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SFA’s Swingin’ Axes, Aces jazz bands to perform

By
Luis Ruperto
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The Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a variety of jazz styles when the student ensembles perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone at SFA, the Axes’ program will include a variety of styles including swing, funk and Latin music. Guest artist Adam Larson will be featured with the band. Larson, a saxophonist from New York and more recently Kansas City, has traveled the world playing jazz in such venues as the Bluenote, the Village Vanguard and many others. He has released five albums, including “Second City” from 2017, which was acclaimed by Down Beat and Jazziz magazines.

The band’s performance will feature songs by some of jazz’s most important composers including “Midnight Voyage” by Michael Brecker, arranged by Alan Baylock; “Go Go” by Bob Mintzer; “Mean What You Say” by Thad Jones; and “Bird Count” by Maria Schneider.

Directed by Dr. JD Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium at SFA, the Aces’ program will feature performances of “On Green Dolphin Street” arranged by Frank Mantooth, and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “No More Blues” with guest vocalist Autumn Mallard, sophomore Sound Recording Technology major from Mansfield.

The Axes will also be featured in the Piney Woods Fine Arts Association’s season and will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Crocket Civic Center. Larson will also join the band in that performance. For more information about the Crockett performance, visit pwfaa.org.

Tickets for the SFA concert 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.

SFA’s Stone Fort Museum announces 2021 Cum Concilio Club Heritage Preservation Award recipients

By
Luis Ruperto
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Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort Museum has named Sheryl and Steve Hartz, and the late Mable Ferguson Hall as the 2021 Cum Concilio Club Heritage Preservation Award recipients.

The museum’s biennial heritage preservation award was established in honor of the Cum Concilio Club’s dedication to the preservation of Nacogdoches’ cultural and historical landscape. The award recognizes a group or individual who has made significant contributions to the preservation of East Texas’ history and Nacogdoches’ heritage. 

“Preservation projects almost always involve an extraordinary amount of perseverance,” said Carolyn Spears, director of the Stone Fort Museum. “They are rarely singular dramatic events. Saving our shared cultural history takes time and long-term dedication. This year’s recipients exemplify the needed dedication and love of subject to make change.”

Sheryl and Steve Hartz

Local musicians and artists Sheryl and Steve Hartz were recognized by the Stone Fort Museum for significant contributions to the preservation of East Texas’ musical traditions and the rural mercantile experience.

Since 1978, the couple has managed their general store, instrument repair shop and local gathering place for musicians in downtown Nacogdoches. The General Mercantile and Old Time String Shop — with its iconic Coca-Cola mural on the eastern outside wall — celebrates rural traditions and offers residents and visitors to Nacogdoches an opportunity to experience a vanishing business model. 

“Steve and Sheryl Hartz have provided a visual anchor for the brick streets of Nacogdoches since Steve opened the Old Time String Shop, now the General Mercantile and Old Time String Shop,” said Charlie Jones, former SFA art professor and the couple’s longtime friend. “The shop has provided a gathering place for a Saturday afternoon ritual of acoustic music and stories. Folks from many walks of life, from a local Baptist preacher to a university dean to a mill worker, come together to share old-time country and bluegrass tunes.”

Steve has authored two books, “By the Muddy Angelina” and “Settlers of the Western Woods,” narrating the musical history of East Texas with essays and recordings. In 1998, he produced “Crooked Steep and Rocky,” an album of original bluegrass songs. Steve manufactures traditional flutes and banjos, and his research has led to reenactments of medicine shows.

Sheryl, an avid broom maker, learned the art as an apprentice to master craftsman Shawn Hoefer of the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Using a foot-activated broom machine called a kickwinder, Sheryl uses techniques popularized in the 1800s in her craft. 

Mable Ferguson Hall

Hall was “one of the ‘quiet leaders’ of the Nacogdoches community,” according to Jeri Mills, author of “African Americans in Nacogdoches County.”

“Mable often was the person who worked behind the scenes, making calls, doing research, gathering information and the data needed for a specific project,” Mills said. “If it meant driving to a nearby community, library or courthouse for needed resources, then Mable would make the journey.” 

Hall was born in Chireno and graduated from Chireno Colored High School. She later graduated from SFA and worked for 28 years as a social worker. In 1989, she married the Rev. Earl Hall and served as first lady of Bethlehem Missionary Church for 19 years. 

Hall returned to SFA’s School of Social Work for nine years after her retirement and spearheaded the project to restore Sand Hill Cemetery with the assistance of SFA’s 2009 Preserve America grant. 

Hall died in January 2021. Throughout her career, she worked with multiple boards, committees, families and friends to preserve local history throughout the area. At the time of her death, she served on the Nacogdoches County Historical Commission. 

