As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of the importance of gratitude. Gathering around the table with friends and family serves as a perfect opportunity for us to recenter our lives in the present and acknowledge the countless blessings God has given us. A mindset of thankfulness helps us see what is there instead of what is not. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones this year, let us be mindful of God’s grace and favor in our lives and the importance of having a heart of gratitude that recognizes the good no matter the circumstances.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
This past week, Governor Abbott formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. This decision underscores a broader concern shared by state and federal officials about the actions of foreign-affiliated groups whose conduct has raised serious security implications for our country and our state.
Texas has always opened its doors to those who come here legally, contribute to their communities, and respect our laws. That openness, however, has never diminished our responsibility to confront organizations—regardless of their origin or ideology—whose activities threaten public safety or undermine the stability of our institutions. Protecting Texans requires clarity, vigilance, and a willingness to act when credible threats emerge.
During the most recent Legislative Session, my colleagues and I took meaningful steps to strengthen Texas’s defenses against hostile foreign influence. I was proud to coauthor Senate Bill 17, landmark legislation that prevents hostile foreign entities from acquiring strategic land and natural resources in Texas. This law ensures that the assets essential to our state’s security, economy, and way of life remain firmly in the hands of those who share our commitment to Texas’s future.
As we look ahead, I will continue working closely with Governor Abbott, state agencies, and law enforcement to ensure Texas remains prepared and protected. This includes securing our border, ensuring no state dollars flow to extremist or unlawful organizations, and supporting the men and women who work every day to keep our communities safe. Texans expect decisive leadership on matters of security—and I intend to provide it.
My foremost responsibility is, and always will be, the safety and well-being of the people I represent. As long as I have the privilege of serving as your voice in Austin, I will remain steadfast in protecting our state, defending our values, and holding accountable anyone whose actions jeopardize the peace and security that Texans deserve.
The mobile office is taking a break from the road in December but will be back after the Christmas holiday. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, and our Capitol office at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
Closeup shot of a woman holding a green plant in palm of her hand. Close up
The holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and as soon as I’ve digested all that food, our house starts getting ready for Christmas.
And about the time all the food has settled, Black Friday rolls around and we start shopping in earnest for the next holiday. While the rest of the world stampedes toward televisions, air fryers, and gadgets they’ll forget they bought by February, gardeners walk past the electronics aisle and head straight for the tools, the potting soil, and that shiny new pruner we’ve been eyeing since last spring.
If you’re a gardener—or you’re shopping for one—here’s a no-nonsense guide to what’s worth grabbing this season… and what’s better left on the shelf.
Start with quality hand tools, the top seller for gardeners every holiday season. Hand pruners, loppers, soil knives, and trowels all go on sale, and good ones are worth every penny.
Skip the bargain-bin, cheap-plastic, flashy-colored multi-tools. Buy the real tools—the ones that won’t snap the first time you meet a stubborn root.
Up next are battery-powered lawn tools. The garden industry is pushing battery equipment hard—and for good reason: no gas cans, no choke, no yanking a pull cord until your shoulder pops.
I used to be against them, thinking they were cheap and wouldn’t work well. Yet I have no problem using my cordless drill, impact driver, circular saw, and other battery-powered tools in my shop. Why not in the yard?
Black Friday discounts on battery blowers, trimmers, and pole saws are some of the deepest of the year. If you’ve been thinking about switching platforms, now is the time. Just remember: buying into a battery system is a bit like getting married—pick wisely, because you’re building a future together.
Also consider indoor growing supplies. With winter coming, this is the time of year when you can actually find deals. By February, everyone is planning their spring garden and prices go right back up. What’s worth grabbing on sale? Seed-starting trays, heat mats, LED grow lights, and potting mixes for indoor plants.
The backyard birding category quietly explodes every November. Feeders, suet, and bird seed all go on sale, and it’s one of the few things gardeners actually need every year.
It’s also the perfect gift because every gardener loves birds. And every squirrel loves to ruin bird feeders. So… replacements are always welcome.
Next up: soil, mulch, and compost. Bagged soil mixes and mulch often go on unadvertised clearance. Retailers know most folks aren’t gardening in November, so this is when they move stock. If you see raised bed mix, potting soil, or compost marked down… grab it.
What not to buy? A “Holiday Garden Kit” with flimsy tools. If it’s wrapped in plastic with a bow already attached, walk away.
