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Lady Roadrunner Softball Ranked Nationally in Academics Six Players Named to Scholar Athletes Lis

By
Gary Stallard
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The 2017-2018 Angelina College softball teamed earned its place 2017-2018 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic Teams, ranking 13th among NJCAA Division I programs and 30th among all two-year colleges. (Gary Stallard/photo)

The season may have ended in May, but the Angelina College’s 2017-2018 Lady Roadrunner softball team continues to earn recognition for its work in the classroom.

On Tuesday, the Lady ‘Runners were named to the 2017-2018 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic Teams after compiling a team-wide 3.230 grade-point average for the Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters.

AC ranked 13th among the National Junior College Athletics Association’s Division I programs and 30th among all two-year schools.

In addition, six Lady Roadrunners earned their places on the Easton/NFCA Scholar Athletes list: Emilee Cernosek (Katy, TX), Morgan Conner (Groveton, TX), Riley Garrett (Katy, TX ), Megan Kirchhoff (Spring, TX), Taylor Lenggenhager (Austin, TX) and Nikki Whitehead (Kingwood, TX).

Angelina College softball coaches are Mark and Barbi Mattson.

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

From Chores to Student Loans: Teaching Kids Money Basics

By
Statepoint
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For kids, October is a big month because it includes the one night where costumes are encouraged and begging for candy is expected. But it’s also National Financial Awareness Month, and amazingly, many teenagers will graduate high school this year with little knowledge about how finances work, flying blind into a hurricane-sized storm of potential debt, bad loans, bankruptcy, and no savings or retirement.

As a parent, you can head this off. To help, the makers of BusyKid, an app that tracks kids’ chores and allowance, are offering families tips and financial basics for getting started.

• Chores. Introduce chores early and treat them as if it’s your child’s first job. By changing the mindset around chores, kids can develop a good work ethic that can carry over to a real job.

• Modern Money. It’s estimated that less than 10 percent of the world’s currency is actually paper or coins. This means your child needs to know how to manage invisible money, including paying bills and tracking credit and debit card spending.

• Savings. Thirty-nine percent of Americans admit to having no money in a savings account. Teach children to save a portion of money they receive from birthdays, holidays, babysitting, mowing grass, etc. A good rule of thumb for kids: 50 percent savings, 40 percent spending and 10 percent sharing.

• Sharing. Contributing to non-profits not only feels good but helps others in need. It could also provide a tax benefit when your child is old enough to be filing.

• Investing. If your child ever wants to retire, he or she will need to invest money along the way, and practice makes perfect. Luckily, there are resources available to teach them how, including some fantasy investing games, as well as apps like BusyKid, which provides a place to buy real shares of stock for as little as $10.

• Compound Interest. Compound interest is when a bank pays interest on both the principal (the original amount of money) and the interest an account has already earned. As an example, if you put $1000 in the bank with compound interest of 10 percent, in 20 years you’ll have more than $7,000. Without compound interest, it would be $3,000. Let your money make money!

• Credit Cards. This is not free money! Have one card for emergencies or travel, but make sure the annual percentage rate is low and is paid off monthly. Your kids will be flooded with offers as soon as they’re old enough, so teach them to say no, even when promised gifts for signing up.

• Student Loans. The U.S. student loan debt is currently $1.45 trillion (an average of $37,000 per student) and nearly 7 million loans are in default. Follow this simple rule — don’t borrow more than your child will earn in his or her first year out of school.

For more money management knowledge and practice, enroll your family in BusyKid. Visit www.busykid.com for more information.

This National Financial Awareness Month, take steps to prepare your child for a successful future.

