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Governor Abbott Secures Extension Of Federally-Funded COVID-19 Testing Sites In Harris County
Registration is now open for KNB’s 5k-9 fundraiser
Woodland Heights receives Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award
Woodland Heights Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
Woodland Heights earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions
“Woodland Heights is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients,” said Drew Emery, CEO of Woodland Heights. “Caring for our stroke patients is a team effort and I am proud of the team we have. They are committed to doing the best for our patients and continue to improve patient outcomes.”
Woodland Heights additionally received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90 % of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”
Woodland Heights has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
“We are pleased to recognize Woodland Heights Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Online Cessation Classes Starting August 13th
The Coalition, Inc. is hosting free online tobacco cessation classes for adults that want to quit tobacco. There are many benefits for people who quit tobacco, including reduced risk of tobacco-related diseases and early death. With support and encouragement, you can double your chances of successfully quitting. The Freshstart program can be your start to a new life without tobacco! This 4-session program is free for all participants and all materials are included. Online classes will be August 13th, 20th, 27th and September 3rd from 6:00pm – 7:00pm. For more information, or to register, visit our Facebook group “Project Quit,” visit angelinacoalition.org/quit-for-good or call (936) 634-9308.
The Coalition, Inc. focuses on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. The Coalition is one of the oldest substance abuse prevention community coalitions in the United States.
SCHOOL ZONE LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
School zone flashers are being activated this week throughout the Lufkin District for the new school year. Drivers are urged to be cautious and alert as they drive through school zones.
While the return to school might be different for many students and teachers this year, TxDOT wants to remind motorists that state law requires drivers to reduce speed to the posted school zone speed limit while flashers are activated. Be prepared to stop during peak travel hours as traffic is directed before and after school hours.
“The return to school will be different for many students this year with varied times, locations and safety protocols to remember,” said Rhonda Oaks, Lufkin District public information officer. “We want motorists to follow all state laws and safety tips for driving through school zones and around school buses. Motorists should always stay alert for walkers, bicyclists and students entering and exiting a school bus.”
Laws and safety tips to remember for driving through school zones include:
- Cell phone use is banned in active school zones. Anyone using a cell phone could face a fine of up to $200.
- Obey school zone speed limits. Traffic fines double in school zones.
- Student delivery and pick-up should only be done in the school’s designated areas, not in or near the street.
- Be alert for students who might cross the street between vehicles.
Laws and safety tips for traveling near a school bus include:
- A driver traveling in either direction must stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal. The driver may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, the bus driver signals to proceed, or the visual signals are no longer activated.
- If a road is divided only by a left-turn lane, drivers on both sides of the roadway must stop for school buses while lights are activated. If the travel lanes are separated by an intervening median or physical barrier, only motorists traveling in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.
- Violators could face up to a $1,000 fine.
Parents of students who walk or bike to school should also be aware of safe practices and discuss them with their students before school begins. Safety tips for students include:
- Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right, and then left again before proceeding.
- Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Always obey crossing guards.
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
Three Texas Parks and Wildlife Employees Perish in Helicopter Crash During Bighorn Sheep Survey
While conducting aerial surveys for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas on Saturday, Aug. 8, three Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees died in a helicopter crash on TPWD’s Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Brewster County.
The victims include Wildlife Biologist Dewey Stockbridge, Fish and Wildlife Technician Brandon White, and State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Bob Dittmar. The pilot, a private contractor, survived the crash and was transported to El Paso for further treatment.
“No words can begin to express the depth of sadness we feel for the loss of our colleagues in this tragic accident,” said Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director. “These men were consummate professionals, deeply liked and highly regarded by their peers and partners alike for the immense passion, dedication, and expertise they brought to their important work in wildlife management and veterinary medicine. Wildlife conservation in Texas lost three of its finest as they so honorably and dutifully carried out their calling to help survey, monitor and protect the bighorns of their beloved west Texas mountains. We will miss Dewey, Brandon, and Dr. Bob deeply and dearly. All of us at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department send our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Stockbridge, White, and Dittmar families in the wake of this devastating tragedy and continue to pray for the health and recovery of the pilot.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Game Wardens are currently investigating the incident. Further details will be shared with the public as they become available.
