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Keeping Your Baby Safe While Sleeping

By
Statepoint
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Bringing home a new baby is a big adjustment and can feel overwhelming for parents, particularly when it comes to safety.

While certain statistics can be alarming — there are approximately 3,600 sudden unexpected infant deaths yearly in the U.S., according to the most recent government statistics — parents can take comfort in knowing that following safe sleep practices can go a long way towards prevention, say experts.

The three commonly reported types of such infant deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes.

October is SIDS Awareness Month and the perfect time to understand the differences between SIDS and suffocation — and, more importantly, to learn best safe sleep practices.

While not every infant death is preventable, there are ways to lower risks, especially when it comes to suffocation while sleeping.

• Always place babies on their backs for sleep, for both naps and night sleeping. A baby’s gag reflex and anatomy will help prevent choking, as opposed to those babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.

• Babies should always sleep on firm surfaces, such as a mattress in a properly approved crib or bassinet, covered by a fitted sheet, not a blanket. This lowers risk of suffocation and SIDS.

• Keep pillows and other soft objects out of your baby’s sleep area. Pillows, loose bedding and stuffed toys can raise suffocation risks.

• Don’t sleep with your baby in the same bed. A baby can sleep in your room, but not in an adult bed or on a chair or couch. Sharing a bed can risk strangulation, suffocation or wedging your baby between objects. Sharing a room (not a bed) may decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent, according to the CDC.

• Never allow smoking near your baby, as this is a major SIDS risk factor.

The right sleep products are an essential part of keeping your baby safe. Many experts espouse the importance of choosing a firm, breathable crib mattress.

Most conventional, waterproof mattresses are covered with impermeable skins that prevent air circulation and increase suffocation risk, whereas a breathable alternative allows a baby to breathe safely even if he or she rolls over during sleep. For example, the revolutionary design of the fully breathable Newton Crib Mattress allows a baby to breathe right through it. An independent, blind, scientific study demonstrated that a baby gets 97 percent more air while breathing through a Newton mattress than on a traditional crib mattress. More information is available at newtonbaby.com.

“As a pediatrician and mom, knowing that my baby was safely sleeping on a breathable mattress gave me full peace of mind and brought all of us better sleep,” says Dr. Deena Blanchard, a New York-based pediatrician and mother.

While you can’t protect your baby from everything, it’s important to lower the risks that you can, and creating a safe sleeping environment is a great start.

-Statepoint

United States Presidential Scholars Program

By
Ezra McMullen
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State Representative James White and the Texas Education Agency remind students that the United States Presidential Scholars Program is now accepting applications from eligible high school seniors. The scholars are chosen by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. During their visit students engage with public service officials, participate in conversations and events regarding national and international affairs, and receive a medallion in recognition for their participation. The TEA extends the invitations to seniors who will graduate between January and June of 2019 to apply for this great opportunity. A total of 20 students (10 male and 10 female) will be selected and asked to submit a full application to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. This wonderful program additionally takes interest in those students who have demonstrated excellence in career and technical education (CTE) and asks that those students apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholar CTE component. Students who apply for this component must be enrolled in a CTE program and plan to graduate between January and June of 2019. Similarly to the general component, TEA will select 5 students to submit full applications to the commission.

Please visit https://tea.texas.gov/Presidential_Scholar/ for program applications, instructions on how to submit electronically or via mail, and more information regarding the program. “This is an incredible opportunity for Southeast Texas students that will provide a great learning experience. Presidential Scholars will have access to some of our most notable public figures and
get a first-hand account on issues that impact the United States both nationally and internationally,” said Rep. White. “In addition, I am enthusiastic that this program has created a special path for those students in CTE programs.”

Please do not hesitate to contact Saul Mendoza, Chief of Staff with questions regarding this release at 512-463-0490.

Chancellorsville Runs SNOOPIE Drills During Valiant Shield 2018

By
Ezra McMullen
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(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sarah Myers)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 19, 2018) – Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Justin O’Neal, from Woodville, Texas, photographs subjects on the bridge wing of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) during a ship’s nautical or otherwise photographic interpretation and examination (SNOOPIE) Team exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

Registration Now Open for Angelina College Flex-Entry Courses

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Registration is now open for flex-entry courses at Angelina College. Most of the courses begin Oct. 22 and end Dec. 13, and are available online or in the evening.