-Statepoint

Angelina College Honors Smith-Hutson Students

By
Nancy Reynolds
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From left, front row: Colton Lovell, Cooper Bendy and Jose Mora. From left, middle row: Jolie Cheney, Monica Vera, Kyndell Gore, Hunter Mercer, Gracie Thompson, Bethany Cole and Marcie Morris. From left, back row: Ellen Murray, Elizabeth Matthews, Andea Vidal, Milneshia Phipps, Gary Thomas, Angelica Cordero and Brennon Davis.
From left, front row: Vanessa Terraza, Dyana Buenrostro, and Jennifer Hernandez. From left, middle row: Wendy Cuc-Hernandez, Summer Durham, Jaselyn Johnson and Ramsi Bentley. From left, back row: Gloria Hunt, Kylie Rodgers, Chloe Vineyard, Alicia Vazquez, Clay Thomson, and Makayla Ray.

Angelina College recently honored 32 Smith-Hutson Scholarship recipients at an honors banquet at Ralph & Kacoo’s restaurant. The Smith-Hutson Scholarship program was founded by a Sam Houston State University graduate, who anonymously, invests in the future of young people. Established at SHSU in 1996, the program has since expanded to Angelina College, Stephen F. Austin State University, Lamar University and Lamar Technical Institute.

According to Angie Cranford, AC scholarship coordinator, the scholarship program focuses on students who have academic potential and are unable to attend college without financial assistance. “The scholarship awards are for full tuition, fees and books for the student each semester, as long as they are in good standing and have maintained the required 2.5 cumulative GPA, and are enrolled as a full-time student (according to the program lined out in their degree plan),” Cranford said.

Detailed information about the application process can be found at www.angelina.edu/financial-aid.

Scholarship recipients from Lufkin are Angelica Cordero, Jose Cuc, Wendy Cuc-Hernandez, Kyndell Gore, Gloria Hunt, Elizabeth Matthews, Alicia Vazquez, Andrea Vidal and Chloe Vineyard.

Scholarship recipients from Diboll are Hunter Mercer, Milneshia Phipps, Kylie

Rodgers and Vanessa Terrazas.

Scholarship recipients from Central are Dyana Buenrostro, Summer Durham and Maddison Hoose.

Other scholarship recipients are Ramsi Bently and Gary Thomas Jr., both of Apple Springs; Cooper Bendy and Clay Thomson, both of Chester; Colton Lovell and Monica Vera, both of Corrigan; Jennifer Hernandez, Groveton; Jolie Cheney, Etoile; Bethany Cole, Houston; Jocelyn Johnson, Jasper; Brennon Davis, Kirbyville; Jose Mora, Lovelady; Makayla Ray, Nacogdoches; Ellen (Niki) Murray, Palestine; Gracie Thompson, Trinity; and Marcie Morris, Wells.

October Declared National Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month

By
Ezra McMullen
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October has been designated as National Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month. This is a time to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices many long-term care (LTC) residents have made to better our community. It also brings attention to the rights of residents in long-term care facilities.

During Residents’ Rights Month, the Area Agency on Aging of Deep East Texas recognizes our local long-term care ombudsman program staff and volunteers. They work daily to promote residents’ rights, assist residents with complaints and provide information to those who need to find a long-term care facility. In this area it serves twelve counties which have forty-one nursing facilities and eighteen assisted living facilities.

The theme for Residents’ Rights Month 2018 is “Speak Up: Know Your Rights and How to Use them.” The theme emphasizes the importance of residents being informed about their rights; being engaged partners in achieving quality care and quality of life; and feeling confident in speaking up about what is important to them.

As Deep East Texas Area Agency on Aging Ombudsman Program celebrates Residents’ Rights, we encourage community members to visit those they know in a long-term care facility, volunteer in a facility and participate in Residents’ Rights Month events. You could also inquire about becoming a volunteer long-term care ombudsman. Assistance and attention helps to ensure that the voices of long-term care residents do not go unheard and demonstrates to residents that they have not been forgotten. For more information on the Ombudsman Program, or to volunteer, contact Tonya Jackson, Managing Local Ombudsman at 1-800-256-6848 ext. 5326 or 409/384-5407 ext. 5326.