Also avoid the discounted bulbs that should have been planted a couple of months ago. While you can still plant bulbs now, those bargain bags in the store are tired and dried up. Better to buy high-quality bulbs earlier in the season. Better yet, dig up and divide your fresh, spring-blooming bulbs to expand your beds or share with friends.
Gardeners don’t need flashy gadgets—we need tools that work, soil that’s good, and things that help us keep plants alive (or at least give them a fighting chance). Black Friday can actually be a great time to stock up… as long as you know what’s worth buying.
And if you do find yourself wandering into the electronics aisle, just remember that the 85-inch TV won’t prune your roses, aerate your lawn, or start your spring tomatoes any earlier.
[LUFKIN, TX – November 19, 2025] – United Healthcare Community Plan of Texas Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) network celebrates an exceptional attendant through the REACH (Recognizing Excellence in Attendant Care in the Home) Award in each service delivery area. An attendant is a non-medical caregiver who helps individuals with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation to support individuals in a home setting instead of a facility, institution, or isolated setting.
United Healthcare is proud to announce Esther Cartwright as winner of the 2025 Outstanding Attendant REACH Award. Esther, a Special Attendant with A Pineywoods Home Services, was selected from nominations across almost 50 Texas counties. The award honors her consistency in demonstrating exceptional dedication, reliability, performance, and integrity during her 18 years with A Pineywoods Home Services. She continues to showcase her commitment to excellence and is an invaluable asset to her team with her strong values and tireless work ethic.
“Esther represents the core values of A Pineywoods,” said Allison Oliver, Administrator of A Pineywoods Home Services. “Her skill accompanied by unwavering compassion and dedication to meet clients’ needs makes her truly amazing. We are incredibly proud to see her honored with this award to celebrate caregivers who deliver outstanding care to their clients daily.”
About A Pineywoods Home Services
A Pineywoods Home Services is headquartered in Lufkin, TX, providing high-quality, patient-centered care in the comfort of a patient’s home. The team is made up of home health aides, certified nurse aides, and caregivers. They believe in a team approach to assisting patients in improving their quality of life and the ability to live an independent life in the comfort of their home. Care professionals provide assistance with Activities of Daily Living A Pineywoods Home Services is a family-owned and operated agency, serving East Texans for over 30 years.
About United Healthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.7 million physicians and care professionals, and 7,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com.
Santa is officially loading up the sleigh… which means it’s almost time!
Friendly reminder to set those calendars NOW because we are just a few short weeks away from one of our favorite days of the year — Pictures with Santa at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance – Nacogdoches County!
Come stop by for:
Sweet Christmas treats Holiday fun for the whole family A chance to make precious memories with Santa himself
We can’t wait to see all the smiling faces! Let the countdown begin!
Nacogdoches, Texas – The Nacogdoches Baseball Franchise of the Mid-America League proudly announced today that the team will officially be known as the Nacogdoches Niners. The name and logo package were unveiled at today’s City Council Meeting celebrating the city’s heritage, marking a major step forward as the franchise prepares for its inaugural season in May 2026.
The Niners identity pays tribute to the nine flags that have flown over Nacogdoches throughout its more than 300-year history — a distinction that sets the community apart as the oldest town in Texas. League leadership shared that the Niners brand was designed to reflect the city’s resilience, tradition, and cultural diversity, while providing a modern and powerful look for the ballclub.
” The ‘Nacogdoches Niners’” is a name that reflects both our rich heritage and our forward momentum. By honoring the nine flags that have shaped our history, this team proudly connects our past with a new and exciting chapter in Nacogdoches athletics.”, stated Mayor Randy Johnson.
League officials emphasized that community input played a central role in the naming process, with fans voicing strong support for a name that felt authentic to the city’s past. The Niners emerged as the clear favorite, celebrated for its local historical significance and its versatility as a modern sports identity.
“The Nacogdoches Niners name captures the history, identity, and pride of this incredible city,” said Nick Weisenborn, Commissioner of the Mid-America League. “This brand honors the city’s past while giving fans a bold, exciting look to rally behind as the team enters a new era of professional baseball in East Texas.”
Official Niners merchandise featuring the new logos will soon be available through the team website at www.nacniners.com and at upcoming community events. The team also plans to host youth clinics, fan festivals, and school visits as excitement builds for Opening Day.
“We want the Niners to be more than a team — we want them to be a symbol of community pride,” said Weisenborn. “These marks represent the heart of Nacogdoches, and we can’t wait to see them around town, in schools, and throughout the region.”
