Home Blog Page 489

3 Ways to Help Save Lives this Food Allergy Awareness Week

By
Statepoint
-
0

Allergic reactions to food range from hives and a stuffy nose to life-threatening anaphylaxis, and 15 million Americans have food allergies, according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).

Here are ways you can celebrate Food Allergy Awareness Week, observed May 13-19, and potentially save lives in your community.

• Advocate that the schools in your community are stocked with epinephrine so that those suffering from a life-threatening allergic reaction can be treated swiftly.

• Teach your child to be a good friend to classmates with food allergies. Make sure they understand that bullying others about food allergies is unacceptable. Carefully review what food items to avoid sending with your child to school.

• Donate to FARE to support their efforts to improve the health of those with food allergies through research, education and advocacy. To learn more, visit foodallergy.org.

Understanding food allergies is the first step toward ensuring the health and safety of those with this medical condition.

(Statepoint)

Burke Through Diboll Alert

By
Rhonda Oaks
-
0

ALERT: Motorists should be prepared for delays as southbound traffic is confined to one lane south of Burke through Diboll as crews mill and inlay the road surface. Reduce speed and use caution through this busy work zone. Work will continue through the week.

Angelina College Students Earn Texas Academic All-State Honors

By
Nancy Reynolds
-
0
Angelina College students Kelly Inkster (left), Madison Reeves and Bethany Cole. Not pictured: Bethany Cole.

LUFKIN, TEXAS, April 26, 2018 – Angelina College students Bethany Cole, Kelly Inkster, and Madison Reeves were recently named Texas Academic All-State students. In order to qualify, they had to have at least a 3.5 grade point average and complete a rigorous screening process by the national Phi Theta Kappa honor society. While being a member of Phi Theta Kappa is no longer a requirement to earn this honor, Cole, Inkster and Reeves are all members.

Bethany Cole of Lufkin is a nursing major. After graduating from AC, she plans to transfer to Texas A&M to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Kelly Inkster of Splendora is a general curriculum major who plans to transfer to Stephen F. Austin State University in the fall.

Madison Reeves is a Child & Family Development major from Livingston.

For more information about Texas Academic All-State honors or Phi Theta Kappa at Angelina College, contact Benetha Jackson at bjackson@angelina.edu.

 

Northeast Texas Holds off Roadrunners Series Resumes Saturday in Mount Pleasant

By
Gary Stallard
-
0
Angelina College’s Dillon Nesbit drives home a run with a second-inning single during Thursday’s game with Northeast Texas Community College. The Roadrunners dropped a 6-4 decision in the opener of a three-game series set to resume Saturday in Mount Pleasant. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

Angelina College second baseman Nic Garza takes throw on the way to turning a double play during Thursday’s game with Northeast Texas Community College. The Roadrunners dropped a 6-4 decision in the opener of a three-game series set to resume Saturday in Mount Pleasant. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

In the end, the Angelina College Roadrunners just couldn’t come up with the needed clutch hits.

Northeast Texas Community College held off the ‘Runners in a 6-4 decision Thursday at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex, thwarting several AC scoring chances in the final innings to take the first game of the three-game series.

NTCC’s Chase Talbot broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the sixth inning, and teammate Ryan Dudley added an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the same frame to give the Eagles a 6-3 lead.

AC’s Euro Diaz tripled home a run in the eight – his second RBI of the game – to cut the lead to two runs, but Diaz stayed stranded there following an inning-ending groundout.

AC missed out on earlier opportunities to score, leaving the bases loaded in the sixth. Over nine innings, the Roadrunners left 11 runners on base.

Kyle Allen pitched three scoreless innings in relief, striking out four Eagles. Nic Garza and Dillon Nesbitt also drove in a run each for the Roadrunners.

