Shelby County Today

From left: Derrick Roberts, Mike Wulf, Ike Reeves, Maq, Richard Roddy, Richard Lundie, Linda Lundie, and Mary Roberts. Photo taken by Larry Hume.

October 26, 2023 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial Tuesday, October 24, 2023 to remember those who lost their lives in Beirut, Lebanon due to the bombing of a Marine compound. Post Commander Richard Lundie welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending to remember those who lost their lives in Beirut 40 years ago.

“Early on a Sunday morning, around 0622 hours, October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon that housed American and French service members in a multi-national force in Lebanon. They were a military peacekeeping operating during the Lebanese Civil War,” said Commander Lundie.

The attack killed 307 people, 241 of which were American military, 58 were French military, six were civilians plus the two attackers.

The first suicide bomber detonated a truck bomb at the building serving as a barracks for the 1st Battalion, Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division; killing 220 Marines, 18 Navy sailors and three Army soldiers. This was the deadliest single day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II and the deadliest single-day death toll for the U.S. Armed Forces since the first day of the Tet offensive in Vietnam."

Lundie added, another 128 were wounded in the blast and 13 others later died of their injuries. 

Minutes after the first bombing, a second bomber attacked a nine-story building a few kilometers where the French contingent was stationed.

In honor of those who died that day and in the days that followed, a memorial wreath was hung on the Shelby County Veterans Memorial by Ike Reeves, Post Trustee and U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran.

Taps was then played as presented by Derrick Roberts, Post Member.

Post Member Derrick Roberts playing Taps. Photo taken by Larry Hume.

Rotary Club members with their families celebrating the new inclusive playground equipment.

October 24, 2023 - The Rotary Club of Center partnered with the City of Center to bring several pieces of ADA Inclusive Playground Equipment to Portacool Park. The club celebrated the completion of the community service project with Family Day at Portacool Park on Tuesday, October 17 where Rotarians and their families enjoyed a wonderful day together.

The Center Rotary Club utilized a grant from Rotary District 5910 and Rotary International to maximize the service project and increase the number of pieces installed.

The new playground equipment included two high-capacity large adaptive swings with five-point harnesses for kids. A new sandbox was installed as well as an ADA Sand Digger. The final piece was a Wheel Thru Arcade installed off of the main pavilion and connected to a nearby sidewalk.

Rotarians are excited to help bring in new pieces to the playground and give every family a place where all of their children will be able to play.

The Rotary Club of Center meets each Tuesday at noon at the John D. Windham Civic Center in Center, Texas.

Rotary and Interact members offering hands on service to install ADA Playground Equipment at Portacool Park.

October 19, 2023 - The Center Woman’s Reading Club met October 5. After the business meeting the club enjoyed a time of fellowship and a delicious lunch provided by Angie Davis. Dottie West presented a most interesting book report on the novel The Burial Place written by Larry Enmon. Mr. Enmon grew up in Shelbyville, Texas. He and his wife now reside in Dallas but often visit the family farm in Shelbyville. Known for writing suspense thrillers and crime mysteries, he often includes references and storylines in East Texas towns in his novels. He is retired from the U.S. Secret Service.

The novel centers around the investigation of the kidnapping of the Dallas mayor’s daughter. Senior detectives Rob Soliz and Frank Pierce investigated the case and discovered that other young women had been kidnapped leading them to expand their investigation beyond Dallas into rural East Texas. A transient homeless man as well as cults play a central role in their investigation. Following the report Mrs. West led an interesting discussion with club members based on the impact of cults in America.

Mrs. West shared that she has a young granddaughter Emily West living in the Fort Worth area who founded a charitable organization called Gospel Socks that she started at age 11 along with help from her parents. She was inspired to do this after visiting San Antonio and seeing homeless people. The purpose of Gospel Socks is to provide new socks and other items to those in need while also sharing the love of Jesus. Gospel Socks has provided over 100,000 pairs of socks through charitable organizations that work with the homeless. For more information about Gospel Socks go to gospelsocks.com.

Article submitted by Mary Lynn Tinkle

October 13, 2023 - The 2023 Health and Fitness Fair which was scheduled for October 20th has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Mammogram Units and Gulf Coast Blood Mobile will still set up at the Windham Civic Center for those who have made appointments.

We apologize for the cancellation.