School gives student drivers the ‘Boot’
By: Maria Gonzalez
Tues., March. 9, 2010
Lufkin High School has found a new way to get students to pay tickets for driving to school without a student parking tag. The school has began using the “Boot” which is put on a car when penalty of tickets are owed and/or the school cannot get a hold of the owner.
According to senior grade Principal John Ball, the reason the school stared using the “Boot” was because cars on campus had unidentified drivers or unpaid tickets.
“Unidentified drivers are students who are driving to school and are parking in school property,” Ball said, “and the owner of the car is nowhere to be found, so the “Boot” helps us find the driver of the car.”
Using the device has lowered the number of students driving to school without a parking tag, and is getting them to pay their outstanding tickets, according to Ball.
He added that the school has not received any kind of negative attitude toward the school having to use the “Boot.”
Ball said students may be wondering how to prevent getting the boot on their vehicles and getting in trouble.
“(Students need to) be a legal driver and obey all parking rules,” he said. “Tickets are still being issued and the ‘Boot’ does not change the rules. Students need to think of what they are doing every morning before deciding to drive to school illegally.”
According to LHS parking lot guard Bryan McCarty, the students may not be the only one responsible for “Boots” being placed in their cars.
“Parents are aware of their teens driving to school illegal,” McCarty said, “yet they allow them to do so.”
McCarty said that about three to four tickets are issued each day with about one unidentified driver a week.
Census Takers Begin Hand Delivering 2010 Census Questionnaires to 12 Million Addresses
Tues., Feb. 2, 2010
About 56,000 census workers today began hand delivering 2010 Census questionnaires to roughly 12 million addresses across the nation, mostly in rural areas where people do not receive mail at the same location as their residence. Most of nation´s 120 million households, about 90 percent of the U.S. population, should look for their 10-question forms to arrive by mail mid-March.
While the majority of areas covered by this operation are rural, the Census Bureau also is delivering forms to Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina to ensure everyone is included in the once-a-decade count. Census takers will deliver 2010 Census questionnaires directly to each residence in these areas, leaving a form packaged in a plastic bag at the home´s main door. Residents are encouraged to fill out and mail back their census forms - using the enclosed pre-paid envelope - as soon as possible.
“Regardless of whether your census form gets dropped off at your front door or you receive it within a few weeks in your mailbox, it´s important that you fill it out and mail it back as soon as possible,” said Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves. “With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census should only take about 10 minutes to complete.”
In 2000, about 72 percent of the population mailed back their census forms - halting a three-decade decline in the national mail participation rate. Mailing back the forms save taxpayers money, as it reduces the number of census takers that must go door-to-door to follow up with households that failed to do so. The Census Bureau saves about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the national mail response rate.
“It costs us just 42 cents in a postage paid envelope when households mail back their 2010 Census forms,” Groves said. “The Census Bureau will spend about $25 per person if we have to go out and knock on the doors of households that don´t mail them back.”
The Census Bureau is urging everyone to take 10 minutes to fill out their census forms and mail them back. Starting March 22, visitors to the 2010 Census Web site will be able to track how well their communities are participating in the census on a daily basis. Communities will even be able to embed a Web-based tool on their own Web sites that automatically updates the daily rates. An interactive Google-based map is now online that allows visitors to find out how well their communities did in the 2000 Census. The Census Bureau is challenging all communities to improve their 2000 mail participation rates in 2010.
All census responses are confidential. Answers are protected by law and cannot be shared with anyone. The Census Bureau takes extreme measures to protect the identity of individuals and businesses. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents´ individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
ABOUT THE 2010 CENSUS
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form will be one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
Sophomore Day For AC Basketball Teams
By: AC News Service
Fri., Feb. 26, 2010
My, how they’ve grown.
It’s within the very nature of junior college sports that an athlete spends a mere one or two years playing for his or her chosen team. And while that may not seem like a long time to watch a young player’s development, it’s more than enough for those special athletes who utilize their JUCO time to the maximum.
On Saturday, the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners and Roadrunners will say goodbye to several such players, with AC’s basketball teams hosting their final home games of the 2009-2010 season. Before each game, the coaches will honor those sophomores who have stayed the course of the grueling two year schedules, with each of those players leaving his or her marks on the programs for which they played.
