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Angelina College Surgical Technology Program Now Offers Associate Degree

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Stefanie Vaughn

Angelina College now offers an associate degree in Surgical Technology. Previously, the program offered a level one certificate.

According to Stefanie Vaughn, program director, the change is in response to industry standards. “An associate degree has now become the required degree for surgical technologists,” Vaughn said.

Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams and work under the supervision of the surgeon. Before an operation, they prepare sterile surgical instruments, equipment and supplies. They assemble the sterile equipment and ensure it is all working properly.

During surgery, the technologist passes instruments and needed supplies to the surgeon and receive tissue specimens. They ensure that there are no breaks in sterile technique so that the patient does not acquire an infection.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologists earn a median salary of more than $46,000.

In order to apply to the program, students must complete an online information session, print and turn in a quiz in order to pick up an application at the front desk of the Health Careers I building, room 100.

Students must complete all prerequisites, or be in the last semester of prerequisites, with a grade of C or above in all courses and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. A prerequisite course may only be taken twice.

Introduction to Surgical Technology (SRGT 1405) is now a prerequisite course. Up to 20 students will be selected for this course. Students must meet with a faculty advisor to register for this course which is only offered during Summer I session.

Selection of program applicants is based on completion of the online information session, completed program application, GPA, past medical experience, previous degrees earned, points for major science courses taken, letters of recommendation, and a panel interview for the up to 20 students that qualify to be registered for SRGT 1405.

Once SRGT 1405 is completed, ranking of the students will be completed, and the top 10-12 students will be conditionally accepted into the program starting Summer II. These students must pass a drug screen and background check.

For more information about the Surgical Technology program at Angelina College, email Stefanie Vaughn at svaughn@angelina.edu.

Angelina College Partnering with Kiwanians to Provide Vaccinations

By
Nancy Reynolds
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From left, Julie McManus, Lufkin High School lead counselor; Lin Lentz of the Kiwanis Club of Lufkin, and Dr. Michael Simon, Angelina College president.

Angelina College is partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Lufkin to provide meningitis vaccinations to seniors at Lufkin High School.

As of Oct. 1, 2013, Texas state law requires that all new and re-entry college students under the age of 22 must provide evidence of a bacterial meningitis vaccination or booster within the past five years and at least ten days prior to the start of school.

The Kiwanis Club of Lufkin is funding an initiative to ensure that area high school students who are likely to attend Angelina College are able to receive the required meningitis vaccine. For some students, the cost of this vaccine has been a barrier to them attending college. The Lufkin Kiwanis Club, working with Angelina College created a funding initiative to remove this obstacle.

For more information about this partnership, contact Dana Smithhart at dsmithhart@angelina.edu.

Roadrunners Hosting Two Against Mountain View AC Hoping to See Offense Break Out

By
Gary Stallard
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Trey Brown: Angelina College shortstop Trey Brown takes a throw as a Weatherford runner bears down during Friday’s game. The Roadrunners host Mountain View College on Tuesday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Roadrunner Field. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

Just a couple of key hits here or there, and the Angelina College Roadrunners could have finished Friday’s doubleheader against Weatherford College with a pair of wins.

Instead, the ‘Runners couldn’t come up with those hits, missing a few opportunities, in dropping both games of a doubleheader.

However, head coach Jeff Livin isn’t concerned. He’s getting solid pitching and defense, and he knows those missed chances are more a sign of his younger players trying to do a little too much early in the season.

“We’ve just got to learn to relax in those situations,” Livin said. “We’ve got some freshmen in some key spots, and we’re throwing them to the wolves. That’s the nature of junior college athletics. It’s hard to relax in those tough situations.

“We’ve got to learn to settle for what’s given to us right now. That’s part of maturing as a hitter: Learning what your pitch is. Right now, everyone’s eager to meet expectations early in the season, and we’re just trying to do a little too much offensively.”

