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Capitol Update: Building a Stronger, More Resilient Texas

By
Rep. Trent Ashby
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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/.

Mulching with Pine Straw 

By
Cary Sims
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Pine straw used for landscape ground cover
Autumn golden background. dried spruce needles on a wooden background

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.  

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

By
Senator Robert Nichols
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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. 

Women’s Networking Luncheon Presented by Southside Bank (Angelina County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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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

The Biggest Cybersecurity Threats in 2025: What You Need to Know

By
Alec Castleberry
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Image by AndersonPiza on Envato Elements

The digital world is changing faster than ever, and with it, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, more frequent, and more dangerous. Businesses, large and small, must prepare for the growing risks that come with an increasingly connected world. The days of thinking, “It won’t happen to me,” are over—every business is a target.

The Most Pressing Cybersecurity Threats This Year

1. AI-Powered Attacks – Hackers are now using artificial intelligence to craft highly convincing phishing emails, fake customer service interactions, and even deepfake scams that can trick even the most tech-savvy employees.

2. Ransomware Surge – These attacks lock businesses out of their own systems, demanding a ransom for access. The cost? Not just money, but lost data, reputation damage, and business downtime.

3. Supply Chain Breaches – Cybercriminals don’t just target businesses directly; they look for weak links in third-party vendors and software providers to infiltrate larger networks.

4. Cloud Security Gaps – Many businesses rely on cloud storage but fail to properly secure it, leaving sensitive data exposed to hackers.

5. Social Engineering & Human Error – The weakest link in cybersecurity remains human decision-making. Cybercriminals continue to exploit employees through fraudulent emails, impersonation scams, and fake tech support calls.

How to Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats

✔ Educate Employees – The best defense is knowledge. Make sure your team knows how to spot phishing emails and suspicious links.

✔ Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adding an extra layer of security can keep hackers out of critical accounts.

✔ Update Systems Regularly – Outdated software is an open door for cybercriminals. Keep your systems patched and secure.

✔ Strengthen Cloud Security – Encrypt your data and control who has access to sensitive information.

✔ Have a Response Plan – If an attack happens, having a clear incident response plan can minimize damage and downtime.

The Reality of Cybersecurity in 2025

Businesses can no longer afford to take a passive approach to cybersecurity. The threats are real, evolving, and hitting closer to home every day. Whether it’s a local small business or a global enterprise, no one is immune. As technology advances, so do cybercriminals. The only way forward is to stay informed, take action, and prioritize security before it’s too late.

Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
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Hey, sports fans,

One heck of a great season came to an end in Kansas, with the Roadrunner men’s basketball team reaching Elite Eight status before losing a game in the national tournament. 

Our softball and baseball teams are in full-blown conference play now, and we have an upcoming tryout for our Lady Roadrunner basketball team. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the week’s events, along with what’s coming up next: 

Roadrunner Basketball Season Ends in Elite Eight Appearance

Picked nearly last in the pre-season conference coaches’ polls, Angelina College’s Roadrunners certainly pulled off some surprises to go along with all their accomplishments in their 2024-2025 season. 

Sadly, the team’s magical run at a national title fell just two games short. 

The ‘Runners spent the week as participants in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, where the team seeded 12th in the tourney proceeded to pull off a pair of shockers. AC beat South Georgia State on Sunday by an 87-70 final behind 25 points each from Kyle Morgan and Kanaan Holder, then handled No. 5 seed Jones College 74-62, with Christian Jones scoring 22 points and Jordan Mathews adding 20 in the win. 

Just like that, the Roadrunners were one of the top eight teams in the nation.

The ‘Runners’ run ended in a 79-70 loss to South Plains College on Thursday, bringing to a close the greatest chapter in AC men’s basketball history, which included some of the following milestones:

–A No. 12 national ranking at the end of the regular season

–A No. 1 national ranking as the nation’s best defensive team

–A spotless 15-0 record inside the friendly confines of Shands Gymnasium

–A 28-7 final record, the best overall winning percentage in more than 30 years 

–The program’s first-ever win at a national tournament (this year’s Roadrunners won two)

–First-ever appearance in the Elite Eight

Roadrunner sophomores playing in their final games in AC uniforms included Kanaan Holder, Chris Carpenter, Kyle Morgan and Boris Perucica. 

Considering this is just head coach J.J. Montgomery’s third year as the AC head coach, it appears those trips to “Hutch” could become annual events. 

Lady Roadrunner Softball Falls to Galveston

Bad weather prevented the Lady Roadrunners from playing more than a couple of games all week, and those games didn’t go AC’s way.

