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CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Named Hospital of the Year for Lifesaving Efforts

By
Ezra McMullen
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Cutline: Accepting the award on behalf of the hospital was Market Director of Marketing Communications Yana Ogletree, Market Chief Operating Officer Shawn Barnett and Market Director of Community Outreach Tina Alexander Sellers.

LUFKIN, TEXAS (February 20, 2018)… Due to its lifesaving efforts, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin was named Hospital of the Year by Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center on Thursday, February 15 at the annual A Celebration of Life ceremony.

A Celebration of Life is an annual appreciation luncheon which recognizes and celebrates all gold level Commit for Life groups —including CHI St. Luke’s Health – for the countless lives that have been saved through their blood drives. CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial was chosen as Hospital of the Year out of the more than 170 hospitals across 26 counties served by Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

“At CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial we care for people and our Blood Donor program is one of the many ways we live up to that mission,” said Tina Alexander-Sellers, Blood Donor program Champion and Market Director of Community Outreach at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial. “Blood cannot be manufactured, and you never know whose life you may touch simply by giving a gift that is easy and free.”

Three years ago, the hospital made a recommitment to the Blood Donor program by solidifying its alliance with the Blood Center of East Texas and reaching out to members of the local media to help reach donors in the community. The program reached and surpassed donor goals and dramatically increased awareness and communication about the program. In 2017, seven blood drives were hosted on the Lufkin campus, including a 2-day, record-setting blood drive in September to support victims of Hurricane Harvey.

As a result of the hospital’s efforts to date more than 15,000 lives have been saved.

“We knew in our hearts we had attained an award winning program, and it feels good to know others feel the same way,” Alexander-Sellers said. “We are so grateful for all of our partners in this program, and to those who time and time again roll up their sleeves and donate the gift of life.”

The hospital will host its first blood drive of 2018 on Wednesday, February 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Community Rooms A&B on the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin campus.

Stuck in the Middle: What You Need to Know About Caregiving

By
Statepoint
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As the population ages, more people (particularly women) will be “sandwiched” in between taking care of their parents or other family members in need, and their children.

Take telenurse and nurse educator Kathie Wells, RN, BSN, CCM. At age 55, she is juggling full-time work, while raising school-age kids and caring for her husband Robert, 64, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2002.

As a nurse, Wells understood the onset and progression of PD, which often includes motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity and balance issues. But her husband’s disease progressed in a surprising way when he began to see and believe things that weren’t real.

PD is a neurodegenerative brain disorder often involving both motor and non-motor

symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. When those symptoms appear, it may be Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) and it occurs in more than half the people with Parkinson’s during the course of their disease. Yet, only 10 to 20 percent of patients will proactively report their hallucinations and delusions to their doctor.

When Wells’ husband began to experience delusions, she found his behavior frustrating and alarming. For example, Robert would spend hours in the yard digging up garden stones, convinced he’d found valuable “treasure.” Neighbors remarked on Robert’s behavior and his children wouldn’t invite friends over to avoid them seeing their dad relentlessly digging. Robert’s delusions combined with his other PD motor symptoms were hard for Wells to manage. She struggled to get enough sleep caring for Robert, and their children were hesitant to go out in public with their father because he shared his treasure hunting stories with strangers all the time.

While there’s currently no cure for PD, there are different treatment options to address both motor and non-motor symptoms. Wells says it was a relief when her husband’s neurologist suggested an FDA-approved medication indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with PDP.

Wells recommends the following to caregivers of people with Parkinson’s.

• Consider talking to a professional, as caregivers are more likely to experience relationships or social life suffering and emotional stress than non-caregivers. Likewise, caregiving can take a toll on physical health. Take time to sleep, de-stress, eat well and exercise.

• Seek logistical and emotional help from family, friends, support groups and advocacy groups, who often have free resources available. For example, the Parkinson’s Foundation has advice for caregivers and a helpline staffed by nurses, social workers and therapists.

• Even if you understand your loved one’s condition, report new symptoms or concerns to a healthcare provider as they arise. “I now know that delusions along with hallucinations are telltale signs of Parkinson’s disease psychosis, however, I didn’t recognize those symptoms immediately,” says Wells.

