LUFKIN, TEXAS This fall, a treasured East Texas icon turns 100, and the entire community is invited to celebrate in grand style. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 6 PM to 9 PM, the City of Lufkin and Visit Lufkin will host a 100th Birthday Celebration for the historic Pines Theater in the heart of downtown.
Originally built in 1925, the Pines Theater has stood as a cultural cornerstone in Lufkin for generations. From the days of vaudeville and black-and-white films to today’s concerts, movie nights, and community events, this iconic venue continues to shine. To honor its legacy and continued impact, this free, outdoor event will feature:
Event Highlights:
Vintage Car Showcase lining First Street
Live Music with tunes that travel through the decades
Front Porch Coffee Garden by Standpipe Coffee House
Beer Garden by Rusty Axe Brewing Company
Patio Libations by South First Bar and Grill
Cigar Lounge Experience presented by Stories, with cigars for purchase and exclusive lounge access
Short Film Loops Inside the Theater, showcasing historic photos and moments from the Pines’ 100-year legacy
Photo ops and a toast to the next 100 years
Guests are encouraged to arrive early, bring friends and family, and dress in vintage-inspired attire to match the evening’s Art Deco flair. The event is free and open to all ages.
Event Details:
What: Pines Theater 100th Birthday Celebration When:Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 6 PM – 9 PM Where:113 S. First Street | Downtown Lufkin, TX Admission:Free and open to the public
For more information, media inquiries, or interview requests, please contact: Visit Lufkin (936) 633-0359
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4th Annual Hispanic Heritage Day is hosting it’s first Youth Soccer Tournament! We are hoping this gets enough interest from neighboring cities and continues to grow in years to come. We invite you to gather up your teams and come join us for some competitive fun!
The tournament will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
Crockett Civic Center field. Address: 1100 Edmiston Dr. Crockett, TX 75835
Age Division: Born 2013/2014
This will be a one-day championship. Winners will be announced during the event.
Call or text for more information. Judy, 936-204-9872 Noralva, 936-204-6654
Don’t Miss Out! Limited Spots! Last day to register: Sept. 8, 2025!!
In recent months, more and more East Texans have asked the same question:
“Should I go solar?”
It’s a fair question—and a smart one. We’ve all seen the ads. Some of us have even had salespeople knock on the door, promising free electricity, lifetime savings, or “never paying an electric bill again.”
Sounds great… but is it really true?
The honest answer? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.
What We’re Seeing in the Forest Country
A family in Lufkin recently shared their story. They were convinced to sign up for a solar system that now costs them over $300/month—nearly double what they were paying for regular electricity.
Why? A company from out of town gave them a one-size-fits-all pitch, played on fears about future outages, and never explained the long-term financials.
Now they’re stuck with a system that doesn’t perform like they expected—and no one nearby to service it.
Unfortunately, they’re not alone.
Solar Isn’t Bad—But It’s Not for Everyone
Here in the Texas Forest Country, solar works best when:
Your home or land gets plenty of sunlight
Your monthly energy usage is fairly high (over $200)
You plan to stay in your home long-term
You qualify for solar tax credits
You’re working with a local installer who will still be here next year
That last part matters. At MCF Solar, we don’t outsource our crews. We don’t subcontract service. And we won’t sell you a system that doesn’t make financial sense.
We’re based right here in Lufkin—and we treat our customers like neighbors, not numbers.
When Solar Doesn’t Add Up
Solar might not be right if:
Your roof is mostly shaded
You’re planning to move within a few years
You don’t use much electricity
You’ve been quoted over $3.25/watt without a clear ROI
The company you’re talking to doesn’t live or work in East Texas
In these cases, we’ll be honest with you—just like we would be with our own families.
A Special Case: Off-Grid and Backup Systems
Where solar really shines? Off-grid homes and rural land. If you’re building a cabin, running a homestead, or preparing for outages, MCF Solar can build you a system with:
High-quality battery storage
Ground mounts that handle tough terrain
Quiet, clean, low-maintenance operation
These systems are custom-built, and they’re becoming a real game changer for life out in the country.
