August 30, 2025
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9:00 am
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August 31, 2025
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Get Ready for an Unforgettable Summer Experience!
The excitement is building for the 30th Annual Ruth Lake Summer Festival, happening August 30-31, 2025, at the beautiful Ruth Rec Campground! Join us for a weekend filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit!
What’s in store for you? Check out our amazing lineup:
Vendor Booths: Discover unique treasures and local crafts! Live Music: Dance to the rhythm of fantastic bands! Fishing: Cast your line and reel in the big one! Camping: Experience the great outdoors under the stars! Delicious Blueberry Pancakes: Indulge your taste buds with mouthwatering treats! Food Vendors: Savor a variety of delectable options! Dutch Raffle: Try your luck and win fabulous prizes!This festival isn’t just about fun; it’s about giving back. All proceeds support the Southern Trinity Volunteer Fire Department, Southern Trinity Area Rescue, Trinity County Food Bank, and other vital local projects.
Mark Your Calendars:
Saturday, Aug 30: 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday, Aug 31: 9 AM – 4 PM
Don’t miss out on the perfect way to celebrate the last days of summer with family and friends! For more details, visit us at htraonline.org or reach out at htraruth@gmail.com or contact Patsy at 707-382-5176.
GP, AC Partnership Enhances Region’s Workforce Opportunities
Officials from both Angelina College and Georgia-Pacific gathered this past week as part of their long-time collaborative effort to create opportunities for future entrants into the East Texas workforce.
GP officials presented AC with a ceremonial check commemorating a $15,000 donation in support of the enhancement of technical job skills for students in the Electromechanical Technology program, which directly aligns with workforce needs at Georgia-Pacific locations throughout the Deep East Texas region, according to Janice Huffman, AC’s Senior Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs.
In an issued statement, Huffman provided details on the plans for the generous donation:
“These funds will be used to upgrade PLC’s (programmable logic controllers), purchase advanced training equipment, tools, and instructional supplies that will help students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard technology. Key courses such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial motor controls, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and AC/DC drives have benefited directly from (Georgia-Pacific’s) support. By investing in these resources, we aim to strengthen students’ technical proficiency, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the workforce.”
For further information, contact Krista Brown, AC’s Vice President of Student Services, at kbrown@angelina.edu.
Recently, our state experienced a tragedy in the Hill Country. We mourn the lives lost during the flooding over the Fourth of July holiday on the Guadalupe River. Texas lost 135 men, women, and children with some still missing. We pray for the recovery of the missing, the Texans we lost, and the communities impact by this tragedy.
Here are five things happening around your state:
Governor Abbott calls First Special Session
This month, Governor Greg Abbott announced the Legislature would convene for the first called special session of the 89th Legislature. The Governor put 18 items for the Legislature to consider on the call. During a special session, the Legislature may only consider those specific topics that the Governor has called us to consider. Some of the 18 items include flood preparedness, emergency communications infrastructure and flood relief funding, elimination of the STAAR test, reducing property taxes, hemp-derived product regulation, protecting unborn children, prohibiting tax-payer funded lobbying, redistricting, and other more specific bills that were vetoed after the regular session. The Legislature convened for the special session on July 21 and has 30 days to address the items on the call. Committee hearings and floor votes are well underway in Austin.
House Natural Resources Committee holds hearing on East Texas groundwater issue
On July 15, Chairman Cody Harris convened a hearing at the Capitol of the House Natural Resources Committee to hear testimony regarding the impact of high-capacity and large volume groundwater production in the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District (NTVGCD). Over 11 hours, members of the committee, additional interested House members, Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Charles Perry, and myself heard testimony regarding the role of groundwater in our state, the proposed projects, and the possible impact those projects could have on groundwater in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifier which covers the northern part of Senate District 3. The testimony highlighted the risk East Texas faces of overuse of the aquifer which may cause depletion of the aquifer. This is an issue I care about deeply and will continue to pursue remedies to ensure communities in East Texas maintain access to the groundwater under their land.
Ban on THC products passes Senate
This week, Senate Bill 5 by Senator Charles Perry passed on a bipartisan vote in the Senate. The bill would prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products that contain THC. Hemp products that contain cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG) will remain legal. Products that remain legal under the law would have to comply with a strict regulatory framework set up in the bill. The bill also prohibits the sale of consumable hemp products to anyone under the age of 21, prohibits marketing those products to minors, and requires certain packaging and labeling of the products. Intoxicating forms of THC endanger the health and safety of children and families and it’s time to rigorously regulate these substances. The existing Texas Compassionate Use Program or laws related to the farming of hemp will not be impacted by these changes.
