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5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter

By
Statepoint
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(StatePoint) It’s that time of year: pumpkin spice is here and so are shorter days and cooler nights. Before nightfall comes too early, take advantage of the milder temps to prepare your home for winter. Here are a few easy, DIY tasks to check off your list.

  1. Close Up the Patio. It’s important to protect patio items from winter wear and tear so you can enjoy them as soon as the weather breaks in the spring.

When the weather in your area seems to be changing for good, clean outdoor furniture like tables, chairs and décor and protect them with a heavy-duty cover. If you don’t have interior storage, secure everything tightly so you don’t risk items tipping during a gusty winter storm. Clean the grill, remove and store the tank, and winterize outdoor hoses and faucets. Easy-to-install faucet covers can help prevent water damage and freezing pipes.

Also, don’t forget to plant your bulbs now so you’ll have flowers to welcome you when the warm weather hits.

  1. Secure Loose Shingles and Fix Broken Gutters. Assess your roof and gutters to ensure your home is safe from water damage and leaks this winter. If you suspect or discover a problem, even a small one, don’t wait to fix it. It will be even more difficult to repair after the roof has become snowy and icy.

If it’s not within budget, try a DIY fix with supplies you likely already have in your toolbox. The Original Duck Tape Brand Duct Tape is a classic tool for temporary repairs and is great for holding, seaming and sealing coverings over problematic areas until you can later fix the issue at hand.

  1. Prep A/C Units. Don’t overlook keeping your A/C unit clean. Most modern units are created to withstand extreme elements; however, keeping it free of buildup is key to maintaining it over time.

When it’s not in use over winter, clean the surfaces on and around the unit to keep it free from buildup of dander, leaves, acorns and pine needles. Next, using an air conditioner cover, securely protect your A/C unit from snow and ice, so that it’s still in its best working condition when you uncover it in the spring.

  1. Keep Cold Weather Out. Frigid temperatures draw attention to drafts coming into your home. While turning up the furnace helps, the constant escape of warm air leads to high heating costs.

Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors wisely. Many seals tend to freeze and crack, never really fixing the problem. However, Duck Brand Heavy-Duty Weatherstrip Seals are made with a durable, flexible material, creating a barrier against cold air throughout the winter. When spring arrives, the strip will work against dust, pollen and insects throughout the warmer months.

  1. Clean Windows. Prepare your home for short gloomy days and long nights by giving windows and blinds a deep clean. When these surfaces are clean, natural light can pour in during the day, helping combat winter blues.

For more tips, visit DuckBrand.com.

A little extra effort this fall can make your home more enjoyable all winter long.

Regulations and Certifications for Agricultural Production

By
Cary Sims
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As daunting as many perceive entry into an agricultural business to be, there are generally several entry-friendly options for small agricultural producers. Go to any local feed store and you can buy and plant as much seed and as many plants as the feed store has. Then go back next week and buy some more until you run out of land. There will be no paperwork or certifications for you to plow and plant.

You could also go to any livestock auction barn and buy numerous cattle or other livestock to put on your place. No auction barn is going to ask for paperwork which limits you to a certain number.

Honestly, entering this field is relatively painless. But when you are getting ready to sell, we may have to pay attention to some regulations. The regulations that are in place are there for a two main reasons. First, regulations protect the public that is consuming the food we produce. Second, it is protecting other agricultural producers (as well as the environment in general) from the unintentional spread of problems such as viruses, bacteria, molds, weeds, insects, mites, or other pests.

Starting with produce, you can sell as many fruits and vegetables as your heart desires… until you gross more than $25,000 a year. At that point, the Food Safety Modernization Act kicks in and requires you to take training in the Produce Safety Alliance. This certification allows you to go large scale on the production of fruits and vegetables while providing education to growers on food safety practices at the farm.

Let’s continue with ‘organic’ produce. Anyone can grow their food according to organic standards, but you want to sell livestock or any crop under the recognized “organic label” then you must complete the paperwork, send in your fee, and be inspected by a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) official to determine if you meet the US Department of Agriculture requirements as a Certified Organic Producer that can use that designation when selling agricultural products.

Continuing with plants, you will need to obtain one of the five licenses to grow and/ or sell any live plant. This is done to reduce the spread of insect and disease. It really does make sense then you think about it. If you sell a bushel of tomatoes, we fully expect every one of those tomatoes to go into someone’s kitchen to be cut, perhaps cooked, and then consumed. Any other part of the tomato that is not eaten will be thrown away. If a tomato had a disease or bug, there is simply no chance for it to get outside and start multiplying.

However, every grower of tomato transplants fully expects those plants to be taken home and put outside in a garden. If those young tomato plants harbored any pest, they would be spread to every buyer’s garden.