Let’s Have a Local Conversation
If you’re curious about solar—or want a second opinion on a quote you’ve been given—call us before you sign anything.
This week featured an absolute whirlwind of activity on our campus, beginning with the return of our faculty and staff (and our annual Convocation on Monday), along with student move-in days (and a welcome dinner from the president) and some intense soccer pre-season matches. We had athletes running around the campus passing out schedules and helping with various setups. We even had the softball team greeting kids on their first day at an elementary school.
The big news of the week came in the form of some national recognition, with two of our teams earning national rankings in pre-season polls.
We also held the 18th Annual Guy Davis Golf Tournament on Sunday, followed by our Meet the Roadrunners banquet on Sunday. We’ll include more info and photos from those events in next week’s newsletter.
Classes begin Monday (Aug. 18), and we have another week filled with plenty of game/match action.
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Men’s Soccer, Basketball Earn Pre-Season National Rankings
AC’s head men’s soccer coach Martin Melchor said when he first arrived her two years ago that his dream was to “build a dynasty” with the Roadrunner soccer program. In his first two seasons, Melchor’s squads have helped boost his dream, earning national rankings in both seasons, including a final ranking of No. 13 following the 2024 season.
Heading into this new year, the Roadrunners again enter with a number in front of their names. In this week’s pre-season poll, the Roadrunners came in at No. 15 in the nation.
Over on the basketball court, the Roadrunner men’s team behind head coach J.J. Montgomery wrapped up last season with the best performance in program history, advancing to the Elite Eight at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament and eventually finishing as the No. 12 team in the nation (and No. 1 team defensively). All that after a pre-season coaches’ poll had the ‘Runners predicted to finish seventh out of eight teams in their own conference.
There won’t be any such surprises this season. Montgomery’s squad just learned they’re ranked No. 4 in the nation in the 2025-2026 pre-season polls.
The ‘Runners open the regular season at Shands Gymnasium (where the team finished 15-0 in 2024-2025) against Hinds College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Soccer Teams Show Promise in Scrimmages
Both the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams got in some game action against four-year schools this past week, and the AC teams showed they won’t be backing down from any opponent, no matter the size.
On Tuesday, the Lady ‘Runners hammered visiting Wiley College by a 7-0 final score, with newcomer Anne Vandaële notching four goals. Paula Suarez, Beatriz Galvão Almeida and Michelle Naderman also found the net for the Lady ‘Runners, while the AC defense backed goalkeepers Sara Andino and Callie LaChance-Herman on the way to a clean sheet
The Roadrunner men also handled Wiley College on Tuesday, pulling away early to finish the match with a 4-1 advantage. Christian Castaneda, Jhosua Jury, Adrien Ebersbach and Ange Seka accounted for the Roadrunners’ scoring.
Finally, on Friday, the ‘Runners took on NAIA powerhouse LSU-Shreveport, eventually falling 4-1 despite leading for much of the match. Diego Ramirez posted the lone goal for AC.
The Lady Roadrunners will host Louisiana Christian University at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex. On Friday, the Lady Roadrunners travel to the University of Texas-Tyler for another 6:30 p.m. match.
The Roadrunner men host Jarvis College this Wednesday (August 20) at 7 p.m.
Both AC soccer teams open the regular season at home against Northeast Texas Community College on Friday, August 29. The ladies will kick off at 5 p.m., with the guys following at 7:30 p.m.
Those matches will be live-streamed on TSBN Sports.
Meet the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunners Soccer Players
Attached to this email, you’ll find the final Fall 2025 rosters for both the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams. While both rosters feature key returners from the 2024 season, each team has a long list of new faces, and we’re excited to introduce them to our fans.
Both rosters (with official headshots) are up and running on the AC website: www.angelinaathletics.com.
