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How to Create and Spread Hope in Your Daily Life

By
Statepoint
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With seemingly constant negative news reports telling of school shootings, suicides and more, you may feel like there is little to feel hopeful about these days, but experts say that having hope can be a powerful tool in good times and bad.

“Whether you’ve lost a job or a loved one, or you’re experiencing general feelings of despair, hope can give you strength and renew your potential and purpose,” says Dr. Rosalind Tompkins, founder of the National Month of Hope. “Finding hope in everyday challenges is the first step to creating a solution.”

To help you find hope in your life, as well as spread hope to others, Dr. Tompkins, a recognized “Hopeologist” and life coach offers the following advice.

  • Take a Hope Break. Schedule five minute “hope breaks” into your normal routine. Find a quiet place, take five to 10 deep breaths and think about good things happening, instead of the worst-case scenario. Make an affirmation and speak it out loud. Repeat as often as needed.
  • Take Action. Set goals and move forward, focusing on results. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your progress.
  • Volunteer. Spread hope to your community by giving time, food and money to those in need. Whether you clean up a local park, read to children in schools or volunteer in a food pantry, you’ll be spreading hope to those who need it, which can help you feel more hopeful too.
  • Have a Chat. Is there someone in your life who needs hope? Prepare yourself for a conversation with that person by turning on your own belief that things can get better. Start the conversation with something like, “I care about you and wanted to check in with you to see how things are going.” Ask them to share what they are going through and be prepared to listen. Let them know that you are there for them and reinforce feelings of hope.
  • Get Involved. In the spirit of spreading positivity, Dr. Tompkins has a goal of seeing 10,000 “Hope Connections” take place throughout 2018. After talking about hope with a loved one, you can share your story by joining the conversation online using #HopeChallenge. To learn more about the movement to make 2018 the Year of Hope, visitmakeahopeconnection.com.

While despairing often comes naturally in times of personal and public crisis, consider empowering yourself to move forward by adopting a hopeful attitude.

-StatePoint

Drunk Driving Victim Shares Her Story

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – Laura Gonzalez celebrates her birthday every Labor Day weekend, commemorating the start of a new year and the end of summer alongside friends and family. Her husband Rico, however, will forever be absent from these celebrations as he was killed when he was hit head-on by a drunk driver, leaving behind his wife of less than a year and countless other family members and friends.

“We were just starting our lives together,” Laura said. “We had everything to look forward to — our careers, a home of our own, starting a family. All of those hopes were ruined in an instant. The life we dreamed of for our family would only remain a dream. A drunk driver took all of that away from us.”

Laura now shares her story through the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign to communicate the devastating consequences of drinking and driving. The goal is to save lives and decrease alcohol-related crashes, with special emphasis during holidays when alcohol consumption is more prevalent.

As a combined result of the “Plan While You Can” campaign and the efforts of many state and local community partners, including law enforcement, Texas experienced a 23-percent decrease in alcohol-related crashes over the 2017 Labor Day weekend* compared to the 2016 holiday weekend. Still, during last year’s Labor Day weekend, there were 264 alcohol-related crashes in Texas, resulting in 14 fatalities and 19 serious injuries.
“It’s completely irresponsible and absolutely inexcusable to drink and drive,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “Finding a sober ride is easy, and it can save you from being arrested or from injuring or killing yourself or others. Make an effort to plan ahead for a sober ride this Labor Day weekend. You owe it to yourself and everyone else on the road.”
The “Plan While You Can” campaign includes a statewide tour featuring an interactive dodgeball game where participants avoid incoming “dodgeballs” as virtual drinks are added to the screen. As more drinks are added, participants experience how drinking can slow their reaction times as on-screen avatars begin responding more slowly to their players’ movements.
Drivers under the influence of alcohol can face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their driver’s license.

Visit SoberRides.org to find alternatives to drinking and driving, such as:

Designating a sober driver or calling someone for a sober ride home

Contacting a cab or ride-share service

Using mass transit

Spending the night

For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

Armyworms in Lawns and Pastures

By
Cary Sims
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This year we have seen a tremendous outbreak of armyworms affecting pastures and hay meadows like we typically expect to see. What is making this year unique is the tremendous amount of home owners have noticed them in their lawns.