Subjects offered include accounting, art appreciation, biology, business principles, child and family development, criminal justice, theatre, economics, composition, literature, government, history, integrated reading and writing, math, music, psychology, life span, real estate, sociology, Spanish, speech and welding. Go to angelina.edu to see a complete list of courses.

Steve Hudman, Dean of Student Affairs, expects these courses to fill up quickly. “The demand for online classes is so great, that we found we needed to offer a semester within a semester to meet the needs of our students,” he said.

To register for flex-entry courses, contact an advisor in the Student Center, room 200 or call (936) 633-5212.

AC Soccer Teams Hosting Nationally Ranked Tyler Teams Lady Roadrunners, Roadrunners in Friday Doubleheader

By
Gary Stallard
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Dadwin Hernandez (10) of Angelina College guides the ball up field during a recent match. The Roadrunners host No. 2 Tyler Junior College on Friday as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin. (Gary Stallard/AC Athletics photo)

The Angelina College Lady Roadrunners want a signature win.

The Roadrunner men just want a break.

Both AC teams are home on Friday night against nationally ranked Tyler Junior College. Both the Lady Apaches (7-0-1) and Apaches (7-1) are listed as the NJCAA’s No. 2 teams in the nation in their respective divisions.

The Lady Roadrunners (6-3) have already surpassed last season’s win total and are seeking a big-time win over conference juggernauts. AC’s ladies very nearly got that win on Tuesday in Corsicana, falling 3-2 to No. 3 Navarro College on the road. Jade Dewbre added to her single-season scoring record, notching her 14th goal of the year to take the league lead in that category. Bailey Bowers also scored, but a late charge came a little too late in the loss.

AC and Tyler met on Aug. 31 in Tyler, and the Lady Apaches pulled off the 4-0 shutout behind two goals from Hitomi Kono.

The Lady Roadrunners have notched impressive wins thus far in 2018, but they’re still looking to add their names to the conference contenders. A win over a nationally ranked squad (and conference leaders) would do just that.

AC’s men (2-6) can’t seem to get a break – unless it’s a body part. Head coach Freddy Drago has been forced to shuffle his lineup on a game-by-game basis after a rash of injuries – several of them season-ending – have ravaged his roster. Despite all the uncertainty, the Roadrunners have played tough, losing four matches by a single goal each. That includes the Aug. 31 match in Tyler, when the Roadrunners very nearly pulled off the biggest upset in program history only to fall short in a 1-0 loss.

Four Roadrunners (Josue Salazar, Dadwin Hernandez, Bryan Nunez and Brad Lowes) lead the team in scoring with two goals each.

Friday’s doubleheader will kick off with the women at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7 p.m. Both games will take place at Jase Magers Field on the Lufkin High School campus.

Both AC teams also will host a Sunday doubleheader against Jacksonville College. Those games will also feature the Lady Roadrunners at 5 p.m. and the Roadrunners at 7 p.m. at Jase Magers Field.

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

3 Questions to Ask Before Accepting That Job Offer

By
Statepoint
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Many people view their job search as an opportunity to prove their worth to potential employers. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that finding the perfect match goes both ways, and the right job needs to work for you, too – especially in today’s economy where employers need to work hard to make their job offers stand out.

For greater job satisfaction, be sure to evaluate the full offer, including salary and bonus structure, paid time off, relocation assistance, voluntary benefits like those offered by Aflac and health care benefits. Plus, don’t forget to get the following questions answered before accepting any job offer.

1. Does this company offer opportunities for professional growth? Some positions are designated as a path for growth, and others are not. Find out if yours has a clear pathway for promotion or if it is a dead-end. You may also wish to inquire about the availability of development opportunities, like webinars and off-site training sessions, as well as get a sense about whether or not your supervisor is able and willing to take on a mentorship role.

2. How will this employer support my long-term financial success? Your financial wellness is determined by more than just your salary. Benefits matter a great deal, too, and these days, they may go far beyond the standard offerings.

