NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 will highlight a concert presented by the Symphony Orchestra at Stephen F. Austin State University at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus. Conducted by Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities at SFA, the Symphony Orchestra will also perform Franz Schubert’s “Rosamunde Overture” and Camille Saint-Saëns “La Muse et le Poete,” which will feature faculty members Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, violin, and Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello. Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.
Business Development Series – Small Business Success: Setting the Course for 2023 (Nac)
Business Development Series – Small Business Success: Setting the Course for 2023
- Small Business Success: Setting the Course for 2023
Our speakers will discuss some of the biggest challenges small business owners are facing in our current economy: cash flow, labor, and expenses. Attendees will gain an understanding of the importance of cash flow, learn about adapting to the current labor market, and gain tips on pivoting to reduce the cost of goods and controllable expenses. Tuesday, Feb. 28, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at the Chamber. Speakers include No cost to attend. Registration requested, click here.
DETCOG Accepting Pre-Applications for Rental Assistance Waiting List Lottery
The Deep East Texas Regional Housing Authority (DETRHA) will open its waiting list lottery for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and begin accepting pre-applications on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. CT through Friday, March 31,2023 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Pre-applications will be accepted online at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/TX2875 and will NOT be accepted at the Housing Authority’s office, nor by fax or mail.
The date and time the pre-application is submitted during the waiting list lottery opening period does not determine whether a pre-application will be selected for the waiting list. Pre-applications will be selected using a random lottery system. DETCOG will accept 1,000 applications during the waiting list lottery opening period. Applicants will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery and according to DETCOG preference(s). Applicants – will be notified of waiting list status by May 15, 2023 through their waitlistcheck.com login.
Preferences include: 1) Families who live or work in the DETCOG Regional Housing Authority service area, including: Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler Counties (Houston County does not include Houston, Texas nor any part of Harris County, Texas; Tyler County does not include Tyler, Texas nor any part of Smith County, Texas) – 100 points; 2) Veterans and veterans’ families – 5 points; 3) Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking referred by a partnering service agency or consortia, or a religious organization – 5 points; and 4) Families whose head, co-head or spouse is disabled – 5 points. Pre-applications will be accepted on-line at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/TX2875 and may be submitted anytime day or night during the waiting list lottery opening from any computer or mobile device with internet access. Any computer or mobile device with internet access can be used to complete the pre- application. Request for a reasonable accommodation can be made by calling our office at (936) 634-2247, Ext 5262. There is no cost to apply for housing and a credit report is not needed to apply.
Placement on the waiting list does not indicate that the family is, in fact, eligible for assistance. Receiving assistance is subject to eligibility requirements.
My five cents…
A weekly column from Sen. Robert Nichols
On February 15, 1876, Texas adopted the Constitution of 1876. The document is the sixth
constitution by which Texas has been governed since declaring independence from Mexico.
Despite having been amended more than 230 times, it remains the basic law of Texas today.
Here are five things happening around your state:
- Lt. Governor Patrick releases list of priority bills:
Earlier this week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick released a list of 30 pieces of legislation that he
would like to see passed this session. Included in the list are the state budget, electric grid
improvements, property tax relief, school safety, mental health care, and other priorities. These bills will have low bill numbers, which indicates their importance to the Lt. Governor. In his press release, the Lt. Governor made note that several policy initiatives are addressed in the budget and thus will not need a bill. However, those policies are still a priority, including border security funding. Most of these bills will be filed over the next few weeks and will move through the committee process. To see a full list, go to https://www.ltgov.texas.gov/2023/02/13/lt-gov-dan-patrick-announces-top-30-priorities-for-the-2023-legislative-session/. - Stephen F. Austin State University honored for centennial anniversary on Senate Floor:
Stephen F. Austin State University President Dr. Steve Westbrook and other SFA
respresentatives were honored on the Senate Floor this week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the university. SFA’s storied history began in 1923 when 270 students matriculated at the college, which was a teaching university at the time. The State Board of Regents selected Nacogdoches as the location of the new college because of its heritage as the oldest town in Texas. The homestead of Thomas J. Rusk, formerly owned by Sam Houston, was chosen as the site for the new college. Rusk and Houston had each served as the original two US Senators from Texas. Today, more than 11,000 students are enrolled at SFA and the university has expanded its offerings to more than 120 areas of study. Congratulations to everyone who has made SFA the outstanding university it has become! - Data privacy bill filed in the Senate: Last session, I authored Senate Bill 15 which prevented certain state agencies from selling personal data to companies that did not need that data. This session, my work continues in SB 821. This bill would require the Sunset Advisory Commission to evaluate whether or not a state agency is selling personal data, why they are selling the data, what statute authorizes them to sell the data, and to whom they are selling data. The Sunset Advisory Commission is tasked with evaluating the need for and performance of state agencies on a rolling basis. Each agency is required to go through the Sunset process typically every 12 years. That process is lengthy and closely examines an agency’s mission, purpose, programs, and performance and addresses any problems identified. This bill would add personal data privacy protections to the sunset process and leave a lasting legacy of data privacy.
