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TxDOT NAMES NEW LUFKIN DISTRICT ENGINEER

By
Rhonda Oaks
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The Texas Department of Transportation on Tuesday named Kelly O. Morris, P.E., to serve as the Lufkin District Engineer.

Kelly began her career at TxDOT as a summer employee in 1993 and later began working full time as an Engineering In Training in the Livingston Area Office. Kelly graduated from Texas A&M University in 1995 with a Civil Engineering degree and obtained her Professional Engineer’s License in 2000.

She worked in the private sector from 1999 to 2013 and rejoined TxDOT as the Project Manager in charge of development of future Interstate 69 in the Lufkin District. She was named District Design Engineer later in 2013 and then promoted to Director of Transportation and Development in 2014 where she has led numerous challenging projects including the Diboll Relief Route and US 59 connector ramps in Nacogdoches. Her work has also included a joint project with the Louisiana DOTD on US 84.

“I look forward to leading the Lufkin District and continuing to work with all of our local communities and dedicated TxDOT staff.  Our focus will remain on developing, building and maintaining a safe transportation system. I am excited about taking on new challenges and continuing my career as District Engineer in one of the best TxDOT districts in the state,” Morris said.

Kelly and her husband Todd make their home in Lufkin with their children, Sydney and Seth. Sydney began classes at Stephen F. Austin State University this fall. The family enjoys fishing and traveling together.

Kelly was named District Engineer after the recent retirement of Cheryl P. Flood who served with TxDOT for 38 years.

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

How to Make Kids’ Birthdays Special While Social Distancing

By
Statepoint
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While some of the traditions of a typical birthday are not possible these days, parents can find new ways to celebrate these important milestones. Here are a few ideas for making your child’s upcoming birthday feel special:

• Host a Virtual Party: Use video conferencing tools to host a party for your child. Consider picking a theme or activity for the event. Start with a meet and greet and then dive right in — from painting and pottery to sing-alongs and science projects, there are many fun themes that work well from a distance. Remember to tell all your guests in advance what they will need to participate or even drop off pre-made goody bags with supplies and snacks to celebrate.

• Plan a Drive-by Birthday Parade: These days, drive-by celebration parades are all the rage for graduations, birthdays and more — and this is for good reason. What better way to honor a special occasion than by seeing everyone you love? Tell friends and family what time to drive by, encouraging participants to use signs, music, balloons and banners to make a splash.

• Request Cards: Make a secret request to friends and family asking them to send cards in the mail. Kids love receiving mail, especially on their birthdays. Alternatively, ask loved ones to create video greetings or other electronic messages.

• Give Fun Gifts: Don’t forget the presents! Colorful, interactive toys will brighten the occasion, making your child’s birthday and year to come special. Consider Myla’s Sparkling Friends from VTech, a new collection of interactive toys that talk, sing and light up with a kaleidoscope of colors. With flapping wings and tail feathers that wag, colorful accessories and unique songs and sayings, this line — which includes Mia the Unicorn, Ava the Fox, Penny the Peacock and more – is packed with value at a great giftable price.

• Take an Outing: Parents comfortable doing so might consider planning a socially distanced picnic in the park. Bring your child’s favorite foods, treats and games for a fun-filled day.

Birthdays may look a bit different this year, but that doesn’t mean your family can’t celebrate. Virtual parties, gifts and special greetings can give your child a sense of normalcy and make them feel special on their birthday.

 

3 Tips to Prepare for Turkey Hunting Season

By
Statepoint
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Want to hunt turkeys on your home turf this fall? You’ll need to create and manage a habitat that will attract them to your property first.

To get started, consider these tried-and-true tips from farmer, professional hunter and creator of the “Bone Collector” series, Michael Waddell:

• Your lawn mower can help. Yes, believe it or not, mowing the pastures or food plots where you plan to hunt makes a huge difference.

“What you’ll find, is that right at daylight with a heavy dew on the ground, the turkeys won’t come out in a food plot with high grass because they don’t want to get wet,” says Waddell. “You need to keep in mind turkey legs are only so tall and they get their feathers all wet, and it’s just aggravating to them.”

Mow your plots and you improve your chances of turkeys using them.

• But, don’t mow everything. Turkeys use tall grass during the day once the dew has evaporated, so you don’t want to mow your entire lawn too low. Keeping some of the grass high allows the poults and hens to come out and eat bugs while still having shelter from other predators like hawks. Waddell suggests mowing around the edges where you want to concentrate your turkeys, and then creating some lanes through the grass to create a “turkey funnel,” so to speak.

“Now I’m a man who likes to be successful,” says Waddell. “And this works. Year after year, I do this and it pays off every year.”

