Home Blog Page 105

Mid-Morning Coffee (Houston County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
-
0

On Thursday, March 20th, join us for our next Mid-Morning Coffee!
Connect with fellow business owners and professionals over a cup of coffee and engaging conversations. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to network and build meaningful connections within the Crockett business community.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to expand your network and discover what’s happening in the Crockett Area business community! See you there!

Location:
Crockett Springs Real Estate
(inside Betty Boop’s)
115 South 4th Street
Crockett, TX 75835

Date and Time:
March 20, 2025
9:30 AM

Candidate Forum (Angelina County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
-
0

Join us on Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 PM for the Candidate Forum, hosted by the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce and the Angelina County Citizens Chamber of Commerce! The event will take place at The Pines Theater, with doors opening at 5 PM and the forum starting promptly at 5:30 PM.

This is your chance to hear directly from local candidates and stay informed ahead of the elections. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in the future of our community—see you there!

Summer in the City 2025 Kicks Off with The Spazmatics!

By
Diana De Leon Bon
-
0

Summer in the City Kicks Off with The Spazmatics at The Pines Theater!

Lufkin, TX — The highly anticipated Summer in the City 2025 series is set to kick off with a high-energy performance by The Spazmatics on May 31st at The Pines Theater. As Lufkin’s signature summer event, this series will bring the community together every Saturday from May 31st to August 9th, offering free live music, outdoor movies, and family-friendly fun at Cotton Square Park unless stated otherwise.

 

The Spazmatics concert, one of the few ticketed events in the series, promises a night of ultimate 80s hits, dancing in the aisles, and good vibes. With limited seating available, tickets are priced at $40 and will go on sale March 3rd.

Presented by Brookshire Brothers and Sponsored by Servpro:

The Summer in the City series is made possible by the generous support of Brookshire Brothers, our Presenting Sponsor, and Servpro of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County & Longview, the Concert Sponsor for The Spazmatics event.

 

We are also grateful for our additional community sponsors, including:

    • Best Western Plus
    • Sleep by Choice Hotels
    • Angelina Arts Alliance
    • Lufkin Creative
    • City of Lufkin Parks & Recreation
    • Lufkin Limners
    • Angelina Community Theatre
    • Sound Techs
  • Ferrara’s Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
  • KIA Kimberly Eakin Lufkin TX
  • Lufkin Music Friendly Texas

Event Highlights:

  • Live Music: The Spazmatics bring their ultimate 80s tribute to Lufkin.
  • Concession Stand: Delicious popcorn & homemade treats from Susu’s Popcorn will be available at the Pines Theater Concession Stand for purchase. 
  • Cash Bar: Alcohol will be available for purchase.
  • First Street Merchant Local Treats: Before and after the concert, be sure to grab a Signature drink at Standpipe Coffee House and bites from our many downtown vendors.
  • Interactive Fun: A 360 photo/video booth by The Big Picture Events.

How to Get Tickets:

Tickets are available starting March 3rd at:
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/summerinthecity2025

For media inquiries, please contact:

Natalie Howard
Visit Lufkin Team
visit@cityoflufkin.com

About Summer in the City:

Summer in the City is an event series designed to celebrate community, support local businesses, and offer affordable entertainment in the heart of Downtown Lufkin. With live music, interactive art, outdoor movies, and family game nights, there’s something for everyone.

… and don’t forget, Visit Lufkin!

Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
-
0

Hey, sports fans,

Angelina College started its annual Spring Break this past Friday, and the campus will be closed until Monday, March 17.

That doesn’t mean the athletics action is taking a break.

Our Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner basketball teams wrapped up their regular seasons on Wednesday with Sophomore Day ceremonies and will enter this coming week’s Region XIV Conference Tournament in Baytown (more information below). 

AC softball and baseball teams now are in conference play and will have games next week. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next: 

No. 12 Roadrunner Basketball Finishes Regular Season, Undefeated at Home

No one can remember the last time it happened (if ever), but the fans and players of the 2024-2025 squad won’t soon forget.

After moving up to No. 12 in the NJCAA’s Division I regular-season final rankings, the Roadrunners capped off the regular season with a 68-57 win over Lamar State College-Port Arthur on Wednesday – leaving the ‘Runners with a spotless 15-0 record at home this year. 

