Texas Department of Transportation contractors will begin next week a surface overlay project on US 59 from approximately 2 miles south of SL 224 in Nacogdoches County to the Angelina River Bridge at the Angelina County line.
Moore Brothers Construction Company, contractor for the $1.6 million project, will set project barricades on Tuesday and begin road construction by Sept. 26. Work should be completed by mid-October, weather permitting.
The project includes a seal coat application and hot mix asphalt overlay in the southbound lanes of US 59 from the grass median 2 miles south of SL 224 in Nacogdoches to the Angelina River Bridge. The work is designed to enhance safety and improve the roadway.
Motorists should be prepared for delays through the work area and be alert to moving equipment and workers near the lane of traffic. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.
“US 59 between Lufkin and Nacogdoches is a very heavily traveled highway,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “While this work will only involve the southbound lanes, we want motorists to slow down and be very alert through the construction area. There could be some delays as work progresses.”
All work schedules are subject to change in inclement weather. For a complete list of TxDOT road conditions, construction or closures, visit DriveTexas.org.
LUFKIN, TX. Angelina Arts Alliance kicks off their 16th season and the 2016-2017 Performing Arts Series Sunday, September 18th, at 7:30 pm with ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS. Rick Thomas is a premier illusionist having completed five world tours covering over 50 countries. Just last month the International Magicians Society awarded Rick Thomas ‘Illusionist of the Year’ for 2016, joining the ranks of previous winners: Penn and Teller, Siegfried and Roy, and David Copperfield. Rick’s extensive award list includes the coveted “Magician of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts, and “Stage Magician of the Year” by the World Magic Awards. Thomas is the first illusionist to perform for an Arts Alliance audience. Tickets priced from $30-$45 (Premium/Box $50) went on sale August 1st 2016 and have sold out, so the box office will be selling RUSH tickets the night of the show. Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS along with show sponsor Brookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation. 2016-2017 Season Sponsors are Georgia – Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.
Rick Thomas performs the most intriguing and innovative grand illusions in the world with a style unlike any other magical entertainer. Thomas has performed for sell-out crowds for 15 years in his own show in Las Vegas and Branson. For sold out performances like Rick Thomas, the Angelina Arts Alliance sells RUSH tickets, Box Office Manager Kristie Bailey explained, “For every show – even sold out shows – we will have 50-100 vacant seats. Those tickets were purchased by subscribers or the general public, and for whatever reason the buyer could not attend the performance. For sold out shows, like ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS, the box office will sell those seats as RUSH tickets at the door starting at 6:30 pm for $20 each. The purchaser enters the theater at 7:25 pm and sits in any empty seat. If they cannot find a seat, they bring their ticket back to the box office for a $20 refund.” Kristie added, “So far no one has ever come back for a refund!”
For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Temple Theater Box Office on the Angelina College Lufkin campus, Monday through Friday 11 am – 5 pm or call (936) 633-5454, or go online at www.angelinaarts.org . Details and video clips from the entire season are on the Arts Alliance website. Follow Angelina Arts Alliance on Facebook for late-breaking news, photos, videos and ticket giveaways.
Jeanne Blacksher talks about the memories of when her family evacuated to Nacogdoches County from Southeast Texas when Hurricane Rita bombarded the region 11 years ago on Sept. 18, 2005.
Danny Blacksher, left, stands with his wife, Jeanne, and daughter, Jenna, when they lived in Bridge City in 2005. The Oak tree standing behind them uprooted when Hurricane Rita hit the small town on Sept. 18, 2005.
Summer 2005 was known for its powerful hurricane season, as Hurricane Katrina stormed through New Orleans on Aug. 23, 2005, just one month later Hurricane Rita roared through Southeast Texas on Sept. 18, leaving thousands homeless.
Southeast Texas evacuee Jeanne Blacksher said she remembered, along with hundreds of others, handing out sandwiches to lines of cars as families evacuated from South Louisiana to escape the destruction of Katrina.
