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Nacogdoches Niners Announce Nikaylen Morrison as Field Manager

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

Accomplished Player Development Leader Brings Professional, Collegiate, and Youth Coaching Experience to Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches, Texas — The Nacogdoches Niners of the Mid America League are proud to announce the hiring of Nikaylen Morrison as the franchise’s Field Manager for the 2026 season. Morrison brings a diverse background in professional playing experience, collegiate coaching, player development, and elite youth instruction to the Niners organization.

Morrison is a graduate of Central Baptist College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology–Exercise Science while competing as a first baseman and outfielder from 2017 to 2022. His playing career includes professional experience with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League and the Texarkana Twins of the Pecos League, along with multiple seasons in competitive summer collegiate leagues. Following his playing career, Morrison completed an internship with the SugarLand Space Cowboys, current AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros. 

Known for his player-first coaching philosophy, Morrison has built an impressive résumé in player development and scouting. He has served as a Head Coach at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy, working with athletes ages 9–18, and has held collegiate coaching roles at Wiley University and Southern Arkansas University Tech. In these roles, Morrison focused on skill development, performance analysis, recruiting, and creating disciplined, growth-oriented environments for athletes.

“I’ve been fortunate to have Dusty Baker as my mentor throughout the years,” said Morrison. “He has given me tremendous advice and continues to encourage me at every step in my baseball journey. His guidance has been a key part of my personal and professional growth. My love for the game runs deep, and that passion is something I pour into my players daily. I believe in knowing my guys—both the person and the player. That’s how winning cultures are built.”

“Nacogdoches, Texas—this is going to be an exciting team to watch. I want kids in the community to come out, have fun, and fall in love with the game of baseball. Everyone is welcome, and I’m looking forward to meeting y’all and building something special together. I am very thankful for this new journey and can’t wait to get started! Go Niners!”

In addition to his on-field coaching experience, Morrison is a graduate of Major League Baseball’s Diversity Pipeline Scout Development Program and was a recipient of a Texas Rangers 2023 World Series ring. His background in talent evaluation, data analysis, and leadership provides a strong foundation for guiding players both competitively and professionally.

“Nikaylen is exactly the type of leader we want leading the Nacogdoches Niners,” said Jace Green, Niners general manager. “He understands player development at every level, communicates exceptionally well with athletes, and brings a professional mindset that aligns with the Niners’ mission.”

The Nacogdoches Niners will compete in the Mid America League against franchises in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Mississippi during the 2026 season. Home games will be played at Jaycees Field, with Opening Day scheduled for May 2026.

Launched in 2024, the Mid America League is a professional summer baseball league committed to high-level competition, player development, and community engagement. The league features collegiate and post-collegiate athletes pursuing opportunities to advance their baseball careers while delivering affordable, family-friendly entertainment across the region.

For more information on the Nacogdoches Niners and the Mid America League, visit www.midamericaleague.com. or www.nacniners.com 

Kids Talk About God by Carey Kinsolving and Friends

By
Carey Kinsolving
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How Is Peace From Jesus Different?
 
“God’s peace is eternal just as he is eternal,” says Jayden, 11. “The reason he gives us peace is because we aren’t eternal like he is, and we can’t handle things like he does.”

Yes, God is eternal, and we are mortal. Consider your mortality and awaken to your need for God.

Do you know if you’ll see the sun come up tomorrow? No one knows that for sure. Only God knows. Hence our great need.

“The peace from Jesus is peace with God, who sent Jesus to come, die and pay the price for our sins and give us his righteousness,” says Enoch, 12.

Jesus’ offer of eternal life as a gift to all who believe in him addresses our greatest need (Ephesians 2:8-9).

World-renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

All who believe in Jesus Christ as their savior have peace with God, but only Christians who abide in Christ enjoy the peace of God (Romans 5:1 & Philippians 4:6-7).