Before the game, the team held its Sophomore Day ceremony. Playing in their final games at Shands Gymnasium were sophomores Chris Carpenter, Kanaan Holder, Kyle Morgan, Boris Perucica and Morgan Baldwin.

The ‘Runners (25-5, 18-4) open Region XIV Tournament play this week at Lee College in Baytown. (See below for more tournament information.)

Lady Roadrunner Basketball Ends Regular Season, Preps for Tourney

AC’s ladies dropped their season finale on Wednesday against Panola College, with the Fillies taking a 71-60 win over AC at Shands Gymnasium despite big nights from India McMahon and Lanaijha Johnson.

McMahon and Johnson each poured in 20 points, with Johnson adding 14 rebounds to complete another double-double. Alecia Rivera-Scott added 10 points in the loss.

Prior to the game, the team honored its sophomores on Sophomore Day. Lady ‘Runners playing their final games at Shands Gymnasium included McMahon, Rivera-Scott, Kya Cook, Carly Gates, Shanice Ferguson and Teagan Moore. 

The Lady Roadrunners complete the regular season with a record of 11-16, 4-10. AC will face Blinn College at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the women’s opening round of the Region XIV Tournament at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. (See below for more tournament information.)

 Region XIV Basketball Tournament Information

The Region XIV Conference Basketball Tournament will take place at Lee College in Baytown, Texas this year, with men’s and women’s teams vying for berths in their respective national tournaments.

The 2025 version of the tourney is scheduled to tip off its opening round on Tuesday, March 11 and will conclude with the championship games on Saturday, March 15. 

  The No. 12 Roadrunners enter as the No. 2 seed, meaning AC’s men get a first-round bye. The ‘Runners will play at 6 p.m. on Thursday (March 13) against Tuesday’s Tyler JC/Bossier Parish CC winner. 

The Lady Roadrunners enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 seed Blinn College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. 

Men’s and women’s semifinals take place on Friday, March 14, and the championship games for both are scheduled for Saturday, March 15. 

All games will be live streamed on TSBN Sports. 

For complete tournament information (including ticket and bracket info), click the following link:

https://region14.prestosports.com/sports/2025_Region_14_Basketball_Tournament

Lady Roadrunner Softball Opens Conference Play 

The Lady Roadrunners on Thursday opened Region XIV conference play, and the team managed to split a doubleheader with a solid San Jacinto team.

AC took the opener by a 13-5 score in five innings but dropped the nightcap in an 11-1 loss, also in five innings.

The Lady Roadrunners hosted Baton Rouge Community College on Sunday, dropping the opener of the doubleheader by a 19-13 score before the Bears held off a furious AC challenge in the nightcap. The Lady ‘Runners came up just short in an 11-10 loss in eight innings. 

AC’s Izzy Allen drove in six runs in the opener, with her big blast a grand slam in the second inning. 

Elizabeth Craig homered and drove in four runs in the nightcap.

The Lady Roadrunners (8-17, 1-1) travel to Eunice, Louisiana on Monday for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. AC then returns home on Wednesday to face Alvin College starting a 1 p.m. at Lady Roadrunner Field on the AC campus.

The Lady ‘Runners close out the week on Saturday with a home doubleheader against Lamar State College-Port Arthur starting at 1 p.m. 

AC Baseball Spends Week on the Road

  The Roadrunners opened the week with a massive 20-8 win at Tyler Junior College on Wednesday. Ashton Wagner drove in four runs, and Jacob Tanguma finished with three RBI and a homer. AC fell 10-5 in the nightcap, with Colin Ficarra and Tine Hampshire driving in a pair of runs each.

Saturday in Paris, the Roadrunners took the opener by a 3-1 score behind a strong pitching performance from Sam Nitzke, who struck out four Dragons while allowing a single earned run over 5.2 innings. Josh Munoz closed it out on the mound, finishing with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.

The late game saw the Roadrunners fall in a 10-5 Dragon win. Ficarra homered and drove in two runs in the loss.

AC (9-12, 2-5) will host Joliet College on Monday in a single, nine-inning game scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. 

Lady Roadrunner Softball Holding Prospect Camp March 16

The Angelina College softball program is looking to add some future Lady Roadrunners and is hosting a Prospect Camp on Sunday, March 16 at Lady Roadrunner Field on the AC campus.

The camp is for high schoolers in the Class of 2026 and Class of 2027. Prospects outside that age group may contact the coaching staff about future workouts. 

