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Governor Abbott Lifts Mask Mandate, Opens Texas 100 Percent

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order (GA-34) lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent. The Governor made the announcement at Montelongo’s Mexican Restaurant in Lubbock in an address to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. 

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”

During his remarks, the Governor discussed the incredible advancements that Texas has made that allow the state to open fully and lift the mask mandate—noting the rapid increase of vaccines. Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans, and the state is now administering almost one million shots each week. By next Wednesday, about 7 million shots will have been administered in Texas and over half of seniors in Texas will have received a vaccine shot. By the end of March, every senior who wants a vaccine should be able to get one. The vaccine supply continues to increase so rapidly that more and more Texans will soon be eligible to receive a vaccine.

The Governor noted that Texas has a surplus of personal protective equipment and can perform over 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day. The state has invested in a variety of anti-body therapeutic drugs that have kept thousands of Texans out of hospitals. Texans have also adopted daily habits that reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection. More than 2.5 million Texans who were lab confirmed for COVID-19 have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, and experts note the total number of Texans who have recovered from COVID-19 is likely 4-5 times that amount. The number of active COVID-19 cases is the lowest since November—meaning more Texans are recovering from COVID-19 than contracting it.

This executive order rescinds most of the Governor’s earlier executive orders related to COVID-19. Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type may open to 100% capacity. Additionally, this order ends the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion. 

If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas get above 15% of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, a County Judge in that region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies. However, County Judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor may any penalties be imposed for failing to wear a face mask. If restrictions are imposed at a County level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50% for any type of entity. 

View the Governor’s executive order. 

Grant Writing Course Registration Ending Soon

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The Deep East Texas Council of Governments has teamed up with Grant Writing USA to sponsor workshops on Grant Writing and Administration.

The two-day Grant Writing workshop will be focused on finding grants and writing winning grant proposals. Beginning and experienced grant writers are encouraged to attend. It will take place March 9th and 10th from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Grant Writing USA is offering a special tuition rate of $425, a $30 discount off full price, when the code “Friends” is entered at registration. The fee includes two days of instruction, as well as downloadable PDFs of class materials.

These workshops will be for people that are wanting to learn how to find and write proposals for grants, as well as people that are wanting to manage and stay in compliance with grants that they have already received. Due to COVID-19, both workshops will be held in a virtual, Zoom format.

The Grant Management workshop focuses on managing grants that have already been received and staying in compliance with pre-COVID and new grant management requirements. It is a two-day class that is suitable for both beginning grant administrators and experienced grant administrators. This workshop will take place on March 30th and 31st from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Grant Writing USA is offering a special tuition rate of $565, a $30 discount off full price, when the code “Friends” is entered at registration. As with the Grant Writing course, the fee includes two days of instruction, as well as downloadable PDFs of class materials.

Register to attend both classes and receive $70 off your combined tuition. Groups of 5 or more receive a $50 discount per person.

If, for some reason, registrants can’t attend the Zoom classes on the dates mentioned above, they will still have access to on-demand replays for 30 days after the classes – grant writing through April 9, 2021, grant management through April 30, 2021.

For more information and to get registered for one or both workshops, visit: GrantWritingUSA.com. Registration links can also be found on the DETCOG website, detcog.gov.

INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES PLANNED IN DIBOLL

By
Rhonda Oaks
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Motorists will experience intermittent lane closures in Diboll beginning Wednesday, March 3 through the weekend as concrete bridge beams are delivered to the Diboll Relief Route project site.

Closures will occur on FM 1818 at Hackberry Street as beams are delivered. The closures will be as beams arrive and will be necessary as trucks turn from FM 1818 to Hackberry Street onto the project site. Work for the coming week will also include work on both northbound and southbound bridges on the south side of Diboll near US 59. Bridge work on the project site is also being conducted south of Mockingbird Street. Crews are installing drainage structures, grading subgrade for treatment and are continuing excavation and embankment work throughout the project.