Coming Soon: Big Events for Angelina College and AC Athletics
AC’s Sixth annual “Dinner at the Diamond” event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 down on the baseball field at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Dinner at the Diamond is a major fund-raiser for Angelina College and its students – not to mention just a lot of fun for everyone involved.
We’ll have a registration link and other information for the event to send out in the coming weeks. We just wanted to give you enough time to mark those calendars.
All AC Teams Have Schedules Up and Running Online
Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner fans can now find their favorite teams’ schedules on the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com). For now, only the fall schedules for baseball and softball are in place (with the potential to add more events later), but all other teams, including both women’s and men’s basketball, are ready for viewing and planning.
We’ll update any changes as we receive them.
We can’t wait to see you at the games.
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games are live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Tuesday, August 19:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. Louisiana Christian University (scrimmage), 6:30 p.m. at the AC Soccer Stadium/Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
Wednesday, August 20:
Roadrunner Soccer vs. Jarvis College (scrimmage), 7 p.m. at the AC Soccer Stadium/Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
Friday, August 22:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at the University of Texas-Tyler (scrimmage), 6:30 p.m. in Tyler.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
If Jesus Came With You to School, What Would You Do? (Part 1 of 2)
“I would ask him for all the answers. I would buy him lunch,” says Bobby, age 7.
Yes, it would be nice to not study and have the answers to those pesky tests. Then, there’s the other trial that takes the fun out of school — homework.
“I would tell Jesus about the 1,000 pages we have to read,” says Eric, 9. “I would tell him about my homework Mrs. Wright gave me.”
Eric, do you think Jesus would decrease your reading or homework? Don’t count on it. This might be hard for you to believe, but most teachers have the best interests of their students in mind.
When Jesus walked on the Earth, his homework was heaven’s work. He always listened to his Father’s voice and obeyed perfectly. Because of his obedience in dying on the cross, our disobedience doesn’t have to keep us out of heaven.
Ellyn, 9, has another plan for dealing with school: “I would ask Jesus to get my brother out of school, get on a cloud and fly us home.”
I wonder if the Lord could arrange a cloud-ride home about two minutes before a final exam. What teacher could argue with being whisked away on a cloud?
“If Jesus came to my school, I think I would show him how I can do the monkey bars,” says Lauren, 7. “I would ask him to swing me. I would also ask him what heaven is like.”
Some of us can’t imagine Jesus taking time to swing a child on a playground. It seems so ordinary. We like the stories of Jesus walking on the water, feeding 5,000 people or healing a man born blind. If we always look for Jesus in the miraculous, we’ll miss him in the ordinary details of life.
I remember a front-page story in a south Texas newspaper of a woman who saw the image of Jesus in a tortilla. She made a little shrine in her house, and people lined up to see it.
What could be more ordinary than asking for a drink of water? Jesus asked for a drink, and a revival broke out in a Samaritan town (John 4). A woman drank of the living water and told others the Messiah had come. As the Samaritan woman who came to draw water from the well discovered, Jesus offers living water (eternal life) to all who drink (believe in him).
“If Jesus was right here at school, I would jump up and down, and give him a big hug,” says Caroline, 6, “because I want to make Jesus smile, and I would bow down to him in respect.”
Our lives would be radically transformed if we lived to make Jesus smile. Eliminating thoughts, words and actions that make Jesus weep would start us toward this lofty goal.
Think about this: Forget about your rights. If God gave us our rights as people who have sinned against him, we would have no hope of spending eternity with him. Every day, our hearts should be jumping for joy with gratitude and bowing down before God with reverence for his grace and mercy to us.
Memorize this truth: “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Ask this question: When is the last time you made Jesus smile?
Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God three times a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
Angelina College’s Visual and Performing Arts members celebrated the arrivals and returns of scholarship students in a signing ceremony held on Thursday inside Temple Theater.
A total of 16 students signed scholarships in one of the four disciplines offered: Visual Arts, Choir, Music (Band), and Theater.