- Angelina County approves $80 million grant for battery construction: The Angelina County Commissioner’s Court approved an $80 million grant from the Economic
Development Grant Program for a the construction of Martinez Energy Storage. The project is
intended to build a battery that will store excess energy that Angelina Country can use during peak consumption hours. Energy will be stored when there is excess power and will be
redistributed when it’s needed. The deal includes a 10-year tax abatement of 70 percent and the company will hire 50 temporary workers for the construction project. - State employee maternity leave bill referred to Senate Business and Commerce
Committee: This week, Senate Bill 222 was referred to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. This bill, which I authored, gives state employees a paid maternity leave benefit for four weeks after the birth of a child. If an employee adopts a child, has a child via surrogate, or their partner has a child, the benefit is two weeks of paid leave. It is important to support families during the transformative time of welcoming a child into their home. The state should lead on this issue and guarantee family leave for state employees. Now that the bill has been referred, it will get set for a hearing by the chair of the committee. Typically, committees start hearings on specific legislation in mid-March after the bill filing deadline.
Places To Skate In Lufkin Texas
Skating is a widely known hobby, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right places to go. Here are a few local places to try out your wheels!
The Skate Ranch in Lufkin is a great way to enjoy good music and meet people while skating! The Skate Ranch has skate rentals that you can use, or you bring your own personal skates. People meet up there every weekend and find new friends and socialize, they even have a homeschool skate every month! The Skate Ranch is located at 5012 Lotus Ln.
Kwanis Skate Park, located at 1406 Tulane Dr, is a skate park that’s been there for years. I see so many teenagers skating and having fun every time I pass by. There are multiple ramps you can skate on and much more!
One Delicious Healthy meal
Eating healthy can be very hard, but hopefully, I can make that a little easier with this recipe. Eating a home-cooked meal tastes ten times better than fast food, which is horrible for you. Although cooking can be challenging, I have put together this easy recipe. Hopefully, this will make eating healthy a whole lot easier for you and your family.
Air Fried Parmesan Chicken Served With Broccoli
What You Need:
- 1/3 cup of panko
- 1/4 cup of parmesan
- 4 tsp of olive oil
- 1/2 tsp of dried oregano
- salt
- pepper
- 2 small boneless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
- 1 and 1/2 TBSP of dijon mustard
- 2 cups of broccoli
Directions:
- Stir together the panko, Parmesan, 2 teaspoons of olive oil, oregano, a pinch of salt, and a couple of pinches of pepper in a small bowl.
- dry the chicken with some paper towels, then sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
- Brush both sides of the chicken with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the Dijon.
- Press the dijon-covered chicken into the panko-Parmesan mixture, making sure both sides are evenly coated.
- In a medium size bowl toss the broccoli with 2 tsp of olive oil, with salt and pepper to your liking, make sure all broccoli is evenly coated.
- Turn on your air fryer and pre-heat it to 375 degrees.
- Cook for 6 minutes or until brown on the top.
- Flip the chicken to the other side and place broccoli around the sides of the chicken.
- Air-fry until a thermometer inserted into the chicken is 160 degrees.
This whole meal takes about 30-45 minutes to make, plus an additional 10-minute prep time. This meal will serve two people. It is perfect for a dinner with a friend or a special someone you want to impress.
