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Angelina College Names Krista Brown as Vice President of Student Services

By
Gary Stallard
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0

Brown to Help Guide Strategic Vision for Student Success and Institutional Growth

Lufkin, TX – Angelina College is proud to announce the promotion of Krista Brown to Vice President of Student Services. Formerly the Associate Vice President, Brown’s new role reflects her deep impact on the institution over the past five years and positions her as a key leader in shaping the college’s strategic direction for years to come.

In her time at Angelina College, Brown has overseen several major departments, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Recruiting, Marketing and Communications, and Athletics. Her leadership has contributed to measurable gains in enrollment, operational efficiency, and student engagement. Through dynamic recruitment strategies, impactful marketing efforts, and student-first process improvements, Brown and her team have helped build a culture of excellence throughout the college.

Under her guidance, the Student Services division has:

  • Recruitment has implemented both high-touch and high-tech strategies to share the AC value proposition to prospective students and families;
  • Athletics has achieved national success, with record-breaking seasons and a community-focused culture;
  • Marketing & Communications has modernized and strengthened the college’s website and social media presence as well as implemented impactful campaigns like “First Year Free”; and
  • Admissions & Financial Aid has streamlined processes to improve the student experience and worked tirelessly to help students through a disastrous federal government revision of the FAFSA.

As Vice President, Brown will expand her focus to include strategic planning that supports institutional growth and aligns Student Services with the college’s long-term goals. 

“I’m honored to step into this role and excited for what the future holds,” said Brown. “I truly believe the progress we’ve made is a direct reflection of the talent and dedication of the colleagues with whom I work alongside daily. The success of our students is a shared achievement, and I’m proud to be part of a team that never stops pushing forward.”

President Dr. Michael J. Simon praised Brown’s promotion, “Since joining the AC family, Krista has been a servant leader demonstrating deep passion for the Angelina College mission.  As Vice President of Student Services, she will continue to champion student success and institutional excellence.”

Brown’s appointment as Vice President marks not only a well-earned recognition of her contributions but also a continued investment in student-centered leadership as Angelina College works to fulfill its mission of empowering the community through education and lifelong learning.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Office of Marketing and Communications, Angelina College

marketing@angelina.edu | (936) 633-5203

Emergency Averted: Quick Action from Tech Team Saves Factory Shutdown

By
Alec Castleberry
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0
Young serious woman in uniform of security officer clicking mouse and looking at desktop computer screen with cctv video

By Alec Castleberry

A manufacturing plant in East Texas narrowly avoided a complete shutdown last week, thanks to a fast response and sharp troubleshooting from a local IT service provider. The facility, responsible for nearly $1 million in daily production, experienced a near-critical network failure just moments before operations were scheduled to stop.

Critical Failure with No Clear Cause

At just after 6:40 a.m., production systems began freezing, and machine controls became unresponsive. The in-house tech team couldn’t identify the issue, and with operations at risk, a shutdown was minutes away. That’s when Castleberry Services was called.

Hidden Fiber Issue Discovered

Castleberry’s technicians arrived on site and quickly began a top-to-bottom assessment of the plant’s infrastructure. Within minutes, the team identified a severely bent fiber line hidden behind outdated conduit—a subtle issue that had caused widespread communication failure across the network.

“Fiber isn’t something most people think about until it fails,” said Alec Castleberry, who led the emergency response. “It only takes a slight bend to disrupt signal strength, especially in a production environment where precision matters.”

Resolution Just in Time

With only 15 minutes remaining before the plant’s production line was scheduled to shut down, Castleberry’s team managed to bypass the damaged fiber and reroute the connection. Systems came back online in time to cancel the shutdown order.

“Those were some tense moments,” said the plant’s production supervisor. “If they hadn’t found that issue, we’d have lost hours of output and potentially damaged sensitive equipment.”

Behind-the-Scenes Heroes

Incidents like these are reminders of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps businesses moving. From fiber diagnostics to network design and emergency response, Castleberry Services continues to support the critical infrastructure of Texas-based businesses—often when the stakes are highest.

