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Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
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Another busy week of Angelina College Athletics provided a little of everything, with both AC soccer teams hosting key conference matches on both Tuesday and Friday and the AC softball and baseball teams getting in some diamond work.

Following is a recap of the week, along with upcoming events.

AC Soccer:

The Lady Roadrunners and No. 7 Roadrunners hosted nationally ranked Tyler Junior College squads on Tuesday. The short-handed Lady ‘Runners fell 5-1 to the Apaches, with AC’s Camilla Bedin scoring the team’s only goal with a penalty kick in the 82nd minute. On the plus side, two of the Lady Roadrunner softball players – Emily Lowe and Lorelei Graham – who recently joined the soccer team to shore up the short-handed soccer roster saw real action for the first time.

In the nightcap, the 7th-ranked Roadrunners and 10th-ranked Apaches battled to a 1-1 draw in a physical match. AC’s Kaito Ueki scored in the 40th minute, but Tyler answered early in the second half, and the Roadrunners just couldn’t get shots to find the net the rest of the way.

On Friday, the Lady ‘Runners dropped a 2-0 decision to first-place Blinn College.

In the men’s match, AC scored a pair of goals in a 90-second span, then responded to Blinn’s equalizer in the second half with a quick goal on the way to a 4-2 win over the Bucs.

Blinn took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, but the ‘Runners answered with two quick goals. Luan Rangel took a perfect cross from Omar Mora to drill home a shot in the 25th minute, and Kaito Ueki outmaneuvered both a Buc defender and the keeper for a nifty goal just 90 seconds later.

A Blinn penalty kick evened the score at 2-2 early in the second half, but again the Roadrunners answered. Lennar Poth ripped a long shot that deflected off a Buc’s head and hit the back of the net in the 58th minute to regain the AC lead. In the 76th minute, Mora performed a balancing act to avoid a slew of Buccaneer defenders to blast home an impossible goal for the winning margin. The Roadrunners (4-0-1) still haven’t lost a match this season.

AC’s soccer teams some much-needed time off this week. The men travel to Beeville to face first-place Coastal Bend Community College, while the women won’t play again until Oct. 3 in a road doubleheader at Texas Southmost Community College.

AC Softball Hosts 2nd Annual Alumni Game

Teams of former and current Lady Roadrunner softball players squared off on Saturday in the 2nd Annual Alumni Game, with the veterans showing the youngsters how they did it back in the day. The final score was…well, whatever. The players had a blast, and the new Lady ‘Runners showed they’ll lead the league in smack talking once the spring season arrives.

The vets showed they’ve still got it, and the youngsters made several highlight reel plays to show off things to come.

Former Lady Roadrunners flashing their skills on Saturday included Megan Kirchhoff, Gianna Wade, Hailey Fuentes, Ashtyn Alvarez, Alyssa Collazo (whose sister Brianna is a member of the current squad), Bailey Frenzel (who bashed five homers in the game) and Brette Kohring.

On a side note, the Lady Roadrunners have added several games to their Fall Ball schedule. Make sure you check the web site for the updated schedule.

Roadrunner Baseball Sends Three To JUCO All-Star Game

Three Roadrunner baseball players had the honor of participating in last week’s Texas/New Mexico JUCO All-Star game in Dallas. All three made impressions on both the attending fans and scouts.

Garrett Nail, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Sweeny, Texas finished his 2023 Roadrunner campaign having struck out 55 hitters in 62.2 innings pitched.

Sam Hardcastle, a sophomore third baseman from Foster High School in Texas, batted .300 in 2023 with 21 RBI.

Dalton Mullins, a sophomore outfielder from Baytown Sterling High School in Texas, hit .368 with 27 RBI in his freshman season as a Roadrunner.

All three players earned Region XIV All-Conference honors following the 2023 season.

Basketball Schedules Posted for Viewing

Both the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner basketball schedules are now posted on the AC Athletics web site (angelinaathletics.com). October will feature pre-season games; in fact, the Roadrunner men host Jarvis College in a scrimmage scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

Yes, we’re that close to basketball season.

Don’t blink around here. Stuff happens way too fast.

