LUFKIN – As work progresses on the Corrigan Relief Route being constructed on the west side of Corrigan, motorists will experience a work zone near the main lanes of US 287.
In coming days, crews will close the eastbound shoulder of US 287, from west of Reily Street to Bear Creek Crossing, west of US 59. Work will include the construction of temporary asphalt pavement in preparation of an upcoming traffic shift on US 287. The traffic switch is estimated to occur in March, weather permitting, and will include moving traffic from the main lanes of US 287, south onto the temporary asphalt pavement. The traffic switch will be necessary to continue work that will widen US 287 near the Corrigan Relief Route construction.
Construction began in late 2023 on the Corrigan Relief Route after Texas Transportation Commissioners approved the $172.8 million construction for Polk County.
James Construction Group LLC, Baton Rouge LA, is serving as a contractor for the project that will bring US 59 to interstate standards with the construction of new US 59 northbound and southbound lanes with controlled access.
The 7-mile project will include overpasses at the United Pacific Railroad, US 287, and Union Springs Road; entrance and exit ramps at US 59 tie-ins, and at the US 287 overpass. The project is being built to interstate standards and will promote public safety, improve emergency evacuations, and support freight transport.
Tables and tickets are now on sale for the Crockett Chamber Member Awards Banquet! Join us as we celebrate Texas Independence Day and our MEMBERS with a steak dinner, awards, door prizes, raffles, and a Scholarship Dessert Dash!
Date/Time Information:
Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 6 PM
A huge (YUGE) week for the Angelina College basketball teams, with some upsets of Top 20 teams over the past few days. The Lady ‘Runners knocked of the No. 7 Lady Cardinals from Trinity Valley Community College on Wednesday, and the Roadrunners rolled over the No. 9 Lee College Navigators Saturday in Baytown.
Add to all that excitement the looming baseball and softball seasons (baseball opens this week), and one can see there’s a whole lot of runnin’ taking place with our Roadrunners.
Following is a recap of the week, along with upcoming events.
Roadrunner Basketball
What a week for the Roadrunner men’s basketball team, which made a pair of emphatic statements in a pair of key conference games.
At home in the Palace at the Pines on Wednesday, AC manhandled a good Navarro College team in a 71-48 blowout. Eddie Evans came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with 15 points, followed by Xavier Owens with 13 points. Nehikare Igiehon notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Patrick Johnson distributed five assists over the night.
On Saturday, the ‘Runners posted what might be the biggest win of head coach J.J. Montgomery’s young career. AC traveled to Baytown to take on the nationally ranked (No. 9) Lee College Navigators (whose head coach is former AC coach Nick Wade) and proceeded to blow out the highly ranked Lee squad 70-53. At one point, the Roadrunners led by more than 30 points.
The Roadrunners’ Igiehon and Evans each finished with 15 points, with Igiehon adding his second straight double-double with 11 rebounds. Keddrick Mays added 14 points and Xavier Owens 12 in the win. Johnson finished with 10 assists and Chris Carpenter six in AC’s well-balanced attack.
The two wins pushed AC’s record to 13-6, 4-4. The Roadrunners get a night off on Wednesday before hosting Jacksonville College Saturday at Shands Gymnasium. Game time is 4 p.m.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball
Truthfully, the Lady Roadrunners kicked off the impressive week with Wednesday’s upset over No. 7 Trinity Valley Community College at Shands Gymnasium. AC’s ladies came out on fire, opening the game by hitting six of their first nine three-point attempts and building a 26-point lead in the first half. TVCC rallied in the second half, but the Lady ‘Runners held on for an 82-78 win over the Lady Cardinals.
Four Lady Roadrunners finished in double figures in scoring: Marie Kenembeni (21 points), Amyria Walker (18 points), India McMahon (16 points) and Jade Fry (10 points). McMahon was 3-for-3 from three-point range in the win.
On Saturday, the Lady ‘Runners hit the road against No. 20 Blinn College in Brenham, and AC wasn’t able to pull off another upset bid, falling to the Lady Bucs by a 65-57 final. Walker scored 19 points and Kenembeni 16 in the loss.
