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Rep. Ashby’s Weekly Column, 4/17/2015

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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Four of my bills were voted out of their respective committees this week. Moving a bill out of committee is a huge step forward in the legislative process, and it made for an incredibly busy week for both myself and my staff. I was able to come up for air long enough to watch the Lufkin High School Boys Soccer team as they competed in the State Tournament in Georgetown. Here’s an update on what else is happening at your State Capitol…

Realtors and more

I was able to visit with many members of the district this week who made their way to Austin. We were especially happy to host realtors from around the district for Texas Realtor Day and had a chance to visit with them on the House floor. I always appreciate seeing those of you who are able to make the trip to Austin, and if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to schedule a visit to your State Capitol.

Open Carry

This week was a prime of example of how quickly a bill can live, die and then find new life during a legislative session. House Bill 910, a proposed measure that I supported and would establish lawful open carry in Texas, made it to the floor of the House on Tuesday morning but ran into some trouble. A vote on the proposal was held up when a legislator who opposed the bill pointed out a computer glitch that had occurred while the bill was in the committee stage. This technical error meant that the bill did not comply with the House’s procedural rules and had to be sent back to the committee. However it was only a minor setback, and the bill was back on the floor for a vote by Friday. The measure ultimately passed 96-35 and will be sent to the Senate. If approved in the Senate and signed into law, this bill would expand the rights of Texans to include the licensed carry of a handgun regardless of concealment. The bill includes measures to ensure the proper instruction on the use of restraint holders during the handgun safety classes required to obtain or renew a license.

Key Bills in Committee

The House Ways and Means Committee passed multiple bills out of their committee this past week — including a measure that seeks to make the first cut to Texas’ sales tax in our state’s history. This proposal would save Texans $4.9 billion in taxes and create a real and tangible form of tax relief that consumers would be able to see on every receipt. The House Committee on Public Education has laid out legislation that would tackle our state’s school finance system. The bill, HB1759, looks to amend several components of the funding structure between the state and our public school districts, and in doing so create a more adequate and equitable funding method.

For the convenience of constituents not wanting to travel far from home, the mobile office will continue its regular Wednesday travel schedule throughout the District.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at (936) 634-2762 or (512) 463-0508 if we can ever be of assistance, and remember that our door is always open.

Mayhaws

By
Cary Sims
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I didn’t know what a Mayhaw was until after college. It was the jelly that got me hooked.

It was two gentleman named Haywood Quarles and Donald Capps of Burke that got me started on the fruit. Mr. Quarles gave me a few germinated seedlings of Mayhaws that I planted at my previous residence on Lancewood Circle north of Hudson almost 15 years ago.

Though Mr. Quarles has passed away, his family still maintains his orchard and sells fruit. Capp’s wife, BJ, puts up some of the best Mayhaw jelly in the county, or so I’ve been told.

Though not in a low lying area, they thrived and did well. They bloomed and bore a couple of fruit the spring before we moved to a farm in Clawson.

Mayhaws are native to Angelina and surrounding counties. In fact, they are native to the entire southeastern United States. Mayhaws are in the rose family and the hawthorn genus. They are medium-sized trees that produce white blooms in the spring.

Mayhaws produce a small apple-like fruit that is usually less than 1 inch in diameter. They usually bloom in late February and sometimes sustain crop loss due to late winter freezes. The fruit usually ripens in early May.

The trees are also valued as an ornamental species. Mayhaw trees are cold hardy and, if properly conditioned, they can survive temperatures as low as -25 ºF. Mayhaws are often found along river bottoms and along streams and in swamps.

Common insect pests of Mayhaw include aphids, apple maggot, flat headed apple borers and white flies. Plum curculio is the most debilitating insect.

Regarding disease, the most common that I have noticed is the cedar-apple rust. While no products exist to combat this frequent issue, proper pruning and other management practices can help overcome it.

