Swing by the San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce and grab your form for the 2024 Miss Merry Christmas. We also have the San Augustine Main Street lighted Christmas parade forms.
The contestants Entry Form is available at the Chamber Office. Entry Deadline: November 22, 2024.
Date/Time Information of the Event:
Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2 pm
Location:
Augus Theater
110 E. Columbia Street
San Augustine TX, 759720
AUSTIN – Every day for the past 24 years someone has died on a Texas roadway. Every. Single. Day.
On the anniversary of the last deathless day on Nov. 7, 2000, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) are working together to share safe driving messages in hopes to finally ending this deadly streak.
The two agencies are joining forces because ending fatal crashes takes all of us. TxDOT is working to engineer safety solutions and educate drivers on safe practices while DPS enforces the laws of the road. However, drivers are the most important partners, which is why DPS troopers will be handing out tip cards during traffic stops to encourage safe driving behaviors.
“After more than two decades, it’s long past time to end the streak of daily deaths on our roadways, but it’ll take all of us to get it done,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “Each life lost is a mother, father, brother, sister, or friend, and we need to work together to make sure everyone can get home safely.”
Last year, 4,289 people were killed on Texas roads, and so far in 2024, Texas is averaging 10 roadway deaths a day.
Some of the top causes of crashes make up part of the card that troopers will hand out for two weeks starting Nov. 7. The messages include:
Lives instantly altered
Since Nov. 7, 2000, more than 87,000 people have been killed on Texas roads.
One life lost was Aspen Blessing, a vibrant 18-year-old who was killed in March after her car was struck head-on by a drunk driver in Callahan County. Forever changed by one person’s choice to drink and drive, her family is left with a massive void.
“The hardest part is that Aspen did everything right,” said Jen Blessing, Aspen’s mother. “She was not speeding. She was wearing her seatbelt. She wasn’t distracted. One man’s bad choice cost Aspen, our family, and his family everything.”
Blessing and her family are working with TxDOT to help prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy.
Roadway safety improvements
TxDOT is committed to enhancing safety on roads throughout the state, investing $17 billion in safety improvements through the state’s 10-year plan. TxDOT also works tirelessly to develop safety innovations that can have significant impacts.
One improvement implemented this year in Fort Worth uses cameras to identify pedestrians on major roadways, targeting areas where people have been hit after trying to cross. It detects them early on, notifies law enforcement and helps them respond before they step out on the road. This has led to a drop in pedestrian crashes on these highways since they were installed in January. It’s just one example of the many innovative and engineering improvements TxDOT makes every year.
Deadly streak nearly ends
In January, Texas experienced one day with just one traffic fatality caused by a driver running a stop sign.
“A single life lost is too many, but this shows us that it can be done,” said TxDOT Deputy Executive Director Brandye Hendrickson. “We’ve been close a few times in recent years. Safety is paramount when we design, build and maintain roads, and it also must be the top priority when we’re driving on them.”
We can all do our part to #EndTheStreakTX of daily deaths.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Texas A&M Forest Service is offering landowners financial and technical assistance through the Southern Pine Beetle cost-share program. Applications for this program are open now and will close on Jan. 31, 2025, at midnight.
Eligible landowners can receive technical and financial assistance to reduce the threat of future Southern Pine Beetle infestations and outbreaks.
Landowners may receive up to $50 per acre with a 100-acre maximum to assist with their first forest thinning. They may also receive up to $5 per acre to offset the cost of using a professional consulting forester.
“The Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program aims to reduce the risk that Southern Pine Beetle poses to our Texas forests by assisting landowners withstand thinning,” said Allen Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Health Coordinator. “This not only reduces the potential for Southern Pine Beetle infestations, it also promotes residual tree vigor and growth and overall stand health.”
Eligible applicants must own a minimum of 10 contiguous acres of pine species; tree stands must be comprised of at least 70% pine trees; tree stands must start with a minimum of 120 square-feet per acre basal area; tree stands must be thinned to 80 square-feet per acre basal area or less; and thinning of stands must be completed within 14 months.
Landowners may receive no more than $5,000 in total for assistance for thinning and/or consulting.
Applications should be submitted through local Texas A&M Forest Service offices.
