Congratulations to the Winter 2020 graduates of Roughrider Academy!

The tradition continues! Watlington and Orsak named DISTRICT CHAMPIONS in CX debate!

Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) announces service location changes for Cherokee and Rusk County residents with the closure of its centers in Jacksonville and Henderson, as well as the addition of a new partnership site with the Jacksonville College Library, and an enhanced Mobile Workforce Center travel schedule.

Workforce centers located in Jacksonville and Henderson closed at the end of December, which was approved by the WSET Board and confirmed by the Chief Elected Officials board. The centers were closed due to funding reductions and low visitor traffic. WSET is committed to continuing services in these areas and encourages new and existing customers to access services and assistance through other mediums, such as our new partner site, enhanced mobile workforce center travel schedule, centralized call center, and online services.

WSET has established partnerships with community organizations to set up Access Point locations for job seekers to receive assistance. The first Access Point Site is now open at the Jacksonville College Library, located at 105 B J Albritton Dr in Jacksonville. This site has a WSET resource area where job seekers can register for WorkInTexas.com, receive assistance with job search, resume writing, workshops and access to resources during the service hours of Monday – Thursday, 8 AM to 4 PM. New Access Point Sites are also planned to open in Henderson and Emory in the coming months.

“Our pledge is ‘Serving You Where You Are,’” said Doug Shryock, Executive Director for Workforce Solutions East Texas. “Workforce Solutions East Texas is committed to keeping up with the ever-changing needs and accessibility of our 14-county region customers, as well as being good stewards of the funding we are trusted with. While yes, some of our office doors may close, know that we have established service methods in order to continue meeting client needs. We’re not just serving customers in buildings anymore.”

The Workforce Central Call Center is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. New and existing customers can speak directly to a caseworker by calling 1-844-ETWORKS (389-6757). Nearly all the services handled by a staff member in center locations are available over the phone, making access convenient for our clients.

WSET has also expanded its footprint in recent years to include designated off-site locations through Mobile Workforce Centers. Three mobile centers currently navigate through the region, to bring staff-assisted services and computer job-search capability directly to areas in the region without a workforce center. The Mobile Workforce Centers are equipped with multiple computers, a meeting and training area and flat-screen televisions for presentations of community announcements, job postings and advertisements by firms looking for workers. A travel schedule for our Mobile Workforce Centers can be viewed at www.easttexasworkforce.org/locations. With the closure of the centers in Jacksonville and Henderson, The Mobile Workforce Center travel schedule has been enhanced to include more scheduled stops in the affected communities.

Job seekers may also visit the WSET website, www.easttexasworkforce.org, which offers an online pre-application clients can fill out to get the process started on applying for services.

WSET will continue to maintain all services available in its five existing centers located in Athens, Longview, Marshall, Palestine, and Tyler. For more information, contact Doug Shryock at (903) 218-6425 or the WSET Centers Director, Mary Ann Rojas at (903) 561.8131.

Associate’s Degree Students -  We are very proud of our Seniors set to receive their Associate’s Degree in May.  All of your hard work has paid off!  Congratulations.

LUFKIN – Texas Transportation Commissioners in Austin Thursday approved more than $360 million in new construction projects statewide, including more than $5 million in Sabine and Polk counties.

Sabine County was approved for a $1.3 million construction project designed for the construction of pedestrian sidewalks and curb ramps at various locations, including on FM 83 from US 96 to FM 1; Yaupon Street to Elm Street; and FM 1 East from south of FM 83 to Elm Street. Highway 19 Construction LLC, Sulpher Springs TX, will serve as contractor for the project. A timeline for completion has not been set.

Polk County was approved for a $3.7 million construction project that will include resurfacing the northbound lane from just south of FM 942 East to BU 59 in Livingston.  The resurfacing will include planing, applying a level-up course and final surface of permeable friction course. Moore Brothers Construction, Lufkin TX, will serve as contractor for the project. No timeline for completion has been set.

As these projects begin, motorists are urged to stay alert as new work zones are set. Obey all traffic control and reduce speed

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A long-overdue movement is underway to bring greater gender equity to the American theatre scene. The School of Theatre at Stephen F. Austin State University will do its part in furthering that crusade by presenting Kate Hamill’s “Pride and Prejudice” as part of this year’s Mainstage Series.

Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Hamill’s “Pride and Prejudice” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Feb. 18 through 22, in W.M. Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The play is an “irreverent, fresh and frolicking” new adaptation to the wit and charm of Austen’s beloved 1813 novel, according to Scott Shattuck, professor of theatre at SFA and the play’s director.

“Here’s a new play by a woman, Kate Hamill, who’s one of the 10 hottest playwrights in the country right now. It has great roles for women, based on one of the most beloved stories in all of literature, which was also written by a woman, Jane Austen,” Shattuck said. “Hamill’s dramatization was written to be performed in a fast, fun, fizzy style that’s perfect for a student cast and for audiences of all ages.”

The plot is the familiar romantic story set in England near the beginning of the 19th century. Elizabeth Bennet, the second of several daughters of a small landowner, thinks that Mr. Darcy, a wealthy but mysteriously gloomy young man, is the last person in the world she’d want to marry.

“They’re both proud, and both have their prejudices, but it’s not much of a spoiler to say that love wins the day,” Shattuck said.

He goes on to explain that one of the most entertaining characters in the book and the play is the Bennet girls’ “perennially stressed-out” mother, who is obsessed with getting all of her daughters married off to men of means because the rules of primogeniture in those days prevented females from inheriting land.

“Elizabeth’s sisters get caught up in their own romantic adventures,” Shattuck said, “but none of them finds the clear path to successful matrimony that would spare Mrs. Bennet a spate of anxiety attacks.”

Hamill wrote the play for a small cast with most of the actors playing more than one role, including men playing women and vice versa.

“We’re going to get on board with that style,” Shattuck said, “which should make for some frantic changes of costumes and wigs. We hope that will become part of the hilarity of the show. Our idea is to try to create the impression that we’re making it up as we go along, which can actually require more planning and rehearsal than a polished-looking show would.”

The student actors will be taking on iconic roles that many in the audience will remember from having read the book, perhaps more than once, or at least from seeing one of the many film and television versions, Shattuck said.

“They’ve got to create their own original characterizations while staying in the spirit of the source material,” he said. “And most of them will have to transform from one character to another at the drop of a hat.”

Other than the youngest children, everyone should enjoy “Pride and Prejudice,” regardless of gender, age or background, according to Shattuck.

“It’s an irreverent take on a classic tale,” he said. “Hamill loves the story without taking it too seriously, so I think most people will find something funny and charming in this one.

“From my perspective, the play is a celebration of smart, strong, independent young women,” he added, “and it’s a celebration of the fact that women never have to play second fiddle to have a full and satisfying life, including having a family, if that’s the path they choose. I hope everyone will leave in a bright and cheerful mood.”

Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and non-SFA students and $7.50 for youth. Tickets for SFA students are $5. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.ed

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — While working on her doctoral degree in educational leadership at Stephen F. Austin State University, Dr. Paula Griffin knew one of her academic limitations was science education. To address that gap head-on, she prioritized the subject for professional development.

A decade later, thanks to a lot of work and dedicated mentors along the way, Griffin has turned that limitation into an award-winning strength and is helping SFA teacher candidates do the same.

An associate professor in SFA’s Department of Elementary Education, Griffin received the 2019 Leadership in Education Award from Texas Project Learning Tree in October.

Sponsored by Georgia-Pacific, the award honors those who make significant contributions to advance PLT programs and initiatives at the state or regional level. Griffin will represent Texas at the national PLT award level in late 2020.

Since 1976, PLT, the environmental education program of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, has reached 138 million students and trained 765,000 educators to help students learn “how to think, not what to think, about complex environmental issues,” according to the PLT website.

“I wholeheartedly believe in PLT and its structure and background,” Griffin said. “PLT made sense to me because I support and follow the constructivist learning theory.” 

At its heart, this theory suggests that humans construct knowledge and meaning through experiences.

“When we’re learning, we create new schema and new ideas, and we fit those in with what we already know,” Griffin said. “As we interact with our environment, in and out of the classroom, we add to our store of understanding and knowledge.”

Griffin is a Triple Jack, meaning she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, master’s degree in early childhood education and doctoral degree in educational leadership all from SFA.

“I completed my bachelor’s in three years because I just loved my elementary education classes,” she said. “I’d take 18 and 21 hours a semester. I couldn’t get enough.”

During these three years, Dr. Janice Pattillo, former chair of the Department of Elementary Education and the namesake of SFA’s Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, was Griffin’s advisor, mentor and teacher for many classes. Griffin was a student assistant at SFA’s Early Childhood Laboratory from 1979 to 1981 before getting her first job there as a toddler teacher.

In 1985, Griffin taught in Garrison before joining the Nacogdoches Independent School District in 1986. She was one of the two teachers who started NISD’s pre-K program. In 2002, she left the public school classroom.

Then Pattillo recruited Griffin to teach at SFA. As an adjunct professor of elementary education in 2006, Griffin took on the role of grant coordinator for the department. In 2009, she accepted a tenure track position, and, from 2014 to 2017, she coordinated the early childhood through sixth grade, or EC-6, online completer program for the Department of Elementary Education.

“They’re called completers because they’ve started coursework at a community college, usually several years ago, took a break and then decided they want to come back,” Griffin said. “They are focused and ready to finish their education.”

Griffin admitted, advised and taught completers every semester. Even before then, as grant coordinator, she worked on partnerships with community colleges to help ensure the completers could seamlessly transition into their coursework at SFA. Today, she continues to champion these students.

In 2010, when she began working on her doctoral degree, Griffin chose the outdoor education activity Bugs, Bees, Butterflies and Blossoms as one of her internships to help reverse her science deficit.

“I had a fantastic colleague and mentor here named Dr. Alan Sowards, and I knew he hosted this huge activity called BBBB every spring for about 3,500 kids during five days,” Griffin said. “When I asked him what exactly he did, he said, ‘Come see.’ I did, and I was hooked.”

Sowards, now a professor emeritus of elementary education at SFA, created and implemented BBBB at SFA in 1998 with the help of Dr. Cheryl Boyette, another Triple Jack and a consultant specializing in developing and improving environmental education programs for organizations such as SFA, Keep America Beautiful and PLT.

At that point, BBBB was funded through local and state grants while Sowards and Cheryl worked to create partnerships with agencies, including Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas A&M Forest Service, Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority and Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful. Texas PLT, sponsored by the Texas Forestry Association and the Texas A&M Forest Service, entered the picture in 1998 with curriculum to help students make informed decisions on environmental issues.

The annual BBBB event guides K-3 students in exploring forest habitats, plant and animal adaptations and the world of pollinators through learning stations. It also helps SFA teacher candidates learn how to access and integrate community resources for teaching science in a hands-on inquiry-based manner.

Teacher candidates prepare for their BBBB lessons with training from John Boyette, Cheryl’s husband. He’s a former PLT state co-coordinator and an adjunct faculty member in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture who recently retired from the Texas A&M Forest Service. From that training, teacher candidates create lesson plans and materials for the event.

BBBB involves representatives from SFA’s Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center and Department of Elementary Education, as well as the Pineywoods Beekeepers Association to support teacher candidates with community resources and deep knowledge of the local environment.

During her own BBBB preparation, Griffin learned, “Not only am I capable of teaching science, I am capable of learning science, as well. I just need to be taught in the right way,” she said. “This was a phenomenal revelation that I couldn’t wait to see in my own students.”

After finishing her internship, Griffin thought BBBB, a program for traditional, face-to-face teacher candidates, could be modified for her online students. “The completers lived close enough to come back for a couple of days to train for and participate in this PLT event,” she said.

Sowards, who in 2015 was the first Texan named a National PLT Outstanding Educator, agreed. “Paula’s passion helped create an online program that’s unique in the nation,” he said.

The Boyettes also agreed. “Even though there’s not a lot of science in elementary education, Paula continues to give these events legs with online and face-to-face students,” Cheryl said.

Griffin, Sowards and the Boyettes worked together to develop a hybrid PLT training for BBBB that combined online with face-to-face instruction so online completers can get certified in PLT.

Today, online and face-to-face teacher candidates lead hands-on outdoor lessons during Wild About Science for grade four in addition to BBBB for grades K-3. Griffin was personally involved in the development of Wild About Science, which focuses on how to use PLT to meet state mandates in science content and skills.

Through the years, the PLT curriculum has helped Griffin’s online students practice teaching science in an outdoor setting with thousands of elementary students, their teachers and their parents.

“When we’re outside, and the teacher candidates are teaching and seeing the elementary students respond to the PLT curriculum, my teacher candidates are understanding, ‘I can teach outside. I am good at teaching science,’” Griffin said.

The increase in these teacher candidates’ science confidence after these field experiences “has been huge,” she added.

“Over and over, we’ve done research on these online students. We know that they feel their science content knowledge changes after they participate in these activities,” Griffin said. “They know more about what they’ve had to learn to teach, and their thinking processes improve.”

Griffin said these events are voluntary opportunities for online completers to teach on campus for a day or two. “Most of these students are in this online program because they’ve got to work or they have family responsibilities, but they find a way to come back because they see the value in this opportunity,” she said.

For activities like Wild About Science, completers earn field experience to apply to their classes, as well as professional development credit they can list in their portfolios when applying for jobs. They also leave trained on lessons they can immediately put into practice in their hometowns.

“We try hard to make these events worth the trip back and to ensure the curriculum for our online students mirrors that of our face-to-face students as closely as possible,” Griffin said.

When asked if SFA should continue to offer opportunities like this, “the online students always say yes,” Griffin said. In a recent survey, 94% of the students rated the event at a nine or 10 out of 10.

Griffin included these findings in an article marking 20 years of outdoor education at SFA. It was published in the July 2019 issue of the Journal of Forestry, a rare feat for someone with an elementary education background, according to John.

The article was based on a presentation Griffin and John made at the Biennial Conference on University Education in Natural Resources at SFA in March 2018. The article and presentation examined the significant gains in science content knowledge and science teaching efficacy that both online and face-to-face teacher candidates experienced after participating in PLT training and implementing PLT-based lessons on campus.

These positive results have ensured the continuation of PLT-based activities at SFA for years to come, Cheryl said.

“No matter what is going on within SFA and who’s in charge, the university has always supported this program even though it doesn’t fit inside a classroom box,” Cheryl said. “They know how important it is to teacher candidates here and online.”

John added, “We’re starting to see preservice teachers training for PLT who were introduced to these lessons as children in area classrooms.”

In 2014, Griffin began serving as a member of the Texas PLT Steering Committee — the same committee that selects the recipient of the state’s Leadership in Education Award. In 2019, Griffin’s fellow committee members and mentors, Sowards and both Boyettes, managed to keep her nomination a secret.

“It was a complete surprise,” Griffin said. “They covertly nominated me, and I found out in August that they wanted me to represent Texas at the national level.”

John presented Griffin with the award at the Texas Forestry Association’s annual convention in Nacogdoches in October. In his remarks, he said Griffin “is a true visionary with a passion for environmental education. Paula has proven her commitment to PLT through her innovative use of the curriculum to train preservice teachers while simultaneously impacting area children.”

Sowards and the Boyettes hope Griffin follows in Sowards’ footsteps at the national PLT award level just like she has in sustaining the high-quality outdoor science education Sowards and the Boyettes began establishing 20 years ago at SFA.

They know the PLT-based learning activities are in good hands.

“When I see Paula in action, it’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before,” Cheryl said. “She has a passion for all students — not just the students who are going to be teachers but also the students those future teachers will meet in the classroom.”

For more information on PLT-based learning activities, contact Elyce Rodewald, SFA Gardens education coordinator, at (936) 468-1832 or sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Cutline: Dr. Paula Griffin, an associate professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Elementary Education, received the 2019 Leadership in Education Award from Texas Project Learning Tree in October. Sponsored by Georgia-Pacific, the award honors those who make significant contributions to advance PLT programs and initiatives at the state or regional level. Griffin will represent Texas at the national PLT award level in late 2020.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music alumni are part of Grammy Award-winning ensembles following the 62nd annual Grammy Awards presented Sunday night in Los Angeles, California.

Kelli Mikeska Lawless, ’02, and Kammi Mikeska Estelle, ’02, are members of the Houston Chamber Choir whose voices are heard on the Grammy Award-winning Best Choral Performance by the elite Houston Chamber Choir for “Duruflé: Complete Choral Works” with Robert Simpson, conductor (Ken Cowan, organist, Houston Chamber Choir). It is a performance of music by 20th century French composer Maurice Duruflé.

Describing the recording as “a labor of love,” Artistic Director Simpson said, “We are deeply honored, and I want to congratulate my fellow nominees. They have inspired me and our entire field.

“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of musicians of the Houston Chamber Choir. I also accept the award on behalf of the city of Houston, one of the real artistic capitals of our country.” He also thanked “those who joined us on the journey.”

Led by Simpson, the Houston Chamber Choir is composed of 25 professional singers, most of whom have studied at the top music schools and conservatories in the United States including Julliard, New England Conservatory, University of Houston and the University of Texas. The musicians are selected through rigorous auditions, according to information at https://houstonchamberchoir.org. SFA music alumnus Joshua Chavira, ’16 and ’18, is a newer member of the choir.

Tynan Davis, ’02, mezzo soprano, sang the role of Rita the Rat in “Tobias Picker: Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which garnered Best Opera Recording with Gil Rose, conductor; John Brancy, Andrew Craig Brown, Gabriel Preisser, Krista River & Edwin Vega; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Boston Children’s Chorus).

In another SFA-Grammy Awards connection, award winner Lizzo often gives credit to her Elsik High School band director, SFA graduate Manuel Gonzales, ’92, for inspiring her deep love of music. The singer, rapper and actress, whose name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, was born in Detroit but later moved to Houston where she attended the Alief ISD school and began playing flute in Gonzales’ Elsik High School Band.

Tenaha ISD Elementary February Menu

Tenaha ISD High School February Menu

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Bashudev Adhikari, the first son of a family in Nepal, was born blind because of a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. Then the second-born son, Sushil, lost his sight at age 11 from glaucoma. Believing in a religious connection — as if his sins caused his sons’ inability to see — their father left his family to prevent any further harm to his children.

These two brothers, unlike many children who are blind in the area, had the resources to go to school. But when they arrived, their teachers, who weren’t trained to work with students who are blind, told them, “Just go home and get taken care of by your family. That’s your future.”

These words inspired Bashudev and Sushil to establish Bright Star Society in Nepal in 2013 to help bridge the gap between people with and without disabilities. The society’s motto is, “Doing the best we can with what we have with where we are.”

For those with disabilities, the society provides leadership development, assistive technology, career enhancement and other assistance like cane distribution and the transcription of restaurant menus into Braille. For those without disabilities, Bright Star Society offers information on inclusion, accessibility, universal design and volunteer opportunities.

While planning her November vacation to Nepal, Jennifer Perry, an orientation and mobility clinical instructor and doctoral candidate in the James I. Perkins College of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University, discovered Bright Star Society on Facebook and reached out to the brothers.