Forget Calorie Counting: New Guidelines for Losing Weight

By
Ezra McMullen
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For years, the general wisdom was that the only scientifically proven way to shed pounds and inches was to consume fewer calories than one burned each day. Unfortunately, that formula doesn’t work for everybody. Why? Experts say that this is because successful weight loss is associated with a wider range of factors.

“Gaining control of your weight is more complex than the ‘calories in/calories out’ approach that so many dieters subscribe to,” says Margie Adelman, president of Simplipur, a maker of dietary supplements. “Now research shows that powerful factors regulate weight, and that understanding those factors can help you reach your goals.”

According to Adelman, these are clinically proven actions that promote fat loss, which every dieter should know about:

• Rethink your goals. In dieting, your number one goal shouldn’t be to lose pounds but rather to increase your lean body mass. Healthy weight loss is all about burning energy, and the leaner your body mass, the more energy you can burn. It’s by “building lean” that you will lose fat.

• De-stress. Stress triggers a “fight or flight” response, during which the body produces adrenaline that mobilizes stored fuel so you can run away or pick up a stick and fight. That fuel is stolen from muscles and organs, tearing down lean body mass, as well as leaving energy in the bloodstream that the body converts to fat if it’s not used.

To bust stress, first recognize its source and takes steps to manage it. Before going to bed, try relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises. Take a walk or do jumping jacks; find a way to discharge the nervous energy pumped into your bloodstream, so it won’t be stored as fat while you sleep.

• Sleep well. Jealously guard sleep time and don’t let anything interfere with it. The deep sleep states are when anabolic processes take over to build lean body mass, so high-quality, undisturbed sleep is essential. Your bedroom should be cool, dark and quiet. If you need white noise, make sure that it’s constant and not irritating.

• Get exercise and make it fun. Exercise builds lean body mass, so get plenty of it. But make sure it’s something fun so you’ll enjoy it and keep up the habit.

• Eat right. Low carb diets like the Paleo Diet, which feature a wide variety of protein sources, fruits, veggies and healthy fats, have the best profile for losing body fat while building lean body tissue and are much healthier than low-calorie diets. Remember that lean body tissue is made from protein, so if you want to “build the lean” eat plenty of protein. You may also want to consider incorporating a dietary supplement into your routine, such as Lean 2.0 Weight Management, which supports fat loss and helps you increase lean body mass by working directly with your metabolism.

For more information, visit www.getlean2now.com or call (800) 809-8351 for more information.

To get serious about weight loss and reduce body fat, move beyond the old way of thinking. For best results, incorporate dieting principles based on new scientific research.

Pines Theatre 2019 Season Tickets Available Soon

By
Ezra McMullen
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Tickets for The Pines Theater’s 2019 season, “A Season of Unlimited Talent, Passion and Showmanship,” go on sale next month, and Taylor Commiato, executive director of the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau, is encouraging season ticketholders to secure their seats for a series of world-class performances that will appeal to music lovers of all ages.

“We have a great lineup of exciting new acts and old favorites,” Commiato said. “There’s something for everyone, and we hope every music lover in East Texas gets a chance to experience one of these moving performances in this beautiful community treasure.”

Most performances at The Pines sell out quickly, so Commiato recommends renewing or purchasing season tickets to guarantee a seat.

“Season tickets are the best way to make sure you have a seat at these popular performances,” Commiato said. “We always have a few individual tickets for each performance, and those individual tickets go on sale at the end of October.”

Beginning the week of October 8, season ticketholders who want to keep their seats will be able to renew their tickets. The week of October 15, season ticketholders who would like to change seats will be able to renew their tickets. The week of October 22, new season tickets will be available, and tickets to individual events will go on sale the week of October 29. To purchase tickets, visit www.thepineslufkin.com or call (936) 633-0349.