For the Roadrunners, the ceremony will be short but oh-so-sweet. Takoby Jackson of Lancaster is the only sophomore on the roster - but one to which coaches can point as the reason for junior college basketball. Jackson arrived last season having been deemed too small by some scouts; and while his freshman season often saw him taking a back seat to other scorers, 2009-2010 has been his breakout year. Jackson leads the ‘Runners at more than 16 points per game. He’s hit for 30 or more in three games; he’s racked up 20 or more 10 times - all this while drawing attention from opposing defenders.
The Lady ‘Runners will have a slightly longer ceremony. Tiara George - the 2008-2009 Freshman of the Year in Region XIV and Southern Mississippi signee - Keldra Hall, Adele Stephenson, Marcy Robinson and Erica Adair have been instrumental in back-to-back 20-plus win seasons - 47 wins in all for this team - and constant flirting with the national rankings. Donia Naylor, another sophomore, transferred to AC from Washington , D.C. and is among team leaders in several categories.
This particular group of players was also present for Byron Coleman’s 100th win in his five-year career; Coleman reached that milestone with AC’s 65-52 win over Jacksonville on Feb. 10th.
And with the Lady Roadrunners sporting a 24-5 record heading into Saturday’s game, post-season honors will likely feature several blue-and-orange clad members of Angelina College .
Also deserving of recognition on Saturday will be sophomore Cheer Squad members Rachel Ridings, Mandy Byerly and Paige Rutherford, each of whom served for two years; and Ashley Clack, a sophomore who joined the Cheer Squad this season after spending her freshman year with the AC Singers.
Finally, basketball manager Chris McGuire will also receive recognition for his two years on the sidelines.
The Lady Roadrunners will take on Tyler at 2 p.m., and the Roadrunners will try to lock down a post-season berth by taking on Tyler’s men at 4 p.m.
Games will be available for audio/video web casting. Log onto www.angelina.edu and click the “Athletics” link to catch the game.
Math Teacher Saves the Day Tackled Gunman
By: AP
Thur., Feb. 25, 2010
LITTLETON, Colo. - A teacher tackled a man armed with a high-powered rifle just after two teenage students were shot Tuesday at a suburban Denver middle school that's just miles from Columbine High School, the site of one of the nation's deadliest school shootings, authorities said.
One male and one female were shot at about 3:30 p.m. outside Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Jefferson County Sheriff's office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said. Both students were taken to a nearby hospital and were expected to survive.
Student Steven Seagraves said he was about 10 feet away when an adult approached students and asked them: "Do you guys go to this school?"
When the students said they did, he shot them, Seagraves said.
Seventh-grade math teacher David Benke, a 6-foot-5 inch former college basketball player who oversees the school's track team, tackled the suspect as he was trying to reload his weapon.
"He was trying to rack another round. He couldn't get another round in before I got to him so I grabbed him," Benke said, recalling that he didn't have time to fear for his life.
Benke's wife said her husband called her after the shooting.
"He said there was a shooting and that he had to tackle the gunman," Sandra Benke said. She said her husband was upset that he couldn't reach the shooter before two rounds were fired. "He said 'It was one of my students.'"
Fishermen Rally Against Federal Catch Limits
By: AP
Wed., Feb. 24, 2010
Thousands of fishermen from around the country are gathering Wednesday in front of the Capitol to demand changes to a federal fisheries law they say is killing jobs and eroding fishing communities.
Organizers of the "United We Fish" rally want to loosen federal catch restrictions they say severely damage their industry.
A rally organizer, Jim Hutchinson Jr. of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, says the 2007 Magnuson-Stevens fishery law sets unrealistic fish stock recovery goals based on flawed science, then imposes harsh cuts on fishermen once those goals aren't met.
Environmental groups say the government should allow anglers greater flexibility while still setting overall catch limits to protect vulnerable fish.
New Jobs Are Comming Building for Tomorrow
Fri., Feb. 19, 2010
Lufkin, Texas - Fifty new jobs will soon be available to area residents with a company that “stretches” around theworld. Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden announced at First Friday that PG Films, LLC is buying the “shell building”owned by the Lufkin/Angelina County Economic Development Partnership (an entirely privately funded countywideeconomic development organization), to house its manufacturing business. The multi-national companyproduces plastic stretch and shrink wrap for the shipping-logistics industry. They have facilities in San Diego,California and Queretaro, Mexico.
Delighted to include the announcement in his annual State of the City Address, the Mayor said, “Landing PGFilms was the culmination of a year’s worth of intense work by a lot of people in our City who are dedicated tocreating new jobs. Three years ago our citizens voted to designate 1/8 of each penny from our sales tax toeconomic development. That decision helped us provide the incentives to ‘land’ this dynamic company.”
