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SFA’s The BIG Event Receives Keep Texas Beautiful Youth and Educator Award

By
Leah Listenbee
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(Nacogdoches, Texas) – Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) announced SFA’s The BIG Event as a winner of the 2017 Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Award on May 19, 2017. The Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Award is one of eleven categories in the Keep Texas Beautiful Youth & Educator Awards and recognizes the efforts and leadership of young people and youth-oriented organizations who beautify their community and create cleaner, greener campuses, parks and neighborhoods. A full list of award winners can be found at www.ktb.org.
Each year, Keep Texas Beautiful recognizes the efforts of young people, educators, and educational institutions that promote beautification, waste reduction and litter prevention through environmental education and community activism.
SFA’s The BIG Event promotes unity between campus and community as students come together for one day to express their gratitude through service for the support from the Nacogdoches community. Students work in teams to complete projects across Nacogdoches County as a way to say “thank you!” to the community for their support of SFA students.
As a Keep Texas Beautiful Affiliate, Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful nominated SFA’s The BIG Event because of the great impact on the community due to the hard work of all volunteers involved. Volunteers with SFA’s The BIG Event worked with Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful to clear 330 pounds of litter from local highways, maintain the KNB tree farm and relocate hundreds of jonquil bulbs along Banita Creek Trail.
“The BIG Event volunteers that worked on KNB projects provided such a valuable service to the community and our organization,” said Katie Blevins, KNB executive director. “They picked up roadside litter, beautified a local park trail and readied our tree farm for future tree sales and fundraising projects.”

LANANA CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT TO BEGIN

By
Leah Listenbee
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LUFKIN – Work is scheduled to begin this week in Nacogdoches County that will replace the LaNana Creek Bridge on FM 1878/Starr Avenue.

Drewery Construction, Nacogdoches, will serve as contractor for the $1.7 million project that is scheduled to be completed in early 2018, weather permitting. Crews will set barricades, signage and detours beginning Monday that will detour traffic to Austin Street/FM 2609 in order to travel from North Street to University Drive.

FM 1878/Starr Avenue will be closed to through traffic between BU 59 and FM 1275 in order to remove the existing bridge and construct the new bridge in its place. The entrance to adjacent Pecan Park will not be closed to visitors during the project, but the existing walking trail beneath the LaNana Creek Bridge will be detoured during the construction. Walkers/joggers will be detoured on the trail around Wilson Drive and the detour will be delineated for easy identification.

This construction project consists of the replacement of the LaNana Creek Bridge with a new 160-foot bridge that will have four 11-foot lanes, 5-foot shoulders and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the bridge in order to accommodate foot and bike traffic as well as motor vehicles. Included will be the placement of about 200-foot of new pavement at each end of the new bridge, that will be constructed of a hot mix asphalt treatment.

“We are excited about beginning this new construction project in Nacogdoches that is located so close to Stephen F. Austin State University,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer with the Lufkin District. “We waited to begin until after the semester ended in order to reduce the amount of traffic congestion in the area. This project, once completed, will benefit not only college traffic, but Nacogdoches travelers and those who enjoy the park and walking trail beneath the bridge.”

As this project begins, motorists are urged to obey all signage and traffic control devices, reduce speed in the area and be alert to moving equipment and workers through the area. This project is designed to improve traffic flow and enhance safety.

For a complete list of projects/closures and driving conditions statewide, visit drivetexas.org. For more information about this project or others in the nine-county Lufkin District, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936)633-4395.

Diboll Jr. High Students advocate for Smoke-Free Diboll

By
Leah Listenbee
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On Monday, May 15, Diboll SAY WHAT! (Students, Adults, and Youth Working Hard Against Tobacco) gathered at Old Orchard Park for a cigarette butt cleanup. Students at the butt cleanup were armed with gloves, bags, and red flags in order to collect, dispose, and mark where the cigarette butts were picked up. In just 30 minutes, the seven students collected over 100 cigarette butts near the baseball field and playgrounds at Old Orchard Park.
SAY WHAT! students conducted the Butt Hunt to bring awareness to the cigarette litter problem and to advocate for the City of Diboll being 100% smoke-free. One student was particularly shocked that many of the cigarette butts he found were across from the High School baseball field. According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, “cigarette butts are the most commonly discarded piece of waste worldwide. Contrary to popular belief, cigarette butts are NOT biodegradable. Cigarette butt waste is a huge environmental issue but smoke-free policies can help dramatically reduce tobacco waste”.
Pictured from left to right: Dalana Peeples, Gracie Crager, Xzavier Silva, Leonard Stone, Alexux Shurley, Brianna Castro, and Kemariya Thomas.
The Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition (TPCC) grant from Texas Department of State Health Services has the goal of preventing and reducing the harmful use of tobacco products in rural areas like East Texas, where tobacco-related health problems are more prevalent. The TPCC grant has a particular emphasis on preventing tobacco use among young people because according to the Centers for Disease Control, statistics show that each day in the United States, more than 3,200 kids under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette.
For more information, contact Kayla Garris at 936-634-9308 or kgarris@angelinacoalition.org