Insurers like Aflac now provide many employers with offerings called value-added services, which can range from assisting employees and their families with college planning and financing to making sure employees are taking care of their financial and legal wellness. Easy-to-use online resources, tutorials and digital tools can help employees reach financial and legal goals.

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, American Family Life Assurance Company of New York, Continental American Insurance Company and /or Continental American Life Insurance Company. To learn more, visit aflac.com.

All that said, you might not want to limit your decision to the prospect of generous take home pay alone.

3. What is in it for my family? Does your potential employer offer any services or benefits that can improve the lives of your family members? For example, do health benefits include round-the-clock access to telemedicine? Are there health advocacy services offered to help employees and their families reduce stress over navigating the heath care environment? These are the items that can make or break that job offer. These are also services that you could suggest to your current employer as an option to help keep talent happy, productive and at the company.

-Statepoint

A Seat At The Table

By
Rhonda Oaks
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We never ate supper at my house until my Dad arrived home from work. Didn’t matter what time it was, Mom had it ready and waiting when he walked through the door and that was when we sat down at the table together as a family. I learned a lot around that table.

I have many memories of sharing a meal that included conversations about school, work, and grades – whatever it was that happened that day that involved our family of four is what was discussed. Sometimes I understood the conversations and sometimes I didn’t. As I grew older, sometimes I liked the opinions my parents expressed and sometimes I disagreed with them. But I always knew my parents would listen to what I had to say. From pre-school through high school and even into adulthood, I always knew I had a seat at that table.

We have a table just like that at TxDOT where there is always a seat for you. The discussions that take place are so important there is an entire department named for it – Public Involvement. Many of you might not understand what it is or what it’s for, but it is extremely important.

Hearing your opinions and thoughts early in the planning stages is a big part of a project’s success. There are public meetings and open houses going on throughout the state every week. You can always see those locations on our website at https://www.txdot.gov/.

As our engineers design road, rail and aviation projects that affect our communities, we need your opinions and ideas and are eager to have a conversation with you. At a public meeting, engineers answer questions one-on-one and we gather around a table to view designs and hear your ideas. We take your thoughts and opinions back to the drawing board for discussion and consideration. TxDOT is committed to improving our transportation system through citizen participation.

Public meetings are much like those nightly suppers around my family table. The comments, opinions, and at times constructive criticism helped my sister and I grow to become better. TxDOT has purposefully committed to involving the public in the planning of construction projects. We provide continuous and transparent access to the decision-making processes. Your comments and ideas can help make roadways better for all of us.

I hope you will take part in planning the future. We are currently designing mega-million dollar projects throughout the state. Some of them will change the landscape of East Texas. Have a say in how you think the future should look. Come take a seat at our table and let’s talk about it.

East Texas Health Symposium Set Nov. 30

By
Ezra McMullen
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The Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) and the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) are partnering with the Episcopal Health Foundation to host a Community Health Symposium on November 30 in Nacogdoches. Local government, business and civic leaders from throughout East Texas are invited to participate to learn more about the kinds of investments that improve community health.

The symposium will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hotel Fredonia, 200 North Fredonia Street in Nacogdoches. There is no charge to attend and lunch will be provided. RSVP’s are requested by email to Jo Anne Brostrom at jbrostrom@episcopalhealth.org.

Local governments can play a critical role in promoting the health and well-being of residents. Research shows that of the many factors that determine health status, clinical care only accounts for 20 percent. Factors such as community safety, employment, diet and exercise, housing and transportation together are more influential. Notwithstanding this evidence, in the US, we commit over 95 percent of our national health budget to clinical care.

Join us for a lively discussion about how your community can improve health outcomes by investing in the kinds of community-based programs that local governments excel in providing. Learn how modest changes in local expenditure patterns can change your county’s health ranking.

Elena Marks, President and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation and a nonresident fellow in Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, will discuss the distinction between health and healthcare. She will make the case that we have confused healthcare with health, leading us to assume that the more we invest in healthcare, the healthier we will be. Marks will provide examples of how a redirection of dollars is taking shape nationally and in Texas and offer suggestions for accelerating this important system change.

Arizona State University Professor Mac McCullough will share his research about the relationship between patterns of spending by local governments and the health status of the affected communities. Using the County Health Rankings as a resource, Professor McCullough will show how investing in certain social services can improve a county’s health ranking.