TPWD, Animal Health Commission form task force to address New World Screwworm
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) announced the formation of a joint response team to coordinate effort in combating New World screwworm (NWS), following a directive from Governor Abbott. New World screwworm is a fly that carries NWS disease, which attacks warm-blooded animals through open wounds. The disease can be fatal. The pest was eradicated in US in the 1960s, but has recently reemerged in Central America and Mexico. Due to the size of Texas’ border with Mexico, extensive animal agriculture industry, and wildlife, the risk of the reemergence in Texas is of strong concern, especially in our agriculture industry. This joint effort has provided training and education to agency personnel, members of the public, veterinarians, and stakeholders to identify and respond to the threat NWS poses.
Lufkin teens place 2nd in national rodeo
Two eighth-graders in Lufkin recently won national reserve champion for ribbon roping at the National Junior High Rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa. Ribbon roping involves a “roper” on a horse who ropes and holds a steer, and a “runner” who grabs a ribbon from the steer’s tail and races to cross the finish line. Bella Bardwell and Colt Sanders have competed together for three years. To make it to the national rodeo, the pair competed regionally and statewide. They won first place at the state rodeo for ribbon roping. Congratulations, Bella and Colt!
This time of year, when the sun is bearing down and our perennial pastures begin to show signs of fatigue, more and more cattle producers are looking for ways to maintain both forage quality and animal performance. One of the tools that gets attention is the use of summer annual forages—fast-growing, high-yielding crops like sorghums, Sudan grass, millet, and even some legumes.
While no one is suggesting that we eliminate the Bahiagrass or Bermudagrass pasture systems used by nearly every stockman in the region, there are some definite advantages to incorporating some high-quality annual grazing options. Summer annual forages can be a part of the total forage program of many livestock producers. They are used to provide a plentiful supply of high-quality forage for grazing in mid-summer when perennial grasses are often relatively low in yield and/or quality.
Because summer annuals must be established each year, their production costs are usually higher than warm-season perennial pastures. Summer annuals can provide the quantity of forage at a time when it often cannot be supplied any other way. They therefore can serve as a useful part of the total forage program. But if our cattlemen take a hard look at the quality and quantity of grass these crops can provide, it could very well be profitable.
Summer annuals can be used to supplement permanent pastures and enable better management of perennial pastures. Since cost is involved in the production of summer annuals, forage alternatives must be considered in relation to costs, returns, and type of livestock enterprise involved. Potential quality of forage provided by summer annuals is usually most profitable when used by producing high quality or high gaining livestock.
Terms such as grass tillers and ratoon crops become a part of our language. Potential problems such as prussic acid and nitrate poisoning are also issues to address.
The options are plenty and our local producers will need to learn a new skillset to manage them correctly. Some popular summer forage options include sorghums, forage sorghum, sudangrass, millet, and some legumes. Options like Crabgrass, Dallisgrass, and (gasp!) Johnsongrass really sound like weeds but may also become a viable crop to grow.
Sorghums for forage can be grouped into two general categories based on frequency of harvest and use. These are: 1) those harvested frequently as grazing, green-chopping, hay or haylage (Sudan hybrids, Sudan varieties, Sudan-johnsongrass types) and 2) those that are harvested only once or twice during the season for silage, green-chop and sometimes hay and bundle feed (forage and grain sorghum varieties and hybrids).
Sudangrass was first introduced and grown in Texas in 1909. It soon became an important pasture plant. After the original introduction, several improved varieties were developed and have been used widely. Then came the development and introduction of the Sudan-johnsongrass types which are classified as weak perennial.
Forage sorghum varieties were first introduced and grown in Texas in 1857. Many hybrids have since been developed, introduced and widely used. More recently, forage sorghum hybrids have been developed and are in use. These hybrids have resulted largely from grain sorghum x forage sorghum crosses.
Pearl millet (also cattail millet) is grown to some extent to furnish forage for the same purposes as the Sudan varieties and hybrids. Yields are usually lower than the Sudan hybrids except under certain sandy, acid soil conditions in East Texas, and in other areas where iron chlorosis is a severe problem. Pearl millet is equal in quality to Sudan and the Sudan hybrids and is leafier.
