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Social Security Delivers the Most Popular Baby Names in Texas for 2022

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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The Social Security Administration today announced the most popular baby names in Texas for 2022. Liam and Olivia topped the list.

The top five boys’ and girls’ names for 2022 in Texas were:

Boys:                                       Girls:

1) Liam                                   1) Olivia

2) Noah                                  2) Emma

3) Mateo                                 3) Camila

4) Sebastian                            4) Isabella

5) Santiago                             5) Mia

The agency announced last week that Olivia and Liam were the most popular baby names in the U.S.  How does Texas compare to the rest of the country? Check out Social Security’s website — www.ssa.gov — to see the top national baby names for 2022 and see where your name ranks now and over the past 100 years.

Social Security began compiling the baby names list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880.  Each year, the list reveals the effect of pop culture on naming trends.  In addition to each state’s top baby names (and names for U.S. territories), Social Security’s website has a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2022 and the fastest-rising girls’ and boys’ names.

“Just like your name, Social Security is with you from day one.  One of the first things parents do for their newborn is get them a Social Security number.  That makes Social Security the ultimate source for the most popular baby names each year!” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.  “And just like a name, Social Security is with you through life’s journey.  See what else you can do at www.ssa.gov while you’re online.”

Visitors will experience a fresh homepage and new design to help them find what they need more easily, with clear paths to the tasks customers need to accomplish.  This is part of ongoing efforts to improve how the public can do business with the agency.

While online, users can create their Social Security accounts. my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing into retirement.  Nearly 80 million people have signed up at www.ssa.gov/myaccount and benefited from the many secure and convenient self-service options.  They can request a replacement Social Security card online if they meet certain requirements.  If they already receive Social Security benefits, they can start or change direct deposit online, request a replacement SSA-1099, and if they need proof of their benefits, they can print or download a current Benefit Verification Letter from their account.

People not yet receiving benefits can use their My Social Security account to get personalized Social Security Statements, which provide their earnings information as well as estimates of their future benefits.  The portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits.

 

Railroad Crossing Scheduled for Work Closure

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – An Angelina County railroad crossing is scheduled to be replaced on Monday, May 22, and will require a roadway closure.

Angelina & Neches River Railroad will replace the railroad crossing on FM 842, weather permitting. TxDOT crews are scheduled to close the roadway at the crossing beginning at 8 am. Work is scheduled to be completed by 5 pm.

Motorists should be prepared to detour at Old Moffett Road throughout the day. Access to local businesses near East Park Avenue on the south side of the railroad crossing will remain open.

M&M Sales and Service, Timpson TX, will serve as contractor for the work. Motorists are urged to stay alert to lighted message boards already in place announcing the closure. Be prepared to detour and reduce speed near the work zone.

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

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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On May 18, 1912, the USS Texas, also known as Battleship Texas, launched and quickly became one of the most powerful weapons in the world. It is credited with the introduction and innovation of advances in gunnery, aviation, and radar. She is the last surviving Dreadnought and the only battleship in existence today that fought in both World War I and World War II.

Here are five things happening around your state:

  1. New fund to support the creation of more state parks passes House

Senate Bill 1648 and Senate Joint Resolution 74, authored by Senator Tan Parker and sponsored by Representative Armando Walle, both passed the Texas House this week and are on their way to the Governor for his signature. With voter approval, the bills together would create a Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and invest $1 billion to buy more land to create new state parks and maintain existing parks. The fund will grow with interest over time to continue growing the park system. Texas Parks and Wildlife is celebrating 100 years of state parks this year, a fitting time to dedicate this fund. This November, voters in Texas will have the opportunity to approve the new constitutionally dedicated fund.

