Angelina College’s Kanaan Holder (a Hudson High School product), shown here in a 2022-2023 game, has been selected to participate in the upcoming All-American JUCO Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia. The event features the Top 100 junior college basketball players in the nation. (Gary Stallard photo for AC Athletics)
Showcase Spotlights Top 100 NJCAA Basketball Players
Having had his first attempt at a sophomore season derailed with injuries, Kanaan Holder is off to a big start for his upcoming season.
Holder, the current Angelina College and former Hudson product, has been selected to participate in this weekend’s All-American JUCO Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia. The event serves as a spotlight of sorts for the Top 100 junior college basketball players in the nation.
Holder proved a valuable asset for the Roadrunners throughout his freshman season back in 2022-2023, with his all-around game producing 8.7 points (second on the team), 5.2 rebounds (second on the team), and 2.42 assists per game (second on the team) while helping the Roadrunners to a berth in the Region XIX Conference Tournament. His efforts led to an All-Conference selection at the end of the season.
Angelina College’s Kanaan Holder (a Hudson High School product), shown here in a 2022-2023 game, has been selected to participate in the upcoming All-American JUCO Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia. The event features the Top 100 junior college basketball players in the nation. (Gary Stallard photo for AC Athletics)
What would have been his sophomore season (2023-2024) ended before it began, with Holder suffering a pair of season-ending injuries. Despite opportunities to move on, Holder remained a Roadrunner as the team begins revving up for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
“This is a great accomplishment for Kanaan and Angelina College basketball,” AC head coach J.J. Montgomery said. “We wish him the very best in Atlanta.”
Holder is the son of Tammy and Tony Holder of Lufkin.
Tacos, anyone? We’ve got great news! Next Wednesday, July 17, Dos Amigos Taco Truck will be back in the Chamber parking lot starting at 11 AM serving up delicious lunches!
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced today that Texas has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance program for 15 counties as Texas communities continue to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Beryl.
“The State of Texas continues to deploy all resources and assistance needed to help Texans and communities impacted by Hurricane Beryl,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas has requested 15 counties be approved for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program so Texans have access to additional funding to cover expenses caused by this disaster. I remain in regular contact with Acting Governor Dan Patrick and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd on Texas’ ongoing response and recovery efforts. We are working around the clock to ensure electrical providers quickly restore power to all Texans. Texas will remain engaged until every Texan recovers from this disaster.”
Acting Governor Dan Patrick today requested that FEMA grant eligibility for Individual Assistance for qualifying Texans in the following counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Wharton. Additional counties may be requested at a later date as damage assessments are completed.
If approved, FEMA’s Individual Assistance program funding would assist with expenses such as temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, disaster legal services, disaster unemployment assistance, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the disaster.
Additionally, Acting Governor Patrick requested that the federal government reopen the incident period for Hurricane Beryl, which was closed on July 9, and instead designate the event as “continuing,” as the state remains engaged in the response to the storm. State and local partners continue to actively respond to this event and remain committed to protecting life and property.
Acting Governor Patrick and Chief Kidd joined local officials in Houston today to announce a new initiative to bring law enforcement personnel from across the state to work alongside local law enforcement in support of local disaster response efforts. In addition, the Texas Department of Public Safety has position 80 state troopers in the Houston area.
State emergency response resources remain engaged with local partners, and state agencies continue to surge personnel and additional resources by the truckload into impacted communities, including generators, tarps, fuel, ready-to-eat meals, water, and ice. To date, the state has distributed more than 1,723,600 bottles of water, more than 218,875 ready-to-eat meals, and more than 15,485 bags of ice to areas affected by Hurricane Beryl.
The State of Texas continues to take action to provide all available resources to help support local communities from the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, including:
Join us, Friday, July 12, for our First Friday Luncheon, presented by Lufkin Coca Cola Bottling Company where we will cover mental health in the workplace with the topic “Let’s Break the Stigma: It’s ok to not be ok” with panelists Dr. Laura Beth Cooper and Alana Culpepper, MHRM; MAdEd. Attendees will experience decision-making around mental health issues and learn the importance of timely interventions.
If you would like to sponsor a future luncheon or event, please email the Chamber at Admin@LufkinTexas.org.
Date/Time Information:
Friday, July 12, 2024 at 12 PM
We have rescheduled the Business Bitez Expo to Tuesday, July 23, 2024. We still have a couple of booth spaces available, call the Chamber office for more information.
Pre-sale tickets: $10
Date/Time Information: Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 11 am to 2 pm
Location: Polk County Commerce Center
LUFKIN – TxDOT crews in the Lufkin District began storm cleanup Monday as soon as it was safe to respond to impacted areas after Tropical Storm Beryl caused extensive damage. Work to remove debris will continue for several weeks.
