Kirbyville High School hosts: Spirit of Christmas Fun Run & Festival! This event is to raise money to help spread the spirit of Christmas to KCISD students and their families who are in need during the holiday season. During and after the 5k we will have live music, bounce houses, games, food, and fun for the whole family. Registration begins at 8am, the race begins at 9am, and the festival will extend until 12pm.
Parking will be behind the home side bleachers at KHS Wildcat Stadium (bus loop parking lot) OR behind the KHS Wildcat gym (by the tennis courts).
This Fall Festival is everything you love about fall festivals and then some! There are plenty of games and activities for you and your family to check out. Everything from pumpkin bowling and corn hole to live music and an antique tractor show is what this festival is about. There will be games, a kitty train ride, a bake sale, and face painting. There will be a fantastic fried fish lunch served from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM served with fries and hush puppies. If you can’t make it in time for the fried fish, they will have a concession stand open where you can purchase hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, candy, and drinks as you visit the fall fest. The best part is it’s free because their mission is to get everyone together, have a good time, and eat some good food. Just bring your family down in Troup, Texas for this family-friendly event.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – More than $235,000 in scholarships will be available for students in the Forest Resource Track in the Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology. The funds for this scholarship have been provided by the profit made from timber sales on the John Henry Kirby State Forest by Texas A&M Forest Service.
This scholarship will award ECCB freshmen and transfer students, including enrolled Texas A&M Forest Service employees and interns, $4,000 annually.
“We wanted to create scholarships specifically for those studying forest resources, as well as for those who work and do internships at Texas A&M Forest Service,” said Al Davis, Director of Texas A&M Forest Service. “This is to encourage undergraduate students to work for Texas A&M Forest Service and for current employees to pursue further education in advancement of the agency’s mission.”
The first recipients of this scholarship are anticipated to be announced in spring 2025 and awarded for the fall 2025 semester. The scholarship will be awarded to recipients in two increments at the beginning of each semester.
Katy Gonder, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, said the scholarships supporting the education and training of the next generation of professionals enrolled in the department’s Forestry Resources Track are an investment in the future of forestry in Texas.
“These scholarships provide essential financial support while connecting Texas A&M students to our state’s rich history of forest management,” she said. “The Forestry Resources Track prepares students to enter the profession as skilled foresters by combining classroom learning with hands-on experiences fieldwork and internships with organizations like Texas A&M Forest Service.”
Dr. Gonder shared that the ECCB program currently has 18 students enrolled and anticipates it to grow to 40 students within several years.
Scholarships are awarded competitively using a standardized scoring system established by Texas A&M University, considering factors such as high school academic performance, leadership qualities, community service, special talents, first-generation college status and academic achievements in challenging circumstances.
“The scholarships will mean a great deal to students within our forestry program,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor and Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “It is a wonderful opportunity to help them on their academic journey and to set them up for success as they enter a field where graduates can find great opportunities and fulfilling careers.”
Non-Texas A&M Forest Service affiliated students must complete the scholarship application in their admissions application.
The Kirby State Forest was gifted to Texas A&M Forest Service in 1929 by lumber baron John Henry Kirby. Since then, Texas A&M Forest Service foresters have managed the forest which is divided into 13 management stands.
As trees become larger, they require more nutrients, sunlight and water so the process of thinning continues throughout the life of the stand of trees. In most forests, thinning begins around age 15 and continues to be conducted in intervals of seven to 10 years.
“This scholarship exemplifies the value of leadership that we practice at Texas A&M Forest Service,” Davis said. “It is always a full circle moment to see the fruition of 100 years of forestry practices on our state forests invest in the natural resource pioneers of tomorrow.”
As you all know, downtown Lufkin has been under construction since April. Because of the rain, it dragged the project on for what felt like forever. However, after the rain let up and the weather got dry, the construction project finally picked back up. In fact, finishing construction went quite swift. Now, they’re just putting in some final touches before the ribbon cutting this Thursday.
When is the Ribbon Cutting?
Photo by Beka GlasgowPhoto by Beka Glasgow
The roads finally being freed of all the construction and blockages has been long-awaited. Not just because it was inconvenient to walk around all of it, but also because now businesses in downtown can finally get to normal. Due to construction, it was a hassle to drive or even walk anywhere in downtown. All of those local shops and places to eat lost a lot of business because of the difficulty getting from place to place. They’ll surely be relieved when business is booming again.
Photo by Beka GlasgowPhoto by Beka GlasgowPhoto by Beka Glasgow
The ribbon cutting for the revitalized streets and sidewalks of downtown is on October 17th, Thursday, 2024 at 10am on 108 S First St. You’ll definitely want to be there! It’ll be a chance to stop by all the local shops, bakeries and more. There will also be a complimentary water and coffee station outside Standpipe Coffee as you make your way down the revitalized streets of downtown Lufkin.