Another plus was having land and a shell building in place. Outgoing Partnership Chairman Trey Hendersonadds, “The shell building has been a magnificent tool for our economic development team to utilize in an effort tobring prospects to Lufkin. We’ve had numerous companies look at the building and we were always confidentthat the right user would appear. PG Films is the perfect fit”.
What kind of jobs are in store for area residents? Partnership President and City Economic DevelopmentDirector Jim Wehmeier says, “These will be quality jobs with benefits and wages that are above the average inAngelina County. PG Films hopes to be operational by the third quarter of 2009, employ 50 people within ayear of opening and grow to 125 employees within 3 years.”
It’s a “green” company. PG Films is virtually “waste free” recycling its product and using recycled plastic in itsmanufacturing process. One reason it chose Lufkin is because of its proximity to the Port of Houston where itgets its raw materials. It’s also in Texas, which is home to many of its major customers.
According to PG Films owner Miguel Peredo, the company has more than 75 million dollars invested inbuildings, machinery and equipment at its San Diego and Queretaro locations. Sales at each facility are inexcess of 70 million dollars a year. Mayor Gorden adds, “It’s a highly competitive company that uses cuttingedge technology to produce the plastic wrap that is vital in the shipping and distribution process that is explodingacross this country. According to Peredo, the San Diego facility produces up to 198,000,000 pounds of finalproduct a year.
Mayor Gordon and Wehmeier have both toured PG Films’ San Diego plant and concur that, “They are greatcorporate citizens with great business acumen. It is our hope that their favorable experience in Lufkin will attractother multi-national companies to our City.” Gorden adds, that companies like PG Films’ often “cluster” whichwould be a huge benefit to Lufkin.
For more information contact Jim Wehmeier 936-633-0251 or go to www.pgfilms.us to learn more about PGFilms, LLC.
A New Generation Music Industry Takes Billion Dollar Hit
By: Tamara Acevedo
Thur., Feb. 18, 2010, 12:00 pm CST
With more people owning iPods and MP3, CD’s are being phased out. They will soon meet the same fate as the old-school cassette tape. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, album sales have been falling an average of 8 percent each year. Forrester Research estimates the music industry has lost an estimated $8 billion in the past ten years. Illegal music sharing programs, like Limewire and Frostwire, are not helping recover lost revenue from disappointing album sales. Senior Alexis Guerrero stopped buying CD’s a couple of years ago and prefers listening to music on her iPod.
“CD’s are such a hassle,” she said. “One scratch and the CD is ruined. I get most of my music from iTunes. The last CD I bought was probably about two years ago. I hated having to buy the whole CD just because I liked a couple of songs.Guerrero said plugging in her iPod instead of changing CD’s is safer while she’s driving.“With CD’s, I would have to change them out often to get different songs,” Guerrero said. “I would be distracted trying to look for my CD’s in my car. My car is iPod compatible. So, I create a playlist ahead of time and just plug my iPod in and go.”
In an interview with CNN Money, Dan Ingala, lead singer of the band Plushgun, believes the music industry will never win the battle against illegal music downloading and should just give in to the new way of getting music.“People will steal music regardless, so it’s not worth trying to fight against something where the fight’s already over,” said Ingala. “It’s just a matter of adjusting and at the same time, its helping us create an audience.”
Apple’s iTunes is helping generate some profit from music lovers, but analysts say it is not enough to recover the costs. People like the idea of downloading a song for free instead of spending $14 for a CD they only listen to once or twice.Record labels are also making money from licensing their music to Internet radio stations, like Pandora and Myspace Music. YouTube is also being hit with licensing fees. The music industry is trying everything possible to get revenue back up and start making money again.Anaylists expect revenue to continue declining and do not see the music industry gettting profit where it was a decade ago.
Local Photographer's Arts Show ANGELINA COLLEGE GALLERY TO PRESENT WORKS BY NACOGDOCHES PHOTOGRAPHERHUMPHREYS
By: Gary Stallard
Wed., Feb. 17, 2010, 2:00 pm CST
Nacogdoches photographer Kay Humphreys will present “Latitude 59: Photographs by Kay Humphreys” in a gallery scheduled to open Tuesday, March 2nd in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the Angelina College campus.
The exhibition will be on display through March 31st.
Combining her love of nature with her passion for art, the exhibit will offer selected images Humphreys captured during the last four summers she spent in Alaska on the Katmai coast. Humphreys has spent the last several years traveling and working in Alaska, where she has moved among the wildlife and documented their lives and habitat.
