A solo art exhibition for Mary Allen Museum’s Artist in Residence
By Dr. Thelma Douglass and Alexandria Hubbard
Date and time
Saturday, July 29 · 2 – 4 pm CDT
Location
1503 S 4th St 1503 South 4th Street Crockett, TX 75835 United States
Alexandria Hubbard’s Solo Art Exhibition (Houston County)
Area Counties Issue Burn Bans
Strict Outdoor Burning Prohibition Enforced in Angelina County Amid Severe Fire Threat
Following the recent declaration of disaster due to the high wildland fire hazard in Angelina County, authorities have taken stringent measures to mitigate the risk. As part of these measures, all outdoor burning of any combustible material is strictly prohibited, effective immediately.
In the wake of these critical conditions, the county’s fire department and peace officers are taking immediate action to enforce the prohibition. Upon receiving any report of outdoor burning, the nearest fire department will swiftly respond to contain and/or extinguish the fire.
Furthermore, peace officers will be dispatched as promptly as possible to investigate the nature of the fire. According to the newly issued order, if an officer believes that informing the responsible party about the prohibition can achieve compliance, they may, at their discretion, do so. Such an instance will be logged by the dispatcher, noting the time, date, place, and name of the person receiving the warning.
However, if flagrant or repeat violations of the outdoor burning prohibition occur, they will be prosecuted in accordance with the statutes and procedures governing misdemeanors, at the peace officer’s discretion. Any duly-commissioned peace officer can enforce this order, with the venue for the prosecution being the Justice of the Peace Court in Angelina County.
This order takes effect immediately, as of July 20th, 2023, according to the declaration issued by Angelina County Judge Keith Wright. The order will continue for seven days, with the possibility of extension by the Angelina County Commissioner’s Court, if the hazardous conditions persist. An exception to this rule remains for the use of fireworks as outlined in Section 418.105(i) of the Government Code.
Residents are urged to adhere to the prohibition strictly, prioritizing community safety over personal conveniences. Continued vigilance and compliance with these rules will be paramount in the county’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the ongoing drought and high fire hazard.
Houston and Polk Counties Also Impose Burn Bans Amid Rising Fire Threat
Houston County Judge Jim Lovell declared an immediate county-wide burn ban earlier this Wednesday. This ban applies to all of Houston County, including the City of Crockett, and will continue until further notice. The decision comes as a preventive measure to protect life and property from the danger of wildfires amid the current dry weather.
Similarly, Polk County has also taken action against the increasing wildfire risk. Judge Sydney Murphy issued a Local Disaster Declaration yesterday, which includes an Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning for all unincorporated areas of the County. The purpose of this order, much like those enacted in Angelina and Houston counties, is to mitigate the hazards posed by wildfires by curtailing outdoor burning.
These stringent prohibitions across several counties are part of broader efforts to prevent wildfires during this period of extremely dry conditions. Detailed information about these bans can be found in the Declaration of Disaster and Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning issued by each county.
Residents in these areas are urged to stay vigilant and strictly comply with these burn bans. Cooperation from the community is essential in these challenging times to ensure safety and protect valuable property from potential wildfires. Continuous updates regarding the situation will be provided, as local authorities continue to monitor weather conditions closely.
Melchor Takes Helm of Angelina College Men’s Soccer
Jacksonville Native Brings Winning Background to Roadrunners
The Angelina College men’s soccer program has been on a steady climb the past few years, culminating in last season’s appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
New head coach Martin Melchor has every intention of seeing the ‘Runners continuing the climb.
Melchor said he’s aware of the program’s expectations and plans to use his familiarity with the Region XIV conference – he coached Jacksonville College’s men’s and women’s programs to their very first Top 20 rankings – to ensure the Roadrunners keep moving up.
“I’m coming into a young program that’s done very well,” Melchor said. “The last couple of seasons really show what Angelina College has to offer, and my job is to make the most of the resources we have while adding whatever value we can bring in through my experiences and through recruiting.”