Identifying and Dealing with Lawn Insects
I am not the guy that fusses over his lawn. As long as it is short and green and relatively free from pests, then I’m satisfied. But we do have a number of insects that can wreak havoc on turfgrass and cause it to be unsightly.
Grubs (also known as grubworms), armyworms, chinch bugs, and mole crickets are insects that commonly cause the most damage to lawns in our area.
Grubs are the larval stage of the June beetle. It is commonly known as the “June Bug” and is the is the pestering brown bug that we see in late April and May. After they eat leaves and pester you around your porch lights at night, they’ll mate, lay eggs in the ground, and then larva hatch to eat your lawn’s roots during the summer.
As they eat up roots, your lawn looks splotchy and doesn’t have a good root system to hold it to the ground. One diagnostic tool is to grab the sod and lift. If you find that you can lift the turfgrass up like you could lift a shag carpet off the subfloor, you may well have grubs. A closer inspection with a shovel will readily confirm their presence.
Grubs are easier to control when they are small. If you wait until they are fully grown, they are nearly impossible to control.
Armyworms are caterpillars that are well known by hay producers and stockmen with high quality pastures. They’ll march across a pasture or lawn and eat up the grassy vegetation. Armyworm caterpillars are easy to see earlier in the day as they munch their way across the front yard. Later in the heat of the day, they’ll drop down to avoid the warmer temperatures.
Armyworms are the larva of a nocturnal grey moth that you’d hardly ever notice. While there are more than one kind of armyworm, the Fall armyworm typically shows up in our area in the mid-summer and can stay until late fall.
Probably the easiest to rid, there are several insecticides that work if you simply spray them on the caterpillar.
Chinch bugs are harder to find. Though we confuse their damage with that of lawn fungus problems, they are a frequent pest. These are sucking insects that feed on the crowns of grasses, injecting toxic saliva that can cause wilting and death of turfgrass. Chinch bug infestations often are spotty and may be restricted to certain lawns or parts of lawns.
The southern chinch bug is a pest of St. Augustine grass, particularly during periods of hot, dry weather common in July and August. You may have heard about the coffee-can “floating method” to locate them. I prefer to simply crouch down with my shadow cast behind me, and quickly part the lawn with my hands. Do this several times in the afflicted area of your yard. If you notice several small brown to black insects scurrying around, you’ve found your problem.
Mole crickets are not as well known around here. Named for the way they look, imagine a dull brown cricket, nearly 1-1/2 inches long, with enlarged front legs that are shovel-like and modified for digging. They don’t feed on plants but (like the regular mole) they damage roots as they push through the soil looking for food. The southern mole cricket feeds primarily on other insects and earthworms as nymphs and adults. Their prey-searching activities involving digging shallow tunnels in soil, resembling mole runs.
For each of the insect pests listed above, there are a number of products that will target them. Always read the label and follow the instructions.
I know that the label is written with impossibly small font. Put on your reading glasses and take some time to look it over and you will find an abundance of information to help you rid your lawn of these problematic insects.
Governor Abbott Announces Federally Funded COVID-19 Testing Sites In Harris County
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MAJOR PROJECTS CONTINUING IN ANGELINA AND NACOGDOCHES COUNTIES
Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for TxDOT maintenance and construction crews. The Lufkin District has many work zones throughout the nine-county district. Major construction is underway in many areas. As motorists drive through these work zones, they are urged to reduce speed, stay alert to moving equipment and workers close to the lanes of traffic. Obey all traffic control in place and allow extra time in case of delays.
Three major projects currently underway in Angelina and Nacogdoches counties include:
US 59 South/Diboll Relief Route: Crews continue to clear property for the bypass located on the east side of Diboll. The $140.9 million relief route began earlier this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Sacyr Construction USA LLC, Miami, FL is serving as contractor for the project that will extend from FM 2108 to 1.15 miles south of White Oak Creek. The relief route will meet interstate design standards and will serve as the hurricane evacuation route and will move vehicular traffic along the US 59 corridor.
Current work includes clearing and removing stumps and dirt work on the north and south ends of the project. Crews continue to build header embankments at Mockingbird Lane. In coming days, crews will begin installing bridge foundations. Utilities continue to be moved and concrete columns will be set at Mockingbird Lane. Loggers also continue logging operations moving south to Conner Road and will continue hauling through Lumberjack Drive.