Friday’s doubleheader lasted eight hours, with the opener running 11 innings before Weatherford pulled out a 9-5 win. In the nightcap, AC dropped a 3-2 decision, getting the potential tying and winning runs on board in the final at-bat before stranding those runners in a loss.

“We’re getting what we need from other areas,” Livin added. “The biggest thing right now is getting the offense on-track. We’ve got some good hitters in our lineup, and I know it’s just a matter of time before they figure things out.”

The Roadrunners will host Mountain View College in a Tuesday doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

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

Governor, Lt. Governor, & Speaker of the House Unveil Property Tax Reform Legislation

By
Joshua Blackwell
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(Austin, TX) - State Representative James White introduces Dr. Ron McMurry from Jasper as the Doctor of the Day.

On Thursday, January 31st, 2019, the Texas House filed House Bill 2, which is the first step in the legislative process to accomplish meaningful reform of the property tax system in Texas. During a historic press conference, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Senate Property Tax Committee Chair Paul Bettencourt, and House Ways & Means Chair Dustin Burrows agreed that property tax reform is a top priority for the state.

The State Legislature is responsible for governing the property tax system and ensuring the system is accountable, fair, and transparent across the 254 counties, over 1,000 cities, 1,018 independent school districts, and more than 1,800 special districts in the state. These local entities implement the state property tax code, set property tax rates, collect property tax revenue, and budget and spend property tax revenues.

More specifically, the Legislature determines the method for how county appraisal districts appraise property and establish property values. A property owner’s tax bill is the product of two numbers:

(Taxable Property Value/100) x Property Tax Rate = Property Tax Due

HB 2 contains the same identical language as that of Senate Bill 2. They both contain key provisions that will increase transparency in the calculations of property tax rates, make the appraisal review board process more efficient for taxpayers, and provide a platform for citizens to voice their position on significant property tax rate increases.

Transparency • The current notification requirements for property tax rates are complex and difficult for the lay person to understand. • HB 2 modifies the process by which taxing jurisdictions set property tax rates by strengthening the notification provisions prior to jurisdictions adopting rates, and by making the changes easier to comprehend.

Reforming the Appraisal Review Board Process • Taxpayers protest their property tax values to the Appraisal Review Boards, which frequently are the last stop in the protest process. • House Bill 2 seeks to make these hearings more taxpayer friendly by modifying how the notices of hearings are given, and changing the times in which taxpayers may appear before the board, among other modifications.

Rollback Rates • The “no-new-revenue tax rate” as set forth in HB 2 (currently the “effective tax rate”) is the property tax rate in the current year that would raise the same revenue for the taxing jurisdiction as the previous year on property that is taxable in both the current tax year and the preceding tax year, given the current year’s property values. The rollback rate is the amount of increase above the no-new-revenue tax rate a jurisdiction may increase property tax rates without a vote to limit the property tax rate growth. • HB 2 as filed changes the rollback rate to 2.5% from 8% for all taxing districts with more than $15 million in combined property and sales tax revenue. Additionally, local taxing entities under a presidential disaster declaration may direct a designated officer or employee to calculate the rollback tax rate of the taxing unit in the manner provided for a small taxing unit.

Voter Engagement • Under current law, if a property tax jurisdiction sets the current year’s property tax rate higher than the rollback rate, voters may petition the jurisdiction to hold a rollback election to cap the tax rate increase at the rollback rate. • As filed, HB 2 would change this election to a ratification election, giving voters the power automatically to vote on a property tax rate increase that exceeds the rollback rate.

As the legislation continues to move through both the Senate and House chambers, my colleagues and I, along with our constituents, will continue this discussion and ultimately craft commonsense reform.

During the week, I also had the opportunity to meet with school superintendents from House District 19, who are community education leaders in Education Service Center Regions 5 and 6. Without ambiguity, I told our superintendents that the Legislature and the Governor are committed to reforming our archaic and dysfunctional school finance system and boosting school funding in order to increase teacher pay. Additionally, members from the Texas Retired Teachers Association came to my office to discuss strengthening the Texas Teacher Retirement Pension and health insurance (TRS-Care). I told them that I am committed to protecting the integrity of their pension system by raising the base contribution that the state pays to 8 percent and creating an opportunity for the TRS Board to provide a deserved cost-of-living increase. Moreover, I support providing relief to our great Texas retired teachers facing escalating health insurance premiums.

Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy visited Austin to advocate for rural East Texas bridges and roads. She and I also discussed the adverse impact of federal and state unfunded mandates on Texas taxpayers. I truly enjoy working with Judge Murphy. She truly loves the people of Polk County. I will continue to stand with her and her commissioners’ court against unfunded mandates.

The Red Knights International Firefighters Club also visited my office during their legislative day. It was a pleasure to meet with David Die, Joe Stewart, Dugan Stanley, and Butch Chapman who all rode from Southeast Texas to be here. Stanley Tate, also with the Red Knights, stopped by my office and spoke with my staff before heading back home to Silsbee, TX.

Keith Zotzky is one of our great Southeast Texas civil engineers that resides in Lumberton. He came to Austin with the Texas Professional Engineers Association. It was a pleasure to meet with him and his colleague from Lufkin regarding the legislation that will be impacting their profession during the legislative session. I look forward to working with Keith and other civil engineers in the rebuilding and restoration of Harvey impacted Southeast Texas. I also had the honor to meet with Jodie Goff and other Texas Farm Bureau members from Southeast Texas. Sheri DelMage along with the Texas State CPA’s brought a group from Beaumont to visit with me as well. I truly enjoyed meeting with both of these groups about the impact that legislation in the Capitol has on them, specially back home in the district.

The Capitol of Texas belongs to you and visiting the Capitol during the biennial legislative session is a great experience. To assist in arranging your visit please call Saul Mendoza, my Chief of Staff, at (512) 463-0490. Or, you can email him at saul.mendoza@house.texas.gov.

Roadrunners Blank Mountain View in Doubleheader Sweep Ashby Hits for Cycle in Opener

By
Gary Stallard
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Lance Lusk: Angelina College pitcher Lance Lusk delivers during Tuesday’s opener against Mountain View College. Lusk struck out eight in five innings, and the Roadrunners earned a 16-0, 8-0 sweep at Roadrunner Field. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

Jeff Livin knew his team could hit. It was just a matter of time.

Angelina College bats proved their head coach right in a 16-0, 8-0 sweep of Mountain View College Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.

Alex Ashby hit for the cycle in the 16-0 win in the opener, getting his single in the third inning, a triple in the fourth, a double in the fifth and a two-run homer in the sixth.

Drake Pierson also homered in the first game, launching a three-run blast in the fifth inning.

Meanwhile, Roadrunner pitchers Lance Lusk and Eric Worden teamed up for the shutout. Lusk struck out eight hitters in five innings to earn the mound win.

In the nightcap, Dylan Murphy drove in a pair of runs with a third-inning single, and Taylor Meaux launched a solo homer over the right-centerfield wall in the fifth in AC’s 8-0 win.

Dalton Roblin started on the mound and threw four hitless innings. Jacob Mead came on and threw in relief, also keeping Mountain View off the board.

The Roadrunners (4-4) play at Temple College on Saturday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.

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

Roadrunners Drop Two to Weatherford AC Can’t Find Clutch Hits in Marathon Doubleheader

By
Gary Stallard
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Trent Brown: Angelina College shortstop Trent Brown (5) takes a throw at second with a Weatherford College runner bearing down on him. The Roadrunners dropped both games of a doubleheader to the Coyotes, losing 9-5 in the 11-inning opener and 3-2 in the nightcap. (Gary Stallard photo)

Eventually, the bats will come around. There are too many good hitters on the team for that not to happen.

They weren’t there for the Angelina College Roadrunners on Friday, however, as the team missed on numerous walk-off opportunities in dropping both games of a doubleheader, losing 9-5 in the 11-inning opener and 3-2 in the nightcap.

