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GOLD STANDARD

By
Gary Stallard
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BOM Bank of Lufkin Joins AC Athletics as Sponsor

The Bank of Montgomery first opened in Montgomery, Louisiana way back in 1903. Not until recently did BOM Bank make its appearance in Lufkin – just the second BOM Bank branch in Texas – and the group wasted no time immersing itself in its new community.

            On Monday, representatives from BOM Bank and Angelina College met inside Shands Gymnasium, where bank Senior Vice President Caleb Shaver presented a check to AC officials representing membership as a Gold Sponsor for AC Athletics programs.

            Shaver said the membership simply is the bank’s effort to support its new neighbors.

            “It (the sponsorship) means a lot,” Shaver said. “We’re a community-friendly bank, and this is our first step in kind of getting initiated here in Lufkin and Angelina College. We’re a new branch here, just the second branch of our bank in Lufkin, and we’re very excited. It’s our first partnership in Lufkin, and we’re happy to help any way we can.”

            As for his group’s involvement in Roadrunner events, Shaver said there’s no doubt there’s be some BOM Bank employees donning blue and orange in the near future.

            “We’ll be here,” Shaver said. “A lot of our employees are sports fans, so we’ll definitely be involved.”

November First Friday Luncheon + Salute to Healthcare

By
Luis Ruperto
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The Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce announces that State Representative Trent Ashby will be the featured speaker at the November First Friday Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 5 at Crown Colony Country Club at noon.

“After spending most of the year in Austin, and having just recently returned home, I’m excited to share some of the highlights of this year’s regular and special sessions with attendees of the November First Friday Luncheon,” Ashby said. “From the pandemic to Winter Storm Uri, and from redistricting changes to an upcoming effort to raise the homestead exemption in Texas, I’ll focus on those issues that directly impact the citizens of Lufkin and Angelina County.”

The monthly luncheon will also feature the Salute to Healthcare Award Presentation. The following awards will be given to select honorees in the following categories: Nurse of the Year, Healthcare Professional of the Year, Individual of Merit and Lifetime Achievement Award. The award presentation is typically held as a banquet presentation; however, with the COVID-19 Pandemic still ongoing, the decision was made to combine the presentation with the First Friday Luncheon.

The cost to attend the First Friday Luncheon is $15 for Chamber Investors and $20 for Non-Investors. Attendees can register at LufkinTexas.org, email RSVP@LufkinTexas.org, or call 936-634-6644. Register before 5 PM Thursday for a chance to win a $100 at the luncheon.

The November First Friday Luncheon and Salute to Healthcare Award Presentation is made possible by the following sponsors:

  • First Friday Luncheon Presenting Sponsor – Lufkin Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
  • First Friday Gold Sponsor – Etech
  • Salute to Healthcare Presenting Sponsor – St. Luke’s Health Memorial
  • Salute to Healthcare Silver Sponsors – Pinecrest Retirement Community, Woodland Heights Medical Center
  • $100 Drawing Sponsor – SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County.

Houston Symphony Orchestra’s Kesselman, Mo to perform at SFA

By
Luis Ruperto
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Robin Kesselman, principal bass with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and colleague Boson Mo, violin, Houston Symphony Orchestra, will collaborate to present a recital at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the Music Recital Hall, Room 160, in Wright Music Building on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Noise is Back in Town

By
Gary Stallard
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AC Basketball Teams Open Seasons Starting Monday

The “Palace in the Pines” is about to start rocking again.

            For 20 long months, there have been no Angelina College basketball teams in game action inside AC’s Shands Gymnasium. The last time either the Lady Roadrunner or Roadrunners played an actual game there was in February of 2020, just before the pandemic shut down the following season.

            Starting Monday, the teams – and the noise – are back.

            The Roadrunners tip off the regular season Monday night against the East Texas Flight, and will play again on Wednesday against the Houston Hurricane. Monday’s game might carry slightly more excitement for the men: It will mark the debut of new head coach J.J. Montgomery, who’s highly familiar with the confines of Shands Gym after spending two years as a Roadrunner – and leaving as the program’s all-time leading scorer. Montgomery and assistant coach Rakim Hollis have assembled a very young but highly athletic squad, and early indications are the team is going to surprise any opponents who take them lightly.

            The Roadrunners made some strong showing against more established teams throughout the scrimmage season, leaving Montgomery to say, “We’re going to be better than a lot of people think.”

            “We’re not a big team, so obviously we’re going to be playing some small-ball, but our guys are very quick and athletic, so we’ll try to use that to our advantage,” Montgomery said at the Region XIV Media Day.

