September 18, 2025
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8:00 am
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September 21, 2025
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5:00 pm
The 41st Annual Texas State Forest Festival, presented by Brookshire Brothers, is coming to Lufkin from September 18-21, 2025!
Join nearly 13,000 attendees for four days of non-stop fun, featuring new attractions like Puppy Pals Live, Nature Nicks Animal Adventures and the Accidental Acrobats!
Don’t miss returning favorites like the Exotic Petting Zoo, Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, and the Children’s Festival. Enjoy the Lumber-Jacked 5K & Fun Run, Big AXE BBQ Competition, Pineywoods Car Show, East Texas Cheer & Pom/Dance Championships, and more!
The carnival is back with all your favorite rides and games, along with a Vendor Market, delicious food, live music, and local entertainment. And yes, the Beer Garden and dance floor are ready for you to groove on!
Mark your calendars and join us for a festival that promises memories and fun for all ages! See you there!
A dear friend of our family, Mark, loves to mow and care for his lawn. This past week, he sent me pictures of yellowing patches in various areas of his lawn. He said they are not necessarily in circles, but the tops turned yellow. When he rakes the area, the blades of grass come up as though they are rotten while the roots remain intact.
Is this normal? It can be and, oddly enough, is more common in pampered lawns rather than in those who are not.
Fall weather patters of cooling temperatures and heavy dews find many East Texas homeowners noticing irregular patches of yellow or brown grass that seem to expand overnight. At this time of year, fungal diseases are often the culprit, and two in particular—brown patch and take-all root rot—cause the most concern in our area.
Researchers with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension explain that fungi thrive when soil temperatures fall below 80°F and moisture lingers. September and October often provide exactly those conditions: warm days, cool nights, and frequent rainfall or dew. If your lawn is made up of St. Augustine grass, zoysia grass, or even bermudagrass in shady areas, the environment is perfect for fungal outbreaks.
Our part of the world loves St. Augustine grass, has plenty of trees to provide some shade, and the weather is in the perfect condition – all leading up to problems in too many lawns.
The disease most homeowners, including Mark, encounter is brown patch, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Symptoms include circular or irregular patches of yellowing turf, ranging from a few inches to several feet across. Studying the area further, you can find individual blades with rotted areas near the leaf base. Lastly, the grass can be pulled easily from stolons (runners) because the tissue at the crown has rotted.
Some good news is that brown patch is primarily a leaf and crown disease and does not usually kill the entire root system, so turf often recovers when conditions dry. Still, repeated infections weaken the lawn, leaving it thin going into winter.
The second major disease, take-all root rot (Gaeumannomyces graminis), can also show up in the fall but often becomes visible in spring after cool-season stresses. Unlike brown patch, take-all is a root disease, leaving grass yellow, stunted, and prone to death in patches that do not recover easily. St. Augustine grass is especially vulnerable, but all types may be susceptible.
Research from several universities highlight more than a few cultural practices that make fungal problems worse. Top of the list is late-season nitrogen fertilization. High nitrogen in September encourages lush, tender growth that fungi readily attack. While “winter-izer fertilizer” can be a good thing, too much and you will be setting your lawn up for problems.
Next is excessive irrigation coupled with poor drainage. Watering when it gets dry is a smart practice. However, watering late in the day, worst yet in the evening, will leave water standing overnight, keeping leaves wet, and absolutely fuels fungal growth.
Dense shade and poor air circulation are another contributing factor. We love our trees in East Texas and are blessed to have them. Yet lawns in tree-heavy areas stay damp longer, providing ideal conditions.
Heavy thatch buildup. Thatchis the dense layer of dead and living shoots, stems, roots, and other organic matter that builds up between the grass blades and the soilsurface. Though completely organic, it holds moisture at the crown of the grass and harbors fungal spores.
While all these factors work against you, there is still plenty you can do. The best management strategies are preventive, not reactive. AgriLife turfgrass specialists recommend adjusting fertilizer timing. Skip heavy nitrogen applications after early September. Instead, if your soil test calls for it, apply potassium (0-0-60) to strengthen your turf for winter.