The Lady Roadrunners (11-7, 3-1) will host Tyler Junior College Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Baseball, Softball Opening Seasons
Spring has officially arrived. OK, maybe not weather-wise, but as far as baseball and softball fans are concerned, spring starts with the first pitch of the season.
For the Roadrunner baseball team, that means this Friday, Jan. 26. AC travels to Galveston College for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Then, on Sunday the 28th, the ‘Runners host their home opener against the same Whitecaps at Poland Field on the AC campus. That doubleheader also starts at 1 p.m.
Softball’s first pitch takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 31at Tyler Junior College. The first game of the twin bill starts at 1 p.m. The Lady Roadrunners’ first home games are set for Sunday, Feb. 4 against Kilgore College with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
The 2024 Lady Roadrunner roster is now available on the Angelina College Athletics web site.
FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES AND UPDATES: Any changes to AC Athletics schedules are posted on the Angelina College Athletics web site (www.angelinaathletics.com), along with posts on Twitter (@ACAthletics) and Facebook (Angelina College Athletics).
Partnership with TSBN Sports
Angelina College Athletics has partnered with TSBN Sports to handle all our live-streaming needs. TSBN’s crew will handle all AC home games, and because of the way TSBN’s influence spreads throughout the conference, viewers will be able to catch many of our Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner road games.
Finally, one can download the TSBN app on smart TVs, computers or mobile devices to catch all the game action.
Lady Roadrunner Softball Evaluation Session Rescheduled
The Lady Roadrunner Softball program’s scheduled “Recruiting Showcase” has been moved from its original date of Sunday, Jan. 14 to Sunday, Jan. 28. All other information remains the same.
That’s it for now. It’s about to get even busier and more hectic around here, with plenty of options for our AC sports fans. As always, thanks for your continued support.
I’ll see you at the games. Gary Stallard Email: gstallard@angelina.edu Phone: (936) 465-4614
Does home gardening make sense financially? I believe it can.
Last week at lunch, a good friend was telling me how much he had been enjoying all manner of fresh greens harvested each week from his small garden. Cheap, abundant, healthy greens harvested a couple times each week and plenty so share.
I know in my own garden, I can buy a cherry tomato plant for $6 and get several harvests off of it. Each harvest would be at least as much as a $3 basket of cherry tomatoes at the grocery store. Picking twice a week for a few weeks over a couple months certainly adds up.
Looking online, both Forbes and Investopedia had articles saying that growing your own produce can save you money. They cited, from the national Journal of Extension, that the average value of produce from a home garden could be as much as $677 with costs could be kept below $300. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised.
Now, please do not think that you can go buy a large tiller and all kinds of fancy equipment and tend a small garden the size of a bedroom and make the numbers work out. As with all economic endeavors, you have to be mindful of your upfront expenses in addition to your ongoing input costs.
Last year I had the pleasure of reading a book “The $64 Tomato”. It is a fun read as it shares how one man went to ridiculous lengths to have the perfect garden and the perfect tomato. Truthfully, one can go way overboard.
But with a raised bed and some good soil growing vegetables 12 months of the year, one could see a small, to modest financial return. I think the biggest hinderance is keeping your garden plot going year-round.
Bear in mind your input costs of seeds or transplants, soil and nutrients, all the tools, structures such as fences or cages, and the water bill that will certainly peak in the summer. They will add up over time.
If you want to drill down and get serious about saving money on your grocery bill and enjoy the outdoors, consider the following. First, grow only what you like and what you need. Even a flat of six transplants of any certain vegetable can out-produce what most households can consume. See if you can buy fewer transplants or swap with friends.
Second, consider the square-foot gardening method. This gardening system looks at each square foot as a production unit. Forget the three-foot-wide rows with lots of bare ground exposed, and interplant smaller, earlier maturing produce between longer maturing types.
Lastly, for the really frugal, start everything from seed. From a $3 package of seeds, you will have worlds of seed that you can use in successive crops to spread out the harvest, or to use half in the spring garden and the other half in a fall garden. If you are still a little hesitant, try out growing some herbs that you really like on your back porch in a pot. The idea is to make it enjoyable and worth your time outside, in the kitchen, and in the wallet.
Save the date & book your hotel NOW for the 2024 Chamber Days in Austin.
The Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce is once again joining forces with the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce for Chamber Day 2024 as Deep East Texas residents travel to Austin, February 13-15, 2024.
Join us Tuesday afternoon to meet with agencies and legislators and then again Wednesday for our agency updates at the Capital. More details regarding the full schedule are to follow in the coming weeks.
To RSVP for the reception at the Austin Club on Wednesday, Feb 14th, contact the Chamber at 634-6644 or email RSVP@LufkinTexas.org. For additional questions, you may contact Shameka Stewart at SStewart@LufkinTexas.org.
As the mercury drops, it is crucial for us to be proactive in safeguarding our homes and well-being against the challenges posed by extreme cold weather. With last week’s drop in temperatures, I want to emphasize the importance of taking necessary precautions to ensure that every household is adequately prepared for the uncertain Texas winter. From insulating homes and sealing drafts around windows and doors to protecting pipes with proper insulation, these are fundamental steps we can all take to fortify ourselves against these chilly conditions. Additionally, weather-stripping doors and windows and maintaining a well-stocked emergency kit can further assure you are ready for what lies ahead. Additionally, here are a few useful websites:
To monitor and report any local outages to electricity providers, visit puc.texas.gov/storm
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol . . .
Capitol Update
Despite the current legislative interim, I’m excited to share that the fruits of our past endeavors are now in full bloom. As of January 1, 2024, a notable set of 30 new measures have taken effect, focusing on essential areas including the electric grid, water infrastructure, broadband development, and other critical areas such as a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers. These victories emphasize our unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of a growing and diverse state.
As rural Texans know all too well, access to broadband internet is a challenge in many rural communities. House Bill 9 provides for a strategic investment to incentivize broadband providers to help bridge the digital divide. This bill is part of a broader initiative aimed at connecting all Texans to this critical service. Complementing HB 9, House Joint Resolution 125 was overwhelmingly approved on the November ballot, paving the way for the establishment of the Broadband Infrastructure Fund. The fund’s primary objective is to enhance broadband access and affordability through strategic infrastructure investments, working in conjunction with federal funding programs. Beyond this, the fund will provide crucial support for emergency response technology, reduce fees on monthly phone bills, and fund programs such as next-generation 911 services and school safety initiatives.
As a native East Texan, ensuring rural Texas is not left behind has always been near to my heart. As we navigate further into the digital era, the urgency for every citizen to be able to access digital learning, telehealth, work remotely, apply for jobs, market their businesses, and so much more is vital to our region. This bill provides our state with the necessary tools to continue its work to provide greater connectivity in rural Texas, and I am proud to see it move fully into effect.
Reminders
The mobile office is on the road again and our office looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: February 7 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9 – 11:00 am; February 14 at the Polk County Commissioners Courtroom in Livingston from 9 – 11:00 am, or the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30 – 3:30 pm; February 21 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9 – 11 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/.
State-funded program is collaboration between the Rural and Community Health Institute, School of Medicine, and School of Nursing
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) is stepping up its support for rural health care in Texas by launching the Rural Engagement Program. This new initiative combines efforts from the Texas A&M Schools of medicine and Nursing and the Rural and Community Health Institute to expand the healthcare workforce and bolster the viability of healthcare organizations to better serve rural Texans.
Declining access to health care has become a crisis for many rural communities, and Texas A&M Health has long been committed to addressing this challenge. Now, thanks to funding from the 88th Texas Legislature, the Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program is consolidating and amplifying these efforts to expand support for rural healthcare organizations and professionals throughout the state.
The new program brings together resources from the Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI)—which has 20 years of experience supporting rural communities—with the School of Medicine and School of Nursing to provide a coordinated, interdisciplinary, and innovative response to rural health care challenges.
“Although there are common challenges facing rural health care, each rural community in Texas is unique, with specific needs. By integrating the resources of the Texas A&M School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and RCHI, the Rural Engagement Program can provide a robust menu of support capabilities and assistance that best fits the needs of each community,” said Kia Parsi, MD, executive director of the Rural and Community Health Institute.
