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My five cents… A monthly column from Sen. Robert Nichols

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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This month we remember President Lyndon B. Johnson on what would have been his 115th birthday. President Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas in 1908 and was elected as a Congressman, Senator, and later President of the United States. His birthday is an official state holiday in Texas.

Here are five things happening around your state:

  1. TxDOT urges drivers to be mindful in school zones

School is back in session for most Texas students and the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to be extra cautious in school zones and around school buses to keep kids safe. Last year, there were 746 traffic accidents in Texas school zones, resulting in 23 serious injuries. The most common factors were driver inattention, speeding, and failure to yield the right of way. Also last year, there were 2,305 accidents involving a Texas school bus, resulting in seven deaths and 51 serious injuries. Speeding and driver inattention were major factors in those accidents as well. Be sure to slow down, pay attention, and follow all traffic laws to keep children safe as they head back to school this fall.

  1. Texas Windstorm Insurance Association announces no rate increases

This month the TWIA Board of Directors met and voted not to increase rates for residential and commercial policies in 2024. TWIA then filed a 0 percent rate change for its annual required rate filing with the Texas Department of Insurance. The Actuarial and Underwriting Committee had recommended a 5 percent increase for residential properties and an 8 percent increase for commercial policies. An increase would require a two-thirds vote of the board, which it was unable to obtain. The Board’s decision was made after receiving public comment from coastal community members, policyholders, and elected officials.

  1. East Texas schools receive $2.8 million in grants

This month the Texas Workforce Commission and Governor Abbott announced nine Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling over $2.8 million for five Southeast Texas schools. JET grants are aimed at supporting career and technical education training programs by providing funding to purchase and install equipment. These programs will educate more than 890 students in high-demand occupations in the region. The JET grants include:

  • Angelina College: over $348,000 to purchase and install equipment to train 76 students as electricians;
  • Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD: Over $377,000 grant to train 119 students as registered nurses in partnership with Angelina College;
  • Diboll ISD: received three grants totaling over $1 million to train students in production occupations, industrial engineering, and nursing in partnership with Angelina College;
  • Nacogdoches ISD: over $130,000 for equipment to train 205 students as emergency medical technicians in partnership with Angelina College;
  • Windham School District: received three grants totaling just under $850,000 for equipment to train students as production workers, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, and industrial truck and tractor operators.
  1. New laws go into effect on September 1

Many new laws go into effect on September 1 after a legislative session to line up with the new fiscal year. After the 88th Legislative Session, there are over 750 bills that go into effect this week. Some interesting new laws include:

  • House Bill 25 – creates the “Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program” which allows the Health and Human Services Commission to contract with Canadian drug wholesalers and suppliers to bring safe eligible prescription drugs to Texas consumers at lower costs than US wholesalers.
  • House Bill 1885 – allows TxDOT engineers to temporarily adjust speed limits for sections of roads or highways during road construction or inclement weather conditions, like heavy fog, ice, or rain.
  • Senate Bill 379 – an exemption from sales tax for family care products, such as feminine hygiene products, adult and children’s diapers, baby wipes, maternity wear, breast milk pumps, and baby bottles.
  • Senate Bill 490 – requires medical providers to send patients an itemized bill prior to attempting to collect any money from the patient.
  1. General Land Office announces $10 billion for students from carbon capture storage leases

This month the Texas General Land Office announced it awarded six carbon capture and sequestration leases that will provide $130 million in signing bonus payments for the Permanent School Fund (PSF) and over $10 billion over the length of the 30-year lease term. The PSF is a constitutionally created fund that supports public education. The leases on state-owned land will allow these private entities to store carbon over half a million acres off the Texas coast.

 

Funding Opportunities for Prescribed Burning Available to Texas Landowners

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service is accepting applications for grants to help Texas landowners offset the cost of prescribed fire.

More than $500,000 in grant funds are available for eligible landowners conducting prescribed burns on their property by certified and insured prescribed burn managers. Last year, the grant programs provided over $362,000 to facilitate prescribed fire treatments on 12,947 acres of privately owned land in Texas.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Interested landowners can determine eligibility and find an application at tfsweb.tamu.edu/cppgrant.

