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Lumberjack Basketball Releases 2020-21 Basketball Schedule

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The Lumberjack basketball team released its full 2020-21 schedule on Wednesday afternoon, ushering in yet another thrilling season of SFA basketball. The 27-game schedule features 10 non-conference matchups in addition to the 16-game SLC slate.

“2020 has brought many changes to our world and college basketball hasn’t been exempt either, but I am excited to announce that we are bringing 15 home contests to the Sawmill in 2020-21 as part of our shortened basketball season”, said Lumberjack head coach Kyle Keller “Our fans deserve to see and support the defending Southland Conference champions.”

The Lumberjacks open the season as the squad chosen by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors to win the league title in 2020-21. SFA begins its 2020-21 slate in Bubbleville, the nickname given to a series of games taking place inside the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut from November 25-27. The Lumberjacks will be one of nine teams competing the a series of three “pods”. SFA will compete in Pod Four against Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, and Towson in respective days.

“We will begin the season in the toughest 3 day opening stretch ever in my tenure at SFA in the “Bubble” in Connecticut and return for our home opener on December 2 to play in front of our home fans for the first time”, noted Keller. “We all look forward to having our great home crowd in the Sawmill this season.”

The Lumberjacks open the home slate with a matchup against Hardin-Simmons inside William R. Johnson Coliseum on December 2, one of three straight home contests that also includes tilts against Alcorn State (12/5) and Letourneau (12/9). The ‘Jacks then hit the road for a quick jaunt over to Louisiana-Monroe on December 12, before returning home to face a tough Arkansas State squad inside WRJ Coliseum on December 16. The ‘Jacks then face LSU-Shreveport (12/18), Southeastern Louisiana (12/21) and Paul Quinn (12/22) to close out the calendar year as well as the non-conference slate.

“This was not like the schedule back in May or June we had scheduled at that time but I appreciate the hard work by my Associate Head Coach Jeremy Cox and Director of Basketball Operations Chris Keith in their efforts in getting a schedule that maximizes opportunities for Lumberjack Basketball to play on the court this season”, continued Keller.

SFA’s conference schedule puts the Ladyjacks up against New Orleans (1/2) at home and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Jan. 6) on the road to begin league play, before games  against Central Arkansas (1/ 13), UIW (1/16 and Northwestern State (1/20).  SFA squares off with Lamar at home on January 23, then faces Abilene Christian on the road on the 27th.

Rival Sam Houston State comes to Texas’ oldest town on January 30, while a road tilt against New Orleans (2/6) opens up the month of February. The Lumberjacks square off against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on February 10, before heading to Conway to face Central Arkansas on 2/17. A home tilt against UIW (2/20), road games at Northwestern State (2/24) and Lamar (2/27) and a home contest against Abilene Christian on March 3 lead up to the final game of the regular season, a rivalry matchup with Sam Houston State in Huntsville on March 3. The Southland Conference Tournament will take place in Katy from March 11-15.

Ladyjacks Picked to Win Southland; Trio of Ladyjacks Selected to Preseason All-Conference Teams

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The annual Southland Coaches Preseason Poll was released on Wednesday morning, and the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin were chosen by coaches around the league as the consensus pick to win the conference title in 2020-21. SFA garnered a total of 275 votes in the poll along with 14 of the 26 total first-place votes eligible in the poll, which consulted each of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. 
 
SFA was followed by rival Sam Houston State, who received a total of 257 votes, including five first-place tallies. Abilene Christian was chosen in third with 250 votes (4), followed by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (216-3) and Southeastern Louisiana (160 votes) to round out the top five.  Central Arkansas (6th-157), New Orleans (7th-153), Lamar (8th-144), Nicholls (9th-127) and UIW (10th-126) were picked to fill out the rest of the top 10, while Houston Baptist, McNeese and Northwestern State rounded out the poll, in order.
 
Released concurrently with the preseason poll was the Southland Preseason All-Conference Teams, which saw SFA heavily represented in the form of three total selections to the 10-woman allotment. Juniors Stephanie Visscher and Aiyana Johnson both took their rightful place on the league’s Preseason First Team, while sophomore Zya Nugent earned a spot on the Second Team after a breakout campaign in 2019-20. 

Shorter Darker Days Are Ahead: Make Your Home a Haven

By
Joshua Blackwell
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As more of life is centered around home, good design can help you augment and replace natural light, while creating a beautiful, productive, safe haven during the darker, shorter days of fall and winter.

“As the home continues to serve as our collective sanctuary during the COVID pandemic, it’s critical to consider how lighting can keep a family thriving during this fall and winter season,” says Michael McCullough, director of PR at Progress Lighting.