Community Clean Up

By
Madi Stephens
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Angelina Beautiful/Clean & the City of Lufkin are partnering together for the first annual Community Cleanup Challenge on February 26th.
Nonprofits will compete head-to-head in a litter collection contest for a change at our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. Whoever collects the most litter, WINS!
1st place: $3,000
2nd place: $2,000
3rd place: $1,000
RULES:
– Only 501c3 nonprofits eligible to enter
– Only 10 teams are eligible to participate, and teams are limited to 15 volunteers
– Teams will draw for their assigned cleanup location
– Teams will be scored by an AB/C volunteer based off of how much material is collected. The top 3 teams that collect the most material will receive funds for their nonprofit organization!
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Emily Thornton at ethornton@lufkintexas.org. Our nonprofits are actively searching for volunteers and need your help!!
To register:
email ethornton@lufkintexas.org or call 936-632-5326

February Power Networking Breakfast

By
Madi Stephens
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Join us for the February Power Networking Breakfast at the Heart Institute of East Texas on Friday, February 25 at 8 AM at 310 Gaslight Blvd., Lufkin.
We will hear from Dr. Ravinder Bachireddy in a presentation titled “Building Healthy Communities: A Role for Community Leaders.”
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor – SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County and February Sponsor – The Heart Institute of East Texas.
Image courtesy of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce

SFA all Majors Career and Internship Fair

By
Madi Stephens
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The All Majors Career and Internship Fair | Spring 2022 is the perfect opportunity to find qualified students and alumni to help your business or organization. Registration price of $250 ($150 government/nonprofit rate) includes: 1 eight ft. table 2 chairs Light refreshments during the event 2 lunch vouchers 1 parking pass for the Student Center Parking Garage Additional lunch vouchers, parking passes and booth spaces are available for an extra fee. Please allow 24-48 business hours for the CCPD to review all career event registrations. For more information, contact the CCPD at ccpd@sfasu.edu or 936.468.3305.

For more information:

https://www.sfasu.edu/ccpd

https://business.nacogdoches.org/events/details/sfa-all-majors-career-and-internship-fair-spring-2022-55491

Photo from SFA Center for Career and Professional Development

 

Woodland Heights Medical Center Receives Level III NICU Designation

By
Jennifer Stevens
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Woodland Heights Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been designated as a Level 3 Neonatal Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The designation requires 24-hour, in-house coverage specialized personnel, including board-certified neonatologists available at all times.

A Level III NICU designation is the second-to-highest level of neonatal care and is a reflection of Woodland Heights’ ability to care for and treat critically ill newborns.

“Caring for our tiniest patients is a group effort and this designation is once again evidence of our commitment to providing quality care,” states Drew Emery, CEO. “This means our hospital provides Angelina County and the entire deep East Texas area with expert care for newborns who need highly specialized treatment.”

State law requires all NICUs to apply for neonatal level of care designations and undergo a rigorous evaluation and verification to ensure NICUs meet stringent clinical care guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Woodland Heights Medical Center established the first NICU in deep East Texas in 2013 and currently has a 15-bed unit, which serves the most critically ill and premature infants who require specialized care. The unit is equipped with intensive care nursery technology and is staffed by a compassionate team of medical professions which includes a 24-hour on call Neonatologist and 24-hour in-house Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. All local Obstetricians have privileges at the hospital, which gives families the choice of where their baby is born or admitted to the NICU.

“We are proud to offer such a high level of care for these patients so their family and support system can stay close to home while they are here getting stronger,” states Carla Turner, RN-MSN, WHMC director of Women’s Services & NICU. “Parents can trust that their babies are getting the best care in an atmosphere that promotes family-centered care.”

Woodland Heights is the ONLY Level III NICU in the deep East Texas area. For more information or to take a virtual tour of the Women’s Center at Woodland Heights, visit the Maternity Care Services page at WoodlandHeights.net.

Picture: Pictured along with Chief of Pediatrics Jeff Glass, M.D. and Chief of Neonatology Linda Chase, M.D. are members of the NICU team as well as hospital leadership.

About Woodland Heights Medical Center

Established in 1919, Woodland Heights Medical Center was Lufkin’s first hospital. Now, more than a century later, Woodland Heights is recognized throughout Deep East Texas as the leading provider of high quality, innovative health care services. Accommodating a wide range of clinical specialties, Woodland Heights has achieved excellence in key medical and surgical areas including cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine/rehabilitation, vascular surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. Woodland Heights also offers a full range of outpatient diagnostic services including advanced imaging, laboratory, outpatient surgery and emergency services. Through its Rehabilitation Center, Woodland Heights offers cardiac rehabilitation, stroke recovery and physical, occupational, speech and pelvic floor rehabilitation. The facility also houses the first Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the deep East Texas area. Woodland Heights is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff. Woodland Heights offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. Sign up at WoodlandHeights.net/enewsletter-sign-up. Combining modern facilities, leading technology, an exceptional staff and a commitment to the communities it serves, Woodland Heights Medical Center remains at the forefront of quality health care in Deep East Texas.

