On Monday, contractors set barricades on a $7.6 million construction project that started in Polk County.
Smith & Co., Conroe, Texas, began this week on FM 356 that is designed to reconstruct and widen the pavement with a continuous two-way left turn lane and 10-foot shoulders. The construction occurs from the intersection of US 190 to 1.1 miles north of US 190 on FM 356.
The redesigned roadway will enhance safety and provide for better traffic flow. Motorists are urged to reduce speed through the construction area as work begins. Be prepared for delays and be alert to moving equipment and nearby workers, and obey all traffic control devices. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present. All work schedules are subject to change in inclement weather.
For more information about TxDOT construction projects, including in the Lufkin District, visit txdot.gov or drivetexas.org for a complete list of closures or delays.
“The tongue has the power of life and death…” Proverbs 18:21
Words are powerful. Who knows why some words roll off our backs and others stick, doing damage so deep that only God can fix.
My story starts when I was a freshman in college. I entered Baylor University as a secure, happy, outgoing 18-year-old girl determined to make a high GPA, get in a sorority, and make the cheerleading squad. By the end of that year, all of those goals had been met, but I was a different girl.
Cheerleading was a big deal to me; probably way too big of a deal, but I was young and it was fun and I was really good at it. When it came time for Baylor tryouts, I was ready and confident. I had seen my competition and knew that I shouldn’t have any trouble making the squad. Like most freshman girls, I had gained a little weight, but it was nothing monumental and I hadn’t given it much thought. That was all about to change.
The happy, outgoing, confident girl became sullen, depressed, and self-loathing.
I nailed my tryout and, as everyone was waiting for the results in the foyer of the gym, the head judge, who I admired and had worked with the previous summer as a NCA (National Cheerleading Association) instructor, came out and sternly said, in front of everyone,“Susan, you are the most talented cheerleader out there, but you are too fat.” He turned around, walked away, and left me shattered. I weighed 122 pounds that day.
That one sentence changed my life. I began an emotional downward spiral. The happy, outgoing, confident girl became sullen, depressed, and self-loathing. Trying to hide my pain and always looking happy, left me wracked with anxieties and full of shame. I did end up making the cheer squad and what should have been an exciting experience was always clouded by my obsession with my big ole “fat” body. We would be cheering in the most amazing stadiums with excitement all around, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it.
I became trapped in a perpetual state of starving, binging, and purging. I developed a very unhealthy relationship with exercise. I worked out to get skinny, not for health or stress relief and definitely not for enjoyment. It was my punishment. I began having trouble looking people in the eye and hated being in large groups. In my warped mind, everyone was judging me.
The stronghold on my life had a vice grip that only the powerful hands of Jesus could pry off of me. Having been a Christian since age nine, I continually prayed and cried out to him. I yearned to be free.
In the middle of my raging mind battle, God sent a bright light. He was a 6’1” blue-eyed hunk of a bright light. Darren, now my husband, helped me realize that how I felt about myself didn’t match up with what he saw. The Lord used Darren to begin to change my twisted body image. Those words, “You’re just too fat,” began to lose their power over me.
I began to take care of my body as a way to praise and thank God.
God also made it clear that I had to give up cheerleading. This was a tough one, but the reality was, it was an idol in my life and any time we worship anything other than the one true God, we destroy ourselves.
As I stepped away from cheer, God began to shed the blinders I wore. I could breathe again. He whispered into my heart that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Who cares what a scale says or what a cheer judge says? What matters is what he says.
I began to take care of my body as a way to praise and thank him. Don’t miss that. That was huge. The extra weight fell off without effort. For the first time in my life, I exercised for enjoyment (yes, people, it’s possible). I began a healthy relationship with food. If I wanted a piece of cake, I had a piece of cake and enjoyed it. No punishment. I chose to eat healthy as a means of taking care of the body that he gave me, not to be skinny or fit someone else’s ideal.
Although I vowed never again to be put in a situation where people might judge my body, God had other plans and put me smack dab in front of people as a fitness instructor. I’m now able to be that bright light to others and to speak life-giving words to them about their bodies. Without God’s healing on my life, I could never do what I do. I’m amazed by it.
I wouldn’t go back and change it. I’m actually thankful for that cheer judge because, like Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
When the goggles were placed over my eyes and my primary connection to the real world was cut off, I was thrown very off balance. My sense of direction became linked solely to the virtual reality in the Immersion Technology Lab at Stephen F. Austin State University. I was no longer on solid ground but, rather, hundreds of feet below the sea.
