Fresh off a torrid tournament run and an Elite Eight finish in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament, the Angelina College Roadrunner men’s basketball team is offering prospective players the opportunity to show off their skills – and maybe become part of the program.
Angelina College’s Christian Jones finishes off a slam during a 2024-2025 game. The Roadrunner men’s basketball team is looking for prospective players in this weekend’s “Prospect Camp” at Shands Gymnasium. (Clara Sonet photo for Angelina College Athletics)
The ‘Runners will host a “Prospect Camp” for prospective players from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 at Shands Gymnasium. Cost is $50 per player.
Here’s the link for registration and other information:
Ready to level up your professional look? Don’t miss our Chamber Headshot Event on April 16 with the incredible Seventy Nine Photography behind the lens!
Location:
1615 S. Chestnut St. Lufkin
Date and Time:
April 16, 2025
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Whether you’re a Chamber Investor or not, this event is open to everyone, but time is running out!
We are a month away from our annual Health & Wellness Night. Thank you to all of these resources that will be participating to provide valuable information to our families. There will be over 40 booths this year, door prizes, and a free meal. It’s come and go so feel free to come any time between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. You don’t want to miss out on the big night so mark your calendars and plan to come!
Angelina College on Tuesday held a ceremony honoring Chief Doug Conn, the college’s very first police chief and the leader of one of the most recognized police academies in the state.
Doug Conn addresses the crowd during Tuesday’s ceremony at Angelina College. Conn, the very first AC police chief, announced his retirement from AC earlier this month. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
Conn, whose law enforcement career has spanned more than 40 years, helped with the academy’s beginnings back in 1993, when Conn served as a training specialist. In 2017, AC president Dr. Michael Simon named Conn Chief of Police for the inaugural Angelina College Police Department, and from 2018-2021, Conn served as the Regional Police Academy Director. AC’s academy cadets routinely scored at high rates on the TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) exam, and those cadets became valued commodities throughout numerous areas of law enforcement.
Dr. Michael Simon, Chief Doug Conn and Chris Sullivan: Doug Conn (center) poses with Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon (left) and AC Vice President of Business Affairs Chris Sullivan during Tuesday’s ceremony. Conn, the very first AC police chief, announced his retirement from AC earlier this month. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
From 2021-2025, Conn added the role of Director of the Angelina College Fire Academy.
Chief Doug Conn and Staff: Doug Conn (center) poses with members of the Angelina College Police Department and Academy staff during Tuesday’s ceremony. Conn, the very first AC police chief, announced his retirement from AC earlier this month. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
According to Simon, one of Conn’s greatest accomplishments while at Angelina College was in making a reality the concept of “community policing.”
“He was the first police chief AC has ever had, and he set up the whole enterprise, from the hiring all the way to the training,” Simon said. “He helped us take all of this to another level, and he has, without a doubt, made this a safer campus.
“But I talked to Doug about ‘community policing,’ and in my mind, that meant the chief and his officers would develop relationships with the people who work and attend here. He has been incredibly successful in establishing that very idea. We see students interacting with our officers in a positive manner, and I can’t help but think that’s what any community would want from its police department.”
Simon also pointed out how Conn was always willing to take on extra roles – including that of a disc jockey for numerous AC functions.
“He’s been our unofficial DJ and sound tech for some of our events, and he’s been called upon to do things most police chiefs never have to consider,” Simon laughed. “He’s done everything with a servant’s heart and a sense of good will we’ve all certainly appreciated.”
Finally, Simon lauded the “peace of mind” Conn and his staff provided when it came to overall campus safety.
“Just knowing someone was taking care of our campus and keeping everyone safe was worth every penny spent on having a police department and having [Conn] as its chief,” Simon said.
Kim Capps, AC’s Specialist of Police Department and Public Safety, worked with Conn from his first days as Chief of Police.
“It’s been so awesome and so much fun,” Capps told Conn. “We worked so hard, but we always had fun doing it. I know I speak for all your staff when I tell you, you’re going to be missed terribly.”
Conn will step into a new role with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and he’ll be working alongside Sheriff Chuck Havard – one of Conn’s Academy cadets in 1994.
“This has been a good ride, and one of many rides in my career,” Conn said to a crowd that included numerous staff members. “I appreciate all of you and how we all had our own special relationships together. There were so many good times, and I thank you for loving me and loving my family.”
Understanding the Difference Between PR and Advertising
When it comes to getting your business in front of potential customers, both public relations (PR) and advertising play crucial roles. However, they are not the same, and choosing the right approach can make a significant impact on your brand’s visibility and credibility.