What about those backyard chickens and the eggs you are selling? So long as you are selling un-graded eggs from a personal flock to the end consumer, you don’t need a license. Now, if you wholesale eggs to someone who then sells them retail, or if you sell to a restaurant, or if you ‘grade’ your eggs in any

manner (think size, color, etc.) then the TDA will require you to complete a couple of forms to obtain a license.

In an effort to answer questions to common concerns regarding these and other production related regulations, the Angelina County Extension office will be holding a seminar on Regulations & Certifications Related to Agricultural Production at 6:30 pm this Tuesday, November 16. The program will cover eggs, produce, honey, organics, pesticides, hemp, seeds, weights and measures, and the Cottage Food Law.

There is no fee for the program. The Angelina County Extension Office is located at 2201 S. Medford Drive in Lufkin, between Café Del Rio and the Farmers Market

Lufkin Mayor Issues Proclamation Supporting TxDOT “End The Streak

By
Luis Ruperto
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City officials, law enforcement and TxDOT officials gathered Wednesday at Lufkin City Hall to hear Mayor Mark Hicks proclaim November as ‘End The Streak’ month in the city of Lufkin.

Mayor Hicks read the proclamation in support of the statewide TxDOT safety campaign that works to educate drivers in hopes of stopping the daily deaths on Texas roadways. The proclamation reads:

“Whereas, the aim of the End The Streak safety campaign is to promote pedestrian and driver safety; and

Whereas, the Texas Transportation Commissioners, the Texas Department of Transportation, the TxDOT Lufkin District and the City of Lufkin fully support the End The Streak campaign; and

Whereas, the last deathless day on Texas roadways was November 7th, 2000; and

Whereas, it is the desire and goal of the City of Lufkin and the Texas Department of Transportation to see the deaths on Texas roadways end; and

Whereas, we believe that together we can make a difference and reach the End The Streak goal through creating positive change in our community – one driver at a time;

Now, Therefore, I, Mark Hicks, Mayor of the City of Lufkin, on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2021 as End The Streak Month in the City of Lufkin, and encourage all citizens to observe November as End The Streak month by practicing safe driving and declare together that we will work to End The Streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.”

In addition to Mayor Hicks, the Lufkin Police Department, Angelina County Judge Don Lymbery, TxDOT officials, engineers and Lufkin District Engineer Kelly Morris were on hand to witness the proclamation.

TxDOT is proud of the City of Lufkin and the community support they have shown in the effort to stop the daily fatalities, to help educate drivers and enforce driving laws to keep the public safe.

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

Kensmil Powers ‘Jacks to Season-Opening Win

By
Luis Ruperto
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Nacogdoches, Texas – The SFA men’s basketball team opened the season with an 82-73 win over LSU-Alexandria behind a game-high 24 points for Gavin Kensmil Tuesday night in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

SFA jumped out an 11-5 lead at the 12:30 mark in the first half on a Sadairene Hall offensive rebound and putback. Three minutes later, a Kensmil layup gave the ‘Jacks an eight-point lead, 18-10. 

SFA extended the lead out to double digits when Roti Ware nailed a triple with 6:14 left before the break and saw the hit 11 points, 28-17,  a minute later when Nana Antwi-Boasiako hit a three. LSUA closed the half 17-10 run to cut the ‘Jacks margin down to 38-34 at the break.

Coming out of the half, SFA immediately regained control with a 12-point advantage, 48-36, following a Kensmil post move and bucket. SFA kept LSUA at bay over the remainder of the half leading by as many as 12 points, 52-40, before securing the 82-73 win.
 

NOTABLE STATS

Kensmil led all scorings with his 24 points after going 9-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. The senior big also recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.

Ware added 18 points and four assists, while Calvin Solomon chipped in 12 points and eight broads. Solomon was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor.

SFA outshot LSUA 51 percent to 45 percent from the floor and held a +11 rebounding advantage, 41-30.
 

UP NEXT

The ‘Jacks stay at home with Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m. before hosting South Dakota State as part of a three-game opening week home stand.

Governor Abbott Directs TEA To Investigate Criminal Activity Involving Pornography In Texas Public Schools

By
Luis Ruperto
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Governor Greg Abbott today sent a letter to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath directing the agency to investigate any criminal activity in public schools involving the availability of pornographic material that serves no educational purpose. The Governor also directed the agency to report any instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

This letter comes after the Governor directed TEA, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and the Texas State Board of Education to immediately develop statewide standards to ensure no child is exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content in a Texas public school yesterday. Governor Abbott previously called upon the Texas Association of School Boards to shield children from pornography and other inappropriate content, but the association abdicated their responsibility to address the issue.