Of her time in Alaska, Humphreys said, “This is a special place for bears; this is a place where bears can be bears without being hunted; this is a place where humans can appreciate a glimpse into the lives and behaviors of the coastal brown bears of the Katmai coast. “ The stunning landscape of Alaska and the wild creatures inhabiting it will be shown in large-scale prints in this exhibition. Ms. Humphreys is a 1979 graduate of Stephen F. Austin University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Art.
There will be a public reception for the artist on March 2 from 6 to 7:30 PM in the Angelina College Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.
Needing Info Texas Forestry Museum Seeking Info. about East Texas Sawmill Doctors
Contact: Mary Cook
Tues., Feb. 16, 2010, 3:00 pm CST
Lufkin, Texas - East Texas lumber companies often employed a doctor to treat the residents of the sawmill company town. The list of East Texas sawmill doctors included: Dr. P.C. Clements at Manning; Dr. J.C. Clement, Dr. H.C. Cook and Dr. Dale at Diboll; and Dr. Arthur Bryan at Camden. The Texas Forestry Museum is working on an exhibit that will tell the story of the East Texas sawmill doctor. If you have any information or stories to tell about sawmill doctors, please contact the museum at 936-632-9535. The Texas Forestry Museum, a private non- profit organization, is located at 1905 Atkinson Dr. in Lufkin. We are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, except major holidays.
Enjoying the Past Fire & Ice
By: Laura Koch
Mon., Feb. 15, 2010, 12:30 pm CST
Lufkinites young and old enjoyed the days of "Fire and Ice" at Heritage Antiques recently. Longtime vintage jewelry dealer, Billie Thomas, was set up wtih her beautiful wares and was also available to give assessments on folks' personal jewlery pieces. There were some lovely pieces brought in. Others took advantage of the food goodies set out and everyone had fun mingling around looking at and buying antiques. Vendors delighted in "dressin' gaudy" with our own jewelry. The event was a hit, so watch for it to surface again next year!
Farewell ’Good Time Charlie’
By: AP
Fri., Feb. 12, 2010, 2:30 pm CST
Charlie Wilson, the former congressman from Texas whose funding of Afghanistan’s resistance to the Soviet Union was chronicled in the movie and book Charlie Wilson’s War, died on Wednesday. He was 76.
Wilson died at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin after he started having difficulty breathing while attending a meeting in the eastern Texas town where he lived, said hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogletree.
Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival, and the preliminary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, she said.
Wilson represented the 2nd District in east Texas in the US House from 1973 to 1996 and was known in Washington as “Good Time Charlie” for his reputation as a hard-drinking womaniser. He once called former congresswoman Pat Schroeder “Babycakes,” and tried to take a beauty queen with him on a government trip to Afghanistan.
Actor Tom Hanks portrayed Wilson in the 2007 movie about Wilson’s efforts to arm Afghan mujahedeen during Afghanistan’s war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
Wilson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped secure money for weapons, plunging the US into a risky venture against the world’s other superpower.
In an interview with The Associated Press after the book was published in 2003, he said he wasn’t worried about details of his wild side being portrayed.
“I would remind you that I was not married at the time. I’m in a different place than I was in at the time and I don’t apologise about that,” Wilson said.
In 2007, Wilson had a heart transplant at a Houston hospital. Doctors had told Wilson, who suffered from cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes an enlarged and weakened heart, that he would likely die without a transplant.
Wilson, a Democrat, was considered a progressive but also a defence hawk.
He had acknowledged some responsibility for Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for al-Qaeda after the Soviets retreated and the US withdrew its support.
“That caused an enormous amount of real bitterness in Afghanistan and it was probably the catalyst for Taliban movement,” Wilson said in a 2001 interview.
The Soviets spent a decade battling the determined and generously financed mujahedeen before pulling the Red Army from Afghanistan in 1989.
Mike Vickers, who as a CIA agent in 1984 played a key role in the clandestine effort to arm the Afghan rebels, said Wilson played a part in the Soviet Union’s collapse, which happened just two years after its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Vickers, now assistant secretary of defence for special operations, praised Wilson as a “great American patriot who played a pivotal role in a world-changing event - the defeat of the Red Army in Afghanistan, which led to the collapse of Communism and the Soviet Empire.”
After leaving Congress, Wilson lobbied for a number of years before returning to Texas.
“Charlie was perfect as a congressman, perfect as a state representative, perfect as a state senator. He was a perfect reflection of the people he represented. If there was anything wrong with Charlie, I never did know what it was,” said Charles Schnabel Jr., who served for seven years as Wilson’s chief of staff in Washington and worked with Wilson when he served in the Texas Senate.