Photo by Beka Glasgow
Mark Your Calendars!
Photo by Beka Glasgow
Add this Thursday, October 17th at 10am to your calendar as a day to be remembered! First Street truly has been revitalized, and it’s beautiful. It won’t be boring, that you can count on. Many downtown businesses will have special offers and promotions in honor of the grand opening! It’s a perfect time to explore the shops and restaurants in the area.
Mark your calendars for THIS THURSDAY, October 17th at 10am! First Street has been under construction for April, but it feels like it’s been a lot longer. Well, wait no more! Go and witness the ribbon cutting for the newly revitalized first street. It’s definitely easier to walk around and get from place to place now. There will be a complementary water and coffee station outside Standpipe Coffee as you make your way down the revitalized streets of downtown Lufkin.
Lady Roadrunners, Roadrunners Picked Seventh in Respective Conferences
Region XIV held its annual basketball Media Day this past Wednesday at Tyler Junior College, and the coaches’ polls indicate the league doesn’t expect much from either Angelina College team this season.
Lady Roadrunner head coach Randy McKelvey and Roadrunner head guy J.J. Montgomery believe they’ve got some surprises in store for their opponents.
“You don’t win championships on paper,” McKelvey said. “It just shows how strong our league is, that they consider that many teams better than we are after we were conference co-champions last year.
Angelina College Lady Roadrunner head coach Randy McKelvey addresses the audience during Wednesday’s Region XIV Basketball Media Day held at Tyler Junior College. McKelvey, in his first year as AC’s head coach, and his Lady ‘Runners are picked to finish seventh in the conference in the coaches’ polls. (Travis Tapley photo for AC Athletics)
“Besides, I’ve always thought it’s better to be the hunter than the hunted.”
Montgomery likewise was nonplussed regarding the rankings.
“I’ve been in basketball long enough to know that what you see early in the year isn’t always what you’re going to see at the end,” Montgomery said. “It’s a cliché, but it’s all about how you finish way more than how you start.”
Angelina College head men’s basketball coach J.J. Montgomery discusses his team with the crowd during Wednesday’s Region XIV Basketball Media Day held at Tyler Junior College. The Roadrunners are picked to finish seventh in the conference in the coaches’ polls. (Travis Tapley photo for AC Athletics)
Both AC teams lost heavy to graduation, with the Lady Roadrunners losing a pair of All-Americans along with other key players. The Roadrunners also saw several starters move on to the next level.
In addition, McKelvey is stepping into his first year as a head coach following a solid career as an assistant to Byron Coleman, who retired at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Joining McKelvey is first-year assistant coach Carl Terrell.
All those factors are understandable as reasons for such low rankings, but both AC coaches believe their teams will be better than advertised.
McKelvey has a solid group of returning players to begin building his new team. Sophomores Alecia Scott-Rivera and India McMahon arrived early in the summer in order to get things off to a good start.
“Those two came in this summer and committed to bringing this group together,” McKelvey said. “They’ve been going hard since Day One. It’s starting to show up more and more in practice. Those two are very consistent and reliable, and they’ll have bigger roles on this team.”
Also returning is Maria Escobar, a 6’2” post with a deft touch around the rim. Shanice Ferguson played valuable minutes in 2023-2024, and she’s expected to provide post-play despite coming off an injury. The versatile Carly Gates, another sophomore, adds extra pop to the lineup, especially on the defensive end. And sophomore transfer Kya Cook will play a valuable role in the backcourt, according to McKelvey.
Among the incoming freshman is Jernye McZeal, a 5’11” shooter McKelvey says “plays with great energy.”
“Jernye wasn’t recruited by a lot of schools, but she’s going to surprise a lot of people,” McKelvey said. “She’s one of the better players I’ve run across in my recruiting career.”
Other freshmen expected to make impacts include Lanaijha Johnson, a post player from Center High School in Center, Texas. McKelvey noted Johnson has “made the most progression at this point of any player in my coaching career.”
“She’s going to be a great rebounder for us, and she’s willing to do the dirty work.”
Yet another newcomer catching McKelvey’s eye is Alannah Nerocker from Fort Bend Hightower. Nerocker played the “four” position in high school, but McKelvey has already pegged her as the team’s starting point guard.
McKelvey said his team’s strength will revolve around guard play, and he believes he has the talent and the depth to prove doubters wrong. As is always the case with building a new squad, building chemistry remains an early focus.
“Having them coming together, loving on each other, building each other up and sacrificing for each other – those things take time,” McKelvey said.
“I tell our players, we’re going to be good, but together we’re going to be great.”