The Rural Engagement Program plans to provide support to help rural healthcare organizations keep their doors open and strengthen their services. Participating organizations will be supported by a dedicated one-on-one regional technical assistance coordinator along with virtual and on-site facilitation. Through a comprehensive needs analysis, the Rural Engagement Program will work alongside healthcare organizations in the program to formulate and implement sustainable action plans to improve their financial performance, increase operational efficiencies, improve quality of care, expand workforce capabilities, provide leadership support and staff training opportunities, and assist with the transition to newer, value-based care payment models that incentivize higher quality of care.
The program is also aimed at addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in underserved areas. With additional funding and improved coordination, the Texas A&M medical and nursing schools are committed to providing more than just clinical experiences for students. Through innovative partnerships with local rural communities, healthcare facilities, physicians, advanced practice providers and school districts, the program offers a unique and immersive approach to rural clinical experiences.
The program will also engage K-12 students through initiatives like the School of Medicine’s Mini Med Camp, Youth Adventure Program (YAP), and a spectrum of new and existing healthcare career exploration activities designed to inspire the next generation of health care professionals and bridge the gap between rural students and health care career opportunities.
The program’s inaugural Rural Practitioners of Texas Conference, hosted by the School of Medicine in Fredericksburg on March 22-23, 2024, will provide a platform for healthcare professionals serving rural areas to share insights, explore strategies, and foster collaboration in addressing the unique health care needs of rural communities across Texas.
“I take immense pride in the work being done by the Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program and the role the School of Medicine undertakes,” said Amy Waer, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “Over the past several years, our Rural Medicine Program has played a pivotal role in advancing health care, particularly in developing our physician workforce. The Rural Engagement Program will enable us to make even more meaningful contributions to the well-being of our rural communities.”
To support the growth of the nursing workforce, the School of Nursing will annually award $350,000 in scholarships for registered nurses working in rural areas to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an advanced nursing degree or certificate. The School of Nursing also plans to integrate a rural-specific curriculum into its degree and certificate programs and develop a rural fellowship for nurse practitioners. Its nurse-led clinics will also seek certification as Rural Health Clinics.
“All Texans deserve access to high-quality health care, and the next generation of Aggie nurses must be well-prepared to care for the rural communities that need them most,” said Leann Horsley, Ph.D., RN, CHSE, CNE, dean of the School of Nursing. “Nursing’s participation in the Rural Engagement Program signifies our continued commitment to serving the underserved and addressing the complex challenges facing health care in a mostly rural state.”
In coordination with the Texas A&M Health Telehealth Institute, the Rural Engagement Program is also working on expanding health care organizations’ telehealth capabilities. The Telehealth Institute will enhance the availability of behavioral health care by extending access to patients’ homes, local clinics and hospitals over the next two years, and will lay the groundwork for other tele-specialty services in our rural communities. The institute will also foster innovations with the School of Nursing in expanded clinical care and telehealth training.
Read more about the new Rural Engagement Program at Vital Record, the online newsroom of Texas A&M Health.
About Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program The Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program supports small-town healthcare providers in delivering high-quality care to the rural communities they serve. Leveraging the expertise of the Texas A&M School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and the Rural and Community Health Institute, the Rural Engagement Program is developing a dedicated workforce deeply committed to rural health care outcomes. We are also bolstering the operational and financial viability of rural healthcare organizations through comprehensive technical assistance. Together with each provider we support, we are broadening access and fortifying healthcare delivery for the millions of rural Texans who make up the backbone of our state.
Series of Events Highlights Cultural Contributions
Starting this month and extending throughout the end of February, Angelina College will honor Black History Month with a series of events including art galleries, guest speakers, and musical performances.
Beginning with an exhibition opening Monday, Jan. 22 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery (with a reception taking place starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23), the college will host several events geared toward raising awareness of cultural contributions in all forms.
Returning artists include Gary Roberts and Karen Christopher, among others, with Roberts scheduled to lead a gospel singing event.
Let’s get this new year started right! Come warm up and catch up with friends as we support one of our local businesses, Coldwell Banker Pat Dickey, Realtors tomorrow at 9:30 for our first Mid-Morning Coffee event! Grab a beverage and a snack and network with friends and enjoy the beautiful day!
See you this morning in the Crockett Square for Mid Morning Coffee!