There are no problems in heaven. No one worries. God wants all his people to bring heaven’s peace to people on earth filled with anxiety.

Since 1945, people live with more uncertainty. Those who lived before 1945 didn’t have the atom bomb hanging over their heads. Our world could disintegrate in a flash! Hiding under school desks, as children were taught in the 1950s and 60s, probably won’t help much.

The little faith of which Spurgeon spoke is the tiny amount of faith it takes to accept the gift of eternal life by placing your faith in Jesus as your savior. The great faith that brings the peace of heaven into your soul is called abiding.

Jesus likened abiding to the grape vine and its branches. A branch cannot produce grapes unless it receives the vine’s nourishment (John 15:5).

Jesus is the eternal vine and all who believe in him are branches. Those who abide in Jesus bring God’s peace to hurting people who are looking for some kind of stability in this unstable world. Prayer, fellowship with believers, Bible study, and meditation on your new identity in Christ are all means of receiving life-giving nourishment from Jesus our vine.

“Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us,” says Naomi, 10. “Whoever does not love Jesus does not keep his word, but he who loves the Lord does keep his word.”

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as our counselor to guide us into all truth (John 16:7).

Alexander the Great conquered the world by the age of 30. He had two great advantages. He was the son of King Philip II of Macedon. Aristotle was his private tutor.

Christians enjoy similar advantages, but to a greater degree. They are sons and daughters of King Jesus. The Holy Spirit is their indwelling tutor. As Christ’s ambassadors, they advance God’s kingdom with a secret weapon. They bring God’s peace to this uncertain world of people in turmoil.

Think about this: “The world bases its peace on its resources, while God’s peace depends on relationships. To be right with God means to enjoy the peace of God,” wrote Pastor Warren Wiersbe.

Memorize this truth: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” (John 14:27).

Ask these questions: Do you have peace with God? If so, are you enjoying the peace of God?

================

Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God twice a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email. 

Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

By
Gary Stallard
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0

Hey, sports fans,

As expected, weather wreaked havoc on this week’s AC Athletics schedules, with all our teams forced to do some serious juggling. More on that below. 

In the meantime, our basketball teams played a conference doubleheader at home this past Wednesday, with a Lady Roadrunner legend making an appearance. Kids from the Lufkin Parks and Recreation Cheer Team got the crowd cranked during their halftime performance of the men’s game – a big Roadrunner win in league play. 

We’ve also gotten our softball and baseball rosters finalized and ready for viewing. Those players are chomping at the bit to get their seasons started. 

We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.  

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

Roadrunner Basketball Squeezes Past Lamar State College-Port Arthur

The Roadrunners got big shots at key moments late in Wednesday’s home game against Lamar State-PA, with AC holding off the Seahawks for a 62-56 win at Shands Gymnasium.

Leading by just two points with 18 seconds to play, AC got a dunk from Daemon Ely and game-sealing free throws from Kai’Ree Murray and Clarence Payia to lock down the win.

Payia finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Murray added 11 points, while Cheikh Diebakhate finished with 10 points. Ely hit double figures in rebounding with 10 boards.

Weather conditions forced a change in Saturday’s schedule. AC was supposed to travel to Corsicana for a game with Navarro College; instead, that game has been moved to Saturday, March 7 and will tip off at 6 p.m.

This week, the Roadrunners (10-8, 4-6) are scheduled to host Panola College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium. AC then will travel to Paris to face Paris College at 4 p.m. on Saturday.  

Lady Roadrunner Basketball Falls to Kilgore College

AC’s ladies came out on the short end of a 69-48 loss to Kilgore College this past Wednesday at Shands Gymnasium despite strong showings from Timberlyn Washington and Da’Zya Johnson.

Both Washington and Johnson scored 16 points in the loss, with Johnson adding five steals and eight rebounds to her totals. Iduzaye Igiehon finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

AC’s game at Paris College scheduled for this past Saturday has been moved to Monday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. 