The wind caused hundreds of trees to fall throughout East Texas, including more than 465 in San Jacinto County, another 275 in Trinity County, and nearly 70 in Angelina County. The Emergency Operation Center closed at noon on Monday as crews in all nine counties of the Lufkin District continued work to remove debris from the roadways in many areas.
Only one high water location was reported as of Tuesday morning, located on FM 945 North at the San Jacinto River. Several traffic signals remain inoperable due to power outages throughout the district. Motorists should treat any intersection as a four-way stop if traffic signals are not working.
“We are still assessing damage and we continue to receive calls in regard to downed trees through the district,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “We had more than 1,200 trees total come down on our right of ways and roadways throughout this weather event, and the public can expect crews to continue to respond in an ongoing effort to keep the roads clear of any debris and open for travel.”
Motorists are urged to stay alert for work zones that will be set in many areas until this work is completed. Obey all traffic control in areas damaged by the storm. Visit drivetexas.org for all road conditions or closures statewide.
Our region of Texas is all too familiar with the impacts of hurricane season. With Hurricane Beryl moving west across the Caribbean, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is urging Texans to keep a close eye on the Gulf, heed local officials’ warnings, and have a plan in place should tropical weather reach Deep East Texas.
I want to reiterate TDEM’s call for preparedness which includes staying informed, monitoring local weather forecasts, having an emergency plan, and preparing an emergency kit.
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recommends that you prioritize acquiring non-perishable food, water, and essential supplies for your emergency kit. You can find DSHS’s Disaster Supply Checklist at https://texasready.gov/build-a-kit/disaster-supply-checklist.html to ensure that you and your loved ones are ready for any disaster that may occur.
With that, we’ll dive back into our examination of House interim charges. . .
House Interim Charge: State Affairs
The House Committee on State Affairs has jurisdiction over all matters relating to state policy, the regulation of electric utilities and the electric industry, cybersecurity, telecommunications utilities, and many other important issues that affect our state. The Committee also oversees many state agencies, such as the Public Utilities Commission, the Texas Ethics Commission, and the Department of Information Resources.
The Committee has been charged with monitoring the implementation of five important bills passed during the 2023 Legislative Session, including SB 1699, HB 2555, HB 5174, SB 2627, and HB 9.
SB 1699 allowed distributed energy resources, which are small-scale power generators such as home solar panels, small wind farms, or backup natural gas generators, to become part of the ERCOT grid system to provide more power to the grid. HB 2555 allows electric utilities to formulate and file resiliency plans with the Public Utility Commission to plan for extreme weather events that may impact electric services. HB 5174 established the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium to formulate a strategic long-term plan for research, design, and manufacturing of semiconductors in Texas.
SB 2627 created the Texas Energy Fund, which set aside $5 billion for low-interest loans to construct new power plants, which we desperately need. The bill also allocated funds to repair existing power plants, fortify the grid around hospitals, and upgrade grid infrastructure outside of the ERCOT service area.
HB 9 created the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund, which allocated $1.5 billion to expand broadband internet services to the nearly 7 million Texans who currently lack reliable home internet access. I was proud to author HB 9 and pass it through the Legislature, and I was equally pleased to see voters overwhelmingly approve the program in the November constitutional election.
Additionally, the Committee is charged with reviewing how state agencies have carried out Operation Lone Star along our southern border and make recommendations on how to increase the safety and well-being of our military and agency personnel, as well as the overall efficiency of our border security operations.
The Committee is also charged with reviewing the operation and funding of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and evaluating the ability of state agencies to secure the Texas coast’s ability to produce energy while maintaining adequate coverage for policyholders.
Finally, the Committee is tasked with evaluating the findings of the Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires and developing legislative solutions for preventing future wildfires and improving wildfire mitigation, preparedness, and response.
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 and my Capitol office may be reached at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will be posting regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and sharing information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
This past week saw the Roadrunner family grieve the loss of a “founding father” while also continuing to look forward to the future.
We’ve got more Youth Camps and Showcases, and we now have schedules in place for both the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams.
It’s about to get crazy up in here.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Roadrunner Program Mourns Loss of ‘Coach Ferg’
The entire Roadrunner Athletics family is saddened to learn of the loss of Cecil “Coach Ferg” Ferguson this past week.
Coach Ferg was the very first Athletic Director and head men’s basketball coach in Angelina College history. He also served as a faculty member, teaching biology courses at AC, and his granddaughter Krissy played on the Lady Roadrunners’ Division I NJCAA Softball National Championship team back in 2014.
In 2015, Coach Ferg was present when he and former athletic director Guy Davis inducted J.J. Montgomery (the current Roadrunner head men’s basketball coach) into the Angelina College Athletics Hall of Fame. (See attached photo)
While his contributions to Angelina College are immeasurable, it’s important to note how Coach Ferg was instrumental in choosing the AC mascot (the roadrunner) and official colors when he joined the college back in 1968.