“Never would I have imagined, we would be the ones in line evacuating just a month later,” she said.
Jeanne, along with her husband, Danny, and six-year-old daughter, Jenna, evacuated to Nacogdoches when Rita bombarded their hometown of Bridge City, 30 minutes east of Beaumont.
Before the storm, Jeanne said “life was nice.” She worked at Lamar State College, Danny had his own development company, and life revolved around their young daughter. They enjoyed spending time with their friends and were involved with their church.
With a hometown close to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Jeanne said they had many weather and evacuation threats before but never left home, yet with a young daughter in tow they decided to evacuate this time after hearing warnings of a strong hurricane headed their way. Jeanne and Jenna left first, and then Danny followed a few days after. They evacuated to their aunt’s house in Nacogdoches.
After the storm passed, Jeanne described the following days as stressful because the family of three didn’t know what happened to their home in Bridge City.
“I will never forget waking up and Danny saying, ‘I don’t know if we are going to have a home to go back to.’ We were just praying everything was okay,” she said. “We didn’t know what was going on at home. We didn’t know what to expect; to not know was really stressful. We only had so much stuff with us; mainly I grabbed all of the pictures when we left.”
Danny first went back to Bridge City to check on their church and home. Jeanne and Jenna didn’t follow until the storm was completely gone and when rebuilding began a few weeks later. The first time Jeanne saw their home, she described it as a sad situation and “everything was a mess.”
“Trees were knocked over. Danny’s shop building got knocked down; the entire fence in the backyard got knocked down. We had a huge back patio and the whole thing was wiped out,” she said. “It was overwhelming; it was just nasty weather. It was ugly everywhere you went.”
The family knew they didn’t want to stay long, Jeanne said. They decided to return to Nacogdoches, because “we loved Nacogdoches and the beauty of it.” So, they got to work to make the move north. Danny repaired the house, cleared the trees, and prepared the house to be sold. He soon found a job in Nacogdoches, and Jenna quickly started second grade in Douglas.
“It was pretty stressful,” Jeanne said of rebuilding their lives. “I just knew we were coming here, so that kept me sane. Knowing there was light at the end of the tunnel helped a lot.”
Danny Blacksher, left, stands with his daughter, Jenna, and wife, Jeanne. The family of three has continued to move forward with their lives as they left their of hometown of Bridge City in 2005 for a new life in Nacogdoches after the destruction of Hurricane Rita.
Eleven years later, Jeanne said she is grateful they moved to Nacogdoches County and added that “good things can come from difficult times.” Life has continued to move forward for the Blacksher family. Jeanne currently owns Sparkle Boutique in Nacogdoches, Danny is getting his appraisal license, and Jenna is living in Tyler enrolled at Tyler Junior College.
Even though there were difficult days following Rita, Jeanne recalled, with fondness in her voice, the special memories the family of three created during their evacuation to Nacogdoches.
“One of the things that we did while we were here is we would get in the car and it would be Jenna, Danny, and I. We would call it ‘Riding the Hills,’” she said. “We would just ride through the back roads with the windows down and listen to music. That really was one of the things that helped us relax from the stress of everything – we just rode the hills. We did it a ton of times; it was just so beautiful.”
Jeanne said her faith is what got her through those difficult times of leaving her home after Rita and rebuilding a new life in Nacogdoches. She advises those going through difficult times simply to pray.
“Just be flexible and open to what God has in store because his plan is so much better than what our plan will be,” she said. “Just enjoy the moments and make it the best, and know that something good will come.”
Scarves are perfect for fall; they make a great accessory for summer outfits that you want to wear a little longer but still want to look in season. You can wear scarves with leggings and a sweater or your favorite long flowy t-shirt that you wore all summer. You can even style them with a dress, throw on some boots, and you have a perfect outfit for a Friday night bonfire.
Here are two of my favorite types of scarves and how-to style them with any outfit to create the perfect fall attire:
Infinity
Infinity scarves are super easy when you need to grab an accessory and run out the door for a girl’s night out or date night.
