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She’s a Cowgirl Now AC’s Mack Signs Official Letter of Intent with Oklahoma State University

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Natasha Mack (seated, left) poses with family members during Tuesday’s ceremony at Shands Gymnasium. The Lufkin native signed her national letter of intent to play with Oklahoma State University beginning in the fall of 2019. (Gary Stallard photo)

After spending months of hearing offers from a long list of potential suitors that included Tigers, Shockers, Red Storms and others, the nation’s top junior college women’s player will become a Cowgirl.

Angelina College’s Natasha Mack on Tuesday signed her official letter of intent to play with Oklahoma State University, ending months of speculation as to where the Lufkin native and reigning NJCAA Division I Player of the Year would continue her education and basketball career. Mack has been visiting campuses and programs around the nation, but said she fell in love with the thought of playing for the Big XII program.

“The fan base, the coaches, the team – I really love the whole atmosphere at Oklahoma State,” Mack said. “I feel what I learned playing in this conference (Region XIV) prepared me for whatever comes next.”

Mack led the Lady Roadrunners in 2018-2019 to the program’s first-ever appearance at the national tournament after AC won the Region XIV conference tournament. The team spent most of the year ranked in the top 20 nationally and established a record for wins in a season with 29.

In addition, Mack set school records for points in a season (791), career points scored (1,471), rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. She was a four-time national Player of the Week, and is the first Angelina College athlete to earn both 1st Team All-American status and the National Player of the Year award.

Mack will major in communications at OSU. She is the daughter of Bonnie Lee and Anthony Mack.

Georgia-Pacific Donates $18,000 to Lufkin and Diboll Fire Departments

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Particleboard Plant Manager David Thelen (far left) presents Diboll Volunteer Firefighters and Diboll Mayor John McClain with a $10,000 contribution to help the department replace aging equipment and access life-saving training. Pictured (l to r) Larry Lucas, Firefighter; John McClain, Mayor; Sam Coleman, Firefighter; Gary Jones, Fire Chief; and David Thelen.

Each year Diboll and Lufkin firefighters respond to hundreds of calls for help. Whether it is structure fires, hazardous spills, or traffic accidents, firefighters put their lives on the line every day to help others. Georgia-Pacific appreciates the hard work of area firefighters and understands the importance of investing in the vital services they provide. Recently, the local building products manufacturer donated $18,000 to the Diboll and Lufkin fire departments to help them gain access to new equipment and life-saving training.

According to Diboll Volunteer Fire Chief Gary Jones, the funding is critical to his organization. “We usually respond to approximately 100 structure and brush fires on an annual basis. Additionally, we are called out to help with motor vehicle accidents,” said Jones. “With the large amount of calls—whether they are fire-related or assisting fellow emergency responders in other areas—we are challenged each year to fund our operations. Two-thirds of the nation’s firefighters are volunteers; therefore, organizations like the Diboll Volunteer Department don’t have access to government funding and are dependent upon local grants and donations.”

Georgia-Pacific is a continuous supporter of the Diboll Volunteer Fire Department. This year the company donated $10,000 to the organization. “As a company with three major facilities and close to 300 employees in Diboll, it is reassuring to know that if there is an emergency we can count on the Diboll Volunteer Fire Department,” said David Thelen, Georgia-Pacific Particleboard Plant Manager. “We appreciate the countless hours these volunteer firefighters contribute to our city each year.”

Operating from five emergency stations throughout the city, The Lufkin Fire Department answers approximately 13,000 calls each year. It is a full-service operation offering fire suppression rescue, emergency medical services with paramedics and ambulances, a hazardous materials team and fire inspections. This year Georgia-Pacific is donating $8,000 to the Lufkin Fire Department which will fund new equipment and protective gear.

“Although we are a department of the city, it is equally important to have external funds to cover additional equipment and training,” said Ted Lovett, Lufkin Fire Chief. “Equipment can be extremely expensive and cost prohibitive, but thanks to donors, like Georgia-Pacific, we are able to attain additional items and on-going education needed to help make our job safer and more efficient.”

According to Georgia-Pacific Lufkin Chemical Plant Manager Rick Robbins, supporting the Lufkin Fire Department is one of the most important contributions his plant makes each year. “We are privileged to have such an innovative and aggressive group of men and women on the front lines protecting our homes and businesses. We are proud to continue our strong partnership with the city and its firefighters.”

Since 2006, Georgia-Pacific has contributed more than $2 million to fire departments across the nation to purchase protective clothing and replace damaged safety gear and aging equipment.

The Trail With Sales

By
Joshua Blackwell
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Love shopping and/or history? Take a day and explore the 111 miles of the historical El Camino Real de los Tejas on May 3-4, 2019.