“The Diboll Relief Route is progressing well,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer. “These intermittent lane closures should be expected as we continue with the construction of the new freeway and bridges are constructed. With FM 1818 being a two-lane roadway, it is necessary to adjust traffic as these trucks make the turn onto Mockingbird Street. We want everyone to stay alert if they drive through the area as these beams are delivered.”

The Diboll Relief Route is an 8-mile construction project that began in April 2020, and is on schedule to be completed in 2025, weather permitting. In the past year, 30-percent of the earthwork has been completed and beams have been set on one bridge, with beams on four additional bridges to be set, including the beams scheduled for placement on Mockingbird Street this week.

Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructures, a global company with corporate headquarters located in Spain, is serving as contractor for the $140.1 million construction project. The project consists of the construction of a new freeway location on US 59 in Angelina County, from FM 2108 to 1.1 mile south of White Oak Creek. Work will include construction of the new freeway, grading, structures, concrete pavement and freeway signage.

Motorists should continue to stay alert for heavy trucks and machinery entering and exiting the project and workers who are working nearby US 59. Reduce speed and travel the suggested work zone speed limit. Traffic fines double when workers are present.

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

Getting More Movement Throughout the Day

By
Statepoint
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Working or learning from home? It’s more important than ever to ensure you move throughout the day. Doing so will help keep your mind and body healthy and agile. Here are a few tips to move more throughout the day.

• Take designated breaks: While your workplace likely afforded you regular opportunities to move around, such as getting up to speak to a colleague or attend a meeting, home workspaces often involve a lot less natural movement. Set a timer for regular intervals. Every time you hear the beep, stretch, move about or take a walk to the kitchen for a glass of water. You’ll be giving your eyes a much needed break too. If possible, consider even building a midday walk or jog around the neighborhood into your schedule.

• Track your movement: Wearable tech can help you stay accountable throughout the day. The timepieces in the G-SHOCK line-up feature step trackers and other cool heart smart health and fitness functions that can help you enhance your workout. In addition to counting steps, the GBD800-1B for men and the GMDB800-1 for women track calories burned, exercise intensity levels and activity goal achievements when connected to the G-SHOCK app. They also feature daily, weekly and monthly activity graphs so you can set goals and track your progress over time.

Are you a fitness enthusiast who wants to get into the real nitty-gritty of metrics? Check out the G-Shock MOVE GBDH1000. Its heart rate monitor displays your current heart rate, as well as the heart rate zone for five stages of exercise intensity. It also estimates VO2max, a measure of your maximum rate of oxygen consumption, a useful benchmark for cardiorespiratory ability if you’re looking to build endurance. When you get outdoors for an adventure, its GPS functionality and other sensors can help orient you.

• Mix it up: There are four types of exercise, according to the National Institutes of Health — endurance, strength, balance and flexibility — and each type has different benefits for your body. Varying your workouts can ensure you gain the benefits of all four types. Need some inspiration? There are plenty of free routines available online, many of which offer modifications to work for different fitness levels. Just search for what you’re looking for and you’re bound to find some great follow-along programming to meet your needs. And remember, a workout doesn’t need to be a certain length to be beneficial. If you have only a few minutes to squeeze movement into your day, be sure to take it.

Using new tools, it’s easier than ever to stay accountable to your fitness goals, even when you are spending a lot of time at home.

Design Do’s & Don’ts: Embrace the Year’s Top Interior Design Trends

By
Statepoint
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The COVID-19 pandemic permanently evolved our definition of “home,” inspiring us to reconsider how we use and live in our spaces. For many, it’s no longer just the place where we relax and regroup at the end of the day – it’s also an office, daycare, eatery, gym or classroom.

Whether you’re looking to create balance and boundaries between work and play or simply want to turn over a new leaf, there’s never been a more perfect time to commit to switching things up with major home design updates and DIY projects.

The thought of overhauling your home’s décor can be overwhelming, but finding inspiration in the year’s top trends – like the annual 2021 Design Trends developed by FrogTape in collaboration with celebrity interior designer Taniya Nayak – can help take the pressure off.

Follow these do’s and don’ts to achieve professional results while embracing 2021’s top interior design trends.

