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Crockett Area Chamber Quarterly Luncheon (Houston County)

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Diana De Leon Bon
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September 3 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Join us for our upcoming Chamber Quarterly Luncheon as we take a closer look at something that is becoming part of all of our lives — Artificial Intelligence!

We’re excited to welcome Team Lead Vernetial Davis of Provalus as our special guest speaker. Vernetial will explore the pros and cons of AI, how it is transforming our daily lives, and what it may mean for the way we live and work in the future.

Come enjoy a great lunch, learn something new, and join the conversation! We’d love to see you there. 

Lunch provided by El Jimador
$10 per person

Bring your questions, your curiosity, and maybe even a little skepticism — let’s talk AI!

Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce

(936) 544-2359

View Organizer Website

Crockett Civic Center

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79th Annual Chamber Awards Banquet (Tyler County)

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Diana De Leon Bon
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October 22 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Please mark your calendars for the 79th Annual Chamber Awards Banquet! We are excited to celebrate and recognize our achieving businesses of the year with a fun “Fall Fiesta” theme.

Here are the event details:

– Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
– Time: 6:00 PM
– Location: Church in the Country (Woodville, TX)
– Attire: Casual fun! Feel free to wear fall colors or fiesta style—Pop out that sombrero!

Another email will follow soon regarding the Mystery Box Auction donation details, public voting, individual tickets, table purchases, and sponsorships. We look forward to a wonderful evening of community and celebration!

Tyler County Chamber of Commerce

Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College Honors Recent Graduates

By
Gary Stallard
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The Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College recently recognized seven new recipients of the Nonprofit Leadership Management Certificate following completion of the course. Pictured are (L-R) Jack Knox (First Christian Church), Shanie Sanford (Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin), Charlotte Stanaland (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Shelly Tole-Barnes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Kim Bartel (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Jakoya Grimes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council) and Jansen Davis (Angelina Arts Alliance). (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

The Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College on Thursday recognized seven new graduates of its program with a ceremony held inside AC’s Community Services facility. 

Kim Bartel (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Jansen Davis (Angelina Arts Alliance), Jakoya Grimes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Jack Knox (First Christian Church), Shanie Sanford (Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin), Charlotte Stanaland (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council) and Shelly Tole-Barnes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council) each received the Nonprofit Leadership Management Certificate following completion of entire course, which features instruction on establishing and maintaining nonprofit organizations.   

Heather Kartye, Director of the NPLC, reminded the recipients of their numerous contributions in their various fields.  

“Ultimately, your investments and efforts as leaders strengthen not only yourselves, but also your organizations and the communities we serve,” Kartye said. “Those of us who work in the nonprofit sector know our work is incredibly rewarding, but it also asks a lot of us to work in this sector. 

“You respond when your communities need you, and often, you put the needs of others before your own needs.”

Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon emphasized the vital roles nonprofit organizations play in successful communities. 

“It’s a challenging work that you all do, and I believe a healthy community has a vibrant and effective nonprofit sector,” Simon said. “I don’t think you’ll find very many communities thriving without a network of nonprofit organizations providing services and supporting the people who need them.”

The Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College recently recognized seven new recipients of the Nonprofit Leadership Management Certificate following completion of the course. Pictured are (L-R) Dr. Michael Simon (Angelina College president) Jack Knox (First Christian Church), Shanie Sanford (Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin), Charlotte Stanaland (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Shelly Tole-Barnes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Kim Bartel (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Jakoya Grimes (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council), Jansen Davis (Angelina Arts Alliance) and Heather Kartye (NPLC Director). (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

The Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College provides affordable, practical, and high-quality classes year-round. Whether one is pursuing professional development or seeking Nonprofit Management Certification, the NPLC programs at AC are designed to enhance overall leadership skills.

NPLC works in collaboration with community leaders, including the Lufkin Chamber of Commerce, while offering essential learning opportunities for both emerging and experienced nonprofit professionals. Those enrolled gain expertise in board governance, high-impact leadership, nonprofit financial management, donor development, marketing, communication, and the latest trends and innovations in philanthropy.

For further information on Angelina College’s Nonprofit Leadership Center, contact Heather Kartye at hkartye@angelina.edu. 

Artist Bucheli Displaying ‘Out of the Shadows’ at Angelina College Gallery

By
Gary Stallard
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Reception and Artist Talk Set for Sept. 1

Angelina College’s School of Visual and Performing Arts will host artist Dario Salvatore Bucheli in an Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery exhibition.

Bucheli’s display “Out of the Shadows” opened August 17 and will run through September 10. A reception and artist’s discussion is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 in the ACA gallery. 

Students help prepare a temporary mural for the current Dario Salvatore Bucheli exhibition “Out of the Shadows,” currently open and running through Sept. 10 in the Angelina Center for the Arts Gallery on the Angelina College campus. Current and transfer students earned valuable experience in assisting with the exhibition’s overall presentation, and those students will receive recognition at the artist’s reception on Tuesday, Sept. 1. (Contributed photo)
 

Bucheli’s request for assistance in painting the main mural created an opportunity for past and present AC students to reunite. AC Gallery Director and Visual Arts instructor Le’Anne Alexander said she selected the assistants “based on proven excellence and dedication displayed in her Visual Arts courses.” Brynn Linette (current AC Visual Arts student), Yolanda Crain and Kai Randles (current AC Graphic Arts students), Valerie Runnels and Collin Fuller (recent AC Graduates and current SFA transfer students). Meghan Schieres (AC graduate, working artist/musician) participated in the main mural’s installation and will receive recognition from the artist at the reception. 