On the trail you will find garage and yard sales, flea markets, entertainment and much more.

According to the Toledo Bend website “If you are a shopping warrior, collector, or just looking for fun, a weekend shopping the trail is a wonderful way to take advantage of the beautiful spring scenery and historical markers along the El Camino Real de los Tejas.”

Begin this fun trip in Nacogdoches, TX going East on TX Hwy 21 and wind through San Augustine, TX, before continuing onto LA Hwy 6 into Many, LA before arriving in Natchitoches, LA.

For more information visit Toledo Bend Lake Country, or on Facebook @ Sale on the Trail

For additional information call (936)-564-7351.

FRIDAY NIGHT BLUEGRASS CONCERT KICKS OFF BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The Texas Blueberry Festival kicks off with the Blueberry Bluegrass Concert in the Park, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 7 at Festival Plaza in downtown Nacogdoches.

Rex Perry Autoplex is sponsoring Friday’s family-friendly bluegrass concert that will feature four well-known musical acts: Catahoula Drive, The Purple Hulls, The Jeff Robertson Band and El Camino Real.

The toe-tapping fun continues with Pickin’ on the Square from 11 am to 2 pm, Saturday, June 8, in the Regions Bank Community Room and the City Hall Meeting Room. Bluegrass musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and jam with new friends in air-conditioned comfort.

THE ACTS

East Texas bluegrass lovers may recognize Catahoula Drive, a Pineville, La. four-piece band, from the first two Blueberry Bluegrass Concerts in the Park. Band members are Jamey Alwell, (guitar and vocals), Dennis Stewart (mandolin and vocals), and Tres Nugent (string bass and vocals) and Devon Avery (banjo and vocals).

The Purple Hulls are identical twins Katy Lou and Penny Lea Clark. The Clark sisters were raised on a working family farm in Kilgore and they paid for college with money from the family’s purple hull harvest. After graduation, they moved to Nashville, where they began touring with various country artists and writing songs for Nashville’s largest publishing company, Sony Tree. The sisters returned home in 2012 to care for their terminally ill father and they stayed in East Texas after he passed away, helping their mother with the farm while continuing their music career. The Purple Hulls have spent the first few months of 2019 touring Europe, and will return to the United States just in time for their third appearance at the Blueberry Bluegrass Concert.

The Jeff Robertson Band plays traditional bluegrass, gospel and some rousing classic country performed bluegrass-style. Robertson is a guitar maker in Bastrop who plays with seasoned pickers from all over Texas. They made their Nacogdoches debut at last year’s Blueberry Bluegrass Concert in the Park.

El Camino Real is a group of Nacogdoches musicians who gather weekly to play traditional acoustic music. Charlie Jones plays fiddle, mandolin and clawhammer banjo, Jon Hall plays guitar, mandolin and sings, Craig Smith sings, plays guitar, mandolin and banjo uke, Mark McLain plays bass, and Robbie Lacomb-Roach and Chris Barker are the percussionists. They are regulars at Steve Hartz’s Old Time Mercantile and String Shop Saturday sessions and have been playing for more than thirty years.

FOOD, PARKING AND MORE

The concert will also feature food vendors, including some local farmer’s market favorites selling homemade items, as well as catfish, barbecue, corn dogs, fried green tomato sandwiches, vegetarian options, soft drinks, blueberry lemonade and lots of water. Organizers encourage attendees to bring blankets and lawn chairs. The event is family-friendly, so no coolers or alcohol will be allowed.

Parking will be available downtown. However, some downtown streets will be closed due to the Blueberry Festival, so concert-goers are urged to visit www.tbf.nacogdoches.org or www.facebook.com/bluegrassnac/ for parking instructions. Parking with free shuttle service to the concert venue will be available at First Baptist Church, 411 North St. Parking at the venue will be at the Nacogdoches City Garage location at 114 W. Cox St.

Organizers are grateful for the enthusiastic partners that make the concert possible, especially Rex Perry Autoplex, the City of Nacogdoches and the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Texas Blueberry Festival presented by Tipton Ford continues Saturday with a full day of activities in downtown Nacogdoches, including a Blueberry pancake breakfast, competitions and more live entertainment. For more information, visit tbf.nacogdoches.org/ or call 936-560-5533.

ANGELINA COUNTY AIRPORT WINS STATE AWARD FOR ‘MOST IMPROVED’

By
Rhonda Oaks
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The Texas Department of Transportation presented the 2019 Most Improved Airport award to theAngelina CountyAirport recently at the 37th annual Texas Aviation Conference in Galveston.

Implementing an airport improvement program grant, airport officials began an ambitious project to improve pavement surfaces that included removing and reinstalling portions of a taxiway and asphalt around existing hangars. Pavement rehabilitation was completed on all remaining taxiway and runway surfaces that were not replaced.