Melchor’s background reflects his personal experiences with success. A product of Jacksonville High School, he departed the Fightin’ Indian program as the all-time leading goal scorer. At his next stop, Coastal Carolina University, Melchor was part of a squad making four straight appearances in the NCAA National Tournament, with the group reaching the Round of 32 from 2014-2016 and the Sweet 16 in 2017. With Melchor running the Chanticleer pitch, CCU won three conference championships. As a collegian, he twice earned Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week honors and All-Sun Belt Team honors.
His most recent coaching stint occurred as the assistant men’s soccer coach at Bowling Green State University, where the Falcons were ranked among the NCAA’s Division I pre-season polls. One of Melchor’s protégé’s earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Year, and another player was a Top 20 Major League Soccer draft pick with FC Cincinnati.
Melchor also served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Texas-Tyler.
All those experiences, Melchor said, will come in handy when showing his players how fortunate they are to join the Roadrunner program.
“What helps me as I’ve been a player and coach at different levels, and I can tell these guys with all honesty, ‘You’re lucky,’” Melchor said. “They’re lucky to have the facilities and campus we have here. These are top-notch, and the players will see that as they visit other areas.”
Melchor said he has several AC players returning from the 2022 national tournament squad, and he feels they’ll provide a boost in leadership for the newest Roadrunners.
“I’m blessed to have these returners who had such a good season last year,” Melchor said. “They’re experienced, they know what it’s like to be in a national tournament. Now we’re just going to add some more talent, and those returners can help tremendously in guiding them.”
As for his coaching approach/philosophy, Melchor’s message to his players is pretty straightforward: Be ready to go all-out on both ends of the pitch.
“Our system will rely on players who are willing to work on both sides of the ball,” Melchor said. “We’re going to have offensive talent, but it’s just instilling habits at this point, along with bringing in guys who want to work on both ends and be a group that’s hard to beat. There are a lot of intangibles involved with building the type of team we want, and we’ll work on tactics and other aspects when all the players get here. But for now, we’re going to focus on being a team that works hard.
“We’re not going to try and reinvent anything,” Melchor added. “We’re just going to keep putting a team out that Angelina College and the community can be proud of.”
The Roadrunners open the season with a home scrimmage against Ranger College at 3 p.m. on Friday, August 11 at the AC Soccer Complex on the Angelina College campus.
Admission to all AC Athletics events is free.
The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
Texas A&M Designs Virtual Clinic for Trauma and Violence Survivors
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A clinic developed by the Texas A&M Health Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing will help survivors of trauma and violence receive important follow-up care virtually. The Texas A&M Assessment and Care for Trauma Survivors (ACTS) Clinic connects patients with advanced practice registered nurses using telemedicine technology.
Operating in the Texas A&M University School of Nursing, the center is a federally and state-funded initiative that was created in 2019 to advance forensic nursing education, outreach and research.
The ACTS Clinic, which is accepting patients immediately, serves Texas residents 18 and older who have experienced sexual assault. Using any connected device, patients communicate with providers in real time without having to visit a physical location. Nurse practitioners with expertise in forensic health care help patients with additional assessments, treatment plans, laboratory and radiology testing, and specialty referrals.
“We know that survivors of trauma and violence often don’t seek the follow-up care that is essential to their health and recovery,” said Stacey Mitchell, director of the center and a clinical professor. “Their reasons are varied and valid, but our hope is that virtual appointments with specialized providers can help remove some of the barriers that come with coordinating this type of care. It’s vital we meet our patients where they are.”
The ACTS Clinic is staffed by Denise Carlton. The Texas A&M School of Medicine’s Dr. Anna Lichorad serves as medical director.
The center is a leader in leveraging telemedicine to improve forensic health care. Its innovative Tex-TRAC program virtually connects rural hospitals and medical centers in Texas with sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) to provide expert forensic exams.
Patients can check provider availability and request an appointment with the ACTS Clinic at forensic-nursing.tamu.edu/
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.
Pineland Day Kickoff Banquet (Sabine County)
Live auctions, silent auctions, raffles, and door prizes!
