News

TxDOT officials and local law enforcement agencies assembled at the Center Police Department on Thursday morning to discuss unbuckled drivers. As part of the 12th Annual Click It or Ticket Campaign, seat belt enforcement is tightening up. TxDOT Public Information Officer, Kathi White, proclaimed that “Tickets Available for Every Seat.”

The membership of the Texas Bankers Association elected officers for the 2013-2014 fiscal year at its annual convention in Austin May 3. Elected were Chairman Ignacio Urrabazo Jr., president and CEO of Commerce Bank, Laredo; Vice Chair John Snider, vice chairman and CEO of Shelby Savings Bank, SSB in Center; and Treasurer Ken Burgess Jr., chairman of FirstCapital Bank of Texas in Midland. The officers’ terms are from June 1 through May 31, 2014.

The TImpson area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon cutting event for Golf Carts 59.com. The business offers a variety of different kinds of golf carts for sale. Frontier Cafe provided refreshments for the grand opening event.

The City of Center is stepping up to the plate. The location of the softball fields has been situated within Community Park for a number of years. However, they will be finding a new home very soon. As a part of the Center Park expansion project, three new softball fields will be built right next to the current Center Park.

The Center Police Department is joining a partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation in two summer programs to help prevent incidents across Texas. The first program is “Click It or Ticket” which is intended to help prevent injury and death resulting from drivers and passengers in vehicles not wearing seat belts.
The second program is “Labor Day Impaired Driving” which has officers on the look out for intoxicated drivers.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a wreck involving Center Independent School District bus number 13, which was traveling on Highway 7 full of students Friday afternoon and resulted in several injuries.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Keith Jones, at 4:06 p.m. on Friday, April 26 a 2004 International Center ISD school bus driven by Eva Burns Cooper, 51, of Center was traveling eastbound on State Highway 7 East. As Cooper approached the intersection of FM 1656 a vehicle that was in front of her had slowed or stopped to make a turn.

ATV fatalities statewide are on the rise as more and more people ride unprotected. Earlier this month, a sophomore student at Center High School was seriously injured in a four-wheeler accident. So with the evergrowing number of fatalities and injuries, it is necessary to address the dangers associated with riding all terrain vehicles. Furthermore, there are some preventive measures that should be taken when riding in order to keep the unthinkable from happening.

Entries are now being taken for the Queen, Duchess and Princess contest for the Shelby County Sheriff Posse Rodeo slated for June 7 and 8.
There are three age groups: Queen contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 24; Duchess contestants between 11 and 15, and Princess contestants between 5 and 10 years of age. Age is determined as of Jan. 1.

The Light and Champion newspaper has seen a few changes lately, as new staff members have been added and some staff members have been moved to new positions, Scott Flowers was recently announced as Editor of The Light and Champion newspaper.
Although this is news to the community, Scott has been working in this position since October 2012 due to a decision made by JoAnna Martin, former Light and Champion Publisher, to give Scott the responsibility of overseeing the newsroom.

The City of Center is steadily transforming plans on a dry erase board into reality. Most likely everyone has noticed the new sidewalks and trails, however, renovation of City Hall and Community House are two more projects that are currently in progress.
City Hall has been in its current location, 617 Tenaha Street, since 1989 when it replaced what used to be an old youth center. The previous location of City Hall was above the old fire station that sat on the Center square.

Ace Rental Place on Loop 500 held their Grand Opening ribbon cutting on Friday, April 26 and welcomed guests. The business is located Loop 500 East of 96 South in Center.

A farewell party was held for Claudann Jones, County Extension Agent, at the Shelby County Courthouse Monday, April 22 on the 2nd floor. County officials, friends and coworkers were present to wish Jones well on her transition to the Nacogdoches County Extension office. Pictured are (from left): Lane Dunn, Shelby County Extension Agent; Claudann Jones, Shelby County Extension Agent; and Daphne Lovell of the Shelby County Extension office.