(Nacogdoches, TX) – The setting is a live action video game, until the floor turns to lava! The Floor is Lava program will be held at the Nacogdoches Public Library for kids ages 10-19 years on Friday, June 29th at 5:30 pm. Kids will be challenged to walk across the “lava” without falling in! Please register by June 28th to reserve your spot.
Registration can be done in person, by calling 559-2970, or from the library’s website at www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library.
LUFKIN – Crews are scheduled to work at several heavily traveled areas next week in Lufkin and motorists are advised to choose alternate routes or reduce speed and expect delays.
On Tuesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 28, crews will work on SL 287 East to repair low edges on the southbound side, beginning at SH 103 East and moving to various locations. Delays should be expected and traffic will be confined to a single lane in the work areas.
On Wednesday, June 27, work is planned at the FM 819/Whitehouse Drive intersection above US 59 South. Crews will perform surface repair. Traffic control will be in place during work hours. Motorists should expect delays.
Motorists are advised to reduce speed in these work zones and obey all traffic control devices. Stay alert for workers and moving equipment in the area. Schedules are subject to change in inclement weather.
For more information regarding statewide closures, visit drivetexas.org. For more information on these and other Lufkin District projects, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
As I write this column, our national leaders are considering different proposals to secure the border and address our broken immigration system. While it remains to be seen what results, if any, will materialize, it seems timely to remind everyone that the Texas Legislature has appropriated over $1.6 billion over the last two sessions to help provide the critical resources needed to maintain our security at the border. It is my hope that our elected officials in Washington, D.C. will rise to the occasion and do their part to craft an effective and sustainable solution.
In that regard, I thought it would be an appropriate time to explore a committee at the state level that most intimately deals with issues relating to this topic — The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety.
House Interim Charge: Homeland Security and Public Safety
The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety is comprised of nine members and has jurisdiction over a wide array of policy areas ranging from law enforcement to disaster response. The committee also has purview over nine state agencies such as the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Division of Emergency Management, to name a few.
As I’m sure you can imagine, the Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety will spend a lot of time this interim evaluating our response to Hurricane Harvey from an emergency preparedness perspective. Included in this evaluation will be the coordination between municipalities, counties, and state agencies. With hurricane season upon us, the seamless cooperation between state and local governments will be a critical component to the mitigation of damage in affected areas.
The committee has also been tasked with examining the DPS operations near Texas-Mexico border on organized crime. More specifically, the committee will review human trafficking convictions, collaborations with federal authorities and prosecutors, and other relevant crime statistics. Given the state’s significant investment in border security over the last several sessions, ensuring the efficient use of your taxpayer dollars is a very important part of this committee’s interim work.
The committee has also been charged with evaluating opportunities for the Department of Public Safety to expedite the driver license renewal process. I was very pleased to see this charge assigned to the committee, as the reduction of state operations in my district has resulted in quite a burden for folks seeking to obtain or renew necessary documents.
Reminders
The mobile office has one last stop in the month of June and looks forward to seeing you in San Augustine on June 27th at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9:00-11:00am. Please be advised that during the month of July, the mobile office will suspend the regular Wednesday schedule. For any questions you may have, or issues you need help resolving, please reach out to our District Director, Linda Parker. Our district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm. We will make every effort to facilitate meetings and respond to your needs.
(Nacogdoches, TX) – The Nacogdoches Public Library staff will present a Water Marbling program for adults on Thursday, June 28th at 5:30 pm. Techniques similar to
water-marbled nail designs will be used, but on paper and fabric instead. Please register by June 27th to reserve your spot.
Registration can be done in person, by calling 559-2970, or from the library’s website at www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library.
Vacation season is here and it’s no surprise that what you eat can have an impact on your weight. In a study from the University of Georgia, 61 percent of the participants gained weight while on vacation, with an average gain of 0.7 pounds. Some even gained up to 7 pounds.
Making healthy choices, even while on vacation, can be as easy as one, two, three when you have the right tools. Courtney McCormick, Corporate Dietitian at Nutrisystem, shares foods that should be on your watch list and go-to list, and how alcohol can fit into your vacation and weight loss plan – yes, you read that right!
Foods on the Watch List
• Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter: There’s not a big difference in calories between reduced and full-fat varieties. In fact, full-fat peanut butter is chock full of monounsaturated fats, which are good for your heart. You can also look for natural peanut butter, which usually has less salt and sugar.
• Multigrain Bread: People who eat whole grains are at lower risk of certain chronic diseases. But read labels carefully. While the term “whole grain” is regulated, “multigrain,” “7-grain,” and “ancient grains” are just marketing terms.
• Granola: Yes, granola can deliver protein and healthy fats, but eat it sparingly. One cup can have up to 600 calories which is the same as a Big Mac. And that’s without milk!