Armyworm

Outbreaks can occur in late summer and fall, and follow periods of rain which create favorable conditions for eggs and small larvae to survive. The earliest occurrence one livestock producer told me he saw them was July 4th.

Armyworms are very small at first, causing little plant damage, and as a result, infestations often go unnoticed early on. Larvae feed for 2-3 weeks and full-grown larvae are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. Armyworms consume 80% of their total food intake during the last few days of their life as a caterpillar.

Once larvae are greater than 3/4 inch, the quantity of leaves they eat increases dramatically. During the final 2-3 days of feeding, armyworms consume 80% of the total foliage consumed during their entire development. For this reason, extensive feeding damage can occur in their last few days.

Development from egg to adult requires about 3 to 4 weeks during the summer and is longer during cool weather. There are several generations a year. Development ends with cold weather in November.

Given their immense appetite, great numbers, and “marching” ability, armyworms can damage entire fields, pastures, or neighborhoods in a few days. Once the armyworm completes feeding, in tunnels into the soil and enters the pupal stage. In 7-10 days, the moth emerges from the pupa and starts its cycle anew.

The key to managing armyworms is to detect infestations before they have caused serious damage. Often, rural landowners will notice large numbers of cattle egrets on a hay meadow. Though the birds are easy to spot, this may be too late.

In residential areas, homeowners will notice the caterpillars crawling across walkways and onto the porch.

The best way I’ve heard to detect armyworms in an open pasture is to regularly scout pastures early in the morning while there is plenty of dew on the grass. Wear your black rubber boots and walk thru fields, or drive thru them on your ATV with a foot dragging off to the side, looking for small caterpillars on your boot. Affected grass may have a ragged look, different from grazed or mowed grass.

Armyworm larvae feed primarily during the night and during cloudy weather. Later during the day, look for armyworms under loose soil and fallen leaves on the ground.

The density of armyworms sufficient to justify insecticide treatment varies. Typically infestations of 2-3 armyworms per square foot would justify treatment.

Hot, dry weather and natural enemies limit armyworm populations. Insect parasites such as wasps and flies, ground beetles, and other predators help suppress armyworm numbers. However, these natural factors can be overwhelmed when large numbers of migrating moths lay tens of thousands of eggs in a lawn or field.

There are a number of insecticides labeled for armyworm control in pastures. Remember that approved insecticides can kill non-target insects. Do not allow drift across fences to areas with blooming plants as beneficial pollinators will certainly be harmed.

For home owners, it is very important to make contact with the worms by spraying in the morning when they are actively feeding.

For larger agricultural operations, costs vary, but more importantly is the restrictions of certain products related to having a pesticide license, grazing and haying after application. Make sure to read the labels and apply correctly for best control.

Always read and follow all label instructions and restrictions on any pesticide use

An Update from Trent Ashby…

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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As some long-awaited rain poured into the rivers and lakes across our region, our students are once again pouring into the hallways and classrooms of schools across the state. With the new school year upon us, I hope you’ll take a moment to thank the teachers, faculty, and administrators who have been working diligently to prepare for our students’ return to school. These men and women play such a critical role in shaping our children’s future, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their service. So, as our campuses come to life in the coming days and weeks, I want to wish all of our students the very best as they embark on another school year.

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

House Interim Charge: Public Education

In the spirit of “back to school,” the House Committee on Public Education will be the topic of this week’s column. This 11-member committee has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the programming, financing, and overall supervision of primary and secondary education in Texas. Furthermore, this committee has purview over a number of agencies, including the State Board of Education and the Texas Education Agency.

The members of the Public Education Committee have been especially busy this interim, as they have been tasked with examining a number of issues relating to Hurricane Harvey before the start of the school year. More specifically, the committee has been asked to determine the scope of financial loss that resulted from Hurricane Harvey and make recommendations on possible state actions to provide assistance to affected school districts.

Unrelated to Harvey, the Committee on Public Education has been hard at work examining how additional state funding might be used to enhance compensation in districts facing a shortage of experienced teachers. I am very pleased that the committee has been tasked with this charge, as we must ensure that the State of Texas is providing the necessary resources to not only attract more teachers, but also retain quality teachers.