  1. Name, Image, and Likeness update bill passes Senate

This week the Senate passed House Bill 2804, authored by Representative John Kuempel, and sponsored by Senator Brandon Creighton. This bill continues the work from the last session when the legislature established a name, image, and likeness law in Texas. HB 2804 keeps Texas competitive in the NIL space by allowing college athletes to profit using the school’s trademark if the school approves and charges a market rate for its use. Additionally, the bill allows universities to help student-athletes enter NIL contracts and maintains confidentiality of related information. As the NIL space continues to evolve and develop, it is imperative that Texas universities continue to be competitive and create a welcoming environment for student-athletes to thrive.

  1. Senate Bill 15 passes House, goes to Governor’s desk

The Texas House passed Senate Bill 15 this week, sending it to the Governor for final approval. The bill, authored by Senator Mayes Middleton and sponsored by Representative Valoree Swanson, protects women’s sports at the collegiate level by requiring athletes to compete in competitions based on biological sex. In recent years, concern over biological males competing against biological females in interscholastic events have been highlighted in various instances, particularly at the NCAA women’s swimming championship. Allowing men to compete against women is unfair to women and takes opportunities away from deserving women who otherwise could have competed at that level. The bill does have allowances for women to participate in athletic programs for men that do not have a corresponding team available to them, such as football. During the Third Called Special Session of the 87th Legislature, the Texas Legislature passed a bill protecting women’s sports at the elementary and high school levels. This year, we continue that work to protect women’s sports at the collegiate level.

  1. Senate passes sales tax exemption for certain family care items

Senator Joan Huffman authored Senate Bill 379, which passed the Senate this week. The bill would give a sales tax exemption for wound care dressings, adult or children’s diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, maternity clothing, baby bottles, and breast milk pumping products. These items are all essential for women and families – whether welcoming new family members or caring for elderly family members. Giving a tax break for essential items alleviates what some have deemed “the pink tax.” The measure would save taxpayers over $100 million a year.

  1. T.L.L. Temple Foundation invests in CDL program at Lamar State College Port Arthur

This year, Lamar State College Port Arthur sought to significantly expand their commercial driver’s academy and examination facilities. LSCPA secured a grant from the Economic Development Administration, acquired land in Jefferson County, and funds from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief program to expand the program. However, last-minute costs required an infusion of funds and the Temple Foundation stepped in. The program was able to increase enrollment from 185 to 230 enrollees and will surpass 300 in the coming years. Hundred of Texans will graduate from this program and immediately start careers as drivers with well-paying incomes.

Not really loving those Lovebugs?

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Few insects bring as much contempt as the lovebug.

This flying insect is most common in May and September and is best known for splattering across your windshield and causing damage to the paint on your vehicle. Mind you, this is an insect that does not bite, does not sting, doesn’t carry disease, won’t harm livestock, and doesn’t damage crops.

And still, there’s just nothing to love about a lovebug.

From recorded accounts, lovebugs (Plecia nearctica) were established in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.  They are reported to naturally have migrated from Central America into Texas in the early 1900’s staying (originally) close to the gulf shore.

The lovebug was first described in 1940 by a young, 26-year-old entomologist by the name of D. Elmo Hardy in Galveston, Texas. At the time, he reported the incidence of lovebugs to be widespread, but most common in Texas and Louisiana.

There is a common myth that lovebugs are from Florida.  There is an even more insidious myth that lovebugs were either imported or “developed” in a lab by Florida scientists to get rid of mosquitoes. While preposterous and completely false, the myth still persists. Lovebugs are herbivores that feed on plant material. They arrived in the Florida peninsula in the 1950’s.

They continued their movement north along the Atlantic shore and were discovered in South Carolina in 1975.  In 2006, it was reported as far north as Topsail Beach, north of Wilmington, North Carolina.

I was surprised to learn that lovebugs are active all year long.  It is only in the insect’s adult stage that we notice its flight in May and August.

Now we all know that an insect goes thru three stages: egg then larvae then adult. It follows then, that the lovebug is the adult form that we notice twice a year in May and August.  The adult female lovebug can lay from 100-500 eggs after mating.  These eggs hatch and the larvae then feed on decomposing organic matter in the other months where we don’t see them.