• Sports Drinks: Red-flag number one: sugar is high on the ingredients list second only to water. Red-flag number two: there are two-and-a-half servings in each bottle, meaning you could be gulping down as much as 52.5 grams of sugar.
• Fast Food Salads: Some fast food salads can have more calories, fat and sodium than burgers because of add-ons like cheese, meat and heavy dressings.
Foods on the Go-To List
• Fruits and Veggies: No surprise here! Essential to a healthy diet, pack that cooler with them for a healthful snacking alternative.
• Nuts, Seeds and Popcorn: Healthy fats like nuts and seeds make great snacks and crunchy salad toppers. Walnuts may be best when it comes to cutting inflammation and cholesterol. Just watch your portions – a little goes a long way. And, plain air-popped popcorn is a good alternative to chips, delivering fiber, vitamins and minerals. Also, one cup contains only around 30 calories.
• Protein: Think eggs, chicken, lean steak, edamame, quinoa or protein shakes. Begin your day with protein and you’ll be off to a good start.
• Healthy Sandwiches: Ditch white bread and rolls for whole grains and sandwiches with veggies and hummus instead of cheese.
Room for Alcohol?
Participants of the University of Georgia study doubled their alcohol consumption during vacations, which contributed to weight gain. However, you don’t need to say no to alcohol altogether, just keep a few things in mind. Watch the added sugar of mixers and flavored liquors and choose light beers. Also, stick to drier wines, such as Merlot and Chardonnay, and opt for liquors like gin, vodka, rum, tequila, scotch and bourbon. And finally, remember to drink in moderation. One drink per day for women and two for men is best while on vacation.
For more great tips, visit Nutrisystem’s website, The Leaf.
Remember, vacation doesn’t need to hinder your weight loss efforts. Good choices can keep you on the weight loss track – on vacation and all year round!
-Statepoint
(Nacogdoches, TX) – The Nacogdoches Public Library will present the Rock Candy, Edible Geodes & Pop Rocks workshop on Monday, June 25th at 5:30 pm for people ages
10-19 years. Participants will learn to make sweet treats that are almost too beautiful to eat! The event is free, but registration is requested.
Please call 936-559-2970 or visit www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library for more information.
LUFKIN, TEXAS, June 20, 2018 – Twenty-one cadets will graduate from the Angelina College Regional Police Academy June 22 at 7 p.m. in Hudgins Hall on the AC campus in Lufkin.
Graduates from Lufkin are William Calhoun, Alec Fawvor, Jacob Haden, Clay Hensarling, Andrew McVicker, Amado Podilla, Jr., Jason Porter and Steven Witherspoon.
Graduates from Nacogdoches are John Cook, Rhyne Davis, Dylan Moore and Brett Smith.
Graduates from Jasper are Michael Adams, Clint Fowler, and Joshua Robison.
Other graduates are Viviano Villafuerte of Corrigan, Joel DeJesus of Diboll, Roger Ordaz of Huntington, Travis Burman and Ranny Thomas, both of Livingston; and Tobias Martinez of Trinity.
In order to graduate, cadets must complete the 720-hour Basic Peace Officer course. They study the U.S. and Texas constitutions, state and federal laws and procedures, as well as state driving laws. Cadets learn how to keep the peace and protect against harm in many situations. They are trained in defensive tactics, driving, and firearms skills, and also undergo extensive scenario-based training.
This graduating class contributed over 1,200 hours of community service since February 2018, assisting Lufkin I.S.D., Relay for Life, Junior League, Lion’s Club Benefit Rodeo, and the TXDOT Trash-Off.
Application Packets for the Fall 2018 Basic Peace Officer Course will be available in July. Anyone interested in attending Police Academy should send an e-mail to policeacademy@angelina.edu for an application packet.
In Texas, peaches are the number one deciduous fruit crop. Texans grow more peaches than any other tree fruit crop but still don’t have enough to export out of state.
Locally, I don’t know of a peach orchard (that still exists) within Angelina County. For me and worlds of other folks, a fresh juicy peach is one of the best fruits out there!
According to an article in Horticultural Review, peaches were originally found in modern day China thousands of years ago. Much later they were a prized fruit in the Roman era and were eventually brought to the America’s by the Spanish in the 16th century.
And the state historical association states there was a town named Peach in Wood County in north east Texas. The settlement was given the name in the late 1800’s due to the large number of peach orchards in the area. In 1902, it finally got a post office officially designating it as Peach, TX. Nothing is left of Peach, TX today.
Today, Weatherford lays claim as the “Peach Capitol of Texas”.