“This is an important program that can help our communities begin to make real improvements in the health of East Texans,” said DETCOG Executive Director Lonnie Hunt. “Combined, DETCOG and ETCOG represent 26 counties in East Texas, so we are talking about the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of people. This is a tremendous opportunity for community and business leaders to come together and learn how to make a difference.”

“We’ve all seen the County Health Rankings that show poor health outcomes in our region, he added. “We can improve these outcomes if we all work together. We are fortunate to have Dr. Marks and Professor McCullough available to share their expertise with us. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity.”

Application Deadline Nearing for DETCOG Solid Waste Grants

By
Brandon Morgan
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The deadline for receipt of Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) Solid Waste Grant applications is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 15, 2018. DETCOG anticipates awarding grants totaling a minimum of $65,000.00 for FY 2019.

Each application will be judged by the DETCOG Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) in accordance with the SWAC Project Review and Scoring Guidelines and DETCOG’s Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. Projects are to begin approximately December 15, 2018 and end no later than July 31, 2019.

The grants are available to Cities, Counties, Public Schools, School Districts, River Authorities as well as General and Special Law Districts with the authority and responsibility for water quality protection or municipal solid waste management. The applicants must be located within Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler counties to be eligible to apply. Funding for the DETCOG Solid Waste Grants comes from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Applications for projects in the following categories will be accepted: Local

Enforcement, Litter and Illegal Dumping Cleanup and Community Collection Events, Source Reduction and Recycling, Local Solid Waste Management Plans, Household Hazardous Waste Management, Technical Studies, Educational and Training Projects, and other projects not included in these categories which meet TCEQ criteria.

Applications are available on DETCOG’s website at “www.detcog.net/solid-waste-recycling”. For more information, or to request an application packet, please contact Regional Services Specialist Carolyn Stephenson by email at CStephenson@detcog.org or by phone at (409) 384-5704 ext. 5353.

What Parents Should Know About Their Child’s Eye Health

By
Statepoint
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Parents know that seeing clearly is important for their kid’s success in the classroom, but many are not taking their child to get annual eye exams. This is a problem because many kids don’t know what seeing clearly looks like.

According to a recent study by VSP Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits provider in the U.S., and market research agency YouGov, eight-in-10 parents (83 percent) agree that a regular eye exam helps kids do their best in school, but four-in-10 (41 percent) wait until their child complains about their vision to schedule an eye exam.

Clear vision is not only important for academic performance, but also for sports and everyday tasks. That’s why a comprehensive eye exam is so important for children. Early detection and treatment provide the opportunity to correct vision problems.

Here are some guidelines to ensure you’re taking care of your child’s eyes properly.

• Watch for signs that indicate a vision problem. Common signals include covering one eye, holding reading materials close to the face, a short attention span and complaining of headaches or other discomfort. Parents need to look for these signs, as many kids, not knowing what seeing clearly looks like, won’t complain.

• First eye exam should be done at six months of age. Most parents don’t know that children should have their first eye exam when they’re only six months old! This is particularly important, as experts say as much as 80 percent of learning is done visually.

• An eye exam can detect early signs of health issues like diabetes. More kids than ever before are developing type 2 diabetes in the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An easy way to help detect early signs of diabetes in kids and better manage the condition is through annual comprehensive eye exams.

• Don’t underestimate the importance of eye exams. Yearly trips to the eye doctor are as important as annual visits to pediatricians or dentists. Don’t just assume all is well if your child is not squinting or complaining about his or her eyes. Because vision may change frequently during childhood years, regular eye and vision care becomes even more important. Your child should receive a comprehensive eye exam every year, or more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist or if recommended by your eye doctor.

• Eye protection during sports and outdoor activities. Playing sports is important for your child’s overall development, however, thousands of children suffer sports-related eye injuries each year, nearly all of which could be prevented by using the proper protective eyewear. That is why it is essential that all children wear appropriate, protective eyewear whenever playing sports or when performing any outdoor activities, such as lawn mowing and trimming.

To find an eye doctor near you, visit VSP.com.

Taking care of your child’s eyes while they are young will help them perform their best in and out of the classroom and will set them up for a lifetime of success.

-Statepoint

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