Notification of application approval status will be completed by March 1, 2025. Applications will be approved based on ranking metrics.
More information about eligibility and cost share rates can be found here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/SouthernPineBeetlePreventionCostShareProgram/
Christmas In Our Town event is getting closer! Santa and Mrs. Clause will be there for pictures! Please share and get the word out. The parking will be at the Onalaska Sports Complex this year.
There will be music, plenty of food and drinks, a bicycle giveaway, and more.
Vendor set-up will start 8:00 AM sharp, and trade days are from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Come watch as Onalaska kicks off the Christmas Festival with a great run/walk for all ages. Enjoy a 5k or 1k walk/run starting at 8am at Garland Park located at 600 Onalaska Loop. Bring the family and friends for the 1st Annual Reindeer Dash; all participants will receive a shirt and medal.
This is a rain or shine event. Should conditions warrant stopping or postponing we will do so for safety. Every effort will be make to continue with a safe event.
Parking: Onalaska Youth Sports Association – Ball fields
123 Sluggers Ln, Onalaska Loop, Onalaska, TX 77360
Join the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office in celebrating our community’s veterans at the annual 2024 Veteran’s Day Parade through downtown Nacogdoches.
If your organization would like to participate, please fill out an application and submit it to the NCSO. Applications can be downloaded here: https://nac-sheriff.com/events.asp?Number=70
Help make this the biggest Veterans Day Parade in East Texas!
This special event offers a preview of Nacogdoches’ downtown businesses’ holiday collections, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop early for those unique gifts.
Friday, November 8th | 10 AM – 8 PM
Saturday, November 9th | 10 AM – 5 PM
The City of Lufkin is thrilled to announce that the theme for this year’s Light Up Christmas Parade is “Christmas Around the World.” The parade, a beloved local tradition, will take place on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, at 5:30 PM in Downtown Lufkin.
The parade invites participants from all walks of life—local businesses, schools, community groups, and individuals passionate about spreading holiday cheer—to showcase their creativity and festive spirit. This year’s theme encourages participants to celebrate the diverse ways Christmas is celebrated across the globe, bringing an international flair to the streets of Lufkin.
Key Details:
Application Information: Applications for the Christmas Lineup will be available starting Monday, August 12, 2024. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to apply promptly to secure your spot.
How to Participate:
Join in for a magical evening at the ‘Lighting of Rudolph the Red-Nose Pumping Unit,’ presented by LUFKIN IND. On December 6th, 2024, starting at 5:00pm and the Lighting Ceremony starts at 5:30pm, downtown Lufkin will transform into a festive wonderland. This beloved holiday tradition is a heartwarming experience that brings our community together.
The City of Lufkin is proud to announce its annual Walk of Honor, a week-long tribute that will take place in downtown Lufkin from November 4th to November 11th, 2024. This special event provides the community with an opportunity to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of veterans, whose photos and stories will be prominently displayed in the windows of downtown merchants throughout the week.
The Walk of Honor is an opportunity for all of us to come together and reflect on the service of the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country. From November 4th to November 11th, the streets of downtown Lufkin will be lined with images and stories of veterans, allowing the community to pay their respects and offer their gratitude.
Veteran Submissions
Family and friends of veterans are encouraged to submit their veteran’s photo and story by October 31st, 2024, to have them included in this moving tribute. Veterans from any branch of the military, living or deceased, are welcome to be honored. Submissions can be made online at https://www.eventcreate.com/e/walkofhonor2024.
The Walk of Honor is more than just an event; it’s a powerful reminder of the dedication and service of those who have fought for our freedom. We urge everyone in the Lufkin community to visit downtown from November 4th to November 11th, to take part in this tribute and honor the veterans who have made countless sacrifices for our country.
For more information or to submit a veteran for inclusion in the Walk of Honor, please visit: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/walkofhonor2024
Texas Forest Country Living is a digital online magazine featuring the lifestyle and community of the Texas Forest Country region. The Counties include Angelina County, Nacogdoches County, Sabine County, Tyler County, Newton County, San Jacinto County, San Augustine County, Jasper County, Houston County, Shelby County, Trinity County and Polk County
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