As more companies rely on complex digital systems, local experts say being prepared with the right IT support could be the difference between routine success and operational crisis.

Emergency Averted: Quick Action from Tech Team Saves Factory Shutdown

By Alec Castleberry

A manufacturing plant in East Texas narrowly avoided a complete shutdown last week, thanks to a fast response and sharp troubleshooting from a local IT service provider. The facility, responsible for nearly $1 million in daily production, experienced a near-critical network failure just moments before operations were scheduled to stop.

Critical Failure with No Clear Cause

At just after 6:40 a.m., production systems began freezing, and machine controls became unresponsive. The in-house tech team couldn’t identify the issue, and with operations at risk, a shutdown was minutes away. That’s when Castleberry Services was called.

Hidden Fiber Issue Discovered

Castleberry’s technicians arrived on site and quickly began a top-to-bottom assessment of the plant’s infrastructure. Within minutes, the team identified a severely bent fiber line hidden behind outdated conduit—a subtle issue that had caused widespread communication failure across the network.

“Fiber isn’t something most people think about until it fails,” said Alec Castleberry, who led the emergency response. “It only takes a slight bend to disrupt signal strength, especially in a production environment where precision matters.”

Resolution Just in Time

With only 15 minutes remaining before the plant’s production line was scheduled to shut down, Castleberry’s team managed to bypass the damaged fiber and reroute the connection. Systems came back online in time to cancel the shutdown order.

“Those were some tense moments,” said the plant’s production supervisor. “If they hadn’t found that issue, we’d have lost hours of output and potentially damaged sensitive equipment.”

Behind-the-Scenes Heroes

Incidents like these are reminders of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps businesses moving. From fiber diagnostics to network design and emergency response, Castleberry Services continues to support the critical infrastructure of Texas-based businesses—often when the stakes are highest.

As more companies rely on complex digital systems, local experts say being prepared with the right IT support could be the difference between routine success and operational crisis.

Angelina College Visual Arts Students Recognized at Reception

By
Gary Stallard
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0

Student Works on Display Throughout Summer

Angelina College’s Visual Arts students closed out their busy year with a reception held this past Tuesday in the Angelina Center for the Arts foyer. Those students are displaying their works in the ACA all the way through the month of June. 

While all those students earned deserved recognition, there were a couple who are receiving additional honors, according to instructor Le’Anne Alexander.

“Sandi Roberts, who took my painting class last year, recently got accepted into the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, for her painting titled ‘Step,’” Alexander said “It’s a juried show, so she could actually win. She was one of a select few chosen for that particular show, and she’ll be involved all the way through January 2026. It’s a huge honor.”

Another student achieving additional attention for her work is current Drawing student Emily “Jo” Evans, whose piece “Look Over There” has been admitted into the TASA (Texas Association of Student Artists) Artovation Exhibition on-line. 

Angelina College Visual Arts student Emily “Jo” Evans discusses her work during Tuesday’s reception. Evans’ work “Look Over There” has been admitted into the TASA (Texas Association of Student Artists) Artovation Exhibition on-line. Visual Arts student works will be on display inside the ACA through June 27. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

“The show is an annual juried show, and students have to get accepted for it,” Alexander said. “You can actually see her work on-line, and it shows her as an Angelina College student, which helps put us on the map a little more.”

Angelina College instructor Le’Anne Alexander addresses the crowd during Tuesday’s Visual Arts Student reception held inside the Angelina Center for the Arts foyer. Alexander’s Drawing and Design students are displaying their works in the ACA through June 27. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

Alexander lauded her students for their overall participation in numerous community events, including the Lufkin Downtown Art Walk, the Lufkin Heritage Festival, the Lufkin Creative Mural Painting, the Pineywoods Comic Con and Art in the Park.