“Prescribed burning can play a crucial role for landowners in reducing wildfire danger, improving wildlife habitats, and fostering a healthier forest ecosystem,” said Weldon Dent, Texas A&M Forest Service Fuels Specialist.

Prescribed fire is a land management practice that helps remove brush, weeds, dried vegetation, and fallen trees. It also promotes seed and plant regeneration, controls invasive plants, and restores soil nutrients.

“This year’s elevated wildfire season is a good example of the importance of prescribed burning,” Dent said. “When prescribed fires are carefully managed, they can lower the impact of unexpected fires by decreasing the amount of flammable material on the ground.”

Texas A&M Forest Service offers grants to landowners to complete prescribed fires on private lands across the state, each with their own goals.

The Community Protection Program – Prescribed Fire Grant is available for property owners within 10 miles of a national forest in East Texas as well as property owners within 10 miles of the Caddo and LBJ national grasslands.

The State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Central and East Texas Prescribed Fire Grant is available to all counties in the eastern part of the state, from Goliad County in South Texas to Cooke County along the Red River.

The Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration Program – Prescribed Fire Grant is for prescribed burning in priority East Texas watersheds.

The Texas Longleaf Conservation Assistance Program – Prescribed Fire Grant is available for East Texas landowners interested in enhancing longleaf pine ecosystems. This cooperative program is available in select counties throughout the year. For details on this program, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/longleaf/.

For residents in parts of the Panhandle, West Texas, and South Texas, applications for the State Fire Assistance for Mitigation – Plains Prescribed Fire Grant are available from mid-July through mid-August each year.

Texas A&M Forest Service does not conduct these prescribed burns. Grant recipients must utilize a certified and insured prescribed burn manager to be eligible for reimbursement.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and an application, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/cppgrant/.

Disclaimer: Current drought conditions in Texas may impact awarded prescribed fire grants and the window to conduct prescribed burning. Should current drought conditions persist, awarded landowner’s burn managers will be notified by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Newton Go Texan Bingo (Newton County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

Date/Time Information:
September 10 at 6 am – September 10 at 11 am
Location:
Howard Civic Center
Event by Toby Pennington and Debbie Fomby Pennington

$40 per person. Table for 8 $300. Guns! Designer Purses! Fire Ring and more! Door prizes and a light meal are included. Limited Seating Reserve your seats ASAP. Call Debbie at (409) 224-6173 or Toby Pennington at 4094893422.

Driver License Offices Closed Statewide on Friday

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver License Division will be updating the driver’s license system over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

In order to accommodate the system updates, all driver’s license offices across the state, along with the Customer Service Center (call center) will be closed on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. No driver’s license services will be available at any of the offices during this closure. Offices will reopen to resume normal operations on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, after the Labor Day holiday.

Customers will also not be able to conduct transactions online through the Texas by Texas (TxT) or Texas.gov applications during the system update. This includes renewing or replacing a driver’s license or identification card, obtaining a driver’s record, and verifying eligibility. These services will not be available from Friday, Sept. 1 – Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

Please note, that the update does not impact law enforcement personnel using the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS).

 

Angelina College Art Instructors Displaying Works in Gallery: Faculty Exhibition Runs through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery

By
Gary Stallard
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This digital composite print, titled “Sinaguan” by artist and Angelina College instructor Reg Reynolds, is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)

At the beginning of every fall semester, Angelina College art instructors pool together their immense creative abilities in a public display of some of their recent works.

AC’s Art instructors currently are displaying some of their offerings in a gallery scheduled to run through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts gallery on the AC campus. Instructors exhibiting their skills include Le’Anne Alexander, Reginald Reynolds, Jan Anderson-Paxson, Stina Herrera, and Denise Davis.

Ranging in various media from oil and acrylic paintings to video to photography, the collection is a testament to both the artists’ specific talents and overall experience in their respective fields.