Several warm-season annual legumes are used to some extent for forage production. Legume forage is of excellent quality if harvested at the proper time with leaves retained. However, the yield is usually quite low when compared to summer annual grasses. The most important annual legumes are cowpeas and soybeans grown primarily for grazing and hay.
And yes—crabgrass, Dallisgrass, and even Johnsongrass (gasp!) may have a role to play. When managed correctly, some of these often-scorned species can actually provide decent forage during the dog days of summer.
To be clear, no single forage will fit every operation. Success comes down to matching your land, soil, labor, and livestock goals with the right option—or mix of options. Summer annuals are not a silver bullet, but in the right situations, they can be a valuable piece of the grazing puzzle.
In closing, summer annual forages aren’t new, but they should get a second look for good reason. They offer a way to stretch our grazing season, reduce stress on perennial pastures, and improve cattle performance during the hottest months of the year. If you’re planning your forage strategy for next summer—or even looking for a quick fix for worn-out paddocks—summer annuals may be worth a test plot or two.
As always, if you’d like help evaluating forage options or figuring out which one best fits your operation, reach out to your local County Extension Office. A tremendous online resource is foragefax.tamu.edu. Be sure to sign up for the weekly updates.
Join the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce as we welcome King’s Corner, LLC – Country Grocery & Café to the community!
Locally owned and operated, this charming Mom & Pop country store and grill offers a warm welcome and a taste of home. From a hearty full breakfast and lunch menu to their mouthwatering Friday & Saturday Fried Catfish and Shrimp specials, there’s something for everyone!
But that’s not all — King’s Corner also serves as your convenient local grocery stop with Live Bait & Tackle, including Minnows and Nightcrawlers for all you anglers out there.
Celebrate with us at this fun-filled afternoon featuring:
Delicious finger foods straight from their kitchen
Refreshing R&K specialty beverages
Possible surprise live music
Door prizes and networking opportunities – don’t forget your business cards!
Check them out on Facebook: King’s Corner, LLC
Come show your support for this new family business and help us give them a warm community welcome!
NACOGDOCHES, TX – The Mid America League is thrilled to announce that Nacogdoches, Texas has been awarded a franchise set to debut in May, 2026. This addition marks a significant milestone for the City of Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County and the rapidly expanding Mid America League.
“We’re incredibly proud to welcome Nacogdoches into our league,” said Nick Weisenborn, Executive Director of Mid America League. “It’s a market with deep baseball roots, a vibrant university community and a need for inexpensive family entertainment community and fans ready to embrace summer baseball.”
Launched in 2024 as a premium developmental league, the Mid America League brings together top collegiate athletes, undrafted prospects, and former professional players in a unique “hybrid” format. The league currently features teams across Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas, and is growing toward a 10-team lineup in 2026.
“The Mid America League will be a fantastic fit for Nacogdoches”, stated SFA Athletic Director, Michael McBroom. “Baseball games are a great way to spend an evening with family and friends and we are proud to share Pilgrim’s Park with the new team. Kudos to Rick Beverlin, Randy Johnson and the City of Nacogdoches for leading the way to get this deal done, and thank you to Mark Schuster and Nick Weisenborn for seeing the value in Nacogdoches that we all see on a daily basis. I’m personally looking forward to many fun nights at the ballpark with my family!”, McBroom added.
“We’re thrilled to welcome a summer league team to Nacogdoches — it’s the next step in our growing baseball culture. With a thriving youth league, a strong college program at SFA, and now a new hometown team, we’re adding another exciting reason to enjoy summer in Nacogdoches — one that brings families together, draws in visitors, and celebrates community spirit,” said Randy Johnson, Mayor – City of Nacogdoches.
Nacogdoches’ franchise will play a 64-game schedule—32 home, 32 away—from midMay through early August. Home games will be hosted at Jaycees Field at Pilgrim’s Park, equipped to offer a fantastic summer baseball atmosphere.
“By leveraging public-private partnerships — from the city, SFA, youth sports, private donors, and now the Mid America League — we’re seeing exactly the kind of outcome we aimed for: year-round use of our sports facilities, stronger community engagement, and increased economic impact through sales and hotel tax revenue,” said Rick Beverlin, Nacogdoches City Manager.