For more information visit www.moretoparkinsons.com.

Remember that you’re not alone. Support exists to help you manage the struggles associated with caring for loved ones.

(Statepoint)

Texas Forestry Museum’s Spring Break Fun!

By
Ezra McMullen
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Lufkin – The Texas Forestry Museum will have plenty of fun filled activities throughout spring break this year. The 22nd annual Reading Railroad is pulling in at the museum on Wednesday, March 14th from 10 am to 12 pm. Families will have a chance to visit different story stations where community members will read their favorite children’s books to those in attendance! There will also be a craft, as well as a snack station for visitors to enjoy. Thanks to the support of our sponsors Higginbotham, and the E. L. Kurth Jr. Charitable Foundation, Reading Railroad is open to the entire community free of charge. So, please come and share this reading adventure!

Hold on, the fun doesn’t end there! Come throughout Spring Break to enjoy some fun activities. The Texas Forestry Museum will offer nature bingo, outside twister, and a dragonfly craft every day during the week of Spring Break, March 10th – 17th. Photos will be taken at the event for promotional materials.

The Texas Forestry Museum, a private non-profit organization, is located at 1905 Atkinson Dr. in Lufkin. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except major holidays. For more information on the Texas Forestry Museum and its scheduled events, please call 936-632-9535.

Midtown Houston Hosts “Lounge on the Lawn:” An All Day Celebration at Midtown Park

By
Ezra McMullen
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HOUSTON, February 19, 2018- On Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Midtown Houston will host Lounge on the Lawn in Midtown Park, the first all-day event for residents, Houstonians and visitors to the Bayou City. Lounge on the Lawn will feature diverse cuisine, live entertainment and family-friendly fun on the lush 30,000 square foot lawn. Midtown Park is centrally located at 2811 Travis St., adjacent to the McGowen METRORail Station and easily accessible by bike, foot or vehicle.

The Midtown Park Parking Garage, located directly below the park, is now open and provides 400 spaces for public use and boasts round-the-clock security.

Positioned as a world-class destination, Midtown Park provides a host of benefits to the community, including new park programming and an outdoor environment perfect for celebrations like Lounge on the Lawn. The event will offer a glimpse into the nearby arts community with live performances by The Ensemble Theatre, MetDance, the Houston Poet Laureate (D.E.E.P.) and Main Street Theater. There will be interactive samba and capoeira classes with the Brazilian Arts Foundation.

Tours will be led by Design Workshop, the landscape architects behind Midtown Park’s sustainable design, and pet-friendly activities at the Reliant Dog Park located within the park. As the sun goes down, the festivities will close with a silent party featuring DJ Sun on the Camden Pavilion.

“We look forward to offering a full day of outdoor activities right here in the heart of the city,” said Matt Thibodeaux, CEO of Midtown Houston. “What makes Midtown Park so special is that it’s designed to truly offer something for everyone.”

Midtown Park spans three acres that includes a lush lawn for games and activities, a playground and interactive water features for families, public art installations by artists Sharon Engelstein and Dixie Friend Gay and the Reliant Dog Park. Midtown Park also features the Camden Pavilion, an open-air pavilion and stage area that provides a flexible space for concerts and performances, public events and exercise groups. When not in use for events, it serves as a casual gathering spot with movable seating and large fans overlooking the interactive water feature and great lawn.

This year Midtown Houston will develop a ½-acre retail plaza located adjacent to McGowen St., to include a full-service restaurant and a public plaza space next to the METRORail station. The restaurant tenant will build and own the structure on the available 5,000 – 7,500 square foot space and 3,000 square foot dining patio in the northwest corner of the park.

More information is available at midtownhouston.com. To schedule interviews, contact Ashley Small at pr@oneworldstrong.com or 281-827-3419.

Jacksonville Teams Sweep Lady Roadrunners, Roadrunners

By
Gary Stallard
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Gilbert Thomas (22) of Angelina College gets his team out on a fast break during Saturday’s game against Jacksonville College. The Roadrunners dropped a 69-63 decision to the Jaguars at Shands Gymnasium. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Angelina College’s Mia Williams (22) draws a foul while driving against Jacksonville College’s Florence Sifa (23) during Saturday’s game. The Lady Roadrunners fell to the Lady Jaguars 83-77 at Shands Gymnasium. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

Facing the top teams in their respective conferences was going to be a tall task anyway, and the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners fell short in a pair of home losses Saturday at Shands Gymnasium.