What is Public Relations?
PR focuses on earned media—getting third parties to talk about your business through press coverage, media mentions, influencer endorsements, and community engagement.
Benefits of PR:
Builds trust and credibility
Positions your brand as an industry leader
More cost-effective than traditional advertising
Generates long-term brand awareness
Challenges of PR:
Less control over the message
Results can take time to materialize
Requires ongoing relationship-building with the media
What is Advertising?
Advertising involves paid promotions, such as TV, radio, digital ads, and print media, where businesses control the message, placement, and frequency.
Benefits of Advertising:
Full control over messaging and branding
Immediate and measurable results
Allows precise audience targeting
Scalable and repeatable
Challenges of Advertising:
Can be expensive, depending on the platform
Consumers may perceive ads as less trustworthy than earned media
Requires continuous investment for sustained impact
Which One is Right for Your Business?
The best approach depends on your goals, budget, and timeline. If you want to establish long-term credibility and organic growth, PR is essential. If you need immediate visibility and lead generation, advertising can provide quick results. For many businesses, a combination of both strategies yields the best results.
How MSGPR Can Help
At MSGPR, we specialize in crafting tailored PR and advertising strategies that amplify your brand. Whether you need media coverage, influencer collaborations, or a high-impact advertising campaign, we help you stand out in a crowded market. Not sure which approach fits your business best? Contact MSGPR today for a free strategy consultation!
Once again, our baseball and softball teams had to scramble for playing time in this past week’s messy weather, with more games getting pushed toward the end of the teams’ respective seasons.
This week looks much more promising weather-wise, and with the regular seasons pushing closer to the end, those conference matchups are going to hold far more weight in the Lady Roadrunners’ and Roadrunners’ pursuits of postseason berths.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Lady Roadrunner Softball Drops Pair to LSU-Eunice
AC’s ladies dropped both games of a twin bill to LSU-Eunice on Wednesday, with the Lady Bengals taking 5-3 and 8-3 wins in non-conference action at Angelina College.
AC’s Izzy Allen homered and drove in two runs in the 5-3 loss in the opener, and Emma Flayol added an RBI in the loss.
In the nightcap, Allen drove in another pair with a two-run double.
AC (14-26, 7-5) will travel to Port Arthur on Wednesday for a pair of games against Lamar State College-Port Arthur. First pitch for the opener is set for 1 p.m.
On Saturday (April 12), the Lady Roadrunners will host Blinn College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The team also will honor its sophomores in a Sophomore Day ceremony.
AC Baseball Battles 2nd Place Panola
After dropping an 11-3 decision to Panola’s Ponies on Wednesday, the Roadrunners pulled out a thriller on Friday, winning 6-5 in extra innings on Ryan Lewis’ walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth. Sean Bazmore homered and drove in three runs for AC.
Panola took Friday’s nightcap by an 8-0 final.
The ‘Runners (17-20, 6-12) are scheduled to play at Tyler Junior College on Wednesday. The single, nine-inning game starts at 2 p.m.
The teams wrap up the series on Saturday in a doubleheader set for a 2 p.m. start at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Basketball Hosting Tryout Camp
Fresh off torrid run and Elite Eight finish in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament, the Angelina College Roadrunner men’s basketball team is offering prospective players the opportunity to show off their skills – and maybe become part of the program.
The ‘Runners will host a “Prospect Camp” for prospective players from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 at Shands Gymnasium. Cost is $50 per player.
Here’s the link for registration and other information:
Over the past few years, Camp Roadrunner has become a “gotta do” event for youngsters throughout East Texas, with the recreational and youth sports camps drawing bigger crowds every summer.
Following are the dates for each Youth Sports Camp:
Baseball: June 2-5
Soccer: June 9-12; July 7-10
Basketball: June 9-12
Softball: June 9-12
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games will be 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 (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025:
Lady Roadrunner Softball at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Port Arthur.
Roadrunner Baseball at Tyler Junior College, single, nine-inning game starting at 1 p.m. in Tyler, TX.
Saturday, April 12, 2025:
Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. Blinn College (Sophomore Day), doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Baseball vs. Tyler Junior College, doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at Blinn College (Spring Match), time TBA.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was struck down in Memphis, Tennessee, by an assassin’s bullet. While the world lost Dr. King far too soon, his wisdom and dream of a country that fulfills the promise of our Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, lives on. We must strive, every day, to seek out injustice wherever it presents itself and judge our fellow citizens not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
With committee hearings in full swing and votes being cast on the House floor, it was yet another hectic week in Austin. I had the opportunity to lay out two more of my bills before the committees they have been assigned to. HB 1507 makes volunteer firefighters eligible for a tuition exemption for fire science courses at community colleges and universities.