First, put the scarf around your neck.
Second, cross the scarf so it makes an X in front of you.
Third, put the second loop around you head.
Fourth, spread the scarf out and style it so that one part is a little longer than the other, but not so much that there is space in-between each piece.
Fifth, smile and look fabulous, because you do!
Traditional
The traditional scarf can be tied in so many ways. My favorite is to tie it in a knot at the bottom!
First, put the scarf around your neck and make sure each side is even.
Second, grab each side near the middle and put them in one hand together. Then grab the ends in your other hand.
Third, bring the end and begin to loop around the middle.
Fourth, gently pull the ends through to make your knot.
Fifth, smile and conquer the day while looking marvelous.
Have fun using scarfs as your favorite accessory this fall. Make sure to check back every Friday for fun and easy fashion tips!
Recently, people across our free land commemorated the lives of those who fell victim to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. Though it seems like just yesterday for many of us, this year marked the 15th Anniversary of the falling of the Twin Towers in New York City, the plane which went down near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and another that crashed into the Pentagon. All told, nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives that day, and many other police officers, firefighters, and innocent bystanders risked their own to save countless others. Lest we forget those brave men and women, let us take a moment to update you on the policies being studied in Austin to help some of those first responders . . .
House Interim Charge: Emerging Issues in Texas Law Enforcement
As with nearly all other groups we’ve discussed in our look at interim charges, law enforcement must adapt to the evolving technologies which become more accessible to them each day. As a state, we must provide assistance to our local authorities for many up and coming tools, including body cameras. These cameras are important both for our police officers, as well as our citizens. Last session a bill was passed to set some minimum standards for storing this data, providing video footage under the Public Information Act, or when using as evidence in a court room. This interim we’re studying whether those standards should be expanded, reigned in, or left intact.
In addition to new hardware available to law enforcement, software is becoming more advanced, and the ability for different levels of law enforcement to share information is important when it comes to tracking and catching criminals. Along with these information collecting and sorting systems (which can connect the federal, state, and local agencies) comes the need to protect secrecy, while also providing the public with needed transparency. The House has been studying the requirements the state must put forth to ensure we strike the right balance.
Although technology does play a large part, we all know that the critically important part of the men and women who police our state is just that – the men and women. The Legislature will take a deep dive into ensuring that our officers have a sufficient amount appropriations to maximize their opportunity for training in the new threats presented in our ever changing world. With the ultimate goal being to increase public safety for all Texans, there is no excuse for not providing these brave officers with the necessary training and tools to perform their job.
Reminders
The mobile office is on the road for the remainder of September, and looks forward to seeing you around our district! Here’s our schedule moving forward:
September 21st, 9-11am – Houston County Courthouse Annex, and 1:30-3:30pm – Trinity County Courthouse; September 28th, 9-11am – San Augustine County Courthouse.
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, or you can call my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.
Time to get some projects marked off my to-do list! Making a giant peg board has been on my list for a long time, and it’s finally finished. It was so easy to put together. I’m not sure what took us so long to make this giant peg board. It’s definitely an afternoon project, and it doesn’t take long to get up at all. It it awesome for organizing all of my craft supplies, and it would make a great addition to any work space. So keep reading, and I’ll show you how to make a giant peg board. Let’s get to it!
First, you’ll need to measure how big you want to make your peg board. I measured my space and decided to make a 4 foot wide by 3 foot tall peg board. You can buy peg board sheets at Home Depot or any home improvement store. I bought a 4 foot by 4 foot sheet. So before we got started we trimmed a foot off the top of my peg board with a table saw.
You’ll need a few other supplies to get started:
trim
1×2 boards
nail gun and nails
wood glue
paint
paint brush
caulk and caulking gun
table saw
Miter saw
First, you’ll make a frame using the 1×2 boards. Trim the ends of your boards with a Miter saw to a 45 degree angle so they fit together. Since my peg board was 4 foot by 3 foot I made my frame the same size. Use a little bit of wood glue and a nail gun to attach your frame together. Let dry.