Jacksonville’s Lady Jaguars held off the Lady ‘Runners 83-77 behind 31 points from Ines Nezerwa, and the Jaguars fended off a late Roadrunner rally to take a 69-63 win.

Both AC teams are on the road Wednesday, with the Lady Roadrunners traveling to Athens to take on Trinity Valley Community College and the Roadrunners taking on Lee College in Baytown.

Jacksonville 83, Lady Roadrunners 77

Jacksonville’s Nezerwa and AC’s Natasha Mack waged a battle in the paint, with the two 6’4” post players fighting for position nearly every possession.

Saturday’s matchup went to Nezerwa, who finished with a game-high 31 points to go with 10 rebounds.

Mack fought her way to an 18-point, seven-rebound performance, but the Lady Jags were able to hold off a late AC surge in the final 30 seconds to secure the win.

Lady ‘Runner Mia Williams nailed a three pointer off an assist from Priscilla Murray with 25 seconds to play to trim the Jacksonville lead to five points at 80-75. Mack’s free throws got AC to within three points, but the Lady Jags’ Florence Sifa hit three free throws in the final seconds to hold off the Lady Roadrunners.

Williams finished with 18 points after connecting on six three pointers. Mia Perkins added 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Lady Roadrunners (18-8, 10-6) will face Trinity Valley’s Lady Cardinals Wednesday in Athens. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Angelina College’s Angelica Darcus (11) hits a layup over Jacksonville’s Johanna Kampp during Saturday’s game. The Lady Roadrunners fell to the Lady Jaguars 83-77 at Shands Gymnasium. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

Jacksonville 69, Roadrunners 63

A very physical defensive battle eventually went against the home team, with the Roadrunners dropping a 69-63 loss to the Jaguars on Saturday.

The teams combined for just 56 points over the game’s first 20 minutes – well below the per-game average for both squads. AC trailed 29-27, but rallied late in the second half to take a 55-51 lead on Kevin Norman buckets on back-to-back AC possessions.

With the scored knotted at 55-55 with five minutes to play, however, Jacksonville put together just enough of a scoring run to take the lead for good. A.J. Sparks hit a pair of free throws, Christian Barrett scored in the paint and Tylin Lockett dropped a three pointer to give the Jaguars enough cushion to hold off the hard-charging Roadrunners.

AC’s Norman led the Roadrunners with 16 points. Isaac Beal added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Travis Henson contributed 10 points.

Lockett, Sparks and Jabari Narcis each scored 12 points for Jacksonville.

The Roadrunners (13-13, 5-10) play Lee College Wednesday in Baytown. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Angelina College’s Isaac Beal (24) finishes off a dunk after a lob during Saturday’s game against Jacksonville College. The Roadrunners dropped a 69-63 decision to the Jaguars at Shands Gymnasium. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

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

Another Near No-No Roadrunner Pitchers Combine for One Hitter in Sweep of Mountain View

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Sean Bergeron, shown here in a recent game, teamed up with three other AC pitchers to one-hit Mountain View College on Thursday. The Roadrunners ran their winning streak to five games with a 6-4, 6-0 sweep in Dallas. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Angelina College’s Christian Leonard, shown here in a recent game, drove in two runs and homered during Thursday’s win at Mountain View College. The Roadrunners ran their winning streak to five games with a 6-4, 6-0 sweep in Dallas. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

For the second time this young season, Angelina College pitchers carried a no-hitter into the final inning.

Back on January 31, Lance Lusk lost his no-hit bid against Mountain View College in the final inning, finishing with a one-hitter.

Thursday in Dallas, three Roadrunners teamed up against the Lions, with Sean Bergeron, Jacob Mead and Clayton Hill nearly earning the no-no in the nightcap before a Lion hitter broke it up with two outs in the seventh. Bergeron threw five hitless innings to earn the win.

The Roadrunners swept the Lions 6-4, 6-0 in Thursday’s twin bill, running AC’s winning streak to five games.