The Mid-America League also announced the hiring ofJace Green as the club’s first General Manager. A rising leader in the world of sports management, Green brings a reputation for strategic vision, and strong community engagement. He will oversee all baseball and business operations for the Niners as the team prepares for its inaugural season, working closely with league officials, local partners, and fans to establish a first-class baseball experience in East Texas.
“I’m honored to lead the Niners and to help bring professional baseball to a community with such deep history and pride,” said Green.
“Nacogdoches deserves a team that reflects its character — tough, authentic, and built on tradition — and I can’t wait to get to work building something special for this city and our fans.”
The Niners have announced the “Name the Mascot” contest to name the mascot which will represent the franchise. To participate in the contest by submitting a name, fans are encouraged to go to www.nacniners.com to submit their name choice. A winner will be announced in mid-January, 2026.
The Nacogdoches Niners will play their home games at Jaycees Field, the home of the SFA Lumberjacks, beginning in May 2026 as part of the Mid-America League.
Not the call of purpose – the call of distraction.
In ancient Greek legend, the Sirens sat on rocky cliffs and sang songs so beautiful that sailors abandoned their mission and crashed their ships chasing the sound.
Their voices promised insight, ease, and glory. But the path always ended the same way – with wreckage.
Today’s leaders face the same danger, only the voices are different:
“Go faster.”
“Protect yourself.”
“Take the shortcut.”
“Get the credit.”
“You can handle this alone.”
Sound familiar?
I’ve heard those voices too – and I’ve followed them enough times to know the pain they bring. But I’ve also learned that God’s voice is steadier, quieter, and infinitely more trustworthy.
“My sheep hear My voice… and they follow Me.” – John 10:27
The question isn’t whether the sirens are singing. The question is: Whose voice are you listening to?
The Sirens promised Odysseus a shortcut. Leadership today offers the same illusion.
Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I created a rule I thought was wise: “I’ll only focus on one project at a time.”
It sounded disciplined. It sounded safe. But it was a shortcut built on fear – not faith.
In my book, I describe how this rigid rule led me into the worst season of my business life: six consecutive failures, massive debt, and the painful realization that I was following my own logic instead of God’s leading.
I wasn’t chasing sin – I was chasing control. And the siren of control can be just as dangerous as the siren of compromise.
God’s call rarely offers ease, but it always offers direction:
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:6
Straight doesn’t mean smooth. It means guided.
-The Siren’s Call Focuses on Self. God’s Call Focuses on Stewardship.
Another siren leaders face is the temptation to put self-preservation above stewardship.
When one of our retail electricity providers fell three months behind on payments to Amerigy Energy, every business textbook would have told me:
“Stop paying your brokers.”
“Protect your cash.”
“Wait until the money comes in.”
But that isn’t leadership. And it certainly isn’t God’s way.
We made the decision to pay our brokers out of our own pocket, covering their commissions even while we waited for ours.
It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t “strategic.” But it was right.
And God honored it. The loyalty and trust we built from that decision still bless our company today.
Leadership isn’t about doing what’s advantageous – it’s about doing what’s faithful.
-The Siren’s Call Pulls at Emotion. God’s Call Speaks to Identity.
Sometimes the siren isn’t pride or profit… it’s fear.
There was a season when payroll consumed me. Every two weeks I carried the weight of the entire company on my shoulders. I worried myself sick – literally – trying to make sure every team member was paid.
Fear whispered: “You’re alone.” “You have to hold this all together.” “Failure is coming.”
But that wasn’t God talking.
God reminded me – sometimes gently, sometimes through exhaustion – that:
He is the Provider
He is the Source
He is the One who called me
Identity silences the sirens. When you know who you are, you stop being controlled by what you fear.
-Even Criticism Is a Siren
One of the earliest lessons I learned in leadership came long before I launched my companies.
As a teenager at First Baptist Church in Lufkin, I had a front-row seat to the beginning of Rick Warren’s ministry. I saw his authentic heart for people. Years later, when critics took shots at him, I didn’t have to wonder whether they were right – I had seen the man’s character up close.
Public criticism is a siren. Comparison is a siren. The urge to chase approval is a siren.
But leaders anchored in God’s call don’t drift toward the noise.
Anchors: How Odysseus Survived the Sirens
Odysseus didn’t try to silence the sirens – he anchored himself against them.
He:
Stopped the noise reaching his crew
Bound himself to the mast
Empowered others to restrain him, even if he begged them not to
That’s leadership:
Guard your inputs
Tie your life to God’s Word
Give people permission to pull you back when you drift
THE MAST TEST™: Your Framework for Staying on Course
Here’s the practical tool that ties your story and Scripture together:
M – Mission
Does this align with God’s mission for my life?