Bucheli’s image-based practice reflects on the ways myths, symbols, and inherited narratives continue to shape our understanding of the self, memory, and history. Drawing from Mesoamerican cosmology, folklore, craft-based practices, and personal experience, the work inhabits a space between history and imagination, where ancient visual languages offer a framework for navigating contemporary questions of displacement, transformation, and belonging. 

Bucheli’s practice spans paintings on canvas, printmaking, and site-specific works. Each work is part of a mythology in which recurring forms, celestial motifs, plants, animals, and ritual objects function as a personal visual vocabulary. Individual symbols shift in meaning through relationships with one another, creating layered compositions that invite multiple interpretations rather than fixed readings. 

In “Out of the Shadows,” Bucheli presents a new site-specific temporary painting, as well as a work on canvas, and a small sculptural work. The exhibition centers on the archetypal figure of the rabbit, a crepuscular creature that exists between light and shadow, serving as a symbol of transition, vulnerability, hope, and perseverance. Through this recurring figure, the exhibition reflects on the immigrant experience in the United States, drawing from Bucheli’s own history while engaging broader narratives of migration, resilience, and belonging.

Bucheli is an artist and museum professional currently located in Beaumont, Texas. He received his BA from the University of Dallas and his MFA from Texas Christian University, both in Studio Art with a focus on painting. His work has been exhibited throughout Texas and abroad in solo and group exhibitions.

Admission to the exhibition and reception is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact Le’Anne Alexander at lalexander@angelina.edu.

Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College Releases Course Schedule

By
Gary Stallard
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Heather Kartye, Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College, addresses the crowd during a recent awards ceremony. The NPLC at AC has released its full schedule of available courses for the 2026-2027 year. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

Certificates Awarded at Completion of Training

The Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College has released its full course schedule for the 2026-2027 calendar year, offering high-quality training “ideal for executive directors, staff, volunteers, and board members” involved in the nonprofit sector. 

Under the guidance of NPLC Director Heather Kartye, the full course consists of six core classes: Nonprofit Financial Management, Donor Development-The Fundraising Cycle, Board Governance Essentials, Nonprofit Marketing and Communication, High-Impact Leadership and Human Resources Management. 

Enrollees also have elective options consisting of two, three or four classes combined for a minimum of eight hours of instruction. 

There are also several “Lunch and Learn” classes scheduled throughout 2026-2027. An awards presentation will take place at the end of each year. 

NPLC states its overall mission is “to educate, equip and encourage nonprofit leaders in rural East Texas.”

Classes and meetings take place in Room 104 Community Services facility on the AC campus. 

Following is the listed course schedule:

Fall 2026 classes:

Donor Development-The Fundraising Cycle, Sept. 2 and 9 (Wednesdays), 1-5 p.m. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid (Free Elective), Sept. 16 (Wednesday), 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Nonprofit Financial Management (Core Class), Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26, 9-11 a.m.

High-Impact Leadership (Core Class), Nov. 6 and 13 (Fridays), 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Book Chat Lunch and Learn: Building Momentum for Lasting Impact: Lessons from the Nonprofit Flywheel (Elective, lunch included), Dec. 1 (Tuesday), 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Spring 2027 Classes:

NPLC Biennial Conference, Jan. 29 (Friday), 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Nonprofit Marketing and Communication (Core Class), Feb. 11 and 18 (Thursdays), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Board Governance Essentials (Core Class), March 18 and 25 (Thursdays), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid for Adults (Free Elective), April 14 (Wednesday), 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Human Resources Management (Core Class), April 22 and 29 (Thursdays), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Mastering the Message: Presentation and Speaking Essentials (Elective), May 19 and 26 (Wednesdays), 1-5 p.m.

In addition to its regularly scheduled classes, NPLC’s team of employees and trusted advisors can customize on-site training tailored to an organization’s specific needs and goals.

For further information regarding the Nonprofit Leadership Center at Angelina College, contact nplc@angelina.edu or call (936) 633-5328.

Community Fun Day (Jasper County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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August 29 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Let’s enjoy community fun through
Service Teaching Assistance Recreation (STAR)
There will be guest speakers, giveaway prizes, food, vendors and so much more!

Location: Lone Star Baptist Association
Date & Time: August 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce

(409) 384-2762

View Organizer Website

510 Twin St., Jasper, Texas 75951

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J.D.’s Center of Hope Banquet (Angelina County)

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Diana De Leon Bon
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August 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

J.D’s Center of Hope will host its annual Center of Hope Banquet on Thursday, August 27, at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy dinner, a silent auction, and an inspiring message from keynote speaker Joni Taylor, head women’s basketball coach at Texas A&M University.