In the opener, Dylan Murphy and Christian Leonard rocked back-to-back homers in the second inning. Leonard finished with two RBI in the win; Euro Diaz and Alec Paz also drove in runs for AC. Lusk struck out seven Lion hitters in four innings of work; Hagan Hartman and Jeremy Rodriguez each added an inning of scoreless relief.

The nightcap saw AC hitters Brett Mugavero, Hayden Baker and Dylan Rivers collect two hits each. Baker and Dylan Murphy each drove in two runs to back the strong pitching performance.

The Roadrunners (6-6) travel to Wharton College on Saturday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. AC is at home on Tuesday against Alvin College. That doubleheader starts at 2 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

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

AC Basketball Teams Hosting Saturday Doubleheader against Jacksonville College Teams Jockeying for Berths in Conference Tournament

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Nylek Cobb (33) drives against a pair of San Jacinto College defenders in a recent game. The Roadrunners and Lady Roadrunners will host Jacksonville College in a Saturday doubleheader tipping off at 2 p.m. with the Lady Roadrunners, followed by the men at 4 p.m. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Angelina College’s Bryan Mitchell slams home a dunk during a recent game. The Roadrunners and Lady Roadrunners will host Jacksonville College in a Saturday doubleheader tipping off at 2 p.m. with the Lady Roadrunners, followed by the men at 4 p.m. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

A basketball season that got its start way back in November is winding down to its last three weeks, and both Angelina College teams are slugging their way to the finish in search of better seeding in the upcoming conference tournament.

On Saturday, the Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners will continue the fight at home in a doubleheader against Jacksonville College.

The Lady ‘Runners (18-7, 10-5) currently hold down the No. 4 seed in the standings, but the position is somewhat misleading. While Trinity Valley College and Jacksonville College appear tied for the No. 1 seed with a 13-3 record in league play, Jacksonville recently was ruled ineligible for the postseason. Panola College is in third place at 12-3.

Jacksonville’s disappointing news hasn’t curbed the Lady Jaguars’ desire to win: They’ve won three of their last four contests, including Tuesday’s 92-51 drubbing of Coastal Bend College.

The Lady Roadrunners have won two of their past three games, dropping a 64-57 decision to San Jacinto College Wednesday in Houston despite Natasha Mack’s 28 points.

AC’s men are fighting a different battle. A recent three-game losing streak has the Roadrunners on the outside looking in at the moment: AC (13-12, 5-9) is in fifth place in the Region XIV South Division standings; however, the ‘Runners are a mere game back of third place and two games back of first place in the logjam. Jacksonville College’s Jaguars, also ruled ineligible for the post season, sit in first place with a 7-7 record.

Angelina College’s Charisma Shepherd (3) winds her way through a pair of Paris College defenders during a recent game. The Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners will host Jacksonville College in a Saturday doubleheader tipping off at 2 p.m. with the Lady ‘Runners, followed by the men at 4 p.m. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

AC on Saturday will try and rebound from Wednesday’s tough, 83-77 loss at Lamar State College-Port Arthur on Wednesday. Travis Henson led the Roadrunners with 20 points, followed by Kevin Norman with 17, Mario Goggins with 14 and Bryan Mitchell with 10.

The Lady Roadrunners tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with the Roadrunners following at 4 p.m. Fans can view the games via live streaming by logging onto angelinaathletics.com.

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

 

Angelina College’s Natasha Mack (10) lifts off for a jumper in a recent game against Kilgore College. The Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners will host Jacksonville College in a Saturday doubleheader tipping off at 2 p.m. with the Lady ‘Runners, followed by the men at 4 p.m. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

Tips for Keeping Your Busy Family Organized

By
Statepoint
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When it comes to busy families, things have a habit of becoming scattered quickly. Here are five ways to keep everything and everyone organized, all the time.

1. Centralize Information. Hang an erasable calendar or family to-do list in a high-traffic area of the home where everyone can see it, so that everyone can add appointments, practices, vacations, school plays and other events. Be sure to hang it at a height appropriate for all members of the family, big and small.