Soon she had an invitation to accompany Bright Star Society members to a local school that welcomes students who are blind. There, she shared information about accessibility in America. Bright Star Society also invited Perry to present at a community outreach event featuring members of the Federal Parliament of Nepal and marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Perry knew Nepal didn’t have a version of the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect people with disabilities. Truncated domes, curb cuts and other tools that help people with visual impairments navigate a city in the U.S. are not required.

“When we teach orientation and mobility in America, we are teaching the skills of the cane that relate to the laws of the land,” Perry said. “But those laws don’t apply in Nepal.”

As soon as she arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital with more than 1 million residents, Perry was struck by even greater challenges that people with visual impairments face in this region. These include the lack of health insurance and medical treatments that could help prevent, slow down or even cure the three biggest causes of blindness in Nepal: cataracts, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa.

Then there are the basic environmental factors. “Traffic control doesn’t exist. You can drive on either side of the road at any time of the day, either direction, and pedestrians are just expected to play Frogger when they’re crossing the street. That’s normal,” Perry said.

Plus, Nepal doesn’t have traffic lights with green, yellow and red signals — just an occasional blinking light warning drivers about an upcoming intersection. “In our way of crossing the street, we listen for the traffic to stop, and then we know we can cross,” Perry said. “Over there, the traffic is always going, especially in Kathmandu.”

The narrow sidewalks are even more perilous than the roads.

“Many of the sidewalks haven’t been repaired since an earthquake hit the region in April 2015,” Perry said. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000. An estimated 100,000 people are still living in emergency makeshift accommodations.

The sidewalks also are filled with people cooking and burning trash on open flames because the electricity isn’t reliable in the region. The many stray dogs roaming the streets, and the vendors selling their goods curbside also make it difficult for pedestrians traveling through Kathmandu.

“Even when a police officer was directing traffic, motorcycles drove up on sidewalks,” Perry added. “I asked some of the Bright Star Society associates if they ever traveled on their own, and they all said no.”

When Perry visited Sanjiwani Model Secondary School, which educates students who are blind alongside those who have sight, she met with 24 students between the ages of 6 and 16 who have visual impairments. They described teachers standing at the front of classrooms presenting lessons in a traditional manner and drawing on chalkboards.

“There’s no intervention or assistance to help students who are blind better understand the lessons,” Perry said. “There’s no model, Braille or audiobooks. Most supplies, like canes, get lost in the mail because of all the different borders they have to cross to get to Nepal. So whatever the students can grasp just through listening is what they know, but there’s no standardized test to assess that knowledge the way we have in the U.S.”

After they’ve finished school, most students said they’ll return to their families.

“So then you wonder what’s the point of their education,” Perry said. “However, it’s not like they’re really getting educated because there’s no specialized teacher for the blind, there are no tactile graphics, and there’s no orientation and mobility training.”

Without health insurance or institutions to help adults with visual impairments, families prefer to take care of their relatives with disabilities at home, which often creates more hardships for them.

“When I asked the students what help they wanted, they didn’t have an answer for me because they don’t know what the possibilities are,” Perry said.

According to Sushil, no one like Perry had visited the school before. Peace organizers had stopped by in the past, but they were working to create harmony between nations, increase inclusion on a more general scale and fight for basic human rights.

“My goal was more targeted,” Perry said. “I told students, ‘I want this for you, and I know that this is possible for you. I know that this training exists,’” Perry said.

She told them about specially trained teachers, resources for those with visual impairments, college programs and mandated accessibility at universities in the U.S. “But I felt like I was depressing the students because they don’t have anything like that there.”

Then Perry explained to the students that the U.S. didn’t always have resources and laws to protect people with disabilities.

“We had to start somewhere,” she told the students. “We had to put pressure on the government and local community organizers. And that’s exactly what Bright Star Society is doing here.”

Perry continued, “I also told the students that they are a critical part of that. They can’t just be complacent and assume that this is all they’ll ever have. There’s more, and they have to keep asking for more.”

Perry also presented to residents of Panauti Village, a rural settlement southeast of Kathmandu. Members of the Federal Parliament of Nepal also attended to hear Perry, who was the guest of honor. Between earthquake recovery and the political pressures from China to the north and India to the south, parliament members have plenty to deal with, but they took the time to learn about disability activism at this community outreach event, which also built support for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3.

Against the backdrop of the Himalayas, Perry talked about hope, the future and inclusion while Sushil translated her words into Nepali. “I discussed the possibilities of our working together — America and Nepal — to improve the lives of people with visual impairments,” she said.

After the presentation, “They all came up to me and wanted to kiss my hand and have me hold their children,” Perry said.

The trip also included a lunch with a local family during which Bright Star Society members worked to dispel stereotypes about disabilities in general and blindness specifically.

To help support Bright Star Society’s efforts, Perry will continue to work with the brothers through online teaching technology like Zoom and occasional visits to the region. She’s also trying to financially help the society.

“It’s not funded through the government, and it’s not registered as a private nonprofit — those don’t exist,” Perry said.

Each of the 10 people on the society’s board of directors contributes $20 a month toward the budget. “So their essential spending budget is $200, plus any other donations that come in,” Perry said. “I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but $200 goes a lot further over there.”

Since her visit, Perry has committed to sending at least $20 every month to the society. She also has been named a disability consultant for the society, and she is working with an accountant to see how she can establish an American affiliate of Bright Star Society.

The students in Perry’s Leadership in Mobility class at SFA are helping her brainstorm a training program with global applicability.

“What would orientation and mobility look like in a developing nation? It probably wouldn’t be a college degree program,” Perry said. “It would probably be more like a six-week training seminar. Or something like Doctors Without Borders but for rehabilitative professionals.”

Assistance would include counseling for both people who are blind and their families to help with the emotional side of this disability. It also would include instruction on how to use residual sight better.

Though the challenges that Bright Star Society faces seem insurmountable, one of Perry’s students mentioned the ripple effect, which Perry said is driving her involvement with the society today.

“We do have huge problems globally, but helping one person helps another, helps another, helps another.”

To learn how you can help, contact Perry at perryjn1@sfasu.edu.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Three Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music alumni are part of Grammy Award-winning ensembles following the 62nd annual Grammy Awards presented Sunday night in Los Angeles, California.

Kelli Mikeska Lawless, ’02, and Kammi Mikeska Estelle, ’02, are members of the Houston Chamber Choir whose voices are heard on the Grammy Award-winning Best Choral Performance by the elite Houston Chamber Choir for “Duruflé: Complete Choral Works” with Robert Simpson, conductor (Ken Cowan, organist, Houston Chamber Choir). It is a performance of music by 20th century French composer Maurice Duruflé.

Describing the recording as “a labor of love,” Artistic Director Simpson said, “We are deeply honored, and I want to congratulate my fellow nominees. They have inspired me and our entire field.

“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of musicians of the Houston Chamber Choir. I also accept the award on behalf of the city of Houston, one of the real artistic capitals of our country.” He also thanked “those who joined us on the journey.”

Led by Simpson, the Houston Chamber Choir is composed of 25 professional singers, most of whom have studied at the top music schools and conservatories in the United States including Julliard, New England Conservatory, University of Houston and the University of Texas. The musicians are selected through rigorous auditions, according to information at https://houstonchamberchoir.org. SFA music alumnus Joshua Chaviria, ’18, is a newer member of the choir.

Tynan Davis, ’02, mezzo soprano, sang the role of Rita the Rat in “Tobias Picker: Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which garnered Best Opera Recording with Gil Rose, conductor; John Brancy, Andrew Craig Brown, Gabriel Preisser, Krista River & Edwin Vega; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Boston Children’s Chorus).

In another SFA-Grammy Awards connection, award winner Lizzo often gives credit to her Elsik High School band director, SFA graduate Manuel Gonzales, ’92, for inspiring her deep love of music. The singer, rapper and actress, whose name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, was born in Detroit but later moved to Houston where she attended the Alief ISD school and began playing flute in Gonzales’ Elsik High School Band.

Property tax information is available to assist taxpayers. This property tax information covers a
wide range of topics, such as taxpayer remedies, exemptions, appraisals and is of value to
select groups, such as disabled veterans and persons who are 65 years of age or older.

Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or a taxpayer, it’s important
you know your rights concerning the property tax laws. You can contact the Shelby County
Appraisal District about any property tax issues and they will provide you the most complete,
accurate and up-to-date available information to assist you.

This includes information about the following programs:

? Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans - The law provides partial
exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, surviving spouses
and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. This includes homesteads
donated to disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50
percent of the good faith estimate of the homestead’s market value to the disabled
veterans and their surviving spouses. The exemption amount is determined according
to percentage of service-connected disability. The law also provides a 100 percent
homestead exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses
and for surviving spouses of U.S. armed service members killed in action.

? Property Tax Exemptions - Non-profit organizations that meet statutory requirements
may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to the appraisal district by a specific
date. Businesses that receive tax abatements granted by taxing units; ship inventory out
of Texas that may be eligible for the freeport exemption; store certain goods in transit in
warehouses that are moved within 175 days; construct, install or acquire pollution control
property; own and operate energy storage systems; convert landfill-generated gas; or
store offshore drilling equipment while not in use may also be eligible for statutory
exemptions.

? Rendering Taxable Property - If a business owns tangible personal property that is
used to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local county appraisal
district by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory and equipment used by
a business. Owners do not have to render exempt property such as church property or
an agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.

? Appraisal Notices - A Notice of Appraised Value is mailed to each taxpayer in mid May.
This is the taxpayer’s opportunity to check for any discrepancies in their value, property
description, address, exemptions, etc.

? Property Taxpayer Remedies - This Comptroller publication explains in detail how to
protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review board (ARB) can
consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses
the option of taking a taxpayer’s case to district court, the State Office of Administrative
Hearings or binding arbitration if the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB
hearing.

? Homestead Exemptions - A homestead is generally defined as the home and land
used as the owner’s principle residence on January 1 of the tax year. A homestead
exemption reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result, lowers property
taxes. Applications are submitted to the appraisal district.

? Productivity Appraisal - Property owners who use land for timberland production,
agricultural purposes or wildlife management can be granted property tax relief on their 
land. They may apply to the appraisal district for an agricultural appraisal which may
result in a lower appraisal of the land based on how much the taxpayer produces, versus
what the land would sell for in the open market.

? Residence Homestead Tax Deferral - Texas homeowners may postpone paying the
currently delinquent property taxes due on the appreciating value of their homes by filing
a tax deferral affidavit at the appraisal district. This tax relief allows homeowners to pay
the property taxes on 105 percent of the preceding year’s appraised value of their
homestead, plus the taxes on any new improvements to the homestead. The remaining
taxes are postponed, but not cancelled, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year.
? Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older and Disabled Homeowners -
Texans who are 65 years of age or older, or who are disabled as defined by law, may
postpone paying current and delinquent property taxes on their homes by signing a tax
deferral affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file, taxes are deferred, but not cancelled, as
long as the owner continues to own and live in the home. Interest continues to accrue at
5 percent per year on the unpaid taxes. You may obtain a deferral affidavit at the
appraisal district.

? Notice of Availability of Electronic Communication - Chief appraisers of a county
appraisal district and appraisal review boards may communicate electronically through
email or other media with property owners or their designated representatives. Written
agreements are required for notices and other documents to be delivered electronically
in place of mailing.

? Protesting Property Appraisal Values – Property owners who disagree with the
appraisal district’s appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other action that
adversely affects them may protest their property value to the appraisal district’s
appraisal review board.

For more information about these programs, contact the Shelby County Appraisal District at
(936) 598-6171. More information is also available from the state Comptroller’s Property Tax
Assistance Division website at www.comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/. 

In December, Center Wal-Mart Store #364 awarded a grant of $1,000 to Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Inc. in an effort to feed the hungry and assist the needy in our community. 

Shelby County Outreach Ministries operates four different programs that serve residents of Shelby County.  The Helping Hands Outreach Center provides emergency food boxes and assists with utility bills, doctor/dental visits, prescriptions, Ensure, job search accessibility, temporary lodging, and much more.  In 2019, they distributed 3,399 emergency food boxes, which fed 7,087 people.  Overall, the program met 3,994 needs of the clients in Shelby County.  

The Senior Nutrition Site provides meals to senior citizens, 60 years of age and older, fresh and healthy meals.  They also enjoy games, social interaction, educational opportunities, exercise, and more while there.  Meals on Wheels is a program housed out of the Senior Site and delivers meals to homebound seniors.  Collectively, these two programs have provided 19,599 meals to our senior citizens in Shelby County.  The Unique Boutique is our thrift store that takes donated items and sells them for low prices.  This store helps fund our other programs so we can continue serving our community. 

Our organization relies on the support of the community and generous contributions made by individuals, businesses, and churches.  We are extremely grateful to Wal-Mart for their generosity and our local store, their staff.  

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present scenes from the student-directed one-act play “The Disruptive, Discursive Delusions of Donald” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.

Richard Rogers, a senior theatre major from Kerrville, directs playwright Michael Roderick’s story of Donald, who is awakened in the middle of the night by two peculiar strangers who have the power to change his life, all depending on the color of his socks.

The cast features Houston freshman Blayn Larson as Donald; Copperas Cove junior Bailey Van Hecke as Bernice; Porter senior Delaney Brittingham as Shirley; Edinburg junior Makayla Moreno as Dayna; and Wylie junior Drake St. Pierre as Bo.

The production crew includes Valeria De la Cruz, Dallas junior, as stage manager; Mathew Kilgore, Houston senior, scenic designer; Kaitlyn Hall, Rockwall senior, costume designer; Kaylee Satterfield, Hutto junior, lighting designer; Tommy Ross Vest, Sherman sophomore, sound designer; and Jenna Alley, Kingwood sophomore, properties master.

A May candidate for graduation, Rogers has been involved in theatre productions for a number of years but only recently began directing. Upon graduation, he hopes to join a traveling troupe.

Faculty production advisor for the play is Rick Jones.

The play is recommended for mature audience. Admission is $4. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu. The Downstage Theatre is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the documentary “Satan and Adam” at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Satan and Adam” chronicles the unlikely pairing of legendary one-man band Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee and harmonica master Adam Gussow. Shot over 20 years, the film showcases one of the greatest blues duos. According to information at http://satanandadamfilm.com, Magee experienced the music industry’s exploitation of black musicians firsthand. So he walked away to play on the Harlem streets for “his people.” Reborn as Mr. Satan, he spread his gospel and became a New York City legend. When Gussow, a white Jewish musician, asked to play with him, their lives took a powerful turn. Gussow cast aside an ivory tower life, and Magee’s embrace of his apprentice forged a sound that thrust him back in the spotlight due to a chance encounter with rock icons U2. But life on the road took its toll, and Magee vanished. The separation would test both men’s courage, and their journey to find each other again is a tale of tragedy, survival and miraculous rebirth.

The film features U2’s The Edge, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Harry Shearer and Peter Noel. It is directed by V. Scott Balcerek and produced by Ryan Suffern and Frank Marshall of Kennedy/Marshall and RYOT Films.

This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton and the Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Cutline: SFA will screen the documentary “Satan and Adam” at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. Admission is free.

Tri-County Community Action, Inc. will hold a Board Meeting on Monday, February 3, 2020, in Center, Texas. The meeting will be held at the Central Office located (214 Nacogdoches St.) Center, Texas.

The meeting will begin at 6:30pm. For more information call Yolanda Neal at (936) 598-6315 Ext: 200.

Our District 19 Voice of Democracy winner, Jessica Schlaudt also won the state competition. She now competes at the National level for a $30,000 scholarship. She was nominated by Lufkin VFW and Auxiliary 1836. Congrats Jessica.

Basketball Schedules for January 28, 2020.

Center

The Center Roughriders will take on Jasper Bulldogs in Center the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Shelbyville

The Shelbyville Dragons will take on the Garrison Bulldogs in Shelbyville the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Tenaha

The Tenaha Tigers will take on the Joaquin Rams in Tenaha the first game starts at 4:30 p.m. 

Timpson

The Timpson Bears will take on the Martinsville Pirates in Timpson the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Joaquin

The Joaquin Rams will take on the Tenaha Tigers in Tenaha the first game starts at 4:30 p.m. 

Carthage

The Carthage Bulldogs will have a bye.

San Augustine 

The San Augustine Wolves will take on the Woden Eagles in a home game the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Logansport Tigers

The Logansport Tigers will take on Northwood-Lena in an away game the first game starts at 6 p.m.

The Senior Nutrition Site is having another Breakfast Fundraiser!!!  It's going to be on Saturday, February 29th, 2020.  Breakfast will be from 8-11 that day.  ALL YOU CAN EAT!  A simple donation will get you full on Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes, Fruit, Juice, Grits, Biscuits & Gravy, and more!  So, come to support the Senior Nutrition Site and enjoy a delicious breakfast.  For more information, please call 936-598-7768.    

1-28-20

Today, an unidentified person was seen on the FL Moffett campus looking into cars. When approached, the man ran towards the softball field. The area was searched, and he was not found.

According to the Center ISD emergency operation plan, a hold on the FLM and CHS campuses was put in place. The hold has since been lifted. No students were outdoors at the time of the incident, and at no time were students in danger.

Only Soccer Girls in Crockett today at 5:30 pm

JVB/VB/JVG/VG vs Joaquin in the Tenaha SEC at 4:30 pm

Tiger Café’ opens at 5:00 pm

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Guest artist Norman Weinberg will present a recital of contemporary music written for percussion and electronics at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

The performance will include works for percussion with fixed media, percussion with live electronics, and works written exclusively for electronic percussion.

Weinberg will be joined by members of the SFA Percussion Studio in a performance of “Dreams” by David Molk. The work features three live performers with a fixed media track.

“With one player on vibraphone and two ‘stand-up drumset’ performers, the music combines traditional with contemporary musical elements that result in a piece that’s fun and animated for the performers and audience alike,” Weinberg said.

Two of Weinberg’s original works will be featured in the recital. Both were written purely for electronic percussion using instruments called DrumKATs. “Beijing” was composed after hearing a street musician begging under a bridge during a trip to China, while “Hadrian’s Wall” is an experimental composition exploring musical density and rhythmic ambiguity, according to the artist.

Another work on the program, “Apocalyptic Passacaglia on a Theme by John Cage,” was created by composer and conductor Martin Georgiev. This work combines a solo snare drum performance – using various striking positions and special effects – along with a video created by Georgiev that plays the role of a duo partner with rhythmic flashes of “conflict and upheaval in our modern world,” according to the composer.

Other works to be performed are by Brett William Dietz and Andrea Mazzariello.

Currently a professor emeritus at the University of Arizona, Weinberg served as the director of percussion studies for 20 years. He also served as the director of percussions studies at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi from 1979 to 1997. Weinberg has been involved in electronic percussion since 1985 and has nearly 300 published articles on percussion performance and education.