The Lady Roadrunners (5-10, 1-3) will host Panola College this Wednesday in a game set for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. AC then travel to Athens on Saturday to face Trinity Valley Community College at 2 p.m. 

Lady ‘Runner Basketball Legend Makes Appearance

Lesa Jones Cockrell is an Angelina College legend, having been a member of the Lady Roadrunner basketball team from 1979-1981 before finishing her playing career at the University of Texas. 

Lesa and her husband Shannon made an appearance at Wednesday’s Lady ‘Runner game against Kilgore, where she visited with several current AC staff members.

Lesa is one of four Lady Roadrunner basketball players in the AC Hall of Fame. She left the program as the all-time leading scorer in both the single-season (666 points) and career points (1,267) categories. She also earned NJCAA All-American honors while at AC. 

We hope to see her again soon. 

Meet the Lady Roadrunner Softball and Roadrunner Baseball Teams

Both the AC Softball and Baseball teams have finalized their rosters for the upcoming seasons, and fans can view those rosters – including player headshots and bios – on the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com).

Here’s the link to the Lady Roadrunner softball roster:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/roster?view=headshot

And here’s the link to the Roadrunner baseball roster:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/roster?view=headshot

AC Baseball, Softball Schedules Available for Viewing

  Both the Roadrunner baseball and Lady Roadrunner softball teams are just days away from opening their Spring 2026 seasons. Both programs feature first-year head coaches (Jon Phillips with baseball and Kassie James with softball), and there’s excitement brewing for what is sure to be some exciting times on the diamonds.

Here are the links to the teams’ schedules: 

Roadrunner Baseball schedule: 

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/bsb/2025-26/schedule

Lady Roadrunner Softball schedule:

https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/schedule

Potential Schedule Changes:

As always in East Texas, the potential exists for schedule changes because of inclement weather. We try to put out the word as soon as we get it, but the quickest way to confirm game days and times is to visit the AC Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view the most updated schedules. We’ll also send out word on social media (AC Athletics Facebook and Instagram, etc.), but the on-line schedule will always serve up the most recent updates. 

Live Streaming Reminder: 

All AC Athletics regular-season home games are live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)

Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link. 

TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)

Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.  

Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram pages. 

Upcoming schedules: 

Tuesday, Jan. 27:

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

Wednesday, January 28:

Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Panola College, 5:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium

Roadrunner Basketball vs. Panola College, 7:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium

Friday, Jan. 30:

Roadrunner Baseball vs. Temple College (season opener), doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Poland Stadium on the AC campus

Lady Roadrunner Softball at Mardi Gras Invitational in Broussard, LA. AC will face East Central Community College at 3 p.m. and Gulf Coast State CC at 5:30 p.m. 

Saturday, January 31:

Lady Roadrunner Basketball at Trinity Valley CC, 2 p.m. in Athens, TX

Roadrunner Basketball at Paris College, 4 p.m. in Paris, TX

Lady Roadrunner Softball at Mardi Gras Invitational Day 2 in Broussard, LA. AC will face Northwest Florida CC at 12:30 p.m. and Pearl River CC at 5 p.m. 

Sunday, Feb. 1:

Roadrunner Baseball at Temple College, doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Temple, TX

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

We’ll see you at the games.

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

Planning Your Lawn and Landscape for Spring Starts in January

By
Billy Forrest
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0

Author: Billy Forrest

While spring may feel far away, winter is actually the best time to plan for a successful lawn and landscape season in East Texas. With growth slowed, problem areas such as thin grass, drainage issues, and persistent weeds are easier to identify.

Planning ahead allows homeowners to think through maintenance schedules, budget for improvements, and design flowerbed updates without the pressure of peak season. It also makes it easier to secure professional services before schedules fill up.

Landscaping and lawn care are far more effective when approached proactively rather than reactively. A little planning in January can make a noticeable difference in how a property looks and performs throughout the year.