Tickets are $35/person or $50/couple.
Tables available at request.
Location: VFW Hall-Hemphill
Date: Sunday, July 30, 2023 AT 6:30 AM
Event by Rebekkah Harley and PINELAND DAY 2023
Benefit Bingo Night (Houston County)
Calling all bingo enthusiasts and supporters of a great cause! Join us this week at Stesti Beer Garden for an exciting Benefit Bingo event in support of CASA of the Pines!
Location: Stesti Beer Garden
Date: Thursday, July 20th, at 4 PM
#BenefitBingo #SupportLocal #LoveladyTX #CommunitySupport #FundraiserEvent #BingoNight #GivingBack #SupportingYouth #SupportLocal #RaisingFunds #CommunityStrong #BingoForACause
Road Closure Planned in Lufkin
LUFKIN – Beginning Monday, crews will start work on FM 2680/Allen Gin Road in Lufkin that will require the north end of the roadway to be closed for up to a week, weather permitting.
Crews will work on culverts throughout next week. During the closure, traffic will be detoured through Jackson Road to FM 2251/Sayers Street. Detour signs will be placed on SL 287 alerting traffic to the work. After crews complete the work on the culverts, the roadway will be opened and no further road closures are anticipated. Crews will then begin work to widen and resurface the roadway. Project completion is expected to be summer 2024.
Drewery Construction Company, Inc., Nacogdoches, will serve as a contractor for the $2.6 million project. Signage is set indicating the work and detour. Motorists should obey all traffic control and reduce speed near the area and through the work zone. Stay alert for workers and moving equipment.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
Live Music with Nathan James (Houston County)
Get ready for a night of great vibes and refreshing brews at Stetsi Beer Garden! Join us on Saturday, July 22nd at 7 pm for an unforgettable live musical performance by Nathan James.
Bring your friends, kick back, and enjoy the perfect blend of music and craft beer in Lovelady, Texas. See you there!
ERCOT Issues Weather Watch
(Austin, TX/July 14) ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch for July 16 – 18 due to forecasted higher temperatures, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves. Grid conditions are expected to be normal during a Weather Watch. ERCOT continues to monitor conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid and will continue our reliability-first approach to operations.
ERCOT set a new unofficial July and all-time peak demand record of 81,406 MW on July 13, 2023. ERCOT’s 6-day Supply and Demand dashboard is showing the possibility of a new all-time peak demand record next week. The dashboards will update in real time as the week progresses. There is currently enough capacity to meet forecasted demand. Last year, ERCOT set 11 new peak demand records, surpassing 80 GWs for the first time ever.
ERCOT encourages everyone to sign up for grid condition notifications through the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) at https://www.ercot.com/txans. Texans can also monitor real-time and extended grid conditions at https://www.ercot.com.
What is an ERCOT Weather Watch?
An ERCOT Weather Watch is an advance notification of forecasted significant weather with high demand. Grid conditions are expected to be normal, but due to forecasted conditions, operating reserves may be lower.
What Action is Needed?
No action is needed. You can monitor current and extended grid conditions on ercot.com.
Did You Know?
Reducing electric use during peak demand times can help you save and lower demand on the grid. Energy-saving tips can be found at ercot.com/txans.
Stay Updated
Sign up for TXANS notification on the TXANS webpage. You can also subscribe to ERCOT Emergency Alerts which are not sent through TXANS notifications, and download the ERCOT Mobile App for additional notifications: iOS | Android.
Painting for Fun Class (Houston County)
Get Your Creativity Flowing! Join us for a delightful Painting for Fun class at Stesti Beer Garden on July 25th at 6 PM!
Date: July 25th
Time: 6 PM
Location: Stesti Beer Garden
Unleash your inner artist and let your imagination soar as we guide you through a fun-filled painting session. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this class is designed for everyone to enjoy. Tag your friends who would love to join, and let’s create beautiful memories together!
#PaintingForFun #ArtClass #CreativityUnleashed #StestiBeerGarden #SaveTheDate