Although they are often found in low areas subject to perennial flooding, Mayhaws perform best in well-drained soils. Historically, Mayhaws have been collected from native stands; however, there are many named cultivars. If my memory serves me right, Donald Capps told me the largest Mayhaw tree he ever saw was on top of a hill in, what was then, property of Temple Inland.

Others have told me about how they would gather the floating fruit from creeks and sloughs after they had ripened and fallen into the water.

Last year, I planted another Mayhaw in my backyard. It wasn’t but a foot high. Perhaps in time, I’ll be able to harvest my own fruit from it.

Tomorrow night, the Angelina County Extension office has planned their April seminar for Home Fruit Production. The seminar starts at 6:30 pm. Cost is $10.

The featured speaker is one of our own local horticultural celebrities, Greg Grant. Grant is the author of “Texas Fruit & Vegetable Gardening: Plant, Grow, and Eat the Best Edibles for Texas Gardens” and currently works at the Native Plant Center at Stephen F Austin State University.

The program will discuss native fruits and nuts that can be incorporated into the landscape and provide a consistent supply of produce.

DETCOG Regional Housing Authority Extends Application Period to Sept. 30

By
Misty Boggs
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Jasper, Texas – The Deep East Texas Council of Governments Regional Housing Authority (DETCOGRHA) has extended the application period for its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list to September 30, 2015. The previous announced deadline was April 3, 2015. The extension is expected to help DETCOGRHA develop a waiting list more in line with available housing.

The DETCOGRHA service area includes: Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler Counties. Individuals interested in applying for rental assistance should contact one of the DETCOGRHA offices to obtain an application. The locations of those offices are: Jasper Office, 210 Premier Dr., Jasper, Tx 75951 (409-384-5704 or 800-256-6848); Lufkin Office, 118 South First Street, Lufkin, Tx 75901 (936-632-6922 or 800-256-7696)

The waiting list will now officially close on September 30, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. CST. No applications will be accepted after 5 p.m. CST on September 30th.

Hegar Marks 100 Days in Office With Taxpayer Bill of Rights

By
Misty Boggs
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(AUSTIN) — To mark his first 100 Days in office, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today published the agency’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights outlining his continued commitment to equitable and courteous treatment of Texas taxpayers.

“This past weekend marked my 100th day in office,” Hegar said. “From day one, I promised excellence in customer service from my office. With that in mind, I’ve published the Texas Taxpayer Bill of Rights which outlines my ongoing commitment to better serving our customers, the taxpayers of this great state.”

A short excerpt is provided here:

Taxpayer Bill of Rights

To view the full Texas Taxpayer Bill of Rights please visit the Comptroller’s website at www.comptroller.texas.gov/about/bill-of-rights.php.

When he was sworn in as Comptroller of Public Accounts on Jan. 2, Hegar promised taxpayers an agency that would put their needs first, address concerns and issues in an efficient and respectful manner, foster an environment of transparency and accountability, and focus on the core responsibilities of the Comptroller’s office.

“This agency is tasked with the responsibility of collecting and safeguarding taxpayer dollars,” Hegar said in a message to Texas taxpayers. “But in doing so, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are here to serve you. My Taxpayer Bill of Rights is designed to ensure that the service you receive from this agency not only meets your needs, but exceeds your expectations.”

DETCOG Board to Hold Monthly Meeting in Center

By
Misty Boggs
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JASPER, TEXAS – The Board of Directors of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) will hold their regular monthly meeting Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the Center United Pentecostal Church in Center, Texas. A luncheon will be served at noon with board meeting being held immediately following.

Welcoming members and guests to Shelby County will be Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison; Shelby County Treasurer Ann Blackwell; Center Mayor David Chadwick; Shelby County Commissioners Rosco McSwain, Jimmy Lout, Travis Rodgers and Bradley Allen and Minority Representative, Baby Lou Gardner.

DETCOG’s President, Angelina County Judge, Wes Suiter, would like to extend an invitation to the meeting for all interested parties. Anyone needing information may contact the Deep East Texas Council of Government’s Office in Jasper at 409-384-5704.