Lead Yourself First: The Hardest Leadership Assignment

By
Lee Allen Miller
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0

Most leadership problems don’t start with teams.

They start with leaders.

That’s not a popular statement, but it’s a true one. Long before culture issues show up in an organization or results begin to slide, something usually shifted inside the leader. Priorities blurred. Boundaries loosened. Discipline drifted.

Leadership always leaks from the inside out.

Before you ever lead a company, a ministry, or a family, you are first assigned to lead yourself. And for many leaders, that’s the assignment that never makes it onto the calendar.

The Silent Drift Every Leader Faces

No one wakes up and decides to become a distracted, reactive, or exhausted leader.

It happens slowly.

You say yes a little too often. You skip rest because “this season is busy.” You tolerate habits you used to correct. Before long, you’re leading on fumes – still producing, still showing up, but no longer grounded.

The danger isn’t failure.
The danger is functioning without alignment.

Scripture speaks directly to this internal battle:

“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
– 1 Corinthians 9:27

Paul wasn’t worried about losing influence.
He was worried about losing integrity.

Leadership Without Self-Leadership Always Costs More Later

Many leaders believe self-leadership is selfish. They think focusing inward means neglecting others.

The opposite is true.

When leaders neglect themselves:

  • Decisions get rushed
  • Emotions leak into leadership
  • Vision becomes reactive instead of intentional

Eventually, teams pay the price for a leader’s unmanaged life.

Self-leadership isn’t self-absorption.
It’s stewardship.

You are responsible for the condition of the one doing the leading.

Your Calendar Is Your Real Leadership Philosophy

You can tell me what you value, but your calendar will tell the truth.

It reveals what you protect and what you postpone. It shows whether leadership is intentional or accidental.

Many leaders try to inspire with words while their schedules quietly contradict them. They preach margin but live in chaos. They talk about focus while allowing constant interruption.

Leading yourself first means deciding in advance what deserves your best energy – and what doesn’t.

Not everything urgent is important.
Not everything good is yours to carry.

Faith-Driven Leaders Pay Attention to the Inner Life

The world measures leadership by output. God measures it by faithfulness.

Jesus often withdrew – not because He was overwhelmed, but because He understood something most leaders ignore:
You can’t pour from an empty well.

Leading yourself well means tending to:

  • Your spiritual health
  • Your emotional discipline
  • Your physical capacity

These aren’t side issues. They’re leadership infrastructure.

When the inner life is neglected, no strategy can compensate.

The Courage to Lead Yourself Honestly

The hardest part of self-leadership isn’t discipline – it’s honesty.

It requires asking questions like:

  • Where have I compromised standards under pressure?
  • What patterns keep repeating in my leadership?
  • What am I avoiding because it’s uncomfortable?

These aren’t questions you answer publicly.
They’re questions you answer faithfully.

And they determine the kind of leader you become next.

Your Action Step This Week

Take a quiet moment – without your phone, without noise.

Ask yourself one simple question:

What is one area of my life I need to lead more intentionally this year?

Then act on it.

Not dramatically.
Not perfectly.
Intentionally.

Leadership doesn’t improve when circumstances change.
It improves when leaders do.

That’s a Wrap

Before you lead a vision, you lead yourself.
Before you shape culture, you shape habits.
Before you influence others, you submit your own life to order.

The strongest leaders don’t just lead well publicly.
They lead themselves faithfully in private.

Next week, we’ll confront a challenge every leader faces sooner or later: leading with integrity when it costs you something.

Lead well – starting with yourself.

How to Read Your Electricity Bill — and Understand What Really Matters

By
Lee Allen Miller
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0

Electricity bills often feel overwhelming, but most of the page is noise.

Understanding which sections matter — and which don’t — can make the bill far less intimidating.

The Main Parts of a Texas Bill

Most Texas electricity bills combine:

  • Energy charges
  • Utility delivery fees
  • Additional adjustments tied to usage or demand

Only the energy portion varies by provider. Delivery fees are regulated and consistent across the utility’s service area.