Remember, you can keep track of all schedules, results and news items by visiting the Angelina College Athletics web site (angelinaathletics.com) and by following on Facebook (Angelina College Athletics) or Twitter (@ACAthletics).

See you at the games.

Fall A Great Time to Plant…or Replant!

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Well, I made it through this year’s drought without running up my water bill to a ridiculous amount. To be completely truthful, I should confess that I lost some landscape plants because I was stingy with the water and now need to replace a few plants around the house.

Two of my three Peggy Martin roses didn’t make it.  A bed that was once full of heirloom chrysanthemums has nearly all dies. My good horticulturist friend Kim in Wells said she also lost some plants and would have to replace them. Yep, many gardeners may have saved on the water bill, but will be spending money on replacing plants.

Good thing that the fall season is nearly here and we’ve had some decent rainfall. Fall is a great time to plant, move, or, perhaps in my case, replant landscape plants.  Planting or transplanting at this time of year helps root systems develop in preparation for our hardest season – our typical hot, harsh summers. 

A plant’s demand for water is less in cool and rainy fall weather, and plants have a better chance of quick recovery, especially if it has a chance to develop new roots before the next growing season.

Fall planting also gives them time to establish their roots and build up nutrient reserves needed for healthy growth next spring. If you are digging up and moving a plant from one location to another, let’s wait until the dead of winter and try to leave as much of the plant roots as possible. But for any perennial sold in a pot, fall is the best time to plant.

Proper planting is the most important step. Many problems with a tree or shrub can be traced back to improper planting. Dig the hole at least two feet wider than the size of the root system or root ball. A large hole will allow better root growth and is especially important in compacted soils.

Planting depth is of critical importance. Trees often are planted too deep in the hole. Carefully set the tree in the hole at the same depth or slightly higher than it was in the pot.

Container-grown specimens often have roots growing around the inside of the container. After removing the container, gently straighten the roots. If the roots are not straightened loosened from their position hugging the pot, they will not grow out at their full potential.

Fill the hole with soil about one-half full, lightly tamping it with your foot to remove any air pockets. Make sure the shrubs and tree are standing upright and not leaning. Water slowly to saturate the soil and remove any remaining air pockets, then finish filling the hole with soil.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to fertilize when you plant perennials at this time of the year. Fertilizing with nitrogen in the fall may contribute to cold damage transplant shock. Newly planted trees require routine and thorough watering. Water the tree regularly for at least three years after planting.

Make sure the plant is well watered for one to three weeks after transplanting. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of the shrub will help prevent weeds from becoming established and help soil to retain moisture.

Finally, if you are looking for new, or replacement, perennials, come by the Angelina County Farmers Market next Saturday, Sept 30 for the Volunteer Master Gardener fall plant sale. All plants are either native or very well adapted. Cash and checks, only, are accepted. Gates open at 8 am and they typically sell out well before lunch. Proceeds from the plant sale benefit horticultural education efforts by the AgriLife Extension office in Angelina County.

Suicide Prevention Fundraiser (Polk County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Pulled Pork Sandwich Luncheon & Mental Health Tshirt Fundraiser- Delivery available inside Livingston (contact to pre-order)

Date and Time
Friday Sep 29, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM CDT

Location
3748 US 59 N Livingston Tx 77351

Fees/Admission
$15 for lunch; $20/t-shirt
Website
http://Serenityhousecounseling.com
Contact Information
Serenity House Counseling 936-259-2119 Info@serenityhousecounseling.com
Send Email

Artist Harding Opening Gallery at Angelina College: Exhibition Runs Through October

By
Gary Stallard
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This untitled piece from award-winning artist Timothy Harding is a sample of the works he’ll be displaying in an upcoming exhibition scheduled to open on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery. An artist’s reception and talk will take place from 6-7:30 in the ACA foyer. (Contributed image)

Award-winning artist Timothy Harding will display some of his impressive works in an exhibition opening on Sept. 26 and running through Oct. 25 at the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery.

