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Lady Roadrunner, No. 1 Tyler Soccer Match Suspended for Faulty Lighting

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College’s Alexis Barrientez (6) keeps the ball away from Tyler defenders during Wednesday’s match. The Lady Roadrunners were playing the No. 1 Lady Apaches to a scoreless draw when the game was suspended in the 35th minute because of a faulty light bank. A makeup date and time will be announced later. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Angelina College’s Naddia Garcia (12) wins a ball against Tyler during Wednesday’s match. The Lady Roadrunners were playing the No. 1 Lady Apaches to a scoreless draw when the game was suspended in the 35th minute because of a faulty light bank. A makeup
date and time will be announced later. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)

Facing the No. 1 JUCO soccer team in the nation, Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunners were playing lights out – literally.

With the teams locked in a scoreless draw at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin, officials suspended the match in the 35th minute because of a faulty light bank in the far corner of the pitch. The Lady ‘Runners had just earned a corner kick, but officials and coaches agreed visibility was an issue, leading to the match halt.

“The sun hadn’t gone down when the game started, so I don’t think either of us coaches even noticed the lights out at first,” AC head coach Freddy Drago said. “We were both so focused on the game, it wasn’t until the corner kick that we noticed how hard it was to see on that part of the field.”

The Lady Roadrunners were in the process of holding their own against the high-powered Lady Apaches. AC’s Jade Dewbre and Leslie Saenz teamed up on a strong run straight off the opening kick, with Dewbre’s shot sailing wide. Dewbre and Kennedy Sessions led another assault on the goal just 12 minutes later, with Dewbre’s shot carrying over the crossbar.

In the 14th minute, Tyler’s attack broke through for an open look at the net, but AC defender Ryleigh Smith offered a spectacular header to knock the ball away. Smith, along with fellow defenders Kaela Stripling, Alexis Barrientez and Bianca Perez, helped keep the Lady Apaches off the scoreboard with solid play on the back line.

Finally, in the 30th minute, Saenz got a great look and smoked a shot toward the net, only to see Tyler keeper Megan McGath turn up the diving save.

Angelina College and Tyler Junior College soccer coaches wasted no time in finding a makeup date for Wednesday’s suspended match.

The teams battled to a scoreless draw over the first 35 minutes, only to have officials suspend the match because of a faulty light bank in the far corner of the field.

The rescheduled match will now take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Jase Magers Field at Lufkin High School.

Astronomy 101 at the Public Library

By
Ezra McMullen
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The Nacogdoches Public Library invites the community to Astronomy 101 on Monday, September 18th at 6:30 p.m. In anticipation of the kickoff of our Library of Things telescope lending program, Dr. Norman Markworth of the SFA Astronomy department will demonstrate the basics of using a telescope to view and explore the night sky.

“We’re excited to announce another new library service,” says Crystal Hicks, assistant library director. “We are making telescopes available for checkout to the public as part of our Library of Things initiative.”

Library patron, Brian Wilson, made the new program possible by donating two telescopes to the library with this program in mind.

“My family and I really enjoy all the activities and information the library offers,” says Wilson. “We thought this was a way of showing our appreciation while also providing a learning resource for our community.”

The library also currently has board games that can be checked out, as well as a Seed Library.

Please visit www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library or call 936-559-2970 to register. All library programs are free to the public. Follow us on Facebook at Nacogdoches Public Library, and on Twitter and Instagram at NacPublicLibrary.

Makerspace: Pasta Making at the Public Library

By
Misty Boggs
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(Nacogdoches, TX) – The Nacogdoches Public Library invites the public, ages 10 & up to a Makerspace workshop on making pasta on Monday, September 18th at 5:30 p.m. Participants will make pasta from scratch from the first step to the last, and learn various ways to sauce and dress your delicious recipe.

Please visit www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library or call 936-559-2970 to register. All library programs are free to the public. Follow us on Facebook at Nacogdoches Public Library, and on Twitter and Instagram at NacPublicLibrary.

Do’s and Don’ts of Diamonds at the Public Library

By
Ezra McMullen
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(Nacogdoches, TX) – The Nacogdoches Public Library invites adults to a workshop on the Do’s and Don’ts of Diamonds on Saturday, September 16th at 2:30 p.m. Participants will learn about the 4c’s of diamond quality and what to look for in purchasing a diamond. We will also explore the history of diamonds as a symbol of love and commitment and talk about alternatives to natural diamonds. The workshop will be facilitated by Rees Jewelry.

Please visit www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library or call 936-559-2970 to register. All library programs are free to the public. Follow us on Facebook at Nacogdoches Public Library, and on Twitter and Instagram at NacPublicLibrary.