The cost of the camp is $75 per player. Check-in starts at 11:30, and the camp will begin at noon.  

Here’s the link for registration and other info:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prospect-softball-camp-march-16th-2025-12-pm-registration-1084409902209?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6sDJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcL3pRyIeKImJpNBC7hwLuzEfAYdexFRZhATG9Lr5kgJMCtg287s5fui6A_aem_eY-HGLqG498MLQmT7aHP5g

For further information, contact head coach Brette Kohring at bkohring@angelina.edu. 

AC’s Camp Roadrunner Sessions Set for Summer 2025

Over the past few years, Camp Roadrunner has become a “gotta do” event for youngsters throughout East Texas, with the recreational and youth sports camps drawing bigger crowds every summer. 

To view the available sports camps and locate the links for registration, visit https://www.angelina.edu/camproadrunner/ and look for each specific sport. 

Following are the dates for each Youth Sports Camp:

Baseball: June 2-5

Soccer: June 9-12; July 7-10

Basketball: June 9-12

Softball: June 9-12

Live Streaming Reminder: 

All AC Athletics regular-season home games will be live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)

Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link. 

TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)

Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.  

Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram pages. 

Upcoming schedules:

Monday, March 10:

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Joliet College, single nine-inning game starting at 2 p.m., Poland Stadium on the AC campus.

Lady Roadrunner Softball at Louisiana State University-Eunice, doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. in Eunice, La. 

Wednesday, March 12:

Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Alvin College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., Lady Roadrunner Field at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. 

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Northeast Texas CC, doubleheader starting at 3 p.m., Poland Stadium on the AC campus. 

Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Blinn College, Region XIV Tournament Opening Round tipping off at 8 p.m. at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. 

Thursday, March 13:

No. 12 Roadrunner Basketball vs. either Tyler JC or Bossier Parish CC, 6 p.m. at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. 

Saturday, March 15, 2025:

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Bossier Parish CC, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., Poland Stadium.  

Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Lamar State College-Port Arthur, DH starting at 1 p.m., Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.  

For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
We’ll see you at the games.

Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614

The Story Behind Our Changing Clocks: A History of Daylight Saving Time

By
Rachel Lauren
-
0
Image by Masson-Simon on Envato Elements

As residents across our region set their clocks forward this morning, few may know the fascinating history behind this twice-yearly time adjustment. Daylight Saving Time has a complex past that stretches back further than many might expect.

Early Origins

Though often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who humorously suggested Parisians could save candles by rising earlier, the concept of Daylight Saving Time wasn’t formally proposed until the late 1800s. In 1895, New Zealand entomologist George Hudson presented the first detailed proposal, hoping to gain more evening daylight hours for his insect collecting.

While Hudson worked on his proposal in New Zealand, British builder William Willett was developing similar ideas on the other side of the world. In 1905, during his pre-dawn horseback rides through London, Willett took note of drawn curtains and darkened windows. Troubled by what he saw as wasted sunshine, and personally motivated by his love of golf, he launched a passionate campaign to shift clocks forward in summer months to better align daylight hours with people’s waking lives.

Wartime Implementation

Despite these early proposals, it took a global conflict to put the concept into widespread practice. Germany was the first country to implement Daylight Saving Time in 1916 during World War I, as a way to conserve coal during wartime. The United Kingdom followed shortly after, and the United States adopted the practice in 1918.

After the war ended, many countries abandoned the time change. However, the energy benefits had made an impression that would later resurface.

The Standardization Period

For decades, Daylight Saving Time implementation remained inconsistent across the United States. This created what many called “clock chaos,” particularly for transportation systems and broadcasters. Bus drivers sometimes had to reset their watches seven times during a 100-mile trip.

To address this confusion, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966. This law established a system of uniform Daylight Saving Time across the country, though states could exempt themselves by passing state law.

Energy Crises and Extensions

The energy crisis of the 1970s brought renewed interest in Daylight Saving Time’s potential conservation benefits. In 1974, President Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, implementing year-round Daylight Saving Time for two years.

Over subsequent decades, the period of Daylight Saving Time gradually extended. The current schedule—beginning on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November—was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and took effect in 2007.