Recital tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Soprano Cristina Castaldi will perform works by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Claude Debussy and Richard Strauss in a guest recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Castaldi is an assistant professor of voice at Wichita State University. Her husband, Gene Philley, who is a former member of the music faculty at Angelina College in Lufkin, is her collaborative pianist. Her SFA program includes Vier Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14 by Korngold; Proses lyriques, L. 84 by Debussy; and Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder, Op. 31.

“This is a tour de force recital program,” she said. “The Strauss, in particular, is usually performed with orchestra. The recital is centered around three composers, four songs per cycle.  There is a common thread throughout the recital of the journey of life and the realities of death.”

She described the program as “unique,” in that the Korngold and Debussy works are “special and not regularly performed.”

“Those who know the Strauss (songs) will enjoy hearing them again,” she said.

Castaldi’s recent vocal performances include soprano soloist in“ Carmina Burana” in Prague, Czech Republic; soprano soloist in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra; as well as the soprano soloist for Wichita Symphony Orchestra in Joseph Haydn’s “The Creation.”

Among her operatic roles are Alice Ford in “Falstaff” and Le Prince Charmant in “Cendrillon” (both award-winning productions) as well as Mimí in a concert performance of “La Bohème” with the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra. Another role of note is the title role of Giovanna d’Arco with Sarasota Opera. The Longboat Observer wrote: “Cristina Castaldi, as Giovanna, has a lovely bearing on stage … got our attention … in the final scene … she became radiant as an actress and singer.”

SHELBY COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a report of a one-vehicle crash this morning 1-27-20 on SH 87, just north of County Road 2050. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office, DPS, Center Fire Department, two Shelby County Constables, and Allegiance Mobile Health all responded. 

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 8:55 a.m., a 2003 Saturn passenger car was traveling south. The driver of the vehicle failed to drive in a single lane and drove across the northbound lane and struck a dirt embankment and then struck a tree.

Wrecked Saturn

The driver is identified as 29-year-old Courtney Reierson from Shelbyville. Reierson was transported from the scene to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches for precautionary measures.

No additional information is available at this time.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office

Alumni event February 15th starting at 1:00.

Order of events:

Alumni Slow pitch softball game.
Alumni Baseball game.

Home run derby

We are asking for a 20.00 donation per event in support of our program. Alumni will receive a rider alumni shirt with their donation.

We will also have food and drink available for purchase.

We are looking forward to good day of fellowship and fun. 
Please email alex.davis@centerisd.org for more information. 

AUSTIN - The Railroad Commission of Texas this week launches two more interactive data maps showing oil and gas drilling permit approvals and the number of wells spudded, which is when operators begin drilling a well. Information is displayed by counts, operators, county locations and on a statewide level. The data is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week beginning with Calendar Year 2018.

"With this latest interactive data on the Commission's drilling permit approvals and wells spudded, our agency is providing more detailed insight into Texas' energy industry," said Wei Wang, RRC's Executive Director. "This helps enhance our regulatory transparency and continues educating the public about one of the state's top economic drivers."

The Commission's first series of interactive data on oil and gas production and plugged abandoned wells is very popular with nearly 8,000 unique page views for oil and gas production data and nearly 1,400 unique page views for the abandoned well plugging data since the information's release in October 2019.

The RRC Approved Drilling Permits Data Visualization Map is available at:

https://rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/data-visualization/drilling-permits/

The map includes:
Total count of approved drilling permits;
Bar chart for top 10 counties;
Bar chart for top 10 operators;
Selection for drilling permit filing purpose such as a new drill, recompletion of an existing well or to re-enter an existing well;

Map showing countywide approved permit count; and
Map for lat/long for each American Petroleum Institute (API) well number
Once approved, RRC drilling permits are valid for two years. RRC wells spudded data shows the number of wells that have begun drilling operations. The Wells Spudded Data Visualization is available at:https://rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/data-visualization/wells-spudded/

The map includes:
Count of wells spudded* in a month;
Bar chart for top 10 counties;
Bar chart for top 10 operators;
Map showing countywide count of wells spudded; and
Map for lat/long for each American Petroleum Institute (API) well number
*As one of the first steps of the well completion process, the number of wells spudded in a month may provide a snapshot of drilling in a particular area. RRC's Well Compliance Department uses this data to monitor and regulate well completion activity on a monthly basis.

Previously released data visualization maps can be found at:

Oil & Gas Production Data Visualization:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/data-visualization/oil-and-gas-production/

Plugged Abandoned Wells (State Managed Well Data Visualization):

https://rrc.texas.gov/oil-gas/research-and-statistics/data-visualization/state-managed-well-plugging/

On January 27, 2020, the local VFW Post 8904 and the Auxillary held a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of those who served in Vietnam. It took place on the downtown Center city square on the grounds of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse at the Veteran's Memorial located next to the flag poles.

Excelsior would like to announce our 3rd six weeks Perfect Attendance, A Honor Roll, and A/B Honor Roll

Perfect Attendance
Hope Escobedo, Esteban Jimenez, Sterling Jones, Jordin Metcalf, Santiago Chable-Jimenez, Jake Lovell, Codi West, Brandon Escobedo, Justin Miles, Trey Sholar, Marissa Miles, Melanie Miles, Zachery Stotts, Ileigh Burcham, Devin Warren, Gracie Gillis, Emily Leach, Jaquelyn Miles, Kaycee Vaughn, Blake Warren, Katelyn Bentley, Stephen Bentley, Anthone Davis-Katan, Victoria King, Larkin Sears, Jaxon Williams, Leah Fountain, Evea Glasson, Ethan Miles

A Honor Roll
1st grade – Isabella Almaraz, Hallie Barbee
2nd grade – Lillian Brown, Wyatt Foster, Allen Whitton
3rd grade –C J Clark, Justin Miles
4th grade – Hennessey Anderson, Lance Brown, Brooklynn Scates
5th grade – Mikayla Anderson
6th grade – Emily Alvy, Gracie Gillis, Emily Leach
7th grade – Katelyn Bentley, Victoria King
8th grade – Lisseth Arias, Evea Glasson, Ethan Miles

A/B Honor Roll
1st grade – Clay Warr, Jamie Warr, Cannon Welch
3rd grade– Brandon Escobedo, Aiden Kelley, Wyatt Lewis, Trey Sholar
4th grade – Lexi Clark, Caidence Kelley, Marissa Miles, Melanie Miles, Zachery Stotts
5th grade – Kaleb Bentley, Lillian Ethridge, Jocelyn Stewart, Devin Warren
6th grade – Kingston Menzies, Jaquelyn Miles, Kaycee Vaughn, 
7th grade – Anthone Davis-Katan, Brian McDonald, Larkin Sears,
8th grade –Leah Fountain, Joanie McDonald, Jordan Menzies

Tenaha 39
Woden 36

Timpson 59
Joaquin 36

Logansport 51
LaSalle 32

Carthage 67
Huntington 41

Garrison 64
San Augustine 61

The Jury that was summoned for Monday, January 27th, 2020, for the 273rd Judicial District Court, Honorable James A. Payne Jr., presiding, has been cancelled.

All cases scheduled have been resolved or passed.

Anyone receiving a jury summons for this day is released until they receive a future summons.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Lori Oliver
District Clerk

Center High School is hosting a spring meeting for Senior parents and students on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in the high school cafetorium at 5:30 p.m.   Senior spring events will be discussed and forms distributed.  Parents are urged to attend this important meeting.  Questions may be directed to Alease Copelin at 598-1512.

Please announce through Feb. 3rd.

Thank you!
Alease Copelin

ANGELINA COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a two vehicle crash this evening on US 59, just south of the Angelina County Airport. 

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 6:20 p.m., a 2018 Ford SUV exited a local road and began traveling north in the inside lane. Two motorcycles traveling together, also in the inside lane, attempted to avoid a collision with the Ford. The driver of a 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle drove to the left of the Ford and then attempted to re-enter the inside lane; striking the left front portion of the SUV. 

The driver of the Ford is identified as 64-year-old Linda Frankens from Diboll. Frankens was not injured during the crash. 

The driver of the motorcycle is identified as 46-year-old Jeremy Torrence from Converse, TX. Torrence was transported to CHI St. Luke’s Hospital in Lufkin for treatment. 

A passenger traveling with Torrence is identified as 44-year-old Barbara Delong from Luling, TX. Delong was transported to Conroe Regional Medical Center by medical helicopter for treatment. 

No additional information is available at this time. 
### 
 

Sunday, January 26, 2020 the First United Methodist Church in Joaquin will have as the morning speaker Teresa Richenberger from Kilgore, TX.

Teresa has a powerful testimony to share. As a teenager, she began to feel her life was hopeless and her story will grip you with it honesty and raw portrayal of a woman who tried everything the world could offer and still came up empty. God has taken her experiences and given her the ability to tell everyone her story of his love.

Service begins at 10:30 a.m. and all are welcome. We especially invite the young people of our area to come as you are and hear a story you won't believe.

Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 29th day of January, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1.     Approve and pay weekly expenses.

2.    Public comments on Agenda item.

3.    Discuss and possibly take on the State-Mandated Cybersecurity Course that is required for all county employees who have access to County computer systems and/or databases.

4.    Discuss and possibly approve update/repair of bridge on County Road 4773.

5.    Update on JP. 1 Office.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

6.    An Executive Session will also be held for the purpose of discussing personnel, hearing complaints against personnel, or to deliberate the appointed, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee. The closed session is authorized by Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.074.

7.    Reopen public meeting.

8.    Discuss and possibly make a decision on issues discussed in the Executive Session.

9.    Adjourn. 

My father, Cecil Murphy, was an avid foxhunter when I was young.  He usually kept four or five Walker foxhounds in a pen behind our house.  The dogs were always eager to hop into the back of his pickup truck and be taken into the woods to chase the elusive fox.  Dad hunted with them as often as time would permit from the late 1940s until the early 1960s.

One of my father’s favorite places was Boles Field, which was located in Shelby County, Texas, and was accessible only by a graveled dirt road.  Each year, the Texas Fox and Wolf Hunters’ Association sponsored a long weekend of events for member hunters.  This included several hunts for the dogs and a sort of “beauty pageant” for the hounds.  Many of the hunters pitched tents or set up campers and had a great time at this event.  My dad and I tried to teach several of his hounds to “show”, but we never had much luck with that.

Over the years as fox hunting began to wane in popularity, these events at Boles Field were eliminated.  But, there is one thing that remains there today that I believe is found nowhere else is a cemetery for the more “famous” of the foxhounds.  This cemetery was established at the turn of the last century.

At last count, there were twenty-seven dogs buried in the cemetery representing the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.  The cemetery is known as the National Fox Hounds Cemetery.  In the dog cemetery is a monument that reads, “This memorial is erected in appreciation of the noted foxhunters and foxhounds in America”.

As I walk through Boles Field today, I can still see part of the old amphitheater where the hounds were shown.  It is now located in the Sabine National Forest and contains camping facilities, electrical hook-ups, and a public rest room.  A good paved road makes for easy access.

I feel sure that the tall pine trees yearn to hear the sounds of foxhounds chasing the fox again.  And they miss the smell of campfires, hot coffee boiling, marshmallows being roasted, and the sounds of hundreds of hunters, their families, and most of all, the presence of Mr. Hinkle Shillings, who was one of the more famous foxhunters in this area of Texas.

The “dog cemetery” is a reminder to us today of the sport of foxhunting which was popular many years ago in East Texas, and the importance of a good foxhound.  Unfortunately, the barbed wire fence played a major part in the demise of the sport, but that’s another story.

TYLER, Texas - U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced on Jan 24, 2020, that nine individuals have been arrested pursuant to a federal indictment charging them with drug and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

A federal grand jury returned the 42-count indictment on Jan. 15, 2020, charging the following individuals with being involved in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine in Smith, Cherokee, and Rusk counties:

Alexa Leigh Brown, 50, of Tyler;

Stanley Wayne Hunter, 43, of Troup, Texas;

David Raymond Lusk, 41, of Jacksonville, Texas;

Johnathan Rudy Duke, 30, of Recklaw, Texas;

Anthony Russell Hamilton, 42, of Tyler;

Donald Ray Carr, 55, of Tyler;

Justin Ray Carr, 32, of Tyler;

Joseph Paul Melancon, 46, of Henderson, Texas; and

Tonya Hudson Hammonds, 46, of Troup.

The indictment alleges that the arrested individuals conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, and that several of the defendants possessed firearms while being convicted felons and in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities.  The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on Jan. 22 and 24, 2020, to be arraigned on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and use, carrying, or possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Many of the charged offenses carry a statutory penalty range that includes life in prison.

This case is the result of a nearly two-year joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Texas Department of Public Safety; Smith County Sheriff's Office, Tyler Police Department, Troup Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Rusk County Sheriff's Office, Henderson Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

An indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — In the gym at the Nettie Marshall Academy of Dual Language, an elementary school in Nacogdoches, fourth and fifth graders are solving math problems tied to real-world careers instead of playing basketball.

At Mathematics Career Carnival, the lessons are designed and taught by Stephen F. Austin State University teacher candidates. This past fall, fourth and fifth graders at the SFA Charter School and Nettie Marshall participated in the carnival. Emeline Carpenter Elementary School will host the event April 24.

Dr. Mark Montgomery, SFA assistant professor of elementary education and a faculty advisor for the Mathematics Career Carnival for the past four years, said this event “helps teacher candidates understand how easy it can be to engage young learners in problem-solving mathematics tasks and to connect classroom learning with real-world careers.”

He added, “It also shows them that sometimes you have to teach on the fly and adjust for a student who needs support to be successful or who is ready to extend his or her learning.” 

The event on Dec. 2 at the dual-language academy offered an added benefit: “We got to work with students who are learning English as a second language,” said Amy Almanza, an elementary education senior from Palestine.

Most of the 30 teacher candidates at the Nettie Marshall Mathematics Career Carnival were participating in SFA’s online completer program in the James I. Perkins College of Education. They have earned credits at other colleges, sometimes for other degrees, that they’re applying toward an education degree at SFA.

Some of these teacher candidates are taking classes while working and raising families in cities outside Nacogdoches. Some are building the path toward second careers. They’re all completing their degrees mostly through online courses and discussion boards using technology SFA has invested in such as D2L.

Almanza chose SFA to complete her degree because, “It was the most accommodating school. The professors here understand we have busy lives outside school.”

Dr. Paula Griffin, an SFA associate professor of elementary education and a faculty advisor for the Mathematics Career Carnival, has taught in the online completer program since 2006. “SFA has partnerships with many community colleges to help ensure these completers can seamlessly transition into their coursework here,” she said.

Almanza has a full-time job as a preschool teacher for Palestine Independent School District, but she wants to teach and coach older students in high school. She also has two kids of her own.

“The online courses work perfectly for me,” she said. “I’m able to complete my whole degree and keep my job. And because I’m already teaching in my school district, I’ve got my foot in the door for other jobs at PISD.”

Wensdy Maldanado, an elementary education senior from Jacksonville, has worked the past 10 years as a personal loan officer. Though she found that job rewarding, she “wanted to help people learn and grow. Plus, I want to work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” she said.

Alex Smith, an elementary education senior from Hudson, earned a nursing degree in 2014 and passed her state nursing exams in 2015. Though she enjoyed working with her patients, who were mostly elderly residents at nursing homes, she grew frustrated at the lack of resources these facilities face.

Smith took a job as a school nurse and started substitute teaching for the Hudson Independent School District. “I truly always wanted to be a teacher, but face-to-face classes weren’t practical at this point,” she said.

SFA’s online completer program offered Smith a way to use the core credits she’d already earned for her nursing degree toward an elementary education degree.

Almanza, Maldanado and Smith met in their first online education class, and the trio formed a study group. “You have to have a support group when you’re earning a degree online,” Almanza said.

For online teacher candidates, experiences like Mathematics Career Carnival offer not only valuable training with elementary school kids but also a chance to interact in person with classmates and professors.

“This wasn’t a mandatory event, but we wanted to do it,” Maldanado said. “We saw it as an opportunity.”

Smith’s experience as a nurse came in handy during the carnival. She used a real-world situation — diagnosing patients and prescribing the appropriate medications for them — to teach Nettie Marshall fifth graders about whole numbers and fractions with her lesson, Med Pass.

“To give the right dose of medicine to the right patient, the fifth graders have to be able to divide whole numbers by unit fractions and vice versa,” Smith said.

In the end, Mathematics Career Carnival helped both teacher candidates and elementary school students focus on their future careers.

For more information about online completer programs in the Perkins College of Education, email ec6online@sfasu.edu.

Center

The Center Roughriders will have a bye.

Shelbyville

The Shelbyville Dragons will take on the Martinsville Pirates on Friday Jan 24, 2020, in Martinsville the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Tenaha

Game Change for Tenaha Friday Night Basketball: JVB/VB/VG starting at 5:00 pm in Woden.

Timpson

The Timpson Bears will take on the Joaquin Rams in Joaquin on Friday Jan 24, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Carthage

The Carthage Bulldogs will take on Huntington in Carthage on Friday Jan 24, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Logansport

The Logansport Tigers will take on LaSalle in an away game on Friday Jan 24, 2020, the first game starts at 6 p.m.

It’s a new year and time for a new you!  Become the biggest loser in Shelby County — of weight, that is.  Prizes will be awarded to the most successful competitors in the county’s weight loss and physical fitness program.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office is launching Step Up & Scale Down, a 12-week weight management program to help the public in their efforts. 
Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for a two-part program with Lighten Up East Texas.  The opening weigh-in of participants will take place 

January 24 – 31, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Shelby County Extension office at 266 Nacogdoches Street, Center, Texas. Participants will weigh-in and submit a $40 participation fee.  You must weigh in by January 31st to participate in Lighten Up East Texas.

Winners of the 12-week challenge will be determined by the percentage of body weight they lose during the three-month competition, not by lost pounds.  All participants will weigh-in bi-weekly to chart their progress (weights will be kept confidential), which ends with a final weigh-in at the Extension office the week of April 27.  The winners will be awarded prizes for 1st – 3rd places, respectively, and recognized at a celebration event on May 7th.

Shelby County Extension Agent, Feleshia Thompson, says the Step-Up Scale Down program will also include:

“weekly Walking with a Purpose fitness program, 
weekly healthy cooking nutrition classes, 
guest speakers on various topics,
health screenings,
weekly door prizes
fun, hands-on cooking demonstrations and tastings,
5K Fun Run and Walk, and a
fitness component designed specifically for churches.”

In conjunction, participants will be encouraged to enter an additional weight loss challenge for all of East Texas entitled Lighten Up East Texas.  Participants in this free contest will be eligible to win grand prizes such as $5,000 in cash for the top participant with the highest percentage of weight lost, and other prizes for those losing 5% or more in weight.  For more information on this weight-loss challenge go to www.LUET.org

Thompson says she expects the weight-loss program to make a big impact again this year.  “This is a challenge designed to be fun” she says, “but at the same time help people achieve their weight-loss goals and although there are prizes, everyone who reaches a healthier weight is a winner.”  