STEAM 4 Kids: Fidget Triangles

By
Ezra McMullen
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(Nacogdoches, TX) – The Nacogdoches Public Library invites children, ages 7-11 years, to participate in a STEAM for Kids program on Thursday, September 14th at 5:30 p.m. Math and Art collide in this program. Participants will make their own fascinating fidget toys out of folded paper, reinforcing math concepts in the process.

STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Knowledge of STEAM core concepts better prepares children to obtain jobs in these fields. The Nacogdoches Public Library is proud to present STEAM classes most Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Since many of these classes use resources that may be limited, we ask that you register your child before every class. All library programs are free to the public.

Follow us on Facebook at Nacogdoches Public Library, and on Twitter and Instagram at NacPublicLibrary.

Six Ways To Bring Warmth Into Your Home This Fall

By
Ezra McMullen
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With the shorter days and cooler nights of fall can come the urge to hibernate. But first prepare yourself and your home for the season with these cozy and warm accents that will make time spent indoors cozier.

1. Incorporate Metallic Décor. While you’re breaking out the pumpkins, cornstalks and cornucopias, take a different approach this season and incorporate copper or brass accents. These metallic items will elevate décor, and the orange and yellow tones will complement the changing leaves outside. Try picking out a unique candelabra or vase or small decorative pieces to style the room.

2. Makeover the Fireplace. Fireplace season is on the horizon, so start thinking about new ways to make it the focal point of a room. Try painting it with a subtle whitewash for a look that will instantly revive brick and brighten the space. Before you get started, prep the fireplace by scrubbing brick with a wire brush to remove any residue. Then, tape off any areas you don’t want painted with a quality painter’s tape like FrogTape brand painter’s tape, to prevent paint bleed and achieve professional-looking results.

3. Layer, Layer, Layer. Bare floors can make your home feel chilly. Warm up a space by layering area rugs on hardwood floors or to an already carpeted area. Not only will this add color and texture to a room, the extra cushioning will ensure feet avoid the cold, so you can keep your slippers tucked away.

4. Update the Guest Bedroom. With the holidays on the horizon, there’s no better time to give your guest bedroom a cozy update. Surprise overnight guests by painting the room a moody green or blue that is on trend and sets a relaxing tone. Don’t forget to incorporate little touches like books or a plant on the nightstand to make them feel at home.

5. Update Window Coverings. Heavy drapes keep out drafts and make a room feel luxurious. Switch out summer sheers for curtains with a heavier weight, or layer drapes for an elegant look.

6. Don’t Underestimate the Power of White Paint. Vibrant doesn’t always have to mean using bold colors. Make a space feel brand new again by repainting wood trim a crisp white color. It may seem like a tedious task, but with a little effort, you can completely transform a room. Start by filling in any imperfections, sanding and cleaning the surfaces to be painted. Then, you’ll want to tape off the wall next to the trim so your handiwork looks like that of a professional. For this job you’ll want a quality product like FrogTape painter’s tape, treated with patented PaintBlock Technology, to help ensure your work looks professional and allows you to achieve the sharpest paint lines possible. When painting trim, opt for a semi-gloss paint to make elements stand out. For different project inspirations, visit FrogTape.com.

Grab your pumpkin spice latte and start adding little touches like these to your home, for a cozy and stylish season.

-Statepoint

Rep. White Shares Upcoming TRS-Care Information Sessions

By
Misty Boggs
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(Austin, TX) – The Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is conducting statewide information sessions on the changes to TRS-Care, the program that provides health benefits for retired
public education employees and their dependents.

During the 85th regular and first called special sessions, the legislature passed 85R HB 3976 and provided additional funding to sustain the program for the next biennium. As you recall, TRSCare was
facing an estimated $1.06 billion shortfall for the FY 2018/2019 biennium and would have quickly become unsustainable and forced to close without legislative changes and additional
funding. Overall, the State contributed $1.3 billion to TRS-Care for the 2018-2019 biennium, including $395 million of one-time supplemental funding.

TRS, along with its health plan administrators, is meeting with retirees across the state to inform and assist them with the transition to new premiums, medical and prescription plans beginning January
1, 2018. Retirees in Southeast Texas can RSVP to attend an information session beginning September 5, 2018 by calling 1-800-850-1992.

Dates and locations near House District 19 are:

October 9th
9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
MCM Elegante Hotel (Grand Ballroom), 2355 I-10 South, Beaumont, TX 77705

October 19th
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Shelton’s Place, 3603 FM 2108, Lufkin, TX 75901

“As a former public educator, I understand the problems facing our health care benefits system. During the session, I worked with my colleagues to provide relief to rising premiums. The special
session appropriated additional funds to help reduce those costs. I urge educators to attend these sessions and continue to monitor their benefit changes,” said Rep. James White.

Please do not hesitate to contact either Saul Mendoza, Chief of Staff, or Shawn Dunn, District Director, with questions regarding these projects at 512-463-0490 or 409-283-3700.