The Committee has also been asked to examine alternative options for evaluating student achievement beyond standardized tests. While the Texas House voted last session to eliminate a number of over-burdensome standardized tests, these measures ultimately failed to make it to the Governor’s desk. Moving forward, we must continue to seek solutions that assess students beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, and instead allow teachers to teach subject content and worry less about a single high stakes, be-all, end-all test.

Lufkin Offering Special Air/Bistro

By
Ezra McMullen
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The “Devil Dog” B25 Mitchell Bomber is flown by Beth Jenkins. Rides in “Devil Dog” will be available before the show.
Lufkin’s Bistro offers an elegant, entertaining evening on the downtown streets as Lufkin’s finest chefs showcase their tastiest cuisine paired with an incredible selection of wines and craft beers.

LUFKIN OFFERING SPECIAL AIRFEST/BISTRO PACKAGE

Lufkin has the perfect pairing for a full weekend of family fun this October: great times and great deals.

It all starts on Saturday, Oct. 6, with Angelina County AirFest, a world-class airshow featuring aerobatic pilots, war birds and more. That evening the adults can wine and dine under the stars at Lufkin’s Bistro while the kids enjoy special activities at Changing Lives Dance Studio. Add in some special discounts for out-of-town guests and you have a weekend getaway that offers something for all ages.

“Bistro and AirFest are very popular events that draw big crowds, so we wanted to make it easy for East Texans to enjoy both,” said Taylor Commiato, Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. “We’re offering discounted tickets for visitors, and we’ve partnered with the Texas Forestry Museum to provide children’s activities so the parents can enjoy Bistro worry-free.”

Out-of-town guests have two ways to save. Those who attend both events can get special $8 tickets to AirFest, and those who book a hotel room that weekend can get 50% off Bistro tickets.Mention Lufkin’s Bistro when making hotel reservations to receive special group rates. Call 936-633-0359 for more information and to reserve tickets to each event.

ANGELINA COUNTY AIRFEST: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Angelina County Airport

The third annual Angelina County AirFestwill feature aerial performances, displays, souvenirs, food vendors and more. Pilots will include Kyle Franklin performing unlimited aerobatics in “Dracula,” his purpose-built biplane; Jeremy Holt, a U.S. Air Force bomber pilot instructor performing an acro routine; Kate Kyer, one of the few female aerobatic pilots in the U.S., flying her Pitts Special; Justin Lewis, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot instructor who flies the world’s smallest jet; and Randy Ball, who will demonstrate the speed and maneuverability of a Russian MIG17 fighter at low altitudes. Pilot Beth Jenkins will offer rides in “Devil Dog,” a B25 Mitchell Bomber, before the show, and the ReMax Skydiving team will bring in the flag during the national anthem. Guests will get a chance to get close to the planes and meet the pilots.

Regular AirFest tickets are $15 for ages 12 and up; $8 for seniors over 65 and military with proper I.D.; $10 for ages 6-11; and kids 5 and under are free. VIP seating, including snacks water and soft drinks, is available for $25 a ticket. General admission and VIP tickets are available at the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Angelina County Airport and Austin Bank.Call 936-633-0359 to purchase the AirFest/Bistro package and receive discounted AirFest tickets for $8.

Profits from this event will benefit the Toys for Tots campaigns in Angelina and Trinity Counties.

Lufkin’s Bistro offers an elegant, entertaining evening on the downtown streets as Lufkin’s finest chefs showcase their tastiest cuisine paired with an incredible selection of wines and craft beers.

LUFKIN’S BISTRO: 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, in downtown Lufkin

This annual tasting event offers an elegant, entertaining evening on the downtown streets as Lufkin’s finest chefs showcase their tastiest cuisine paired withan incredible selection of wines and craft beersfrom across the globe. Dance the night away to live music and get in some late-night shopping with our downtown merchants.