If you have questions about this wellness program, please contact Feleshia Thompson, County Extension Agent – Family and Community Health at 598-7744 or feleshia.thompson@ag.tamu.edu or follow us on Facebook at Shelby Extension Service.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Members of the music faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University will highlight works by American composer Daron Hagen in a voice and piano recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Dr. Ron Petti, professor and director of collaborative piano for the School of Music, annually performs a concert with members of the voice faculty that features different composers’ music for voice and piano.

“This year’s composer is Daron Hagen, who has written more than 400 art songs, several operas and other works,” Petti said, adding that the NATS Journal of Singing calls him “the finest American composer of vocal music in his generation.”

“His songs are often very lush harmonically with Italianate vocal lines,” Petti said. “His compositional style is very appealing to a wide variety of listeners.”

Hagen began his education at the Curtis Institute of Music and was one of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ned Rorem’s first students. Hagen continued his studies at Juilliard under classical composer David Diamond and later studied with the acclaimed Leonard Bernstein. Hagen’s works have been premiered by the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and others. He recently completed a book, “Duet with the Past: A Composer’s Memoir.”

Petti will collaborate with faculty vocalists Debbie Berry, soprano; Ric Berry, tenor; James Held, baritone; Nita Hudson, mezzo soprano; Scott LaGraff, baritone; and Chris Turner, baritone. Jamie Weaver, associate professor of music history, will present a pre-performance talk about the composer and his music.

Hagen will be in attendance for the Feb. 4 concert and will also present vocal/collaborative piano and composition masterclasses with SFA music students. He will also do a dramatic reading from his memoirs at 6:30 p.m. prior to the concert.

“The Songs of Daron Hagen” recital is a feature of the School of Music’s Friends of Music Concert Series. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

Cutline: Works by composer Daron Hagen, pictured, will be featured in a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus. The concert will be presented by Dr. Ron Petti, director of collaborative piano for the School of Music, and members of the music voice faculty.

Game Change for Tenaha Friday Night Basketball: JVB/VB/VG starting at 5:00 pm in Woden.

According to the Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center the Princess Ball has sold out of tickets. 

This was submitted by Tom Johnson. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The planetarium in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Cole STEM Building will offer new shows on Saturdays starting Feb. 1.

The planetarium has public shows every Saturday with group shows available throughout the week upon reservation.

“Molecularium” is a matinee show that takes audiences on an adventure into the world of atoms and molecules. Geared toward children but open to all ages, the show will be presented at 3 p.m. Tickets are $3.

“Secrets of Stars” will be presented at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children, students, and faculty and staff with ID.

“Join narrator Patrick Stewart as we explore the inner workings of stars, their life cycles and many other secrets of these distant suns,” said Ed Michaels, planetarium director.

The shows will be offered Feb. 1 through 29 and on March 21.

For more information, to make a group reservation or view the schedule, visit planetarium.sfasu.edu.

Deputy Price and Army take more meth off the street. This a great team that works hard and is regularly making narcotics cases and being utilized in patrol situations. Keep up the good work Deputy Price & Army!!!

Largent Consulting LLC is currently taking applications for the position of Superintendent of Schools for Center ISD. Deadline to apply is February 28, 2020.

For more information on the timeline and application process please visit:
https://largentconsulting.org/superintendent-search1.html

Joaquin ISD Senior Scholarship Meeting. 

The 9th annual Princess Ball is approaching! Start planning now to attend the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center Princess Ball on Saturday, February 29, 2020, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the John D. Windham Civic Center. The evening will include a pink carpet entrance, music and dancing, refreshments, and a special gift for each princess that attends. Photographers will be available starting at 5:30 pm.

The event is open to girls ages 3-13 and their adult family member escort. Tickets are $20 and will go on sale January 13th. Table reservations for parties of eight are available for an additional $50.

You must purchase tickets before the event—they are not sold at the door. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to give your princess a magical night. Tickets are available at the Advocacy Center, 131 Tenaha Street, Monday- Friday 8:00 am-3:00 pm, 936-590-9864, or Dazzle Me Pink & Blue at 902 Tenaha Street, Tuesday-Friday 10:00 am-6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm, 936-590-6822. Tickets sell out very quickly every year, so don’t delay!

Boys varsity basketball scores. 

Center 68
Hudson 54

Timpson 45
Woden 43

Tenaha 67
Garrison 58

Carthage 76
Jasper 65

TYLER, Texas – A 38-year-old Carthage, Texas, man has been convicted of federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.

Timothy Earl Brown was found guilty today of being a felon in possession of a firearm  and ammunition  following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.

According to information presented in court, on Oct. 14, 2016, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a rural residence in Panola County for a prowler.  Brown was spotted by law enforcement carrying a rifle in a wooded area near the home.  Brown fled but was apprehended and also found in possession of a revolver.  Further investigation revealed Brown is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.  Brown was convicted in Panola County in 2000 for theft, in 2000 for escape and in 2011 for sexual assault.  He also has a prior conviction in the Eastern District of Texas for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2004.   Brown was indicted for this incident on June 21, 2018 and charged with federal firearms violations.

Under the federal statute, Brown faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence; deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition, and body armor; and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

This case was investigated by the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Noble and Alan Jackson.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Nacogdoches and campus communities are invited to experience firsthand what it’s like to live in poverty during the Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Multicultural Affairs’ third annual Poverty Simulation.

“The Poverty Simulation is designed to help participants begin to comprehend what it might be like to live in poverty and survive from week to week,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “Participants will be divided into ‘families’ who will then experience together some of the daily challenges a family in poverty may endure over a simulated one-month experience. This event will take two to three hours.”

Past participants have called the event an “awesome, eye-opening experience,” one that allowed individuals to understand “real-world situations and the things people go through” living in poverty, Beavers said.

“The main impact of this event is awareness,” she added. “Poverty is a global issue and, in particular, is a major issue in the Nacogdoches community. This event will educate participants on poverty and challenge them to gain new perspectives.”

New to this year’s event is the addition of a second session for SFA nursing students only. The first session will be open the public. Campus and Nacogdoches community members are invited to serve as volunteers at both sessions.

Hosted in partnership with the East Texas Human Needs Network, the third annual Poverty Simulation will take place Feb. 14 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the SFA campus. It is free to attend.

The public session will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The nursing-only session will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.

Participation for both sessions is limited, so individuals interested in attending are asked to pre-register by Feb. 7.

To sign up as a participant or volunteer, or for more information, visit sfasu.edu/oma.

8th Grade TSI Testing will be held on January 30, 2020 in the Junior High Computer Lab.
 
This test is for 8th grade students who signed up to take the TSI test.  If you have any questions please  contact the junior high office. 

Sabine County Beekeepers will meet Monday February 3rd.at 6:30pm at Sabine County Chamber of Commerce (125 N. Texas Street on the square in downtown Hemphill). We meet the first Monday of every month to discuss all aspects of beekeeping. If you are interested in finding out what we are all about please stop by. We have no officers,and no dues. For more info call James 409-625-4787.

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court met on Janurary 22nd, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the active Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, in Center, Texas.

The following occurred:

Approved and paid the weekly expenses.

They approved the current payroll.

No public comments were given on the agenda items.

They recorded the filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund for Janurary 2020.

They Recognized the completion of required continuing education for Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk.

They tabled the discussion on radio communications with First Responders.

They adjourned.

The Shelbyville Dragons and Lady Dragons will play Friday, Jan 24 at Martinsville.

Harvest for Homes will have a produce drop on January 22 at Ivan Smith Parking lot close to Sombero's please do not park in front of any business & bring your own box. 

The time will be 9 a.m.

Congratulations to Senior Elizabeth ("Liz") for earning the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Honorable Mention Award! Elizabeth was among the top 10% of 4,600 applicants and is the NCWIT Houston Affiliate winner. We are proud of her accomplishments! #wolfnation

The Joaquin FFA officer team was up before the chickens on Monday morning so that they could prepare breakfast for the Jr High/High School staff on Martin Luther King Day. Proud of the kids for getting up and taking time to thank the people who help guide them in school daily.

Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 22nd day of January, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1.    Approve and pay weekly expenses.

2.    Approve current payroll.

3.    Public comments on Agenda item.

4.    Record the filing of the Vehicle Inventory Tax Fund for January 2020.

5.    Recognize completion of required continuing education for Jennifer Fountain, County Clerk.

6.    Discuss Radio Communications with First Responders.

7.    Adjourn.
 

SHELBY COUNTY – On January 17, The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a one vehicle fatal crash on FM 2787, about two and one half miles south of Joaquin.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:30 p.m., a 2014 Dodge pickup was traveling north. For unknown reasons the pickup drove off the roadway to the left and struck a tree.

The driver is identified as 44-year-old Johnnie Briggs from Joaquin. Briggs was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Shelby County Justice of the Peace. No additional information is available at this time.

The Team Store will open at 4:30 p.m. today for the games against Woden.

Balfour will be at the High School on Friday, January 24th at 10:00 a.m. to deliver graduation orders.  If you  have a balance you will receive a second text. Rings will be delivered January 31st at 8:30 a.m.

The Center Fire Department is responding to the report of a vehicle on fire in front of union acres.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Fashion designer, CEO and philanthropist Kendra Scott will headline the 2020 installment of the Archie McDonald Speaker Series in April at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Scott, who started her Austin-based jewelry company in 2002 with only $500, leads her business on the foundation of three core values — family, fashion and philanthropy. Her company now employs more than 2,000 and boasts a thriving web business and more than 100 Kendra Scott standalone stores. Scott’s merchandise also is sold at retailers that include Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales. In addition to fashion and fine jewelry, her brand also encompasses home accessories and nail lacquer.

A loving mother, driven entrepreneur and passionate designer, Scott’s vibrant personality and commitment to innovation, quality and detail brought her from a small startup to a billion-dollar business and brand with millions of loyal fans, including celebrities. Known for her use of dynamic color and genuine materials, Scott believes the truest form of success is giving back in a meaningful way.

She has created a brand and culture that authentically values giving back and making a positive difference in the community. The Kendra Scott company maintains a focus on its customers and the causes close to their hearts.

In 2015, Scott launched the Kendra Cares Program, which allows community members to host in-store events for causes and organizations that work to improve health and wellness, education, entrepreneurship and empowerment. In 2018 alone, the company gave more than $5 million in monetary donations, almost $10 million in in-kind donations and more than 2,000 volunteer hours to philanthropic organizations, and partnered with more than 8,000 philanthropic organizations nationwide.

The speaker series event is free and scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the SFA campus. A private reception for 100 guests will be held prior to the main event. Private reception tickets can be purchased by contacting Sarah Sargent, SFA development assistant, at (936) 468-5406.

“Kendra Scott sets an example for our students on how someone can be super successful in business and also super passionate about making a difference in the world,” said Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA vice president for university affairs. “The recently announced Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute is a prime example of how she is sharing her passion for business leadership with others, especially aspiring female leaders. We are thrilled she will be on our campus soon so our students can hear about her work firsthand.”?

In 2017, Scott was presented with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She also has received the Breakthrough Award from the Accessories Council Excellence Awards, was named Outstanding Mother of the Year by the Mother’s Day Council, awarded Businesswoman of the Year by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, listed by Forbes as one of America’s richest self-made women, named among the Top 100 Entrepreneurs of the Year by Upstart Business Journal and recognized as Best CEO by Austin Business Journal. She is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and maintains her position as chairman of the board of Kendra Scott.

The Archie McDonald Speaker Series was created in 2010 by SFA's College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Dr. Brian Murphy, dean of the college, designed the event to honor and preserve the legacy of Dr. Archie McDonald as a distinguished scholar, educator and community commentator. In the tradition of McDonald's writings and oral presentations, a prominent national figure is hosted annually at SFA to discuss contemporary cultural issues.

McDonald taught history at SFA for 48 years and served as director of the East Texas Historical Association and editor of the association's journal for 37 years. He was a past president of the Texas State Historical Association, past vice chair of the Texas Historical Commission and author/editor of more than 20 books on historical topics. Along with teaching, he was a commentator on Red River Radio in Shreveport and wrote a weekly column for area newspapers. He passed away Aug. 16, 2012.

McDonald participated in the first three events in the speaker series, interviewing former heavyweight champion boxer and iconic businessman George Foreman, Apollo 12 astronaut and professional artist Alan Bean, and the 61st U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Additional guests have included former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Grammy award-winning singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett, Olympic All-Around Gold Medal winner in gymnastics Mary Lou Retton, legendary head football coach Gene Stallings, noted presidential historian Douglas Brinkley and physician and TV personality Dr. Jennifer Arnold.

SFA's Student Government Association sponsors the speaker series, which is open to the public. Starting March 2020, passes may be obtained at the Involvement Center on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus or at the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 200 East Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-5406.

Center 
The Center Roughriders will take on Hudson in a Home game on Jan 21, 2020, the first game begins at 4:30 p.m.

Shelbyville
The Shelbyville Dragons will take on the San Augustine Wolves in San Augustine on Jan 21, 2020, the first game begins at 4:30 p.m.

Tenaha
The Tenaha Tigers will take on the Garrison Bulldogs in Tenaha on Jan 21, 2020, the first game begins at 4:30 p.m.

Timpson
The Timpson Bears will take on the Woden Eagles in Timpson on Jan 21, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Joaquin

The Joaquin Rams will take on the Martinsville Pirates on Jan 21, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Carthage

The Carthage Bulldogs will take on Jasper on Jan 21, 2020, the game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Logansport

The Logansport Tigers will take on St. Mary's in a home on Jan 21, 2020, the game will start at 6 p.m.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The second volume of the exhibition “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries” opens Jan. 21 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. A reception for Volume II is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in The Cole Art Center.

Curated by Dr. John Handley, director of SFA’s art galleries, and Dr. David A. Lewis, professor of art history, the exhibition, presented in two volumes, offers a series of “chapters” that explore the evolution of the printed illustration, beginning with the Incunabulum (meaning the first 50 years of the printed book), including the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 and continuing up to the 20th century. Volume I was exhibited Oct. 31 through Jan. 5; Volume II will show through March 29.

This extensive and unique exhibition highlights a major art form that is often overlooked, according to Handley.

“Book illustration historically has consisted of original prints in such media as woodcut, wood engraving, etching, copperplate engravings, and later, lithography and process printing using photo mechanical techniques,” Handley said. “As such, this show links the graphic arts with fine arts, since books are not only illustrated but connect those images to text.”

Because the exhibition contains books and other printed items that are hundreds of years old, the materials will be displayed under protective glass. Viewers will be able to “see” additional pages in the books by scanning codes on mobile devices, including phones.

Art exhibitions and receptions are sponsored by the Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum, William Arscott and The Flower Shop. Admission is free.

For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

Had a great time at Union Grove with these 3! Mark won first in LD and was top speaker and was second in Persuasive Speaking. Kristen was first in CX (going maverick) and was top speaker. Hope was 2-1 in LD and finished seventh overall.

On Janurary 20, 2020, there was a MLK Day Parade/March at 4 p.m. with lineup that started at 3:30 p.m. at the Center Post Office.

Joyce Johnson

This event was started by Joyce Johnson who is currently a Center Council Member, who also helped to have a street name changed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., which is why we currently have an MLK street in Center.

Joaquin City Meetings Scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Click here for the agendas:

Center Fire Department are reponding to the report of a pasture fire in the Neuville Community. 

Remember Monday, January 20, 2019, is MLK day schools, banks, and other institutions will be closed as it is a federal holiday.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The Corporation for National and Community service has been charged to lead this effort for the last quarter-century.

MLK Day Events

San Augustine Mayor, Leroy Hughes, invites the entire community to join in a Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Monday, January 20, 2020. It will begin with a walk together through downtown San Augustine. There will be a program after at the Senior Center Building commemorating Dr. King and his belief that race should not divide people.

The walk will begin Monday at 10 am in front of the First Baptist Church on East Columbia, and it will end at the Senior Building on Bolivar Street.

School Holiday - Timpson ISD will be closed Monday, January 20th, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  Classes will resume at the regular time on Tuesday, January 21st.

Collegiate News - There are 9 Timpson High School students who are on track to graduate in May with their Associate’s Degree. 

With no El Nino or La Nina we will likely have the following Warmer than normal temperatures where we live.  Maybe, through April. But, lets take it a month at a time.

FEBRUARY

Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of January 2020 the Board of Trustees of the Joaquin School District will hold a regular meeting at 4:00 p.m., at the Administration building, Joaquin, Texas.

Click here for the agenda:

HOUSTON -- The Association of Texas Small School Bands is pleased to announce the selection of the 2020 ATSSB All-State Band. More than 10,000 high school band students from across Texas auditioned in twenty-two different regions for a place in their respective all-region bands.

Alyssa Parks, a junior member of the Timpson High School Band, was selected as a member of this band for the second consecutive year, according to Timpson Band Director Deshmond Johnson.

She was chosen for this honor in competitive auditions held this year across the state at region and area levels. Parks plays clarinet in band at Timpson under the direction of Johnson and James Trammell, who are members of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, a 1,175-member group of band directors in class 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A high schools in Texas.

Johnson said Parks made Area qualifications on both the B-flat clarinet and Alto clarinet, and earned her position in the All-State on the Alto Clarinet. She is the daughter of Dwyer and Marie Jackson.

Fabian Martinez (senior, tuba) earned third chair and Jayden Windham (freshman, tuba) earned fifth chair at the area tryouts this past weekend representing Timpson.

“Congratulations to each one of these students,” Johnson said. “We are proud of how you represented our school and community!”

The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held this past weekend across the state and only 280 of these 2,288 students were selected for all-state honors.

The ATSSB All-State Bands will meet in rehearsals in San Antonio, Feb. 12- 15 and will present a concert beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb.15, in the Lila Cockrell Theatre of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in downtown San Antonio. Dr. David F. Wilborn, Texas A&M (College Station), will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band. Eugene Corporon, North Texas State University (Denton), will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Symphonic Band.

Carthage 73, Center 58

Shelbyville 78, Tenaha Tigers 75

Logansport 60, Montgomery 45

(Longview, Texas)— In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, LeTourneau University offices and the Margaret Estes Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 20.  University offices and the library will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21.

LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines and delivery models at LETU’s residential campus in Longview, Texas, hybrid options at centers in the Dallas and Houston areas and fully online programs. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.

TYLER, Texas – A 24-year-old Jacksonville, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown.

David Anthony Ebanez pleaded guilty on Sep. 4, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.  

According to information presented in court, on April 10, 2019, Ebanez was found in possession of over 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk, Texas.  Ebanez was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2019, and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

This case was investigated by the DEA Dallas Field Division, Tyler Resident Office; the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ann Cozby and Colleen Bloss.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Tickets are still available for the Encore Event concert featuring the multi-Dove Award-winning and two-time Grammy-nominated family of singers, The Isaacs, performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus. A special event presented by the College of Fine Arts and its University Series, the concert is sponsored in part by BancorpSouth.