Wilson is survived by his wife, Barbara, and a sister.
U.S. Congressman Passed Away
The picture was taken by Mike Maberry at the Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular ribbon cutting and open house September 29,2009. Charles Wilson
By: Yana Ogletree
Thur., Feb. 11, 2010, 2:00 pm CST
LUFKIN, TEXAS - Memorial Health System of East Texas announced today that former Democratic U.S. Congressman Charles Wilson passed away after suffering from cardio pulmonary arrest. He was pronounced dead at 12:16 p.m. in the hospital’s emergency room. The 76 year old Congressman served the Second Congressional District for twelve consecutive terms. In 2007 Wilson ’s life was portrayed in the movie Charlie Wilson’s War, starring Tom Hanks as the flamboyant Congressman.
According to family friend Buddy Temple , Wilson experienced difficulty breathing after leaving a business meeting in Lufkin on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Immediately Temple began driving to the hospital’s emergency department when he noticed an Emergency Medical Response (EMS) vehicle parked nearby. Paramedics came to his aid and transported Wilson to the Memorial Medical Center - Lufkin , Memorial Health System’s largest acute care facility. Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival.
Wilson underwent a heart transplant in September 2007. Since then he has been under the care of physicians at Memorial Medical Center - Lufkin . He is survived by his wife Barbara, Sharon Allison-sister, a niece and nephew. At this time funeral arrangements are pending.
Upon retirement, Wilson and his wife Barbara returned to Lufkin . Wilson considered his greatest accomplishments as Congressman to be the creation of the VA (Veterans Administration) Outpatient Hospital in Lufkin , which was renamed after Wilson in 2005. He also was instrumental in the establishment of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Wilson played a big part in securing the construction of Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of missile components, in Lufkin . As a young Texas legislator, Wilson introduced the state’s sales tax. He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1956 and served in the Navy from 1956 to 1960. Click here to follow the story.
With Bake-Off Visual Effects Oscar Gets Cooking
By: Liesl Bradner
Wed., Feb. 10, 2010, 2:00 pm CST
In the wake of the blockbuster success of "Avatar," 3-D is all the rage in Hollywood -- and not just for big action movies either. A 3-D documentary called "Cane Toads" generated buzz in Sundance, and there's chatter that Ang Lee could make his next project, the adaptation of boy-on-boat bestseller “The Life of Pi,” in 3-D. (There are plenty of large-scale animals on the boat with the main character, including a 450-pound Bengal tiger).
As one Oscar-winning effects guru said at the annual bake-off, the gathering of the Academy's visual effects branch narrowing down the contenders, "dramas are where [3-D is] heading."
The main purpose of the bake-off, held recently at Kate Mantilin's restaurant in Beverly Hills, is to whittle down a list of seven pictures (initially chosen from a list of 271 eligible films) to three titles that will be nominated for the Oscars. Presentations were made over the course of the dark, stormy night -- an appropriate tone for an evening featuring end-of-the-world epics, killer robots, wizards and general destruction.
"Avatar" is all but guaranteed one of the three Oscar slots, which left “Star Trek,” “2012,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “Terminator: Salvation,” “District 9,” and “Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen" battling it out for the other two positions.
It was almost as interesting to note the films that didn't make the cut. Fanboy favorite “Watchmen" never made it as far as the bake-off despite arriving at theaters as one of the most anticipated effects films in recent memory; several artists, including some who worked on the Zack Snyder film, agreed that the middling reception to the film undermined its chances. "District 9," however, impressed despite being a much more modestly budgeted film. “It was physically impossible to see the difference between the background, humans and synthetic creatures,” one member remarked.
Before the presentations started, visual effects branch chairman Richard Edlund -- who picked up Oscars for the original “Star Wars” trilogy -- reviewed the red light rule, which requires presenters to wrap up when the light goes on. Some are more willing than others to follow that regulation. When James Cameron last appeared at the bake-off 12 years ago for “Titanic," he had a novel solution: When the red light flashed by the podium indicating his time was up, he casually reached over and unscrewed the light bulb.
You can see Avatar and other movies at Carmike Cinema Lufkin Mall 9. Avatar showings start at 1:30, 2:30, 5:00, 6:00, 8:30, & 9:30.