Disinfecting Water Wells Flooded By Harvey

By
Cary Sims
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Recent rainfall that caused flooding in low areas around here and massive flooding to many places to the south, can cause contamination of water wells.
If water gets above the entrance to the well, you need to assume that the water in it is contaminated. Bacteria from the floodwater can infect, what was once clean groundwater, and make it unsuitable for drinking, cooking, and even bathing until you have cleaned it up.
If the well is shallow, has been flooded by surface water, or is in an unconfined aquifer, pump it out to remove any potential contaminants. Pump out at least 3 well volumes of water from a faucet near the wellhead. At a minimum, pump the well for at least 1 hour before beginning the disinfection process.
Remove the plug or screen on the well cap to access the inside well casing. Turn off electric power to the pump and remove the well cap.
Prepare a solution of bleach and water, and pour the solution into the top of the well. The amount of bleach depends on the depth of water in the well and the diameter of the well casing, which is a steel or plastic pipe placed in a well to maintain the well opening and to serve as the lining to the well.
There is a method of determining how much bleach to add to your well that would take too much time here to describe. So, to simplify, a typical 8-inch casing diameter with unknown standing water depth would require 3 gallons of household bleach.
Recirculate the water by connecting a hose to a faucet and spraying the water back into the well for at least 10 minutes.
Open every faucet in the system and let the water run until the smell of chlorine can be detected.
Close all the faucets and seal the top of the well. Drain all water heaters to allow the chlorinated water to circulate through the hot water system also. Flush out household plumbing, including the water heater. Make sure the water is clear and free of sediment.
Allow the chlorinated water to stand in the system for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours.
The next day, operate the pump by turning on all faucets, beginning with those outside, and flushing out the water until there is no chlorine odor.
After disinfection, have the well water tested by a certified laboratory to make sure there is no bacterial contamination (especially E. coli). Out best friend to help us is the Angelina & Neches River Authority (ANRA).
The ANRA’s mission is to conserve, store, control, preserve, use, and distribute of all waters in the Neches River Basin. They also test homeowner’s well water!
The cost is only $22. You’ll need to stop by the ANRA office at 210 Lufkin Avenue, located directly across from the front steps of the Angelina County Courthouse.
Go there first to get a sterile bottle that will ensure your water sample isn’t contaminated by the very container you use. Following their instructions, bring your water sample back for the test.
Well disinfection does not eliminate hydrocarbons (fuels, oils), pesticides, heavy metals, or other types of contamination. If you suspect such contamination, the water will require special testing and treatment. Again, the good folks at the ANRA will be able to answer your questions or direct you to another laboratory that can. For more information, you can call them at 936.633.7527 or email treeves@anra.org.