Pregnancy Help Center Announces Plans to Purchase New Office

By
Misty Boggs
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“After serving Lufkin and the surrounding East Texas communities for 30 years, The Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin (PHCOL) is extremely excited about the opportunity to finally purchase our own building to call home.”

Paula Havard, Executive Director of PHCOL, announced plans to purchase a new building on April 1, 2015, citing inadequate facilities to accommodate the needs of the community as well as cosmetic and structural concerns with the current building as the impetus to seek a new office location.

“On the heels of a 30% increase in service requests from families in our community just in the first quarter of 2015 alone, it is evident that the current facility is no longer serving our needs effectively,” said Havard.

“While this building has served our needs for the past 17 years, we have been on the search for a new home for the past five years,” Havard continued. “In addition to outgrowing our current facility, the building itself has seen much better days and does not allow for a comfortable and welcoming environment for the families we serve.”

The new building will not only meet the needs of the center as it continues to expand with the community, Havard explained, but the larger facility makes it possible to provide a much higher and much more welcoming standard of care for the East Texas area. “This is important especially to those who are in desperate need or facing some sort of crisis when they enter our doors. A welcoming and inviting space is crucial for setting the tone for the one-on-one meeting they will have with our staff.”

The center has opted to seek grants to offset the cost of the new building as well as donations from residents, churches, and businesses in the area to raise the necessary $635,000. “Because the Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin is a community service agency, it is important to all of us this project be a community one,” Havard said. “Several fundraisers have already been scheduled to help raise the funds.”

So far, the non-profit service has scheduled the following events:

  • Belk Charity Sale – 100% of $5 ticket sales go to the PHCOL Building Fund;
  • Mary Kay Make-over Party – 25% of sales will go to the PHCOL Building Fund;
  • What-a-Night Fundraising dinner at Whataburger – 20% of proceeds from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on May 19, 2015, will go toward our building campaign;
  • Which Wich Fundraiser – 40% of proceeds from the lunch or dinner sales on June 15, 2015, will go toward the building purchase;
  • Amazon Charity of Choice – For every purchase you make on Amazon, select Mother and Unborn Childcare of Lufkin as your charity of choice and they will donate a portion of your purchase to PHCOL;
  • Baby bottle campaign – call the Center to arrange to pick up specially designed baby bottles for you to distribute to your business, friends, organization, church, etc. and encourage each person to collect change in their baby bottle.  All baby bottle money received between now and July 1, 2015, will go toward the building campaign;
  • Make a donation to our building campaign by visiting www.phclufkin.org/donate

“We believe that God will bless all of these efforts and, in July, we will proudly announce our location and make plans to move to our new home,” Havard said.

The center, currently located on the corner of Bynum and Ellis near CHI St. Luke;s Health, has served the community of Lufkin since 1984 by offering information and resources to women of all ages who are sexually active, pregnant, or mothering while focusing on providing education and alternative options to abortion. To learn more about the Pregnancy Help Center, including directions, services, hours and appointments, or to make a donation directly, please visit www.phclufkin.org or call 936-632-9292.

TFA Announces 2015 Upper Neches Woodland Clinic Winners, Scholarship Recipients

By
Misty Boggs
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Ricky Gay, Forest Wildlife Manager, Henderson Trust, presented the belt buckle awards and scholarships to Hayden Flint, Huntington 4H, First Place; Ellie Bollen, Central FFA, Third Place; Travis Carrell, Huntington 4H, Second Place; and Cy Kelsey, Junior High Point scholarship recipient. Lynn Denman, W & D Timber, Ltd., and Gay represented the Woodland Clinic Committee of the Texas Forestry Association at the Upper Neches Woodland Clinic at Attoyac Farm near Etoile, Texas, held April 2, 2015.

Students from around the East Texas area participated in the Upper Neches Woodland Clinic on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at the Attoyac Farm near Etoile, Texas.