  1. Do: Create a personal sanctuary. We could all use an in-home sanctuary where we can retreat, rest and ease our minds from uncertainty and anxiety. From a dedicated meditation room to a simple, quiet corner, using cozy layers and soothing colors can establish a tranquil environment to ground you on even the most hectic days.
  2. Don’t: Shy away from colors. Don’t be afraid to incorporate colors in your home décor – especially in spaces designated for happy activities like after-work cocktails or fun with kids and pets. Vivid greens, pinks and blues, inspired by the outdoors, fruity drinks and blue skies, evoke joyful emotions. Create a sense of fun in your playroom, backyard or patio by incorporating cheerful hues, playful accessories and bright textiles. Use a high-quality painter’s tape like FrogTape to bring this trend to life with custom hand-painted planters or bold geometric accent walls.
  3. Do: Use contrast to establish focal points. From adding a pop of bright color against a neutral tone to pairing light, airy textures against deep leathers, there are countless ways to create focal points using contrast throughout the home. This trend works especially well in kitchens, dining rooms and breakfast nooks. Embrace stunning, nature-inspired hues in eating areas by painting cabinets or an accent wall in a rich tone and displaying other colorful touches to catch your eye while you enjoy your meals.
  4. Don’t: Settle for a dull work-from-home space. For those working from home into 2021 and beyond, establishing boundaries between work and play is critical. Whether you have a sprawling office or a small nook under a staircase, create a space that makes you excited to “go into work.” Combine neutral tones with punches of color to ignite your creativity while keeping you alert and focused throughout the day.
  5. Do: Add your own personal twist. While design trends can serve as a great starting point to spark your inspiration, they’re meant to serve as more of a mood board than a rule book. Whether it’s a unique painting or an over-the-top accent wall, be sure to incorporate elements of your own style, interests and flair as you plan out your projects and designs.

To learn more about this year’s top interior design trends and how you can incorporate them in your upcoming home design updates, visit FrogTape.com/Trends.

With the right tools and inspiration, you can achieve professional results in your home redesign.

AG Paxton Sues Griddy, LLC Energy Company

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Customers Hit with Exorbitant Energy Bills

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Griddy, LLC for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act through false, misleading, and deceptive advertising and marketing practices. During the February freeze, Texas power companies failed to withstand the winter storm and left millions of Texans without power and heat during lethal, record-low temperatures across the state. Compounding this disaster, Griddy passed skyrocketing energy costs to customers with little to no warning, resulting in consumers paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars each day for electricity.

“Griddy misled Texans and signed them up for services which, in a time of crisis, resulted in individual Texans each losing thousands of dollars. As Texans struggled to survive this winter storm, Griddy made the suffering even worse as it debited outrageous amounts each day. As the first lawsuit filed by my office to confront the outrageous failure of power companies, I will hold Griddy accountable for their escalation of this winter storm disaster,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office will not allow Texans to be deceived or exploited by unlawful behavior and deceptive business practices.”

Today’s lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief from Griddy to ensure that the Texans it serves will receive truthful and accurate energy service in the future, and to have the Court order refunds from available sources.

Read a copy of the lawsuit here.

Hudson Senior Shows Rabbits at the Angelina County Fair

By
Cary Sims
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At 10 am on Wednesday, March 24 at the Angelina County Fair, the breeding and market rabbit show kicks off. That day, Chloe Murray, a senior at Hudson High, will compete in her last county fair.

Chloe has been a part of the Angelina County Fair since she was 5, competing in the Pee-Wee Family and Consumer Science competition.

An estimated 150 rabbits from 50 families will take part in the 2021 market rabbit competition. The show sponsor is PID Services, Inc.

There are two divisions regarding rabbits: breeding and market. Breeding rabbits are judged on their physical characteristics that can pass positive traits onto their progeny. In the market rabbit division, a pen of three will be evaluated for their carcass traits.

Lest we forget, rabbits are meat producing livestock. Can anyone say “hasenpfeffer”? That is the name of a traditional German stew made from rabbit.