Dr. Bill Shelton’s Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure Set for May 1
By: Yana Ogletree
Tues., Feb. 9, 2010, 2:30 pm CST
LUFKIN, TEXAS - Start practicing your cast, it’s time for the 17th Annual Dr. Bill Shelton’s Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure on Lake Sam Rayburn. This year’s tournament will be held Saturday, May 1 at Cassels-Boykin Park. All tournament proceeds benefit indigent cancer patients at the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center.
Fishermen and women can start looking for registration forms in March. Registration forms will be available online at www.memorialhealth.org as well as at Memorial Health System of East Texas, the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center or by calling Lindsey Mott at 936-639-7613. Fishermen also can register at Cassels-Boykin from Noon to 8 p.m., Friday, April 30, and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. the morning of the tournament. The entry fee is $200 per team, one or two-person teams. There is a three-fish limit with culling allowed. Weigh in for all fishermen will start at Noon and end promptly at 3 p.m. at Cassels-Boykin Park, Saturday, May 1.
The fishing tournament began in 1993 by the late Dr. Bill Shelton, a former Lufkin Radiation Oncologist. While caring for patients at the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center, Dr. Shelton saw a need to help indigent cancer patients who did not have the resources to purchase medications or to even travel to the center for treatment. Over the years, the fishing tournament has raised thousands of dollars to help these patients.
In addition to the tournament, children are invited to participate in Dr. Bill Shelton’s Totally Awesome Kid Fish. This fishing adventure will take place off the bank at Cassels-Boykin Park. There are two age categories, 5-9 years of age and 10-12 years of age. Entry fee for the Kid Fish is $10 per person and all children can register Saturday, May 1. The kids in each division are eligible to place in one of three categories: biggest fish, biggest stringer, and most fish caught. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and they must wear a life jacket at all times.
For a list of rules and regulations, visit the Memorial Health System of East Texas website at www.memorialhealth.org. For any questions or concerns, please call Lindsey Mott at (936) 639-7613.
Saints beat Colts 31-17 to Claim First Super Bowl
By: AP
Mon., Feb. 8, 2010, 4:30 pm CST
MIAMI, Fla. (AP) -- Who Dat won the Super Bowl? The New Orleans Saints, that's who. Ain't kidding. Put away those paper bags forever. Drew Brees and the Saints are NFL champions, rallying to upset Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football's most thrilling title games.
Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a 2-yard slant to Jeremy Shockey for the winning points with 5:42 remaining, and was chosen the game's MVP.
"We just believed in ourselves and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entire country behind us," Brees said. "What can I say? I tried to imagine what this moment would be like for a long time and it's better than expected."
A surprise onside kick sparked the Saints' second-half comeback. Their 25th-ranked defense made several key stops, and Tracy Porter's 74-yard interception return on a pass from Manning, of all people, clinched it.
Manning tried to give chase, but was blocked by a New Orleans defender and fell awkwardly as the cornerback raced by. The four-time NFL MVP forlornly walked to the sideline as the Big Easy celebrations began.
"It's time for the Saints to celebrate," he said. "It's their field and it's their championship."
An NFL embarrassment for much of their 43 years, the Saints' football renaissance, led by Brees and coach Sean Payton, climaxed with Shockey's touchdown and Lance Moore's 2-point conversion catch, originally ruled incomplete but overturned on Payton's challenge.
Porter's pick, just as dramatic as his interception of Brett Favre's pass to force overtime in the NFC title game, was the game's only turnover. It's one Manning will forever regret.
The Saints (16-3) won three postseason games this winter after winning only two in the previous 42 years. They beat Arizona, Minnesota and Indianapolis (16-3) - all division winners - for their first title, scoring 107 points and allowing only 59.
The championship came 4 1/2 years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, making the Saints nomads for the 2005 season. There even was some doubt they would return, but the NFL refused to abandon the city. The Superdome was repaired and the Saints won the NFC South in '06, their first season with Brees and Payton.
That was the season Manning won his only Super Bowl. He had the Colts, favored by 5 points, in front for much of this one, but New Orleans' league-leading offense, which scored 510 points this season, outscored Indy 31-7 after falling behind 10-0. That matched the biggest comeback in a Super Bowl.
Payton held the Vince Lombardi Trophy high over his head and ran into the end zone toward several hundred fans chanting the Saints' rally cry: "Who dat, who dat, who dat say gonna beat dem Saints?"
Nobody can say it now.
"Everybody back in New Orleans gets a piece of this trophy," he said.
"I think I could kiss him," owner Tom Benson said.