Harding will share a site-responsive installation rooted in the idea of 2D objects that have spilled from their rectangular supports to merge with the 3D space of the gallery, responding to its unique characteristics. Components including laser-cut wood and paper, deconstructed acrylic paintings, and vinyl wall tape will comprise this work.

Currently, Harding is an Associate Professor of Art at Tarleton State University. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University.

In 2018, Harding was a visiting artist at the Center for Creative Connections at the Dallas Museum of Art. In 2016 he received a Nasher Sculpture Center Artist Grant. Harding has exhibited nationally and held residencies at 77Art, the Wassaic Project, and the Vermont Studio Center. He is represented by Cris Worley Fine Arts, in Fort Worth, TX.

An artist’s reception and talk will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Admission to both the gallery and the reception is free to the public.

An artist’s statement is included below:

“Lines and Space is an immersive installation that delves into my longstanding interest in blurring the boundaries between sculpture and drawing. In this project, the idea of a line drawing moves from conventional paper-based notions to digitally derived gestures and doodles that cascade across a gallery wall and extend down to the floor beneath. The installation includes elements of vinyl tape on the wall juxtaposed with laser-cut wood painted with acrylic. Viewers are encouraged to navigate the space of this work and consider how it challenges their notions about the myriad forms a drawing can assume.”

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

Texas A&M Forest Service Employee Earns Prestigious National Award for Fire Protection

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Granbury, TX, January 24, 2006 -- Incident Commander Paul Hannenmann of the Texas Forest Service goes over weather maps of Texas showing past lack of rain and forecasted conditions that don't appear to alleviate the fire threat very much. Bob McMillan/ FEMA Photo

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A Texas A&M Forest Service employee was honored with the Current Achievement Award for Fire Protection during today’s National Association of State Foresters Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Paul Hannemann, retired Texas A&M Forest Service Chief of Fire Operations and Incident Response Department Head, is recognized for having been at the forefront of innovative and strategic response policy and program development for the first responder community.

“Paul is a trusted leader in wildfire and all-hazard response efforts at the local, state and national levels and is respected throughout the country,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. “We are fortunate to have Paul’s wisdom and experience in the agency.”

Hannemann’s dedicated, highly skilled and qualified career, include highlights ranging from becoming the agency’s first Regional Fire Coordinator in 1995 to in 2011 directing statewide fire operations that mobilized more than 17,000 firefighters from across the country to assist in the suppression of more than 30,000 wildfires that burned nearly 4 million acres ¾ including the Bastrop County Complex, one of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history at the time.

Hannemann served as Incident Commander on the Lone Star State Incident Management Team for more than 20 years and responded to countless wildfire and all-hazard incidents, including the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery, Hurricane Sandy and the West Explosion.

In Texas, Hannemann’s leadership encompasses implementing Type 3 Regional Incident Management Teams and developing the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS).

Hannemann spent his career training and developing others in the art and science of emergency response. He is part of FEMA’s All-Hazard Incident Management Team Development Group and has helped conduct training across the country. He also has served on the teaching cadre for the Complex Incident Management Course since its beginning in 1999.

Hannemann served as a key state representative on several National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) committees such as the Operations Workforce Development Committee and the Incident Management Organization Succession Planning project – each of which had national significance in preparing the next generation of incident management leadership across the nation.

Contacts

Texas A&M Forest Service Communications Office, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu

Two Busy Crossovers Closed in Lufkin for Construction

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – Motorists should be reminded to obey all traffic control during an ongoing construction project that impacts two turnarounds on SL 287/Ellen Trout Drive in Lufkin.

One northbound lane is closed today as crews work to add concrete islands to the crossovers. The two crossovers affected are located at MLK Drive/Ellen Trout Zoo and north of that location near Holmes Smokehouse. These crossovers will be closed until construction is complete.

During these closures, motorists are urged to travel to either turn around at the US 69 North overpass or to the US 59/North Timberland Drive overpass.

“Many motorists, truck drivers and bus drivers use these crossings each day and we are aware of the congestion it is causing further north at the FM 2251/Sayers Street crossing,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “For that reason, we urge motorists to prepare and plan ahead if they need to turn around to access a location, go to either one of the turnarounds near these locations.”