Why Bills Change Even When Usage Doesn’t

Seasonal demand, weather, and market pricing can affect costs even when consumption stays similar. That’s why comparing bills month-to-month without context can be misleading.

Awareness Over Analysis

You don’t need to dissect every line item. Knowing where flexibility exists — and when decisions matter — is often enough.

This article is part of an ongoing energy education series for Texas Forest Country Living.

About the Author
Lee Miller is a Texas-based energy professional and business owner with years of experience helping residential and commercial customers navigate the state’s deregulated electricity market. Through his work with Amerigy Energy, he focuses on education, transparency, and helping Texans understand how timing, contracts, and market conditions impact their power bills.

After the Freeze: What’s Likely Damaged in Your Trees, Shrubs, Lawns, and Gardens

By
Cary Sims
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0
trees and plants covered with ice in winter. selective focus. nature.

Cold weather has a way of showing up uninvited in East Texas, and this freeze is no exception. Sometime next week after the temperatures begin to rise, many homeowners will be walking their yards looking for immediate answers. The truth is, freeze damage doesn’t always reveal itself right away. Some plants show injury within days. Others won’t tell the full story for weeks—or even months.

Start with your trees and shrubs. Do not rush to get to pruning. Woody plants are often the biggest question mark after a freeze. Broadleaf evergreens like azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and ligustrum are especially vulnerable when temperatures drop quickly after mild weather. Symptoms may include browned leaves, leaf drop, or blackened shoot tips.

Yet here’s the important part: don’t prune yet. Freeze-damaged tissue often looks worse than it is. Pruning too early can remove wood that might recover—or worse, stimulate new growth that gets hammered by the next cold snap. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends waiting until new growth begins in spring before making major pruning decisions. At that point, dead wood is easy to identify and remove safely.

For the curious minded, lightly scratch the bark with a fingernail. Green tissue underneath means the plant is still alive.

Next is your lawn. Warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, St. Augustine, and zoysia are dormant right now, which gives them some protection. However, freeze injury can still occur—especially if turf was actively growing during recent warm weather or if it experienced repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Discoloration, patchy browning, or slowed spring green-up are common symptoms. The worst thing you can do right now is scalp or aggressively fertilize. Let the lawn rest. Spring recovery practices that occur naturally will take care of most freeze-related damage without intervention.

Now let’s look into your vegetable garden. Tender winter vegetables and herbs likely took a hit. Crops like lettuce, spinach, onions, and brassicas may survive with minor damage, but basil, peppers, tomatoes, and other warm-season plants are finished. Even those that you kept covered with earlier freezes are almost certainly done.

But please resist the urge to immediately replant. East Texas freezes rarely travel alone. Clean up dead material to reduce disease issues, but wait until consistent warming before starting over.

Mulch still matters—even after a freeze. If mulch shifted or blew away during the cold weather, replace it. Mulch helps moderate soil temperature, protects root systems, and conserves moisture as plants recover.

Pine straw remains one of my favorites because it’s less likely to float, blow, or migrate out of place than many other materials.

One of the hardest lessons for gardeners is patience. Freeze-damaged plants may leaf out weakly, unevenly, or not at all come spring. Some limbs may die back slowly as internal tissues fail weeks after the cold event. This delayed response is normal and doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.

So what should we not be doing right now? Don’t prune aggressively. Don’t fertilize stressed plants. Don’t assume brown means dead. And don’t panic. Your landscape has seen worse and this cold weather is part of East Texas gardening. Most landscapes recover just fine with time and restraint.

The best move after a freeze is observation. Give plants time to show you what survived. When spring arrives, you’ll have clear answers—and a much better idea of what actually needs fixing.

Sometimes the smartest gardening decision is knowing when to leave things alone.