• Keep your blades high. While you can maintain your property with a tractor or bush hog, Waddell says his lawn mower is more convenient. Just be sure to mow at a high blade setting to avoid damaging the machinery with rocks and other debris. Waddell explains that he uses the same Exmark Lazer Z zero-turn mower to maintain his home property, so it’s important to keeps his blades in good shape.

For more of Waddell’s tips and secrets, check out the new Exmark Original video, “Backyard Life, Turkey Habitat Tips.” The episode can be found by visiting Exmark.com/Backyard, a multimedia destination with a focus on giving home and acreage owners the tips and know-how to make the most of their outdoor experience and live more life outdoors. You can also access content on lawn-and-garden, outdoor cooking and rural lifestyles.

A good turkey habitat in turn creates good hunting opportunities. To ready your property for turkey hunting season, build out a plot of land that is friendly for turkeys to nest, feed and hide from other predators.

Tips for Fueling up for Outdoor Fall Chores

By
Statepoint
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Along with the fall season comes a range of outdoor chores for homeowners nationwide, from clearing trees and branches after wicked weather strikes to gathering autumn leaves. Here are a few things to consider as you go about fueling your chainsaws, leaf blowers and other lawn care equipment:

Proper Fuel Storage

If you have messy or bulky fuel containers, it’s time for an update. Proper fuel storage can make the task of fueling equipment safer, cleaner and ultimately more efficient and affordable. For starters, be sure to purchase only fuel containers approved by federal or state authorities that have a flame mitigation device (FMD) and a child safety feature.

Then, consider ease of use. The best containers not only exceed recognized safety standards, they help you avoid messy, costly spills. To that end, look for a user-controlled flow valve, such as those featured on Scepter SmartControl containers. Available in 1-, 2- and 5-gallon sizes for gasoline, diesel and kerosene, these rugged storage containers which are made of five layers of safe high-density polyethylene for long-time use, feature an innovative, hassle-free spout controlled and operated by squeezing. And, because they are stored with the spout on, hands stay clean. For usage and safety tips, check out the videos and resources available at www.scepter.com.

Proper Fuel

While you’re updating your fuel containers, be sure to restock your fuel too. Keep in mind that fuel sitting unused for many months should be safely discarded, as gas components can deteriorate over time. Changing gasoline out with the seasons keeps it fresh.

Having plenty of fuel on hand is not only a key element to powering through yard work and chores, but an important part of extreme weather preparedness. During power outages and in the aftermath of storms, you’ll be able to fuel generators, chainsaws and other gas-powered equipment without worrying about your supply. So don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast to stock up on this essential.

This fall, equip your shed or garage with the fuel and fuel storage solutions you need for a safe and productive season.

Forester Jordan Herrin named new regional forester for Texas A&M Forest Service’s East Texas Operations’ central region

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Jordan Herrin, former Hudson district forester at Texas A&M Forest Service, was promoted to regional forester for East Texas Operations Department’s central region. The East Texas Operations Department provides the crucial forest resource development and protection needed to keep the Texas pineywoods region safe and productive.

“My goal is to continue to push our agency’s mission and adapt to landowner’s needs,” said Herrin. “I also want to help us meet the increasing demands we have as responders to the state—whether that’s wildfires or hurricanes.”

Herrin replaced Jacob Donellan, who was promoted to Department Head of East Texas Operations. As one of three regional foresters, Herrin is in charge of over 40 personnel and 17 counties in a six-district area—or about one-third of East Texas.

Herrin joined TFS in 2006 while in college, first working with the tree improvement program and then serving on the TFS fuel crew. In 2011, Herrin was hired full-time as a training forester before assuming the district forester role in Huntsville. Most recently, he worked as the Hudson district forester before his promotion to regional forester in Nacogdoches.

In this new role, Herrin plans to help shepherd necessary changes within the East Texas Operations Department to meet the shifting needs of the Texas landowner.

“We know that the landowners are changing,” said Herrin. “We know that land is fragmenting. Granted, they’ve always been changing, and they’re going to keep changing. We just have to stay with them. We can’t get too far ahead or too far behind them to meet the mission of TFS.”

According to Herrin, the key to meeting the landowner’s needs is relationship building and remaining flexible.

“We offer what the landowner needs,” said Herrin. “What people forget is that we’re a very flexible organization. We can easily go from working with a landowner one-on-one on their land to putting out wildfires and responding to hurricanes. As long as we keep a pulse check with the landowners and with the Texans we serve, then we’ll keep providing a valuable service to the state.”

Tips to Ease the Financial Recovery Process After a Disaster

By
Statepoint
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While the COVID-19 crisis continues to be top of mind for many Americans, it’s important to remember that other disasters can still occur with little or no warning, making it vital to prepare.