Season tickets are $190 for floor seats ($40 per show) and $160 for balcony seats ($35 per show). Tickets to individual events are $40 for floor seats and $35 for balcony seats, except for the Hot Club of Cowtown performance, which is $20 for floor seats and $15 for balcony seats.

The 2019 season begins Tuesday, January 29 with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Drifters, who are celebrating 50 years of American classics, from “There Goes My Baby” to “Under the Boardwalk.”

On Thursday, February 21, Selah brings unmatched talent, passion for ministry and deep love for the church to the Pines stage. Hear their greatest hits, “You Raise Me Up” and “Wonderful, Merciful Savior.”

On Thursday, March 28, The Doo Wop Project recreates classic harmonies and ‘60s hits with their unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence.

On Saturday, September 14, The Hot Club of Cowtown, a Western swing-gypsy jazz trio, brings their own brand of magical chemistry to traditional tunes and western swing.

In October, Dailey and Vincent return for a two-night stand. On Sunday, October 13, the Grand Ole Opry members will perform gospel music, and on Monday, October 14, they will perform bluegrass and traditional country.

The Pines 2019 season wraps up on Thursday, December 12, as Grammy and Dove winner Jason Crabb returns to inspire and renewed your soul with a performance that will leave you remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

Extraordinary Nurse Recognized at Woodlands Heights

By
Ezra McMullen
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Nurses at Woodland Heights Medical Center are being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Award recipient for the third quarter of 2018 is Debbie Parrish, RN in the Surgical Services Department and has worked at Woodland Heights for 22 years. Debbie has been nominated by many of her co-workers who say she provides outstanding patient care and is a blessing to them.

Her co-workers describe her as someone “who always goes the extra mile” and “always eager to help out while never giving anything but the best to her patients.” Surgical Services Director Mark Hobbs states, “Debbie is a leader by example to other coworkers and is always there to help in anything you ask her to do. She is an awesome team player and wonderful to the patients and surgical staff and has outstanding integrity. Her experience and knowledge are an asset to Woodland Heights.”

“Debbie is a key player in the surgery department,” states Debra Taylor, Chief Nursing Officer at Woodland Heights. “She exemplifies all the values of the type of nurse that makes Woodland Heights great.”

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. There are nomination forms throughout the hospital and also online at WoodlandHeights.net. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Woodland Heights to receive The DAISY Award, which will be presented on a quarterly basis. Each Honoree receives a certificate, sculpture and gift bag/certificate along with banner recognition in their department.

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Woodland Heights are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that,” said Taylor.

An Update From Treny Ashby…

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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Rep. Trent Ashby

The official onset of the Fall season brings about an exciting time of year in our communities. From homecoming rallies and football games, fall festivals and canned food drives, to crisp early mornings in the deer stand. I hope you’ll take some time in the coming weeks and months to breathe in the autumn air, and thank God for the Fall season.

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

House Interim Charge: Insurance

The committee of focus this week is the House Committee on Insurance. This nine-member committee has purview over a number of state agencies, including the Texas Department of Insurance. While this committee also examines all matters pertaining to both industry companies and issuing entities, keenly important this interim will be matters relating to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency (TWIA), which provides insurance for those living in disaster-prone areas along the Texas Coast.

As we’ve discussed in most other columns this interim, Hurricane Harvey reared it’s ugly head over one year ago. As of August 2018, TWIA has experienced an estimated $1.6 billion in total losses from this natural disaster, which has caused them to raise rates for residential and commercial policyholders. Throughout the interim, and into next session, the Insurance Committee with play a critical role in identifying possible gaps and vulnerabilities within these programs, while also analyzing the ability of the programs to adequately cover policyholders.

Additionally, this committee oversees the health insurance market in Texas. Whether you’re a small business owner providing health insurance to your employees, or a hard working East Texan trying to make ends meet, we are all aware that health insurance premiums and deductibles have been rising at an all-time rate. Realizing these unfortunate circumstances, the House Insurance Committee is exploring any opportunities that the state has through federal waivers or various other mechanisms to provide critically important aid to citizens who don’t deserve to be forced into a poor financial situation just to have healthcare for their family.