Once work is completed, traffic will be controlled in the same way as the crossing at Spence Street, further north of these two locations. As crews continue to work, motorists can expect intermittent lane closures through the area. The crossovers are expected to be completed and open by next week, weather permitting.

Motorists should prepare for delays, stay alert for workers near the lanes of traffic, and reduce speed. For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

Getting Your Home and Business Ready for Winter

By
Lee Allen Miller
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As we transition to Fall in Texas, it’s time to start preparing your home or business for the winter months ahead. Here are some tips to make sure you are ready:

Service your heating system – Schedule professional maintenance for your furnace or heat pump to ensure it’s in good working order before cold temperatures arrive. Replace filters and stock up on extras.

Insulate exposed pipes – Wrap exposed outdoor faucets and pipes with insulating sleeves or foam covers to prevent freezing and bursts.

Caulk and weatherstrip – Seal any cracks, gaps, or openings on windows and doors to stop drafts and reduce heat loss. Make sure attic hatches are properly weather-stripped too.

Reverse ceiling fans – Adjust ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to drive warm air back down into a room.

Prepare your fireplace – Clean out your fireplace and have the chimney professionally swept. Stock up on firewood for cozy nights.

Examine the roof – Check for any damaged or missing shingles that may need replacement to prevent leaks. Trim overhanging branches.

Maintain the grounds – Clean out rain gutters and downspouts. Prune away dead branches. Keep storm drains clear of debris.

Check emergency supplies – Refresh your stock of flashlights, batteries, blankets, canned goods, first aid kit. Get an emergency road kit for cars.

Use energy efficiently – Replace air filters regularly. Set thermostats lower when away. Turn off unused lights. Unplug devices when not in use.

Review your electricity contract – Check your latest bill.  The expiration date of your contract will be located on your bill.  Get a free bill evaluation from energy brokers at Amerigy Energy in Lufkin and Nacogdoches.  877-631-8875 or email a bill copy to info@amerigyenergy.com.  They know the best prices in the market from over 50 retail energy providers to get you the best deal.

A little preparation now will pay off when winter arrives in full force. This article was provided by Amerigy Energy.

DETCOG Accepting Applications for Solid Waste Grants

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) is now taking applications for funding of Solid Waste Projects for FY 2024.  DETCOG anticipates awarding grants totaling $67,500.00.

Each application will be judged by the DETCOG Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee (RSWAC) in accordance with the RSWAC Project Review and Scoring Guidelines and DETCOG’s Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. Grant awards will be made by the DETCOG Board after it receives the RSWAC recommendations.

The grants are available to: Cities, Counties, Public Schools, School Districts, River Authorities as well as General and Special Law Districts with the authority and responsibility for water quality protection or municipal solid waste management.  The applicants must be located within Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler counties to be eligible to apply. Funding for the DETCOG Solid Waste Grants comes from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). 

Applications for projects in the following categories will be accepted:  Local

Enforcement, Litter and Illegal Dumping Cleanup and Community Collection Events, Source Reduction and Recycling, Local Solid Waste Management, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Management, Technical Studies, Educational and Training Projects, and other projects not included in these categories which meet TCEQ criteria.

Applications are available on DETCOG’s website at www.detcog.gov/solid-waste-recycling.

They are due back to DETCOG by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023.   For more information, or to request an application packet, please contact Regional Services Specialist Carolyn Stephenson by email at CStephenson@detcog.gov or by phone at (936) 634-2247 ext. 5353.

Fields of Faith (Jasper County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Fields of Faith is your Saw You at The Pole Celebration. Join us at the Bulldog Stadium to be encouraged. There will be live music, free food, testimonies, and an overall great time to gather with other believers.

Everyone is invited. Doors open at 6 pm and the event kicks off at 7 pm. Grab a friend and join us!

Date/Time Information:
Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 8 am
Location:
Bulldog Stadium

Texas A&M Nursing, Public Health Experts Secure $7.4 Million to Improve Adolescent Health Behavior

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M University schools of nursing and public health have jointly been awarded a five-year, $7.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promote positive adolescent health behavior in one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. The project is a collaboration with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Partnerships and Opportunities for Adolescent Health Preparation, Support and Services (POPPS) will focus on implementing evidence-based adolescent health programs for youth in greater Chicago. The programs will address unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, healthy relationships, substance use, mental health, violence prevention and more.