I gave my peg board a fresh coat of white paint. You don’t necessarily have to do this step if you don’t want to. I just think everything looks better freshly painted. Plus, I used the same paint that I was going to use on the trim and frames, so it all ended up all matching in the end.
We also made a 4 foot by 3 foot frame using some wood trim the same exact way we did the 1×2 frame. You’ll need a frame for the front and back of your peg board. The peg board needs to be up away from the wall for the peg hooks to fit in. So the 1×2 frame on the back gives it just enough space between the wall to hang your peg hooks and baskets in.
Using a nail gun we nailed the peg board to the 1×2 frame. Just go all the way around every two or three inches or so. For some extra reinforcement, put a thin layer of wood glue between the frame and the peg board before you start nailing.
Put a thin layer of wood glue around the edge of the peg board then sit the nicer trim frame right on top of the peg board, using your nail gun again to nail all the way around your peg board. Let the wood glue dry.
I then used a caulk gun to fill in the joints of the trim frame where the wood met and the nail holes. Then I gave the frame one more coat of paint and painted around the edge of the frames so that no wood was showing just nice white edges. The edges will look like the ones below.
To hang this giant peg board up we just used a stud finder to find the studs in the wall, put some screws in the studs and hung the peg board on the screws. All done.
All that was left to do was fill my space with craft supplies!
Angelina College’s Allie Chapman (14) battles Brookhaven’s Joseline Sorto (3) for possession during Wednesday’s match. Sorto scored a hat trick to lead the Lady Bears past the Lady Roadrunners 3-1 at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)
Lady Bear Soto Scores Hat Trick
Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunner soccer team faced a high-scoring Brookhaven College team in a non-conference match on Wednesday, with the Lady Bears coming off a recent 6-0 win.
The good news was that the Lady ‘Runners held the Lady Bears to just three goals. The bad news was that Brookhaven’s Joseline Sorto scored all three for the hat trick, leading the Lady Bears to a 3-1 win at Jase Magers Field at Lufkin High School.
Soto scored twice in the first half and added another in the 84th minute, with her final goal trickling over the line after AC keeper Kelly Copeland appeared to have made a diving save.
The Lady Roadrunners got their lone goal from Kennedy Sessions – her fourth of the season to lead the team – in the 25th minute. Sessions, fighting off a defender near the right corner, unleashed a booming kick high into the net to even the score at 1-1.
But Sorto’s second score in the 33rd minute pushed the Lady Bears back on top, dropping AC to its second straight loss after a three-game winning streak.
The Lady Roadrunners (3-5) get the week off before traveling to Jacksonville next Friday for a conference doubleheader with the Roadrunners. AC’s men are at Laredo this Friday and at Coastal Bend on Saturday.
Ongoing effort to save children coincides with national Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 18-24.
With three out of four child car seats improperly installed, the Texas Department of Transportation encourages all caregivers to make an appointment for a free inspection at one of the agency’s 25 statewide district offices. TxDOT reminds all Texans that properly restraining their children while riding in vehicles is an everyday, year-round responsibility. It’s also the law.
“We are determined to educate parents and caregivers in Texas about the importance of buckling their child into the correct car seat for their age and size,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “It’s not only the law, but we’re also trying to save lives through proper use of safety seats.”
As part of national Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 18-24, TxDOT reminds drivers that Texas law requires all children under 8 years of age, unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches – to be in a car seat whenever they ride in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. In 2015, 83 children younger than 8 years old were killed in crashes in Texas. In 2014, that number was 81.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four child car seats are not properly installed. Common child safety seat errors include installing the seat too loosely, putting the harness straps through the wrong slots, leaving harness straps too loose, positioning the chest clip incorrectly, and using the wrong seat belt path.
Drivers should refer to their specific car seat manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to install the safety seat. The vehicle owner’s manual also includes information on the proper placement of the car seat and proper use of the seat belt or LATCH system.