Water wisely. Irrigate deeply but infrequently, and always in the morning so leaves dry quickly. An overly simplified rule of thumb is to ensure that your lawn gets one inch of water per week. If you get one or more inches of rain, then no need to irrigate.
And when you do water, water only in the morning and, if possible, only two days each week.
Mow at the right height. Keep St. Augustine at 3–4 inches to reduce stress and never remove more than one-third of the blade at once. This 3-4 inch height is certainly much higher than most folks like, but taller blades of grass encourage deeper roots and will reduce water stress.
Reduce shade if practical and thatch if possible. Prune trees for better air flow and dethatch if buildup exceeds ½ inch.
Consider fungicides when needed. If your lawn has a history of severe brown patch and weather forecasts predict prolonged cool, wet conditions, preventive fungicide applications may be justified. Fungicides are most effective when applied at the very first signs of disease, not after large areas are already damaged. Products with active ingredients such as azoxystrobin, propiconazole, or myclobutanil are commonly recommended, but always follow label directions carefully.
I love fall and my friend Mark loves tending his lawn. But while fall is a wonderful season in East Texas, it’s also the prime time for fungal diseases to appear in lawns. Knowing what to look for and managing your turf wisely can make the difference between a green lawn in spring and one struggling to recover.
September 12, 2025
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12:00 pm
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September 15, 2025
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8:30 pm
Old Town Rig Down is the 4th Annual Big Rig Truck Show, happening in Downtown Nacogdoches on September 12th–13th, 2025!
Come see the biggest, baddest rigs in the country on display along the beautiful brick streets of Downtown Nacogdoches!
Food, games, live auction, live music, and more!
Saturday evening, multi-platinum country artist Neal McCoy returns to the stage, followed by country music sensation Aaron Watson!
Friday, September 12th: 12-7pm- DJ Uptown & DJ Black 2-6pm- Danny Merrell Live Remote 7:30pm- Light Show 7:30pm- J Dalton Band Opening 9-11:30pm- Jacob Stelly Band
Saturday, September 13th: 9am-4pm- DJ on the Square 12-4pm- Danny Merrell Live Remote 4:30pm- Awards & Raffle Announcement 5pm- Donations Recognition 6:55pm National Anthem 6:58: Neal McCoy Pledge 7pm- Neal McCoy Show 8:30pm- Aaron Watson Show
September 12, 2025
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10:00 am
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September 9, 2025
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5:00 pm
– SEPTEMBER 12–14!
Mark your calendars for a weekend full of treasure hunting, homemade goodies, and fresh fall air!
DATES & TIMES: • Friday, September 12 – 9 AM to 5 PM • Saturday, September 13 – 9 AM to 5 PM • Sunday, September 14 – 12 PM to 4 PM Open rain or shine!
What to Expect:
• $2 parking Friday & Saturday at our NEW gate entrance (FREE on Sunday!) • Tons of antique & vintage vendors • Furniture, tools, plants, and yard décor • Fresh baked goods & eggs from homesteaders • Local food trucks and snack vendors • Cold drinks & sweet treats • Live plants galore for your garden and porch • A one-of-a-kind shopping experience here in Jasper Texas!
Good to Know:
• Bring CASH – Many vendors are cash-only • Wear comfy shoes – You’ll want to explore it all! • Bring your friends & come hungry – This is a full-day experience!
SCAMMER WARNING:
PLEASE READ! Scammers are targeting event groups like ours, claiming they’re accepting vendors and collecting money. DO NOT SEND MONEY to anyone unless you’ve confirmed directly through us.
We will never message you out of the blue asking for vendor fees. To become a vendor, you must message the SANDY CREEK BARN SALE Facebook page OR email us at: endrodyfarmhouse@gmail.com
Let’s keep this community fun, safe, and scam-free!
Lufkin – The Texas Forestry Museum will host Tree Pose: Yoga for Young Kids on Saturday, September 27th from 10 – 11 am. Children will learn fun yoga poses, enjoy a snack, and play with the museum’s interactive exhibits. If you have a yoga mat, make sure to bring one. The event is free to the public. We hope to see your family there! A special thank you to our event sponsor, LiveWell Athletics Club. Photos will be taken at the event for promotional materials.
There’s a saying in business circles: “Nice guys finish last.”
I couldn’t disagree more.