Outside the lab, there is a television playing a video feed of the virtual reality experience and of the person experiencing it.
Above me shined a light on the surface of the water. Below me rocked the remains of a sunken ship and a drop off at the ship’s edges I most certainly did not approach. My brain knew I was safely inside about a 10-by-14 foot room, but my eyes told me I was in the middle of the deep, blue sea. The experience was mind boggling and closer to reality than I expected a virtual reality to be, but the scenery could not compare to the dark form of the whale that suddenly came towering serenely above me.
The process began by putting on virtual reality goggles that slip over the head and secure via straps. Then two controllers of sorts were placed into my hands, and I used them to command the virtual reality. I was slightly disappointed that the experience wasn’t very interactive, but there are other versions of the virtual reality I experienced with more interactivity.
Wherever I looked, the view of the ocean and my surroundings followed. As I walked, I got closer to the side of the boat, and I felt the need to avoid the fish and, especially, the giant whale, even though I knew it was only in the goggles.
The lab has multiple different realities programmed with varying degrees of interactivity.
My convergent reporting teacher, Kasi Dickerson, took the class to the Immersion Technology Lab to teach us how to write descriptively, and it was a great place to learn. The lab is open to teachers and students at SFA who wish to learn from the technology or to simply have fun experiencing the virtual reality.
The lab is located in the Ralph W. Steen Library. The lab’s end goal is to create a fully-functioning Virtual Reality Learning/Creation hub online with multiple workstations equipped with high-end PCs and virtual reality goggles from both HTC and Oculus. Here is a video from the lab’s website of SFA faculty trying out the virtual reality technology:
If fall is the season in which leaves change color and shed from the trees, then why shouldn’t it also be the season when we change our hair color or trim off a few locks? Hair and its trends are ever-changing, whether they are outrageous or simple. This year, there is a style or hair color for everyone! Here is a mix of some of the most popular trends of the season ranging from sweet and simplistic to edgy.
Singer Taylor Swift sports a beveled bob.
Beveled Bob
If you are looking for something permanently elegant and slightly futuristic, this look is for you. This style has been rocked recently by Reality Star Kylie Jenner and Actress Taylor Swift, one in jet black and one in blonde, so we know that it can be worn versatile.
Designer Mary-Kate Olsen sports dark roots.
Dark Roots
This style is low-maintenance and it is not permanent. In fact, you can dye your hair without having to worry about constantly retouching those pesky roots. Usually this style is worn with dyed blonde hair, but it can be done with any color that is lighter than your natural hair color.
Singer Rihanna added a grey ombre to her long locks.
Grey Ombre
This style is a bit more daring and edgy. It involves the roots of the hair to be black and eventually the hair dwindles down to grey at the tips. Celebrities like Dascha Polanco and Hilary Duff have been seen wearing this style.
Styling your hair into knots is a go-to look this fall.
Knots
While this style may not be as permanent as dying your hair, or cutting it, it still has potential to update your look this season. Transform your look by quitting basic messy buns, or neat ones, and tie your hair into a knot.
Texturing your hair is a popular look this fall.
Natural Hair
This is one hair trend that I could seriously get behind. There is too much pressure nowadays to always have your hair perfect, but this trend diminishes that. Wearing your hair in its natural state has recently become trendy, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Rose gold hair is a staple this fall.
Rosy Hair
Pink hair – this has been a staple for many celebrities, such as Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, but recently this look has gotten an update. Rose gold hair is the way to have pink hair without looking so bright and outrageous.
Actress Minka Kelly styles her hair with a side part.
Side Part
This is another example of a simple change that could totally revamp your hair. Moving the part in your hair from the center to the side can give you a seriously classy side bang or just a new twist on your everyday style.
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt wears a messy bun for a night out.
Voluminous Buns
If knots aren’t your thing, and you would just throw your hair up into a huge messy bun, this look is for you.
Actress Anne Hathaway wears her hair into loose curls.
Waves
These loose curls can turn your everyday look into something a little more glamorous without all of the work.
Actress Blake Lively styles her hair into 80’s curls.
80’s Hair
Lately all sorts of trends from the past decades have been coming back and the hairstyles from the 80’s are just the latest to come back into style. Big hair, curls, and quiffs are all fair game.
If any of these hair trends seem to interest you, try them out. After all, fall is the season of change!