‘Teen Click It or Ticket’ Urges Buckling Up to Save a Life

By
Rhonda Oaks
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Campaign to make a stop at Central ISD

With vehicle crashes continuing to be the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, TxDOT’s “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign is urging teens across the state to buckle up in every seat for every ride. Students will see that message next Friday, Feb. 25, at Central ISD.

The Teen Click It or Ticket campaign is making a stop in the Lufkin District and will be available on the Central ISD campus from 2 pm to 6 pm. Students will see a large box truck with electronic messaging and will be able to scan a code on the side of the trailer pledging to wear a seatbelt.

“This effort is geared to reach our youngest drivers,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “We want teens to commit to wearing a seatbelt. TxDOT is committed to saving lives and ending the streak of daily deaths on our roadways. We believe reaching out to teens in this way could help them remember to buckle up.”

Many parents have had to endure the nightmare of losing their teens in car crashes in which they weren’t wearing their seat belts. A seat belt offers the best protection in a crash, but seat belt use remains low among teen drivers and passengers. In 2020, 46 percent (138 of 300) of teen drivers killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt.

“We want to remind teens to take responsibility not only for themselves but also for those who are riding in their vehicle. Everyone must buckle up,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “One simple click of a seat belt can save a life.” 

Throughout February, the “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign is highly visible, seeking to reach Texas teens with its seat belt safety message. The outreach includes TV, digital advertising, and social media. Additionally, an interactive element will be introduced as the campaign makes visits to 11 high school campuses across the state, such as Central ISD, with its “Teen Click It or Ticket” vehicle.

Teens will also be educated on Texas law which requires drivers and all passengers to wear a seat belt. Unbuckled drivers and passengers — even those in the back seat — can face fines and fees of up to $200.

“Teen Click It or Ticket” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of January 10, 2022

Pack the Palace: Roadrunners Looking to Fans to Pump Saturday’s Game vs. No. 21 Lee College

By
Gary Stallard
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The Angelina College Roadrunners have been one of the surprise stories in Region XIV this season. Not only was the team coming off a year-long layoff because of the pandemic, but the ‘Runners also fielded a brand-new roster – not to mention a new head coach with no coaching experience at the junior college level. The preseason prognosticators predicted the AC guys would finish near the bottom of the conference standings.

Their predictions were wrong, as head coach J.J. Montgomery, assistant coach Ra’Kim Hollis and the Roadrunners have shown themselves as one of the toughest outs in the league.

Errol White (10) of Angelina College hits a free throw during a recent game. The
Roadrunners host No. 21 Lee College in Saturday’s “Orange Out” game at Shands Gymnasium.
(Gary Stallard/AC Athletics Photo)
Angelina College head men’s basketball coach J.J. Montgomery instructs his team
during a timeout in a recent game. The Roadrunners host No. 21 Lee College in Saturday’s
“Orange Out” game at Shands Gymnasium. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics Photo)

Entering this Saturday’s matchup with No. 21 Lee College, the Roadrunners sport a surprising – at least according to those early predictions – record of 11-13, 7-8. AC has kept itself in the hunt for a berth in the upcoming conference tournament; the team sits just two games out of fourth place with four games remaining in the regular season.

This surprising group of ‘Runners boast several players in the mix of various league categories: Quandre Bullock is second in the league in scoring with a 17.5 points-per-game average. Errol White is third in the conference in rebounding at a 9.0 board-per-game clip; and Caleb Johnson is fourth in Region XIV in field-goal percentage, shooting at a 58.7 percent clip. 

To help pack Shands Gymnasium – “The Palace in the Pines” – Angelina College is hosting several events for Saturday’s “Orange Out” game. Attending fans are asked to wear orange in support of the Roadrunner. In addition, AC is encouraging all students from Angelina County school districts to attend while representing their schools. Students can sign in to earn points for their respective districts, and the school district with the largest percentage of its student body in attendance will win a scholarship for free books for giving away at respective Project Graduation/Celebration activities. All donations from Saturday’s game will be donated to the winning school district.

Also in attendance for Saturday’s big game will be representatives from the Angelina College Alumni and Friends Network. Members of the AFN will enjoy reserved seating, and the AFN team will be on-hand to offer information on the numerous incentives and benefits involved with both annual and lifetime memberships. 

There will be plenty of other activities during half time for those in attendance. 

Game time at Shands Gymnasium is 4 p.m. Admission to the game is free, and free live streaming will be available at http://angelinaathletics.com. 