The longer I’ve been in business, the more I’ve seen that integrity is not only the right way-it’s the winning way. Short-term hustlers may grab attention with flashy promises, undercut pricing, or cut corners to get ahead, but time always reveals the truth. And the truth is this: companies that do the right thing consistently build trust, loyalty, and longevity.
At MSGPR, I’ve witnessed it firsthand. Clients come to us frustrated by agencies that overpromised and underdelivered, or by vendors who chased dollars instead of building relationships. In a cutthroat marketplace where competition is fierce, the temptation to compromise values is real. But every time we’ve chosen the harder path of honesty, transparency, and excellence-even when it cost us in the short run-it has paid dividends in the long run.
Insight #1: Integrity Builds a Reputation Money Can’t Buy
In today’s digital economy, reputation is currency. You can buy ads, you can pay influencers, you can even manipulate algorithms-but you can’t fake integrity for long.
When customers, partners, and employees know they can trust you, doors open. Recommendations flow. Loyalty grows. In fact, a recent study found that 79% of consumers say they would stop buying from a company they no longer trust. That’s staggering.
In contrast, integrity compounds like interest in a savings account. Each time you deliver on your promise, communicate honestly, or take responsibility for mistakes, you add credibility to your brand. Over time, that credibility becomes your most valuable asset.
Insight #2: Cutting Corners Always Costs More in the End
The temptation to bend the rules or chase shortcuts is strong in business. But cutting corners is like borrowing against tomorrow-you pay interest you can’t afford.
I had a client who jumped from agency to agency because each promised “instant results.” They didn’t want to hear that real ROI takes six months or more. They got impatient, cut and ran, and ended up spinning their wheels-losing time, money, and momentum.
Doing the right thing often takes longer and costs more upfront. But in the end, it costs less-because you’re not constantly repairing broken trust, patching over mistakes, or trying to explain why the quick fix didn’t hold.
Proverbs 10:9 says it best: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” Crooked paths always catch up with you. Integrity is security.
Insight #3: Faith Gives Us the Backbone to Stand Tall
If integrity is the compass, faith is the backbone.
As Christian entrepreneurs, we don’t just answer to shareholders or customers-we answer to God. That higher accountability changes everything. It means we don’t measure success solely by profit margins, but by faithfulness. It means we don’t treat employees or clients as transactions, but as people created in God’s image.
Faith gives us the courage to do the right thing even when it costs us. It reminds us that we are stewards, not owners-that every deal, every relationship, and every opportunity is ultimately in God’s hands.
When you root your business in faith, you can resist the pressure to conform to a cutthroat culture. You don’t have to cut corners to compete, because you know God honors obedience and blesses integrity.
Insight #4: The Conservative Edge in Business
Some people roll their eyes when I say “conservative values work in business.” But hear me out.
Conservatives believe in principles like personal responsibility, family values, stewardship, and truth. Those aren’t just political ideas-they’re leadership principles.
Personal responsibility means owning your mistakes instead of blaming others.
Family values mean treating your team like people, not disposable assets.
Stewardship means making wise, sustainable decisions instead of chasing fast money.
Truth means being honest in a world full of spin.
Those values give businesses an edge. Customers crave honesty. Employees crave respect. Communities crave companies they can trust. In a marketplace full of noise, values-centered businesses stand out-not because they shout the loudest, but because they shine the brightest.
Real-World Example: The Long Game Wins
Years ago, MSGPR had an opportunity to take on a client who wanted to pay big money for fast results. But after looking at their approach, I realized they wanted us to use tactics that would compromise our values and damage their brand long-term. I told them no.
At the time, I wondered if I had made a mistake. But months later, another client came to us because they had heard how we handled that situation. They wanted an agency they could trust. That client became one of our longest-running partnerships.
Doing the right thing doesn’t always pay today-but it always pays someday.
Practical Action Steps
So how can you put integrity into practice in your business? Here are three simple, practical steps:
1. Put Integrity in Writing
Build it into your contracts, your policies, and your marketing. Make it clear-both internally and externally-that honesty, transparency, and responsibility are non-negotiable.
2. Slow Down to Do It Right
Don’t chase instant results. Build processes that allow you to double-check quality, communicate clearly, and deliver excellence. Remember: fast is fine, but right is better.