VPA Chair Beckie Compton welcomed the students and their families.
“We’re super-stoked to have all of you here, and we welcome the new faces joining us for the new year while thanking those of you who are returning,” Compton said. “There’s a lot of excitement around all our programs as we get ready for the new year.”
Following is the list of signees, with hometowns and chosen disciplines listed as well:
College Begins 57th Year with Monday’s First Classes
Angelina College this past week celebrated the arrival of a new academic year while opening its 57th year of serving the East Texas community with Monday’s Convocation and Tuesday’s Staff and Faculty Awards ceremony.
Opened in 1968, AC has experienced substantial growth in both student population and physical size. During Monday’s Convocation, several staff members – including president Dr. Michael Simon – announced the adoption of “The AC Way.”
“During the 2024-25 academic year, the college engaged over 200 faculty and staff members through surveys, in-depth interviews, and workshops to capture who we are, how we work, and what drives our success,” Simon said. “By documenting our shared vision, purpose, characteristics, values, and behaviors we ensure the continuity of that which makes AC special.
“Our campus culture – the AC Way – supports our continued excellence, helps us respond to change, and cements our shared legacy.”
Tuesday’s ceremony featured the college’s annual awards banquet, which included awards for both years of serviced and individual awards selected after peer voting.
The first day of classes for the new semester at AC is Monday, August 18.
Following are the lists of Tuesday’s award recipients:
Service Pin Awards:
25-Year Service Awards: Kristi Clark (Director of Learning) and Benetha Jackson (Instructor-Psychology).
25-Year Service Award (L-R): Kristi Clark and Benetha Jackson (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
20-Year Service Award: Byron Coleman (Instructor-Physical Education and Student Success)
20-Year Service Award: Byron Coleman (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
15-Year Service Awards: Kim Meshell (Allied Health Program Director), Amy Morrison (Instructor-Speech), Chad Becker (Manager of Payroll and Benefits), Amber Murphy (Instructor-Nursing) and Jesse Cole (Instructor-Welding).
15-Year Service Awards (L-R): Amy Morrison, Amber Murphy, Chad Becker, Kim Meshell and Jesse Cole. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
10-Year Service Awards: Dr. Michael Simon (President), Remona Boodoo Frye – Student Success Coach), Shanda Keely (Chair-Workforce and Continuing Education), Kathlyn Jackson (Instructor-Nursing), Tommy Biggs (Maintenance Mechanic) and Jeremy Sanchez (Instructor – Electromechanical Technology).
10-Year Service Awards (L-R): Dr. Michael Simon, Jeremy Sanchez, Shanda Keely and Remona Boodoo-Frye. Not pictured: Tommy Biggs. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Five-year Service Awards: Dianne Amerine (Director of Small Business Development Center), Steve Reece (Maintenance Mechanic), Mary Hastings (Instructor-Vocational Nursing Program), Krista Brown (Vice President of Student Services), Calvin Rowland (Administrative Assistant-Science and Math), Mary Baker (Administrative Assistant-Arts and Education), Morgan Shannon (Specialist of Benefits and Human Resources) and Catalina Avila (Financial Aid Advisor).
Five-year service awards (L-R): Mary Baker, Steve Reece, Mary Hastings, Calvin Rowland, Krista Brown, Catalina Avila and Morgan Shannon. Not pictured: Dianne Amerine. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Angelina College’s Josephine Taylor received the Adjunct Faculty Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Distinguished Staff Member of the Year Award: Dr. Esther Campbell, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs
Faculty Excellence in Service Award: Dr. Annette Gillum, Instructor-Spanish
Angelina College’s Dr. Annette Gillum received the Faculty Excellence in Service Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Outstanding Program, Department or Discipline Award: Office of Financial Aid (Glenn Goforth, Rosa Heredia, Francell Horace, Irma Montoya, Autumn Stephens, Annette Sandoval and Jazmine Santoyo-Arias.