A – Accountability
Who is holding the rope for me?
S – Scripture
What does God’s Word instruct here?
T – Time
Have I waited long enough to hear God clearly?
God’s call becomes clearer when we slow down enough to listen.
Action Steps for Leaders This Week
1. Identify your siren.
Is it fear? Ego? Hurry? Control? Comparison?
2. Write down your mission.
Put God’s calling where you can see it.
3. Share your direction with someone who can hold you to it.
Leaders drift most when they isolate.
4. Cut one distracting input.
Wax in the ears. Reduce the noise.
5. Spend 10 minutes listening to God.
Leadership clarity starts in stillness.
That’s a Wrap
The sirens will always sing – offering shortcuts, safety, or applause. But God’s call leads to purpose, growth, and legacy.
You’ve lived enough life to know:
Drift doesn’t look dangerous at first
Small compromises create big shipwrecks
God’s call always leads to flourishing, even when the path is steep
Let the sirens sing. You’re tied to a stronger mast. You’re following a higher call.
About Lee Allen Miller
Lee Allen Miller is a media strategist, broadcast consultant, and President & CEO of MSG Resources and CEO of MSGPR. He is also the Executive Director of the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance (ATBA), where he advocates for the future of low-power television and faith-based broadcasting. Miller specializes in helping ministries and media organizations integrate digital and traditional media to expand their reach. His expertise spans television, radio, streaming, and social media, and his work continues to shape the future of faith-based media.
Mid-America League Club Continues Momentum Toward Inaugural 2026 Season
Nacogdoches, Texas — The Nacogdoches Baseball Franchise of the Mid-America League announced today that Nacogdoches resident Jace Green has been appointed as the club’s first General Manager, marking a major mile stone as the team prepares for its inaugural season in May 2026.
Green, a lifelong East Texan with deep community ties, will oversee all aspects of the franchise’s business opera tions, community engagement, and fan experience. His appointment brings local leadership and familiarity to a team that aims to become a cornerstone of family entertainment and civic pride in the oldest town in Texas.
“Hiring a General Manager is one of the most important steps in launching a franchise, and we could not be more excited to have someone of Jace’s character, energy, and commitment leading our Nacogdoches club,” said Mark Schuster, Founder of the Mid-America League. “Jace understands the culture of this region and shares our vision of building a first-class baseball experience for fans. His passion for Nacogdoches will be the driving force behind
this team’s long-term success.”
Green will immediately begin work on front office development, sponsorship outreach, youth baseball partner ships, and building strong relationships with local leaders, businesses, and community organizations. His early pri orities also include shaping the team’s fan experience, supporting the finalization of branding elements, and pre paring for the upcoming season-ticket launch.
“I’m honored and humbled to serve as the first General Manager of the Nacogdoches Baseball Franchise,” said Jace Green. “This community means everything to me. We’re going to build something East Texas can be proud of — a place where families come together, kids fall in love with the game, and Nacogdoches shows the rest of the league what true home-field spirit looks like. This isn’t just a team we’re building — it’s a community tradition in the making.”
“My grandma thinks I’m going to heaven,” says Kole, 6.
Why is it that most grandchildren can’t get enough of their grandparents?
Most grandparents are smart enough to just love on their grandkids. They leave the hard stuff like correction and discipline for the parents.
Kids instinctively sense when someone loves them. They know their grandparents think they’re very special, and they love it. If grandparents possessed the key to heaven, all their grandkids would have their tickets punched for heaven.
“You have to be good,” says Carly, 6.
That’s exactly the problem, Carly. Do you know anyone who is good always? If no one is good all the time, how good do you have to be to walk through the pearly gates? Many people think God grades on the curve. If I’ve been better than most people, God will roll out the golden carpet to welcome me into heaven, right? WRONG!
God doesn’t grade on the curve. When we compare ourselves to other people, we’re looking at the wrong standard for entering heaven. We need to look at God instead of people. God is good all the time because goodness is his nature.
“I know I am going to heaven because I believe that Jesus died on the cross to take away my sins,” says Reecie, 7. “I know that this is the way to get to heaven because God said so, and God is truthful” (John 3:16).
Reecie is not trusting in her own efforts to be good. She knows that she could never earn the kind of goodness that God requires to live with him forever. The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s standard for goodness and heaven. Out of all the billions of people who have been born, only he was good all the time.