To schedule a free car seat check, contact TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist Allison Rounsavall at (936) 633-4315 or text the word “seat” and your ZIP code to 876526. Drivers also may visit SaveMeWithASeat.com to learn if a child should be in a rear-facing seat, forward-facing seat or booster seat.
During Child Passenger Safety Week, a TxDOT safety demonstration van will travel the state to show caregivers how to choose and install the correct car seat for their child. TxDOT also is conducting special local celebrity story times featuring the newly released children’s book, “Bernard in the Backseat.” The book features a lovable teddy bear taking his first car ride. A free digital version of the book is available at SaveMeWithASeat.com.
Kevin Wilson, left, and his mother Renee sprinkle basil on the roast beef paninis.
Welcome to Kevin Wilson’s Home Cooked Cuisine! I am so thrilled to introduce you to my talented son Kevin who is an inspiration to so many. Cooking and creating delicious one-of-a-kind recipes are Kevin’s passion and drive. He does not let conditions such as blindness, epilepsy, learning disabilities, brain tumors, and other health impairments deter him. Kevin has a successful blog where he has posted many delicious recipes at homecookedcuisine.wordpress.com. He is looking forward to this new venture where he will showcase even more sensational recipes for your enjoyment. We invite you to try the recipes he posts and let us know how you enjoy them.
Today’s recipe is Roast Beef Paninis with Basil Dipping Sauce. Add a side salad or a cup of sliced apples to create a delicious lunch or light dinner. Enjoy!
Roast Beef Paninis with Basil Dipping Sauce
A few of the ingredients used for a roast beef panini.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons mayo
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
8 pieces of Oatnut bread
8 slices of reduced-fat Provolone cheese
4 slices of roast beef deli meat, sandwich thick
4 slices tomato
1 teaspoon chopped basil
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Mix the Crema Mexicana, Dijon mustard, and basil in a small bowl. Set aside to use as a dip for the sandwiches.
A photo of a roast beef panini.
To assemble sandwiches: Stir together the mayo and horseradish. Spread onto one slice of bread. Top with one slice of Provolone cheese. Add a slice of roast beef followed by one slice of tomato. Sprinkle basil on tomato. Add a second slice of Provolone cheese. Top with another slice of bread. Repeat for each sandwich. Brush olive oil on top of the sandwiches. Place oiled side down on a George Foreman grill. Brush oil on the flip side of each sandwich. Close lid and cook until bread is toasted and cheese is melted. About 5 minutes. Serve.
Friday, Sept. 16 is National Guacamole Day, and it is time to celebrate!
Did you know?
Avocados have more potassium than bananas do.
Native to Central and South America, avocados have been cultivated for over 10,000 years.
Singer, songwriter Jason Mraz runs an avocado farm that supplies some of Chipotle’s restaurants in addition to his musical career.
Avocados are also known as “alligator pears.”
Avocados are a fruit! They are considered berries because of their growth patterns and their pits.
You can speed up an avocado’s ripening process by placing it in storage at room temperature with an apple or a banana.
Any reason is a great reason to have guacamole, and the guac holiday itself is a great time to try out a new and improved recipe.
This recipe for crunchy herbed guacamole was created by George Duran from IMUSA, a leading Hispanic cookware website. The crunchy herbed guac uses spicy chipotle sauce and radishes to improve its striking taste. IMUSA also recommends their Granite Molcajete to grind up a party size batch of guac.
Ingredients
2 ripened avocados
¼ cup cilantro
¼ cup fresh chives
juice of ½ lime
Bottled Chipotle Hot Pepper Sauce (optional)
3 small red radishes
kosher salt or table salt, to taste
Preparation
Scoop avocado flesh inside your IMUSA Molcajete and add the cilantro, chopped chives, lime juice, and chipotle sauce.
Gently mash with the pestle until the desired consistency is reached
Fold in diced radishes and season with salt to taste
Did you know?