Our rural volunteer fire departments are experiencing a massive shortfall in recruiting and retaining firefighters. We must provide incentives that our VFDs can use to address this shortage. I appreciate Chairman Terry Wilson passing this bill out of committee, and I look forward to bringing HB 1507 to the floor of the House for a vote soon.
HB 3370 adds inheritors of timberland to the list of folks eligible for an extension to apply for a timberland appraisal upon the death of the previous owner. This extension allowance already exists for other kinds of agricultural land and is vital to provide spouses, children, or other inheritors of timberland with the same relief after losing a loved one.
Finally, the House Committee on Natural Resources met to consider House Bill 16, the House’s comprehensive plan to expand Texas’s water supply and address deficient infrastructure. Some highlights of the bill include making reservoir projects and water reuse projects eligible for funds from the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.
Additionally, HB 16 makes the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund, and the Economically Distressed Areas Program eligible for assistance from the Texas Water Fund. It also creates the Water Access Assessment, which will identify failing water systems in Texas that need assistance.
Importantly, this bill protects the private property and water rights that are so important to us here in East Texas. While there is more work to be done, I do believe this legislation moves Texas in the right direction of addressing the near and long-term water shortage issues facing many areas of our state.
The mobile office is on the road again in April and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: April 9 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; April 16 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
I was teaching our new class of Master Gardeners recently about mulches and the question about pine straw came about. One lady sheepishly admitted that while she lived in Tennessee, they would buy pine straw at the local nursery. “Everyone did,” she said, “it was THE thing to do to have a nice landscape!” She’s telling the story correctly. Right under our collective noses (and perhaps in your very own yard) is a great gardening tool that we have typically shunned that is used elsewhere around the country to make landscape beds look outstanding- Pine straw.
Raked up and often bagged to be disposed, this all natural, completely organic, and recyclable material is an outstanding mulch for your garden and landscape.
Matter of fact, pine straw has been a popular landscape ground cover throughout the South for years. In fact, it is one of the most widely used mulches for all size projects ranging from residential flower beds to industrial complexes and highway landscapes in states just east of my home in Texas.
Throughout the South, the needles are raked into bales of pine straw and sold in retail outlets as a landscape mulch. I only know of one local business that sells pine straw in my home county of Angelina. I held a seminar years ago to share with east Texas forest landowners this potential stream of income and got absolutely no response.
Some folks will say that pine straw makes your soil acidic. I think that we’ve just repeated this so often that we think it is fact, but research would say otherwise. Even though green pine needles are acidic, by the time a pine needle dries up and is ready to drop off the tree, they are hardly acidic. And while brown pine needles would register below neutral on the pH scale, they do not have the capacity to appreciably lower the soil pH.
Interestingly, even pollution-free rainwater falls at a pH of 5.6– a much more acidic value than pine straw ever would be. According to rainfall records published by Lufkin Daily News at our airport, for the past 30+ years we receive just at 50 inches of rain a year on average. It is our rainfall coupled with our inherent soil types and some fertilization practices that make our soils acidic.
So, let’s brag on pine straw’s abilities. Among its many attributes, pine straw mulch insulates tender roots from temperature extremes keeping the soils warm during cool spells and cool during warm spells. It conserves soil moisture by reducing water evaporation rates and moisture loss. Pine straw also eliminates erosion caused by wind and rain splash impact.
Unlike some other mulches, pine needles mesh together and hold together during hard rains, heavy winds, and even on landscapes with considerable slope. Pine straw doesn’t float and wash out of beds as much as wood ship mulches. This helps keep walkways cleaner and further reduces maintenance.
Pine straw remains loose and friable and does not form a top crust like grass clippings, leaves, and some other mulches. This looser mulch allows water to infiltrate readily into the soil for plant availability and avoids wasteful runoff of irrigation. The large air pockets within the mulch may in fact help to dry the ground out, alleviating excessively wet soils.
The fine texture and uniform color of pine straw is simply more aesthetically pleasing to some gardeners. The non-detracting, earthly look brings out the color, contrast and texture of landscapes. Pine straw also prevents plants, flowers and fruit from becoming splashed with mud. Added annually, it gives landscapes a fresh clean and renewed appearance.
It breaks down more slowly than wood mulch, so it needs to be re-applied less often. It is also lightweight and is easily handled.
Typically, new applications will require three inches of straw that settles by half to an inch and a half. That equals to half a pound of straw per square foot. An additional inch per year is required to maintain the proper depth.