Before many of the 74,059 fans got settled following the Who's halftime show, the Saints worked a little football voodoo. Garrett Hartley's onside kick was touched by the Colts' Hank Baskett, then recovered by Chris Reis at the New Orleans 42.
"I just told our guys you've got to make me look good on this," Payton said. "That really becomes like a turnover."Looking like the NFL's most potent offense, the Saints s
eized the opportunity to take their first lead. It came on Pierre Thomas' brilliant 16-yard run with a screen pass, capped by a dive into the end zone.Manning simply shrugged, found Dallas Clark for 45 yards
on a 76-yard drive, and Joseph Addai used a spin move a figure skater would envy to score from the 4.But that was it for Indy.
Hartley, the hero of the NFC title game with his 40-yard field goal in OT, made a 47-yarder later in the third period. After Matt Stover was wide left on a 51-yarder early in the final quarter, Brees led the biggest drive in Saints history.
Manning looked sharp on the Colts' first two series, taking them 53 yards to a 38-yard field goal by Stover, at 42 the oldest player in Super Bowl history.
Then Manning led a 96-yard, 11-play drive that appeared almost routine, even though it tied the longest march in a Super Bowl. Addai rushed for 53 yards on the series, and Manning found Pierre Garcon behind backup cornerback Osama Young for the 19-yard score on third down.
New Orleans couldn't match that, but did get a 46-yard field goal by Hartley to make it 10-3. Brees was sacked on third down by All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney, who sure looked frisky despite ligament damage in his right ankle that made his availability uncertain for two weeks.
Then Indy's defense, ranked 18th during the season but staunch in the playoffs, really showed some power. After the Saints marched 71 yards, including 40 yards on two receptions by Marques Colston, New Orleans had third-and-goal at the 1. Mike Bell slipped running right behind All-Pro guard Jahri Evans, and Thomas was stacked up at the line by Gary Brackett and Clint Sessions on fourth down.
But the Colts went against type and ran three times, leaving 35 seconds for the league's most prolific offense to get in position for Hartley's 44-yard field goal and a more manageable 10-6 halftime deficit.
Shootout? More like a slowdown. Indy had two three-and-outs and New Orleans had one.
But the points came quickly after halftime - mostly for the Saints.
Give Gifts from the Heart For this Valentines’s Day
By: ARA
Fri., Feb. 5, 2010, 3:00 pm CST
(ARA) - Everyone knows the standard Valentine's Day gifts: flowers and chocolates. But if you really want to express what's in your heart, think a little harder about what you're going to give.
While those tried-and-true gifts are certainly nice, think of them as an accompaniment to the main event - a gift that reflects the personality of the recipient, and which shows that you put thought and creativity into your gift.
Before you set out on a shopping trip, take a moment to think about your gift recipient's favorite things, whether it's a charitable cause, an author or a hobby. If you can, try to plan an afternoon with your loved one and, over lunch or an excursion, see if you can pick up some ideas. Make mental notes, write them down when you have a moment, and then hit the shops. But if you aren't able to connect for some time together, consider using these ideas and adapting them to your fit your Valentine.
Put a spin on the standards
The easiest thing in the world is to get a bundle of red roses with baby's breath and a pre-made chocolate sampler - you can even pick those up at gas stations. Make the sentiment say more by putting a little extra thought into it. You could consult traditional Victorian flower meanings (for example, asters are symbols of love, freesia indicates trust) or choose a bouquet done in your Valentine's favorite color. If your sweetheart is a chocoholic, check your area for artisanal chocolatiers. A small sampler of chocolates and candies made with the finest ingredients will be more flavorful and memorable than your standard assortment.
Give the gift that gives back
Valentine's Day is the time of year when the feelings of your heart are given the most attention - why not let that lead you to think of heart health? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease kills one person every minute, and it is the No. 1 killer of women of all ages. To raise awareness of the risks of heart disease and also to raise critical funds for the AHA, Yankee Candle Company has continued its annual "Light a Candle for Your Heart" program which coincides with the AHA's Heart Health month and "Go Red" movement each year.
"By giving selected red Yankee candles to your loved one this Valentine's Day, you not only are giving America's best loved candle, you also will be giving a gift which directly benefits heart research," says Yankee Candle's Rick Ruffolo. "A dollar is donated to the AHA with every purchase." You also can include a card to tell the recipient that they can raise more money for the AHA on Facebook. "Become a fan of the company and send virtual candle gifts to all of your friends - for each candle you send, we will donate to the American Heart Association," Ruffolo adds.