Hosting first-place Galveston College in Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Lady ‘Runners fell to the Whitecaps in a pair of identical 3-0 losses. 

AC (14-24, 7-5) will host non-conference foe Louisiana State University—Eunice in a doubleheader set for a 4 p.m. start on Wednesday and will travel to Alvin College on Saturday in a twin bill set for a 1 p.m. start. 

AC Baseball Goes 1-for-3 Against Navarro College

The Roadrunners opened the week with big home win against conference rival Navarro College, beating the Bulldogs 9-7 Wednesday at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. The ‘Runners hammered out 14 hits in the win, getting two RBI from Ashton Wagner and an RBI each from Sean Bazmore, Connor Ficarra, Cole Standley, Jacob Tanguma, Billy Theroux and Ryan Beaty. 

AC’s luck didn’t hold up on Saturday, with the Roadrunners dropping a pair of one-run heartbreakers to the Bulldogs, losing 5-4 (on a Navarro walk-off) and 7-6 in Corsicana.  

The ‘Runners (16-18, 5-10) are scheduled to face Panola College in a three-game series this week beginning Wednesday in Carthage. Wednesday’s single, nine-inning game starts at 3 p.m., and Saturday’s doubleheader against the Ponies is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. 

Lady Roadrunner Basketball Hosting Tryout Camp in April

AC’s Lady Roadrunners just wrapped up a season in which the team qualified for the conference tournament in head coach Randy McKelvey’s first season at the helm, and they’re looking to reload for the future.

The Lady ‘Runners will host a tryout camp for prospective players from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at Shands Gymnasium. Cost is $40 per player.

Here’s the link for registration and other information:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/angelina-college-womens-basketball-tryout-tickets-1289930198949?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

For more information, contact Randy McKelvey at rmckelvey@angelina.edu. 

AC’s Camp Roadrunner Sessions Set for Summer 2025

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. 

To view the available sports camps and locate the links for registration, visit https://www.angelina.edu/camproadrunner/ and look for each specific sport. 

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 2, 2025:

Lady Roadrunner Softball vs. LSU-Eunice, doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus. 

Roadrunner Baseball at Panola College, single, nine-inning game starting at 3 p.m. in Carthage, TX. 

Saturday, April 5, 2025:

Lady Roadrunner Softball at Alvin College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Alvin, TX.   

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Panola College, doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. 

For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu. 

We’ll see you at the games.

Gary Stallard
Email: gstallard@angelina.edu.
Phone: (936) 465-4614

Resilient Leadership: Bouncing Back with Faith

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Every leader faces setbacks. Whether it’s a failed project, financial loss, team conflict, or personal disappointment, the path of leadership isn’t a straight line upward. But for faith-driven leaders, setbacks aren’t the end—they’re a setup for a greater comeback.

In Entrepreneurship God’s Way, I share that resilience is more than grit. It’s the ability to rise again not in your own strength, but through trust in God’s promises and purpose. Resilient leadership means choosing to stand firm in faith when everything around you feels uncertain.

Biblical Resilience: Strength in Surrender

The Bible is full of leaders who faced massive trials yet emerged stronger because they trusted God:

  • Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, enslaved, and imprisoned—yet he rose to lead Egypt.
  • David was hunted, slandered, and outnumbered—but God still made him king.
  • Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, and jailed—but he changed the world with the gospel.

Their resilience came not from self-confidence, but from God-confidence.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Keys to Resilient Faith-Driven Leadership

  1. Anchor Yourself in God’s Promises
    When challenges hit, go back to Scripture. Meditate on God’s faithfulness, and let His Word shape your mindset.
  2. Pray Through the Pressure
    God isn’t just watching from a distance—He walks with us in the fire. Bring your frustration, fear, and questions to Him in honest prayer.
  3. Refocus on Your Purpose
    When setbacks happen, it’s easy to lose sight of your mission. Revisit the “why” behind your work. Faith-driven leaders aren’t in it for quick wins—they’re in it to make a difference for the Kingdom.
  4. Let Setbacks Refine You
    Don’t waste a trial. Ask God what He wants to teach you through the struggle. Sometimes the hardest seasons produce the deepest growth.
  5. Surround Yourself with Encouragers
    Isolation breeds discouragement. Lean into community, mentors, and fellow believers who will lift you up in prayer and speak truth when you feel defeated.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

Resilient leadership isn’t about never falling—it’s about always rising again. When you lead with faith, you recognize that every valley can become a training ground for greater impact.