Participating students and their specific classes are as follows:

Drawing I: Brett Briley, Jocelyn Canada-Portillo, Emily “Jo” Evans, Christine Everett, Taylor House, Lauren Lee, Ashby Price, Kai Randles, Marshall Thomas and Gabrielle Wallace.

This piece titled “Look Over There” by Angelina College Visual Arts student Emily “Jo” Evans has been admitted into the TASA (Texas Association of Student Artists) Artovation Exhibition on-line. AC Visual Arts student works will be on display inside the Angelina Center for the Arts gallery through June 27. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

Design I (2-D): Mackenzie “Mikey” Elledge, Jakeysia Flemon, Rihanna Garcia, Elizabeth Goodwin, Natalie Green, Jayden Lacy, Jasmine Lee, Kameron Minnick, Noemi Muniz and Willow Perry. 

For information on AC’s Visual Arts programs, contact Le’Anne Alexander at lalexander@angelina.edu. 

Capitol Update: Honoring Texas Firefighters and Defending Truth in Legislation

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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On Sunday, May 4, we recognize the dedication, service, and sacrifice of our firefighters on Texas Firefighters Day. Over 28,000 brave men and women in Texas sacrifice their time, service, and, too often, lives to protect their friends and neighbors every day. Thank God for these selfless servants who keep us all safe, and may He continue to keep them and protect them. 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down their life for their friends.” – John 15:13

With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…

Capitol Update

This past week, my office has received numerous calls from back home about controversial bills that are currently being considered in the House. I always appreciate hearing from constituents who want to inform me of their concerns with bills moving through the process, and I want to encourage you to continue engaging my office to keep us informed. 

That being said, it has come to my attention that text messages have been sent out in the district with inaccurate information designed to mislead folks about various pieces of legislation. As such, I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight and provide some clarity about the intent of the bills in question. 

First, the House Public Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4 this week. HB 4 reshapes the public school assessment and accountability system in Texas and replaces excessive testing with meaningful learning. HB 4 does this by eliminating the STAAR test and replacing it with a nationally norm-referenced test, which is far less burdensome than the current version of STAAR. 

HB 4 also streamlines assessments to meet federal testing requirements and ensures accountability for school districts by maintaining the annual A-F ratings while adding other indicators, such as local workforce development, early childhood readiness, and student engagement in extracurricular activities, into the ratings system. 

Over the course of a nearly 23-hour hearing, we heard from countless parents, teachers, students, administrators, and other members of the public education community who wholeheartedly support this bill that would finally alleviate the burden of high-stakes testing in Texas schools. 

Next, the House considered House Bill 366 this week, which seeks to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for political use by registered political entities. HB 366 requires political entities, such as campaigns or political action committees, to disclose their use of AI for political purposes when distributing altered or fake content. 

Texas already requires a political disclosure for a number of materials, including mail pieces, campaign signs, and commercials. HB 366 simply seeks to bring the use of AI in line with those disclosure requirements only for political entities and not for private individuals. 

Finally, House Bill 4866 and its companion Senate Bill 30 both seek to reform how medical and non-economic damages are awarded to a successful plaintiff in a personal injury case. Particularly, both bills seek to prevent personal injury lawyers from inflating medical bills to manipulate juries and increase damages awarded to their clients. 

I want to assure those of you who may have heard otherwise that I would never support a measure that protects doctors from mutilating children, Chinese corporations from harming Texans, or illegal immigrants from dangerously operating commercial vehicles on our roads. It is regrettable that some political entities are trying to mislead Texans with text messages that grossly distort reality, and I encourage all of you to remain vigilant against purposeful misinformation distributed while the Legislature is in session. 

The mobile office is on the road again in May and our district director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: May 7 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9:30-11:30 am, May 14 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; May 21 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/.

The Future of Video Marketing: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Digital World

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Group of beautiful confident businesswomen meeting in the office - Multiethinc female creative team brainstorming at work - Diverse colleagues working together in workshop in a co-working space

How Video is Changing the Way We Connect

Here in the Texas Forest Country, small businesses are finding out something that big companies have known for a while — video marketing isn’t just a nice extra. It’s becoming the heartbeat of how we engage with customers. If you’re still treating video like an afterthought, it might be time for a fresh look. Trends are changing fast, and staying ahead means being ready to adapt.