Texas Offers Post-Harvey Services

By
Ezra McMullen
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Texas Health and Human Services is urging people to be aware of the benefits and services available to Texans who suffered loss following Hurricane Harvey.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastation, and we’ve been moving quickly to line up an array of benefits and services to help people in need,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Charles Smith. “We’ve been working closely with our federal partners and our folks on the ground to get food benefits rolling and do what we can to help simplify life for people affected.”
Texas HHS has mobilized various agency programs to help Texans. Here is a recap of some of the benefits and services Texas HHS offers.
FEMA Grants
Texas HHS has processed more than 80,000 grant applications for federal aid for people whose property was damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households program and the Other Needs Assistance program can provide money to help repair private or household property damaged in a major disaster. Texas HHS is quickly processing applications in batches in coordination with FEMA and the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
Early Food Benefits
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in the affected counties had their September benefits automatically loaded Sept. 1 onto their Lone Star Cards. Normally benefits are staggered among recipients throughout the first half of the month. With this change, Texas issued $160 million in benefits early to more than 600,000 SNAP households in counties affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Replacement Food Benefits
SNAP recipients in the affected counties saw a percentage of their August benefits automatically added Sept. 2 to their Lone Star Cards to replace food that was lost during the storm. With this change, Texas issued replacement benefits to more than 716,000 SNAP households in the affected counties.
Disaster Food Benefits
Texas HHS is continuing discussions with the federal government to request a Disaster-SNAP waiver that would offer short-term food benefits to eligible families recovering after they return home following the disaster. If approved by the federal government, D-SNAP benefits would be available in a phased approach in the coming weeks to eligible people who aren’t currently receiving SNAP and are residents of one of the counties with a federal disaster declaration.
CHIP Co-Pays
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the state’s request to waive Children’s Health Insurance Program co-pays and enrollment fees in response to Hurricane Harvey. CHIP clients who live in a county included in the federal disaster declaration will have their co-payments and enrollment fees waived through November 2017.
Counseling and Behavioral Health
Texas HHS has deployed behavioral health professionals to provide support for first responders in the greater Houston area. Staff continues to assess behavioral health operations and resource needs in shelters across the state, including the possible need for additional behavioral health training for shelter staff. Texas also has a plan to allow licensed medication-assisted treatment providers (methadone clinics) in Texas to receive funds so that displaced clients can receive necessary treatment.
Insect Repellent
Texas continues to offer an insect repellent benefit for certain populations to help prevent Zika transmission. Widespread flooding increases the likelihood that people could encounter the types of mosquitoes that are capable of spreading disease. Pregnant women, women ages 10 to 55, and males 14 and older can get one bottle of mosquito repellent a month from a participating pharmacy if they are in the following programs:
Medicaid
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP-Perinatal
Healthy Texas Women
Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program
Family Planning Program
WIC
Several WIC clinics have reopened in the Houston area. WIC families who evacuated and lost or left behind WIC foods or formula can go to any open WIC clinic to get prorated replacement food benefits. Families can visit TexasWIC.org or call 800-942-3678 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and select option 3 to speak with an operator who will help find an open location. Additionally, WIC is offering breastfeeding assistance 24 hours a day via its lactation support hotline at 855-550-6667. WIC is the Women, Infants and Children Program administered by Texas HHS.
Flexibility for Nursing Homes
Affected long-term care providers such as nursing and assisted living facilities have been granted temporary exceptions to certain state and federal requirements, in part to help them more readily accept evacuees. Facilities were allowed to exceed their normal licensed capacity to receive evacuees, with approval from Texas HHS. Affected facilities also did not need to comply with state admission, transfer and discharge notification rules for residents being evacuated. Texas HHS continues to monitor the status of facilities and assist as needed.
Flexibility for Medicaid Providers
Texas HHS has been working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to get flexibility in administering Medicaid while Texas continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey. With approval from CMS, Texas has been able to waive or modify various federal requirements related to health care provider participation, certification and licensing. Texas can allow providers enrolled with another State Medicaid Agency to provide services in Texas and can enroll providers with Texas Medicaid through an expedited process with a more limited set of minimum requirements. The state has also been successful in obtaining relief from specific sanctions or penalties.
2-1-1
The Texas HHS 2-1-1 call center has fielded thousands of Harvey-related calls for information about disaster assistance and other services. 2-1-1 has increased its staffing and volunteer counts to handle the increase in call volumes due to Harvey. 2-1-1 helps connect Texans with disaster-related information and resources, including how to apply for benefits and how to access replacement benefits for food lost as a result of Harvey.
More Information
People with questions about HHS food benefits should dial 2-1-1 and select option 5. For other storm-related services, including shelters, dial 2-1-1 and selection option 5. For questions about TANF, Medicaid or CHIP, dial 2-1-1 and select option 2.
Texas HHS is encouraging recipients to use YourTexasBenefits.com or the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage and view benefit information and to update HHS of any address changes. Recipients also are encouraged to sign up for electronic notices to stay informed about their cases.
To check benefit amounts, recipients can visit YourTexasBenefits.com or call the Lone Star Help Desk at 1-800-777-7EBT (1-800-777-7328).

Texas Comptroller’s Office Distributed Financial Assistance to 80,000 Texas Households Affected by Hurricane Harvey

By
Ezra McMullen
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(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today that the Comptroller’s office and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) processed and distributed the
first wave of federal aid, providing financial assistance to about 80,000 individuals and households displaced from their homes by Hurricane Harvey.

This week, the first round of qualifying families in the disaster area are receiving a one-time payment of $500 for critical needs assistance (CNA), a program authorized by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In all, the Comptroller’s office distributed about $40 million in federal and state funds. The agency and HHSC will continue to process and distribute payments as quickly as possible.

Immediate or critical needs are life-saving and life-sustaining items including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical
equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.

“While $500 is only a start for a family facing the prospect of rebuilding, this money will allow Texans devastated by Harvey to make life-sustaining and, in some cases, even life-saving
purchases to meet immediate and critical needs,” Hegar said. “Texans and people from all over this country are coming together to ensure the communities affected by the storm recover and emerge stronger from this ordeal. I’m pleased our team was able to process these payments so quickly and get this money in the hands of the families and individual Texans who need it most.”

Families and individuals can apply for CNA by going to

DisasterAssistance.gov

FEMA approves the applications, while HHSC and the Comptroller’s office process and distribute the payments to families and individuals.

According to FEMA, individuals and households may be eligible for CNA if all of the following conditions have been met:

a registration is completed with FEMA; the applicant’s identity is verified; at registration, the applicant asserts he or she has critical needs and requests financial assistance for those needs and expenses;  his or her pre-disaster primary residence is located in a county that is designated for CNA; and the applicant has been displaced from his or her primary residence as a result of the disaster

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