Winners for the clinic are Hayden Flint, Huntington 4H, First Place; Travis Carrell, Huntington 4H, Second Place; and Ellie Bollen, Central FFA, Third Place.

TFA also awarded scholarships to the high point Senior and Junior at the Woodland Clinic. Carrell received $2,000 as the high point senior, and Cy Kelsey, Central FFA, received $1,500 as the high point junior.

“The young people who compete in these competitions have the opportunity to continue learning to care for and understand an important part of our ecology in East Texas,” said Ron Hufford, executive director of TFA.” We are proud to be part of the future of Texas forestry and to keep that tradition alive through these scholarships.”

The competition is set up by the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and is comprised of several events that include tree identification, tree measurement, thinning, wood products and compass and pacing. Students advanced to the Upper Neches Woodland Clinic after winning in their local Woodland Clinics, which are supported by volunteers from the Soil and Water Conservation districts, who also provided additional support for this competition and at the State Woodland Clinic.

Also volunteering for the clinic were members of the Texas A&M Forest Service and the U. S. Forest Service.

The three highest scoring teams will continue on to compete at the State Woodland Clinic held at the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest near Nacogdoches on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

Avoid These Five Common Mistakes That Can Torpedo Finances

By
Misty Boggs
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Photo By: Anatoliy Babiychuk

The investment world comes with such a maze of options and pitfalls that it’s little wonder people routinely become entangled in monumental and costly mistakes.

Tax implications lurk behind nearly every move. Investment risks vary from negligible to moderate to great.

And it’s not just a matter of making the right financial decisions. It’s making them at the right time, says Stephen F. Lovell, a financial professional and president of Lovell Wealth Legacy (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com).

“Doing the right thing at the wrong time makes it the wrong thing to do,” Lovell says.

Don’t despair. April is National Financial Literacy Month, a good time to take stock of where you are money wise and explore how you can improve.

Lovell says that by asking the right questions or taking the right precautions, you can sidestep these common financial mistakes:

•  Becoming infatuated with the latest hot investment. It’s easy to be seduced by whatever is creating the greatest buzz. After all, you don’t want to miss out while everyone else is reaping rewards. Resist the temptation, Lovell says. Momentary sizzle doesn’t guarantee long-term success. “Hot investments are like ice cubes,” he says. “They’re solid when you get them, but they soon liquefy and when you liquidate, your gains trickle away.”

•  Neglecting to consider all the options. Savvy investors use different kinds of investments to satisfy different financial needs, Lovell says. Don’t neglect the full array of available investments. “Relying only on stocks, bonds and cash puts you at a disadvantage,” he says.

•  Failing to account for investment costs and tax ramifications. Investing isn’t free. Usually, there is some sort of fee attached and those fees can gnaw away at your returns. Taxes can, too. Before long, what looked to be a nice return can devolve into a minimal, break-even or losing proposition. “Don’t diminish the importance of investment costs because they diminish your wealth,” Lovell says. “You need to take time to learn about the costs that are applied to each type of investment.”

•  Spending all that comes in. Too many people let their income level set the ceiling on how much they spend each month, Lovell says. Such spendthrift habits leave people living paycheck to paycheck and when the inevitable emergency arises – a car repair, a medical bill – the bank account is short and they need to take on debt just to survive until the next payday.

Your budget, not your income, should dictate spending limits, Lovell says. If you don’t have a monthly budget – and many people don’t – now is a good time to create one, he says. Just make sure the amount you budget to spend is less than your net income, and then stick to your budget. Otherwise, you’ll soon creep into the realm of deficit spending, a place best avoided.

•  Trying to go it alone. Most people, whether they want to admit it or not, need investment advice, Lovell says. Without reliable guidance, they can end up lost in the financial jungle and succumb to numerous hazards that await the unwary. “You need someone who understands all the upsides and all the pitfalls,” he says. But not all investment advice is equal, either. “The person you choose should be both skilled and trustworthy,” Lovell says, “and should always put your interests first.”

