzle Me Pink and Blue, Grand Marshal Sponsor; and Silver Sponsors Farmers State Bank, Holiday Nursing and Rehabilitation and Specter, Inc. Thank you to the Center Police Department for assisting with traffic. Thank you to the Center Fire Department for transporting the City of Center City Council and Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department for transporting Santa Claus. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. On Pearl Harbor Day, the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii. Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government offices, schools, and businesses do not close. Source: National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day & Collins Flags All flags flying with the US Flag should also be lowered. If you have a flag that cannot be lowered, respect for the day can be shown by tying a black cord or ribbon to the top of the mast.

1885 Historic Courthouse

Christmas Open House

The public is invited to attend the 1885 Historic Courthouse Christmas Open House on Wednesday, December 13 th . The Historic Courthouse will be open from 12 noon until 2:00pm for tours and refreshments. The Excelsior ISD Choir will be performing at 1:00pm in the upstairs Courtroom.

The Historic Courthouse has recently undergone some improvements such as painting and the replacement of light fixtures with more period appropriate fixtures thanks to the support of Shelby County and the Shelby County Historical Commission.

Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison said, “I’m so excited for the improvements and everyone that has come together to help ensure the longevity of our Historic Courthouse. I’m thankful for the partnership with the Shelby County Historical Commission in helping to make the improvements as well as the Commission members who have assisted with oversight of projects. Also, having the DRT volunteer to serve as docents is helping to preserve the history of our county and the 1885 Courthouse. As they share its history with the community, the hope is a new connection of love for our county is nourished. Lastly, all of the improvements could not have happened without the Commissioners supporting the preservation of our Historic Courthouse. I hope everyone will come out and enjoy our beautiful Irish Castle.”

The William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, docents of the Historic Courthouse have beautifully decorated for the Courthouse for Christmas. The DRT building will also be open for tours during the Open House. Refreshments will be served in the Gibson Room.

Thank you to all those participating in the Open House: Shelby County, Shelby County Historical Commission, Excelsior ISD Choir, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce,William Carroll Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (Docents of the Historic Courthouse).

The James Antioch Community will have their Christmas gathering on Sat. Dec. 16, 2023 at 5:30 pm in the James Antioch Community Building. We will be drawing for the 3 quilts from the tickets sold for those quilts. We will have a gift exchange among members present. Be sure to bring a gift if you want to participate. Food will be provided. Come and enjoy being together. Ellen Manning 598-3081

WoodmenLife Lodge 250 will have their regular meeting on December 18, 2023 at 6 PM. We will meet in the Shelby County Ag Extension meeting room. Food will be provided. Members need to come prepared for our Christmas celebration. Ellen Manning 589-3081