Around Town

From left: Gail Sholar, Maggie Casto, and Chapter President Merle Howard
October 24, 2025 - The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) William Carroll Crawford Chapter held their second meeting of the 2025-2026 year and had their Traveling Trunk on display.
After taking care of Chapter business, the group enjoyed hearing from Maggie Casto and Gail Sholar about their experiences with presenting the Traveling Trunk program for different groups whether young or old and how much they enjoy it. The DRT Traveling Trunk has a wide variety of items pioneers would have used daily during the time of the Republic (1836 - Feb 19, 1846). The Chapter shares this information with schools, civic groups or any place that will let them come in and explain early daily life in Texas history.
If you would like to have the DRT bring a program to your group or school, talk to any DRT member or email magztx41@gmail.com.


From left: George Avery and Roger Doyle
October 24, 2025 - On October 23, 2025, Immediate Past District Governor Roger Doyle, of the Center Noon Lions Club, was presented The Ed Flood Award by District Governor George Avery at the club's weekly meeting.
The Ed Flood Award is presented to a District Governor in whose District an accumulative amount of money is raised which equals $2 per member in the District. All monies raised from these awards go to support the Texas Lions Foundation, which provides grants for humanitarian services and disaster relief in the state of Texas.
October 20, 2025 - Some of the best entertainment of the festival happened on Thursday morning when elementary students from Shelbyville and Center F.L. Moffett took to the stage to perform. To see photos of the performances, click the below albums.
- Shelbyville 4th Grade
- Center F.L. Moffett Kindergarten
- Center F.L. Moffett 1st Grade
- Center F.L. Moffett 2nd Grade
“Flashback to the Fifties” Shelbyville 4th Grade Class
F.L. Moffett Kindergarten Classes - Araiza, Nunez
F.L. Moffett Kindergarten Classes - Buenrostro, Motley, Horn
F.L. Moffett Kindergarten Classes - Fults, Golden, Ribera
F.L. Moffett First Grade Classes - Ruiz, Yarborough, Ventura
F.L. Moffett First Grade Classes - Gonzalez, Spence
F.L. Moffett First Grade Classes - Amaya, Collins, Oates
F.L. Moffett Second Grade Classes - Combs, Hairgrove, Radney
F.L. Moffett Second Grade Classes - Helms, Davis, Parker
F.L. Moffett Second Grade Classes - Long, Ruiz-Siso

October 20, 2025 - Community Beautification is one of Center Garden Club's annual projects. Each month from September through May, club members will present local institutions, businesses, and other entities with a complimentary floral design or plant. Pictured is member Janette Wittmann who in September presented her floral design to the First Baptist Church office. Center Garden Club looks forward to sharing Nature's beauty throughout our community during the 2025-26 year.

Successful Center VFD Fundraiser - Over 600 Plates Sold
October 17, 2025 - On behalf of the Center Volunteer Fire Department, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Shelby County and the City of Center for your incredible support during our annual fundraiser. Your generosity is what keeps our department going.
A very special thank you to Tyson Foods for donating our chicken and to the Shelby County Cookers for cooking some great chicken! We would also like to recognize Jennifer Fausett and the Center High School Culinary Department for preparing the desserts and baked beans, both were very good. Thank you as well to Brookshire Brothers for providing bags and supplies that helped make our event run smoothly and to Shelby County Today for advertising.
Most importantly, I want to thank the dedicated members of the Center Volunteer Fire Department. Your hard work, commitment, and willingness to show up whenever called is what makes this department strong. Without each of you, none of this would be possible.
Because of all of you, our sponsors, our citizens, and our firefighters, we are able to continue protecting our community.
Thank you,
Del Birdwell
Chief, Center Volunteer Fire Department

October 17, 2025 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary honored women serving in the military during a program held Friday, October 17, 2025, on the Center square and before the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.

Mary Roberts, Post Quartermaster, led the program and Larry Hume, Past-Post Commander, offered an opening prayer.
"The history of women in the armed forces began more than 228 years ago, with women who served during the American Revolution and continues through the present day. The women we honor today are a remarkable bunch, in the Revolutionary and Civil War they wanted to serve so badly that they disguised themselves as men," said Roberts.
In 1917, during a time when women had not been granted the right to vote, nurses who were women answered the call to duty during World War I and served everywhere including near the front lines in France.
"Not only were their hours long and tedious, caring for the wounded and maimed, but they also had to deal with the 1918 flu pandemic that killed millions worldwide and many of the nurses themselves," said Roberts.

Roberts highlighted the continuing perseverance of women willing to serve their country as once again they answered the call to duty during World War II, when the armed services opened up the ranks to women, which freed more men up for battle. 77 nurses in the Pacific were taken prisoners of war.
"At Anzio, Italy, six army nurses died from German bombardments. In the mud of Korea, 70% of the army nurses served in a mobile Army surgical hospital battery known as a MASH unit (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital)," said Roberts. "7,500 Army military women served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Army Nurse, Lieutenant Sharon Lane, age 25, was killed during a rocket attack in Chulai, Vietnam. Seven others died in accidents and illness."

Roberts stated that in 1990, 40,000 American women deployed to operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
"According to the U.S.O., more than 300,000 women have served during the post-9-11 war, including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. More than 9,000 have earned their combat action badge. 16% of our nations armed forces are made up of women, 152 have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Roberts. "Today, women command Navy vessels and combat units. They wear general and admiral stars, they fly, fighters, bombers, you name it. We thank them all today."