Lovebug larvae can be found in your lawn’s thatch and under cow manure, among many other sites.  From a truly environmentalist point of view, they are described by some folks as beneficial insects because they help break down organic matter!

Lovebug adults are attracted to light-colored surfaces, especially if they are freshly painted, but the adults can congregate almost anywhere by reacting to the effects of sunlight on automobile fumes, asphalt, and other environmental factors that are still not completely understood.

Officially, lovebugs are considered a nuisance pest by almost everyone. While you and I are certainly tired of dealing with them, their lack of “impact” on food production and human health puts them quite low on the list of problematic pests that researchers are working on.  To be blunt, unless lovebugs start spreading disease, damaging livestock or food crops, there is little chance that we’ll have any breakthroughs in their control or abatement.

Their main damage is to your car or truck.  Smeared guts across your windshield can make driving hazardous.  An incredibly excessive number in your vehicle’s radiator may cause it to overheat. But the primary problem we fuss and fume over is the condition to the paint and other surfaces that the innards of the lovebug stick adhere.

There are several ‘home remedies’ to help minimize the damage the do to vehicles that involve some oily spray or wax to prevent them from sticking to your car. I’m hoping that their lifecycle was greatly interrupted by natural causes this year.

Minor Sting Operation

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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In an effort to decrease the consequences of alcohol purchased by minors, The Coalition, Inc. partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct alcohol stings, with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation. Under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink/purchase alcohol are used as decoys to enter businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol and then attempt to purchase alcohol.

“Controlled alcohol buys help protect our youth from the dangers of underage drinking. Local retailers have the responsibility to train their employees on the laws concerning the sale of alcohol to minors. Even more importantly, retailers must set the expectation among their staff to always ask for IDs and to deny alcohol sales to anyone under age 21,” said Sharon Kruk, executive director of The Coalition, Inc. “The unintended consequences of underage drinking, such as car crashes and increased risk for long-term addiction, can be prevented when our community works together to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.”

During the March and April minor sting operations, one store sold to minors and 26 did not. We commend those stores that did not sell alcohol to minors in our community and recognize them for helping to combat underage drinking:

  • Big’s #3819, 103 North John Redditt Drive;
  • Family Dollar General #32452, 5104 Ted Trout Drive;
  • Brookshire Brothers Express #114, 6564 Ted Trout Drive;
  • Adeel’s #2, 125 South FM 1194;
  • Lucky’s #2, 3385 Ted Trout Drive;
  • Lucky’s, 1707 North John Redditt Drive;
  • West Loop Chevron, 904 South John Redditt Drive;
  • Dollar General Store #22841, 2205 Old Union Road;
  • Big’s #3814, 1004 South John Redditt Drive;
  • Big’s #3806, 1902 West Frank Street;
  • Brookshire Brothers #25, 1807 West Frank Avenue;
  • Family Dollar Store #6227, 1891 West Frank Avenue;
  • Brookshire Brothers #110, 5750 Ted Trout Drive;
  • CVS/Pharmacy #6827, 923 West Frank Street;
  • Walgreens #05792, 102 North Timberland Drive;
  • Gas N Go #1, 401 North Timberland Drive;
  • In N Out Daiquiri, 500 North Timberland Drive;
  • Chevron, 804 North Timberland Drive;
  • Big’s #3807, 1910 North Timberland Drive;
  • La Michoacana Meat Market, 416 Atkinson Drive;
  • Family Dollar Store #6064, 419 North Timberland Drive;
  • HEB Food Store #617, 111 North Timberland Drive;
  • Walgreens #12601, 102 North Timberland Drive;
  • Pelican Pointe, 1302 North John Redditt Drive;
  • Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp, 3102 South John Redditt Drive; and
  • Texas Roadhouse, 4500 South Medford Drive.