This September, which is National Preparedness Month, get started by checking out Ready.gov and the American Red Cross, two great resources for creating a plan to protect you and your family’s immediate safety. As for your financial preparedness, consider these tips from Wells Fargo:

• A natural disaster could potentially destroy paper copies of documents needed for tax and insurance purposes. While you should protect these documents in a fireproof, waterproof box that locks, you should also possess electronic copies. Save birth and marriage certificates, wills, deeds, tax returns, insurance policies and stock and bond certificates on a thumb drive or in a secure location in the cloud.

• Keep an up-to-date inventory of your possessions. One easy way to do so is to use your smartphone to take photographs or videos of everything valuable and store this in the cloud. Your documentation should include cars, vehicles and electronics, as well as any interior and exterior home improvements you’ve made which could increase your property value and help with insurance claims.

• Review what your insurance policy covers and determine if additional insurance or coverage is needed. Be sure to take into account how life has changed in the COVID-19 era. For example, emergency shelters may not be an option for your family given social distancing guidelines, so you may want to consider adding coverage for temporary housing to your policy.

• If you haven’t already done so, consider setting up online banking, mobile banking, automatic bill pay and electronic account alerts. Should you be displaced from your home, these measures will make it easier to stay on top of your accounts and bills. Take this opportunity to ensure your online profiles are up-to-date in case your bank or lender need to contact you post-disaster.

• Note that a disaster can shut down local ATMs and banks for days or even weeks. Include easily accessible cash in your emergency supply kit.

• Know in advance if and what resources your financial institutions provide. For example Wells Fargo customers, including those with home mortgages, home equity, small business, and auto loans, can contact 800-TO-WELLS or visit wellsfargo.com/recovery to learn more.

“If COVID-19 has taught us anything it’s that disasters come in all shapes and sizes,” says Rullah Price, senior vice president, head of Wells Fargo Enterprise Incident Communications. “However, developing a plan this National Preparedness Month could save you countless hours of work and make the financial recovery process a lot less stressful.”

Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Emergency Designation For Small Business Disaster Loans From SBA Following Hurricane Hanna

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Texas’ request for an Economic Injury Disaster Declaration in communities affected by Hurricane Hanna and granted access to its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which will provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses in the community. Counties included in the declaration are Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr, and Willacy.

“Texas thanks the U.S. Small Business Administration for providing this financial lifeline to qualifying small businesses in the Rio Grande Valley as they continue to rebuild from Hurricane Hanna,” said Governor Abbott. “We will continue to work alongside our federal partners to ensure Texans have the resources and support they need to recover from this storm.”

Governor Abbott submitted this request on August 28.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Rangers Call up Former Roadrunner King Lefty Led AC to Conference Finals in 2015

By
Gary Stallard
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Former Angelina College pitcher John King this week received the call from the Texas Rangers and has joined the club as it faces the Houston Astros over the next two games. King led the Roadrunners to the 2015 regional tournament championship game. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

John King spent two years as part of Angelina College head baseball coach Jeff Livin’s pitching staff, taking the mound at Roadrunner Field in 2014 and 2015. King cemented his AC legacy during the 2015 regional tournament, when he tossed a complete-game shutout over a high-powered San Jacinto team, helping send the ‘Runners to the tournament final.

From there, King signed with the University of Houston, where he continued his reputation as a big-game pitcher: As the Cougars’ lone senior in 2017, King was the winning pitcher on both the regular-season title game against Cincinnati and in the American Championship tournament title game against East Carolina.

Drafted in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers, King this week received the phone call every baseball player dreams of hearing. The Rangers have called up King to join the big squad, where he could see action as soon as Friday.

Livin said King’s path to the majors held its share of bumps and bruises, but the lefty’s determination played a massive role in achieving his dream.

“John did a great job at the University of Houston,” Livin said. “I talked with his coaches, and they commented on John’s work ethic and his focus in that area.”

Livin described King as a player who arrived at AC “pretty much under the radar.” Some arm issues during King’s freshman season left the Laredo product with little to show for his efforts. However, those issues helped King realize how much harder he would need to work to achieve success.

“I think that’s when his work ethic really kicked in,” Livin said. “John decided he was going to work his way through this thing. He really got into things such as his diet and training as we went along, and he added quite a bit of velocity while he was here. He came on strong toward the end of his sophomore season and pitched us into the regional tournament. His career just took off from there.”

As for seeing King’s potential as a future major leaguer, Livin said, “I don’t think there’s ever an indication for any player that he’s going to make it to the big leagues. Did I think he’d have a chance to play pro baseball? Yeah, I did. He didn’t have a ton of velocity coming out of high school, but he had a big-time curve ball. The ability to make the ball spin is such a big deal for any pitcher, and he’s had that from the beginning.”