The team joins other recent league additions, including Fort Scott, Kansas and Beaumont, Texas —growing the Mid America League into a major summer sports attraction by 2026
Join Us Please visit www.baseballinnac.com to submit your entry in the “Name the Team” contest and official details on seasonticket packages, and special events leading up to the inaugural season.
Join us for an exciting and heartwarming community event presented by Harbor Hospice called the “Family Fun Night Fall Carnival.” This event promises a night filled with free activities, contests, and events for families to enjoy and make lasting memories.
OCTOBER 18, 4PM-7PM Jasper City Park – Marvin Hancock Drive
The Family Fun Night Fall Carnival offers a wide range of kid-friendly activities that are free of charge, ensuring a fun-filled evening for children and parents alike. From face painting to games and crafts, there’s something for every child to enjoy. No carnival is complete without scrumptious treats! We’re pleased to offer free snow cones, hot dogs, pickles, and popcorn to all attendees!
This year we will be collecting monetary donations for the Harbor Foundation. Your donations will help improve the quality of life to assist persons in hospice care beyond what healthcare would normally provide and, in 2025, awarded local high school seniors with a scholarship to go towards higher education after the loss of a parent.
One of the highlights of the evening is the Community Vendor Booths, where local businesses and organizations will set up shop, offering FREE giveaways and interactive activities. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn more about your community and discover new products and services.
For those with a competitive spirit, the event features exciting contests. The Gumbo Cook-Off will tantalize taste buds as local chefs compete for the title of the best gumbo in town. The Costume Contest for children aged 12 and under adds a touch of Halloween spirit to the carnival, allowing kids to showcase their creative and imaginative costumes.
Harbor Hospice’s “Family Fun Night Fall Carnival” is more than just a community event; it’s a celebration of togetherness, fun, and the vibrant spirit of the local community. Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, games, and camaraderie, all while making cherished memories with your loved ones.
The outdoor temperatures might be sweltering but Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for our Annual Christmas in Crockett taking place on Saturday, November 22nd from 10 am to 4 pm. This is the largest and most exciting event of the year!
Arts Crafts Food Entertainment Car show!
We are celebrating a long-standing tradition of 44 years on the Square and are preparing to host over 300 vendors. Join us that day and stay to explore all that East Texas has to offer.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, complete your application through the link below to reserve your spot!
If you’re not a fan of online forms, feel free to come by the Chamber office and pick up a printed one for you to complete. If you were a vendor last year and would like to request the same booth as last year, please complete your application and submit with payment by August 31st
We welcomed a new addition to the coaching staff this past week, and we’re gearing up to return to action very soon.
We have some of our biggest annual events heading this way, and we’re providing those dates below. There’ll be more info coming as we get it.
Finally, while our first games/scrimmages are still a couple of weeks away, we couldn’t resist adding them to this week’s schedule. Those games are listed below.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Crowder Named Roadrunners’ New Assistant Baseball Coach
The Roadrunner baseball team has named Cody Crowder its new assistant baseball coach, joining new head coach Jon Phillips, who is also entering his first year at AC.
Crowder earned a name as both a coach and player at Centenary College of Louisiana, where he spent the past four seasons as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. playing a role in the progam’s Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) titles in 2022 and in 2024, and his resume boasts impressive credentials as a recruiter. In addition, he holds numerous individual records as a player for the Gents.
Coming Soon: Big Events for Angelina College and AC Athletics
The 18th annual Guy Davis Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, August 16 at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. The kickoff dinner will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 15 at Crown Colony. The tourney features a five-man scramble format with two separate shotgun starts: One in the morning, and another in the afternoon.
On Sunday, August 17, we’ll host our annual “Meet the Roadrunners” banquet featuring all our incoming student-athletes and their families, along the all the Athletics staff. The event runs from 2:30-5 p.m. inside the AC Conference Center.
In addition, 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.
The golf tournament and Dinner at the Diamond are very important fund-raisers for Angelina College and its students – not to mention just a lot of fun for everyone involved.
We’ll have registration links and other information for these events to send out in the coming weeks. We just wanted to give you enough time to mark your calendars.
Soccer Schedules Set for 2025 Season
The Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams have released their schedules for the upcoming season (which is rapidly approaching), so fans can start making plans to show up and show out while cheering on both AC teams.