One business sold to a minor during the March stings and a second follow-up sting was done in April. During the second minor alcohol sting, the business did not sell to the minor. We commend this business for training their employees and following up on the policies regarding the sales of alcohol:

  • Food Mart, 612 W. Frank Avenue.

The sale of alcohol to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail, or both. Persons 21 or older can be held liable for damages caused by the intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcoholic beverages on the premises owned by or leased by the adult.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. The Coalition receives funding from the Texas Department of Transportation to prevent underage drinking; for more information on how to help, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308.

BAMA BOUND: AC Softball Heading to National Tournament

By
Gary Stallard
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Lady Roadrunners Complete Remarkable Season Turnaround

Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunner softball team is headed for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the third time in the program’s history.

This year, however, may be the most unexpected national trip of them all.

AC’s ladies are headed to the World Series again after this past weekend’s performances in the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. The Lady ‘Runners beat Paris College 4-3 in eight innings on Friday, hammered No. 16 Galveston College 11-4 on Sunday and capped the tourney with a thrilling 6-5 win over host team Bossier Parish Community College on Monday. Bailey Frenzel drove in a pair of runs in the first inning, Haley Primrose ripped an opposite-field two-run homer in the sixth and the pitching combo of Mia Gilmore, Morgan Louviere and Gianna Wade helped hold off a furious Lady Cavalier rally to send AC back to the national tournament.

But this team’s story isn’t just about winning the regional tournament.

It’s about a remarkable turnaround to the season.

The 2023 Lady Roadrunners entered the spring with more uncertainty than roster spots. A first-year head coach (Brette Kohring) with zero head coaching experience. An assistant coach in Tori Alverson, whose playing experience consisted of playing goalkeeper in soccer. A pitching coach, Mike Scoggin, who retired years ago – only to return in time to help a short-handed AC pitching staff find its groove in the circle.

A roster consisting of just 13 players in uniform.

And, of course, a less-than-stellar start to the season.

AC opened the year with a 3-6 record. The team didn’t even get to play its first game until Feb. 13 after having its first six games postponed or canceled altogether because of bad weather. The team struggled to find consistency, splitting series after series – usually losing the first game just to rebound in the second.

Then came the season’s low point: On March 25, the Lady ‘Runners dropped both games of a doubleheader at Coastal Bend Community College – a team that would win just four games in 2023. Not even a week later, AC fell at San Jacinto College in another sweep, leaving the Lady Roadrunners with a 12-19 record to start the month of April – and little signs of enough life to salvage the season.

After one particular home loss, Kohring said in the dugout – to no one in particular – “These girls are so talented. I just need to get them to believe it.”

Then something clicked. Noticeably.

The team went on an absolute tear, blowing through conference foes in convincing fashion, including wins over nationally ranked and conference-leading teams. The Lady ‘Runners went 9-2 for the rest of the regular season, then stormed through the regional tournament with three straight wins.

The last win sent them back to nationals, a goal Kohring said the team mentioned way back during the hard times.

What clicked? According to Kohring, nothing more than a realization that individual performances were not as important as the overall team results.

“There were times when players were hard on themselves for certain at-bats or plays, but they were looking more at how those results affected them as individuals,” Kohring said. “Finally, they started realizing how those sacrifice flies, those groundouts to advance runners and all the other team plays were helping us win games.

“I can’t say it was anything we coaches said. If I knew what it was, I’d never stop saying it. The girls just realized how good they are and how much they wanted to experience this kind of success.”

With the advancement to the national tournament, Kohring becomes the only coach in Angelina College Athletics history to take a team to nationals in her very first season at the helm. She’s completely familiar with the tournament, having played on the 2019 Lady Roadrunner team finishing as national runners-up.

It’s an experience she wants her team to enjoy to the absolute fullest.

“I learned from my trip to nationals that it’s not just about rankings or records,” Kohring said. “It’s about who’s playing the best softball every game.

“After everything, our girls have overcome this season, all I can ask them now is, ‘Why not us?’”

The 2023 NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament will run from Wednesday, May 24 through Saturday, May 27 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.