Finally, I look forward to hearing the committee’s findings on surprise medical billing practices, as I firmly believe that, no matter the circumstances, all Texans deserve a fully transparent process when receiving medical care. The committee plans to pinpoint where this practice occurs most frequently, and make recommendations that would help increase accountability in such cases.

Reminders

The mobile office is on the road this month and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: October 17th 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; October 24th 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 Pharmacy Tech Program Information Session Set for Oct. 8

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Angelina College will hold an information session Oct. 8 from 6-7 p.m. for those interested in enrolling in the Pharmacy Tech Program.

The information session will be held in the Health Careers II building, room 223. Registration for the information session is not necessary.

Under pharmacist supervision, pharmacy technicians’ responsibilities may include prescription data entry, preparing medications for dispensing, inventory management, IV preparation and compounding, communication with other healthcare professionals, and customer service.

For more information about this event, call the Pharmacy Tech Program Director, Elaine Young at (936)633-5433 or email eyoung@angelina.edu or call Daphne Shepherd, Health Careers II administrative assistant, at (936)671-7348 or email dshepherd@angelina.edu.

Tips for Dealing With Damaged Hair

By
Ezra McMullen
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Heat tools, color processing and even the simple act of brushing, can cause hair to lose its strength. Indeed, eight out of 10 women in the U.S. experience some form of damaged hair, according to an IPSOS Brand Health Study. But there’s good news, say experts.

“You shouldn’t have to give up styling, coloring or all the things you love to do to your hair,” says Dr. Rocio Rivera, vice president and head of scientific communications at L’Oréal Paris. “You just need a solution that will repair and prevent the damage.”

To revive your locks and protect them for the future, consider the following:

Treat Hair With Care

Stick to the routines that leave you feeling beautiful. Just be sure to complete these tasks with care, gently shampooing and conditioning hair, avoiding unnecessary friction on the hair fiber by using a wide tooth comb (or whatever style brush or comb your stylist recommends for your hair type), avoiding tugging when combing and brushing, and considering wearing your hair in styles, at least some of the time, that don’t pull. A gentler beauty regimen will mean healthier hair.

Restorative Products

“Flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers — these daily essentials that give women the short-term look they want, often lead to long-term effects that cause real damage to the hair fiber,” notes Dr. Rivera. “Using a heat protectant before heat styling will prevent breakage and help hair remain strong.”

Dr. Rivera recommends undoing the effects of heat styling as well as protecting hair from future damage with restorative products, such as those from the Elvive Total Repair 5 Collection. The collection includes Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Leave-in, which is made with almonds and protein to restore protein loss in hair, offer 450 degree heat protection and make hair 15 times stronger for 97 percent less breakage. Also included is a rinse-out balm product that repairs up to one year of damage in one use, fighting the appearance of split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness and dehydration.

To complete your hair repair routine, use shampoos and conditioners tailored to your needs. This collection’s shampoo and conditioner, for example, are made from a formula containing ceramide and protein to fight visible signs of damaged hair.

Get a Regular Trim

Even if you are growing your hair long, it’s important to trim ends regularly to do away with split ends and keep hair looking healthy and shiny. Skipping regular trims can cause the split end to go up the hair shaft, resulting in extra damage and frizz.

Check Your Lifestyle

Certain nutritional deficiencies, stress and lack of sleep are linked to hair damage and loss, so be sure your diet is well-rounded and contains all the components necessary for healthy hair. Likewise, get plenty of sleep and seek out ways to manage stress.

Love your styling routine but hate damaged hair? Don’t despair. Whether it’s dryness, roughness or split ends, hair damage is normal, and simple steps and useful tools can help you protect and revive your locks.

-Statepoint

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