If you’re in a tough season, remember: God isn’t finished with you yet. Keep trusting. Keep moving forward. Keep leading with resilience.

About Lee Allen Miller

Lee Miller is a faith-driven entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Entrepreneurship God’s Way: Building Faith-Driven Success in Business. Through his writing and coaching, Lee equips leaders to rise above adversity and build businesses that reflect God’s character.

Get your copy on Amazon: https://msgresources.com/books-resources/
Don’t miss Lee’s upcoming webinar on Resilient Leadership: [Insert Link Here]

Follow Lee for weekly inspiration, blog updates, and leadership tools that help you bounce back stronger and lead with faith.

Marketing Mistakes That Are Costing You Customers (And How to Fix Them)

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Image by insidecreativehouse on Envato Elements

Are You Losing Customers Without Even Realizing It?

Marketing is the lifeline of your business, but even small mistakes can drive potential customers away. Many business owners unknowingly make errors that hurt their brand, weaken their messaging, and reduce conversions. Here’s a look at the most common marketing mistakes—and how to fix them.

The Top Marketing Mistakes Businesses Make

1. Neglecting a Clear Brand Message

If customers can’t quickly understand who you are, what you offer, and why they should choose you, they’ll move on.

Fix It: Develop a clear, concise brand message that highlights your unique value proposition. Ensure this messaging is consistent across your website, social media, and marketing materials.

2. Ignoring Customer Engagement

Many businesses treat marketing as a one-way street, constantly promoting their services without engaging with their audience.

Fix It: Respond to comments, messages, and reviews. Ask questions, start conversations, and create content that encourages interaction.

3. Not Having a Defined Target Audience

Trying to market to “everyone” means you’re effectively reaching no one. Generic messaging doesn’t connect with customers.

Fix It: Identify your ideal customer and tailor your marketing efforts specifically to their needs, pain points, and desires.

4. Relying Solely on Organic Traffic

While organic reach is important, relying on it alone can severely limit your growth.

Fix It: Invest in paid advertising, such as social media ads or Google Ads, to expand your reach and attract more qualified leads.

5. Failing to Track and Adjust Strategies

If you’re not measuring your results, you’re marketing blindly. Many businesses set marketing campaigns in motion but never analyze their effectiveness.

Fix It: Use analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) like engagement, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). Adjust your strategy based on what works.

How MSGPR Can Help You Avoid These Mistakes

At MSGPR, we specialize in creating marketing strategies that attract, engage, and convert customers. Whether you need better branding, social media engagement, targeted advertising, or performance tracking, we help businesses get measurable results. Stop losing customers due to avoidable marketing mistakes. Contact MSGPR today for a free consultation and let’s take your marketing to the next level!

Fixed vs. Variable Electricity Plans: What’s Best for Your Budget in 2025?

By
Lee Allen Miller
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TEXAS FOREST COUNTRY – With electricity prices in Texas on the rise, many residents are wondering how to get the best deal—and how to protect their wallets from unexpected spikes. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or renter, one of the most important choices you’ll make is whether to choose a fixed-rate or variable-rate electricity plan.

Here in East Texas, where summers are hot and energy usage climbs fast, the type of plan you choose can have a big impact on your monthly bill.

Let’s take a closer look at what each option means—and which one might be the smartest move in 2025.

 Fixed-Rate Plans: Stability You Can Count On

A fixed-rate plan keeps your price per kilowatt-hour locked in for the duration of your contract—usually 12 to 36 months.

Why Fixed Rate Might Be Best:

  • No surprises on your bill—even when the market fluctuates
  • Easier budgeting for families and businesses
  • Protection from sudden price hikes, like those caused by major weather events or fuel shortages

With ERCOT’s latest projections showing electricity prices climbing above $130 per megawatt-hour for summer 2025, fixed-rate plans are looking more appealing than ever.

 Variable-Rate Plans: Flexible but Risky

A variable-rate plan means your rate changes month-to-month based on the market. This might seem appealing when prices are low—but it comes with risk.

Why Variable-Rate May Not Be Ideal Right Now:

  • Your rate can skyrocket in the heat of summer
  • Harder to predict your bill, which can strain your budget
  • Energy prices are already rising, and experts say they’ll likely keep going up

 The 2025 Forecast: What the Experts Say

According to ERCOT’s March 2025 report:

  • Summer electricity prices are projected to rise by over 100% compared to pre-2020 levels
  • Demand is being driven by AI computing, data centers, and population growth
  • Even with more solar power coming online, energy supply still can’t keep up

In other words, the risk of waiting is high. If you delay and prices jump again, you could be stuck paying more.