The Lady Roadrunners on Friday will learn of their tournament seeding and first-round opponent.

Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunners and coaches pose with the trophies earned after the team punched its ticket to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. AC beat host team Bossier Parish Community College 6-5 on Monday to earn its berth to nationals – the program’s third trip to the national tournament. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Bossier Parish officials present Angelina College head coach Brette Kohring (right) with the tournament championship plaque following Monday’s AC win over BPCC. Kohring becomes the first coach in Angelina College history to lead a team to nationals in her first season as a head coach. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Angelina College’s Haley Primrose gets a congratulatory hand slap from head coach Brette Kohring after Primrose’s two-run homer in Monday’s game against Bossier Parish Community College. The Lady ‘Runners beat the Lady Cavs 6-5 to earn a trip to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Oxford, Al. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Angelina College catcher Madi Baker and pitcher Gianna Wade embrace while teammates break out in celebration following the final out of Monday’s 6-5 Lady Roadrunner win over Bossier Parish Community College. The win sent the Lady ‘Runners to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament starting May 23 in Oxford, Alabama. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update May 14, 2023

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College closed out its 2022-2023 academic year this past week, culminating in Saturday’s two Commencement ceremonies.

However, the Lady Roadrunner softball team isn’t ready to shut down just yet.

The Lady ‘Runners won their first two games of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Shreveport, setting the team up for a shot at a berth in the upcoming NJCAA Division I National Tournament taking place later this month.

AC’s ladies now have two shots to win one game for a national tourney slot. The Lady Roadrunners face Bossier Parish Community College Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Bossier City, La. (The game originally was scheduled for noon.) An AC win sends the Lady ‘Runners to Oxford, Al., the site of the national tournament.

A loss on Monday pushes AC to Tuesday’s final game, with game time set for noon.

Softball Games Recap:
What an opening round for the conference tournament. Three of the four games played on Friday went extra innings – including the Lady Roadrunners’ thrilling 4-3 win over Paris College in eight innings.

Bailey Frenzel blasted a solo homer, Hailey Fuentes doubled home Brynn Davis and Kaetlyn Dunbar drove home Fuentes in the fifth inning and the Lady ‘Runners pushed across a run in the top of the eighth on a Paris College error for the final 4-3 margin. AC pitcher Mia Gilmore then struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the win.

Storms in the Shreveport area knocked out Saturday night’s action, but the Lady ‘Runners didn’t let the weather phase them at all. AC jumped all over No. 16 Galveston College, beating the Whitecaps 11-4 on Sunday. Haley Primrose rocked a two-run homer, and Lace Tangianau, Kaetlyn Dunbar, and Bailey Frenzel each drove in two runs in the big win. Morgan Louviere, Mia Gilmore, and Gianna Wade teamed up to hold the high-powered Whitecaps to just four runs.

Should the Lady Roadrunners qualify for the national tournament, it will mark the program’s third appearance at nationals, with the last trip occurring in 2019, when Angelina College finished as National Runners-up. AC won the national title back in 2014.

Summer Camps for Athletics:

Any youngster looking for something fun and productive to do this summer (and any parent looking to get the kids out of the house for a few hours) can look to Camp Roadrunner to come to the rescue. Camp Roadrunner and the athletics camps offer kids a full day of fun and instruction in numerous areas, guaranteeing no one is going to feel bored. (And parents, they’re going to come home tired. You win!)

The Athletics youth camps dates are as follows:

Baseball: June 5-7, Poland Field on the AC Campus

Softball: June 12-15, Lady Roadrunner Softball Field on the AC Campus

Basketball: June 12-15 and July 10-13, Shands Gymnasium on the AC Campus

Soccer: June 12-15 and July 24-27, the Angelina College Soccer Complex

Full registration and other information are located at https://www.angelina.edu/camproadrunner/.