Compared to other organic mulches that you’ll purchase, most of us in areas blessed with pines will have plenty of free, locally sourced, natural, free-range, wild-caught, and organic pine straw to rake from one area of your landscape and use in another.
This week we welcomed the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) to sthe Texas Capitol. TFA, which has been active since 1914, has members in a variety of fields including logging, consulting, conservation, planting, and prescribed burning. We were proud to have this group (including Smokey the Bear) join us for a day at the Capitol!
Here are five things happening around your state:
1. Senate Bill 16 passes Senate to stop non-citizen voting
This week the Senate passed SB 16 by Senator Bryan Hughes, which would require Texans to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in state and local elections. Senator Hughes shared that between 2021and 2024 DPS removed 6,500 non-citizens from voter registration rolls. There are two primary ways to register to vote – either when you renew your drivers license with a DPS office or by mail application. Most voters register through a DPS office. This bill would require that applicants present proof of citizenship, such as US passport, birth certificate, citizenship papers for naturalization, or a federal ID issued by immigration authorities, when registering for the first time. For those registering by mail, a drivers license number, official ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number must be provided. As a coauthor of this bill, I am confident that this will improve the integrity of our state and local election systems.
2. Senate Bill 22 creates opportunity for movie industry in Texas
This week the Senate Finance Committee passed SB 22 by Senator Joan Huffman out of committee. The bill seeks to enhance funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. The program launched in 2007 to lure film production to the state with both partial reimbursements and tax breaks. Projects were eligible if more than half the cast and crew were Texas residents and the majority of production occurred within the state. The program has proved to be financially beneficial with $2.5 billion dollars of economic impact and 200,000 jobs brought to the state. However, other states have launched similar programs that have proved to be more competitive. SB 22 will dedicate $500 million each biennium for the next decade to enhance the program. Testimony from actors and native Texans Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson shed light on what improvements will increase the film industry’s presence in Texas. SB 22 will bring billions of dollars to the Texas economy and give Texas a prominent place on the silver screen.
3. Senate Bill 8 creates partnership between sheriffs, federal ICE agents
On Tuesday, the Senate passed SB 8 which will increase the cooperation of local sheriff offices and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The 287(g) program is an initiative by ICE for counties to identify and detain illegal immigrants. Currently, only 35 Texas counties participate in the program. SB 8 will mandate that counties with a population over 100,000 participate in the program. Also included in the proposed legislation, grants will be available to smaller counties that wish to participate. The 287(g) rule has three programs. The primary program, known as the jail model, trains jailers to identify immigration status within ICE’s system. Another program is the Warrant Service Officer program, which trains officers in issuing administrative warrants to hold an inmate in ICE custody within a local jail. Lastly, the Task Force program trains local law enforcement and deputizes officers to exercise limited immigration authorities in the course of their regular duties.
4. SJR 4 will raise cap on Rainy Day Fund
In 1988, the Texas Legislature created the Emergency Stabilization Fund (ESF) commonly known as the “rainy day fund.” The fund is a reserve that the state has available in economically volatile times. Currently, the state constitution caps the maximum balance at 10 percent of General Revenue. The comptroller projects to reach this cap in 2026, which will cause $5.6 billon to “spill over” back into General Revenue. Instead, the proposed resolution would raise the cap on the ESF from 10 to 15 percent for the maximum biennial balance, capturing the spill over in what is functionally the state’s savings account. The creation of the ESF and continual support through constitutionally-dedicated funding safeguards the fiscal prosperity of our state.
5. 3.5 magnitude earthquake detected in Nacogdoches
Friday night, residents of Nacogdoches County reported feeling a tremble that felt like a storm hit. The US Geological Service confirmed a 3.5 magnitude earthquake just southwest of Lake Nacogdoches. Deputies and local fire departments responded immediately concerned about potential gas line breaks. No injuries or significant damage have been reported.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 15, and join us for our next Women’s Networking Luncheon, presented by Southside Bank! From 11:30 AM to 1 PM, at Crown Colony Country Club, connect with fellow professionals and hear from our inspiring guest speaker, Sally Alvis.
Plus, we’ll be honoring this year’s ATHENA Leadership Award recipient—a moment you won’t want to miss! Secure your spot today at bit.ly/WNL-0425.
Gold Sponsors:
The Big Picture Events
Bronze Sponsors: Ellen Temple
Ferrara’s Heating and Air Conditioning
GENCO Federal Credit Union
Hospice in the Pines
Ray’s Drive-In Cafe
The Flower Loft