Encore Event tickets are: adult $45/36/27; senior $36/29/21; youth $18/14/11; SFA student $3. All seating is reserved. Pricing is based on seating (section A/B/C). Discounts are also available for SFA faculty and staff members. For more information, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

The Center Fire Department are responding to the report of a tractor on fire in the area of County Road 1011.

A common wintertime pest in cattle herds – lice – can suck money from producers’ pockets.

Cattle producers should be mindful of a common pest – lice – in their herd. Longer winter coats on cattle provide ideal conditions for populations to grow and become a problem that can hurt herd health and producers’ profitability.

Lice can infest cattle throughout the year, but more problems are seen from December to March.  As the weather gets colder, cows grow longer, thicker hair and that produces better cover and protection for lice, which means the lice have better reproductive rates. There are two types of lice that affect cattle herds, biting lice and sucking lice. Lice will cause reduced appetite in a herd, which means reduced performance. It’s important to be aware of the pest this time of year. Lice can also reduce red blood cells by 75 percent, and animals with heavy infestations can become anemic. They are transmitted through physical contact between cows. Breaking the pests’ life cycle is the key to lice control.

It’s important to know that available treatment products don’t kill the eggs. So, many control methods will take two treatments before the life cycle is broken. And always treat every animal in the herd because that one you don’t treat will be the one that causes another infestation for you to deal with.

If using traditional insecticides like Cylence or most permethrin-based products, then an initial insecticide application should be made to knock down populations followed by another application 2-3 weeks later.

There are products available like Standguard and Clean-up II that require only one treatment. Additionally, certain pour-on dewormers including – Eprinex, Cydectin and Dectomax – only need to be applied once this time of year for season long control.

If you go with an injectable dewormer for internal parasites, it’s important to know they only get the sucking lice and won’t control biting lice. If they use injectable dewormers, make sure you use a pour-on insecticide to take care of the biting lice.

Always read and follow label directions when using dewormers and insecticides for control. Any new cows or bulls should be treated prior to introduction to the herd. After the treatment regimen, your cattle will typically be in good shape until the next fall or winter. Treat them, control them, and you’re done.

Lane Dunn is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Shelby County. His email address is jldunn@ag.tamu.edu

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, national origin, genetic information or veteran status.  The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating. 

The Timpson Team Store will be open on Friday, January 17, 2020, starting at 4:30 p.m. for all four games against Garrison.

Center

The Center Roughriders will take on the Carthage Bulldogs in Carthage on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Shelbyville

The Shelbyville Dragons will take on the Tenaha Tigers in Tenaha this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Timpson

The Timpson Bears will also play against the Garrison Bulldogs a home game for Timpson this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Joaquin

The Joaquin Rams will take on the Garrison Bulldogs in Garrison on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

The Joaquin Rams will also take on the Woden Eagles in Joaquin this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Carthage

The Carthage Bulldogs will take on the Texas High Tigers a home game for Carthage on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, the first game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Logansport 

The Logansport Tigers will also take on Montgomery Tigers in an away for Logansport on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at 6 p.m.

She loved to work with hair.  In fact, it became her occupation for over sixty-five years.  My mother, Alice Whitton, was born in Bland Lake, Texas, in 1910.  At age sixteen, she married my father, Cecil Murphy.  By age twenty, she had two children.  At the age of eighteen, she began cutting and curling her family member’s hair.  She acquired her beauty and barber license from the state when she opened her first beauty shop in her home in 1933.

Alice Murphy either owned or worked in a beauty shop in several locations in San Augustine, Texas, over the next forty-two years.  She officially retired on September 12, 1975.  However, her customers would not let her stay retired.  She finally gave in to them, purchased a travel trailer, and parked it next to her home on the old Center highway.  So, she was back in the business again.

Alice located an old, used barber chair that was just right for her small frame.  She bought a shampoo sink, two hair dryers, a couch, a manicure table, and a large mirror, and had them all installed in the trailer.  So, at the age of seventy, she began her career all over again with Alice’s Beauty Shop.

For the next twenty years, she worked five days per week, making at least ten thousand women pretty.  For a period of time, her “shampoo girl” was her older sister, Floy, who was around ninety years old.  Most of her customers were long-timers, some customers for over fifty years.  She had over forty standing appointments per week.  She never owned a cash register, but instead used an old cigar box in which to keep her money.

In 1994, the State of Texas honored her with the distinguished Yellow Rose of Texas award for her long service to the community.  She was age eighty-four at the time. Cecil Murphy died in 1991, but she continued working in her beauty shop.  Finally, at age ninety, she could no longer continue working due to her failing health, and she closed the door to her shop for the last time.

Alice died in July of 2004 at the age of ninety-four, joining many of her former customers who had preceded her in death.  My brother, Richard, and I inherited her estate, including the beauty shop.

A beauty shop owner in a neighboring town wanted to purchase the travel trailer beauty shop, and its contents. So, it was sold to Sandra in 2005 and was moved to its new location.  Sandra and her husband had planned to attach the trailer to their mobile home and use it as a sauna room.

Several weeks later, Sandra told me that she could feel my mother’s presence every time she went into the old beauty shop.  The air would get hot, or cold, and things seemed to move by themselves.  However, they continued their work of repainting and repairing the old shop.

One day her husband entered the old shop to remove the barber chair that my mother had used for so many years.  Something happened, and he ran out of the shop terrified.  He told Sandra that “Miss Alice is in there, and she’s mad as hell!”  I am not sure how I feel about folk coming back after death to “haunt” a special place.  If it is possible, I believe that my mother would have done so to protect her cherished barber chair that was such an important part of her life.

I have talked to the new owner of the old beauty shop recently, and she reports that Ms. Alice seems happy now.  The room was painted a pretty pink, especially for her.  She has not been heard from since, and I am happy that she is happy.  Rest in peace, Alice, for your barber chair is safe.

THE BARBER CHAIR

By:  Neal Murphy

259 CR 214
San Augustine, TX 75972
936-275-9033
Cell 936-275-6986

644 words

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Dr. Roberta Rust, professor and head of the piano department at the Lynn University Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, will present a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

The program includes “a wide and interesting variety of piano music,” said Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano in the SFA School of Music, ranging from a familiar W.A. Mozart sonata and Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” to Brazilian tangos, to recently composed works by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Phillip Evans, Michael Anderson and Almeida Prado.

“There is something here for everyone,” Parr said.

In May 2019, Rust’s new CD, “Direct Contact,” was released on Navona Records and has garnered enthusiastic reviews. The American Record Guide praised the recording as follows: “Rust is a virtuoso of the highest order and the best possible advocate for this music. She has masterly control of tone ... her technical control in difficult passage work is clean, the direction of each phrase clear and always musical. This is a memorable program.”

Rust has concertized to critical acclaim around the globe, with performances at such venues as Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, New York's Merkin Concert Hall, Rio de Janeiro's Sala Cecilia Meireles, Washington's Corcoran Gallery, Havana’s Basilica and Seoul's KNUA Hall. The 2019-20 season includes solo recitals in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, Singapore and the Philippines. Her concerto appearances have included engagements with the Houston Symphony, Philippine Philharmonic, New Philharmonic, Redlands Symphony, Boca Raton Symphonia, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, New World Symphony, and orchestras in Latin America. For more information, visit www.robertarust.com.

Her performance at SFA is a feature of the Friends of Music Concert Series. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

NACOGDOCHES, TX –Addressing the issue of “debit card fraud” in order to decrease the illegal activity that impacts all is the topic of discussion at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast meeting.

Guest speaker UBank Executive Vice President/Chief Retail Officer Brandon Bozeman will include strategies for preventing skimming, phishing and online fraud, and he will address the business owner’s liability and steps to take to protect a debit card.

“Debit card fraud is continuing to be a major problem for both businesses and consumers.  Participants will learn techniques to help protect their cards from being misused,” Bozeman said.
Eggs & Issues is 7:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24 at The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Registration is requested by 4 p.m., Jan. 22. Breakfast is $20 for Chamber members or $24 for non-members, and online registration is available at www.Nacogdoches.org. 

Attend and enter a $50 cash drawing sponsored by Commercial Bank of Texas. All Nacogdoches County Chamber members are entered in a $250 drawing sponsored by Axley & Rode, LLP but you must be present to win. 

LUFKIN – Crews are scheduled to mill and inlay sections of SH 94 West in Angelina County beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21 and continuing through Friday, Jan. 24 that will require lane closures each day.

Work will begin on Tuesday near the intersection of SL 287 and SH 94 that will require closures within the intersection. Crews will work in the outside westbound lane of SH 94 from SL 287 to FM 706. The mill and inlay work will require a moving work zone while crews work to mill the surface and place an asphalt overlay to level the surface and extend the life of the roadway.

Traffic control will be in place and motorists are urged to obey all signage and flaggers.

“We want everyone to be prepared for slight delays through this area next week,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “When you approach a work zone, it is so important to stay alert and slow down. Watch closely for moving equipment and workers and always obey traffic control that is in place.”

Work schedules are subject to change in inclement weather. For more information on road closures and conditions statewide, visit drivetexas.org. For more information on this project, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or call (936) 633-4395.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Logan Ray of Lubbock and Rachel Ballback of The Woodlands have been selected as the 2020 Mr. and Miss SFA. The two Stephen F. Austin State University students will be honored during halftime of the SFA men’s basketball game against Sam Houston State University at 4:30 p.m. March 7.

The Mr. SFA title was established in honor of the late Stan McKewen, a 1934 SFA graduate. The Miss SFA title was established in honor of Arnodean Covin, who was named Miss SFA in 1940, 1941 and 1942.

Ray, who received the Stan McKewen Mr. SFA Award, is a senior music education major. A 2016 graduate of Coronado High School, he is the son of Mark and Becky Ray.

He currently serves as a second-year Orientation student coordinator, choral activities ambassador and a member of the SFA A Capella Choir, Chamber Choir and University Opera. Ray is a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, having served as recruitment chair, chaplain and member of the chapter’s judicial board. He also has worked as a student assistant for choral activities and served as an Orientation leader.

“The work Logan puts into perfecting his craft as a member of SFA’s choirs is evident with his sixth-place finish in the men’s division at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Texoma Regional Competition,” said Jamal Smith, Mr. SFA ’11 and director of Orientation Programs at SFA. “Logan exemplifies the SFA Way — he cares for his peers and never hesitates to extend a helping hand to those in need.”

Ray received the SFA School of Music Scholarship and the Lubbock Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship. He plans to attend graduate school to study student affairs and higher education, and he hopes to one day work as a student affairs professional.

Ballback, who received the Arnodean Covin Miss SFA Award, is a senior health science major and psychology minor. A 2016 graduate of The Woodlands High School, she is the daughter of Frank and Carolyn Ballback.

Ballback has devoted countless hours to serving the Nacogdoches and East Texas communities. She is the executive director of internal relations for the SFA Dance Marathon, which benefits the local Children’s Miracle Network, and she is a member of Dancers Against Cancer. Ballback is a former Jack Camp counselor and a member of the Freshman Leadership Academy and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

She has worked as a biology supplemental instructor for the Academic Assistance and Resource Center and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll three times and the Dean’s List twice. Ballback plans to attend graduate school and study occupational therapy.

“Under her leadership, the Dance Marathon has grown from collecting a few thousand dollars its first year to significantly surpassing its audacious goal of raising $23,000,” said Dr. Adam Peck, assistant vice president for university affairs and dean of student affairs at SFA. “While she has been deeply involved in a number of student leadership experiences, Rachel also excels as a scholar maintaining a 3.9 GPA.”

The Mr. and Miss SFA titles are annually presented by the SFA Office of Student Affairs to exemplary students who well represent and promote the university. Recipients are selected based on their scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities, and service and loyalty to the university. Selections are made by a committee of faculty, staff, community leaders and alumni.

Contact (936) 468-7249, or visit sfasu.edu/studentaffairs for more information.

LATE FEE FOR SIGNUPS WILL BE $15 EXTRA

The Center Recreation Department is proud to announce that the 2020 Spring Soccer, Softball, and Baseball signups will begin soon.

Where?  

The Center Middle School Cafeteria

When?

Friday, January 31

Tuesday, February 4

Friday, February 7

All Dates from 5:00 to 7:00pm

For more information contact Jason Mitchell, City of Center Recreational Director at 936-590-7196.

The Shelby County Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting on January 21, 2020 at 2:00 P. M. in the Shelby County Museum on Pecan Street. The speakers this month will be The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. They will speak to us about Faith on the Frontier. Everyone is invited to attend.

AUSTIN - The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed $899,005 in fines involving 222 enforcement dockets against operators and businesses at the Commissioners' conference this week. The Commission has primary oversight and enforcement of the state's oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline safety.
 
Forty-four dockets involved $455,409 in penalties after operators failed to appear at Commission enforcement proceedings. Details on these Master Default Orders can be found on the RRC website here.
 
Operators were ordered to come into compliance with Commission rules and assessed $43,546 for oil and gas, LP-Gas or pipeline safety rule violations. Pipeline operators and excavators were assessed $400,050 for violations of the Commission's Pipeline Damage Prevention rules. Details on all these Master Agreed Orders can be found on the RRC website here.
 
In the absence of timely motions for rehearing, decisions are final as stated in these final orders. 

East Texas, January 16, 2020: The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board in partnership with the East Texas Council of Governments, local elected officials, and new vendor - Career Team, LLC, will launch its first of a series of Rural Economic Development Forums next week. The Forums, titled Rural, Set, Go! have the objective to seek input from local employers, business, and community members on rural economic and workforce development issues.

“We recognize the value of rural economic development and the role employers play in developing and sustaining the local economy,” said WSET Board Chairman, Robert Haberle. “We ask the local employers, businesses, and community members to please join us to share your expertise and knowledge in developing a skilled workforce for the region.”

Rural, Set, Go! Rural Economic Development Forums are open to the public and will be held at the following dates and locations:

January 21st in Gilmer, Texas, at the Open Range Restaurant, from 5 PM – 7 PM
January 23rd in Jacksonville, Texas, at the Jacksonville College Student Activity Center, from 5 PM – 7 PM

January 28th in Canton, Texas, at the Silver Spur Resort, from 5 PM – 7 PM

The program for the town hall style events will include local employers, chamber of commerce and economic development representatives coming together to discuss rural economic and workforce development issues. WSET staff will share local data on the labor market in each area, and conduct a panel discussion, facilitated by WSET Executive Director, Doug Shryock. Forum attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion with subject matter experts providing information on workforce training, child care services, and other useful resources.

“The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board has identified our rural communities as a vital resource for economic growth for the region,” said WSET Executive Director, Doug Shryock. “The Board, together with Career Team, will be promoting these events across the region over the next several months. It is important for us to get close to the local needs of the employer and these town hall meetings will help us achieve this goal.”

“We are proud to be a part of this very important work which will help us to design a service delivery system that will benefit the region and bolster our job training programs,” stated Mary Ann Rojas, Regional Executive Director for Career Team. “We are equally pleased with the help of our partners: Baker Ripley, who manage subsidized child care services, the Texas Workforce Commission, our rural local employers and community leaders.”

Business, education and community partners are encouraged to attend, and seating is limited. For information, or to reserve a seat, contact Kim Stacy at 903-561-8131 or Terrance Mathis at 903-758-1783.

About Workforce Solutions East Texas

It is the mission of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board to improve the quality of life in this area through economic development by providing a first-class workforce for present and future businesses. The Board works in partnership with chief elected officials of the region and is the primary source of local workforce policy. The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board is one of 28 local Workforce Solutions Boards located throughout the state. The board serves Henderson, Van Zandt, Rains, Wood, Upshur, Camp, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Gregg, Rusk, Cherokee, Anderson and Smith counties. The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) serves as the administrating agency of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board.
www.easttexasworkforce.org
 

The Calvary Boys will be in Concert at Providence Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. There will be Refreshments after their performance.  We invite all to come and share an evening of Blessings and Gospel music.  

While many of you are just discovering the Calvary Boys Quartet (CBQ) you may be interested to know a little history about the group. In 1970, when the Beatles were at the top of the pop music charts, the Vietnam War was in full swing, Richard Nixon was the president, riots and protests rocked the nation, 8-track tapes were the norm and no one had even dreamed of a VCR much less digital video, a young group of gospel singers, coached and led by their mentor, Waylon Moore, emerged. Singing for churches, homecomings, radio programs and just about anywhere they were asked to, the young group began to develop a following. Encouraged to do so, the group (who were all FFA members at the local high school) entered competitions and won awards - most notably winning both state and regional FFA talent competitions. But they were known then as the Farmers Quartet.
 
 Inspired by early success and with lots of encouragement from parents, friends and fans, the group changed their name to the Calvary Boys Quartet and started performing more and larger venues - on stage with other regional and nationally recognized groups.
 
 Aubrey King (tenor) and Chip Roberson (baritone) are original members of the quartet. Their first album ‘Our First - At Last’ was released in 1972. In 1981 Ron Meadows joined the group as the lead singer and in 1983 Bill Smith joined the group as bass.
 
 So as you can see, it is no accident that these men, performing together as a group for over 25 years have developed the rich full and mature sound that you enjoy today. But it is more than just the music.
 
 Aubrey, who in addition to singing tenor also emcees for the group, wants to keep the group going because he still enjoys singing as much as he did when he started and enjoys bringing the glory to God. Chip, who is also the music minister for his local church, enjoys traveling and feels that since God gave him the talent of singing, he needs to use this God-given talent as his ministry to glorify God. Bill just gets joy out of singing and takes pride in the fact that the hard work pays off - that the great harmony may touch the hearts of the audience. Ron Meadows put it quite well, ‘We enjoy each other’s company and we have something to sing about’.
 
 And the beat goes on...... It is inevitable that young men will grow up and want to emulate their fathers. That is particularly wonderful when their fathers are Gospel singers. In 2001 a group comprised of Andrew and Aaron King (sons of Aubrey) and Timothy Roberson (son of Chip), each individually blessed with his own singing talent, launched their group - The Calvary Boys Trio. Led by Andrew, their first concert was in 2001. The group regularly performs on stage with the Calvary Boys and released their own album in 2004. When Andrew left to sing with the nationally acclaimed Dixie Melody Boys, his place was filled by Chip for their on-stage performances.

Benefits and Resale for area Medical Expenses is hosting a Chicken Dinner Benefit for Focused Care Nursing Home. Contact: Catherine Livingston (936) 332-0060; call, text or Facebook message.

Lunch plates: Chicken, Twice baked potato, baked beans, dessert, and water. $10. Any donations and volunteers are welcome. Pre-Order and come by Focused Care Nursing Home and pick your lunch plates. Across from CVS Pharmacy.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020. From 11:00 to 2:00.

Pre-Order:

Name: __________________________________

Phone: ­­­­__________________________________

Facebook, call (936) 332-0060 or Text your order and Location.

Number of Lunches Needed: ______________________ @ $10.00 ea.

Total due: $_____________

The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday January 20, 2020  in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church at 11:30 AM.  We will have a musical program presented by Ann Harmon.

Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, an enjoyable program and time of fellowship.