Since his retirement several years ago, Coach Ferg has maintained numerous relationships on the campus and often could be seen at various Angelina College events.
While our condolences go out to his entire family, we here at AC Athletics also will choose to celebrate the life and contributions of such a good man.
Thanks for everything, Coach Ferg.
Focus on FUNdamentals
Angelina College Athletics programs are hosting a series of youth summer camps in conjunction with the college’s “Camp Roadrunner” recreation camps. The camps focus on building both fundamentals and love of the game; instructors include the AC coaching staff and player/volunteers.
The camps are open to youngsters from kindergarten through 5th grade. Cost for each camp is $110. Attendees can make this a full-day camp by purchasing a Recreation Camp “Add-on” for $75.00.) Sessions run from 9 a.m. until noon each day.
Basketball –July 15-18, Shands Gymnasium on the AC campus.
Soccer –July 15-18, AC Soccer Complex on the AC campus.
AC Basketball Hosting Showcase for Incoming High School Seniors
Angelina College Basketball will host an invitation-only showcase for incoming high school seniors on August 2 at Shands Gymnasium. The camp runs from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and is designed to allow those Class of 2025 student-athletes an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of college coaches.
The session is “Invite Only”, but anyone interested can check out the following link:
Last week, the Roadrunner men’s soccer team released its 2024 schedule.
This week, the Lady Roadrunners announced their future presence.
AC’s ladies, under first-year head coach Sergio Gardea, have put together a grueling schedule for the pre-season, the non-conference season, and the conference season.
The Lady ‘Runners open the pre-season with a pair of home scrimmages on Wednesday, Aug. 7 (vs. LSU-Shreveport) and on Saturday, August 10 (vs. Brookhaven College). Kickoff times are 6 p.m. on Aug. 7, while the Aug. 10th match kickoff time is TBA.
The Lady Roadrunners open the regular season on Aug. 22 at Miami Dade College in Miami before opening conference play at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 against Northeast Texas Community College.
The men and women currently are schedule to host a total of six home doubleheaders at the AC soccer complex on the Angelina College campus. See the attached schedules for the dates and times.
Changes, Upgrades Coming to AC Athletics Web Site, Social Media
We’re gonna need a bigger website.
Angelina College Athletics’ official website (www.angelinaathletics.com) and all related social media will be getting a massive, much-needed overhaul over the summer. Joining our staff are some true website and graphics wizards, and they’re going to help with the redesign and upkeep of all our forms of internet and social media presence going forward.
Our tentative launch date for all the new-look media is August 1st. That’s when we’re hoping to reveal the new website, along with all the revamped (and possibly reborn) social media sites.
In the meantime, we’ll be posting on all those sites to make everyone aware of the coming changes. Some of the current sites needly only a little updating, while others may have to disappear completely in order to make room for the new version.
As always, we’ll keep you updated all the way up until the big date.
Guy Davis Golf Tournament Date, Location Set
The 17th Annual Guy Davis Golf Tournament has a date now, along with a temporary change in location.
The tournament, hosted by the Roadrunner Foundation, serves as the biggest fund-raiser for all our AC Athletics programs.
This year’s tournament will take place on Saturday, August 17, with the pre-tournament kickoff dinner taking place on Friday, August 16.
Because of the ongoing course renovations at Crown Colony Country Club – the usual site for the tournament – this year’s golf will take place at the Neches Pines Golf Course in Diboll, Texas.
Crown Colony will still serve as the site for the kickoff dinner.
We’ll send out more details as the event draws nearer.
LUFKIN – The Lufkin District is preparing to open its Emergency Operations Center ahead of the impacts expected in East Texas from Hurricane Beryl.
Crews will begin working 12-hour shifts beginning Monday at 7 am in order to begin monitoring and clearing the roadways of any debris caused from the incoming storm. TxDOT also encourages the public to make a plan to stay safe and prepare for winds, possible flooding, and any damage that could occur near their homes.
“Our number one goal is safety, both for our crews as they work through the coming days, and also for the traveling public and our communities as we prepare for a possible Category 1 or 2 hurricane in East Texas,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “We urge the public to make a plan, and if you travel, visit our website to determine the best route.”
Items to include in your basic emergency disaster kit include:
· Water (one gallon per day for drinking and sanitation)
· Food (non-perishable)
· Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio with a NOAA Weather Radio tone alert
· First aid kit
· Extra batteries
· Extra fuel (gas for vehicles or generators or propane for grills or cooktops)
· Moist towelettes
· Can openers (for food)
· Cell phone chargers and a backup battery
To stay aware of events in the Lufkin District during the Beryl weather event, follow us on Facebook at Texas Department of Transportation (Lufkin), on X (Twitter) at TxDOTLufkin, or Instagram at txdotlufkin.