What’s Shaping the Future of Video Marketing

1. Short and Sweet

In a world of short attention spans, quick, high-energy videos are winning the race. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are where the action is.

Local Tip: Think “snackable” content — quick videos under a minute long, packed with energy and a clear message.

2. Authenticity Matters

Forget polished corporate videos. People want real. They want to see behind the curtain.

Local Tip: Showcase your team, your work, or your community involvement with genuine, relatable clips.

3. Shopping While Watching

Interactive videos that let viewers click, vote, or buy without leaving the video are growing fast.

Local Tip: If you sell products, imagine letting your audience shop directly from your video posts!

4. Going Live

Live streams aren’t just for big brands. Here in Texas Forest Country, live videos of product launches, Q&As, and special events keep your audience feeling connected.

Local Tip: Try a Facebook or Instagram Live to announce a sale or show off new arrivals.

5. Personalization Through AI

Artificial intelligence is making it easier to create videos that feel tailor-made for different customers.

Local Tip: You don’t have to be a tech giant. Even small adjustments to personalize video content can make a big difference.

Bringing Big Ideas to Small Towns

In East Texas, we believe in doing things with heart. Video marketing done right captures that spirit—and puts it right in front of your future customers. Whether you’re a boutique, a café, or a local service provider, standing out today means getting comfortable in front of the camera.

Need help telling your story through video? Texas Forest Country Living partners with the experts who know how to make it happen. Let’s put your business in the spotlight!

Wildfire Awareness Month Highlights Proactive Safety Strategies

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In 2024, 5,187 wildfires burned over 1.3 million acres in Texas, and since wildfires have no boundaries, Texans should always be prepared for wildfires.

During Wildfire Awareness Month, Texas A&M Forest Service is highlighting the ways that Texans can not only prevent wildfires but how they can prepare for when they occur.

“Preparation for wildfires is key to protecting both lives and property,” said Erin O’Connor, Texas A&M Forest Service Public Information Officer. “During an emergency, you may only have minutes to act or evacuate. Having a plan and a go-kit can make all the difference. The better prepared Texans are, the safer they will be.”

Prepare a go-kit

A critical component to ensuring safety and preparedness for wildfires is the preparation of a go-kit that can be easily carried and include supplies for several days. A go-kit should include:

  • Supplies for both people and pets.
  • Prescription medications or other necessary medical equipment.
  • Papers and important documents such as phone numbers and insurance and identification documents.
  • Personal needs including food, water, clothes, money, chargers and a first aid kit.
  • Priceless items such as photos, family heirlooms and any other irreplaceable or valuable items.

Evacuation plans

 “It is important to have at least two evacuation routes planned out of your neighborhood in case the first route is blocked by heavy smoke or traffic,” said O’Connor.

Evacuation routes and shelter locations will be influenced by wildfire activity. It is critical to know how and where local emergency officials will communicate information, such as updates and instructions, to the public.

Preparing homes and land

“There are many practical steps that residents and landowners can take to reduce their risk from wildfire,” said O’Connor.

Residents can prepare around their homes using fire resistant landscaping and ensuring defensible spaces are maintained. Embers—small pieces of burning material easily carried by the wind—are the leading cause of home loss during wildfires. They can collect in small crevices around a home and enter through vents.

Simple, low-cost actions like cleaning out gutters, clearing leaves from garden beds and around wooden structures, removing leaf piles, and relocating firewood stacks at least 30 feet away from buildings can significantly reduce the risk of ember ignition.

Farm and ranch owners can prepare for wildfires by assessing the property for potential hazards, establishing contingency plans for feeding and relocating livestock if a fire is imminent and informing fire departments about access roads, water sources, fence lines and preferred wildfire suppression tactics.