Kelly Wilson, Ph.D., MCHES, associate dean for research at the School of Nursing, and Whitney Garney, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Public Health, serve as co-principal investigators.

The team will work with community organizations serving youth at-risk for experiencing homelessness, Chicago Public Schools and Lurie Children’s clinics to provide health services and education to adolescents and their families. Trained educators from Lurie Children’s will deliver approved evidence-based programs through the system’s network of clinics, Chicago Public Schools and participating partners.

“By meeting adolescents and their families where they live, learn and seek care, we hope to address real and persistent health inequalities that exist among this group,” Wilson said. “The evidence-based programs we plan to implement contain diverse and proven approaches to promote healthy adolescent behaviors and establish a foundation for a lifetime of beneficial development.”

“Adolescence is a deeply formative stage of life, offering an important window to positively influence this population with public health efforts,” Garney said. “Chicago is the country’s third largest city and provides our research team an opportunity to make maximum impact while expanding Texas A&M’s national reach.”

“Educators from our Community Programs team have begun our seventh school year serving Chicago Public Schools (CPS) with a focus on 4th-8th student and caregiver spaces with high quality, comprehensive, medically accurate health education. We are so grateful for this opportunity to expand the trust and partnership we have built to high schools and residential spaces,” said Dawn Ravine, Manager of Sexuality Education, Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. “The sheer number of requests for sexual and reproductive health education support from CPS high schools inspired the proposal for this project. We will meet young people in clinics, schools and community spaces with this vital POPPS programming.”

“As a division of specialists in adolescent health, part of our mandate is to teach others how to effectively and efficiently provide adolescent- and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) in a wide range of clinical settings. POPPS gives us an opportunity to work with community clinicians, discuss the opportunities and constraints to confidential adolescent health care, and learn how we can — systematically — improve the care we provide. Empowering adolescents and their clinicians is at the core of AYFHS,” said Dr. Gregg J. Montalto, Associate Division Head for Clinical Practice, Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine.

POPPS is the latest collaboration between Texas A&M and Lurie Children’s. The university has partnered with the organization’s adolescent community programs on several health projects related to unplanned pregnancy prevention, caregiver support and more over the past several years.

HHS selected POPPS for funding as part of its evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program. TPP is a national, competitive grant program that provides funding to replicate and scale evidence-based TPP programs and develop and evaluate new and innovative approaches to improve adolescent sexual health outcomes and promote positive youth development in communities across the United States.

The research team is using the first six months of the project to identify appropriate evidence-based programs for implementation. This process includes soliciting input from greater Chicago youth, parents and community stakeholders. POPPS programming is expected to launch early next year.

About Texas A&M School of Nursing
The Texas A&M University School of Nursing is committed to preparing the next generation of nurses through exceptional education programs, progressive research, strategic partnerships and innovative outreach initiatives. Visit nursing.tamu.edu for more information.

About Texas A&M School of Public Health
The Texas A&M University School of Public Health is committed to transforming health through interdisciplinary inquiry, innovative solutions, and development of leaders. Anchored by state-of-the-art campuses in College Station and McAllen, we offer undergraduate and graduate education opportunities in person and online. Our practicum sites and community outreach programs span the state, impacting all 254 counties in Texas. Learn more at public-health.tamu.edu. 

About Lurie Children’s
Lurie Children’s is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Last year, the hospital served more than 220,000 children from 48 states and 49 countries.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Sexuality Education Program combines the expertise of multidisciplinary staff with a youth-centered and engaging curriculum. Our team supports thoughtful, culturally responsive, and LGBTQIA inclusive conversations as students learn about relationships, social emotional development, and their bodies. All programming is consistent with the National Sexuality Education Standards and Gender Spectrum’s “Principles of Gender Inclusive Puberty and Health Education”. We are an approved community-based Sexual Health Education provider with public and private schools, including Chicago Public Schools.

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