US 69 South/Zavalla: The work on US 69 South at SH 63 in Zavalla is a $71.6 million project designed to widen US 69 from two lanes to a divided rural four lane highway from FM 844 to FM 1270. The project began in July 2018 and is on schedule to be completed in 2022. Johnson Brothers, Roanoke, TX is serving as contractor. Work continues in newly constructed southbound lanes of US 69 between FM 844 and BW Horton Road. Concrete in being set for a new bridge in southbound lanes just north of Zavalla near First Street. Northbound lanes between FM 1270 and Zavalla also has crews working with the application of prime, chip seal and hot mix. Detours are being placed near FM 1270 and BW Horton Road with lane closures anticipated in coming days.
Work is also continuing from FM 1270 to the Jasper County line that will continue construction of a four-lane divided highway. Drewery Construction Co., Nacogdoches TX, is serving as contractor for the $37.5 million project. It is scheduled to be completed in early 2023, weather permitting. Current work includes clearing south of Earnest Smith Road and includes dirt and structure work for new northbound lanes between FM 1270 and Chambers Road.
US 59 North/SL 224/Nacogdoches County: The US 59/SL 224 construction project began in 2019 and is progressing well with the construction of new main lanes to the east of US 59. Longview Bridge and Road, Longview, TX is serving as contractor for the $86.1 million project that is scheduled to be completed in 2022. The work will include the construction of overpasses at Spradley Street, existing US 59 and Old Lufkin Road and the construction of frontage roads for SL 224 between SH 7 and BU 59. The project was designed to meet interstate standards and will extend from SH 7 West on SL 224 to 1.2 miles south of Spradley Street on US 59.
Work planned for coming days include placing embankment and topsoil near the south end of the project. Preparing right of way and cement stabilization near US 59 is continuing. Bridge work also continues with placing southbound deck panels and overhangs. Crews are tying steel and placing bridge railing in northbound lanes.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.
Governor Abbott, Texas Film Commission, Governor’s Commission For Women Invite Texans To Attend Women In Tech & Innovation Forum
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Film Commission, and the Governor’s Commission for Women invite Texans to attend the online Women in Tech & Innovation Forum on September 1 through September 4, 2020. The forum will be co-hosted by the Texas Film Commission, the Governor’s Commission for Women, and presented by AT&T. The free four-day conference includes an online series of panel discussions and presentations designed to inspire women in the creative and tech industries, and is designed for female leaders, entrepreneurs, and creative tech professionals interested in professional development in Texas.
Each day, tech leaders from AT&T, Capital Factory, the University of Texas at Austin, Electronic Arts, and more will host conversations on workplace practices, business funding, and more. Attendees can end the week with virtual mentorship sessions with select panelists. Forum highlights include:
Tuesday, September 1
- A Keynote Panel with Texas Executives: Moderated by Nathali Parker with the Governor’s Commission for Women, and featuring Jan Ryan with the University of Texas at Austin, and Leslie Ward with AT&T — 11:00AM-12:00PM
Wednesday, September 2
- Professional Mentorship & Attracting Talent: Moderated by Starr Corbin with the Governor’s Commission for Women, and featuring Alex Masters-Goessling with Electronic Arts and Victoria Mosa-Lyons with HR Matters Global — 11:00AM-12:00PM
- Specialty Focus: Perspective Taking In VR: With AMP Creative’s Amy Lou Abernathy — 12:15PM-1:00PM
Thursday, September 3
- Funding for Businesses: Moderated by Josh Baer with Capital Factory, and featuring Adriana Cruz with the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism, Jan Ryan with the University of Texas at Austin, and Preston L. James, II with DivInc — 11:00AM-12:00PM
- Specialty Focus Session: Invest in Yourself: With Monique Renée Meyer, Monique Renée Design Studio, LLC — 12:15PM-1:00PM
Friday, September 4
- Virtual Mentorship Sessions: Time TBD
More about the four-day forum: https://gov.texas.gov/film/page/women-in-tech
More about the Texas Film Commission: https://gov.texas.gov/film
More about the Governor’s Commission for Women: https://gov.texas.gov/women