In addition to the pavement rehabilitation, taxiways and runways were also repainted, increasing visibility and enhancing safety. Drainage improvements were also made.

The airport also utilized federal funding grants to support self-service fuel pumps, upgrades to hangars, fuel tank electronic repairs, security cameras and lighting improvements.

“This year’s most improved airport epitomizes true teamwork, as they utilized their available resources to completely revamp an airport that, over time, has become popular for business aviation, training, and recreational flying,” said David S. Fulton, TxDOT Aviation Division Director.  “Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to service.”

For more information, contact TxDOT Media Relations at MediaRelations@txdot.gov or (512) 463-8700.

Polk County Crash

By
Joshua Blackwell
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The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigated a two vehicle fatal crash on April 28, on US 190 about five miles east of Livingston.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 3:15 a.m., a 2015 Dodge pickup was traveling west. For unknown reasons the driver of the Dodge crossed over the center of the roadway and struck an eastbound 2003 Cadillac pickup head-on, causing the Cadillac to catch fire and burn.

The driver of the Dodge is identified as 40-year-old Alton Kimes from Livingston. Kimes was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Polk County Justice of the Peace. A passenger with Kimes is identified as 40-year-old Naomi Moody, also from Livingston. Moody was transported to CHI St. Luke’s Hospital in Livingston and then transported to Conroe Regional Medical Center by medical helicopter.

The driver of the Cadillac was also pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators continue to work to determine the identity of the driver.

This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

Roadrunners Sweep Northeast Texas Livin Gets 750th Career Win as Head Coach

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College pitcher Sean Bergeron tossed a no-hitter in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Northeast Texas Community College. The Roadrunners made it a three-game series sweep with a 12-2 win in the nightcap at Roadrunner Field. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Angelina College head baseball coach Jeff Livin entered Saturday’s doubleheader against Northeast Texas Community College with 749 career wins.

His 750th was one to remember.

Roadrunner starting pitcher Sean Bergeron tossed a no-hitter in AC’s 5-0 win, giving Livin the milestone 750th win. Bergeron allowed just two Eagle base runners the entire game, finishing with four strikeouts in going the distance.

“That’s a pretty special way to get a 750th,” Livin said.

Livin’s crew wasn’t finished celebrating: The team pounded the Eagles 12-2 in five innings in the nightcap, giving the Roadrunners the three-game series sweep. Lance Lusk earned the win, scattering four hits while striking out three in five innings. Taylor Meaux and Rylan Meek each homered in the game.

The series sweep did more than add to Livin’s impressive list: AC moved a full five games ahead of the Eagles in the Region XIV East Zone standings with just three conference games remaining. Depending on Saturday’s Bossier Parish/Paris College results, the ‘Runners could find themselves alone in second place by Sunday morning.

Livin, now in his 22nd season, held a head coaching stint at Wayland Baptist University prior to arriving at AC. He celebrated his 500th win in 2013, and his teams have averaged more than 30 wins per season since he took over the Roadrunner program.

The Roadrunners (28-18, 14-13) will host Wharton College on Monday in a single, nine-inning game starting at 5 p.m. AC will close out the regular season with a three-game series against Paris College starting Friday and wrapping up on Saturday. All three games take place at Roadrunner Field.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

Winter Squash

By
Cary Sims
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Ever heard winter squash? I’d heard of it for years and never understood the name. I understand summer squash: the yellow squash varieties and zucchini that is a warm season vegetable and harvested when tender and eaten immediately.

But winter squash is also grown in the summer months. It cannot tolerate cold soil and certainly won’t last after a frost. But the name?

The designation “winter” comes from the fact that because of its tough rind, it can store well for weeks or even months and then eaten throughout the winter. In days gone by, gardeners relied upon these summer-grown squash to make it thru the winter months.

In fact, if you think of the cornucopia that graces the Thanksgiving table, it typically contains several varieties of winter squash that settlers stored for the coming winter.

Acorn, Spaghetti, Butternut and others are some of the most common. Others that you would recognize include Hubbard and Turks Turban. And there is a wide assortment of varietals that I am not listing. Pumpkins, though we certainly think of them as different from squash are very closely related in the cucurbit family of vegetables.

Just like their summer relatives, plant when all chance of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. We plant them in full sunlight in hills just like other cucurbit crops.

Both winter and summer squash will grow on large spreading vines so be sure to give them plenty of room.

Every experienced gardener knows the joke about the neighbors pretending not to be home when you come over with more zucchini to share. That is a vegetable that can be prolific and won’t last long. Likewise, your winter squash should also be prolific. But you won’t need to get rid of it quickly.

Whereas your summer squash will be ready in 40 – 50 days, winter squash will take 70 to 100 days (just over three months!) before they are ready to be harvested.