The Most Common Winter Lawn Mistakes We See in East Texas

By
Billy Forrest
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0

By Billy Forrest

Winter lawn damage in East Texas often comes from small, well-intended mistakes rather than severe weather. Because grass is dormant, problems usually go unnoticed until spring reveals thinning turf, weeds, or bare spots.

Common issues include overwatering during cold weather, mowing grass too short before winter, ignoring early weed growth, and compacting soil by walking or driving equipment on wet or frozen lawns. Flowerbeds left unprotected are also vulnerable to erosion and plant stress caused by temperature swings.

Another frequent mistake is pruning plants too early. Cutting back shrubs or perennials in winter can encourage new growth that won’t survive sudden cold snaps.

Avoiding these simple missteps helps protect lawns through winter and sets the stage for healthier growth when warmer weather returns.

Governor Abbott Activates State Emergency Response Resources Ahead Of Winter Weather Threat

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0

AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott announced that he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of potential winter weather impacts expected across the state beginning Thursday.

“Based on current forecasts, the State of Texas is acting to ensure Texans have the resources they need before severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As temperatures could drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that Texans remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials. I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to keep Texans safe.”

According to the National Weather Service, an arctic cold front is expected to bring dangerously cold temperatures and wind-chills to the state through the early part of next week. Additionally, a storm system is expected to move through the state, bringing the possibility of freezing rain, sleet, and snow that could create hazardous travel conditions into the weekend and cause impacts to infrastructure. Areas most at risk of wintry weather are northwest, north, and northeast Texas. Freezing rain and sleet are more likely to impact areas across west, central, south-central, east, and southeast Texas. Cold rain is expected for areas in deep south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

At the direction of the Governor, TDEM has activated the following state emergency response resources to support weather response operations:

  • Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
  • Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
  • Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel to support stranded motorists
  • Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): All-Hazard Strike Teams consisting of firefighters, engines, and equipment such as motor graders to assist with snow/ice clearance; saw crews
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
  • Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
  • Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
  • Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
  • Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Public Works Response Team): Personnel to assist with public works needs
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents
  • Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter and Severe Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
  • Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Personnel to provide information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network
  • Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
  • Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure

Texans are urged to stay weather-aware, check road conditions before any necessary travel, and follow instructions from local officials.

Texans can access winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, check road conditions at DriveTexas.org, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and find general preparedness information at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.

Feb. 17 Webinar to Focus on Year-Round Pond Management Actions

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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0
Students from the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management spray lake grass at a private hunting and fishing club in Athens, Texas on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “Pond 365: Timing of Pond Practices” on Feb. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program emphasizes appropriate timing for key activities, treatments

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “Pond 365: Timing of Pond Practices” on Feb. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. The event is a component of the agency’s AquaExtension programming. 

The cost is $35, and registration is required. Following registration, an email will be sent with instructions to access the webinar. All registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar, available for one month, even if they cannot attend live.

The event’s featured speakers are Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and professor, Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, and Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at AgriLife Extension’s Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory. Both Sink and Chesser are located in Bryan-College Station.

Planning for annual pond care

The presenters will cover the appropriate timing of an array of pond and aquatic management practices.

“Effective implementation of pond treatments and management strategies depends largely on seasonal timing,” Sink said. “More importantly, there are certain times of the year when practices should not be applied, as they may be ineffective or economically impractical.”

Specific topics include:

  • Fish stocking.
  • Management of submerged aquatic vegetation.
  • Pond dye application.
  • Application of beneficial bacteria or lime treatment.

Sink said at the end of the webinar, attendees will have a well-established calendar of management practices to implement each month throughout the year.

Webinar package available for 2025

This webinar is supported by AUS Dredge and Dive and is part of a 10-month expert series that provides pond owners and managers with up-to-date, scientific information related to maintaining pond health and productivity.

A 2026 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle is available for $280 for individuals who would like to register for all webinars throughout the year.

For more information, contact Chesser at brittany.chesser@ag.tamu.edu.

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