As God’s only son, Jesus came from heaven in order to make the way to heaven available for all. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Amazingly, Jesus Christ offers eternal life as a free gift to all who will simply trust him and him alone as their only way to heaven. In spite of the fact that Jesus said, “It is finished,” as he hung on the cross, many people still think Jesus needs help in being the savior of the world.
You can’t be truly confident or powerful unless you know with certainty that you have eternal life. Death is the biggest problem everyone faces. Jesus conquered death when he rose from the grave after three days. True liberation and power comes from knowing you are God’s child forever. No one including you can undo a spiritual birth any more than one can undo a physical birth.
When you’re born again spiritually into God’s family, you belong to him forever. God wants to bless all his children. Like any good father, he disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:6). However, he never disowns them. That can’t happen because God promised eternal life to all who accept the Lord Jesus as their savior.
No sin or failure is greater than Christ’s sacrifice for sin. Wow!
Think about this: The very nature of the life that God gives when anyone trusts the Lord Jesus as his or her savior is “eternal.”
Memorize this truth: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
Ask this question: How can you lose something that lasts forever?
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 three times a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email.
Our No. 14 Roadrunner basketball team picked up some tough wins this week, both at home and on the road. The Lady ‘Runners finally got to host a home game, and we had several of our student-athletes inducted into Angelina College’s Upsilon Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (the international honor society for two-year colleges).
Yes, we might be a little proud of those kids.
Finally, our baseball team has added a prospect camp for future Roadrunners, and that camp will take place in December. We’ve provided a link below regarding information on the camp.
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:
No. 14 Roadrunner Basketball
The nationally ranked Roadrunners spent a busy week in the midst of what head coach J.J. Montgomery called “dogfights,” with AC going head-to-head with some very tough competition.
The No. 14 ‘Runners opened the week with Monday’s 65-60 win over Southern Arkansas University Tech at Shands Gymnasium. The back-and-forth contest came down to some big shots late in the game for AC. With 1:49 to play in the game, AC’s Zacc Sells hit a jumper, Cedric Jones grabbed a defensive rebound leading to a Daemon Ely layup and Kai’Ree Murry closed out the win with a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining in the game.
Murray led the ‘Runners with 15 points, followed by Jaden Spears with 13 and Jordan Mathews with nine.
AC’s defense forced 18 turnovers in the game.
On Friday at the East/West challenge in Plano, Texas, the Roadrunners again kept their composure in hotly contested game, this time pulling out a 67-61 win over Western Texas CC. Julius Crosby led AC with 13 points, including a runner in the lane with 38 seconds to play to give the ‘Runners some breathing room in the final moments.
Daemon Ely’s double-double included 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Jaden Spears added another 12 points in the win.
Saturday against Collin County CC, the ‘Runners again combined clutch defense with timely shots in knocking off the Cougars on their home court. AC overcame a 12-point deficit to beat CCCC 63-54 in the final day of the East/West Challenge.
The Roadrunners (4-0) will host Strength ‘N Motion Black on Monday, Nov. 17. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
AC will wrap up the week’s competition on Friday, as the team travels to Baton Rouge Community College for a 6 p.m. game in Baton Rouge.
Lady Roadrunner Basketball Drops Home Opener
Still without some key players expected to boost the offense, the Lady Roadrunners nevertheless managed to put up a good show against Temple College (4-1) in Wednesday’s home opener.
AC’s ladies overcame a big deficit early to close the margin to five points before the Lady Leopards pulled away late to win 58-46 at Shands Gymnasium.
The Lady ‘Runners got 10 points and three steals from Timberlyn Washington, and teammate Iduzaye Igiehon just missed out on a double-double with a nine-point, 10-rebound effort. Aminah Dixon and Da’Zya Johnson added six points each in the loss.
The Lady Roadrunners were scheduled to host the Angelina Classic this past weekend, but those plans were canceled after two teams were forced to drop out.
Next up for AC will be Wiley University at home on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Game time at Shands Gymnasium is 5:30 p.m.
The Lady ‘Runners (1-3) close out the week on Saturday in Hillsboro, with AC facing Hill College in a game scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
AC Athletes Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
On Thursday, Angelina College held its annual induction ceremony for its Upsilon Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.
AC Athletics is proud to announce the following student-athletes who earned induction:
Athletic trainer: William Fitzgerald (Nacogdoches, TX).
To be eligible for membership, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and have completed at least 12 hours of college work.
Roadrunner Baseball Offering Prospect Camp in December
The Angelina College baseball team will host a prospect camp for future Roadrunners starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Poland Stadium on the AC campus. The camp is open to any high school players or college transfers looking to further their baseball careers.