            Lady Roadrunner head coach Byron Coleman will open his 17th season as head coach when his team tips off on Tuesday night against Grayson College. Like the men’s team, the Lady Roadrunners will field a roster of new faces – save for the return of two key players from Coleman’s 2019-2020 squad. Lovietta “Pinky” Walker and Derrica Gilbert have returned to AC for their sophomore campaigns, and both played key roles in the team’s tournament run in 2020.

            Coleman has lauded the two players for their leadership in assembling his new group, and he’s also praised some of the experienced transfers along with some very hungry freshmen. Like Montgomery, Coleman believes his team is going to provide plenty of surprises throughout the new season.

            “It’s been a different year for us,” Coleman said. “We’ve got nobody back, so we’re starting over. We have some JUCO transfers we know are going to help us.

            “But we’ve got plenty of kids who can play this game. I’m excited to see what they can do.”

            The Roadrunners tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Monday and at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

            The Lady Roadrunners’ game against Grayson College on Tuesday is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.

            All games will be live streamed. Fans can watch by clicking the provided link at angelinaathletics.com.

GEARING UP

By
Gary Stallard
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No. 14 Roadrunner Soccer Team Opens Post-Season on Saturday

For most of the season, the Angelina College men’s soccer team has been embedded within the top 20 in the national rankings, finishing at No. 14 in Monday’s final regular-season polls.

            The Roadrunners have racked up a program-high 12 wins against just three losses, and they’ve outscored opponents by a 40-25 margin.

            Now comes the hard part.

            AC’s men will open post-season play on Saturday – the first time an AC men’s soccer team has hosted a playoff match – in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament. Saturday’s first-round opponent will be the Eagles from Northeast Texas Community College, a team the ‘Runners swept in the season series, with both wins coming by identical 4-1 final scores.

            Leading the AC charge will be freshman Juan Lopez, who leads the team with 13 goals scored. In a testament to the team’s balance, 12 other Roadrunners have found the nets throughout the season, with Andre Aguirre tallying four and Jamie Rinquest three.

            And as proof of the team’s defensive prowess, the ‘Runners have not allowed more than three goals in a match all season. Goalkeepers Jorge Gonzalez and Uche Santschi have teamed up to keep opposing scorers’ numbers low, with big help from a strong defensive presence.

            Overall, the team’s combination of speed and depth has been the key. Head coach Nataki Stewart keeps a steady rotation of fresh players on the pitch, and their quickness has been a factor in wearing down opponents over the full 90 minutes.

            NTCC’s Eagles (4-11) have reeled off three straight wins, including a 2-1 win on Saturday over previously ranked Coastal Bend Community College.

            Saturday’s match between the Roadrunners and Eagles will kick off at 6 p.m. at Jase Magers Field on the Lufkin High School campus.

Simple Tips to Adjust to The Time Change

By
Luis Ruperto
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Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends November 7, and if you are already dreading the adjustment, you are not alone. The physical and mental effects are real, and many people undergo mood shifts, fatigue and stress as their bodies adjust. To “fall back” this fall stress-free, try these techniques:

• Adjust slowly: Rather than wait until DST ends to shift your sleep schedule by a full hour all at once, start to adjust incrementally in 10 to 15 minute segments over the course of four to six days. This method will help you sleep more soundly and be less tired. If possible, adjust your meal times accordingly as well. For an easy transition, get the entire household in on the evolving schedule, including children and pets.

• Get a great timepiece: The simplicity of having your watch adjust automatically to the correct time will help ensure you are awake and where you need to be in the days ahead. To that end, consider updating your timepiece to one that’s Bluetooth-enabled. Those in the Edifice lineup are especially useful for travelers and those who work with people around the world, as they analyze current time and positioning data and reset automatically four times a day to always display the accurate time in your location, as well as locations globally. You might also consider a watch with Multi-Band 6 technology. This useful tech feature of many Casio and G-Shock timepieces synchronizes with atomic clocks — the most accurate form of timekeeping in existence — by receiving information from radio waves.

• Seek sunlight: With the sun setting at an earlier hour, you may find yourself in the dark as your work day ends. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, which is vital to your health. It also boosts happiness hormones to help beat depression and stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder. If possible, take a walk midday or sit near a window at lunch to ensure you get a daily dose of sun exposure each day.

• Create a routine: You can avoid the pitfalls of fatigue that many experience when DST ends by carving out an evening routine that prepares your body for bedtime. Whether it’s a half an hour of screen-free reading, meditation, journaling or enjoying a cup of herbal, caffeine-free tea, such rituals can help signal the body and mind that it’s time for sleep. Likewise, a morning routine — such as performing a set of dynamic stretches, jogging or eating a protein-rich breakfast, can energize you for the day ahead.