On the men’s side, Montgomery expressed confidence in both his returning players and his newcomers. Two players on this year’s roster – Kanaan Holder and Kai’Ree Murray – were major contributors in the past before missing most – or, in Holder’s case – all of the 2023-2024 season because of injury. Kyle Morgan, another sophomore coming off an injury, also is expected to play a big role in the Roadrunner lineup, as is Chris Carpenter, a sophomore point guard who saw ample playing time in AC’s run to the conference tournament. The versatile Morgan Baldwin, the soph post player from Fort Worth, Texas, provides a steady presence in the front court.
One major addition, according to Montgomery, is the arrival of transfer Boris Perucica, a 6’9” big from Niksic, Montenegro.
In fact, Montgomery is lauding this frontcourt group as one of the best he’s experienced in his three years as a head coach.
We haven’t had anyone quite like [Perucica], a big body we can go to when we need a bucket,” Montgomery said. “Christian Jones is another 6’5” guy, and he’s a long, athletic guard who can do a lot of things. He can shoot, he can defend, he can play the passing lanes. Milton Rice (6’5”) is already playing at a high level. He’s super-athletic, one of the most athletic players I’ve seen. His head’s above the rim on rebounds, and he loves to block shots and defend. He’s one of those tough-nosed guys you just slap on the court and say, ‘Go.’ He’s going to compete and play hard every minute.
“I would say out front court. In the past, we had good frontcourt players, but we just didn’t have the right backcourt for those guys. We’ve had some good bigs, but we didn’t have enough other bigs to throw in behind them. This year, we’re loaded.”
Montgomery also acknowledged Ja’Vonte Thomas – a 6’7” “bruiser” – along with Jordan Mathews. Daemon Ely actually competed against the Roadrunners last season while he was part of the Strength ‘N Motion team. His rebound skills and overall tenacity impressed Montgomery and assistant coach Eric Colbert, enough so that they recruited him to join the Roadrunners.
Joining Carpenter in the backcourt will be freshman Qasim Boyd, a true point guard Montgomery calls “the smartest kid on the team.”
“He’s got the heart of a lion,” Montgomery said of Boyd. “He stays in the gym and works so hard at every part of his game. He’s definitely one of the strongest leaders on the team. His ball-handling and decision-making skills are outstanding. Not a lot of players coming right of high school nowadays have a chance for a lot of playing time, but our expectations for QB are very high right now.”
By far the biggest surprise addition – and a great story to boot – is Isaac Uribe, a freshman from Colombia. Uribe arrived last year determined to join the program. Because there was no dorm space available for a non-roster player, Uribe lived in a hotel while walking to class and basketball practice every day. His determination to become a Roadrunner paid off, according to Montgomery.
“You can ask our other players: He’s been our best shooter in every practice,” Montgomery said of Uribe. “I’m talking about he’s not missing shots at all. He’s such a surprise because you usually don’t have walk-on players who stand out like that. He’s already gotten the respect of the other players.”
For now, Montgomery said, the focus is on teaching basketball as it demands at such a higher level than a lot of the new players have experienced. It’s why the next few weeks of scrimmages are vital in building both skills and team chemistry.
“We’re going to keep teaching, knowing the main goal is to be playing our best when conference play begins,” Montgomery said.
The Roadrunners will host a pair of home scrimmages in the coming weeks: vs. Tribulation Prep (6 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 17); and vs. Legacy (7 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 23). AC’s men will open the regular season at home against Strength ‘N Motion at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The Lady Roadrunners will host Western Gulf in the AC ladies’ only home scrimmage. The scrimmage takes place at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. The Lady ‘Runners open the regular season at the McLennan Classic in Waco (Nov. 1 and 2) before hosting Hill College at 6 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 6 at Shands Gymnasium.
For both teams’ basketball schedules, visit the Angelina College Athletics website at www.angelinaathletics.com.
Many of our surrounding soils are acid soils and certainly almost all East Texas soils are acidic. If you remember your basic chemistry class from high school, acidic soils have a soil pH that is less than 7.0. More technically, acidic pH is a measure of hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in the soil solution.
Soil acidity is caused by various environmental, climatic, and cultural factors. The most common of these factors are the following three factors. First is the parent material from which the soil is derived. The rocky subsoil gets the entire process started.
Second is leaching by rainfall or irrigation which removes some elements and leaves others that contribute to the soil’s pH level. Interestingly, rainfall is about 5.6. Researching the internet, you’ll find some variability from 5.0 to a neutral 7.0, but most agree on 5.6.
Lastly, cultural practices such as nitrogen fertilization, removal of harvested crops and associated basic elements, and soil erosion, which results in a loss of basic elements.