This digital composite print, titled “Skywalk” by artist and Angelina College instructor Reg Reynolds, is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)
This digital composite print, titled “Sinaguan” by artist and Angelina College instructor Reg Reynolds, is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)
This work, an oil and acrylic on panel titled “Dwelling” by artist and Angelina College art instructor Le’Anne Alexander is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)
This image, titled “Crossing Wires” by photographer and Angelina College instructor Jan Anderson-Paxson, is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)
This work, an oil on canvas piece titled “Dwelling” by artist and Angelina College art instructor Le’Anne Alexander is one of many on display during the AC Faculty Art Exhibition running through Sept. 21 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus. An artists’ reception takes place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA gallery. (Contributed image)

An artists’ reception will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the ACA foyer. Admission to the gallery and reception is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact curator Le’Anne Alexander at lalexander@angelina.edu.

Texas Land Management Agencies Encourage Texans to Prevent Wildfires During Dove Hunting Season

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — During the upcoming dove hunting season, Texans are urged to help protect the lands and natural resources that we all love by being mindful of activities that may cause wildfire.

Persistent triple-digit temperatures and minimal rainfall over the past two months have resulted in extremely dry vegetation across the state, which increases the likelihood of dangerous wildfires. Any outdoor activities that create heat or sparks can ignite dry vegetation and wildfire.

“Since mid-June, Texas has been marked by devastating wildfires that have burned more than 75,000 acres,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. As Texans recreate this hunting season, it is important to remember that your actions can leave a lasting impact, and everyone has a role to play when preventing wildfires.”

Every year, hunters take to Texas lands for the start of dove hunting season. Wildfires caused by vehicles, trailers, ATV/UTVs and other equipment frequently used while hunting and camping are common during the season, which occurs each year from September to January.

This year, conditions are favorable for wildfire ignitions and Texas land management agencies urge everyone to be cautious on hunts, whether it takes place on public or private land.

“We are excited to welcome hunters back to the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas for another successful season. Hunting season is one of the busiest times on the forests and grasslands, and safety is always our primary concern,” said Kimpton Cooper, National Forest and Grasslands in Texas Forest Supervisor. “Combining efforts with our state partners to spread awareness, while encouraging our visitors to follow guidelines can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires during hunting season. Remember, practicing responsible behavior and being vigilant can help preserve the natural environment and ensure everyone’s safety.”

As the upper-level ridge continues over Texas, widespread temperatures will remain in the triple-digits with lower relative humidity values. With little to no improvement in fuel dryness, fire potential is expected to persist for North, Central and East Texas.

“As Texans venture outdoors, it’s important to remember just how dry the vegetation is. It doesn’t take much for an inadvertent spark or carelessness to cause a wildfire,” said Chis Schenk, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Statewide Fire Program Leader. “The high temperatures cause fires to spread rapidly and make it hard for firefighters to work. Please enjoy the outdoors but be careful with fire.”

Nine out of 10 wildfires in Texas are human-caused and everyone can make a difference by taking personal responsibility for their actions. Remain vigilant as drought conditions continue to expand and intensify and be cautious with any activity that may cause a spark.

To avoid accidentally starting a wildfire while dove hunting:

  • Avoid driving over and parking on dry grass – the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
  • Always check with local officials for burn bans or other outdoor burning restrictions. Each county in Texas sets and lifts its own burn bans. View the latest burn ban map here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/burnbans/.
  • If you are taking a trailer out on your adventures, make sure that the tires are properly inflated, chains will not contact the road and any loose metal will not continually hit anything else, all of which can cause sparks.
  • Always be ready to put out a fire should one start. Have a shovel and water with you in camp and have a fire extinguisher with you at all times.

For more information on preventing wildfires this hunting season, please visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/HuntingFireSafety/.

Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Buggs on the Future

By
Rhonda Oaks
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The star on the Texas flag somehow seems to shine a little brighter every year as more and more people move to Texas to find a thriving economy and a better quality of life. While that growth is wonderful to see, it does bring challenges to our transportation system.