3. Choose Faith Over Fear
Fear makes leaders compromise. Faith makes leaders stand firm. When you feel pressure to cut corners, ask yourself: Am I making this decision out of fear, or out of faith?
A Word of Encouragement
If you’re leading a business right now, you know how cutthroat the market can feel. Competitors slash prices. Ads scream for attention. Customers demand instant everything.
It’s easy to believe you can’t compete unless you bend the rules. But I’m here to remind you: doing the right thing still wins.
Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But in the long game, integrity outperforms shortcuts every single time.
So lead with faith. Build with integrity. And trust that the God who called you into business is faithful to bless the work of your hands.
Here in the Pineywoods of East Texas, we know that values like faith, family, and integrity still matter. Local businesses thrive when they do the right thing and stay rooted in trust. If you’d like to dive deeper into these principles and explore more resources on faith-driven leadership, marketing, and business growth, you can always find the full articles and more at MSGPR.com
What Does The Bible Mean When It Says Jesus Was Full Of Grace And Truth?
“If you had a bad day and had a timeout, God would forgive you,” says Hayes, 6.
Hayes, you’re thinking like me. You need a lot of grace for life’s truth timeouts. In Jesus, we see the perfect balance of grace and truth.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
The word “dwelt” as in the Word or Jesus dwelling among us has a history in the Old Testament. The word can be translated “tabernacled.” Moses constructed the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in a tent so that God dwelt among his people as they wandered in the desert.
Pastor Emile Wolfaardt puts it this way: “A little more than 2000 years ago God stepped onto our earth, pitched His tent and set up camp right in the middle of us all. That is what the word ‘dwelled’ can mean – to set a tent. In other words, the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us. And when He did that it was the most profound revelation of God man would ever know on this earth.”
Theologian J.C. Ryle eloquently writes of the grace and truth that came together in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ: “This constant undivided union of two perfect natures in Christ’s Person is exactly that which gives infinite value to His mediation, and qualifies Him to be the very Mediator that sinners need. Our Mediator is One who can sympathize with us, because He is very MAN. And yet, at the same time, He is One who can deal with the Father for us on equal terms, because He is very GOD.”
Ryle gives one of the best explanations ever placed in print of how grace and truth came together in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. You may want to read it again.
When I think of grace, the words of the Lord Jesus on the cross come to mind: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Truth demands justice, but forgiveness is grace in action.
The truth behind the unjust trial and crucifixion of Jesus is that he could have snapped his fingers and annihilated his accusers. Jesus allowed himself to be falsely accused, unjustly whipped and brutally crucified as a common criminal. Why didn’t he resist? Grace.
The truth is that our sins drove him to the cross. He took our sins on himself and bore the punishment that we deserve. Why? Truth demands justice, and justice demands punishment for wrong doing.
What kind of world would this be if people were permitted to kill each other when they got angry? God is righteous in that he punishes sin, but he also loves us because he sent his son to take the punishment we deserve.
“It means that God was full of grace,” says Katie, 10. “When people sinned, he gave grace.”
Think about this: Jesus Christ left the glories of his dwelling place in heaven to suffer the humility of crucifixion so that he could prepare a heavenly dwelling place for us.
Memorize this truth: John 1:14 quoted above.
Ask this question: Have you received the truth about your need for a savior and God’s gracious provision in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?
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.
This past week saw things slow down at least a little, with only our women’s soccer and the baseball team seeing any live action. However, the Lady Roadrunners showed up big in a big road matchup, and the ‘Runner baseball squad got its first real look at competition featuring someone else other than other Roadrunners, as the team opened its “Fall Ball” season on Friday.
We’ve also added some instructional and evaluation camps for both baseball and softball. The information and related links are contained in this release.
Finally, we’re getting closer to our annual “Dinner at the Diamond” event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 27. If you haven’t reserved your spot, you may need to insert yourself into the lineup pretty quickly. The tables tend to fill up in a hurry.
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:
Lady Roadrunner Draws with No. 5 Navarro College
In last week’s NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer national rankings, the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners didn’t crack the top 20, but they did receive some votes.