Members of the Angelina College Office of Financial Aid received the Outstanding Program, Department or Discipline Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. Pictured are (L-R) Autumn Stephens, Jazmine Santoyo-Arias, Catalina Avila, Rosa Heredia, Irma Montoya, Annette Sandoval and Glenn Goforth. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Outstanding Teaching Award: Stefanie Vaughn, Program Director, Surgical Technology
Angelina College’s Stefanie Vaughn received the Outstanding Teaching Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Rookie Award: Alexandria Barney, Director of Career and Transfer Connections
Angelina College’s Alexandria Barney received the Rookie Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Spirit Award: Lou Ann Williams, Specialist of Admissions and Customer Service
Angelina College’s Lou Ann Williams received the Spirit Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Staff Leadership Award: Glenn Goforth, Senior Director of Financial Aid and Admissions
Angelina College’s Glenn Goforth received the Staff Leadership Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
Distinguished Faculty Award: Gary Stallard, Instructor-English
Angelina College’s Gary Stallard received the Distinguished Faculty Award during Tuesday’s Awards Luncheon held on the AC campus. (Jessica Deel Photo for AC News Service)
With another school year upon us, I want to recognize the hard work, dedication, and passion of our dedicated teachers and support staff who work tirelessly to enrich, educate, and inspire our next generation. I hope you’ll join me in supporting and encouraging our educators, and praying for a safe and successful school year.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
The past two weeks have been challenging in Austin. As many of you have likely heard, work in the House has come to a halt due to a number of my colleagues breaking quorum and fleeing Texas over a potential congressional redistricting map.
While I certainly understand and encourage ideological differences in the legislative process, I believe Texans deserve more than to have vital legislation, whether it be flood planning and relief, further property tax relief, or eliminating the STAAR test, indefinitely stalled just to make a point.
I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have shown up and devoted their time and energy to the First-Called Special Session, and who share our commitment to delivering the results for the people of Texas.
That being said, I want to highlight two pieces of legislation I introduced last week to deliver flood relief to our neighbors in the Hill Country and protect groundwater in East Texas.
First, I filed House Bill 289 last week to expand the number of counties eligible for the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program. As you may recall, I established the Program during the Regular Session to provide relief to rural communities following natural disasters. The Program provides grants to communities to replace and repair critical infrastructure damaged during disasters.
Additionally, I filed House Bill 290 last week, which amends the Texas Water Code to prevent groundwater conservation districts from issuing permits that exceed the state’s Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) figures. This would ensure that groundwater permits do not surpass the levels deemed sustainable for an aquifer’s long-term health and future supply.
I filed this bill in direct response to the egregious groundwater production permits submitted to the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater Conservation District by Conservation Equity Management Partners. As you may recall, these applications would enable the extraction of over 15 billion gallons of water annually from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers, which would threaten the long-term viability of our groundwater supply.
I am proud to have filed these bills and will file them again in the upcoming Second Called Special Session..
The mobile office is still on the road again in August, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on August 20 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 and my Capitol office may be reached at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
Ribbon Cutting Celebration – Security Services Insurance oin us as we welcome Security Services Insurance to our community with a warm Nacogdoches-style celebration!
Enjoy: Delicious bites from CC’s Smokehouse Beer & wine courtesy of Red House Winery Enter to win a soft-sided YETI cooler giveaway!
Come meet the team, connect with fellow community members, and show your support for local business growth. Bring your friends, your business cards, and your community spirit!
Let’s pack the house and make them feel right at home!
Join us next Friday, August 22, at 8 AM for this month’s Power Networking Breakfast, presented by Angelina College SBDC!
There’s always a seat at the table for you at Chamber events, perfect for growing your network and learning from local leaders.
We’re excited to welcome United Way of Angelina County as our featured speaker. Hear firsthand how United Way is making a meaningful impact in our community and discover ways you can get involved to help make a difference.
Attendance is free! While registration is not required, it is strongly encouraged to help us plan accordingly. Register now>>> bit.ly/PNB-0825