The Panola Volleyball Tryout for January 18th, 2020 has been canceled.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens, the Pineywoods Audubon Society and the university's student chapter of the National Association for Interpretation are sponsoring the annual Backyard Bird Bonanza from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 15 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

This free, outdoor event will include activities designed to increase knowledge and appreciation of birds for youth and adults. A variety of fun, hands-on learning activities will be set up, including using binoculars, learning bird identification skills, playing bird games and making bird-related crafts. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department nongame ornithologist Cliff Shackelford will lead guided hikes along the trails of Tucker Woods at the PNPC.

In addition, guests are invited to participate in citizen science as they help count bird species for the national Great Backyard Bird Count with assistance from experienced birders and Shackelford. With bird populations declining, this form of citizen science serves as a valuable tool to measure the health of bird populations and inform citizens how to protect birds and support their habitats. In February 2019, more than 160,000 participants across the globe shared their local snapshots of bird populations — the largest Great Backyard Bird Count to date.

Winter is the ideal time for bird-watching, and the PNPC is a haven for local birds. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The event will be held rain or shine.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada and international partners are leading the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is powered by eBird, and the count is made possible, in part, by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

For more information, call (936) 468-1863, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Click Here for the Softball Schedule:

Click Here for the Baseball Schedule:

Congratulations to Kevorian for earning a counselor position for 2021's RYLA camp! Thank you for representing Wolf Nation! We are so proud of you! #wolfnation

Sheriff Richardson wants to inform the public that a series of ongoing undercover investigations, led by our Narcotics Division, has yielded four arrests thus far. During the course of these investigations agents seized a series of amounts of illegal narcotics including methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, diazepam, promethazine, and marijuana. The subjects have been booked and transported to the DeSoto Parish Detention Facility on the following charges:

Quinshala Williams - (B/F - DOB: 11/22/1987)
Arrested on 01/08/2020
Distribution of Schedule II

Clifford Washington - (B/M - DOB: 03/10/1988)
Arrested on 01/09/2020
(4Cts) Distribution of Schedule I

Mikel Rea - (W/M - DOB: 03/24/1984)
Arrested on 01/14/2020
Possession of Schedule I
Possession of Schedule II
Distribution of Schedule II
Possession of Schedule IV (2 Counts)
Illegal Use of CDS in the Presence of a Person Under 17
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Scott Pate Jr. - (W/M - DOB: 09/26/1991)
Arrested on 01/14/2020
Distribution of Schedule II

The following persons are wanted on similar charges.
Name: Tyrronza Denise Epps
DOB: 07/28/1979
Race/Gender: B/F
From (City, St.): Mansfield, LA
Charges: Distribution of Schedule II (meth)

Name: Garrett Austin Phillips
DOB: 05/18/1993
Race/Gender: W/M
From (City, St.): Zwolle, LA
Charges: Distribution of Schedule II (meth)

Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to these arrests. You may submit a tip by calling the Crimestoppers line at 1-800-505-7867 or by submitting a tip at P3tips.com. You may also submit a tip using the DeSoto Sheriff App, from the home screen 'Submit A Tip' section. Crimestoppers does not want your name, just your information.

On January 14, 2020, at approximately 10 a.m., the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call concerning a missing man in the area of County Road 3685 in Joaquin. The caller indicated that Elzie Holland, 68, of Joaquin, had left on foot to retrieve items from a residence located next door at approximately 7:45 p.m. on January 13. Holland never made it to the residence nor did he return home. The caller stated that Holland was using a walker at the time of his disappearance and did not get around well unassisted.

Sheriff Willis Blackwell, Chief Deputy Kevin Windham, and Deputy Josh Tipton arrived at the residence and began gathering information. Lieutenant Del Birdwell, Investigator Mandy Fears, and Deputy Jake Gross began searching the area on foot and by a utility vehicle. Investigators Chad Brown and Tanner Peace interviewed friends and family members on scene.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Sam Anderson arrived at the location and utilized a drag in a small pond in the front of the property with negative results. After searching for some time without results, officers gathered to discuss further action and areas to search.

Birdwell left the location and traveled by means of a utility vehicle to the location of County Road 3853, an area that had not been checked. Birdwell traveled the road to a clear cut and proceeded to follow the pathway. Looking down the path, Birdwell observed what he believed to be a person on the ground matching the description of Holland. Birdwell approached the male subject and called out to him, noting that he was alert. The subject identified himself as Holland. Birdwell notified SCSO communications at 12:20 p.m. and requested EMS.

Allegiance EMS arrived on scene and assumed patient care. Holland was transported to the Center emergency room in stable condition.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Three graduate students in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will exhibit their work in a show titled "Pondering the Moment" to be displayed Jan. 23 through March 3 in Griffith Fine Arts Gallery on the SFA campus.

Sculptor Kailan Counahan, ceramicist Aldo Ornelas Lopez and painter Travis Walthall will each exhibit a selection of recent works. An opening reception for the exhibition will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, in the gallery, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

Counahan, a native of Rusk, earned an associate's degree in art from Tyler Junior College and a B.F.A. from the University of Texas at Tyler before entering the master's program at SFA. Counahan uses a variety of traditional and nontraditional materials, including yarn, steel, bones, bronze, wood, plastic and sand. The materials and colors used in each piece are tied to the specific memory that it is based on.

Ornelas Lopez is from Chihuahua, Mexico, where he earned his B.F.A. from Chihuahua State University with an emphasis in sculpture and ceramics. The wall installation work that he will include in the exhibition is composed of 300 individual clay pieces. The work is intended to explore the boundaries of sculpture and drawing and is a visual representation of a path in the landscape.

Walthall is from Beaumont and graduated from Lamar University with his B.F.A., emphasis in drawing, before coming to SFA to pursue painting. The work that he is including in this exhibit features recent oil paintings that explore the spectrum of human emotions using human-animal hybrid subjects. Walthall uses humor to communicate serious ideas about how both humans and animals are influenced by their environments.

SFA art exhibitions and receptions are free. For additional information about the exhibition, call (936) 468-1131.

A home on Ballard Street was destroyed due to a tree that fell on it in the recent storm. 

Home located on Ballard Street in Center

According to Connie Lucas, this was her sister's home which was built in 1904 and 6 generations of Ballard's have lived in the home. A car was destroyed and so was the house due to the tornado which caused a tree to fall on the house. Thankfully no person received any injuries.

Tuesday Night Basketball Scores 

Shelbyville Dragons 65, Timpson Bears 48

Joaquin Rams 26, Garrison Bulldogs 19

Logansport Tiger 44, Block Bears 41

Interested in employment with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office?

DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office has a multiple-step hiring process. Throughout this process, applicants will be screened with a reading and comprehension test, physical fitness assessment, background check, and interview.

For more information regarding our process and to obtain a copy of our hiring packet, please visit http://www.dpso.org/careers to view and download the packet.

Please pre-register for this testing by completing the above hiring packet and submitting it at our main office, located at 205 Franklin Street, Mansfield, LA 71052 during normal business hours (M-F / 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays).

A physical fitness assessment will be held immediately following the reading and comprehension test, so please bring suitable clothing with you. We also request that you bring a copy of your State issued identification card with the packet when it is submitted.

DATE: February 08, 2020 @ 9am
LOCATION: DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office Training Facility
ADDRESS: 120 Sprocket Lane, Grand Cane, LA 71032

The theme for the 2019-2020 yearbook is a look into the illustrious past of Shelbyville High School. The yearbook staff would like your help in making this yearbook a memorable one. If you have any old uniforms, lettermans, or other Shelbyville memorabilia that you are willing to let us use, please bring it to the high school front office before February 10th.

We are also trying to recreate photos from previous yearbooks and are looking to get in contact with the people involved in the following groups:

The Graduating Class of 2007 (Tree Planting)

Past Mr. and Mrs. SHS Prior to 2000

The State Basketball Team of 1984

You can contact us by email at michellep@shelbyville.k12.tx.us or on our Facebook page, The Dragon- Shelbyville ISD Yearbook, for more information regarding the recreation of the photos and with any questions you may have. Thank you in advance for your contribution!

VFW Post 8904 will have its monthly meeting, Monday, January 20, 6:30 p.m. at the Post Home, 617 Highway 96 N.

The Auxiliary will have their meeting the same day but at 11:45 a.m.

The Piney Woods Photographic Society will hold their first club meeting of 2020, this Saturday, January 18, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church, 211 Porter St., Center, TX., 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  The monthly challenge will be a "Photographer's Choice". Members will submit up to three photographs of their choice to the challenge for critique and voting for favorites.  There will also be a workshop on how to photograph "REDS".

Our goal is to help you become a better photographer and give you a place to meet others who share your passion for photography.  Featuring programs and activities with information and instruction for all skill levels in an environment of support and cooperation.  "Like" our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/PineyWoodsPhoto/ or view the challenge photographs on our Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/groups/pineywoodsphotographic/

Visitors are welcome to attend any of our meetings.  Memberships are available. For more information about membership or meetings, call or text Billie Jones, 936-591-2426.

The Louisiana Sheriffs' Scholarship Program will award scholarships providing assistance to worthy Louisiana students in furthering their education and training with resources made available through the Louisiana Sheriffs' Honorary Membership Program.

According to Program Chair, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, "This Scholarship Program is a meaningful expression of the Program's respect for education. It demonstrates our confidence in Louisiana's youth ... our future leaders."

Scholarships of a maximum of $500 each will be awarded to graduating high school students from each parish where the Sheriff is an affiliate of the Honorary Membership Program.

There are no restrictions on the purposes for which scholarships are spent. The scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as gifts to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana; scholarships be utilized in higher education within the state of Louisiana; and students be enrolled as full-time, undergraduate students.

Completed applications must be submitted to the Sheriff of the parish of the applicant’s permanent Louisiana residence by April 1st. Further, applicants must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only be paid for attendance at institutions of higher learning within the state. All scholarship winners will be announced by May 1st of each year.

Sheriff Champagne concluded, "Louisiana Sheriffs are pleased with the Honorary Membership Program's ability to bring scholarships to Louisiana students bound for higher education. To continue to do so and fund other important projects and initiatives, continued support of the Honorary Membership Program is essential. We could not function without our Honorary Members."

For further information regarding the Sheriffs' Scholarship Program, contact the DeSoto Parish Sheriffs Office at 318-872-3956.

Saturday, January 11th, was the first of our new monthly Writing Time led by Terri Lacher. She discussed the different kinds of writing they would be exploring.

The next meeting of Writing Time will be Saturday, Feb. 15th, at 12 noon.

Terri Lacher teaching group

Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 15th day of January 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1.     Approve and pay weekly expenses.

2.    Approve Officers Report.

3.    Public comments on Agenda item.

4.    Discuss and possibly accept Jake Metcalf Constable Pct. 4 resignation and affidavit waving any compensation.

5.    Tax Assessor-Collector Debora Riley, to request purchase of PC towers for Tax Office.

6.    Debora Riley to request Annual Service Support with Harris Govern to be reviewed and possibly accepted. 

7.    Recognize Tax Abatement Agreement between Tyson Farms QOZB, LLC and Shelby County.

8.    Approve Resolution Declaring Shelby County to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

9.    Discuss and possibly approve new Reimbursement Policy.

10.    Adjourn.

Center

The Center Roughriders will take on the Carthage Bulldogs in Carthage on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Shelbyville

The Shelbyville Dragons will take on the Tenaha Tigers in Tenaha this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Timpson

The Timpson Bears will take on the Shelbyville Dragons in Shelbyville on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

The Timpson Bears will also play against the Garrison Bulldogs a home game for Timpson this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

Joaquin

The Joaquin Rams will take on the Garrison Bulldogs in Garrison on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, the first game starts at 4:30 p.m.

The Joaquin Rams will also take on the Woden Eagles in Joaquin this Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, the first game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Carthage

The Carthage Bulldogs will take on the Texas High Tigers a home game for Carthage on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, the first game will start at 4:30 p.m.

Logansport 

The Logansport Tigers will take on the Block Bears an away game for Logansport on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at 6 p.m. 

The Logansport Tigers will also take on Montgomery Tigers in an away for Logansport on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at 6 p.m.

- Updated Information the Concert is Now Free

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Guest artists Dr. Matthew Shipes, tuba and euphonium, and Dr. Rajung Yang, piano, will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Music Recital Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. Shipes and Yang will also present a master class to members of the SFA tuba-euphonium and piano studios.

Works to be performed include Concertino for tuba, Op. 77 by Jan Koetsier; Sonata for tuba and piano, Op. 34 by Trygve Madsen; Concertino for flute, Op. 107 by Cécile Chaminade; and “Pearls” by Roland Szentpáli.

A former member of the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., Shipes is the assistant professor of low brass at San Angelo State University. Yang teaches at Baylor University and has won several awards such as the Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev Competition in Italy and William Byrd International Competition.

On tuba, Shipes will perform Madsen’s Sonata for Tuba and Piano, Op. 34. 

“Set in three movements, the work features the vocal song-like quality of the tuba that surprises many first-time listeners,” said Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium studies at SFA. “On euphonium, he will perform Szentpali’s ‘Pearls’ – a musical tour de force in three movements which challenges both the soloist and collaborative pianist. Both of these works would be anchor pieces on any recital, but to have them performed on different instruments on the same recital will be a treat for any low brass enthusiast.”

Praised worldwide as one of the most versatile pianists of her generation, Yang has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, New York University, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and major venues in Italy and France.

Admission is free. For more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University faculty, staff and preservice teachers, as well as local teachers and high school students, will have a rare opportunity to work with Naomi Shihab Nye, the Young People’s Poet Laureate of the United States, Jan. 21-22.

The author of poetry collections, including “19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East,” “You and Yours” and “The Tiny Journalist,” Nye also will perform a reading for the public.

"I can't overstate how incredible it is to have her visit SFA and Nacogdoches,” said Dr. Heather Olson Beal, professor of secondary education in SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education. “To have such a prolific, renowned writer here is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

From 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, Nye will conduct a free, interactive professional development training for SFA faculty, staff and preservice teachers, as well as local teachers, in Room 212 of the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center. Participants will work in small groups using Nye’s poetry across content areas and grade levels.

On Jan. 22, Nye will lead a writing workshop at Nacogdoches High School for participants of the SFA Barrio Writers program. As a chapter of the national Barrio Writers organization, SFA’s program has hosted 30 East Texas students for a week every summer since 2015 to focus on literature and creative writing. Olson Beal is a writing advisor for the program, which is tailored to students ages 13 through 21.

After the workshop, SFA Barrio Writers program participants will help Nye conclude her visit with a free, live reading for the community from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Judy B. McDonald Public Library in Nacogdoches.

Nye is a Palestinian American and the first Arab American to be selected as the Young People's Poet Laureate. She spent her adolescence in both Jerusalem and San Antonio and lived several years in Iran and the United Arab Emirates.  

Nye is considered a “wandering poet,” one interested in travel, place and cultural exchange.

“Her work, which includes children's picture books, young adult fiction, poetry collections and novels, is particularly timely considering recent events in Iran," Olson Beal said.

Nye lives and works in San Antonio.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has notified City officials of a grant award of $350,000 through its 2019 Downtown Revitalization Program.

This program is focused to provide funding exclusively for pedestrian-accessibility improvements in historic downtown areas. “The City is grateful to Commissioner Sid Miller and the TDA staff for selecting Center as a recipient,” said Center Mayor David Chadwick. “This provides the resources to further progress the Downtown Masterplan.”

For more information click here:

Construction Continues on the Center Square

Join the City in welcoming Shannon Brazeal as our next San Augustine Chief of Police. Shannon has been serving as the Chief Deputy for the SA County Sheriff's Office, and has a long resume of experience in multiple roles as a peace officer. Soon to be Chief Brazeal will be taking the office as our current Chief, Jessee Fountain, retires.

San Augustine Mayor, Leroy Hughes, invites the entire community to join in a Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Monday, January 20, 2020. It will begin with a walk together through downtown San Augustine. There will be a program after at the Senior Center Building commemorating Dr. King and his belief that race should not divide people.

The walk will begin Monday at 10 am in front of the First Baptist Church on East Columbia, and it will end at the Senior Building on Bolivar Street.

Hicks Mortuary of Center, Texas and Howard Harris Funeral Home of Lawton, OK is announcing funeral service for Mr. Booker Gilford Coleman (93) of Lawton, Ok The wake will be Thursday, January 16, 2020, at  6:00 P.M. at HOWARD HARRIS  FUNERAL HOME 1005 SW C Ave, Lawton, OK 73501. The funeral will be Friday,  January 17, 2020, at 12:00 noon at Union Baptist Church 1531 Charles Whitlow Ave. Lawton, OK 73501

Booker Coleman was born in Center, Texas on May 26, 1926, to the late Alvin and Edith Osby Coleman.

Local Survivors are:

Sister-in-law: Norma Lister of Shelbyville, Texas and several cousins

Center ISD will have a school board meeting on January 16, 2019, at 12 noon.

Click here for the agenda:

The Center Roughriders played the Pleasant Grove Hawks in a home game last night 1-13-19 and lost the final score 54-57. The game was a close one.

The following is a quarter by quarter breakdown:

1st Quarter - Center 13, Pleasant Grove 10

2nd Quarter - Center 29, Pleasant Grove 21

3rd Quarter - Center 42, Pleasant Grove 42

4th Quarter - Center 54, Pleasant Grove 57

LUFKIN – With political campaign season in full swing, the Texas Department of Transportation advises political parties, candidates and their supporters of where campaign signs can be placed along Texas roadways.

March 3 is the scheduled primary election and Nov. 3 is the general election in Texas, with May 26 set as the primary runoff election date. May 2 is set for local elections. Candidates are allowed by law to place campaign signs in the public up to 90 days prior to these elections, but the Lufkin District is currently removing some signage that has been placed on state property.

“We want to remind everyone that TxDOT has guidelines regarding placing signs on the right-of-way,” said Rhonda Oaks, public information officer for the Lufkin District. “There are usually many signs posted near election time and if a political sign is placed on the right of way, we are required to remove it without notice.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Where can I place political signs?
You can place your signs anywhere so long as they are not in the highway right of way or in a location that poses a safety hazard (e.g. blocking sight to a driveway). Always make sure to check with local authorities (Cities, Counties, Homeowner’s Associations, etc.) as they may have their own restrictions.

When can I place political signs?
Cities and counties may have their own time restrictions for political signs, however TxDOT does not enforce any timing restrictions.

There is a sign on private property posing a safety hazard
If you believe a sign or signs create a safety hazard, contact local law enforcement as they can have the owner remove or relocate their sign(s).

There are signs located on the Right of Way (ROW)

Signs cannot be placed on the ROW as per Texas Transportation Code (TTC) §393.002. “A sheriff, constable, or other trained volunteer authorized by the commissioner’s court of a county may confiscate a sign placed in violation of Section 393.002.” (TTC §393.003). For state-maintained highways, your local TxDOT district office also has the authority to remove signs located on state owned right of way.