Preparing communities

 “The wildland urban interface is where humans and their structures meet or mix with undeveloped wildland,” said O’Connor. “Communities in the WUI are at the greatest risk for wildfire damage or loss. As Texas’ population grows and urban areas expand into more rural landscapes, the number of people that may be impacted by wildfires will increase.”

Communities and municipalities can create community wildfire protection plans to identify high-risk areas of the wildland urban interface and target potential fuels reduction projects, training needs and prevention strategies.

Texas A&M Forest Service works with communities to create community wildfire protection plans, assists neighborhoods with the management of the Firewise USA® program and provides risk assessment tools to ensure communities have the resources to be prepared for wildfire.

Confused by Your Power Bill? Here’s How to Read It Like a Pro

By
Lee Allen Miller
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0

Ever open your electric bill and wonder, “Why is this so high?” or “What am I actually paying for?” You’re not alone.

Understanding your power bill can help you spot unnecessary charges, track your usage, and even find ways to lower your costs. We’re here to help you make sense of it all, without needing a degree in accounting.

 The Key Parts of Your Bill (And What They Mean)

Every provider’s bill looks a little different, but most include these basics:

 Billing Period

This shows the start and end dates for the billing cycle. Check your usage compared to last month—or the same month last year.

 Usage (kWh)

This is the total electricity you used in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Think of it like miles on a car—more kWh means more you’re charged.

 Energy Charge

This is the base rate you pay per kWh. If you’re on a fixed-rate plan, this should stay the same. If you’re on a variable plan, it can change monthly.

 Delivery Fees

Charged by your utility company (not your electricity provider). These fees help maintain power lines, poles, and other infrastructure.

 Other Fees and Taxes

This may include:

  • Base or service fees
  • Minimum usage charges
  • State taxes
  • Energy efficiency charges

Look closely—some of these may be avoidable depending on your plan.

 How to Tell If You’re Overpaying

  • Are you paying more than 10¢–14¢ per kWh all-in? You might be on a bad plan.
  • Are you seeing a minimum usage fee every month, even with low power use? That could be costing you.
  • Do you notice unexpected spikes in usage? Could be inefficient appliances or HVAC issues.

 What You Can Do

The best thing you can do is get a free energy bill review. Companies like Amerigy Energy can help you:

  • Understand your current plan
  • Compare rates from over 100 providers
  • Lock in a fixed rate to protect yourself from future price hikes

 Want a Free Power Bill Check-Up?

Call Bryan at 877-631-8875 or 936-465-2821, or visit amerigyenergy.com/shopnow

It only takes a few minutes—and could save you hundreds per year.

Thoughts on New Agricultural Ventures

By
Cary Sims
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A regular phone call or walk in question in my office is ‘what do I need to start an income-generating farm or other agricultural venture?” This question has been common over the years, but it seemed to have been picking up in the last few weeks.

When considering a new agricultural enterprise, and certainly one that you hope to generate a profit, there are several considerations to keep in mind. First, you need to take a hard look at the land and water you have on your property. Not all soils are suited for crop production. Certainly not all soil is suited for fruit production. Much of Angelina County has a clay subsoil that limits what grows well enough to be a viable, financial endeavor. 

Available water sources would also be an important question. Wells and ponds need to be evaluated. Ponds are fantastic for livestock, but will it be large enough to serve all your livestock, especially during times of drought? Regarding wells, not every water well provides quality water and several more don’t provide the volume of water needed to cover acres at a time. There are several water wells in the county, including mine, that aren’t suitable for very sensitive crops. While my well does make enough volume to provide several acres of irrigation, I could never raise blueberries with the lower quality of water that I have.