Kolby Ramsey Raises Broilers for the Angelina County Fair
Sixth grader Kolby Ramsey, 12, holds a broiler chick at the County Extension office on Feb. 10. She will be raising broilers to show at the Angelina County Fair on Tuesday March 21 at 6pm in the George H. Henderson Expo in Lufkin.
From left, Kolby Ramsey, 12, and Lane Ramsey, 9, pick out their broiler chicks at the County Extension office on Feb. 10 with help from their advisors, Tim and Debbie Beamon. The Ramseys are raising broilers to show at the Angelina County Fair on Tuesday March 21 at 6pm in the George H. Henderson Expo in Lufkin.
Kolby Ramsey is 12 years old and a 6th grader at Hudson Middle School and is raising broilers for the 2023 Angelina County Fair. She is the daughter of Caleb and Maegan Ramsey.
Kolby along with younger brother Lane excitedly picked up their broilers Feb. 10 at the Angelina County Extension office. Kolby’s mother, Maegan says she hopes their project for the county fair will help her children to learn good work ethic.
“Work ethic is so important and this is a great way to show them just what it means. We expect them to do the work. Yes, we are there to help and guide, but they have to get it done.” she said.
A “broiler” is a chicken bred specifically to grow muscle efficiently and to be eaten. Their genetics are very different from the egg producing breeds we have in the back-yard egg-laying flock. Raising broiler chickens is an excellent youth project for beginners to livestock exhibiting. Chickens are considerably easier to handle, require less space, and are less expensive than other species.
When asked why Kolby chose to raise broilers, she said she enjoys the project, “I picked this project at first because it was a good project to start with but now I really enjoy it.”
Her favorite part of the broiler show is judging, “I like being in the ring when the judge is moving us around. You never know where you may be placed. It’s exciting,” she said.
She said missing sleep is the hard part of the project, “The hardest part are the really early mornings to feed and check that everything is right with project. I like my sleep!”
Chickens are an excellent project for several reasons. Show birds can be raised in a backyard shed or a garage; they do not need a large amount of land. And broilers can often be raised in urban areas where larger animals would be impractical. In fact, it is recommended that broilers be raised in a good shelter to maximize growth and prevent attack by predators.
This is a short-term livestock project lasting only six weeks. The quick time frame of only 6 weeks is very typical of market conditions. On a commercial scale, it typically takes only 6-7 weeks to raise a broiler to market weight.
The broiler show certainly provides everyone an equal starting point on their way to the competition. All chicks that students receive for a show are provided by a single hatchery. These chicks are the same breed and hatched on the same day. The birds are wing banded and randomly assigned to each student. This removes all bias in the selection of chicks and their assignment to the participants.
A broiler chicken eats less than two pounds of feed for every pound of body weight gained. Therefore, a six-pound broiler requires only 12 pounds of feed to complete its 6 week grow-out cycle.
At the county fair, only the best 3 broilers are shown in competition by a student. The remainder of the birds never make it to the showgrounds.
In 2021 Kolby was awarded reserve champion roosters and she is hoping for grand champion this year.
For parents considering getting their kids to participate in the fair Maegan recommends it, “I would highly recommend getting involved in 4-H. Yes, it helps build work ethic, but it is also gives us great quality time with our kids,” she said.
This year’s broiler show at the Angelina County Fair is sponsored by Pilgrim’s Pride and will be held on Tuesday, March 21 starting at 6 pm in the main arena at the George H. Henderson Expo. The entire County Fair is from Monday, March 20 thru Saturday, March 25 concluding with the sale on Saturday evening. The auction will be Saturday evening in the main arena starting at 4 pm. For more information about the Angelina County Fair, go to angelinacountyfair.com.
Fast Facts to Stay Healthy This Flu Season
(StatePoint) December through March is peak influenza (flu) season. While common, flu is a potentially serious and highly contagious respiratory illness.