While time changes are never fun, you can help ease the transition with new habits and innovative tech tools.

Calling to teach becomes career focus for SFA student

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

It was inevitable that José Rodrigo Uresti would become a teacher. As a child, he sat at a little desk he received for Christmas, where he pretended to teach his younger sister and cousin about the intricacies of math and history, and later graded the papers he assigned.

Now enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University’s deaf and hard of hearing educator preparation program, Uresti, who is deaf, is taking the steps to make his calling a career. His goal is to become a U.S. government teacher for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. He transferred to SFA in spring 2021 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in deaf education. 

“My ultimate goal is for all students who are deaf and hard of hearing to have a teacher who is a role model for them, who understands deaf culture, who communicates in American Sign Language and shows them that a deaf person is able to do anything while serving and representing the deaf community, and who shows them that every community can be united,” Uresti said. 

A native of McAllen near the Texas and Mexico border, Uresti transferred to SFA instead of other institutions closer to the Rio Grande Valley because it is the only public university in Texas offering an undergraduate degree in deaf and hard of hearing education. The program equips candidates to teach students who are deaf and hard of hearing in prekindergarten through 12th grade settings.  

“Their philosophy is for us to be ready to serve, educate and advocate for students who are deaf and hard of hearing; to ensure we are the best candidates to teach every student; to make sure their needs are met; to serve the diversity of all students and to be as inclusive as possible,” Uresti said. 

The program offers coursework in ASL, as well as courses specific to the unique learning needs of students who are deaf and hard of hearing.

“SFA’s deaf education program has a 100% employment rate upon graduation,” said Dr. Lindsey Kennon, SFA assistant professor in the deaf and hard of hearing educator preparation program. “Deaf education is a high-needs teaching field, which means there are currently more vacancies than we can fill in Texas.”

Uresti’s interest in teaching government developed early in life. His father worked in municipal government for 15 years, which sparked an interest. He also credits U.S. President Joe Biden and Jim Darling, former mayor of McAllen, as influences, saying, “They are the most considerate influences because of how they demonstrate tireless service for citizens across their communities.”

Uresti’s passion for government led him to Washington D.C., where he served for three months as a congressional intern for Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, representative of the 15th Congressional District of Texas. During the internship, Uresti visited the U.S. Capitol and conversed with fellow interns about politics and matters regarding the deaf and hard of hearing community.

“I want to share my internship experience with my future students and tell them what I did and the functions of the governmental process — how it operates within the legislative, executive and judicial branches,” Uresti said. “I want to inspire them with firsthand accounts of the reality of our country’s government.”

Uresti plans to graduate from SFA in spring 2023 and said he’ll likely continue his studies, working toward a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in public administration. In addition to teaching public school, he also desires to serve on the McAllen City Council.

Service-learning project delivers ideas to help those in SFA community

By
Luis Ruperto
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0

Interior design and construction management students in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Human Sciences participated in the Make a Difference Charrette, a service-learning project, to present ideas and projects that could make a difference to those in the SFA community.  

Approximately 75 students comprising 18 groups were involved in the project. The groups included interior design and construction management students working together. Five of the groups were named finalists by their peers and presented their projects Friday before a group of judges on the SFA campus. 

“I think the charrette made the students think outside the box a little bit and helped them learn how to work with students from other disciplines,” said Sally Swearingen, SFA associate professor of interior design and construction management. 

Following an hour of presentations, judges deemed the group that included Andre Gagnon, Halie Gross, Julie Swinney and Maverick Graham as the winner for their project, Balanced Meal — a basket to help those with disabilities transport their meals to their residence hall. Made by using a 3D printer, the basket contains space for a to-go box and cup holder that accommodates different beverage sizes. It easily folds for storage. The group received $200 courtesy of Johnson Furniture. 

“The project was important because it gave us the opportunity to help those with disabilities in our community,” Graham said. 

The project finalists included:

The Umbrella Holster
The umbrella holster is the brainchild of students Bryce Todd, Kailey Wolf, Kristen Sprott and Victoria Bounds. The mounting bracket holds an umbrella on an outdoor bench or chair to provide shade and help protect those around campus from the sun and rain.  

Try Trivia While You Wait
This interactive trivia game idea was created by Adrian Bocanegra, Clayton Eggleston, Sarah Krejci and Hannah Scott. It is designed to reduce boredom for those standing in long lines. 