Make it an experience
Going out to dinner is a Valentine's Day tradition - that much is clear to anyone who tries to get a reservation at a nice restaurant on Feb.14. To avoid the crush of diners and the often inflated menu prices, opt for something a little different. If you're spending time with your sweetheart, try something that requires you to work together - maybe try out a climbing wall at a local gym - or something that will make you want to cuddle up together, like ice skating or sledding. If your Valentine is more platonic, opt for going to see a movie - or plan a game night at home. No matter what you do, spending time together is a gift that always warms the heart
Mardi Gras Shreveport-Bossier City
By: AP
Thur., Feb. 4, 2010, 2:00 pm CST
For Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana’s Other Side promises to be zany and just plain fun. It’s the kind of fun that’s good for the entire family. There will be so much to ooh and ahh over as the parades, balls and events just get more and more elaborate.
"Shreveport-Bossier has the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the state," said Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau. "What makes our celebration so special is that we have one that is inviting to everyone, including families with children."
Shreveporter Raven Walker, a mom of two boys - Jadarius, 6, and Jamarcus, 4 - enjoys the local annual Mardi Gras celebrations. She and her sons have previously ridden in the Black History Mardi Gras Parade.
"The kids had an awesome time. They were throwing beads and really enjoyed being surrounded by the crowds."
This year there are nearly two dozen parades, balls and other events associated with Mardi Gras. The big crescendo is the two major parade weekends starting with the Krewe of Centaur parade, "As Southern As It Gets," Feb. 6. The parade starts at 4 p.m. on the corner of Lake Street and Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway in downtown Shreveport and winds its way south down Clyde Fant to Shreveport-Barksdale Boulevard, west to East Kings Highway and finally ending at Preston Street.
The next major parade is the Krewe of Gemini parade, "Gemini Goes Fiction," Feb. 13. This parade also starts at 4 p.m. and has the same parade route.
Other fun and exciting parades include:
Krewe of Centaur: Feb. 6.
Krewe of Barkus & Meoux: Feb. 7.
Krewe of Gemini: Feb. 13.
Krewe of Highland: Feb. 14.
The main thing to know is you have to come in a festive mood to catch some of the more than 8 million beads, doubloons, cups, stuffed animals, candy and trinkets tossed to the sea of people lining the parade route.
Over the course of the two weekends more than 400,000 people attend the parades, making this the largest north Louisiana Mardi Gras celebration. Shreveport-Bossier City’s Mardi Gras has an economic impact of about $17 million.
Ground Hog Day! Not so Happy
By: AP
Tues., Feb. 2, 2010, 2:00 pm CST
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - The groundhog has spoken. And it's bad news.
Punxsutawney (puhnk-suh-TAW’-nee) Phil has emerged to see his shadow before chilly revelers in Pennsylvania, meaning winter will last another six weeks.
German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow on Feb. 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.
The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club annually announces Phil’s forecast at dawn on Gobbler's Knob, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Phil's announcement came before hundreds of onlookers who huddled as temperatures hovered in the teens.
The Groundhog Club says since 1887 Phil has predicted more winter weather by seeing his shadow nearly 100 times, but there are no records for nine years. See our complete wether forecst here
Is It Time For Change? East Texans Hate The New Site!
By: P Callaway
Mon., Feb. 1, 2010, 3:00 pm CST
I periodically search and review other local websites in the East Texas area just to see how much activity is going on, and what we have missed or what they have. I must say that one of our local media websites has under gone a major facelift. When I clicked on it … I thought …way cool! Then I started reading the comment section of their loyal followers . The majority hates it, or so they say. What I concluded is that East Texans do not adhere to change easily!
Actually it is not just East Texans, to prove my point I have a couple of old possibly familiar quotes to share… “I’m all for progress, its change I object to,” .” Mark Twain. Generally speaking, learning new things are difficult, and people avoid difficulty. (That proclivity to avoid difficulty is what’s behind the proverb, “If you want a horse to jump a fence, make the fence as low as possible.” How many of us are still running a model T of a windows application? It never ceases to amaze me how many people that ask me to save my word documents in an older version for them. Windows 98, WP, Vista, and now Windows 7… it makes little difference to me as long as I can get the job done and I am making progress. With all new things there are more options or hopefully more efficient options. And I must mention the obvious for you who may look over it, with all things new, comes a few kinks that will need to be worked out. When you buy a new pair of jeans you wash and wear before they feel right. So lighten up East Texan’s (Lufkin) and give Lufkin Daily News’ new website a chance before you beat it up so much. www.lufkindailynews.com
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