AC (25-20, 13-11) will travel to Mount Pleasant on Saturday as the series resumes with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

Angelina College second baseman Nic Garza avoids a sliding runner during Thursday’s game with Northeast Texas Community College. The Roadrunners dropped a 6-4 decision in the opener of a three-game series set to resume Saturday in Mount Pleasant. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports

Lufkin Community Band Presents “A Music Tour”

By
Nancy Reynolds
-
0

LUFKIN, TEXAS, April 27, 2018 – Lufkin Community Band is presenting “A Music Tour” April 29 at 2:30 p.m. in Temple Theater on the Angelina College campus. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children. The concert will take listeners on a musical tour around the United States.

Dr. Jimmy Simmons is the featured guest artist and will be featured in works for solo clarinet and band, and solo alto saxophone and band. Simmons will be featured in two solo works, “The Music Box for Clarinet and Concert Band” by Charles Booker, and “Come Sunday for Alto Saxophone and Band” by Duke Ellington and adapted by Paul Murtha. Simmons has performed with countless wind bands, orchestras, and jazz ensembles nationally and internationally.

For more information about this event, call the Temple Theater Box Office at (936) 633-5454.

Cutline: The Lufkin Community Band and director David Smith rehearse for Sunday’s performance of “A Music Tour” at 2:30 p.m. in Temple Theater on the Angelina College campus. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for seniors, students and children. The concert will take listeners on a musical tour around the United States.

Termite Swarms Sighted

By
Cary Sims
-
0

Last week, our office got a call from one who saw a cloud of flying insects coming out of an old stump. “It almost looked like rising smoke, but it was all bugs,” they said.

What they saw were termites and those termites were swarming.

Adult reproductive termites are dark-brown to blackish insects, about 3/8 inch-long. Commonly referred to as “swarmers”, the job of reproductive termites is to mate and start new colonies. Termite swarmers may or may not have wings, as their wings often are shed shortly after flight.

Swarming termites are often confused with ants but can be distinguished by two simple characters. Termites lack the “pinched” waist of ants. A termite’s body profile is shaped like a grain of rice. Ants always have some sort of pinched, narrow “waist”.

Also, termite wings are equal in length, compared to ants that have distinctly longer front wings. With an infested home, it is not uncommon to find insect wings inside on a window sill. Look carefully thru them to see if you can see a size difference. If they are all similar in size, those are termites.

Although termite swarmers can, occasionally, enter homes through open doors or windows, finding termite swarmers indoors is a reliable signal of infestation. Termite swarms can occur throughout the year, but are most commonly seen between the months of February and May in Texas.

But what about the termites you find outside in your mulch or in an old stump? In Texas, termites abound in the soil wherever wood is to be found. Most yards, especially those in older, established neighborhoods, support termites. While termites are more abundant in some locations, chances are good that your yard has termites. Finding termites in a fence or woodpile, or in landscape timbers, does not necessarily mean that your home needs to be treated, but it should alert you to the presence of termites around your home.

Should you find termites in your yard, a few simple steps can help reduce your risk of becoming infested. First, familiarize yourself with what termites look like so that if you notice swarms of any unusual indoor insects, you will know whether your house should be inspected.

Second, examine the foundation of your home to see whether mud shelter tubes are present that might indicate termite activity. Termite shelter tubes are hollow soil tunnels extending from the soil to your house and provide runways for termites to travel between their underground nest and their food supply (your home). If you do find any suspicious mud structures, leave at least part of the material in place for a professional termite inspector to examine.

Finally, keep soil and debris, such as stacked wood, away from the foundation of your home. This reduces the chance of termite entry and makes it easier to inspect your home for termite signs.

If you suspect termites, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your home. Because of the specialized equipment and chemicals needed to effectively and safely treat your home, it’s nearly always best to hire a professional. Do-it-yourself termite control chemicals are commonly sold through do-it-yourself stores.

For spot treatments, in a very limited area, these products might be as effective as some of the professional’s weaker products; however it takes a professional to thoroughly treat a home. I would only attempt to use a “Do-it-yourself” termite control product around low value structures such as sheds, fence post, decks and wood piles.