The next big question that you need to address is “where is there a market?” My favorite example of this is okra. At farmers’ markets and grocery stores you’ll always find a demand for fresh cut, locally sourced okra. But the question is just how many acres of okra would it take to satisfy that demand? One can grow a lot of okra on a quarter acre but what volume will be needed to satisfy the market demand. And how profitable would okra be considering all the labor that it requires to have it harvested? If you were just going to run with a cattle operation, it is true that you could always find a market for that at the local auction barn. Yet the question is whether or not you have the knowledge and expertise to provide calves of the right weight, breed, and condition to earn top dollar at that market.

Infrastructure comes to mind next as we discuss what is needed for a profitable agricultural business. Is fencing adequate for livestock? Are barns and shelters needed for your livestock that you’re considering? What about working pens or other handling facilities? Those must all be present and in good working order. Tractors and in the implements that you’ll need for any orchard, truck crop, or livestock operation can be costly and may take some time to get organized.

Financing the expected operation certainly brings some challenges. It is true that there are opportunities at both the federal and the state level for some cost-share programs, or matching grants. You’ll need to have an honest visit with the banker and with others already involved in similar ventures to understand what the total costs could be.

I know nearly every person I speak with has the intention of working this themselves, of being independent, and certainly of doing their endeavor on their own. But the truth remains that you will probably need assistance and labor to help work livestock, or to help harvest a fruit crop. This was a struggle that I had with my own venture in watermelons. I could grow watermelons, but finding help to harvest them was much more difficult that I imagined.

Lastly, one needs to be incredibly aware of all the networking resources that are needed as you start this venture. You’ll want technical guidance on crop management or livestock management, someone very experienced with maintaining tractors and machinery, someone who knows the markets and how to access them, and others to help you with the financial hurdles that you will invariably come upon. Finding these valuable resources, or should we say teammates, will tremendously aid in navigating the challenges that are certain to come your way.

The above discussion is in no way a complete list of concerns one must consider. To help those who are interested in starting the process of having their own agricultural business, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Angelina County will be hosting a two-hour seminar on Tuesday, May 6th at their office at 2201 S Medford in Lufkin. The class starts at 6 pm and there is no fee for the class. Participants should expect to receive a tremendous amount of resources, in-depth information for numerous adventures, and details on both the federal and state available cost-share funding opportunities.

For more information call the Angelina County extension office at 936-634-6414 extension 2.

My Five Cents: A Weekly Column by Sen. Robert Nichols

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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0

On May 1st, 1718, San Antonio de Valero Misson was founded by Franciscan Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares near present-day San Antonio. It was one of the early efforts by Spanish missionaries to convert American tribes to Christianity. This mission would later become the Alamo. 

Here are five things happening around your state:  

1. Texas Parks and Wildlife acquires a Wildlife Management Area in East Texas 

For the first time in nearly two decades, Texas Parks and Wildlife acquired land in East Texas to establish the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The WMA is a 6,900-acre tract of land in Anderson County. This new addition is a part of the Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project. The project protects more than 38,000 acres of land for conservation initiatives. The addition of 11.3 miles of the Trinity River gives TPWD 25 miles of riverbank to protect a significant migratory corridor for birds. Many species will benefit from the restoration project,s including waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical migratory birds, and butterflies.  

2. Texas named best state for business

For the 21st year in a row, Chief Executive Magazine has named Texas the best state for Business. This ranking is determined by an annual survey of CEOs across the nation. Texas has outpaced the nation in job growth over the past several months. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission, in March, the state reached the largest workforce in state history at 15,778,500. The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a rate of 3.5 percent in the last quarter of 2024, while the U.S. average was only 2.4 percent growth. If Texas were a country, it would have the eighth-largest economy in the world. 

3. HHSC says Texas hospitals spend $122 million per month on healthcare for illegal immigrants

On August 8th, 2024 Governor Abbott issued Executive Order 46, which directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to collect reports from hospitals across the state for the cost of treating patients not lawfully present in the United States. Hospitals were directed to start collecting data on November 1, 2024, and were required to submit the first month of data on March 1, 2025. This week, HHSC released a letter to the Governor containing the results of the first month of data. In November 2024, individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States visited Texas hospitals more than 31,000 times, with health care costs exceeding $121 million. A breakdown of these costs is available on the HHSC website. The next submission of data to HHSC will contain data from December 2024 through February 2025 and will be submitted on June 1st, 2025. 