Innovated Stall Hook
The innovated stall hook, by Andrea Rico, Shea Davis, Hunter Rowland and Genesis Trejo, is a redesigned take on the hook often found on the inside of bathroom stall doors. This project involves a notch that will hold a phone, wallet, purse or other personal items, as well as hooks to hang keys or small articles of clothing. 

ADA Visibility Kit
The ADA visibility kit was designed by Julian Villegas, Karla Salinas, Julie Duzich, Jasmine Benton and Whitney Collins. It comprises redesigned and colorful stickers, bracelets, placards and decals to assist those with disabilities. 

“I was very impressed with the thought the students put into these projects,” said event judge Nathan Wicker, senior editorial specialist in the Division of University Marketing Communications at SFA. “Selecting the winner was difficult because each project had merit and could benefit the SFA community. It was fun to see the students’ excitement during their presentations.”

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

By
Luis Ruperto
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Making Christmas Dreams a Reality

The Angel Tree Program, along with The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign, is one of The Salvation Army’s best-known Christmas efforts. More than 100,000 children across Texas will experience the joy of opening presents on Christmas morning thanks to generous donors and the help of The Salvation Army. The Kick off for Angel Tree will be November 1st at 10:00 am, located at 541 S. Timberland.

“The Angel Tree program provides toys and clothing to children, seniors, and families who might be struggling to afford Christmas gifts this year. As we continue to navigate the lingering pandemic, families are still putting their lives back together and trying to make ends meet,” said Captain Jenifer Phillips of The Salvation Army. “Angels are available for adoption by community members and businesses, who in a small way will deliver the magic and message of Christmas to those in need.”

The Salvation Army Angel Trees are located at Lufkin Mall, Walmart, South Side Bank, Belk, Hobby Lobby, Austin Bank, Olive Garden, Old Navy, CHI. The trees are decorated with paper angels, each representing a child or senior who – without this program – may not receive a gift at Christmas. “We are forever grateful for the generous support of our community and local businesses that work alongside The Salvation Army to provide a joyous Christmas to those in need,” said Captain Jenifer Phillips.

Angels will be available for adoption throughout the months of November and December to be return December 13th 2021. Last year, 600 angels were available for adoption in Lufkin, and this year we expect to have over 650 children and seniors enrolled in the program from Angelina County. Gift distribution will take place at Civic Center, from 12/21. Volunteers are needed to help sort and pass out the items to families who will come to collect them on distribution day.

“Last year, there was a brand-new way to support The Salvation Army Angel Tree through Walmart Registry for Good,” said Captain Jenifer Phillips. “Walmart has partnered with The Salvation Army to make it possible for donors to purchase needed items online that will be delivered directly to The Salvation Army. You can search for The Salvation Army Lufkin at www.walmartangeltree.com and order items today that will benefit local families.”

For more information about adopting an Angel or current volunteer opportunities, please call The Salvation Army at 936-634-5132 or visit us at 412 S. 3rd St. Lufkin 75901. Visit www.salvationarmytexas.org/lufkin to learn how you can give or get involved this holiday season.

SECOND SEASON

By
Gary Stallard
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No. 16 Lady Roadrunners Set to Host Playoff Opener

Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunner soccer team, ranked No. 16 in the final regular-season polls released on Monday, are about to embark on a journey to previously unexplored territory.

            The Lady ‘Runners are hosting a conference tournament playoff game for the first time in the program’s brief history.

            AC’s ladies on Thursday will host Jacksonville College in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament. After finishing the regular season with a record of 10-4 – good enough for second place in the conference standings – the Lady Roadrunners earned the right to host the first-round match.

            AC will face Jacksonville College, a team with which the Lady ‘Runners earned a regular-season split. The Lady Roadrunners earned a 3-1 win at home on August 28 behind goals from Emilie Dueck, Liliane Clase and Camila Montero. The Lady Jaguars then shut out the Lady Roadrunners 1-0 on Oct. 2 in Jacksonville.

            Since then, the Lady Roadrunners have won five of six matches, falling only to No. 1-ranked Tyler Junior College. AC has outscored opponents 20-3 in that stretch, with the defense shutting out the opposition in all five of the wins. Goalkeeper Emily Quintanilla is ranked second in the conference in save percentage at .800, and the back line has helped hold opponents to just 12 goals over 14 matches.

In addition, a number of Lady Roadrunners are among league leaders in goals scored, including Dueck with eight and Montero and Tatyanna Guzman with six each.

Thursday’s tournament match against Jacksonville College will kick off at 6 p.m. at Jase Magers Field on the Lufkin High School campus.

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