Adding to the eight-hour day’s frustrations was the fact the ‘Runners battled so hard in the first game just to keep the contest going. Trailing 4-1 heading into the seventh – the game was supposed to last just seven innings – AC put together a three-run frame to tie the score at 4-4. With the potential walk-off run at third, AC’s Trent Brown blasted a deep fly ball to the centerfield wall for a long, loud out.

In the 9th, 10th and 11th innings, the Roadrunners put possible winning runs in scoring position, only to see Coyote pitchers work their way out of the jams each time. Finally, Weatherford posted a four-run 11th inning to take the 9-5 win.

The same story unfolded in the late game. AC took a 2-1 lead into the seventh, only to see the Coyotes push across two runs in the top of the frame. Again, the Roadrunners started a rally, getting runners to second and third with two outs – and again, Coyote pitching prevailed, as Weatherford reliever Bryson Hudgens recorded a game-ending strikeout.

The Roadrunners (2-4) are at home for a Tuesday doubleheader against Mountain View College. First pitch is at 3 p.m.

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angeli

An Update from Trent Ashby

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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After a busy week meeting with constituents, attending committee hearings, and filing legislation, it’s clear that the 86th Legislative Session is well underway. As legislation starts to move through the committee process in the coming weeks and months, I want to once again encourage you to reach out to my Capitol or district office to let us know your thoughts. It’s important to remember that I work for you, and hearing from the folks who have entrusted me to serve as a voice in Austin is the only way I can ensure that I am properly representing your views and interests. We look forward to hearing from you!

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

The 86th Texas Legislature: Public Education Hearing

The House Committee on Public Education had our first meeting this week, as we heard from Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath, who provided us with a general overview on the state of education in Texas. While this hearing served as a primer on the many issues we’ll look to address this session in public education, I look forward to diving deeper with Commissioner Morath, my colleagues on the committee, and many other interested parties to the make significant strides towards bettering our public education system in Texas.

Filed Legislation

This week I filed a number of bills aimed at protecting the private property rights of landowners from abusive eminent domain condemnation. The first, House Bill 1242, states that a private entity may not enter on the lands or waters of any person to make an examination or survey for a proposed high-speed rail project unless the Texas Department of Transportation has determined the entity is a considered a railroad. Current statute does not consider the proposed high-speed rail project to fall under the existing definition of “railroad,” and this legislation will help provide stronger safeguards for landowners affected by the high-speed rail proposal.

Another bill I filed, House Bill 1245, provides landowners with increased disclosure of existing survey-related rights, including the right to negotiate survey terms and recover damages caused by the survey, as well as the landowner’s right to refuse access to their property without a court order.

Both pieces of legislation are part of a slate of bills being proposed by legislators who support the rights of landowners and desire to strengthen protections against the abuse of eminent domain.

Reminders

The mobile office is on the road this month and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations:

February 6th at the Leon County Courthouse in Centerville from 9:00-11:00am, or at the Madison County Courthouse Annex in Madisonville from 1:30-3:30pm; February 20th at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:00-11:00am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30pm; and finally on February 27th at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9:00-11:00am.

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.

Angelina College Hosting Black History Month Exhibition and Poetry Slam

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Angelina College Visual and Performing Arts Department is hosting a Black History Month art exhibition and poetry slam Feb. 12 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the AC campus.

The opening night’s festivities, including the one-night-only Poetry Slam, followed by the Fine Art reception, will begin at 5:30p.m. Members of AC’s Live Poet’s Society will share the art of the spoken word, and East Texas visual artists will display paintings, drawings and sculpture relating to the African American perspective. Artists exhibiting their work include Blake Bean, Blake Bean Jr., Kamarie Clark, Dwight Gipson, Felicia Hogg, Teresa Proctor, Karen Moore-Christopher and Gary Roberts.