 What’s the Best Choice for Families in East Texas?

For most of us, especially in a region like the Texas Forest Country, a fixed-rate plan offers the peace of mind and price protection we need. It’s the best way to stay ahead of price spikes, especially heading into another hot Texas summer.

 Take Action Before Summer Hits

Don’t wait until the next heatwave to think about your electricity bill. Now is the time to review your options and lock in a good rate.

Looking for help? Amerigy Energy is based right here in Texas and can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Whether you’re trying to save money at home or control costs at your small business, they’ve got your back.

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

Lock in your rate today, and enjoy a summer with fewer surprises.

Angelina College Opens Phlebotomy Class at Nigton Center

By
Gary Stallard
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Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon (far right), AC Health Careers Training Specialist Manager Kim Meshell (far left) and AC Director of Adult Education and Literacy Cindy Neal (center) pose with students and staff at the Nigton Historical Development Center. AC has begun offering Phlebotomy certification courses at the center as part of a community initiative to provide more educational resources to Nigton residents. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

Course Part of Historical Development Center’s Growth

Nigton is a tiny, unincorporated area sitting just outside Apple Springs, with fewer than 100 residents listed. The area itself lies off the beaten path of FM 2262, so it certainly qualifies as “rural.”

The residents there take great pride in their community, and a little more than a year ago, they banded together behind Elonda Lee’s idea to erect the Nigton Historical Development Center – a central location providing activities and events for the local populace. The center provided everything from after-school care to homecoming celebrations for former residents. Dr. LaToya Hernandez, executive director of the facility, said it all came about through “grant writing and selling turkey legs on the corner.” 

In a partnership with Angelina College, one of the new activities now includes a phlebotomy course in which students can earn their certifications in a high-demand field.

Kim Meshell, Health Careers Training Specialist Manager at AC, said the idea for holding classes at the center originated from a conversation with Hernandez, who served as a driving force behind the facility’s growth. 

“Dr. Hernandez approached me and said she was thinking of ways to bring their community together, to help put them on the map,” Meshell said. “I figured it would help Angelina College as well. They’re going to hold actual Phlebotomy classes right here in this Development Center. 

“When she approached me, I ran with it. I set it up, and we got the students together. I have an instructor (Chris Dickens) who’s going to teach the class here two nights per week.”

Hernandez, a resident of the area with a long history working in education, said it took a measure of collaboration to see the project come to fruition.

“Of course, this is a group effort,” Hernandez said. “We started this as a project to bring resources to this rural area. We have people who don’t have the transportation or access to resources in Lufkin. So why not bring it here? Make it feasible for residents to attend and have the opportunity to earn a degree or certificate? Maybe build their boat to a degree in health care? 

“The medical field is booming, and this helps bring something to [residents] related to that field.”

Hernandez said earlier partnerships with Angelina College helped foster the idea of even more potential for growth. 

“We actually started with Cindy Neal at AC with the GED program,” Hernandez said. “So this is our first certification program, and we’re just kind of piggy-backing off the success of the GED initiative. We’re making great things happen here in Nigton.”

“I served on the board with LaToya on the Adult Learning Center, and that’s how we met,” Meshell added. “We started talking about what we could do. I asked her what we could offer, and she knew my role at AC. She started by looking into what we could offer this entire community.”

“We’ve been working on this since fall of last year.”

As always, one good idea leads to another. Hernandez said the community already is looking to expand its opportunities to educate and qualify those men and women looking to build their futures through Angelina College. 

“Right now, Apple Springs has a four-day school week, so we offer after-school programs,” Hernandez said. “We would like to see more opportunities such as the truck driver program (AC’s Commercial Driver’s License program), forklift operator certifications, etc. We have these kids coming up, and when we ask them what they want to do when they grow up, they have no idea. We want them to see the different career fields available to them. We have career professionals come in to meet with them, and we’d like to see more vocational – hands-on – programs available.

“I was a Lufkin ISD Special Services Counselor for many years, and from that experience, I know that not everyone is set up for a typical academic approach to college,” Hernandez said. “We have people with hands-on skills, and they’re ready to work. We partner with the Texas Workforce Commission, as well as others.”

Charles Mark, president of the Nigton Historical Development Center, said the recent partnerships have been a pleasant surprise. 

“We didn’t think at first it would grow to be this big,” Mark said. “We just wanted the center for the community, to have something for the kids to gather and have fun. 

“We didn’t count on all this going on now, but we’re sure glad it’s happening.”

Gary Stallard’s email address is gstallard@angelina.edu.

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