Here’s the link for registration and other information:
New rosters for the upcoming AC basketball seasons are now available on the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com.).
All AC Teams Have Schedules Up and Running Online
Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner fans can now find their favorite teams’ schedules on the Angelina College Athletics website (www.angelinaathletics.com). For now, only the fall schedules for baseball and softball are in place (with the potential to add more events later), but all other teams, including both women’s and men’s basketball, are ready for viewing and planning.
We’ll update any changes as we receive them.
We can’t wait to see you at the games.
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:
Monday, Nov. 17:
No. 14 Roadrunner Basketball vs. Strength ‘N Motion, 6 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
Wednesday, Nov. 19:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball vs. Wiley University JV, 5:30 p.m. at Shands Gymnasium.
Friday, Nov. 21:
No. 14 Roadrunner Basketball at Baton Rouge CCC, 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge, LA.
Saturday, Nov. 22:
Lady Roadrunner Basketball at Hill College, 2 p.m. in Hillsboro, TX
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
Sterling Solutions' High Throughput, Automated Production Lines in Illinois and Texas Can Churn Out Up to 2,000 Mats Per Day for Use in Construction Site Access Projects Photo: Sterling
In a moment that reaches far beyond the walls of its production floor, Sterling Solutions has announced the manufacture of its 1 millionth TerraLam® Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) access mat—an achievement that ties the future of America’s energy grid directly to the pine forests and workforce of Deep East Texas.
For most of the country, “infrastructure” is an abstract word. For us in East Texas, it’s something we build with our own hands. And today, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of construction access mats is celebrating a milestone that carries our region’s fingerprints all over it.
Sterling Solutions—operating major manufacturing centers in Phoenix, Illinois, and right here in Lufkin—has reached commercial scale at a level few American manufacturers ever achieve. But the company is quick to point out: the millionth mat is just the headline. The real story is the impact these mats have on the nation’s ability to keep electricity flowing to homes, hospitals, farms, small businesses, and massive industrial loads across all 50 states.
“These mats are the enablers of America’s energy future,” said CEO Kaye Ceille. “Every mile of transmission line that goes up, every upgrade that makes the grid stronger—our TerraLam products are often the first thing on the ground. And they’re built by hardworking teams across our domestic supply chain, including right here in Texas.”
East Texas Timber, Texas Talent
Sterling’s Lufkin facility—located off U.S. Highway 69 South—has been growing steadily since opening in 2019. The operation has already benefited the region with millions in capital investment, and projections indicate continued expansion as national demand for transmission line construction skyrockets.
The company’s reliance on sustainably-sourced domestic softwoods ties perfectly into the forestry heritage of the Texas Forest Country. Multi-generational timber families, sawmills, and trucking companies across East Texas are part of Sterling’s supply chain—meaning every mat produced in Lufkin carries economic ripples that reach from our pine stands to our local restaurants, churches, and schools.
Powering America’s Energy Future—from Lufkin
As the United States pushes toward unprecedented grid expansion—an estimated 47,300 gigawatt-miles of new transmission lines needed by 2035—utilities and contractors are searching for reliable partners capable of domestic, large-scale production. Sterling’s TerraLam mats have become the industry’s preferred choice because of their strength, durability, and lower overall project cost.
In remote terrain, wetlands, floodplains, and environmentally sensitive regions, these CLT mats create temporary roadways that protect the land and allow heavy equipment, bucket trucks, cranes, solar farms, and wind crews to reach their job sites safely.
In other words: no TerraLam, no transmission lines.
“We’re proud of our production capacity,” Ceille said, “but we’re even more proud of the jobs we help sustain and the electricity we help deliver to homes and businesses across the country.”
A Texas-Based Operation with National Impact
Sterling’s Lufkin plant is now a strategic hub for the company’s operations in the South and West. With precision-engineered CLT products, environmental compliance consulting, full-service site access planning, and restoration services, the company is positioning itself to support the infrastructure boom that will define the next decade.
And in true East Texas fashion, they’re doing it the right way: sustainably, responsibly, and with respect for the people and land that make it possible.
This milestone isn’t just a victory for Sterling Solutions. It’s a win for Lufkin, Angelina County, and the entire Texas Forest Country.
And it’s another reminder that the world’s biggest challenges—energy reliability, grid expansion, sustainable construction—often run straight through the heart of East Texas, where hard work, timber strength, and community roots make big things possible.