Ongoing Debates and Research

While proponents highlight extended evening daylight and potential energy savings, critics point to disruptions in sleep patterns and questionable energy benefits in our modern world. Recent studies suggest the time change may be associated with temporary increases in traffic accidents, workplace injuries, and even heart attacks.

These concerns have prompted several states to pass legislation to remain on either Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time year-round, though changing to permanent Daylight Saving Time would require federal approval.

Local Impacts Through History

Our region has experienced the evolution of time-keeping practices alongside the rest of the nation. From the days when town clocks were the primary timekeepers to today’s automatically updating digital devices, the way we track time has transformed dramatically.

As we adjust to the time change today, we’re participating in a practice with a rich historical backdrop—one that continues to evolve as research, policy, and public opinion develop in the ongoing conversation about how we should structure our days.

Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College Awards Simmons

By
Gary Stallard
-
0

Heather Kartye and Kim Simmons:

Program director Heather Kartye (right) presents Kim Simmons a certification for completing the Nonprofit Leadership Center Management course at Angelina College. The NLC, in collaboration with the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce, offers training for both emerging and existing nonprofit professionals and organizations.

Chamber of Commerce and Kim Simmons:

Kim Simmons (center, holding award) poses with members of the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce during a ceremony held on Friday. Simmons received her certification for completing the Nonprofit Leadership Center Management course at Angelina College. The NLC, in collaboration with the Chamber, offers training for both emerging and existing nonprofit professionals and organizations.

Gary L. Stallard
Angelina College
Liberal Arts Instructor/Sports Information Director
Cell: (936) 465-4614
E-mail:  gstallard@angelina.edu

Addyson Arnold to compete at Angelina County Fair

By
Cary Sims
-
0

Addyson Arnold in showing her top broiler at a previous Angelina County Fair. This year’s Broiler show is on Tuesday March 25 at 6pm in the George H. Henderson Expo in Lufkin

Addyson Arnold waiting to show her top three broilers to show last year at the Angelina County Fair. This year’s Broiler show is on Tuesday March 25 at 6pm in the George H. Henderson Expo in Lufkin.

Addyson Arnold starting with 1-day old chicks to raise in six weeks for the broiler competition at the Angelina County Fair. This year’s Broiler show is on Tuesday, March 25 at 6pm in the George H. Henderson Expo in Lufkin.

Addyson Arnold raising broilers and competing at the Angelina County Fair

Addyson Arnold is an 11th grade student at Lufkin High School and the daughter of Glen and JonAnna Arnold. 

She says she became involved in 4-H because her older sister and brother both showed animals and she couldn’t wait until she was old enough to join them.  “I come from a long line of agriculture genes because one of my grandfathers was the county extension agent for Angelina County and my other grandfather was an agriculture teacher for Diboll High School.  I also wanted to get into 4-H because I love animals and knew that if I did well at the county show that I could make money to help my parents pay for my college education,” she said. The grandfather who was an Extension Agent is the late Charlie Arnold and the other grandfather who was an agricultural science instructor is Jesse Bradford. 

While this article highlights the Addyson in the broiler show where she has made the sale all 7 years, she has been quite successful in several other areas. States Addyson, “I have competed in the Family & Consumer Science division where I have been best in show for 6 out of last 8 years, photography where I have won best in show 3 times, rabbits where I made the sale 2 of the last 3 years and arts and crafts where I have submitted a painting for judging for the last 5 years.”

A “broiler” is a chicken bred specifically to grow muscle efficiently and to be eaten. Their genetics are very different from the egg producing breeds we have in the back-yard egg-laying flock. Raising broiler chickens is an excellent youth project for beginners to livestock exhibiting. Chickens are considerably easier to handle, require less space, and are less expensive than other species.

Addyson explains, “The most rewarding part of the fair besides making the sale with my projects is getting to share my project experiences with the elementary school kids that come to tour the fair each year.  I love to interact with kids and see their eyes light up when they interact with an animal for the first time. Hopefully, some of these kids will return to the fair one day with a project of their own.” 

“I participate in not only 4-H fair activities but also am heavily involved with my church and my school activities where I play volleyball and compete in track field events.  It is sometimes overwhelming and hard to prioritize my daily schedule to make sure everything gets done while at the same time keeping my grades up. Animals are equivalent to babies and need to be taken care of constantly to ensure their growth and survival. It is my responsible to keep these animals alive and thriving and that is a big responsibility to undertake.” 