Fall has arrived, and with it, a new reality. The days are naturally growing shorter and darker. Daylight Saving Time expires November 1, ushering in the long winter nights and colder temperatures. This means more time spent inside working, learning and just plain living in our homes.

“The stress of the COVID-19 crisis has emphasized the impact our environment plays on our wellbeing. There’s never been a more important time for interior design,” says Doris Pearlman, founder of Possibilities for Design of Denver. “Our goal is to create spaces that uplift and embrace, providing respite from daily pressures.”

Pearlman’s team offers three design suggestions:

• Add lighting above work areas to create functional, operational spaces.

• Complement ambient lighting with pendant lighting around kitchen islands to facilitate collaboration.

• Create inspiration by clustering pendants for a fun, unique centerpiece.

• Hang pendants over nightstands to turn the bedroom into a retreat. Individual switches allow for customized lighting for easy bedtime reading.

Jayme and Nolan Fridley, of Fridley Homes in Oregon, who balance a busy custom home building business with their active family, are observing new trends.

“The open-concept floor plan is not as charming when everyone’s working from home,” says Jayme Fridley. “Instead of a ‘great room,’ many families now think that having many areas designated for specific tasks is ‘great’.”

Fridley’s strategies include:

• Create specific learning areas for each child.

• Let kids customize spaces, keeping clutter minimized to avoid distractions.

• Encourage concentration with good (if possible natural) lighting.

Design pros suggest homeowners incorporate light layering to maximize light throughout the day. Supplement daylight with overhead lighting from chandeliers, recessed and close-to-ceiling fixtures. Place task lighting such as pendants or desk lamps over work areas. Use accent lighting like wall sconces to add a soft glow as the day wanes.

“Lighting should set the tone for productivity. For some, this might mean bright lighting and multiple sources. Others might prefer a moody vibe. Making it your own is what’s most important…oh, and a good backdrop for Zoom calls sure won’t hurt,” says Julie Wynalda, owner of True Vine Creations in Hudsonville, Mich.

Instagram influencer Heather, of Operation Tudor Revival, who’s DIY-ing her home renovation says, “Office lighting can be both functional and fabulous! I went with an overhead chandelier with a drum shade for an updated look. The shade also helps diffuse light to avoid glare on my computer screen.”

Technology can help spaces pull double-duty. Lifestyle blogger, Lindsey Dalton says, “We put our chandelier on a dimmer so it can be bright while my husband’s working but we can turn it down during dinner to transition the room from workday to relaxing evening.”

With smart light fixtures, you can change lighting tone, brightness and color with a device or your voice. Control products from iDevices work with the three most popular voice assistants: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. Using the iDevices smart Dimmer Switch and Wall Switch, you can set lights on dynamic schedules and automations based on triggers like your local sunrise or presence at home. Delineating start and stop times to your day through lighting can help optimize productivity and boost your mood.

Smart controls can also facilitate distance-learning.

“With a voice assistant built inside the Instinct smart light switch, you have your own at-home teaching assistant, helping answer questions and assisting with exercises,” says Andrew Ragali, senior marketing manager for iDevices. “It also allows you to play music or audiobooks using voice commands to keep kids on task.”

For more tips and to shop products, visit Progress Lighting.

Your home environment impacts your family’s health and wellbeing. Well-lit, comfortable spaces can help your household thrive in the months ahead.

The Salvation Army Lufkin Kicks Off Food Drive at McWilliams and Sons

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The Salvation Army kicked off their food drive that started today and will end Friday, December 11. McWilliams and Sons is an incredible friend to The Salvation Army, and they have found yet another way to serve alongside this organization. The kick-off began at 10am this morning and food can be dropped off in the white bin at their location (918 E. Denman, Lufkin) between 9am – 5pm.

Here are a few ideas of what you can bring:

· Canned meats

· Canned vegetables

· Canned fruit

· Canned Soups/Stews

· Cereal

· Pasta

· Beans

· Rice

· Macaroni and Cheese

· Peanut Butter

· Jelly

· Crackers/cookies

In addition to the McWilliams and Sons location, you can also drop-off at:

· CBTX 1901 Tulane

· CBTX 600 S. 1st St.

· Chick-fil-A at the Mall 4600 S. Medford

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened need as families continue to navigate the pay cuts and job loss, while striving to give children the necessities of life. “We continue to be amazed by the support of our community throughout the entire year,” said Captain Jenifer Phillips, The Salvation Army of Lufkin. “No one knew when we first learned of the pandemic, that we would be entering the holiday season wearing masks and still not being able to do the things we used to.”

The Salvation Army of Lufkin has served more than 65,000 meals since March. Across the nation, The Salvation Army has seen a rapid increase in requests for assistance, with many individuals requesting help for the first time in their lives.