“I originally choose to start showing rabbits because I wanted to somehow get into showing animals projects. So, my aunt gave me 3 old market rabbits that I could raise into breeding rabbits,” says Chloe. “Little did I know I would fall in love with the rabbit project and never move onto bigger livestock projects. I simply developed and expanded my original breeding stock.”

Her best memory from the Fair was over an award she received in the 2018 Fair in the showmanship competition where the competition focuses on the exhibitor’s knowledge, rather than the quality of the animal. The judge completed his individual presentations from each showman but announced it had come to a tie!

The showman left standing in the tie was Chloe and another girl that she had lost to the previous year. The judge explained that he simply could not choose between us based only on our presentations, so we would move on to face-to-face questioning and the first to answer incorrectly would lose.

Chloe shares the moment, “My competitor and I stood in front of the judge with a group of onlookers huddled around us and answered 4 rounds of questions, both correct. The judge, baffled by our knowledge, said he was going to have to use his official handbook to pull questions from, which he had never done in his 40-year career. After 4 more rounds, my competitor went blank, I answered, and was handed a beautiful buckle as my reward. That buckle means more to me than any other award I have received in life, because I know that went into winning it.”

She is no slouch at studying. Chloe is ranked in the top 10% of her graduating class, taking dual credit classes through Angelina College, and is a part of the Pharmacy Technician Certification program. Additionally, she holds the following officer positions: Blue Ribbon 4-H Club Vice President, Angelina

County Council Vice President, President of the Hudson FFA Chapter, a second-year member of the National Honor Society, and Hudson Student Council Vice President.

She has been a member of the Angelina County 4-H program for ten years and a member of Hudson FFA for four years. In addition to showing rabbits, Chloe will also compete in the Public Speaking, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Arts & Crafts competitions.

Each market rabbit exhibitor will show three rabbits as one entry. Like deer, male rabbits are called bucks and females are does. Within the breeding rabbit division, there will be a champion buck and champion doe. Breeding rabbits are not included in the auction on Saturday.

Chloe said her hardest time was this past year. “I have had stray dogs tear into my rabbit barn on multiple occasions and savagely kill some of my rabbits and terrorized the others. It was extremely difficult for me to clean the barn afterwards, dispose of the dead animals, and see the fear that was instilled in the living.”

Rabbits require daily attention. They need lots of fresh clean water at all times. Exhibitors like Chloe check daily for ear mites and work their hair. To best monitor growth, they weigh them every three to four days. Keeping records of weight gain and loss help her maintain uniform weights in her market pen of rabbits.

Chloe is the daughter of Melanie and Christopher Murray, has an older sister Dovie, and is the proud aunt of Clayton. She credits her parents as her biggest supporters.

Her mom, Melanie, says the best part of them participating the county fair is the memories made and life lessons they have learned. An added bonus is the meat that will go into the family freezer.

The auction will be at 4 pm, Saturday, March 27. For a complete schedule of this year’s County Fair, go to www.angelinacountyfair.com.

COMMISSIONERS APPROVE NEW PROJECT

By
Rhonda Oaks
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Texas Transportation Commissioners met in a virtual meeting on Thursday and approved more than $420.3 million for new construction projects across the state, with more than $5.2 approved for the Lufkin District.

Angelina County was approved for a construction project on FM 841, from FM 325 to US 69, that will include guardrail replacement, safety treating fixed objects and increasing pavement width from 24-feet to 28-feet. A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., Buffalo, TX, will serve as contractor for the $5.2 million construction project. A pre-construction meeting will be scheduled in coming days to determine a date for work to begin.

As this project begins, motorists are urged to reduce speed and stay alert for workers and moving equipment through the work zone. Obey all traffic control and suggested work zone speed limits. Fines double when workers are present.

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 533-4395.

My five cents…

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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As Texas recovers from the destructive storms last week, the legislature is back at work and focused on finding answers to what happened last week. This week we also resumed work on the budget in the Senate Finance Committee. We heard from Article III agencies, including TEA and all of our institutes of higher education. To finish the week, we will hear from Article II agencies, including Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of State Health Services.