This is a short-term livestock project lasting only six weeks.  The quick time frame of only 6 weeks is very typical of market conditions.  On a commercial scale, it typically takes only 6-7 weeks to raise a broiler to market weight. At the county fair, only the best 3 broilers from the original pen are shown in competition by a student.  

Her mom JonAnna says, “I hope for them to gain responsibility and time management skills through taking care of animals.  They have to prioritize their day around feeding, grooming and keeping their animal projects healthy. They also develop leadership skills by speaking to and demonstrating how to care for your projects to younger exhibitors. They also learn to be a gracious competitor no matter if you win or lose.”

JonAnna continues, “The most rewarding experience as a parent is watching your child reap the benefits of the time and energy that they have put into a project. It is also rewarding to have other parents come up to you and let you know how your child has inspired or helped a younger team member gain confidence or knowledge through their words or deeds. The hardest part as a parent is to step back and allow your child to succeed or fail without you stepping in to do it for them. Always offer help and advice but allow the project to be the child’s. They will learn and grow so much more by allowing this.”

Addyson adds, “Being a part of the 4-H Horse Club and participating in the County Fair is a very rewarding experience.  Not only do you meet new friends but you also get to experience the success of raising and showing your projects. when they do well in the show, you are recognized in the sale and can use the money to help pay for college or to help purchase show projects for the next year. The fair also offers opportunities for scholarships to help offset the financial burden of college.”

Her mom, JonAnna, wrapped it up saying, “There is something for everyone.  You do not have to live on a farm or be a cowboy or cowgirl to compete at the fair.  There are so many diverse competitions offered for everyone whether you are in elementary, junior high or high school. Yes, there are the animal projects, but there is FCS, arts and crafts, forestry, shotgun, archery, public speaking.  There is something for everyone and it is a great opportunity to get your child involved with a great group of individuals 

As parents, we learned so much being active in the county fair projects that there was no hesitation in getting our own children involved.  The fair helped to pay for not only my college education but also my kids through money made from the selling of projects and scholarships offered by being an active member of a 4-H or FFA group and the county fair.”

This year’s broiler show at the Angelina County Fair is sponsored by Pilgrim’s Pride and will be held on Tuesday, March 25 starting at 6 pm in the main arena at the George H. Henderson Expo. The entire County Fair is from Monday, March 24 thru Saturday, March 29 concluding with the sale on Saturday afternoon. The auction will be Saturday evening in the main arena starting at 4 pm. For more information about the Angelina County Fair, go to angelinacountyfair.com.  

Capitol Update: Supporting Our Youth, Strengthening Education, and Investing in Texas Schools

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
-
0

Deep East Texas is finally warming up, and that means Spring is upon us! The return of warm weather also signals that county fair season is back in many of our communities. As a proud supporter of our youth involved in FFA, 4-H, and FCCLA, I hope you all will make an effort to get out and support these students who will showcase their projects in the coming weeks. Always remember that investing in our youth is investing in the future of our community’s prosperity. I hope to see you at the fair!

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…

Capitol Update

The work at the Capitol has started to get truly busy. This past week, the House Committees on Public Education and Natural Resources, on which I serve, and the Subcommittee on Academic and Career-Oriented Education, on which I serve as Chair, all met.

The Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony from several state agencies under its jurisdiction, including the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about these agencies and their vital work to protect our precious natural resources. 

The Subcommittee on Academic and Career Oriented Education met to consider House Bill 120, by Rep. Keith Bell, a comprehensive piece of legislation that will enhance Texas students’ career and technology education (CTE) opportunities. The bill builds upon existing programs, such as the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP), while introducing new initiatives to ensure students statewide—especially in rural and underserved communities—have access to high-quality career training and advising.

Some highlights of HB 120 include adding the JROTC as a qualifying CTE program, requiring R-PEP programs to offer at least one high-demand career pathway, and increasing funding for Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs from $50 per student to $150. I applaud Rep. Bell on this landmark bill and look forward to supporting it when the Public Education Committee takes it up.  

Finally, the Committee on Public Education heard invited and public testimony on House Bill 2, the House’s comprehensive plan to reform the public school and public school finance system. HB 2 is a historic piece of legislation that includes nearly $8 billion in total funding for our public schools. That funding represents the single largest state investment in public schools in Texas’s history. 