For more information regarding signage, visit txdot.gov/Inside TxDOT/Division/Right of Way/Rules for Posting Campaign Signs, or contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.

Law enforcement continues to search for Jimmy Ray Anderson. The then 74-year-old Anderson has been missing since November of 2019. According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, he was last seen on November 17, 2019, at approximately 3 a.m. driving a 2002 white Chevrolet extended cab pickup.  

Jimmy Ray Anderson

Anderson's Truck

Local law enforcement from Shelby County is teaming up with personnel from DeSoto Parish in the continued search for Anderson. The search has gone airborne with a helicopter provided by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office. The DeSoto Parish Fire Department will also be aiding in the search for Anderson as well. 

DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office Aided in the Search 

DeSoto Parish Fire Depart Aides in the Search

Thank you to all our local law enforcement and other emergency personnel from both Shelby County and DeSoto Parish.

If you have any information on the location of Anderson, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 936-598-5601.

One fatality was reported during severe weather in Nacogdoches County on Friday:

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado touched down during the severe weather that occurred on Friday. The tornado touched down along Cr. 723 just south of FM 225 where it broke several large branches in a field of trees. The tornado headed east-northeast from there where it crossed FM 225 and paralleled the north side of FM 225. It knocked over a number of trees and broke several more large branches as it continued to the east-northeast. The tornado downed a large tree onto a mobile home along Sweat Circle, a private road off of FM 225, where a fatality occurred along with one injury.

The tornado crossed Cr. 722 and Russellville Road where it did more tree damage and minor damage to homes. The tornado continued to the east-northeast where it crossed Cr. 719 and several private properties damaging a few more trees before lifting near Floyd Harvin Road.

Updated for the addition of a tornado report in northwestern Panola County and a tornado report near Center TX and to put the tornado reports in chronological order...

Tornado # 1 - Nacogdoches County, TX...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  2.14 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   160.0 yards
Fatalities:             1
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             01/10/2020
Start Time:             11:33 PM CST
Start Location:         6 WSW Nacogdoches / Nacogdoches County / TX
Start Lat/Lon:          31.5832 / -94.7558

End Date:               01/10/2020
End Time:               11:36 PM CST
End Location:           4 WSW Nacogdoches / Nacogdoches County / TX
End Lat/Lon:            31.5855 / -94.7197

Summary: The tornado touched down along CR-723 just south of FM-225 where it broke several large branches in a field of trees.

The tornado headed east-northeast from there where it crossed FM-225 and paralleled the north side of FM-225. It knocked over a number of trees and broke several more large branches as it continued to the east-northeast.

The tornado downed a large tree onto a mobile home along Sweat Circle, a private road off of FM-225, where a fatality occurred along with one injury. The tornado crossed CR-722 and Russelville Road where it did more tree damage and minor damage to homes. The tornado continued to the east-northeast where it crossed CR-719 and several private properties damaging a few more trees before lifting near Floyd Harvin Road.

A special thanks goes out to the Nacogdoches County Emergency Management office for their assistance in locating damage on the survey.

Tornado # 2 - Northwest Panola County, TX...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.52 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   150.0 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/11/2020
Start Time:             12:18 AM CST
Start Location:         5 ENE Tatum / Panola County / TX
Start Lat/Lon:          32.3289 / -94.4356

End Date:               01/11/2020
End Time:               12:19 AM CST
End Location:           5 ENE Tatum / Panola County / TX
End Lat/Lon:            32.3336 / -94.4286

Summary: This brief tornado first touched down on a hillside just southwest of FM 959 outside of Tatum. The damage here was limited to trees, but was nonetheless impressive, as a majority of the few hundred pine trees in a confined area had their trunks snapped.

The tornado tracked northeast off the hill doing only sporadic tree damage before crossing FM 959 and inflicting mainly structural roof damage to several residences and outbuildings. Radar signatures suggest the tornado lifted quickly after this point, although the survey team could not access areas to the
northeast of there to confirm.

The tornado was definitely at its strongest at the beginning of the path, but again, extremely limited access did not allow confirmation as to whether the actual start might have been farther to the southwest.

Tornado # 3 - Center, TX...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  6.14 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   400.0 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries: 1

Start Date:             01/11/2020
Start Time:             12:39 AM CST
Start Location:         2 SW Center / Shelby County / TX
Start Lat/Lon:          31.773 / -94.2021

End Date:               01/11/2020
End Time:               12:49 AM CST
End Location: 4 ENE Center / Shelby County / TX
End Lat/Lon: 31.811 / -94.109

Summary: This tornado began just to the west of Highway 7 on the southwest edge of Center and continued on an east-northeast path for roughly 6 miles. The tornado cut through a few neighborhoods on the south side of Center, so it was fortunate the tornado`s estimated winds mainly remained less than 100 mph through this portion of the path. However, scores of trees were uprooted or had their trunks snapped across the path through town, resulting in roof and structural damage to many homes as trees fell upon them. The worst example of this was probably in the Lakewood Subdivision just off of Highway 7.

Here, one minor injury occurred as a fallen large pine tree heavily compromised the roof structure of a residence. In addition, a handful of residences farther east, along Ballard Street, sustained significant damage from falling trees. Continuing east, there was also damage to residences from falling trees in the vicinity of Martin Luther King Drive, although here a few residences also sustained minor structural roof damage due to winds alone.

On Loop 500 E, on the southeast side of the town, there was additional structural damage due mainly to wind, although a few of the compromised structures were likely vacant and already in a heavy state of disrepair before the tornado. From there, the tornado continued into much more rural areas on the eastern outskirts of Center, doing scattered tree and very low-end structural damage, that is until coming to County Road 3047. Here, a majority of chicken houses set up in an array had some roof paneling removed with a few of the houses having most roof paneling removed and some associated damage to the fundamental structure.

The damage at this point was likely the most impressive concentrated damage of the tornado. Interestingly, the tornado lifted shortly after doing this point. Most of the trees in the path were blown down to the north or north-northeast, while most random trees found blown down outside of the path fell in more of an east to east-southeast direction.

This damage pattern behavior is generally typical of weak and fast-moving tornadoes that accomplish most of damage on their south flanks.

A special thanks goes out to the Shelby County Emergency Management office for their assistance in locating damage on the survey.
 

**Shaun Levy and Brittany Parrie have been taken into custody in Monroeville, Alabama.  Baby Levy was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Monroe County.  She is listed in stable condition.  Charges against Levy and Parrie are pending. 

Brittany Parrie and Shaun Levy

Sabine Parish – The Louisiana State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory on behalf of the Many Police Department.  The advisory is for a newborn baby that was taken from Sabine Medical Center, 240 Highland Drive, Many, LA.  The incident occurred early this morning around 3:55 a.m. 

The female newborn was born early this morning around 1:00 a.m., with a life-threatening condition, and was set to be transported to a hospital in Shreveport for medical intervention.  The parents, Shaun Levy (W/M 39 yoa) and Brittany Parrie (W/F 28 yoa) left the hospital, with the newborn, in a black 2002 Cadillac Escalade.  The Cadillac may be displaying a Texas license plate (KMR9144) or a personalized Alpha Phi Alpha Alabama license plate (51BG793).  Levy recently registered the vehicle in Alabama on January 7, 2020, so it is possible the Texas plate is still displayed on the vehicle.

Levy is to be considered armed and dangerous. 

Baby Levy and Parrie both had intravenous drip feeds (IVs) connected at time of departure.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of any of these subjects should immediately contact the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 318-256-9241, the Sabine Parish CID (Criminal Investigations Division) Office at 318-590-9475, or Sgt. Michelle King with the Louisiana State Police at HQ Communications 225-925-6636.

Contact Information:

Sgt. Daniel “Scott” Moreau

Louisiana State Police

Public Affairs Section

Office: (318) 769-9USA (872)

scott.moreau@la.gov         

Sgt. Daniel “Scott” Moreau

Louisiana State Police

Public Affairs Section

Office: (318) 769-9USA (872) 

Cell: (318) 769-9LSP (577)

scott.moreau@la.gov

www.lsp.org 

facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice

twitter.com/LAStatePolice

Update: 

SHELBY COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a two-vehicle crash last night at the intersection of US 59 and US 84, inside the city limits of Timpson.

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 9:50 p.m., a 1997 Honda passenger car failed to yield right of way from US 84 and was struck by a southbound 2019 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer.

The driver of the Honda is identified as 27-year-old Dezmond McKinney from Mansfield, LA. McKinney was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Shelby County Justice of the Peace.

The driver of the Freightliner is identified as 50-year-old Maksym Kabakov from Des Plaines, IL. Kabakov was not injured as a result of the crash.

No additional information is available at this time.

On Thursday evening January 9, 2020, at around 9:50 p.m. there was a fatality wreck that occurred in the Timpson area, near the intersection of HWY 84 and 59. A Honda that was driven by a 27-year-old man from Mansfield, LA pulled up to the intersection and stopped at a sign but then pulled out in front of an 18-wheeler.

Submitted Photo of the Crash

The 18-wheeler then struck the Honda crushing it. The driver of the Honda was pronounced deceased at the scene by Shelby County JP Tracy Broadway. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office, DPS, and the Timpson Fire Department and Timpson Ambulance Service all responded to the scene.

Emergency Personel Responding, Submitted Photo of the Crash

More to follow once time has been allowed to inform the next of kin.

Martinsville Games tonight 1-10-20 has changed to 4:00 pm;

JH Girls in Mt. Enterprise has cancelled and the tournament moved to Central Heights.

January 10, 2020-End of 3rd Week Grading Period; JVG/VG in Martinsville (District Game)  4:00 pm; JVB/VG in Martinsville

January 11, 2020- Girls Soccer-Waskom Tournament; JHG in Central Heights

January 13, 2020-Board Meeting 5:30 pm; Beginning 4th Grading Period

January 14, 2020-Girls/Boys Soccer in Crockett 5:30 pm; JVG/VG/JVB/VB in San Augustine

January 16, 2020-HS BB and Soccer Pictures; JHB/G in Shelbyville 4:30 pm

January 17, 2020-JVG/VG/JVB/VB vs Shelbyville in Tenaha; Tiger Café Open; JH/HS Robotics at Lufkin Civic Center (Leave at 6am)

January 18, 2020-HS/JH Region Band Clinic @ Chapel Hill

January 20, 2020-Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday

January 21, 2020-Girls/Boys Soccer vs Westward in Palestine 5:00 pm; JVG/VG/JVB/VB vs Garrison (Home) 4:30 pm

January 22, 2020-Tiger Day:Student Early Release 1:30 pm

January 23, 2020-Girls Soccer vs Carlisle in Price 5:00 pm; JH B/G vs Joaquin  (Home) 4:30 pm

January 24, 2020-8th Grade Field Trip to SciPort; Boys Soccer in Liberty Eylau 5:30 pm; JVG/VG/JVB/VB in Woden 4:30 pm

January 28, 2020-Girls/Boys Soccer in Crockett 5:30 pm; JVG/VG/JVB/VB vs Joaquin (Home)

January 30, 2020-Girls/Boys Soccer in New Summerfield Tournament; JH B/G vs Garrison (Home) 4:30 pm

January 31, 2020-JVG/VG/JVB/VB in Timpson 4:30 pm

February 1, 2020-Girls/Boys Soccer in New Summerfield Tournament

Timpson ISD is monitoring the weather and will make adjustments to the scheduling of school and extracurricular events as necessary. Please see the Timpson ISD website for updated information.

Latest Update: High School Basketball games here are now scheduled for this afternoon at 3:30. There will be only two games, girls and boys varsity.

Due to the bad weather, we have headed our way, Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Inc. and all its programs will be closing at 1:00 pm today (1-10-20).  We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause. Everyone, please be safe during this storm.  Thank you and God Bless.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY

US 59: Crews are preparing the right-of-way and working on drainage structures on this highway improvement project that will construct additional main lanes, overpasses and access roads from SH 7 to 1.2 miles south of Spradley Street.

US 59: Crews are scheduled to repair an overhead flashing light in Appleby. Lane closures expected.

SH 21: Crews are monitoring vegetative establishment after placing culvert extensions designed to upgrade metal beam guardrail to design standards and safety treat fixed objects from SH 7 to the San Augustine County line and on SH 21 from the San Augustine line to FM 3448 in Sabine County.

FM 226: Crews are monitoring vegetative establishment on this project designed to upgrade metal beam guardrail to design standards and safety treat fixed objects from SH 21 to the end of pavement.

FM 2609: Work is scheduled on traffic signals and curbs and gutters on this project designed to widen the roadway from Raguet Street to North Street (BU 59). This roadway remains closed to through traffic.

FM 2609: Crews are applying flex base, preparing right-of-way and extending structures on this project designed to reconstruct and widen the pavement from FM 941 to the end of pavement. Daily lane closures are scheduled.

FM 1275: Crews are scheduled to repair edges from SL 224 to the end of pavement in various locations. Lane closures are expected.

SL 224: Work is scheduled to place striping from FM 2259 to US 59 and from US 59 to FM 2609 on this project designed to place an asphalt overlay. Daily lane closures are scheduled.

SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY

SH 21: Crews will continue to place panels on this bridge replacement project at the Attoyac River. Lane closures expected.

FM 711: Crews are monitoring vegetative establishment on this project designed to reconstruct and widen the pavement from the Shelby County line to US 96.

FM 1277: Crews are scheduled to repair base in various locations.

FM 95: Crews will complete slope and edge repair in various locations.

County Road 205: Crews are scheduled to place the bridge deck at Black Creek on this bridge replacement project.

SHELBY COUNTY

US 96: Crews are monitoring vegetative establishment from US 84 to SH 87 where crews have planed, leveled the roadway and placed a permeable friction course.

FM 1645: Crews are preparing the right-of-way on this project designed to reconstruct and widen the roadway from US 59 to SH 87. Daily lane closures are expected.

SABINE COUNTY

FM 705: Crews are scheduled to repair base in various locations.

FM 1: Crews are monitoring vegetative establishment from the San Augustine County line to SH 103 after widening the pavement and upgrading metal beam guardrail to design standards.

There will only be two varsity games (boys and girls) played tonight 1-10-20 starting at 5:00 p.m.  The JV games originally scheduled for today have been cancelled. The varsity games will be played in Joaquin as scheduled. 

Submitted by: Steven McCann, Women's Athletic Director

Beginning Friday, January 10, 2020, the new student parking lot in front of CHS will be open for students.  This will be the student parking lot, and all students who drive to school will need to park their vehicles in this lot.  

Parent drop off and pickup will be in the same location, which is around the circle drive by the flagpole.  Bus pickup and drop off will occur in the old student lot. 

Severe weather threat has been upgraded to a Moderate Risk over much of the region for Friday afternoon through early Saturday morning...  

...Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the extreme northern portions of the region from noon on Friday through 7 am Saturday...

Timing and Overview:

A deep upper-level trough and strong cold front will begin moving into the Southern Plains during the day Friday. Ahead of these features, the threat of severe thunderstorms will increase on Friday afternoon and especially Friday night into the predawn hours Saturday morning. A Moderate Risk of severe thunderstorms covers much of the region while the remainder of the area is included in an Enhanced Risk (see graphic).

--  Impacts:  By Friday afternoon, discrete supercell thunderstorms will be possible which could produce tornadoes (some strong, long-track tornadoes are possible), along with damaging wind gusts and large hail. By late Friday evening into the overnight hours, storm mode will transition to a widespread damaging wind threat with embedded isolated tornadoes as a squall line rapidly moves across the Four-State Region from the west. 

The NWS/SPC confidence is higher with this damaging wind threat overnight compared to the tornado threat with discrete supercells Friday afternoon. 

Keep in mind most of this event will take place during the evening and overnight hours so that poses an additional danger with warnings expected to continue well into early Saturday morning an additional danger with warnings expected to continue well into early Saturday morning. 

NACOGDOCHES, TX. (January 9, 2020).  The Nacogdoches Police Department has completed the investigation into the fatal traffic accident that occurred in the 2800 block of Park St on December 31st, 2019.  During the course of the investigation, officers discovered there were two vehicles racing westbound on Park St during the collision that caused the death of Kerrie Qualls of Lufkin, TX.  The vehicles involved were a red 2016 Hyundai Accent driven by Christopher Session and a white 2013 Chrysler driven by Jimmy Watts of Nacogdoches, TX.  

Based on information developed during the course of the investigation, investigators were able to determine that Kerrie Qualls was standing in the roadway to observe the race when she was struck by the 2013 Chrysler driven by Watts.   Investigators obtained warrants of arrest for Jimmy Watts and Christopher Session for Felony 2 Racing. Both suspects have been arrested on the warrants and taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail.     

On January 9th, 2020, partnering organizations in support of law enforcement officers nationwide will promote National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.).  In light of recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally, there is a need to show law enforcement officers that our citizens recognize the difficult and sometimes impossible career they have chosen, in public service to us all.

On January 9th of each year, we will call our nation’s citizens to action in support of law enforcement.  Those citizens who appreciate law enforcement and are discouraged about the negative attention being given to law enforcement are encouraged to take time on January 9th to show their support.  Our citizens can show their support in a number of ways:

• Wear blue clothing in support of law enforcement.

• Send a card of support to your local police department or state agency.
• Share a story about a positive law enforcement experience on social media.
• Ask children in your community to write letters in support of law enforcement.
• Participate in Project Blue Light - Proudly display your blue light in support of law enforcement.
• Organize an event or a rally in support of your law enforcement officers.
• Advertise your support through local media outlets/billboards.
• Post the public service announcement supplied by C.O.P.S. to your organization’s webpage or social media pages.
• Coordinate and/or participate in a Blue Blood Drive.

Most importantly, if you see a police officer, thank a police officer.

SHELBY COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a two-vehicle crash this morning 1-8-20 on SH 7, about four miles east of Center. The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 6:35 a.m., a 2009 Ford SUV was traveling west and failed to control speed and struck a 2018 Dodge pickup from behind that was stopped for a school bus loading passengers.

The driver of the Dodge is identified as 50-year-old James Beasley from Marshall. Beasley was not injured as a result of the crash.

The driver of the Ford is identified as 26-year-old Tiffany Mayfield from Joaquin. Mayfield and a 2-year-old male passenger were both transported by medical helicopter to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport for treatment.

No additional information is available at this time

TYLER, Texas –  A 51-year-old Edgewood, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today 1-8-20.

Timothy Dwayne Henson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on Jan. 7, 2020.

According to information presented in court, on two separate occasions in July 2018, Henson sold methamphetamine during controlled purchases in Van Zandt County.  On Sep. 9, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Van Zandt County and recovered methamphetamine.  Henson admitted to being involved in a conspiracy to obtain and distribute methamphetamine, and that he was directly responsible for the distribution of at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 8, 2018 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

Under federal statutes, Henson faces up to 40 years in federal prison.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

The Logansport Krewe of Aquarius parade will be February 8th at 6:00 from LHS, down Main Street and end at the Logansport Park. 

CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial is setting the pace for quality local care achieving and earning multiple awards at their different branches. Their Lufkin branch, in particular, has been recognized for Excellence with ACC HeartCARE Designation for the second year in a row.

CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial celebrates receiving national recognition as an accredited HeartCARE Center of Excellence as designated by the American College of Cardiology.

Left to Right: Stacy Garcia, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Market Administrator of Service Lines; Musa Khan, M.D., Chest Pain & Cath Lab Medical Director; Monte Bostwick, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial, Market President/CEO; Ravinder Bachireddy, M.D., Chief of Cardiology; Rohit Kedia, M.D. Electrophysiology Medical Director; Mary Franklin, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Memorial, Market SVP Patient Care Services
 

“The benefit for the community regarding our HeartCare Center accreditation is that it shows that we provide to our patients' high-quality care. In order to achieve the accreditation we have to meet a certain criteria,” said Stacy Garcia Market Administrator of Service Lines.

For a health care center or hospital to earn the ACC HeartCARE Center designation they must meet a set of criteria, including participating in at least two ACC Accreditation Service programs, NCDR registries and targeted quality improvement campaigns, such as Patient Navigator: Focus MI, which are designed to improve guideline-based care.

“So by achieving this award it shows our community that we do provide that top quality of care,” said Garcia.

CHI St. Luke's San Augustine Facility 

The San Augustine branch was also a recipient of the Leapfrog Top Hospital for excellence award, mirroring their sister hospital in Lufkin by also earning the Leapfrog award for the second year in a row. Receiving this top hospital award is quite an honor. The Leapfrog group which is a national group that surveys hospitals for quality and safety outcomes awarded the San Augustine facility as a top rural hospital in the country.  

"The fact that they have done that now two-years in a row, again speaks volumes to the work that team does in San Augustine," said Monte Bostwick CEO and President of CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.

“It takes leadership, teamwork and absolute dedication to patients, to achieve this award,” said Leah Binder, president, and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “

The Leapfrog Group also awarded the CHI St. Luke’s Livingston hospital an A grade for the work they are conducting. The CHI St. Luke’s family of hospitals has, in addition, earned a host of other accreditations and awards which are listed below.

Awards and Accreditations

•          2020 Among the Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care as listed by U.S. News & World Report

•          Recipient of the Quest 2020 Award for High-Value Healthcare

•          2019 American College of Cardiologists HeartCare Center of Excellence.  The only nationally accredited Cardiac Rehabilitation program between Tyler and Houston

•          2019 Top Rural Hospital of Excellence San Augustine for safety & quality care by The Leapfrog Group

•          2019 "A" Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Livingston

•          2019 ACC Accredited Advanced Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI with Resuscitation Accreditation from American College of Cardiology

•          2019 Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement by the American Heart Association

•          2019 ACC Cath Lab and EP Accreditation.  The highest level of accreditation between Houston and Tyler

•          Voted Best Hospital, Best Emergency Department and Best Freestanding Emergency Room, and Best Community Event (Power of Pink!) by The Lufkin News Readers, 2019

•          Voted Best Hospital by Polk County Enterprise Readers, 2019

•          2019 Blue Distinction Total Care designation by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for delivering high-quality, effective, cost-efficient specialty care. Livingston.

•          Joint Commission National Quality Approval

•          Wound Care & Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center.  2019 Wound Care Center of Excellence Healogics Center of Distinction Award for outstanding patient outcomes & high patient satisfaction scores

•          Excellence in Preparedness Award by Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition

•          Dedicated Heart & Stroke Care Facility

•          The area's first Joint Commission Certified Primary Care Stroke Center in East Texas

•          Advanced Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation by the American College of Cardiology,

•          Surgery, complete with two da Vinci HD Robots.  The first hospital in the state to achieve four Center of Excellence accreditations from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG), Hernia Surgery (COEHS), Robotic Surgery (COERS) and Minimally Invasive Surgery (COEMIS).

•          Dedicated Inpatient Stroke Unit

•          Modern Intensive Care and Progressive Care Units

•          Outpatient Cardiac Cath Lab and Heart & Vascular Imaging Center

•          The area's oldest and most respected Cancer Center in Deep East Texas

•          Accredited by the American College of Radiology

•          Infusion Center for IV Therapy, Chemotherapy and Therapeutic Injections

•          Dedicated Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

•          14,000-square-foot Outpatient Therapy Center

•          Two state-of-the-art Imaging Centers, complete with PET/CT scanning and two Open Bore MRls

•          State-of-the-art Women's Services Center including LDRP suites and new C-section accommodations.

•          The only accredited Diabetes Education Program in the region - Polk Education Center for Heart, Stroke and Diabetes

•          Express Lab

SAISD EARLY RELEASE NOTICE

San Augustine Independent School District will release all students at 12:00 pm on Thursday, January 9, 2020. Classes will resume on Friday at the regular time. All Junior High Basketball games scheduled for Thursday, January 9 have been cancelled.

Dr. Virginia Liepman

Superintendent of Schools

Six Panola College Chorale Members were selected to perform in the 2020 Texas Two-Year College All-State Choir.  The performance will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 in the Stars at Night Ballroom of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.  The performance is in conjunction with the Vocal Division of the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention in San Antonio each February. 

Panola College students performing with the choir are, Nathan Pinkston, Timpson, Bass 2; Kacia Johnson, Tatum, Alto 2; Loren Caserta, Beckville, Soprano 1; Jorden Bonds, Carthage, Soprano 2; Erica Lee, Center, Alto 1; and Sky Bishop, Carthage, Tenor 1.

Back row, from left: Kacia Johnson, Nathan Pinkston, Loren Caserta

Front row, from left: Jorden Bonds, Sky Bishop, Erica Lee

The Paris Peace Accord ending the Vietnam War was signed on January 27, 1973, and was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining American troops on March 29, 1973. The terms of the accord called for a complete ceasefire in South Vietnam, allowed North Vietnamese forces to retain the territory they had captured, release of US prisoners of war, and called for both sides to find a political solution to the conflict. As an enticement to South Vietnam, President Nixon offered US air power to enforce the peace terms (this was stopped in December 1974 when Congress cut off all military aid to South Vietnam).

More than 58,000 Americans gave their lives in the Vietnam War and there are still 1,587 missing in action.

In observance of the 47th Anniversary of the Peace Accord, Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary will host a Memorial Observance for those who served in the Vietnam War.  A wreath laying will take place at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 27th, 2020 at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Shelby County Courthouse.

The names of eleven Shelby County Veterans who were killed in action during the Vietnam War will be read.  They are:  Ted W. Adams, William L. “Shorty” Andrews, Jimmy Barnett, Mac Curtis Buckley, Larry Byford, Ray Chatelain, Jr., William H. Eaden, Jerry Lynn Hughes, Taylor D. Johnson, Samuel R. Lynch and Calvin Patrick.  Also, John B. Lightfoot who was killed in a training accident while preparing to deploy to Vietnam.

As always, the public is cordially invited.  Questions call Post Quartermaster Larry Hume at 936-598-2976.

Sheriff Richardson would like to share the following statement from the Town of Logansport:  

"As many of you are aware, Logansport has been experiencing a peculiar odor. This smell is not a product of the fracking process or anything oil field related. It is emanating from the
 Town’s oxidation pond, due to the influx of process water from Pratt Industries in Shreveport, LA. Pratt Industries is a paper recycling plant for manufacturing cardboard. They recently had a catastrophic failure of their processing tower, thereby interrupting their ability to process and dispose of their production wastewater. They have been trucking the wastewater to our disposal site for about three weeks. Although the smell may be objectionable, there are no hazardous chemicals in this effluent.

The Town is currently in the process of upgrading our equipment at our oxidation lagoons to reduce or eliminate the odor. We will be adding four new surface aspirating aerators along with the addition of enzymes and bacteria to enhance the operation of our wastewater facility. This has been on our wish list for a long time and with the revenue generated from treating this waste product, we will be able to complete these upgrades and continue to improve our infrastructure throughout the town."

If any further questions should arise please reach out to the Town of Logansport for assistance.

The M.P. Baker Library of Panola College will host an exhibit of hand-turned wood creations beginning January 13, 2020 and ending Friday, January 28, 2020 in the Fay Allison Gallery of the M.P. Baker Library.  An opening reception for the artist, Dr. Arnold Shrewsbury, will be held on Wednesday, January 15th at 2:00 p.m. in the Library.

Dr. Shrewsbury was born in Lenore, West Virginia on January 9, 1947.  His education consists of a Bachelors of Theology, Masters of Theology, Masters of Divinity, and a Ph.D. in Theology.  He has founded four churches, was a home missionary for nine years and a hospice chaplain for ten years. 

Dr. Shrewsbury was married to author and fellow minister Janet Gail Gilman for almost 53 years until her death in February 2018. They have two children. Stephen of Sarasota, Florida and Kelly, who resides in Carthage.  He also enjoys two grandchildren, Justin and Ashley Grace.

Following 50 years in ministry, 32 which were in the Carthage area, Dr. Shrewsbury has retired. He now has time to enjoy traveling, teaching the Bible, yard work and wood turning.  He is a self-taught craftsman.  The items he creates are varied with his favorite being bowls from exotic woods.  He recently obtained wood from a tree in St. Augustine, Florida.  The tree is known as “The Old Senator.”  It is 600 years old and is located close to where Ponce de Leon is believed to have discovered the “Fountain of Youth.” A vast variety of hand-turned items will be on display including bowls, pens, vases, characters, a clock, and other imaginative works.

The exhibit is free and open to the public during the Library’s operating hours Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm, Friday 7:30 am – 12:30 pm and Sunday 4-9pm. For additional information please call 903-693-2052 or email library@panola.edu.

Significant Severe Weather Outbreak across the entire Four State Region for later this week...     

Timing and Overview:

Timing is always an issue so far out in the forecast but confidence continues to increase that by Friday through sometime early Saturday, the necessary ingredients will be coming together for severe weather.  The amount of shear in the lower and mid-levels of the atmosphere, combined with moderate instability for the middle of January suggests that significant severe weather will be possible. Moisture will be sufficient enough that rainfall accumulations Thursday through early Saturday could be significant as well with widespread 1-3 inches possible with isolated higher amounts. 

Four State Impacts:

Impacts:  The possibility for large hail, widespread damaging wind gusts and tornadoes will be possible in the Friday through early Saturday time frame (see graphic).  The possibility will exist that the rainfall could exceed 3 inches in some locations across the Four State Region and it will be these locations that flooding may become a concern as well.  

SAVE THE DATE JANUARY 13th & 14th 2020!!!  Panola College/Shelby College Center offers new Zumba and Yoga classes to help start a healthy new year.

Zumba Gold – Mondays and Wednesdays – 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Beginning Yoga – Mondays and Wednesdays – 5:05 – 6:05 pm
Intermediate Yoga – Tuesdays and Thursdays – 4:25 – 5:25 pm & 5:30 – 6:30 pm

The cost of each class is $50, and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, contact Shelby College Center at 936-598-9543 or email: tmccann@panola.edu.

With the upcoming Primary Election fast approaching, I wanted to give some useful information that may help our elderly, disabled, military, or out of town voters make sure they know they have options to vote by mail.

If you are over 65 or disabled, you may call the County Clerk's office and request an Application to Vote By Mail. You only need to do this once per year, but it must be done every January.  We will be more than happy to send you the application, and once you fill it out and sign it, you can send it back to us and you will get a ballot for each election this year.  You must indicate which party you'd like a ballot for.  Please note, several outside sources not associated with our office will send you applications to vote by mail with the County Clerk's return address on it. Please be mindful of what you sign and return. Some people mistake these for an application to register to vote, then are surprised to find when they come to vote in person that we've mailed them a ballot.  If we mail a ballot to your house and you choose to come in and vote in person, you must bring the mailed ballot in and surrender it to our office before you can vote in person. Once you send us one application, there is no need to send in anything else. Also, some of the other applications you receive from another source may already be marked for a specific political party, so please be sure if you send one of these requests in it is marked for the correct party you wish to vote for. 

If you plan to be out of town during the election, you may also request a ballot by mail. However, if you request a ballot by mail due to absence from the county during the election, we must mail your ballot to an address outside of the county. We can also mail ballots to any college students living outside Shelby County that are still registered here.

Anyone that is serving in the Armed Forces can visit FVAP.GOV  for a request for ballot by mail for military personnel.  Those may be mailed to Shelby County Clerk, P.O. Box 1987, Center, TX 75935 or emailed to shelbycountyclerk@yahoo.com.

February 3rd is the last day to REGISTER to vote in the March Primary.  If you need to register to vote, you may do so at the Voter Registrars office at the courthouse.  

Please feel free to contact the Shelby County Clerk's office at 936-598-6361 if you have any questions at all.  

Jennifer L. Fountain
Shelby County Clerk
P.O. Box 1987
Center, TX 75935
Shelby County, Texas
Ph. 936-598-6361
Fax 936-598-3701

Notice is hereby given that a Regular meeting of the Governing body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 8th day of January, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:

1. Approve the minutes of the December 4, 2019 Special meeting, December 11, 2019 Regular meeting, December 18, 2019 Special meeting, December20, 2019 Emergency meeting of the Shelby County Commissioner’s Court.
2. Approve and pay weekly expenses.
3. Approve current Payroll
4. Public Comments on Agenda item.
5. Discuss and possibly approve District Clerk fees.
6. Adjourn.
    

On Saturday, January 18, park staff will lead guests on a guided tour of the battlefield, visiting key points on the field where some of the most significant action of the battle occurred.  The tour will depart the visitor’s center at 2:00 PM, and will involve outdoor walking of app. 1/2 - 3/4 mile.  Appropriate footwear and clothing are recommended.

Mansfield State Historic Site is located at 15149 LA Highway 175, three miles south of the town of Mansfield, Louisiana.  Admission is $4 per person ages 4-61; seniors 62 and over and children 3 and under admitted free.  For more information call 318.872.1474 locally, toll-free 888.677.6267, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mansfieldshs.

Mansfield State Historic Site

OFFICE OF STATE PARKS

15149 Hwy 175, Mansfield, LA 71052   318-872-1474 Fax: 318-871-4345 mansfield@crt.la.gov

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Beginning in fall 2020, Stephen F. Austin State University students who have suffered the loss of a law enforcement officer parent or spouse killed in the line of duty can apply for a scholarship designed to help them move forward.

The scholarship was prompted by the death of Bobbie Hargis Todd’s father, Nacogdoches Deputy Sheriff John Arlington Hargis, who was killed in 1928 while serving an arrest warrant when Bobbie was only 18 months old.

The Bobbie Hargis Todd Scholarship was established by her children, Bobbie Ann Todd Anderson and Richard Todd, in memory of their mother, whose life dramatically changed after her father’s death.

“My grandmother and her five children had to do whatever they could to survive and move forward,” Anderson said. “My mom and her siblings certainly would have benefited from financial assistance like this for college.”

Fortunately, Bobbie was able to live at home with her mother a few blocks from SFA. Her older siblings managed to chip in and help pay her tuition. While attending SFA, she was a cheerleader and member of the Fideles Social Club. During her freshman year, she began dating World War II veteran Joe “Orville” Todd, and they married Feb. 22, 1948.

“Upon their marriage, Mom moved from Nacogdoches to live with her husband and widowed father-in-law on a farm in Henderson. It was quite an adjustment,” Anderson said.

Employed first at the Rusk County Courthouse, it was after the birth of her first two children that Bobbie made the decision, encouraged by her husband, to return to college. She commuted daily to SFA and earned her degree in elementary education in 1957. She then taught third and fourth grade in the Henderson Independent School District for 23 years.

“Many times in her career, Mom was asked to advance to a principal position, but she wanted to teach,” Todd said. “She loved the kids.”

Bobbie’s students loved her back. For years after leaving the classroom, she received letters of admiration from former students for the way she successfully faced adversity following the death of her father, and the inspiration and encouragement she gave to her students.

“Because of her upbringing in a family with no father, mom had a special skill of working with children from low-income families,” Anderson said.

Both Anderson and Todd recall many students referencing the strong math and reading skills they learned in her classroom.

To continue their mother’s spirit of survival and support, Anderson and Todd established this scholarship for students whose parent or spouse has died in the line of duty, with preference given to students pursuing a degree in elementary education.

Texas Ranger Jim Hicks said the child or spouse of an officer killed in the line of duty can make one of two choices. “They can give up, or they can press forward. This scholarship is a tool that can help them move forward,” Hicks said.

Sabine County Sherriff Thomas Maddox, president of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, knew Bobbie and understood how hard she worked to be successful. “She also had a special way of making you feel like the most important person in the world,” he said. “She would have been very proud of this scholarship.”

Anderson said her mother’s unusual circumstances made her very strong, and she hopes the scholarship can pass that strength to others facing the same challenges.

“The children and spouses of officers killed in the line of duty form a very tight-knit community,” Anderson said. “We want them to know we’re here to support them.”

For information on how you can aid students who have lost a parent or spouse in the line of duty through this scholarship, contact the Office of Development at (936) 468-2278.

Please join the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Owner Kenneth Walker, Sr. at the Smoke House New Member Ribbon Cutting on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00am.  The Smoke House is located at 1475 Loop E across the road from Lakeside Assisted Living Center. The public is invited to attend to celebrate. 

Make sure you come out, meet Kenneth Walker, Sr. and try some of the delicious barbeque.

For more information, please contact the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at (936) 598-3682 or www.shelbycountychamber.com.

The Nacogdoches Police Department has identified the persons involved in a fatal New Year’s Eve auto-pedestrian accident. 

Jimmy Dewayne Watts, 32, of Nacogdoches was driving a Chrysler 200 passenger car westbound on Park Street at approximately 8:45 pm on Tuesday evening, New Year’s eve. Watt’s vehicle collided with a pedestrian, Kerrie Laverne Qualls, 44, of Lufkin, who was in the roadway on Park Street near the intersection of Crisp Rd. Qualls was killed on impact. 

Nacogdoches police officers have been investigating the incident since it occurred. Officers are speaking with witnesses and following up on leads as to how the accident happened. An autopsy has been ordered by the Justice of the Peace. 

No charges have been filed as of this time. 

LUFKIN – A new traffic signal will be activated in coming days on US 69 South at FM 326 North in Angelina County between Lufkin and Huntington.

Crews are set to activate the newly constructed traffic signal on Wednesday, weather permitting. Work is expected to begin by mid-morning. The signal will be set in full activation mode and will be enforceable once work is completed.

Lighted message boards are in place to warn motorists of the newly placed signal. Work on Wednesday will also include striping at the intersection of FM 326 North and US 69. There will be intermittent lane closures as this work is completed.

Texas Transportation Commissioners in March approved the $114,856.50 traffic signal after the completion of a traffic study and recommendation for its approval by the Lufkin District. Texas Traffic Control Systems, Inc., Dike, TX, is serving as contractor for the project.

Motorists should reduce speed through this area and prepare for slight delays throughout the work day Wednesday. Stay alert for flashing warning lights and lighted message boards placed on US 69 informing drivers of the activated signal.