Unlike yellow summer squash that you harvest before the rind gets tough, you’ll want to wait until the fruit of winter squash have turned a deep, solid, almost dull color, when the rinds have hardened. If your fingernail can push thru the rind, you are harvesting it too early. Leave at least two inches of stem and they will store for several weeks to a couple months in a cool dry place.

Fruits that are not fully mature, have their stems knocked off, subjected to frost, or are bruised should be eaten immediately or be added to the compost pile.

I’ve got butternut and spaghetti squash growing now in my garden. The first time I had spaghetti squash was not too long ago when it was served up with meatballs and marinara sauce. Not bad at all!

My Butternut squash, cut in half and backed in the oven with a little butter and brown sugar, is what I’m most looking forward to!

Big Week Pushes Lady Roadrunners up the Polls AC Ranked No. 15 Nationally

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College right fielder Jessica Husband closes in on a running catch during a recent game. The Lady Roadrunners climbed to No. 15 in this week’s NJCAA Division I national rankings. (Gary Stallard photo)

The Angelina College Lady Roadrunner softball team used a big week to climb another notch in the national rankings.

The Lady ‘Runners moved to No. 15 in the NJCAA Division I polls after sweeping Kilgore College on the road on April 12 and Trinity Valley Community College at home on April 19. AC beat Kilgore 10-2 and 6-1, getting a homer from Kaylee Ancelot in the opener, and followed up with wins of 12-8 and 4-0 over TVCC behind homers from Ancelot and Rachel Agnello.

Although Monday’s games didn’t factor into the recent polls, the Lady ‘Runners can expect another jump in next week’s rankings after earning a road split at No. 5 Tyler Junior College on Monday. AC took the first game by an 8-3 final behind a complete game from pitcher Shelby Mixon and led most of the nightcap before falling 5-4 on a Lady Apache two-run, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.

AC’s ladies will play three consecutive road doubleheaders at Northeast Texas Community College, Navarro College and Paris College before returning home on Wednesday to face Kilgore College starting at 1 p.m. Following the Kilgore games, the team will hold its Sophomore Night ceremonies.

The Lady Roadrunners close out the regular season at home on Friday in a doubleheader against Bossier Parish Community College. Game time for the opener is 3 p.m.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.

An Update from Trent Ashby

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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After several weeks of thunderstorms, tornados, and severe weather across East Texas, my heart goes out to the individuals and families who are mourning the loss of a loved one, or whose property was damaged by the storms. As we rebuild and recover, my family and I will continue to keep our fellow East Texans in our thoughts and prayers, and I would encourage you and yours to do the same. For anyone needing assistance, please don’t hesitate to call either my Austin office at (512) 463-0508, or my district office in Lufkin at (936) 634-2762.

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol. . .

Legislative Update

This week, the Texas House took decisive action on a number of bills that help protect our Second Amendment rights. One of the bills I’d like to highlight, House Bill 516, provides immunity to property or business owners who allow the carrying of handguns by a license holder on their property. Current law is unclear about whether liability applies to property owners who allow for open or concealed carry on their property, and this legislation would provide clear protections to those property and business owners who allow law-abiding gun owners to carry a weapon on their property. Another bill, House Bill 302, protects the rights of owners and tenants of residential units who lawfully possess firearms in their apartments or condominiums. Currently, an individual could be charged for unlawfully transporting a firearm from their car to their residence if the landlord displays a sign prohibiting firearms. As a lifelong gun-owner, I was proud to support both pieces of legislation that I believe will further protect the rights of Texans across the state.

Finally, I had the opportunity to present three bills in the House Committee on Land & Resource Management this week dealing with the ever-controversial topic of eminent domain. For private property owners facing condemnation of their land, the system can be challenging. Many landowners are unfamiliar with the full extent of their rights, much less the obligations of a condemning entity, and are often faced with a lot of uncertainty when approached by entities seeking to acquire property through eminent domain. All three bills deal with different stages of the process, from the initial meeting of the landowner and the condemning entity, all the way until taxes are due on land that has been taken. I believe these bills strengthen private property rights by empowering landowners with more information about their existing rights and the obligations of those wishing to conduct a survey. These bills level the playing field for all involved parties.

Reminders

The mobile office is on the road this month and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: May 1st from 9am – 11am at the Leon County Courthouse in Centerville or 1-:30pm – 3:30 pm at the Madison County Courthouse Annex in Madisonville; May 15th from 9am – 11:00am at the Houston County Courthouse in Crockett or from 1:30pm – 3:30pm at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton. You can also come see us on May 22nd from 9am – 11am at the San Augustine Courthouse in San Augustine.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office if we can help you in any way. Our district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, or you can call my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.

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