An Update from Rep. Trent Ashby

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
-
0

One of my favorite things to do around this time of year is attend as many of our county fairs and youth livestock shows as possible. As the son of a dairy farmer, I’ve been involved with raising and showing animals since before I could even walk. Some of my fondest memories as a young man were made riding shotgun in the seat of a farm truck as we eagerly made our way to the next show, and it truly warms my heart to see so many young people continue to be involved in this type of activity. A tip of the hat to all the parents, grandparents, advisors and all those who support these fine young folks. With that, here’s an update from your state capitol . . .

House Interim Charge: State Affairs

This week’s stop on our tour of interim charges for committees of the Texas House of Representatives brings us to the State Affairs Committee. State Affairs is comprised of thirteen members who typically have several years of legislative experience under their belt before serving on this panel. The committee handles policies pertaining to some of our state’s most critical issues. From the regulation of electric and telecommunication industries, to policy surrounding pipelines, all the way to the consideration of pro-life legislation, this committee hears it all.

As you can imagine, their interim will be quite busy. Similar to other committees, however, they will spend a fair amount of time examining the state’s response to natural disasters. More specifically, the State Affairs Committee will examine whether current state policies are appropriate and up-to-date as it concerns how to best generate power and get electricity back to affected areas. As the summer presents itself, the committee will study the issue from many different angles, including how cutting edge technology could benefit the state and how wholesale electric prices impact rate payers.

After a deep dive into electric power generation, the committee will then turn its focus to other items, such as what policies the state could implement to get broadband access to more rural areas where it isn’t currently available. This is an incredibly important issue for me, as I know that small businesses, school districts, and households in more rural areas of the state could greatly benefit from high-speed broadband access.

Reminders

The mobile office is on the road for the month of May and looks forward to seeing you in the following locations, on the following dates: on May 2nd in Centerville at the Leon County Courthouse from 9:00-11:00am, or in Madisonville at the Madison County Courthouse Annex from 1:30-3:30pm; on May 16th in Crockett at the Houston County Courthouse Annex from

9:00-11:00am, or in Groveton at the Trinity County Courthouse from 1:30-3:30pm; finally, on May 23rd in San Augustine at the San Augustine County Courthouse 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 Beautiful/Clean recognized as first recipient of North Lufkin Community Small Grants Program

By
Ezra McMullen
-
0

[LUFKIN, TX – April 27, 2018] The T. L. L. Temple Foundation established a new grants program created specifically to benefit Wards 1 and 2 of North Lufkin. The North Lufkin Community Small Grants Program was approved by the T. L. L. Temple Foundation Board of Trustees based upon the “Listening to the Voice of the Community” report. The report culminated an Appreciative Inquiry Study of North Lufkin by the Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work Center for Rural Work Research and Development. The study was funded and made possible by the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. As the program’s administrator, Legacy Institute for Financial Education (L.I.F.E.) will oversee the operation of the program. The organization is a 501(c)(3) and will manage the grants program, coordinate the review committee and be responsible for small grant distributions and reporting.

Angelina Beautiful/Clean (AB/C) has been recognized as the first recipient of the North Lufkin Community Small Grants Program. Based on the Appreciative Inquiry Study, beautification is one of the top priorities identified for the revitalization efforts of North Lufkin. AB/C has been awarded a grant to address this topic and has partnered with Impact Lufkin-Community Driven and North Lufkin community members to beautify the well-traveled corner lot of Kurth and Sayers.

Beautification is an important step in the revitalization process that is echoed from community members published in the Appreciative Inquiry. This highly visible intersection will serve as a foundation and catalyst for future improvements in the North Lufkin community. The organizations will begin with general landscaping to beautify the area. Following, this project will consist of adding low maintenance plants native to the area; in addition to native Mayhaw trees for local neighbors and volunteers to enjoy.