About Stephen F. Lovell, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, CFP®
CFS, BCM, CRPC®, AEP®, RHU®, AIF®

Stephen F. Lovell is a thoroughly credentialed, nationally recognized financial professional. Since 1990, he has been gathering various licenses — in insurance, securities, real estate, commodities and as a registered principle — to offer his clients a most comprehensive perspective on their wealth. He is president of Lovell Wealth Legacy (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com), and a branch manager at LPL Financial. Lovell has earned several professional honors and memberships. Since walking with his mother as a child for the March of Dimes in San Francisco, he has been active in local and national charities. More recently, Lovell has taken to the airwaves as a radio host at KDOW, where he hosts a weekly show about pursuing financial success and enjoying the fruits of that financial success.

DETCOG Reports Upswing in Regional Sales Tax Allocations

By
Misty Boggs
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Jasper, Texas – After reporting a 2013 to 2014 downturn in sales tax allocations for the 12-county DETCOG Region in its “State of the Region” report in January, Deep East Texas Council of Governments Officials are pleased to note signs of an upswing in the first quarter of 2015.

“The most recent quarterly figures in our regional snapshot are showing an 11% increase in sales tax allocations in the DETCOG Region in the first quarter of 2015 over the same period in 2014,” said DETCOG Executive Director Walter Diggles. “Even if we take out a one-time-only $293,000 collection included in Lufkin’s January allocation, there is still a 9% increase,” he said. The increase not only marks a recovery from the 2013-2014 decrease, but is the largest first quarter allocation DETCOG has seen in the last eight years. The 11% calculates into a first quarter 2014-2015 increase of over $48 million in taxable sales in the region.

Whereas the figures used in the “State of the Region” covered all 43 entities collecting local sales tax in the DETCOG region, the monthly snapshot of retail sales tax allocations is composed of 17 key cities and counties. The allocations, as reported by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, are comprised of the cities and county’s part of the state’s 8.25% sales tax.  Local entities; cities, counties, hospital and special districts within a county, can claim up to a total of 2.5% of that levy. The state’s local allocations come from sales tax remitted by retailers, either quarterly or monthly, with a two month delay to allow for complete reporting and calculating of the local allocations.

“The two-month lag between collection and allocations means that two of the three months taxes in the first quarter allocations came from the Christmas sales period,” observed Diggles.  “Knowing that the figures are an impressive recovery from the 2013 to 2014 downturn, but also it came from that economically important period, makes this report doubly exciting,” he concluded.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments region includes the counties of Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler.  Its members include local governments, school districts, water districts, non-profit organizations and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.

TPW Commission Adopts Turkey Hunting Regulation Changes

By
Lee Allen Miller
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AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its Thursday public hearing approved closing spring eastern turkey hunting in 11 East Texas counties effective next year, while restructuring the season in two other counties.

Hunting season for eastern turkey will be closed in 2016 in Angelina, Brazoria, Camp, Fort Bend, Franklin, Harrison, Hopkins, Morris, Titus, Trinity, and Wood counties and on National Forest lands in Jasper County. While closed, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologists will evaluate the prospects for future eastern turkey restoration compatibility and restocking efforts. The department’s goal is to reopen hunting should the eastern turkey populations in the affected counties become capable of sustaining harvest.

TPWD is also restructuring the existing spring turkey hunting season in Wharton and Matagorda counties. The new regulations, which take effect for the 2016 season, will continue to allow for a 30-day spring only, one gobbler season and eliminate mandatory harvest reporting.

In an effort to expand hunting opportunity for youth and reduce regulatory complexity, the Commission also adopted a 14-day extension of the late youth-only season in counties having an open Rio Grande fall turkey season, to run concurrent with the late youth-only season for white-tailed deer.

Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.texas.gov

Photo courtesy of NWTF

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