“In Texas, it is illegal to provide pornography to anyone under the age of 18 according to
Section 43.24 of the Texas Penal Code,” reads the letter. “The fact that pornographic material that serves no educational purpose has been made available to students in Texas public schools is a clear violation of the law. That is why I am directing the Texas Education Agency to investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography. During this investigation, I ask the agency to refer any instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. We have a responsibility to ensure that no Texas child is exposed to pornography or obscene content while in a Texas public school, and your investigation will help accomplish this mission.”

Read the Governor’s letter.

SFA Music Prep students qualify for All-Region orchestras

By
Luis Ruperto
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Fifteen students in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music were selected for TMEA All-Region High School Orchestra and Middle School Orchestra.

Qualifying for the high school orchestra were Holden Kelly, Luke Scala, Haylee Harman, Sabrina Flores, McKenzie Ellison, Karys Alders, Kira Gallander, Josue Morales, Will Sams, Grace Hao and Mason Baker, who also earned principal bass position and advanced to the state audition.

Qualifying for the middle school orchestra were Jonah Raychev, who was selected concertmaster, and Gracie Lyn Harman and Maggie Scala. These students earned the top three spots in the middle school orchestra violin section.

For more information about Music Prep programs, contact Director Alba Madrid at madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or call (936) 468-1291. Parents can also find program information on Facebook and Instagram. The Music Prep House is located at 3028 Raguet St. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SFA offers Bridges to Business at Lone Star College-Atascocita Center

By
Luis Ruperto
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Students with little or no experience in the online learning environment will receive the coaching and mentorship needed to succeed outside the traditional setting of a brick-and-mortar campus through the Bridges to Business program offered by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business.

The three-course Bridges to Business sequence, a mix of online and in-person instruction meant to transition students from the classroom to a fully online business degree program, will be offered at the Atascocita Center, which is affiliated with the Kingwood campus of Lone Star College, in spring 2022.

The program is designed for working students who have already completed their associate’s degrees. Courses in business ethics, marketing and business law, led by a team of established SFA professors, will launch students into a structured yet flexible curriculum that accommodates work and family. 

“If you are a student who’s looking to enhance your value in the marketplace, this is the program for you,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the college of business. “Through Bridges to Business, you can improve opportunities for advancement with your current employer, or increase your chances of being hired by a company of your choice.”

The college offers online bachelor’s degrees in general business, sports business, and business communication and corporate education, as well as an MBA.

Graduates of the college have gone on to work for Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Merrill Lynch, the Houston Texans and Peloton Interactive, and some have become entrepreneurs in tech and accounting. Many have found great employment with excellent salaries throughout the state of Texas, Bisping said.

Students already enrolled in Rusche’s online degree programs speak to the accessibility of the faculty, the peer engagement during class, and the ability to shape their college experience around a life that in many instances includes family and career. 

“SFA’s online business program has enabled me to work toward completion of my degree at the university I always felt most connected to, even from afar,” said Rick Lowry, an online student based in The Woodlands. “The instructors are accessible, engaged and experienced. They want to help students succeed.”

Eligible students must have completed 15 transferable hours and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Apply at sfasu.edu/apply. For more information, contact cob@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-3101. Learn more about the Rusche College of Business and Bridges to Business. 

Governor Abbott Signs Senate Bill 8, Allocating Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funding

By
Luis Ruperto
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Governor Greg Abbott today signed Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) into law, allocating the nearly $16 billion federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding awarded to the State of Texas earlier this year.

SB 8 allocated critical funding for various state resources and programs, including: 

  • $7.2 billion to the Unemployment Compensation Fund to pay back outstanding advances and to bring the balance of the fund to the statutory floor
  • $500.475 million for broadband infrastructure
  • $150 million for the deployment and reliable operations of next generation 911 service including equipment and administration costs
  • $180 million for tourism, travel, and the hospitality industry recovery (for those who have not received federal aid)
  • $160 million to address the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) shortfall affecting Crime Victims Assistance grants
  • $2 billion for state and local hospital surge staffing, antibody therapeutic drugs, and the operation of regional antibody infusion centers
  • $378.3 million for critical staffing needs of frontline workers including recruitment and retention bonuses for nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, home health facilities, community attendants, and emergency medical services providers
  • $75 million to support rural hospitals that have been affected by COVID-19
  • $113 million to support the operations and expansion of mental health services for Texas children and families 
  • $35 million to upgrade all nine Texas State Veteran Homes, along with negative pressure COVID-19 wards, and mobile high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration units for the Homes
  • $95 million for supplemental funding to food banks in response to COVID-19

“Senate Bill 8 allocates federal funding to support Texans in need, including our veterans, rural communities, small businesses, and frontline workers,” said Governor Abbott. “Allocating these federal funds paves the way for a more prosperous, brighter future for all Texans, and I want to thank my partners in the Legislature for bringing this bill to my desk.”