For years Verdia Shankle had insisted that this corner should be beautified and inquired on the steps to make it happen. As the chair person for the Beautification Committee from the community, the time has come to see that this project grow from idea to reality.

According to Jennifer La Corte, AB/C Executive Director, “By transforming a vacant lot in such a visible intersection we assist in setting the foundation for growth, physically through the landscaping but also metaphorically for others to see change and progress happening. Something as simple as creating a more vibrant, healthy and beautiful area available to the public through investment of this beautification project can have a profound and lasting impact that stretches far beyond the plants on the lot.”

Joseph Ceasar, L.I.F.E. Executive Director, adds, “This small grants program was designed to stimulate engagement from the community. We’re happy to see the collaboration between the community driven Impact Lufkin and Angelina Beautiful Clean. There’s been a lot of research, time and work that’s been invested in determining how to get the community to engage in the revitalization process. I believe this project is a great first step for the North Lufkin community to see the type of impact they can make when they come together.”

About Angelina Beautiful/Clean

Working in Angelina County since 1984, Angelina Beautiful/Clean (AB/C) has a mission to educate and empower East Texans to take responsibility for enhancing their community environment and serves Angelina County to help make it a cleaner, greener place to live, work and play. AB/C cultivates programs, services and education around litter reduction, recycling and beautification. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.

For more information about Angelina Beautiful/Clean, please contact Jennifer La Corte at 936-63CLEAN (936-632-5326), visit www.angelinabeautifulclean.org or follow on Facebook.

My Five Cents…

By
Senator Robert Nichols
-
0

At the end of May, we will celebrate Memorial Day and honor our military men and women who have given their lives serving our nation, so that we might live free.

Here are five things happening around your state this month:

1. Sunset Commission Hearing

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recently held its first hearing of the interim. The Commission ensures state agencies are meeting their mission and purpose by making recommendations for which state agencies should be continued, how they can operate more efficiently and better serve the public.

The hearing focused on the state’s Behavioral Health Boards, including Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Psychologist, the Texas Medical Board, Texas Veterans Commission and Texas Historical Commission. Final decisions for these entities will be made in May, but no recommendations can be put into law without final approval by the Legislature. To learn how to become a part of the process by attending a hearing or sending in comments please visit www.sunset.texas.gov.

2. Special Education Funding

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced a new plan to address inadequacies in Texas when it comes to special education in Texas schools. The proposal includes special education professional development system for educators, resources for parents of students who may need special education services, funding for school districts providing services to students who may have previously been denied services. It also includes additional staffing and resources at TEA to help support education services and increase oversight to ensure all school districts in Texas are meeting special education laws. While TEA has designated $212 million to be spent over the next five years on this plan, they do plan to request additional funding during the 86th Legislative Session for local special education needs.

3. Redistricting in Texas

The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments at the end of April to determine whether the district maps for two Texas congressional districts and nine Texas House districts, which were adopted in 2013, discriminate against minority voters. Last year, a lower court stated the districts were unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act. Texas then took their case to the Supreme Court, asking for the decision of the lower court to be overturned. Depending on the decision made by the Supreme Court, Texas could be forced to come back and redraw the district lines for these specific districts.

4. Senate and House Education Hearings

The House Public Education Committee met earlier this month to discuss the implementation of bills from the 85th Legislative Session including HB 21, which created a financial hardship grant for school districts, HB 22, which updated the A-F accountability system, and SB 179 which added cyberbullying to the Education Code provision of bullying. They also received an update on how school districts are doing after Hurricane Harvey.

The Senate Education Committee also met this month to discuss virtual education, which offers supplemental classes through school districts, as well as a full time program, and if it should be expanded. They discussed how to expand access to high quality education opportunities, and received an update on the federal E-rate program. Texas participates in this program through state matching funds to help bring in and support high-speed broadband access to public schools across Texas.

5. Texas Armed Services Scholarship

My office is currently accepting applications for the Texas Armed Forces Scholarship Program on which encourages students to participate in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs at universities in Texas.