The exhibition will remain on display through Feb. 27. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information about this event, call (936) 633-5233, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Angelina College Respiratory Care Program Now Accepting Applications

By
Nancy Reynolds
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The Angelina College respiratory program is now accepting applications for acceptance into the program. Applications for the fall 2019 semester are due June 20. An information session about the program is planned for Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Health Careers II building, room 221. Attendance is mandatory in order to be considered for acceptance into the program.

David Henson, respiratory program director, said that students must first complete their prerequisites before they can be considered for acceptance into the program. The prerequisite courses are Introduction to Respiratory Care, English Composition, Contemporary Math or College Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology, and Psychology.

“Students who complete the program can expect to find employment in hospitals, physician offices, emergency care clinics, home health agencies, nursing homes, and sleep labs,” Henson said. The median annual wage for respiratory therapist is approximately $59,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more information about the respiratory care program at Angelina College, contact David Henson at dhenson@angelina.edu.

Seed 101 / Understanding seed

By
Cary Sims
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Any kind of agricultural producer from a gardener to a large-scale grower relies upon the power of a seed.

Seeds contain an embryo of a plant that is genetically the cross of the mother plant and whichever plant that the pollen came from. This embryo is contained in a seed coat that, when certain conditions are met will decide to germinate and begin growth. This live embryo will last for a good while but will ultimately diminish in its ability to germinate over time. To extend the viability of seeds, they should be kept cool, away from the light and, most certainly, kept dry.

I’ve got some seed left over from last year’s gardening effort that I want to use again. It’s clearly marked on the packet that this is packaged to “sell by 12/18”. Indeed, most of that seed was certainly meant for last year’s garden. It has been left in the original paper packet in a jar in the kitchen.

So, it is any good? And how can we test our leftover seed or saved seed? You can test your germination rate by sacrificing 10 seeds. Place them between two moist paper towels, roll them up and place it in a plastic bag (to hold moisture in) and put in a warm location to for nearly a week. When you open it up, 5 sprouted seeds will mean that you can expect a 50% germination rate. If 9 seeds sprouted, that means you are doing great at 90% germination!

One thing every gardener and food producer must know is the “environmental cues” that it takes for seeds to germinate. Soil temperatures and moisture together determine when you should plant your seeds and expect optimum growth.

My old lettuce seed packet instructions say to plant from January to April, and again in the fall. With too high a temperature, the packet states, “lettuce have a difficult time even germinating”.

Contrast that with my cucumber seed packet. It states, “plant seed only after all danger of frost is past and ground is warm.” If we have an average year where the last frost happens on March 15, do you reckon the ground will be warm on March 20? I wouldn’t bet on it.

Some common questions often arise from folks wanting to plant seeds from unknown parentage. One common example would be from something like a peach. “It was the best tasting peach I ever had,” they say and “I’m going to plant the seed so I can grow a tree that produces the same peach.”

Well, I don’t know about that. The seed you saved has a blend of genetics from the mother tree and some other trees pollen. Perhaps you will have a good peach variety, perhaps not.

To stay true to the original, every plant nurseryman knows you would need to take a cutting from the original plant and either graft it to another or root in a pot of soil to start its own tree.

Another misconception that is along the same train of thought is that a cucumber planted next to a melon will make the melon fruit taste bland.

It is key to remember the growth habit and resulting fruit are directly related to the seed you planted a few months before the melons were ready for harvest.

The flesh of the cantaloupe, watermelon, or other fruit surrounds and nourishes the new formed genetic combination in the seeds that may indeed have cross pollinated with a cucumber. But the seed within your watermelon will have no bearing on the flavor or the fruit. That impact will take place in the next generation, when that seed is planted and develops into its own plant with its own fruit.

As an aside here, it is easy to have bland tasteless watermelons and cantaloupes if they get too much water close to harvest. Too much water in the last couple of weeks prior to harvest will reduce the sugar content and will give you that bland, tasteless flavor.

So, test your seeds in the paper towels. Share your best varieties that you saved seed from with other gardeners and purchase some new varieties to see what works. Diversity in our gardens and in cultivars of vegetables makes for a better, stronger garden.

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