Upon signing SB 8 into law, the Governor also provided a filing statement clarifying that the bill does not legally lead to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the State of Texas.

“Senate Bill No. 8 from the 87th Legislature, Third Called Session, appropriates funds made available to the State of Texas under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2,” reads the statement. “The Texas Attorney General has advised that the State’s receipt and use of these so-called ‘ARPA Funds’ does not legally lead to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in Texas. Based on this understanding, I signed and approved this bill.”

Marine Corps trombonist Ebo to perform on SFA jazz bands’ concert

By
Luis Ruperto
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The jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will welcome Marine Corps trombonist Gunnery Sgt. Ken Ebo to perform on a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The concert features the Swingin’ Axes, directed by Dr. Deb Scott; the Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas; and the Swingin’ Jacks, directed by Dr. Jake Walburn. The Axes will perform with trombonist Ebo, who is music placement director for the Marine Corps music program for the southwestern U.S. According to Scott, Ebo is returning to perform at SFA “by popular demand.”

“Ebo will join the Axes on several jazz band standards and finish with a bebop feature for all the trombones in the band that Ebo composed called ‘Trombonius Rex,’” Scott said.

The Swingin’ Axes will also perform a brand new composition by Gabe Musella that honors the memory of Scott’s former jazz band director and close friend Alan Shinn called “Here’s to You, Big Al.” They will also perform a hard-driving shuffle called “In a Big Way” by Dan Gailey and a fun, fast waltz by Chris Culver called “Berglike.”

Ebo is the former head of the Instrumental Division at the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach where he also served as trombone faculty member and jazz improvisation instructor. He is an active clinician, educator and performer and holds degrees from Indiana University and the University of South Carolina. He has played with numerous artists in both military and civilian settings, including Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra Jr., Johnny Mathis, Jon Faddis, Michael Mossman, and Tim Akers and the Smoking Section.

Ebo is a recipient of the Musician of the Year Award for the U.S. Marine Corps and has performed nationwide as the musical director and lead trombonist for the Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra. His compositions and arrangements have been featured as part of USMC national recruiting efforts and have been performed by numerous ensembles.

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.

Angelina County Lumber Company log car to be housed at acclaimed Southern Forest Heritage Museum

By
Luis Ruperto
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The Angelina County Lumber Company log car located outside of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Forestry Building will be transported Friday, Nov. 12, to the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, Louisiana. It will join other historic structures and machinery at the museum that has been recognized as the most complete historic sawmill complex in the Southern U.S. 

The Angelina County Lumber Company, active from 1890 to 1923, constructed a tram railroad along which log cars transported abundant loads of East Texas timber to local sawmills. For the past 50 years, the Angelina County Lumber Company log car accompanied a 36-ton Shay locomotive on the SFA campus highlighting the history of forestry in East Texas. 
 
In October, the Shay locomotive was transported to Harbor Springs, Michigan, where it will undergo much-needed renovations by the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society and its partners. Following restoration efforts, the locomotive will be displayed and introduce visitors to the contributions of Ephraim Shay, inventor of the Shay locomotive and longtime Harbor Springs resident. 

Although Dr. Hans Williams, dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, is saddened to see the historic relics leave campus, he emphasizes the transfer of ownership is the right thing to do.

“We don’t have the resources to properly take care of these pieces,” Williams said. “It would be irresponsible for us to leave them in a deteriorating state. We had to do something to save that history.”

The Southern Forest Heritage Museum and its research center develops, preserves and maintains a sprawling, historic sawmill complex while promoting and interpreting the importance of forests and the forest industry in the South. 

The community of Long Leaf was established by Crowell and Spencer Lumber Company, and in 2008, the museum complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

“There are very few sites like this anywhere in the United States,” said Everett Lueck, past president of the Southern Forest Heritage Museum and general manager of the museum’s railroad operations. 

The museum houses the world’s only remaining Clyde rehaul skidder. Historically, this towering piece of equipment pulled harvested logs to railroad tracks for loading on log cars. 

Additionally, the museum houses two of the six remaining McGiffert log loaders. The Angelina County Lumber Company log car will be displayed alongside these pieces of machinery.

“One McGiffert log loader is 90% restored, and once it is up and running, we will use the Angelina County Lumber Company log car to show how the loaders work,” Lueck said. “These loaders are from the same era as the log car, so it’s a perfect fit.”

Eventually, the museum hopes to raise funds to sandblast and repaint the log car.

Lueck said the addition of the log car will play an integral role in the museum’s ongoing efforts to share the story of forest heritage across the South. 

To learn more about the Southern Forest Heritage Museum, visit forestheritagemuseum.org.

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