Tickets are $40 per person or $350 for a reserved table of eight. Out-of-town guests can get 50% off their ticket price by showing a hotel confirmation number at the time of purchase. For ticket information, call 936-633-0359 or come go by the Lufkin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offices at 300 E. Shepherd. You must be 21 or older to attend.In case of rain, the event will take place at the George H. Henderson, Jr. Exposition Center.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES: 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, Changing Lives Dance Studio, downtown Lufkin

The Texas Forestry Museum is providing special activities for ages 3 and up. Tickets are $7 a child and include pizza, arts and crafts, fun activities, and a movie. Call 936-633-0359 to reserve tickets.

5 Ways to Set Up the Ultimate Workstation for Kids

By
Statepoint
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This school year, you can help set up your kids for success. It’s all about having the perfect study zone at home. Here are five cool ideas for creating a workspace for kids that will promote great study habits and inspire learning.

  1. Find the right real estate. Every child learns differently. So, depending on the person doing the studying, the perfect space could be a quiet, bright corner of the house away from the hustle and bustle, or it could be in the midst of family life and activity. Experiment with each set up, periodically checking in with your child to see what’s working and what’s not.
  2. Upgrade visual learning. Is your child a visual learner? Upgrade study time in any sized space with a short throw projector that automatically adapts the projection brightness to the lighting conditions in the room. One option that allows you to control the projector wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet is the Casio Ultra Short Throw LampFree Projector XJ-UT351WN which features a mercury-free laser and LED hybrid light source, making it an eco-friendly and safe option for young students.
  3. Embrace the principles of natural wellness. It is said that certain essential oils can promote focus and improve concentration. These can be diffused, rolled, or simply inhaled to give students a boost when it comes time to cram for an exam.
  4. Make time for music. Studies have found that music can help improve memory. And making music can be an effective stress reliever in the face of school-induced stress. Consider outfitting your child’s study area with an affordable, lightweight instrument like a Casio CT-X Keyboard, which features an extensive library of 600 tones and 195 rhythms, supporting diverse musical genres. Whether it’s a 20-minute study break, or a jam session once homework is completed, make it possible for musical creativity to come to life.
  5. Incorporate educational tech. Education tech tools can help synthesize classroom concepts. Be sure your child’s workspace incorporates new tech like ClassPad.net, a web-based mathematics resource for K-12 and beyond, which students can use to draw geometry figures freehand and input calculations as they would on real scratch paper. Great for study buddies, the tool allows for simultaneous work with calculation, graphing, geometry and data analysis/statistics.

Angelina College Business Office Earns Top Honor

By
Nancy Reynolds
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Front row, from left: Darin Murphy, assistant controller; Michelle Brazeil, student billing accountant; Phylicia Spikes, student accounts specialist; Odessa Vinson, business office clerk. Back row, from left: Chris Sullivan, vice president of Business Affairs; Tim Hollis, accountant; Lea Cope, business office associate; Melissa Goins, controller; Lynn Grantham, accounting technician; Sarah Wagnone, grant accountant; Tori Kelly, administrative assistant to the Vice President of Business Affairs.

LUFKIN, TEXAS – The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently awarded Angelina College the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). This award is the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting. Angelina College has earned this honor every year for the last seven year. Less than one percent of entities qualify for this award nationally, and only a handful in the East Texas region.

The association also awarded the Angelina College business office the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for preparing the award-winning annual report. According to the GFOA’s news release, AC’s financial report was found to meet the organization’s high standards, including demonstrating a “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential user groups to read the CAFR.

Chris Sullivan, vice president of Business Affairs, said, “We are extremely proud of our staff’s efforts. This is an exceptional team and they’ve worked hard to earn this honor.”

DETCOG Board to Hold August Meeting in Trinity

By
Ezra McMullen
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Deep East Texas Council of Governments will hold its regular monthly Board of Directors meeting Thursday, August 23, 2018. The meeting will be held at YMCA Camp Cullen, 460 Cullen Loop in Trinity, Texas. A Luncheon will be served at noon, and the Board meeting will be held immediately thereafter.

Welcoming members and guests to Trinity will be Trinity County Judge Doug Page; Trinity Mayor Wayne Huffman; Trinity County Commissioners Grover Worsham, Richard Chamberlin, Neal Smith, and Jimmy Brown; Trinity County Attorney Joe Warner Bell and Trinity County Minority Representative Ralph Bennett.