There’s a good chance this week will see them on the rankings list when this Monday’s polls are released.
The Lady ‘Runners very nearly pulled off a big upset on the road in one of the toughest venues in all of Region XIV when AC played No. 5 Navarro College to a 1-1 draw Friday in Corsicana. In AC’s nine-year history as a women’s soccer program, the team has won just once on Navarro’s pitch.
They were very close to notching their second win on Friday.
AC’s Anne Vandaele scored her team-leading fifth goal in the 43rd minute to give AC a 1-0 lead at the end of the first half, but Navarro scored an equalizer later in the second to preserve the tie. Lady ‘Runner goalkeeper Callie LaChance-Herman managed to save four of Navarro’s five shots on goal in the match.
The Lady Roadrunners (2-0-1) travel to Athens on Monday to face No. 15 Trinity Valley Community College. The match is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff and will be live streamed on TVCC’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/live/0EmGKC6aEFs?si=qg4QcjfvAJoYXlS8).
On Thursday, the Lady ‘Runners will be at Jacksonville College as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader. Those matches will be live streamed on TSBN Sports.
Finally, the soccer teams close out a busy week on Saturday in Tyler, as the Lady Roadrunners face the No. 8 Lady Apaches at 5 p.m. and the Roadrunners take on the No. 6 Apaches at 7:30 p.m. Those matches will be live streamed on Tyler’s YouTube Channel (TJCApacheAthletics).
Roadrunner Baseball Splits with Alvin in Fall Ball Opener
The fall baseball season is always a time for evaluation to help determine which players will make the final roster once the regular season begins in the spring. Considering the entire Roadrunner coaching staff – head coach Jon Phillips and assistants Cody Crowder and Zach Bravo – is in its first year, these fall games may hold even more importance.
AC’s baseball team got its “Fall Ball” season started this past Friday in Beaumont, with the Roadrunners playing a doubleheader against Alvin College at Lamar University in Beaumont. The ‘Runners earned a split with the Dolphins, dropping the opener by a 12-3 final before taking the nightcap 10-7.
AC’s Jon “Diesel” Gonzalez homered in the opener, with Jackson Batten and Austin Cadroy also driving in runs.
In the late game, the Roadrunners got an RBI each from Cole Standley, Billy Theroux, Marco Bandiero, Jackson Pullen, Jack Bowers and Colton Haas.
The ‘Runners will participate in the Fall Conference Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Panola College in Carthage. AC faces Bossier Parish Community College at noon and Tyler Junior College at 3 p.m.
Those games will not be live streamed, but fans can follow the team (“Angelina College Fall 2025”) on the Game Changer app.
Baseball, Softball Add Camps for the Fall
AC’s softball and baseball teams will host some fall camps for both instructional and evaluation purposes.
The Lady Roadrunner softball team will host a “Kids Camp” for youngsters ages 5-10 on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. Click the link for registration and other information:
On Sunday, Sept. 28, Roadrunner Baseball will host a “Prospect Camp” to evaluate future Roadrunners. The cam starts at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus and is open to all high school players and college transfers.
Finally, AC’s baseball team will offer a “Kids Camp” on Monday, Oct. 13 at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. Ages 6-10 will hit the field from 9-11 a.m. (with 8:45 check-in), while ages 11-14 will be on the diamond from 12-2 p.m. (with an 11:45 check-in).
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:
Monday, Sept. 8:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at No. 15 Trinity Valley Community College, 5 p.m. in Athens, TX.
Tuesday, Sept. 9:
Roadrunner Soccer at Miami Dade College, 11 a.m. at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas.
Thursday, Sept. 11:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at Jacksonville College, 2 p.m. in Jacksonville, TX.
Roadrunner Soccer at Jacksonville College, 2 p.m. in Jacksonville, TX.
Saturday, Sept. 13:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at No. 8 Tyler Junior College, 5 p.m. in Tyler, TX
Roadrunner Soccer at Tyler Junior College, 7:30 p.m. in Tyler, TX.
Sunday, Sept. 14:
Roadrunner Baseball at Fall Conference Tournament at Panola College in Carthage, TX. AC vs. Bossier Parish CC, 12 p.m.; AC vs. Tyler JC, 3 p.m.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