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Honors Nurses with DAISY Award

By
Ezra McMullen
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Memorial Specialty Hospital: CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Specialty Hospital recently recognized DAISY Award honorees at a ceremony. Deborah Burgess, Chief Nursing Officer of CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Specialty Hospital (left) and Darlene Williams, VP of Clinical Operations CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Specialty Hospital (right) recognized Jessica Mark, RN (center) as the latest DAISY Award recipient.
LUFKIN, TEXAS (May 18, 2017)… Kind, dedicated, caring, compassionate, reliable, comforting, and selfless are just some of the words used repeatedly in the nominations for the latest DAISY Award honorees at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial. The DAISY Award honors nurses who consistently demonstrate excellence through clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care.
Terrance Flenoy, RN, Deidra Taylor, RN and Jessica Mark, RN were the most recent nurses to be honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin and Memorial Specialty Hospital.
“We are so proud of our nurses here,” said Mary Franklin, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Market Vice President of Patient Care Services. “The DAISY Award gives us another avenue of showing our appreciation for the incredible work they do day in and out.”
Patients, visitors, colleagues and physicians can submit nomination forms throughout the year. A ceremony is held twice a year to recognize several honorees and the DAISY Award recipients.
The nomination for Terrance Flenoy described his dedication to his work and his patients. His compassion helps him make special connections with families of his patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The family members of his patient said they could “rest well knowing he would be taking care of their mother.” The nomination went on to speak of another family who referred to him anytime they had questions. The family requested to personally thank Terrance for all of his help and comforting.

: Memorial Lufkin: CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin recently recognized DAISY Award honorees at a ceremony. Pictured are Jo Crenshaw, Nurse Director for Calder 1 and Kurth 4; Mary Franklin, Market Vice President for Patience
Care Services; Terrance Flenoy, RN, DAISY Award recipient; Monte Bostwick, Market CEO; Deidra Taylor, RN, DAISY Award recipient; Shawn Barnett, Market COO and Lufkin President; and Lou Hutton, Nurse Director for ICU and PCU.
Deidra Taylor’s nomination was from a patient who had gone through an especially difficult experience.
“Nurse Deidra went above and beyond the ‘normal’ duties of a nurse by talking me through some things. She was there every step of the way. She did some very amazing things I didn’t expect any nurse would do, and she did them without me even asking!” The nomination continued to tell about how Deidra “made sure I felt like I had someone there who was on my side, and I wasn’t all alone.”
This is Jessica Mark’s second time to receive The DAISY Award. “I am not surprised at all that Jessica was nominated and received the DAISY Award again,” said Deborah Burgess, Chief Nursing Officer of CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Specialty Hospital. “She is a great example for nurses of all ages as to what nursing is all about. She treats every patient like they are family. You can’t ask for better care than that!”
The DAISY Award nominee must meet certain criterion that includes exemplifying characteristics such as reverence, integrity, compassion, excellence and consistently going above and beyond to care for patients and their families.
Nomination forms for the next DAISY Award are available throughout the CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin facility and online at www.CHIStLukesHealthMemorial.org.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient
families.