Digging further into some chemistry, a low (acidic) pH measurement indicates that there is an excess of H+ ions and a high (basic) pH is the presence of -OH anions. To correct low/acidic soil pH, the acidity must be neutralized. Ground limestone is a smart choice for this. Lime is typically made from crushed limestone and is primarily composed of calcium carbonate. The addition of lime is important as it is the carbonate ions that neutralize the soil acidity.ac
So while the addition of lime is done primarily to reduce acidity, it can also provide some nutrients- primarily calcium, and in some scenarios, magnesium.
Limestone man contains small amounts of clay, silt, and dolomite. Dolomitic limestones come from natural deposits which contain both calcium and magnesium carbonates. The magnesium content of limestone is especially important where soils are deficient in this essential plant nutrient. If a soil test indicates low magnesium, dolomitic limestone can be used to correct both the magnesium nutrient deficiency and pH.
The biggest value of limestone is in its ability to neutralize soil acidity. It’s an often-forgotten fact that all limestone is not created equal. Limestone’s properties differ considerably, and these differences influence the limestone’s ability to neutralize soil acidity.
Its effectiveness depends on the purity of the liming material and how finely it is ground. Pure limestone has a calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE), or neutralizing value, set at 100%. When you purchase any limestone product, you should always look for the CCE.
All other liming materials are compared with this standard and buyers should look for this percentage. The CCE of commercial liming products should be available through the retailer. The bulk agricultural lime that we’ve used in hay meadows and pastures for years in Angelina County was somewhere around 65% CCE. Recently, the more frequently used “super fine lime” is up closer to 90% CCE.
Yet with your knowledge of the need for lime, the question remains, “just how much should I put on my garden, lawn, or pasture?”
For an accurate recommendation you’ll need a soil test. For a $15 test from a university soil lab, you’ll find out your pH, the amount of limestone needed (if any), and the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
The time to take a soil sample is long before you need it. Ideally, several months in advance of crop growth provide time for pH adjustment. Fall is a great time to test and apply lime.
Mark your calendars and make plans to be in Crockett, Texas Saturday, November 23rd!
Bring your family down to Crockett and prepare to do some shopping on Saturday, November 23rd. There will be food, over 300 vendors, places to shop, and so much more! This will be a day of Christmas fun! Be on the lookout for vendor registrations.
BASTROP, Texas – The 26th annual Capital Area Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy (CAIWA) begins at the Camp Swift National Guard Facility in Bastrop, Texas, this week. The academy will take place October 11-23, 2024.
Each year, firefighters travel across the state and nation to attend the academy to continue their education and earn National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training qualifications. The mission of Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academies, including CAIWA, is to enhance wildland firefighters’ knowledge, utilizing NWCG standards, while promoting safe and cost-effective operations.
Thirty classes are available this year that emphasize entry-level and intermediate training in wildfire suppression for firefighters and incident managers. Almost 300 students are expected to attend, representing over 93 organizations and agencies from 12 states. Additionally, All-Hazard Incident Management Team personnel from municipalities and agencies statewide will fill overhead roles, assuring the smooth progression of the academy and training within their respective emergency management roles.
“Training is considered a top priority for many fire departments and response agencies, whether local, state or federal,” said Meredith McNeil, Texas A&M Forest Service Chief Response Training Coordinator. “As an agency, we are honored to help firefighters reach their training goals and better serve their communities.”
Training tuition assistance is available to eligible departments through Texas A&M Forest Service under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (HB 2604) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS).
Academy partners include the Texas Army National Guard, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Texas A&M All-Hazards Incident Management Teams and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
The 21st annual Wildland Firefighter Memorial Service will be held Oct. 14. This service honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty while fighting wildfires.
Additional academy information is available on the Texas Interagency Coordination Center (TICC) webpage: ticc.tamu.edu.
Located in Nacogdoches, Texas and founded by CC Conn in February 2019, the Nacogdoches Arts Collaborative’s mission is two-fold: Increase access to diverse, multicultural, artistic opportunities while supporting local artists.
Nacogdoches Arts Collaborative is a non-profit organization that has been supporting local arts and artists for five years. They love being able to give local artist the support they need!
Arts Ball: Speakeasy
Arts Ball: Speakeasy is Nacogdoches Arts Collaborative’s annual event to raise funds for their upcoming events and to support local artists in East Texas. It’s a great way to give back to the community, and also a night of fun for everyone attending!
This year’s theme is “Speakeasy”, so come dressed to party like it’s 1924!
This magical evening complete with hors d’oeuvres, dancing, a costume contest, a silent and live auction and raffle prizes will assist them in raising the funds to bring culturally and historically significant arts programs for all ages to their city. This year will feature a CASH BAR.
The ball will be held in the Mill Room behind Banita Creek hall, from 7pm-10pm. You don’t want to miss this spectacular night. Go down for a night of fun and support the local artists around the area!