Zachary McCormick, Post member, placed a memorial wreath in honor of women that served in the military.
Taps was then played as presented by Derrick Roberts, Post Commander, for those women veterans who have died in the service of our country and those who have served and have since passed.



October 17, 2025 - Shelby County co-hosted along with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) a Judicial Education Roundtable meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at the Courthouse. The roundtable discussion included mental health resources available as well as DWI case management and best practices. TAC also provided an update on new laws affecting counties which went into effect September 1 and those which will be effective January 1.
County Judges from other East Texas counties traveled to Center, Texas for the Judicial discussion and networking opportunity. Each judge will receive six hours of judicial education credit for their time. During the meeting agenda, the judges broke away to enjoy a guided tour of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse before having lunch.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison shared, “Being County Judge can have unique challenges and often times only other Judges can truly understand the situation and help with coming up with the best solution. It is great to make these connections with other judges so you can reach out to each other as things arise. We all want to do the best we can for our counties. We also appreciate the efforts of TAC with organizing these smaller roundtable discussions because they are a great opportunity to network and have one on one discussions about current events and issues we all face.”

Left to right: Lucy Hebron (Former Wood County Judge and TAC's Judicial Education Program Manager), Lloyd Lane (Freestone County), Allison Harbison (Shelby County), Mark Allen (Jasper County), Jeff Boyd (San Augustine County), Chad Sims (Harrison County), and Bill Stoudt (Gregg County).

From left: Judy Monroe (BBSF), Will Lucas (SSBTX) , Steve Waters (Sabine State Bank), David Chadwick (Farmers State Bank). Not in the photo: BOM Bank and Austin Bank.
October 16, 2025 - Local banks hosted a fundraiser in support of Boo’s Battle Support Fund and raised $4,685. The fundraiser was a part of Texas Banks Community Day of Service which is organized by the Texas Bankers Association. It is a statewide day of community service where bankers roll up their sleeves to volunteer, donate, and give back. This fundraiser was jointly hosted by your Community Banks: BOM Bank; Farmers State Bank; SSBTX Bank; Sabine State Bank; and Austin Bank.

Accepting the check on behalf of Boo’s Battle Support Fund (BBSF) was Judy Monroe. BBSF is a non-profit organization established in honor of Brandi “Boo” Mills after she sadly lost her battle to cancer on June 27, 2017. It provides financial assistance to local families while they, or a loved one, are battling cancer. During 2024, BBSF reported a total distribution of $58,500 to families and individuals in the area that are battling cancer.
If you would like to make a donation to BBSF, visit their webpage at www.boosbattlesf.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boosbattle for more information.

From left: Macklyn Kirk and Jacie Lee
October 16, 2025 - Saturday, October 11 was a great day for a couple of Shelby County girls! Jacie Lee of Shelbyville FFA and Macklyn Kirk or Shelby County 4-H traveled to Nacogdoches and competed in the Pineywoods Fair Heifer Show. These two girls took the winnings for the American breed division.

Jacie Lee showed her 11 month old heifer, Miss Ki 271 (aka Audra). She placed first in her class, won Brahman breed Champion and placed Reserve Champion overall American breed.

Macklyn Kirk came to the show with 3 heifers and did very well with each of them. Her heifer, 2503 ET Darcey placed first in her class, won Santa Gertrudis breed Champion, and placed Grand Champion overall American Breed.

We are very proud of these Shelby County girls. They have a very bright future with these amazing animals and we can’t wait to see what all they accomplish over the next year.

October 15, 2025 - Brady Lane Wells was sworn in by Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, as Shelby County’s newest lawyer following Commissioners' Court on October 15, 2025.
“We have got a new attorney in town, and we're so excited because used to, 15 years ago, you could throw a rock and hit an attorney, and there's just not that many attorneys practicing anymore, because they're getting old like me,” said Judge Harbison.
Wells works for Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, LLP, and John Price complimented Wells on his work ethic, as well as expressing how proud he is to have him at the law firm.

Seth Elmore, attorney; Brady Wells, attorney; Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge; and John Price, attorney.
“I just like to say this young man has worked his way through college, along with his family support and help, he has worked for our firm part-time when he went through SFA, I don't know that he's ever been in a non-working position. He passed his bar with flying colors. He's been an outstanding addition to our firm for many years,” said Price. “But to have him now, as a lawyer, licensed in the state of Texas and being a member of our firm, I cannot tell you how proud that makes me individually. Known him for a long time, fine young man, and we’re so proud to have you on board.”
Jason Wells, Brady’s father, made a special presentation of his father’s Rolex watch to his son in recognition of his accomplishment.
“I've never seen a kid with as much perseverance and dedication, discipline as this young man. Proud to, you know, to claim him as my son.” Said Jason Wells. “In 2012, a lot of you knew my dad Bertis Wells, in 2012, as dad was getting a little older, he gave me a gift. I put that gift in a safe, because I was hoping that this day would come.”

With proud tears, Wells presented his son with his father’s watch. After receiving the watch, Brady commented that maybe there was a reason he had forgotten his watch at home.
Judge Harbison then administered the Attorney’s Oath to Wells.
Wells is a 2018 graduate of Center High School, and he attended Stephen F. Austin State University. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas A&M School of Law in May 2025 and after passing the Texas Bar, he was issued his license on October 6, 2025.