Chairman James White Passes Final House Bills Before House Floor Deadline

By
Rep. James White
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: (Austin – TX) State Representative James White introduces Elder Debra Battise-Kleinman of the Alabama-Coushatta as Pastor of the Day for the Texas House of Representatives.
(Austin, TX) – This past week was an exciting time at the Texas Legislature. It was the final week for legislation filed by the House to be heard on the House floor before being sent to the Senate. I was proud to lay out and pass three pieces of legislation; two that will make some much needed improvements to our criminal justice system and one to provide educational opportunities for apprenticeship training programs.
House Bill 3147 entitles a person to obtain the expunction of any information that identifies the person who was arrested solely as a result of identifying information that was inaccurate due to a clerical error or mistaken identity. Many people believe if they are released after being mistakenly arrested and the charges were dropped or dismissed without any court date being set that they no longer have an arrest record; even in cases of a mistaken arrest, the damaging documents are not automatically removed. This bill seeks to expedite the process of having these records expunged, so the innocent citizens who have been wrongfully arrested can move forward with their lives, free from fear of a tarnished record for a crime they did not commit.
State Representative James White met with students from Hardin-Jefferson who participated in the UIL Track & Field State Competition. Coach Brittany Granger did a terrific job coaching Wreagan Taylor, Raylie Huff, and Talon Tilley.
House Bill 3705 permits juvenile justice agencies to jointly create and maintain a juvenile justice information system. Currently, 250 Texas counties and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are using the Juvenile Case Management System, which provides users with access to real-time information regarding children within the juvenile justice system. This bill seeks to address the way system is being used in ways that may exceed the current authority to permit the use of the system by private juvenile facilities, which makes information sharing more efficient.
House Bill 2790 looks to create funding for certain apprenticeship training programs to create more opportunities for the expansion of apprenticeships to keep up with growing demand for skilled labor. Apprenticeships have largely fallen off the radar when it comes to options in pursuing post-secondary education. As an educator of many years, I of course, have been, and will continue to be a staunch advocate for higher education. However, rising tuition costs and an oversaturation of the entry-level market have created a greater demand for skilled trades. Apprenticeships are an extremely effective method of combining on the job training with classroom education to give students the hands-on experience and training they need to be successful in their trade. Skilled trades were once considered the backbone of the American economy. As we advance technologically, the need for competent and educated tradesmen will only increase over time. We have an opportunity to try and stay ahead of the curve with this piece of legislation, and make sure that Texas is getting the best education possible for our tradesmen.
My colleagues also passed other strong reforms before the midnight deadline this past Thursday. House Bill 3859 protects faith-based child welfare service providers form discrimination, or adverse legal actions, for exercising their deeply held religious beliefs in the context of the foster care system. This will enable providers to decline to offer certain services when they conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs while also requiring the state to ensure that alternate providers are available to offer any services that a faith-based provider declines to provide.
House Bill 2962 increases reporting requirements for abortion providers. This will require a report of any complication or injury resulting from an abortion as a specific complication of abortion, rather than a general complication of maternal health, which has been the typical practice. Separating abortion complications from maternal health statistics provides a more accurate picture of both maternal health and the after effects of abortion in Texas.
House Bill 810, named Charlie’s Law, in honor of former State Representative, Charlie Howard, creates a pathway for Texas to become the first state to allow terminally ill and chronically diseased patients to utilize their own biological, life-saving stem cells to treat serious conditions in a more expedient manner. Currently, many have to travel abroad to receive treatment due to overregulation and a bureaucratic process in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Senate Bill 7, expands criminal liability for teacher-student relationships to include educators who target students in other schools or other school districts. The bill ensures that we protect our Texas children from predators and that penalties are in place for any teacher who has an improper relationship with a student.
These bills, and the ones I have previously filed have now been received by the Senate. They must go through a similar process and be voted favorably by the full Senate body. Just as Senators will be working hard to push my legislation through, I too will be working hard to make sure that good bills from the Senate make their way through the process. Once a bill is voted favorably by both the House and the Senate, it will be sent to the Governor to be signed into law. This is a very exciting time in the Texas Legislature, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent the great people of District 19.
Additionally, this week I was proud to host Elder Debra Battise-Kleinman of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe of Texas as our Pastor of the Day. It was truly a privilege to hear her recite the Lord’s Prayer in the Tribe’s language.
I was also able to meet with Newton and Hardin-Jefferson students who were in town for the State UIL Track & Field competition. I look forward to seeing the results of this year’s meet and see how well our Southeast Texas athlete’s place.
Lastly, I was proud to recognize Goodrich ISD science teacher, Krystal Scott, as a 2017 Ernest and Sarah Butler Award for Excellence in Science Teaching awardee on the House floor. It is truly a privilege to represent such an outstanding educator in the Texas House. Krystal is an asset to East Texas and I could not be any prouder to see her go above and beyond to educate our Texas children.
The Capitol of Texas belongs to you and visiting the Capitol during the biennial legislative session is a great experience. To assist in arranging your visit please call Saul Mendoza, my Chief of Staff, at (512) 463-0490 or at saul.mendoza@house.texas.gov.