I’ve received calls from around the county in the last couple of weeks of mushrooms growing in their landscapes. The most common one was described, by Mrs. Lee, as looking like vanilla wafers on a stem. In fact, I’ve seen them growing in the woods in a deer food plot I’ve planted.
Fungus are a very natural part of our soil and the ecosystem around us. Their benefits in regards to breaking down organic matter in the soil are exceptional. Fungi live on decaying organic matter in the soil and thatch layers in a lawn. This breakdown of organic matter results in at least some of the nutrients contained in that organic matter being released back to the soil.
Mushrooms are the ‘fruiting bodies’ of fungi living in the soil and thatch. They are responsible for the production of microscopic spores that in turn help propagate the fungus. The sight of them in your lawn, flower beds or elsewhere in your landscape should not be cause for alarm. It simply means that you have adequate moisture and a good bit of organic matter in your soil.
The vast majority of those fungi are not associated with any lawn disease causing organisms. It’s quite common for them to appear in the fall during periods of moist conditions resulting from either natural rainfall or excessive irrigation.
Again, they are not necessarily indicative of any lawn problem. If you find the mushrooms offensive, simply knock them over with a rake and remove them from the area.
What has been a fungal problem that I’ve seen recently, is brown patch. That fungus can cause patches up to several yards in diameter in the fall when grasses are approaching dormancy. Turfgrass affected by brown patch generally will exhibit circular or irregular patches of light brown, thinned grass. When the blades of grass near the affected edge are pulled up, the blades easily separate from the runners and have a wet, slimy/rotten look to the base of the blades.
To prevent harmful fungal diseases in lawns, water only as needed and early in the day to remove dew and allow the grass to dry quickly. Avoid over fertilization in spring and fall. Improve the turfgrass root system with good drainage and aeration to reduce damage caused by brown patch
So, let’s wrap up. Fungus is an integral part of our landscape, releasing nutrients from organic matter, whether you see them or not. If you see mushrooms that you don’t want, clean them up with a rake. If you see a lawn disease, change your management practices and consider applying a fungicide.
But know that there are countless more fungi living in your soil, unrecognized, unassuming, and breaking down organic matter that can make more nutrients available.
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow did it come to this? How did we find ourselves unable to eat a dozen Oreos and a donut for breakfast without gaining a pound? When did we make the transition from our childhood metabolism into the metabolism that would follow us forever?
Once a person grows older, they need to rethink food. Gone are the days when food can be an ally to feeling and a pick me up for a bad day. Now we must only believe food to be sustenance, simply there for our bodily replenishment and occasional enjoyment.
We need to be aware of the food we intake and be not afraid to address a healthy diet.
I am not saying food cannot be an art or a fun engagement, but we must master our food without letting it master us.
Just like a budget, a growing person must learn to balance food intake. This is something most people aren’t told explicitly. It’s supposed to be some kind of implied knowledge you have to figure out for yourself, and, frankly, that is not working in our society.
We need to be aware of the food we intake, and be not afraid to address a healthy diet. We need to teach and be taught about managing diet.
So, how does one change the way they think about eating?
First, food must become something to help you live, not something to live for. A person should address his or her dependency on food. For example, sugar. Why do you need it? Why is it necessary to your day? Find the source of the problem and deal with it.
Then it is important to begin assessing what is imbalanced in the diet. There is hardly a food out there that is bad for you, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Detect the outliers and use them to modify your diet. If you need assistance, seek out trusted diets online. However, I have found it is better for motivation to create your own diet.
Next, it is necessary to become accountable to yourself and someone else. Who is the person who is most for you in this world? Who consistently motivates you to be your best? Go to that person, and tell them your goals. Whether you want to modify your eating to lose 30 pounds by Christmas or to gain back to a healthy weight or even just to start a habit that you can continue for years to come, having a person there to kindly help you remember you can do this is crucial.
Finally, create some reminder of your decision to wake up to every day. Put it in your fridge. Stick it to your change purse or wallet. Anywhere you might be tempted to have a little something extra, put this reminder there.
Always remember you have the courage to change. It can be very hard to change. But you have made it all the way to reading this article, and that is a good start.
Editor’s Note: Every Saturday in November we will introduce a Bearded Beauty, a man with a full beard or mustache, to raise awareness for men’s health, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. Not only will we raise awareness, but we will also shares tips of the trade of those who have mastered a beard and mustache.