DETCOG’s President, Houston Count Attorney, Daphne Session would like to extend an invitation to the meeting to all interested parties. Anyone needing information concerning this meeting may contact the Deep East Texas Council of Governments’ office in Jasper at 409-384-5704 ext. 5254.

Angelina College Recognizes Nursing Program Graduates

By
Nancy Reynolds
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LUFKIN, TEXAS – Angelina College recently held its pinning ceremony for more than 30 graduates of the nursing Multi Entry/Exit Program (MEEP) in Temple Theater on the AC campus.

Speakers included Winifred Ferguson Adams, associate dean of Health Careers; and Tom Dudley, science instructor and Reverend Terry C. Sanders.

Tonya LaForge, director of nursing programs, presented the graduates. Vergie Hines, nursing instructor, led the graduates in the Florence Nightingale pledge.

Graduates from Lufkin are Martin R. Aguilar Jr., Bethany L. Cole, Jeffry L. Donatucci, Sydney D. Luce, Jesus Luna Jr., Christopher S. McFarland, Jose M. Mora, Tracy L. Murray, Amanda B. Oehler, Michael S. Rhoden, Daniel W. Stokes, Alaira M. Sumrall, Octavia J. Tapia and Jarrod S. Wilson.

Graduates from Nacogdoches are Oluwasiji K. Iliyasu, Jennifer M. McMillen, Ashley N. Rice, Olusegun M. Tanimonu and Kandace L. Turner.

Other graduates are Vera A. Catron, Bronson; Esther J. Kyakuwa, Carthage; Kayla Walters, Coldspring; Melanie L. Matzenauer, Dickinson; Rachel R. Higginbotham, Garrison; Christy A. Riley, Groveton; Bj A. Pua, Houston; Taylor L. Williams, Huntington; Abby Baxley, Livingston; Morgan R. Jeffus, Lovelady; Martin W. Walden, Pollok; Isabel M. David, The Woodlands; and Marcie L. Morris, Wells.

Is Your Child’s School Promoting Healthy Habits or Junk Food?

By
Statepoint
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Fast food coupons used as prizes, candy sale fundraisers, vending machine exteriors — these are just a few examples of the kinds of junk food marketing that regularly takes place in U.S. schools, and such advertising is taking a toll on children’s health, say experts.

“Fortunately, significant progress has been made nationwide to provide nutritious meals and snacks in cafeterias, vending machines and school stores. However, continued marketing of junk food at school can undermine these improvements. Over time, those messages being marketed shape children’s food preferences, purchase requests, diets and overall health,” says Cheryl Anderson, PhD, nutrition chair, American Heart Association.

To help make the schools in your community a place where children can thrive, consider these suggestions from The Voices for Healthy Kids Action Center, a project of the American Heart Association.

• Healthier Fundraising: Is your child’s school hosting a fundraiser? Get involved and help organize fundraising efforts that don’t involve the sale of junk food. Instead, focus on selling fruit, plants, jewelry or gift items. You could even help organize an event like a walk-a-thon or dance-a-thon that raises money while getting the community moving.

• Learning Life Skills: Some schools have classroom units on nutrition and critical thinking. Talk to your school’s administration about implementing educational programming to help students identify junk food marketing in their own school and community and discuss how it impacts them.

• Advertising Audit: Despite its prevalence, commercial advertising is usually not a substantial source of revenue for schools. Ninety percent of school officials note that school programs and activities would not be reduced if advertisements of unhealthy food ceased, according to Voices for Healthy Kids. Find out if the junk food marketing taking place in your school district directly contributes to educational programming. If so, ask for healthier food and beverage products to be marketed instead.

• Speaking Out: Get involved by calling school board members and school administrators, or by organizing other members of your community. Tips, resources and information for getting started can be found at voicesforhealthykids.org.

“Often companies that sell junk food spend millions of dollars marketing to children because it works. Children are likely to ask for things that are advertised to them,” says Dr. Anderson. “Be an advocate for school environments that help the next generation lead healthy lives.” 

-Statepoint

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