Tickets are $45 per person, or $500 for a table of eight. The banquet will be held at 1204 Cain Street in Lufkin. For questions, call 936-633-6867.

Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce

View Organizer Website

1204 Cain Street in Lufkin, Texas 75904

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Governor’s Small Business Summit in Nacogdoches

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Diana De Leon Bon
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September 3 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Register Here: >> https://gov.texas.gov/business/event/governors-small-business-summit-nacogdoches
The Governor’s Small Business Summit aims to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. This event offers a variety of sessions bringing together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics. It’s also an opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who will share timely, relevant and actionable advice on a multitude of small business subjects. 

Governor’s Small Business Summit — Nacogdoches

When:

September 3, 2026 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Where:

The Fredonia Hotel, 200 N. Fredonia St., Nacogdoches, TX 75961

Panel Sessions:
• Rooted & Resilient: Cultivating Long-Term Growth in East Texas
• Capital & Confidence: Navigating Funding, Cash Flow and Financial Strategy
• The AI Advantage: Practical Strategies for Small Business Owners
Keynote: Bob & Kelli Phillips, Former Hosts of Texas Country Reporter
The Governor’s Small Business Summit — Nacogdoches aims to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. This event offers a variety of sessions bringing together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics. It’s also an opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who will share timely, relevant and actionable advice on a multitude of small business subjects.
 

Brief Agenda:
8 – 9am: Resource Fair & Networking Hour
9 – 9:30am: Welcoming & Opening Remarks
9:45am – 1:35pm: Sessions, Speakers & Lunch
1:35pm – 2pm: Closing
 

The Governor’s Small Business Summit — Nacogdoches is hosted in partnership with the Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation and Texas Workforce Commission with contributions by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce.

Registration is $20 and will include access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch and complimentary headshots. 

Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce

(936) 560-5533

View Organizer Website

The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center 200 N. Fredonia St. Nacogdoches TX 75961

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U.S. Marine Veteran in Tyler Requests 100 Cards for His 100th Birthday

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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AUSTIN, Texas— Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is encouraging the Tyler community and the State of Texas to send at least 100 cards to Mr. Weldon Bowen, a resident of the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home (TSVH), for his 100th birthday on September 5, 2026.

Weldon Kenneth Bowen was born in Luling, TX. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on August 3, 1945. He completed Basic Combat Training and was stationed at Puget Sound Naval shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. He served during WWII. He was honorably discharged August 23, 1946. He received multiple awards for his service, including the Good Conduct medal and Expert Rifleman.

He is requesting these cards for his centennial celebration through the VLB’s 100 for 100 program.

This program is an outreach effort coordinated by the VLB and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to garner community support for TSVH residents as they celebrate this incredible milestone.

Texans can show their support and help celebrate this momentous occasion by sending birthday cards to Mr. Bowen here:

Mr. Weldon Bowen
c/o Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home
11466 Honor Lane
Tyler, TX 75708

Angelina College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and National Fitness Campaign Provide Free Fitness for Everyone in Lufkin

By
Gary Stallard
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0

(Lufkin, TEXAS – August 19, 2026) — Angelina College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court® and digital wellness programming to Angelina College. The Fitness Court®, located at behind the activity center, will open September 2nd at 10:00 AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

This Fitness Court®  was developed by Angelina College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region. The Fitness Court® is the world’s best outdoor gym, letting users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. 

Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court® workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users may also download the free Fitness Court® App, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.  Angelina College is one of 50+ Campaign Partners building a network of Fitness Courts across the state, with the help of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. 

“We are proud to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and National Fitness Campaign to bring this incredible resource to Angelina College and to Lufkin,” Dr. Michael Simon, president of Angelina College, said. “Our campus belongs to this community, and the Fitness Court gives us another opportunity to welcome the community onto our campus while supporting health and wellness. We encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of this new resource.”

“Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve overall health,” Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at BCBSTX, said. “By investing in Fitness Courts across Texas, we’re creating more opportunities for people to move, connect, and build healthier, more equitable communities for the future.”

“We are excited to have Angelina College join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign, said. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the Lufkin community.”

Residents are invited to attend the launch event on September 2nd at 10:00 AM to try the Fitness Court®. For more information, visit angelina.edu/news or contact Angelina College at 936-639-1301. For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’s support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/texas. 

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Angelina College

Angelina College, established in 1968, is a comprehensive community college serving East Texas and beyond. The College offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs, including academic transfer pathways, workforce and technical training, and continuing education opportunities. Angelina College is committed to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education that empowers students to achieve their goals. With flexible learning options, including many fully online programs, and a student-centered approach, Angelina College prepares learners for career success, university transfer, and lifelong achievement. 

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Celebrating 95 years of helping improve the health of Texans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 550 hospitals to serve eight million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors. Our mission is to build healthy communities nationwide. The campaign delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered around the Fitness Court®– the world’s best outdoor gym. National Fitness Campaign is preparing to welcome its 750th healthy community in 2026, as it continues to grow the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness with the goal of building a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of  every American.  Learn more about National Fitness Campaign at nationalfitnesscampaign.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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