Osteoporosis – Preventing Bone Loss is Critical to Health and Longevity

By
Jennifer Stevens
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 If you’re age 50 or better, and your physician has recommended adding a bone density screening to your yearly physical, be sure to follow through. Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease,” due to its common occurrence and invisible symptoms. Nearly 10 million people in the U.S. are estimated to be living with osteoporosis, while another 34 million with low bone mass are at risk of developing the disease.
“Our research tells us that as many as one in every two women over 50 may be living with significant bone loss,” said Dr. Mariyam Cherry, Internal Medicine Physician. “Untreated, this can lead to loss of mobility, independence and overall quality of the second half of life.”
Bone is living tissue that is in a constant state of regeneration as the body naturally removes old bone and replaces it with new bone. By the mid-30s, most people begin to slowly lose more bone
than can be replaced and bones become thinner and weaker in structure. This process typically speeds up in women at the time of menopause, and in men around the age of 70.
While risk factors such as aging or being female and/or Caucasian cannot be controlled, several lifestyle risk factors can degrade bone strength as well as other vital organs and functions.
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Stop smoking. Nicotine is a significant contributor to accelerated bone loss. If you need help quitting, ask your physician for tools you can use.
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Limit alcohol consumption.
Your bones will join your heart, liver, kidneys and blood, to thank you for drinking no more than 1-2 drinks per day.
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Maintain calcium levels. With controversy around possible dangers of calcium supplementation, it’s best to get your calcium from food. Leafy greens like kale are the best source of calcium, but sardines, broccoli and high-quality yogurt or kefir are good options.
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Maximize Vitamin D levels. The best source of Vitamin D is the sun. It’s important to have your D
levels checked annually, especially in the winter. If supplementation is needed, choose a high quality D3 supplement with a small amount of vitamin K2 to ensure proper absorption.
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Bear some weight. Regardless of your age, participate in some type of weight-bearing exercise at least three times per week. Walking with hand weights, yoga, or Pilates with stretch bands are simple and easy on the joints.
You can learn if you have osteoporosis through a quick and painless test that measures bone mineral density—sometimes called BMD. Results are compared with the BMD of a young, healthy person’s bones, with a measure called a T-score. If your T-score is below 2.5 (Osteoporosis) then you most likely need treatment. If your T-score is between -1.0 and -2.5 (Osteopenia) a FRAX score is determined to see if you need treatment.
Keep in mind that certain medications and/or chronic conditions can cause osteoporosis, including the regular or prolonged use of corticosteroids. If you have a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment, be sure to talk to your physician about using medications that minimize bone loss as a potential side effect.
“If you or a family member are living with osteoporosis, it’s critical to put some additional safeguards in place,” states Dr. Cherry. “For many older adults, the condition is manageable until the patient experiences a fall. If you’re dealing with bone loss, remove obstacles in the home that can lead to falls. If necessary, use a walking support, modify bath and shower facilities, and opt for a single-level living environment.”
If you are over 50 and have not yet had a bone density screening, speak to your physician about it this year. If you need a primary care doctor, contact
936-699-CARE or visit WoodlandHeights.net.