Growing peaches takes a good site. Deep sandy soils that can be found around here are the best. Peaches will not tolerate poorly drained soil and must have a full day of sun to reach maximum production. If the recent rains have left your yard a soggy mess for a couple of days, then peaches may not take well to your location.
Peaches can be grown as a solitary tree since they are self-pollinating. Weed control is crucial in the first couple of years after planting. Weeds (even the turfgrass that you let grow near the stem) will aggressively compete for water and nutrients. Newly planted trees would benefit tremendously from mulch applied from at least 3 feet on each side away from the trunk.
You’ll want to give thought to how you’ll control the insects and fungal diseases that frequent peaches.
We need to choose a variety that will work with our winter weather. On average we experience 600 chilling hours, but that can easily range from 450 to 750 chilling hours.
Make no mistake, a killing late winter frost is enemy number one to a peach tree’s ability to bear fruit each year.
Chilling hours is a measurement of the number of hours that our climate spends between 45 degrees and 32 degrees. There are other science-based measurements of chilling hours, but this range (45-32 F) is the most common and I stick with it.
Chilling hours is amount of cool weather a tree gets before it decides to “wake-up” and bloom. If you planted a tree that requires only 400 chilling hours then it would very likely start blooming much too early and get hit by a frost, killing the blooms and not bearing any fruit. The good folks in Houston would do well to plant peach trees that require only 400 chilling hours.
On the other hand, an 800 chilling hour peach tree would be perfect for the cooler climate in north central Texas. If we planted too high a chilling requirement peach, it would never know to “wake-up”, bloom and then bear fruit. Trees with too high a chilling requirement are almost always poor bearers.
One varieties to consider is Junegold. It needs 650 chilling hours and is a cling stone fruit. Others to consider include Juneprince (650, semi-free), Southern Pearl (650, free stone), TexRoyal (600, free stone), Suwanee (650, free stone), TexPrince (550, free stone), and La Feliciana (600, free stone).
Let it be said that while the above list is recommended, it seems like every year a newer variety is available on the market and, if the chilling hours works for our climate, you ought to feel free to give them a try!
LUFKIN – A pre-construction meeting was held Wednesday at the Lufkin District Area Office, signaling the beginning of a new construction project on US 59 South, between Lufkin and Diboll.
The work will consist of resurfacing US 59 South in Angelina County from FM 3482/Whitehouse Drive to 1.1 mile north of FM 1818. This project is designed to plane the existing pavement, apply a hot mix level up course, followed by a final permeable friction course that will repel water and reduce surface noise.
Moore Brothers Construction, Lufkin, will serve as contractor for the $8.3 million construction project that is scheduled to begin on June 26 and be completed by May, 2019, weather permitting. Crews are scheduled to begin setting barricades on Thursday and Friday.
North and southbound lanes of US 59 are included in this project, with some of the work scheduled to be done at night. Motorists should prepare for single lanes of traffic through the work area. Reduce speed and obey all traffic control devices. It is illegal to drive around a TxDOT barricade, cones or barrels. Stay alert to moving equipment and workers near the lanes of traffic as this project progresses.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
Lufkin – The Texas Forestry Museum invites children and their families to have summer fun at the museum. Every Tuesday at 2:00 pm the museum will have storytime and a related craft for kids. Tuesdays @ 2 is a free event that will start on June 5th and end on July 31st. For more inforamtion call 936-632-9535.
Texas Forest Country Living is a digital online magazine featuring the lifestyle and community of the Texas Forest Country region. The Counties include Angelina County, Nacogdoches County, Sabine County, Tyler County, Newton County, San Jacinto County, San Augustine County, Jasper County, Houston County, Shelby County, Trinity County and Polk County
Disclaimer: In compliance with FTC guidelines, we at Texas Forest Country Living want to disclose that some of the links and mentions on our website may be part of an influencer marketing campaign. This means that we may receive compensation, such as commissions or free products, when you make a purchase or engage with the linked content through those specific links or mentions. Please note that we only promote products or services that we genuinely believe in and that align with the values and interests of our audience. Our primary goal is to provide valuable and relevant information to our readers. However, it's important to understand that any purchasing decision you make after clicking on these links is entirely at your own discretion. We always strive to maintain transparency and integrity in our content. Rest assured that our opinions and reviews are based on our own experiences and thorough research, regardless of any potential compensation received. We prioritize delivering accurate and unbiased information to our readers, and any influence marketing partnerships will not compromise the quality or objectivity of our content. It is crucial to remember that individual results may vary, and we encourage you to conduct your own research and consider personal preferences and circumstances before making any purchasing decisions based on the information provided on our website. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our disclosure policy or our affiliation with any brand or product, please feel free to contact us. We are committed to maintaining open communication and ensuring our readers have a positive experience while engaging with our content. © 2026 TFCLiving/MSGPR. All Rights Reserved.