This winter, a new American Lung Association campaign funded by CLS Seqirus aims to educate Americans about the flu and steps they can take to protect themselves and others from severe flu illness. Here’s what to know:
• Who is impacted by flu? Flu can affect anyone, however, certain communities are at higher risk of severe illness and complications, such as those living with chronic medical conditions including chronic lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. During past flu seasons, approximately 90% of flu-related hospitalizations were among adults with at least one underlying medical condition. During the 2021-22 flu season, approximately 30% of hospitalizations were among adults with chronic lung disease. People from certain racial and ethnic minority groups are also at higher risk for being hospitalized with flu compared to non-Hispanic white adults.
• What will this year’s flu season look like? Flu activity was relatively low the last two flu seasons, but it causes a significant burden every winter. Seasonal influenza activity is already elevated and continues to increase across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as of early January, there have been at least 22 million illnesses and 230,000 hospitalizations.
• How can I protect myself? While covering your cough, washing your hands frequently and staying home when you’re sick can help stop the spread of flu, the very best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community is with vaccination. The flu shot is recommended on an annual basis for everyone 6 months of age and older and can be given at the same time as COVID-19 vaccination. Flu vaccination is especially important for people with chronic lung disease and other chronic health conditions. Speak with your healthcare provider to learn more about influenza and annual vaccination.
• When should I see a doctor? If you do get sick, call your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment — especially if you’re at high risk for complications. You should also consult your doctor if you have complications such as difficulty breathing, chest pains or a cough persisting for weeks or months after other symptoms go away.
To learn more, visit Lung.org/prevent-flu.
Take steps to protect yourself, your family and your community flu. Practice good health habits and get your annual vaccination as early as possible.
(Statepoint)
Visiting Sabine County
Sometimes, it can be boring to stay in the same area and do the same things day in and day out. If that is the case with how you are feeling lately, you do not have to worry anymore! Sabine county has plenty of places to go and see with friends or family.
Remembering Columbia Museum
On the first of February in 2011, the Patricia Huffman Smith NASA “Remembering Columbia” Museum opened in Hemphill, Texas to commemorate the Columbia STS-107 shuttle and crew that disintegrated over East Texas upon its re-entry to Kennedy Space Center on February 1, 2003. This is a great place to visit if you are interested in history. It would also be a perfect school field trip!
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Lake Sam Rayburn is the largest reservoir lying completely inside of Texas Boundaries! Sam Rayburn is one of the most popular bass fishing lakes, and is home to a variety of protected birds including the Bald Eagle. Plenty of people, whether they are local to Sabine County or not, love to go fishing there for competitions!
Toledo Bend Reservoir
The premiere attraction in Sabine County is Toledo Bend Reservoir. Situated between Texas and Louisiana, this lake on the Sabine River is the largest man-made body of water in Texas, and the fifth largest in the United States. There is plenty of room for a lot of people to hangout there with the shoreline being so vast. Come visit Toledo Bend to enjoy fishing, tournaments, boating, camping, hunting and much more!
Trail Between the Lakes
The Trail Between the Lakes is a 28-mile hiking trail extending from Lakeview Recreation Area on Toledo Bend Reservoir to Highway 96 near the easternmost part of Sam Rayburn Reservoir. This trail allows cycling and horseback riding! Be careful though, there are streams that this path crosses and there are typically no bridges, so be prepared for your feet to get a little wet! It is said that the best time to hike here is in the fall when all of the leaves are changing colors.
These four places are some of the most popular places to go in the Sabine County area, and even just in deep East Texas. There are plenty more places to visit like the Sabine National Forest, Red Hill Lake, Downtown Hemphill, and a few other areas!
How To Make A Photo Wall
Photo walls are the best way to show off your friends and family in a huge collage. I have photos on every single wall in my room, so I decided to show how I put my photos up.
First, get some tape and roll it around where the sticky side is facing outward. Then stick the desired amount on the back of the photo.
After you’ve got the tape on the photos, place them on any wall as straight as possible! I like to use sticky tack on the corners to hold down any flying ends that may make the photos look crooked.
You can buy custom photos at your local Walmart for 12 cents each, and sticky tack is common at your local craft store.
Decorating is a big part of my life and I enjoy every second of it. Decorating isn’t for everyone, but I know it can still be fun for a lot of people to decorate their house, room, and/or their desk!