Content about Center

Center Fire Department was called out Friday afternoon to a residential house fire at 4752 Highway 87 North. See Monday's edition of The Light and Champion for more information.

Center Crime Stoppers is seeking a wanted fugitive.
Karrie Yanes, 32, of Center is described as a white female 5’6” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. If you see or know the location of this fugitive please call Center crime Stoppers at 936-598-SAFE or send a web tip at www.centercrimestoppers.com.
You could earn a cash reward up to a $1,000 in cash if your information leads to the arrest of this fugitive. And remember you don’t have to give your name.

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 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.

DeJalen Preston, a junior at Center High School, was recently selected to participate in the 2013 Las Vegas World Championship Cup Basketball Tournament July 12-15.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.