Livin also mentioned how King’s path led him to having the right people see his big-game mentality and overall ability to get hitters out.

“It’s a small world for sure,” Livin laughed. “Bob Laurie, who was my assistant last season, was actually the scout who led to John getting drafted by the Rangers out of the University of Houston. Bob had John on his radar years ago.

“John had some arm troubles his last year at U of H and was scheduled for surgery after the season, and the Rangers still thought enough of him to draft him fairly high. I have no doubt John’s stock would have been even higher had he been completely healthy at the time. The Rangers and Bob took a chance on him, and it looks like it’s paying off for John very well.”

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

TxDOT URGES DRIVERS TO PLAN A SOBER RIDE THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND

By
Rhonda Oaks
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While there may be less traffic on the roads this Labor Day weekend, TxDOT is urging those who choose to go out and celebrate to plan ahead for a sober ride before any drinking begins.

“We encourage people to enjoy the long weekend, but to do so responsibly,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “If you plan to drink alcohol and go out, make the plan for a sober ride. It’s an easy decision that can prevent senseless tragedies and save lives.”

During last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend* in Texas, there were 382  crashes involving drivers under the influence of alcohol. Those crashes killed 12 people and seriously injured another 55.

The “Plan While You Can” campaign aims to save lives and reduce preventable crashes by reminding drivers to make a plan for a sober ride if they are drinking alcohol. Leading up to the Labor Day holiday, the campaign shares this message through TV and radio public service announcements, social media, digital ads and billboards.

Driving under the influence of alcohol risks death or serious injuries. It can also be costly. Drivers can face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their driver’s license. Instead of getting behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking, here are some other options:

  • Designate a sober driver.
  • Contact a cab or ride-share service.
  • Use mass transit.
  • Spend the night.

In addition to having a sober ride, if you plan to go out this holiday weekend, follow the guidance of health officials, and maintain social distance, wear a mask and remember to wash your hands.

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

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

FEMA Directors Visit as 12,000 Meals Served by The Salvation Army in SE Texas

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Mobile kitchens from The Salvation Army of Texas served 12,000 meals in SE Texas and Lake Charles, LA, to residents affected by Hurricane Laura on Saturday. 14 teams of Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) staff and volunteers worked tirelessly throughout an extremely hot and humid day to serve hot meals to those in need.

FEMA Directors, including FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, visited a location in Orange County, TX, on Saturday where a Salvation Army mobile kitchen was preparing to serve lunch. “The Salvation Army works very closely with FEMA during times of disaster and we are thrilled that the FEMA staff saw our mobile kitchen team in action,” said Alvin Migues, Director of The Salvation Army Disaster Services for Texas. The FEMA Administrator grabbed a piece of paper during the visit and wrote down the number for affected individuals and families to call for assistance. The number, 1-800-621-3362, was posted inside the message board of the mobile kitchen for all to see. “The Salvation Army is one part of the response effort and works with FEMA, other government agencies, and many local disaster partners. These relationships are key to the success of any response effort and we appreciate the support of FEMA.” The number for FEMA assistance is now posted to each Salvation Army mobile kitchen.

Saturday was the first day of meal service by The Southern Baptist Texas Convention kitchen as part of Hurricane Laura response. The commercial-size kitchen and serving area is set up on the basketball pavilion at The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Beaumont. Mobile kitchens drive through the serving area and crews load the hot food, packed in heat sealing cambros, directly onto each vehicle. The kitchen prepared 5,000 hot meals for distribution on Saturday and it is anticipated that production will ramp up to 10,000 meals each day in the coming week.

The Salvation Army is serving food in the following fixed locations:

· Bridge City – Market Basket: 2005 Texas Ave Bridge City, TX

· Port Arthur – Sam Houston Elementary: 3245 36th Port Arthur, TX

· Orange Corps – 1950 MLK Drive Orange, TX

· Vidor – 114 W. Bolivar St, Vidor TX

· Jasper/Newton – Newton Church/Food Bank, 501 Main Street, Newton, TX

· Deweyville High School – 171 TX-12, Deweyville, TX (TX-12 & HWY 87)

· Huntsville Shelter – HEARTS Veterans Museum: 463 State Highway 75 N, Huntsville, TX

The Salvation Army has served 18,481 meals, 16,270 drinks, 6,608 snacks in affected communities in Southeast Texas since the response effort to Hurricane Laura began on Friday.

The best way to support the disaster work of The Salvation Army by making a financial donation at www.helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. For the latest information please go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/salvationarmytexas/ and www.twitter.com/salarmytx.

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