Jayden West to Participate in “Reach for the Stars” Show at County Fair

By
Cary Sims
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14 year old Jayden West of Zavalla is one of the students participating in the Reach for the Stars show at the Angelina County Youth Fair in March. 

One of the best events you’ll see at the Angelina County Fair is called Reach for the Stars “Celebrating the Possibilities”. It will be a livestock show on Thursday, March 24 at 5 pm that will showcase the talents of special needs youth from across our county. Participants will be paired up with a 4-H or FFA buddy to exhibit livestock and learn that they can succeed in the show arena as well.

Jayden is the 14-year-old son of Jaime and Jason West, and has one sister, Jaylyn. He is a student at Zavalla Junior High where he is in the 8th grade Life Skills class. His mom, Jaime, says, “Jayden is very large for his age and often gets mistaken for being a full grown man.”

When asked what led them to participate in the show, “We were invited last year to watch Timothy Barge (friend of ours) and invited to the event to participate this year by Tara Boulware.” From this prior experience they decided to sign up. 

Outside of participating in the County Fair, Jayden says he really loves to cook, go fishing and draw. He also is very interested in animals at the County Fair.

Jayden lost his great grandfather, who was his best friend, in an accident in 2017. His mom said, “It took a lot of counseling for him to overcome the trauma of losing his best friend.”  Jaime said she wants Jayden to gain more courage and improved social skills as a result of participating in the show. 

The family lives on Lake Sam Rayburn and currently own a house that they rent out on Airbnb. Their dream is to make a permanent business out of renting out Airbnb’s and an RV park for Jayden to be hired as maintenance-man as a way to make a living when he is older.

Karen Stafford is one of the volunteers leading this show. Stafford says, “I had started seeing this type of show in other counties around Texas, and I’ve seen some special needs kids showing at the major stock shows, and I just felt like it was time to see if we could offer something like this in our county and our community.” 

“The support and enthusiasm have been overwhelmingly positive,” Stafford continues, “We have had so many people step forward wanting to volunteer in a number of ways, both adults and kids.  The response from the 4-H and FFA kids willing to donate their animals and be buddies for the exhibitors is very heartwarming.  We have such an amazing community that really wants to see this show be successful.”

Looking ahead, she states, “I hope these exhibitors will see that livestock showing really is achievable for them and maybe they will consider joining a 4-H or FFA group and becoming a part of the Angelina County Fair in the future.  Also, animals can have calming and therapeutic effects, and I’ve seen what it can do for kids with different ranges of disabilities.  These livestock animals might be what a kid needs, but they just might not know it yet.”

Registration for the Reach for the Stars show is available online at AngelinaCountyFair.com. This is an opportunity for special needs children in grades 3 – 12. The event is free but you must pre-register by March 18th at the website under the “contest tab”.  

The public is invited to see the Reach for the Stars show at 5pm on Thursday, March 24 in the main arena of the EXPO in Lufkin.

Cary Sims is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Angelina County. His email address is cw-sims@tamu.edu.     

The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.

Lady Roadrunners Upset No. 7 Tyler

By
Gary Stallard
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AC with Fourth Straight Win in Conference Play

Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunners have put together quite a four-game winning streak to move upward in the conference standings, with Wednesday’s win over No. 7 Tyler Junior College the latest step on the ladder.

Just four days after knocking off No. 12 Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, the Lady ‘Runners took a convincing 73-57 win over the Lady Apaches Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium.

AC battled back from a 21-10 deficit in the second quarter, reeling off a 16-2 run to take the lead momentarily. The teams ended the first half tied at 27-27.

With no more than a bucket separating them throughout most of the third period, the game turned in AC’s favor for good when the Lady Roadrunners launched another scoring run, this a 12-1 surge that essentially sealed the win.

While the team’s scoring was balanced overall, the defensive play proved crucial against a high-scoring Lady Apache team. AC forced 22 Tyler turnovers, converting those into 27 points.

Angelina College’s Michelle Smith (10) draws contact from a Tyler Junior College defender during Wednesday’s game. The Lady Roadrunners pulled off a 73-57 upset over the No. 7 Lady Apaches at Shands Gymnasium. (Emilie Doerksen/AC Athletics photo)
Derrica Gilbert (23) of Angelina College puts up a shot around a Tyler Junior College defender during Wednesday’s game. The Lady Roadrunners pulled off a 73-57 upset over the No. 7 Lady Apaches at Shands Gymnasium. (Emilie Doerksen/AC Athletics photo)

AC’s Lovietta “Pinky” Walker put together a double-double – her fifth of the season – finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Zaraya March scored 15 points and pulled down eight boards; Jakayla Parks contributed 14 points; and Derrica Gilbert just missed out on a double-double of her own with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Nadechika Laccen led Tyler with 20 points.

The Lady Roadrunners (19-7, 9-6) travel to Brenham on Saturday to face Blinn College in a game scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

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

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