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Six ERCOT board members resign

As of Thursday, six members of ERCOT’s 16-member board announced they would resign Tuesday after massive blackouts affecting millions of Texans during disastrous winter weather left many without power in subfreezing temperatures for days. Five of the six board members that are resigning, including the chairwoman and the vice-chairman, live out-of-state, a fact that many Texans and legislators take issue with. Several legislators have filed bills to ensure that all ERCOT board members are Texas residents. ERCOT manages the flow of electric power through the state’s power grid. Weeks before the storm, ERCOT assured stakeholders that power plants were prepared for winter storms. It’s obvious that was not the case, and as the vice-chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, I look forward to getting answers from ERCOT, the PUC, power generators, and other industry professionals about what went wrong and how to prevent such a catastrophic failure in the future.

2. Governor calls meeting of legislators about electric billing

Over the weekend, Governor Abbott convened an emergency meeting of a group of legislators to discuss the spike in Texans energy bills following the power outages across the state. As a member of that work group, I think it’s important for Texans to know that this issue is a priority for all of us. We are working quickly and collaboratively in both chambers to address this issue. The system is complicated and assessing the total cost of these energy bills is ongoing. I look forward to finding a solution to these issues and find ways the state can help mollify this extreme financial burden.

3. Vaccinations get back on track after winter storms

Distribution for the COVID-19 vaccine was disrupted last week due to the intense winter weather Texas faced. Six million doses nationwide, including 450,000 doses bound for Texas, were delayed due to deferred shipments, impassable road conditions, and power outages. However, vaccine providers are confident that Texas can rebound. This week 1.5 million doses are set to arrive in the state, including last week’s undelivered doses. This comes as vaccine makers told Congress that a big jump in delivery of doses is coming in the near future. By the end of March, Pfizer and Moderna expect to have provided the government with 220 million vaccines. Moreover, both companies expect to deliver 300 million doses each by the end of the summer and Johnson and Johnson assured they would provide 100 million of their vaccines.

4. PUC issues moratorium on utility disconnection for non-payment

In an emergency meeting, the Public Utility Commission issued an order halting utility disconnections for non-payment. These orders are directed at investor owned utilities that fall under the PUC’s jurisdiction, including Oncor, AEP, CenterPoint, and TNMP. Importantly, they do not apply to municipally owned utilities or electric cooperatives. This is welcome news as many Texas received high electric bills following the widespread power outages during the winter storms. Though many Texans are on fixed rate electricity contracts with their providers, those that are not are facing sky-rocketing bills. The PUC strongly urged retail electric providers to delay sending invoices out, especially to residential customers.

5. Students learning virtually will not have to take the STAAR test

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced that Texas students who are learning remotely this semester will not be required to take the annual STAAR test. The state logistically can’t administer the test remotely, so those students can opt-out. However, students who are learning in-person will be taking the STAAR test, but without any of the stakes attached. This year, the test is being used to gauge where students are at after a year of disrupted learning caused by the pandemic. There will be no accountability for school districts or campuses attached to the STAAR this year and it will not be used to evaluate whether or not students can or should progress to the next grade level.

CORRIGAN RAILROAD CROSSING SCHEDULED FOR CLOSURE

By
Rhonda Oaks
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 A railroad crossing closure is planned for Monday on US 287 near the US 59 intersection in Corrigan.

Union Pacific Railroad will be closing the crossing on Monday, March 1 from 7 pm until 5 am, March 2. Portable message boards announcing the closure will be in place on US 59 and US 287. Detour signs will also be set notifying motorists of the closure and detour.

Railroad crews will be working to replace the crossing at this location. RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Pflugerville, TX, will be providing traffic control and TxDOT crews will be on site to repair approaches to the crossing as the work is completed.

Motorists should stay alert for traffic congestion as they enter Corrigan in southbound lanes. Reduce speed and prepare for slight delays as vehicles slow down to access detours that will be set north of the intersection.

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

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