AC Outlasts Paris College in Extra Innings; Lady Roadrunners Win Nailbiter In Conference Opener

By
Gary Stallard
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Teammates swarm Angelina College pitcher Mia Gilmore after Gilmore struck out the side to end Friday’s game against Paris College. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

BOSSIER CITY, LA – All game long, the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners threatened to blow it all wide open, putting runners on base in nearly every inning – but AC hitters were left frustrated, unable to come up with the big hit.

When the break finally arrived, it did so in the form of a couple of gifts.

With one out in the top of the eighth inning, AC’s Haley Primrose reached first base thanks to a Paris College error. Alyssa Collazo followed with a single, and Brynn Davis drew a walk to load the bases. Hailey Fuentes then hit a sharp ground ball to third base for a force out there, but the throw to first sailed out of play, allowing Primrose to score the go-ahead run.

Lady ‘Runner pitcher Mia Gilmore then stepped into the circle and mowed down the Lady Dragons with three straight strikeouts, giving the Lady Roadrunners a 4-3 win in extra innings in Friday’s Region XIV Conference Tournament opener in Bossier City, Louisiana.

AC’s Bailey Frenzel rocked a solo homer in the first inning to stake Lady Roadrunner starting pitcher Morgan Louviere, who allowed just two hits and two runs in three full innings, to a quick 1-0 lead. Paris scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third for a 2-1 Lady Dragon lead, but the Lady ‘Runners evened the score in the top of the fifth on Fuentes’ RBI single to score Davis. Kaetlyn Dunbar dropped an RBI single behind the first-base bag to score Fuentes for the 3-2 AC edge.

The Lady Dragons answered again, picking up the tying run on a pair of singles and an RBI groundout.

AC went right back to work in the eighth, with Fuentes helping push Primrose across the plate for the game-winner. Gilmore finished her five innings of work with six strikeouts and a single earned run allowed.

The Lady Roadrunners on Saturday will face the winner of the Galveston College/Tyler Junior College game played late Friday night. Game time for AC is 7:30 p.m. at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City.

The email address is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Angelina College second baseman Lace Tangianau throws over a Paris College runner after a force at second during Friday’s game. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Angelina College’s Bailey Frenzel (20) receives congratulations from head coach Brette Kohring following Frenzel’s first-inning homer in Friday’s game against Paris College. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Angelina College third baseman Alyssa Collazo throws across her body for an out at first during Friday’s game against Paris College. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Angelina College second baseman Lace Tangianau runs down a fly ball in short right field during Friday’s game against Paris College. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)
Teammates swarm Angelina College pitcher Mia Gilmore after Gilmore struck out the side to end Friday’s game against Paris College. The Lady Roadrunners edged the Lady Dragons 4-3 in eight innings in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament in Bossier City, La. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Garden Capital’s Tour of Home Gardens (Nacogdoches County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Date: May 20 – May 21, 2023

Location(s):
Bill Elliott
Charles and Sharon Bradberry
Cottage Wine Bar + Bistro – (936) 305-3021
Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden
Tim and Lisa Rodrigues

The Garden Capital of Texas will showcase some of its most beautifully landscaped gardens during the Tour of Home Gardens on

Saturday, May 20th 9 am – to 3 pm and Sunday, May 21st, 1 pm to 4 pm

The Tour of Home Gardens is a fundraiser supporting beautification projects throughout Nacogdoches. These efforts include planting more than 2,000 trees within public city spaces, allowing Nacogdoches to be designated as Tree City USA.

Tickets are $25 each (Cash or Check) and are available at: Charles Bright Visitor Center
These tours are self-guided. Online tickets can be redeemed at any of the home garden locations on the day of your selected tour:

Bill Elliott 4219 Raguet
Charles and Sharon Bradberry 3018 Skyline Drive
Tim and Lisa Rodrigues_3930 Sir Gawain
The Cottage Wine Bar 122 N Mound St,
SFA Ruby Mize Azalea Garden 2404 N University Drive

Organic Pest Control for the Home Gardener

By
Cary Sims
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The Angelina County Extension office in Lufkin will feature Jay White, owner and publisher of the Texas Gardener magazine, this Tuesday evening, May 16 to tackle the subject of organic pest control. Our local Extension office receives an unending stream of questions to identify pests and suggestions to get rid of them. Often enough, clients ask for organic pest control options.  And for years, I thought I had a good understanding of what folks meant when they spoke about organic pest control.