The Salvation Army delivers a wide range of services to individuals and families in need and this is only possible because of the generous support of the community. The most effective way to help is to make a financial donation at www.salvationarmyLufkin.org, by calling (936) 634-5132 or mailing a check to 412 S. 3rd St. Financial donations give The Salvation Army the most flexibility to purchase items that are most needed while supporting local businesses at this challenging time.

Hundreds Gather for Texas-sized Rally to Support Trump’s Re-election

By
Misty Boggs
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n estimated six hundred East Texans gathered for the Texas-sized Trump Rally held Oct 31, 2020, in Lufkin, Texas. 

The rally began with a Make America Great Again vehicle parade that left Harbor Freight at 12:30 p.m. and The parade served as the rally kick-off, leading up to the main event of a demonstration by The Flag Ninja as he placed his 45th flag.

The Flag Ninja began placing flags at the top of pine trees around Lufkin as a response to the Trump campaign signs that were being stolen from supporters’ yards. Recently, he gained national atttention when President Trump shared a video of him placing a flag.

Sen. Louis Gohmert, Rep. Trent Ashby, and State Board of Education Chairman Kevin Ellis were also present to meet and greet with supporters. 

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. For a sample ballot and voting locations, please visit the Angelina County Election Administration web page.

TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES JOHN WARNER AS OUTSTANDING FORESTRY EDUCATOR AWARD RECIPIENT

By
Joshua Blackwell
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AWARD PHOTO: John Warner, Urban District Forester for Texas A&M Forest Service, receives the Project Learning Tree Outstanding Forestry Educator Award presented by Ted Stevens, TFA Education Director, during Texas Forestry Association's virtual annual convention held October 28-29, 2020, held at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.

Texas Forestry Association presented the 2020 Outstanding Forestry Educator Award to John Warner during the Association’s virtual annual convention held at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas on Oct. 28-29, 2020.
 
“John has spent the past 31 years in the forest, teaching and guiding thousands of Texas landowners, homeowners, and municipalities on urban and forestry issues, advising youth on green careers, and responding to wildfires and natural disasters, both within Texas and around the nation,” said Rob Hughes, Executive Director, Texas Forestry Association. “His longstanding passion and excellence in reaching so many is why we are proud to present this award to him.”
 
Warner is an urban district forester for the Texas A&M Forest Service. During his tenure, he has piloted new programs and partnered with hundreds of groups, organizations, and non-profits, attained grants, donations, and in-kind services totaling over $1.5 million. He also helped establish the nation’s first funded community health provider to provide outside nature-based exploration on their property through the USFS-funded Nature Explore Classroom. This innovative model has subsequently been adopted at healthcare facilities in Colorado, Texas, Florida, and Washington D.C.
 
“He leaves behind a palpable legacy, filled with innovation and action, in support of natural resource conservation and the communities and future generations that depend upon conservation and connection to the land, which John has so dutifully served,” said Hughes.
 
Warner has been awarded the prestigious USDA Forest Service’s Abraham Lincoln Award for Diversity and Inclusion and has been awarded the Texas A&M University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Diversity. He is retiring in 2021 with his wife Kim to their retirement home in Cashiers, N.C.

TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES RUFUS DUNCAN, JR. AS 2020 TFA MEMBER COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR

By
Joshua Blackwell
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RUFUS DUNCAN PHOTO: Susan Stutts, TFA Senior Director, presents the 2020 TFA Member Communicator of the Year Award to Rufus Duncan, Jr. The award was announced at the virtual annual meeting held Oct. 28-29, 2020 at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.

Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented the 2020 TFA Member Communicator of the Year award to Rufus Duncan, Jr. during the virtual annual conference held Oct. 28-29, 2020, at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.
 
“This year presented TFA with new challenges in sharing its message of sustainable forestry. One of them was showcasing the importance of Texas timber which became more essential than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” sand Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director. “Through both deed and word, Rufus diligently helped TFA communicate how Texas forestry moved to the frontline in 2020.”
 
Duncan, Jr., traveled to Forth Worth to film the Texas Department of Agriculture’s August segment of RFD-TV, which also featured TFA and the forest sector.
 
“We are also presenting this award for his work and participation in the restoration of Longleaf pine in Texas,” said Hughes. “Rufus was a tremendous help in spreading the message of sustainable forestry in the midst of a crisis and we are proud to present him with this award.”

TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION PRESENTS EXCELLENCE IN WOOD DESIGN AWARD TO FIRST UNITED BANK, FREDERICKSBURG

By
Joshua Blackwell
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WOOD DESIGN AWARD PHOTO 1: Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director (pictured right); presents the 2020 TFA Excellence in Wood Design Award to Brad Hardin, Community Bank President; and Stacy Harvey, VP and Financial Center Manager; during the 2020 virtual annual meeting held Oct 28-29, 2020, at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.

Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented the 2020 Excellence in Wood Design to First United Bank, Fredericksburg, during the virtual annual meeting held Oct. 28-29, 2020 at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.
 
The Excellence in Wood Design award has been presented for over fifty years as a positive outreach program for TFA. The main criteria for the nominations include the projects must be located in Texas and they must have been completed within the past five years.
 
“The design began with First United Bank’s desire to develop a unique structure that didn’t look like any other bank, and to express the honest, community-based values of their organization and their customers,” said Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director. “That’s when Gensler’s design team introduced them to Mass Timber.”
 
Mass Timber is a framing process utilizing large wood panels for construction as an alternative to steel, masonry, and concrete which all have higher traces of carbon. The process is gaining popularity not only for its lower carbon, but also for the possibilities inherent in the natural beauty of wood.
 
“The graceful aesthetic and natural warmth of the typology became the perfect embodiment of First United Bank’s values and achieved several firsts in its implementation,” said Hughes. “It is the first full mass timber construction project completed in Texas, the first retail mass timber structure in the state, and the first in the nation to use Southern Yellow Pine Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels.”
 
The Gensler design team for First United Bank, Fredericksburg, includes Taylor Coleman, Matt Severance, Kaylan Batten, Jessica Vasquez, and Emily Harden. Their design included significant architectural elements with iconic deep roof overhangs that double as a recognizable landmark and were designed to minimize sun exposure during hot summer months, and to maximize sunlight during winter months.

TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION PRESENTS OUTSTANDING LOGGER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO DEAVEN FUTRAL, OWNER OF SOUTHERN LOGGING, LLC, IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

By
Joshua Blackwell
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OUTSTANDING LOGGER OF THE YEAR AWARD PHOTO: Deaven Futral receives the 2020 Outstanding Logger of the Year award. The award was announced during TFA’s virtual annual meeting held Oct. 28-29, 2020 at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.

Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented Deaven Futral, owner and operator of Southern Logging, LLC, with the Outstanding Logger of the Year award during the organization’s virtual annual conference held Oct. 28-29, 2020, at their headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.
 
“Deaven has been an active member of TFA, serving in leadership roles for Texas Logging Council and serving on the TFA Board of Directors,” said Rob Hughes, Executive Director, Texas Forestry Association. “His leadership and experience were crucial during this time and we are grateful for his service.”
 
Futral started his logging career at age 15 when he worked for local company in Montgomery, Texas. He bought his first equipment in 1996, and contracted with E. P. Frazer Inc. Today, Futral operates a five-man crew, running three trucks and contracting a fourth one.
 
“This has been a challenging year for most and the logging and timber industry were not exempt from this. Deaven stepped up and has been a tremendous help in this time,” said Hughes. “Deaven’s knowledge, commitment to excellence, and his generous spirit are what makes him an outstanding logger.”
 
Southern Logging, LLC, is an independent company buying private timber from landowners and consulting foresters. Most of the harvests conducted by Southern Logging are operator select, diameter cut, thinning, or following timber management plans directed by Foresters, and has harvested timber from many certified Tree Farms.

TEXAS FORESTRY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS 2020 COMMUNICATORS OF THE YEAR FOR ONLINE AND TELEVISION

By
Joshua Blackwell
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GO TEXAN PAVILION ONLINE AWARD PHOTO: The Communications Award for Media (online) was presented to The Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program for featuring Texas Forestry Association in its virtual pavilion in lieu of the live State Fair this year. The award was announced during the 2020 TFA virtual annual meeting held Oct. 28-29, 2020 at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas. Pictured are (l-r) Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director; Alicia Sunderlage, GO TEXAN Program Specialist; Lindsay Baerwald, GO TEXAN Director for Marketing; and Commissioner Sid Miller.

Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented the 2020 TFA Communicators of the Year award to the Texas Department of Agriculture during the virtual annual conference held Oct. 28-29, 2020, at the TFA headquarters in Lufkin, Texas.
 
“As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the nation, Texas timber became more essential than ever and the need to highlight that became one of our most important goals this year,” said Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director. “In two key media venues, the Texas Department of Agriculture provided a way to just that.”
 
The Communications Award for Media in the Television category was presented to TDA for featuring Texas Forestry Association and the East Texas Forest Sector in an August segment of RFD-TV. A second Communications Award for Media in the Online category was also presented to The Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program for featuring Texas Forestry Association in its virtual pavilion in lieu of the live State Fair this year.
 
“During a normal year, TFA relies on events like the Texas State Fair to engage audiences and create awareness of sustainable forestry in Texas as well as forest products,” said Hughes. “As the Pandemic presented unprecedented issues and closed many events, we at TFA are grateful for the opportunity to share these messages with these audiences.”

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