4. Jacksonville’s Tomato Bowl voted #1 Texas High School Stadium 

The 2025 winner of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football (DCTF) stadium bracket is the Jacksonville Tomato Bowl. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is a biannual magazine that covers all things Texas football from the Dallas Cowboys to the roughly 1,400 high school teams. This year over 130,000 votes were cast to determine the best stadium. The Tomato Bowl is a cultural staple of Jacksonville. First built in the 1930’s, the stadium features an impressive wall around it made of rocks and stones from the area. Despite renovations in the last few years, the original wall still stands. The Jacksonville Tomato Bowl is one of the last downtown stadiums in the state. The stadium boasts unique traditions including lighting a flaming letter ‘J’ to start home games. I am a proud alum of Jacksonville High School and played many football games in the Tomato Bowl. Congratulations to Jacksonville High School on their well-deserved win! 

5. Five East Texans sign deals following NFL draft 

East Texas makes an impressive footprint on the National Football League this year following the 3-day NFL draft. Five East Texans signed deals in the draft and one player from Stephen F. Austin signed a deal following the draft. Kevin Rose of Henderson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars following his time playing football at the University of Arkansas. Nash Jones, from Nacogdoches, signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, following his play at Texas State University. Moochie Dixon, from Carthage, and Elliot Davison, from Tyler Legacy, signed with the New Orleans Saints. Dixon played at Southern Methodist University and Davison played for the University of Texas- San Antonio. Jerrin Thompson, from Lufkin, signed with the Tennessee Titans, after finishing his college play at Auburn University. Bruce Harmon, a former SFA Lumberjack, signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Summer in the City Set to Launch with Ultimate 80s Party Featuring The Spazmatics (Angelina County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0
LUFKIN, TEXAS – Get ready, Lufkin — the countdown to Summer in the City has officially begun! Presented by Brookshire Brothers, this brand-new event series will launch on May 31, 2025, with an epic night at The Pines Theater, featuring the unforgettable energy of The Spazmatics — the ultimate 80s tribute band. It’s not too late to join the fun! Tickets for The Spazmatics are going fast — and this is one party you won’t want to miss. Not only will you dance the night away inside the historic Pines Theater, but First Street will also be closed an hour before showtime for a lively pre-party! Guests can enjoy:
  • A 360 Selfie Booth to capture the night’s best memories
  • Beach balls bouncing through the crowd during the show
  • A cash bar available inside the theater
  • Susu’s Popcorn will be onsite selling delicious treats for concertgoers
  • High-energy performances guaranteed to get everyone dancing — inside and outside!
Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased at Visit Lufkin Tickets. Don’t wait — tickets are nearly sold out! About Summer in the City Running from May 31 through August 9, 2025, Summer in the City will bring free concerts, movie nights, and family events every Saturday evening to Downtown Lufkin’s Cotton Square and The Pines Theater. The lineup includes exciting performances like Dale Watson, Los Texmaniacs, The Peterson Brothers, Silent Disco nights, and even a free movie night featuring Monsters, Inc.. Summer in the City 2025 Sponsors Presented by Brookshire Brothers and made possible thanks to the support of:
  • SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County
  • A-1 Party Rentals
  • City of Lufkin Parks and Recreation
  • Sound Techs
  • Sleep by Choice Hotels
  • Best Western Plus
  • Kimberly Eakin Kia
  • Coca-Cola Bottling Company
  • Ferrara’s Heating & Air Conditioning
  • Angelina Arts Alliance
  • Lufkin Creative
  • Lufkin Limners
  • Angelina Community Theatre
  • Visit Lufkin
Mark your calendars and get ready to experience a summer full of music, memories, and community fun! For more information and the full event schedule, visit VisitLufkin.com.
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