2. Planned Meal Prep. Pick one day a week to plan meals and snacks for the days ahead. Prep items that you can in advance. Chop veggies, pack school lunches, assemble the lasagna. This will make the rest of the week a breeze. Family members can easily grab pre-prepared lunches and snack items before school and work, to take away the stress of busy mornings and getting out the door on-time. Plus, evenings won’t need to feel so rushed.

3. Label It. From the spice rack to the medicine cabinet to the filing cabinet and the garage, clearly labeling containers saves time and energy, ensuring you can quickly and easily find needed items. Seek out tools to make the job of labeling speedy and tidy, such as label printers from Casio. Their Label Printer KL-120 features a QWERTY keyboard for fast typing and a 16-digit two-line LCD display with built-in fonts and character sizes.

4. Leverage Storage. Do you take full advantage of storage nooks and crannies in your home? Use bed risers to create more space under the bed. Well-designed furniture can pull double-duty. Seek out specialized sofas and ottomans that lift up to reveal extra storage.

5. Tidy Up. Items tend to move around the house, often ending up where they don’t belong. Soccer gear in the living room, toys in the bathroom and items of clothing left on the couch. Dedicate 15 to 30 minutes a week for the family to organize items and put things back where they belong. Having a standing appointment to do so will ensure everyone pitches in to help.

(Statepoint)

4 Rules for a More Organized Home

By
Statepoint
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There are plenty of reasons why people obsess over organization and resolve to master it at home. Household items become easier to find. Rooms all of a sudden seem bigger and more welcoming. Each walk past a tidy linen closet — where there was once an avalanche waiting to spill forward — comes with a small sense of accomplishment.

Whether you’re after smarter storage or looking to cut clutter, success begins with a thoughtful approach.

Think Small

While it’s fun to dream about a large-scale routine reset, smaller sustainable actions are key to lasting change. Take it one room or even one drawer at a time to keep momentum positive and to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Doing so also allows you to focus, leading to more creative solutions for taking advantage of under-utilized areas. For example, you may find using over-the door organizers to be a great way to free up space in home offices and craft rooms.

Say “No” to Clutter

Everyone has items they keep around for no real reason that aren’t particularly meaningful and don’t serve a purpose. Being able to objectively identify these items makes everything easier.

Paring down possessions doesn’t have to be painful. That cardinal shaped cookie jar that you’ve always been on the fence about? It would make an incredibly thoughtful “just because” gift for an ornithology-obsessed aunt. Often, less can literally be more: Consignment shops and eBay make it easy to turn four or five pieces of furniture you “kind of like” into one piece you absolutely love.

Keep a Place for Everything

Nobody likes wasting time gathering or searching. Make storage more convenient and efficient by streamlining. Items frequently used together should be kept together, from coffee supplies to vehicle maintenance tools.

Make a Plan

Create a schedule so nothing is overlooked. Knowing which project is next gives you time to prepare and purchase any storage items you might need. When scheduling, designate specific rooms and spaces for certain seasons. For example, the first warm days of spring are made for cleaning out the shed or garage.

More organizational inspiration can be found by visiting improvementscatalog.com.

Successful new habits can become part of your lifestyle. Deliberately choosing to incorporate small acts of organization on a daily basis will pay off tremendously over time.

(Statepoint)

EVENT SCHEDULED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRACTORS

By
Rhonda Oaks
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LUFKIN – The Texas Department of Transportation, the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, Stephen F. Austin State University and the Angelina College Procurement Assistance Center are sponsoring an event to encourage and highlight upcoming subcontracting opportunities for highway and building construction in East Texas.

The event, Projects Adding Value by Expanding Diversity (PAVED), will be held at Angelina College on Feb. 22 from 3:30 to 6 pm in the Community Services Building, CS 104.

PAVED is an initiative developed by TxDOT’s Civil Rights Division to increase Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in heavy highway construction projects. PAVED targets specific project opportunities in various areas of the state and focuses events on each of these projects. Those attending will not only learn about these projects, but will also have the opportunity to network with prime contractors.

Lufkin District projects will be highlighted including the widening of US 69 South from FM 844 to FM 1270 in Angelina County. Other PAVED events are scheduled across the state in coming months. Those wanting to participate are encouraged to register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TxDOTPAVED.

For more information, call 512-416-4700 or contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.

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