To be eligible, must meet two of the following requirements:

* Be on track to graduate high school in a Distinguished Achievement Program or International Baccalaureate program.

* 3.0 or higher GPA

* Rank in the top third of graduating class.

* SAT score of 1590 or ACT score of 23.

To receive the scholarship:

* Submit an essay explaining why you believe military service is important and how you would fulfill the requirements of the scholarship

* Enroll in an eligible Texas institution and an eligible ROTC program

* Commit in writing to:

o Remain in ROTC for four years.

o Graduate within six years.

o Enter Guard service or accept a commission with the armed services within six months of graduation from college.

If you live in Senate District 3 and are interested in this scholarship, please send the required material to robert.nichols@senate.texas.gov. Applications must be received no later than June 30, 2018. For questions please call my Jacksonville office at 903-589-3003. For more information and details on the application please visit www.hhloans.com.

Large-Scale Efforts Helping Pre-K Teachers Receive Resources; You Can, Too

By
Ezra McMullen
-
0

Studies have shown that high-quality pre-K education better prepares children to achieve in school and makes them more likely to strive for higher vocational aspirations. It also has a positive impact on society. For every dollar spent on high-quality early education, society gains as much as $13 in long-term savings, according to a 2016 study by Nobel Laureate, James Heckman.

“Too many teachers struggle to access essential classroom resources,” says Sally McCrady, chair and president of PNC Foundation. “Luckily, it’s easier than ever to get involved in supporting local efforts to help pre-K teachers and their classrooms and students.”

Large-scale efforts are being made to help more teachers, classrooms and children get the resources they need, such as science kits, books, art supplies and field trips. One example of this is a $5 million alliance between the PNC Foundation and DonorsChoose.org, a crowd-funding platform whereby teachers request the materials and experiences they need most for their classrooms, and donors can give to the vetted projects that inspire them.

Any person interested in helping pre-K teachers can access DonorsChoose.org and donate to a project.

“Though teachers often spend their own money on classroom supplies, they still need many more resources to provide a well-rounded, high-quality learning experience,” says Yasmina S. Vinci, executive director, National Head Start Association (NHSA), a not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to supporting the Head Start community.

The four major initiatives of this alliance include:

• Match Funding: From now through May 31, 2018, PNC will match, dollar-for-dollar, donations made within its service area that support public pre-K and Head Start teachers’ project requests listed on DonorsChoose.org, with some restrictions. The duration of the match campaign depends on the number of project requests and donations. For specific guidelines on the match offer, visit DonorsChoose.org/pnc.

• Teacher Gift Cards: Every teacher who submitted a pre-K project request in the PNC footprint since April 4, 2017 received a $100 electronic gift card to be used on DonorsChoose.org. More than 3,700 public pre-K and Head Start teachers received the cards to support new projects.

• Spotlight: One outstanding early education teacher in most PNC markets has been honored as a Teacher Hero for his or her efforts and involvement in the alliance. All honorees received a $2,000 gift card to fund a project in their classrooms and a second $2,000 gift card to help seed other pre-K projects listed on DonorsChoose.org.

• PNC Volunteer Gift Cards: All PNC employees who volunteered for the early education initiative Grow Up Great in 2017 will receive a $50 electronic gift card to support pre-K project requests on DonorsChoose.org.

These resources are already having real-world impacts. Last year’s campaign enabled nearly 244,000 preschool children across 21 states and the District of Columbia to receive new classroom materials and educational opportunities. More than 7,500 pre-K classroom projects benefited from the grant, which was made in support of PNC Grow Up Great, its $350 million early childhood education initiative. Teachers and donors can visit PNCGrowUpGreat.com/donorschoose for more information.

“Because of these efforts, we can introduce our children to more activities and opportunities to learn more skills,” says Chicago pre-K teacher, Denise Lopez-Gill. “The supplies that I have received have transformed our classroom environment.”

(Statepoint)

1...488489490...753Page 489 of 753