Thanks to the leadership of Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature, the Texas Transportation Commission is up to the task with the adoption on August 16, 2023, of a historic $142.3 billion investment in building Texas roads and bridges, including a $100.6 billion 10-year Unified Transportation Program (UTP), $34.2 billion in development costs and $7.5 billion in routine maintenance contracts. This plan supports a world-class transportation system focused on safety and congestion relief. With projects across the state, this plan is dedicated to improving safety, addressing congestion and connectivity, and preserving roadways for Texas drivers.

Texans have shown overwhelming support for “turning dirt” on new and better roadways and bridges, and thanks in large part to voter-approved legislation (Proposition 1 in 2014, Proposition 7 in 2015), this total transportation plan is $26 billion more than last year. It provides a significant investment in congestion relief bringing over $67 billion of funding for projects completed, under construction, or planned for construction as part of the Texas Clear Lanes initiative, dedicating funding for projects on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list.

To help connect the rural parts of our state, the plan also includes an unprecedented $19.2 billion rural investment. That’s a major increase over the past few years compared to $2.2 billion in the 2016 UTP.

For businesses relocating to Texas, a reliable transportation system is crucial in helping to consistently move products to markets across the country and the world. TxDOT has planned and will continue to plan, for the challenges of a fast-growing population and complex freight movements, and the 2024 UTP will play a critical role in providing the needed infrastructure to efficiently move people and products.

With historic levels of funding, TxDOT stands ready to fulfill my policy as Chairman to “execute, execute, execute”, which means building the roads and bridges Texans need and want as soon as possible. Responding to new Texas taxpayer-approved sources of funding, we have put this money to work by improving our project delivery efforts for greater flexibility and it has been paying off. In fiscal year 2023, we had our largest award of construction contracts ever, with more than $12 billion in new highway improvement contracts, which is double the amount of contract awards just eight years ago. TxDOT is meeting the moment to deliver the safety, mobility, and connectivity improvements that Texans expect and deserve.

Of course, safety is TxDOT’s top priority, and we are staying vigilant in the effort to increase safety to help the people who work and drive on our roadways get home safely to their families. The UTP includes billions of dollars for safety projects, but every project we build has a safety component. Adding all that up, TxDOT is investing $17 billion in new safety initiatives.

Texans deserve the best transportation system in the world, and they can rest assured that Governor Abbott and Texas transportation leaders are fulfilling our promise to provide them with a safe and reliable transportation system.

J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.
Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission

1st Annual Patriots Day Weekend Memorial & Celebration (Tyler County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

VFW #2033’s 1st Annual PATRIOTS DAY WEEKEND Memorial & Celebration will be Sept 9th & 10th. 9 AM – 10 PM

Location:

301 Veterans Way, Woodville, TX 75979

They are still looking for Bands, vendors, businesses, farmer’s markets, sponsors, and more! We have 301 spots available for all vendor types, businesses, dealers, farmers’ markets, and yard sales. Special $20 for the weekend.

Looking for Music and Bands also!!

Contacts:
VFW Post Commander,
Mike King – US Army Retired
(318) 229-3386
OR Event Coordinator/ MAA
JW Kern – US Navy Retired
(409) 951-9977

West Sabine ISD Gifted and Talented Program (Sabine County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

Have you seen all the great things about the Gifted & Talented Program at West Sabine ISD? Would you like more information on the program and the referral process for students? Please come join us for our Annual Gifted & Talented Informational Meeting. Your child does not have to currently be a part of the program to attend so please save the date and join us!

Date/Time Information:
Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 5:30 in the afternoon

Location:
West Sabine High School
109 Timberland HWY
Pineland, Texas 75968

ETAL Coffee House Gathering (Jasper County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

Bring your music, poetry, books, tall tales, and your favorite dish. Come join the fun. It’s free and open to the public young and old.

Location:
364 N Austin
Jasper, 75951
ETAL Coffee House Gathering

Date/Time Information:
Monday Sep 04 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Monday Oct 02 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

 

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