A photo of Bearded Beauty Brent Burt.
Meet 51-year-old Brent Burt, a Biology Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, and also a bearded beauty. We sat down with Brent who told us the reason he grew out his beard and how he styles it every morning. Keep reading for more from Brent!
TFCL: Why did you decide to grow your beard out? Brent: It started out as a whim. I spent 10 days in Big Bend National Park after this year’s Spring Brewfest. I just decided to see where it’d go from there.
TFCL: How long have you been growing out your beard? Brent: Five months so far.
TFCL: Do you have any advice for beginners on growing out facial hair? Brent: Be patient. Don’t trim or trim too soon, so you can see its potential. Also, there will be an itchy phase about two weeks out. Be strong my brother!
TFCL: How do you style your beard every morning? Brent: I comb the beard, then I twist the mustache tips out and up. Sometimes I add a little mustache wax on the tips. I have to trim over the upper lip about once a week.
Brent Burt started growing his beard five months ago.
TFCL: Do you have any tricks of trade or any products you use while growing your facial hair out? Brent: Just mustache wax.
TFCL: Why do you think it’s important to bring awareness to men’s health? Brent: To be honest, most of the emphasis in medical research is on men, so if anything research on women needs more emphasis. Having said that, there are certain male specific potential problems that men need to keep an eye on. Get your PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) test done regularly, getting a baseline reading is important in case it starts to rise. Also, check those testicles. One final point, there are a few health issues that guys may not know they can get, such as breast cancer.
TFCL: Is there anything else you would like to add? Brent: I think guys grow beards for a multitude of reasons. Religion plays a large role for some: Islam, certain forms of Judaism, Amish, Sikhism, but for most American males it’s an obvious mode of self-expression, and sometimes rebellion. Think about it, most of us don’t have very diverse wardrobes, wear much jewelry or makeup. This leaves beards and tattoos, and beards can be shaved.
Texans from across the state gathered today in the Oldest Town in Texas to celebrate the State Arbor Day and how trees can connect the past, present and future.
Today’s celebration, themed Leaving a Legacy, is a nod to the City of Nacogdoches celebrating its Tri-centennial this year. The town is believed to be 300 years old — far older than the state of Texas itself. As are some of the area trees, that serve as living witness to local history.
“I want to encourage us to continue the effort because 10 years from now, 100 years from now they will be celebrating the things they see from our efforts,” said Nacogdoches Mayor Roger Van Horn. “We owe the past to the future and we are just a byproduct from that.”
The community has deep roots in traditional forestry as the home of the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks and the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. But Nacogdoches, a Tree City USA, also values urban and community forestry and was recently named the Garden Capital of Texas by the state legislature.
“Today’s celebration reminds us that planting trees leaves a legacy for future generations while creating beautiful and sustainable communities today,” State Forester Tom Boggus said. “And we certainly see that as we stand on this beautiful and historic site.”
The celebration, hosted in the Historic Village of Millard’s Crossing, featured a ceremony, educational activities and giveaways. To commemorate this historical milestone, and to Leave a Legacy with trees, the Garden Capital of Texas Committee members planted 300 trees throughout the community, with the 300th tree ceremonially planted today. The tree is an offspring of the most famous of Texas Famous Trees – the Treaty Oak, and was donated by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
It’s not too late to celebrate. Texas A&M Forest Service is making it easy for anyone, anywhere to participate in Arbor Day. We’ve provided tips online to help communities anywhere create a memorable Arbor Day, as well as educational activities for schools, groups and families to get outdoors and learn more about trees.
Please visit texasforestservice.tamu.edu/arborday/ for ideas on how to host an Arbor Day ceremony. Here you can also find instructions on how to properly plant a tree and activities about the benefits of trees, tree parts and how to identify a tree by its leaves or structure – plus so much more.
There are so many different ways to wear them and you can wear them with so many different things.
Floppy hats can be worn all year round. You can wear them with almost anything. There are so many different colors or patterns with floppy hats.
Fedora’s can really dress up an outfit. It can be a perfect for a night on the town or a casual fun day. This fall pair your favorite fedora with your favorite sweater, jeans or leggings, and cute booties.
Baseball caps are always a good option. They can be paired with t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers!
Another look to add to your rotation are beanies. They are a classic. You can make them edgy with a leather jacket or cute and casual with a flowy floral dress.