Some highlights of HB 2 include expanding the Teacher Incentive Allotment to strengthen our teacher workforce and encourage professional development for all educators, providing full-day funding for students in Pre-K partnerships, and introducing a prep allotment to invest state resources in teacher training and certification.

While this is an important step to provide vital support for our public schools, the filed version of HB 2 is not final, and the Committee left the bill pending after hearing all testimony. I appreciate Chairman Brad Buckley’s leadership on HB 2 and look forward to working with him and the rest of my colleagues on the Committee to deliver much-needed relief and support to our public school teachers and students.

The mobile office is on the road again and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: March 12 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; March 19 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.

Panola County Timber Theft Case Resolved, Recovered $50,240

By
Lee Allen Miller
-
0

PANOLA COUNTY, Texas—Following a Texas A&M Forest Service timber theft investigation, $50,240 has been recovered to a group of Panola County landowners for unpaid timber sales.

The Panola County landowners entered a timber sale agreement with a timber harvesting company and were paid $21,167 for their timber, which they felt was a significantly low price based on the terms in the harvesting contract compared to the volume of timber harvested and hauled from the tract. The landowners filed a timber theft complaint with the Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Department.

Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement investigators initiated an investigation on Jan. 12, 2025, reviewing all documents generated during the timber harvest including scale tickets, loader sheets and financial statements.

The investigation found that the timber harvesting company still owed the landowners $41,655. The investigation also found that $8,585 worth of timber had been severed but had not been hauled to a mill.

On Feb. 21, 2025, the timber harvesting company remitted the full payment of timber trust funds to the landowners, valuing $50,240.

“Our Law Enforcement investigators were very diligent during this investigation in meeting with the landowner and harvester and assessing documents related to the sale to determine the value of timber the landowners were owed,” said Jarred Lemmon, Texas A&M Forest Service Assistant Chief Law Enforcement Officer. “Through timber theft investigations, leading to resolutions, we’re able to protect Texas lands and landowners as well as the integrity of the timber sale process.”

In 2025, including this most recent investigation, Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers have recovered over $79,000 for landowners who were victims of timber theft, surpassing the $53,000 recovered in 2024.

Lemmon expressed that landowners are the first line of defense against timber theft, and their vigilance during the timber sale process is vital.

“Landowners can be taken advantage of in several ways during a timber sale, including skimming and diversion,” said Lemmon . “Often times, landowners aren’t aware of the crime until after it occurs. So, landowners should use resources like a consultant forester to ensure the timber is sold for a fair price and the harvesters are held to the terms of the contract.”

To prevent timber theft, landowners should:

  • Visit their property frequently.
  • Have someone they know and trust report any cutting on their land immediately.
  • Never sign a contract without checking several references of the buyer.
  • Insist on getting bids for their timber.
  • Mark all property lines to assure cutting on adjacent property does not encroach on theirs.
  • Utilize trail/deer cameras on their property that can record suspicious activity or individuals.
  • Always hold their timber contractor to the agreed upon term.

Landowners who are unfamiliar with selling their timber are urged to contact their local Texas A&M Forest Service office. Texas A&M Forest Service field staff assists landowners with the process of securing the services of a professional resources manager to help select trees for harvest, estimate values and find potential buyers.

To report suspected timber theft or suspicious activity, call the Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Timber Theft Hotline at 1-800-364-3470. The Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Department works with local officials to help bring those responsible for timber theft and other violations of the natural resources code to justice.

To contact a Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigator your area, please visit https://ticc.tamu.edu/Documents/Home/LE_Map.pdf.

 

Color Me Drug-Free: An Obstacle Challenge Course

By
Diana De Leon Bon
-
0

On Saturday, March 29, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM, the Angelina County Drug-Free All Stars and local Youth Ambassadors for the Texas State SayWhat! program will host Color Me Drug-Free: An Obstacle Challenge Course, to celebrate and encourage students to live a healthy and substance-free life. Participants will make their way through an obstacle course filled with fun challenges, but watch out! Color will be flying to mark students drug-free!

The first 50 participants will receive a FREE t-shirt (white) that can be worn during the event, and free swag will be awarded, while supplies last! Join us at the Boys & Girls Club of Lufkin field on Saturday, March 29.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes and behaviors, in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information about this free event or how to register, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308 or visit @TheCoalition936 on social media.

1...104105106...760Page 105 of 760