Presently, when someone says they want something to be “organic”, I’ll pause and ask them to define what that means for them. To date, I’ve heard and compiled five different answers for organic control.  There is a social-media home-remedy definition, a “my grandparents did it this way” reason, the absence of ANY pest control justification, a scientific definition including the element carbon explanation, and lastly, the legal definition.

Let’s look at it legally.  To be clear, if you sell any food product and want to label it Organic, you must first make an application with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  The TDA is an accredited Certifying Agent by the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.  ‘Organic’ is a labeling term that refers to an agricultural product produced in accordance with the Act and the regulations in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 National Organic Program, Part 205.2, Subpart A.

To be legally certified organic, a grower must comply with the rules and regulations, following a list of approved pesticides.  For my farm in Clawson, I’d have to submit my forms, pay $2,400.00, be inspected, and wait three years after not applying unapproved pesticides on my farm. Only then could I legally sell “organic produce.”

Now we all know there are scores of home gardeners who garden following organic inputs and haven’t gone through the legal processes.  To many, organic may be the most recent recipe they find on the internet.

There are so many “home remedies” circulating today that I don’t even know where to start.  Some favorites include the use of vinegar, tobacco, beer, urine, salt, and others.  Yes, there is truth and pest deterrence to each of these, but without an understanding of the rate of application and subsequent troubles, one could do more harm than good.

Let’s pick on vinegar.  Vinegar is the common name for acetic acid (CH3COOH).  We can all agree that applying acid to living tissues will cause damage.  It is realistic, then, to suppose the application of this household acid to weeds could kill them.

But the devil in is the details.  Research shows that the 5% vinegar from the grocery store isn’t a strong enough acid to do the job, yet concentrations from 10-20% provide an 80-100% control.  This higher concentration is not what you’ll find at your local supermarket.

And is that strong a product ‘safe’? Acetic acid stronger than 11% can cause burns upon skin contact.  Indeed, eye contact can result in severe burns and permanent corneal injury. Using a rate double or triple what is harmful to people increases the risk to the applicator. Imagine the damage from drifting acidic spray to other plants nearby and the impact on microbial life in the soil from over-application.

Others have explained to me that growing organic implies whatever was used in previous generations.  While grandparents may have certainly used some of the now-listed USDA-approved pesticides, there are some products grandpa once used that are no longer available.  They are no longer available because their residual was too long, or they harmed the environment.

As steeped in tradition as I am in many areas, just because something was an old method, doesn’t still mean it is the best today.  No matter how long you, your parents, or your grandparents have used Sevin dust, it still is not classified as an organic pesticide.

In college, I took a class in Organic Chemistry. According to my professor, and the rest of the scientific community, organic chemistry is a chemistry subdiscipline involving the study of the structure, properties, and reactions of compounds and materials which contain carbon atoms.  Following the scientific definition, almost every pesticide I can think of has carbon!  2,4-D, glyphosate, horticultural soaps, Malathion, diatomaceous earth, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) all contain carbon.  But… that definition only works if you follow a chemistry discipline that has little bearing on everyone’s interpretation of practiced organics.

To help local growers navigate the truths of safer pest control in the garden, the Angelina County Extension office is providing an Organic Pest Seminar on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 pm.  Our featured speaker is Jay White, owner, and publisher of Texas Gardener magazine. White is an avid gardener who grows vegetables, herbs, native and improved flowers, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, and native hardwoods on his two-acre Brenham property. He is a huge supporter of local produce grown in an ecologically responsible manner.

There is no fee for the program.

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