Have fun pairing your favorite outfits with hats this fall! Check back next Friday for more fashion tips!
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ovember is a bit hairy this time of year, and it’s not just because of the cooler temperatures.
Full beards and mustaches are making a comeback this month as awareness is raised for some of men’s biggest health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.
The hair growth movement is known as No-Shave November and Movember, in which both campaigns urge participants to grow out their hair during the month of November to raise awareness and money for cancer research, along with other health related research.
“A big bushy beard is a great masculine way to start a conversation and shine light on an undiscussed topic,” Diboll resident Kaelan Whitworth said.
Whitworth is a first time participant, who decided to join the cause, after living with anxiety and depression for years. It wasn’t until his father, Keith, told him it wasn’t normal to experience such high anxiety and depression that the young man decided to visit his doctor and get treated for his condition.
“The depression and anxiety really surprised me,” Whitworth said. “I was truly unaware that I was going through it before having a conversation with my dad and my doctor. I’ve had amazing progress, and so far I have been happier and healthier.”
Nacogdoches resident Michael Ham has participated in the monthly tradition for the past eight years. Every Halloween Ham said he would shave off his beard to “start fresh to see how far” his hair will grow during the month.
A photo of Michael Ham, right, and his wife, Amanda.
“The kids love it and it’s something fun to do while bringing awareness to prostate cancer and overall men’s health,” Ham said. “If we bring together more men to participate, what harm could it do?”
Bearded man Jose Herrera said it’s important to raise awareness for men’s health. He is currently studying kinesiology, and said all of his research supports diet and exercise in men’s health, “but many men overlook the importance of regular checkups with their physicians.”
“I have heard of some middle aged men, who wanted to be a little macho, and thought going to see your doctor regularly was not tough, until it was a little late,” Herrera said. “Early detection is the best, and for those who do not watch their diets and get regular checkups, diabetes can definitely sneak up on them. In my dad’s case, he has always eaten a very healthy diet and exercised regularly, but a checkup with the doctor a few years ago concluded that his cholesterol was high and he was pre-diabetic.”
Even though growing out facial hair is a source of conversation during November, Herrera said it’s important to not neglect the body that keeps people going every day.
“Sometimes it’s good to get a reminder that we are not as invincible as we may think, and we may need to get ourselves checked out by a physician,” he said. “Hopefully men will realize that acting like a tough macho man doesn’t necessarily make you manly. It’s about being wise and taking care of your family and their needs, but in order to do that you must be in condition to do so. Really to me, No-Shave November is a celebration of being a real man, being able to know that being a man is being there for your family – that begins with your own health.”
Visit movember.com and no-shave.org for more information on the national campaigns.
Bearded Advice
A photo of Jose Herrera.
For beard beginners, Herrera said to “stick it out.”
“The first time to grow a beard can be really hard. The itchiness around week two through four can be unbearable at times,” he said. “Scratching it seems to make it worse sometimes. There is a simple fix – moisturize the beard.”
“You do not want to wash the beard with regular body soap,” Herrera continued. “You get strange dandruff like white fluff that falls out of it because of the way the soap dries on the beard. Shampoo and moisturize.”
Whitworth added that blow-drying facial hair after a hot shower makes “man hair bearable.” His brother, Ryan, also blow-dries his facial hair every morning and makes sure to use Sandwood oil and cream daily from Uncut Beard Company to style his beard.
For those who can’t grow facial hair, Ham encourages to shave off any peach fuzz daily.
“When I wanted to grow my beard I kept shaving, sometimes three times a day,” he said. “Even when you don’t think you should shave, just do it. When you do, it just makes your hair follicles work overtime and they’ll be stimulated to grow quicker.”
With winter approaching, Herrera encourages others to keep the facial hair growing since it “actually keeps you a bit warmer in the cold season.”
A photo of Ryan Whitworth’s beard.
“I made the mistake one year of shaving mid-winter, and I was shocked to discover how much having a beard warms up your face and even keeps the air from going into the nostrils,” he said. “I then realized that it actually looked good when groomed properly. I keep it now, out of habit, and warmth, as the winter season approaches.”
Herrera added there are “very few things better than getting compliments on a good beard.”
“My favorite was when a guy, who typically had a legendary status beard,” he said, “who unfortunately due to health had to shave, came up to me one day after I had grown my beard for about three months, gave me a hug, and told me he was proud of me, as he tugged my beard – what a moment!”