Included in the schedule are five home doubleheaders, one of which is the Tuesday, August 12 scrimmage against Wiley College. The ladies kick off at 5 p.m. while the men follow at 7:30 p.m.
The Roadrunner men’s soccer team has added an ID Camp to its busy summer list.
The ID camp, used to identify prospective future Roadrunners, is for grades 9-12 and will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, August 1 at the Angelina College soccer pitch on the AC campus.
Click the following link for all registration and other information:
The AC baseball team under new coaches Jon Phillips and Cody Crowder in August will host a camp for possible future Roadrunners.
The camp, open to all high schoolers and current college transfers, will take place from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6 at Poland Stadium on the Angelina College campus.
Schedule Releases for All AC Athletics Teams Coming Soon
All six Angelina College athletics have schedules in place on the website (www.angelinaathletics.com). We’re still finalizing the spring schedules for baseball and softball, but the fall schedules for those teams are up and running. We’ve also added both women’s and men’s basketball schedules for the upcoming 2025-2026 seasons.
Naturally, there may be some changes along the way with teams still looking to add events. The best way to follow any possible changes is to visit the Angelina College Athletics website.
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:
Thursday, August 7:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at McNeese State University (scrimmage), 7 p.m. in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Tuesday, August 12:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. Hinds College (scrimmage), 5 p.m. at the AC Soccer Stadium/Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
Roadrunner Soccer vs. Hinds College (scrimmage), 7:30 p.m. at the AC Soccer Stadium/Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
Friday, August 15:
Roadrunner Soccer vs. LSU-Shreveport (scrimmage), 3 p.m. at the AC Soccer Stadium/Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
“When I am scared, God will help me,” says Joseph, age 7. “And if a burglar is coming into my house, God will protect us.”
This world is full of dangerous places and situations. Sheep, like people, are especially vulnerable to fear. Their greatest comfort is seeing the shepherd, but sometimes it’s difficult to rest in his protection, says Juliet, 11: “This means to me that he is with you always. I know that he is there, but sometimes I fear, and I know I shouldn’t.”
Isn’t that the truth? The shepherd is there with rod and staff in hand ready to defend his sheep against all danger, yet the sheep panic. Often, it’s the unexpected that sends sheep and people into a tizzy.
Former shepherd and author Phillip Keller writes about the time a friend came to visit. As she opened the car door, a tiny Pekingese pup jumped out. More than 200 sheep grazing nearby leaped up in terror and rushed across the pasture.
You won’t find Jordan, 11, running from a Pekingese. “It means that you don’t have to be scared anymore! Just pray to God, and He will be there quicker than the speed of light. (Even though He’s already there!)”
The stark contrast between living by fear and living by faith in the shepherd is portrayed in Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” The only way vulnerable sheep can live with a lion’s confidence is to keep close to the shepherd.
Although Psalm 23:4 is often read at funerals, there is no mention of death in the original Hebrew text. It should be translated: “Though I walk in a gloomy ravine, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
David drew from his firsthand experience as a shepherd in the Judean desert when he wrote Psalm 23. The contrast between darkness and light is intensified in the desert. Walking after sundown can be deadly. Dark, narrow ravines are ideal hiding places for predators. Shepherds lead their sheep through them to get to better grazing pastures.
Yes, death is the ultimate shadow through which we all must walk; however, the Lord’s comforting presence can sustain us through any dark time or place.
“My rod and staff is God protecting me,” says Jeremy, 11. “I will fear no evil with God around.”
“His rod and staff pull us away from sin,” adds Blair, 9.
The shepherd’s rod and staff work together. Where the staff is used more for gentle functions such as extending a shepherd’s reach to rescue a lamb on the edge of a cliff, the rod is used more for protection against predators.
“Knobkerrie” is the word for rod among certain African herdsmen. Each rod has a rounded head of hard wood. Herdsmen compete to see who can throw his rod the farthest with the greatest accuracy.
“God will pull me on the right path with his strong hands,” says Jackie, 10, who knows the comfort of the shepherd’s rod and staff.
Think About This: Trust the Good Shepherd and live boldly, or trust yourself and live in fear.
Memorize This Truth: Psalm 23:4 quoted in the first line of this lesson.
Ask This Question: Will you let the Good Shepherd guide you through the dark shadows of your fears?