Nacogdoches Native Serves at Sea Aboard Navy’s Largest Warship

By
Theodore Quintana
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By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Theodore Quintana, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A Nacogdoches, Texas native and Nacogdoches High School graduate, Seaman Daisy Martinez is serving on one of the world’s largest warships, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).
Martinez works as an aviation structural mechanic aboard the Norfolk-based ship, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of only ten operational aircraft carriers in the Navy today. Aviation structural mechanics are the sailors responsible for maintaining all aircraft main and auxiliary hydraulic power systems, actuating systems and landing gear; maintenance on the aircraft fuselage (mainframe) wing airfoils, and associated fixed and moveable surface and flight controls.
“I like working on the jets and always being on the move,” said Martinez. “Not many people can say they work on Super Hornets.”
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Eisenhower. Approximately 3,200 men and women make up the ship’s company, and they keep all parts of the aircraft carrier running smoothly. They do everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the nuclear reactors. Another 2,000 sailors comprise the air wing, the people who fly and maintain the aircraft aboard the ship.
Eisenhower, like each of the Navy’s aircraft carriers, is designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. Powerful catapults slingshot the aircraft off the bow of the ship, and those planes land upon their return to the aircraft carrier by snagging a steel cable with an arresting hook that protrudes from the rear of the aircraft. All of this makes Eisenhower a self-contained mobile airport and strike platform, often the first response to a global crisis because of an aircraft carrier’s ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans.
“My crew works really well together which makes for a great work environment,” Martinez said.
Eisenhower was commissioned in 1977 and named after former president and Army general Dwight D. Eisenhower, who distinguished himself through service and leadership during World War II. As the supreme commander of Allied Forces in Western Europe during World
War II, Eisenhower led the massive invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
“Every Sailor aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower plays an integral part in our success, from the engineering and reactor spaces to the galley and flight deck, and everywhere in between, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Capt. Paul Spedero, Jr., commanding
officer of Ike. “Our many successes are built on their sacrifices and the strength they provide each and every day.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Martinez and other Eisenhower sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
“I’m honored to serve my country,” Martinez added.

Texas Forestry Museum’s Summer Camps

By
Ezra McMullen
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Lufkin- Looking for a fun summer camp for your kids? The Texas Forestry Museum will have four summer camps: EEK! Week, Timber Tots, Leopold League, and Summer Sylvans for children of all ages. These camps focus on teaching children about nature, the forest, and East Texas history while having fun! EEK! Week is June 12th – June 16th for children entering 5th – 7th grade in the fall. The camp gives kids an opportunity to travel to different sites throughout East Texas such as Caddo Mounds, SFASU Ropes Course, Lufkin Recycling Center, Ellen Trout Zoo, Boykin Springs, Mission Tejas and more! There is limited space available so make sure to reserve your spot soon.
The other three camps take place at the museum and teach kids exciting things about the world around them through fun games, stories, crafts, and more! Timber Tots is June 19th – June 23rd for children entering PreK 4 or Kindergarten. Leopold League is July 10th – July 14th for children entering 5th – 7th grade in the fall. Summer Sylvans is July 17th – 21st for children entering 1st – 4th grade in the fall. There is limited space available for the camps. For more information about the camps, times, and fees call the museum at 936-632-9535. A special thank you goes to our summer camp sponsor, Commerical Metals Company, for making the camps possible.

ANGELINA COLLEGE YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP SET FOR JUNE 13-15

By
Nancy Reynolds
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LUFKIN, TEXAS, May 17, 2017 – Angelina College’s Coach Kyle Manary will host a youth basketball camp June 13-15 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day in Shands Gymnasium for boys and girls ages 8-18.
Manary has worked with more than 150 NBA players and was on the Dallas Mavericks’ staff. He holds the record for the most wins of a first-year coach in AC’s nearly 50 year history.
“My staff and I will focus on teaching the campers the fundamentals of the game. We want this to be a fun learning experience,” he said.
Campers will be divided into groups based on age and ability. All campers will receive a t-shirt and a voucher for a ticket to any non-conference game during the 2017-2018 men’s basketball season.
The cost of the camp is $75 per person. Campers should bring a basketball and water or sports drink. Call 936-633-5206 to register.

Summer Fun at the Texas Forestry Museum

By
Ezra McMullen
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Lufkin – The Texas Forestry Museum invites children and their families to come and have some summer fun at the museum. Every Tuesday at 2 pm the museum will have storytime and a correlating craft for kids. Tuesday @ 2 is a free event that will start on June 6th and end on July 25th.
The museum will also host its Kids’ Club summer event, Wet -N- Wild Whistle Time, on Thursday, June 8th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Everyone will have an opportunity to get wet and have fun while we wash the museum’s train. We will also play outdoor games and make water paintings. This is a great way to get your summer started with some wet-n-wild fun! This is a Kids’ Club only event so if you are not a Kids’ Club member you may come and join at the event. Yearly memberships are only $5.00 and pay for four newsletters, early notification about events, and discounts on some programs and in the gift shop. If you would like to come, please RSVP by Wednesday, June 7th at 936-632-9535.
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