September 11 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
A standout new addition to our business community offering Financial Planning, an Art Gallery, and beautifully curated finds.
Location: 107 Texas Street | Hemphill, Texas
Date & Time: September 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Home Blog
Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Seasons Wealth + Erahouse (Sabine County)
Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update
Hey, sports fans,
The Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams opened Region XIV conference play with a pair of impressive road wins, and the AC baseball team is gearing up for the start to its Fall 2026 season.
In addition, Angelina College Athletics welcomed a new – but familiar – face to its men’s basketball coaching staff.
This coming week will see the Lady ‘Runner soccer squad hosting a pair of nationally ranked opponents. We’re hoping to pack the stands for both matches.
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of recent events, along with what’s coming up next:
Lady Roadrunners Take Pair of Conference Road Matches
The Lady Roadrunner soccer team hit the pitch running for conference play, taking a pair of road matches this past week at Northeast Texas Community College and at Paris Junior College.
Against NTCC on Thursday, AC’s ladies reeled off three second-half goals to knock off the Lady Eagles by a 3-0 final. Beatriz Almeida, Emma Brachet Chanal and Olivia Loyola accounted for the three AC goals, with Almeida and Loyola also adding assists in the win. Defensively, the Lady ‘Runners allowed just three shots on goal, with keeper Samuela Valeri saving all three of those attempts.
Against Paris on Saturday, the Lady Roadrunners jumped out to a 3-0 lead before allowing a last-minute goal, beating the Lady Dragons by a 3-1 final. Almeida, Emilia Piil and Giselle Huerta tallied AC’s goals, with Almeida and Brachet Chanal earning the assists.
This week, the Lady Roadrunners (2-2, 2-0) play host to a pair of nationally ranked teams. AC will host No. 8 Navarro College at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 3) before taking on No. 9 Trinity Valley Community College at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. Both matches will take place at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the Angelina College campus.
Roadrunner Soccer Opens Season with Pair of Road Wins
After having their regular-season opener canceled last Friday, the Roadrunner soccer team had to wait a little longer to play a meaningful match.
The ‘Runners didn’t let the lull hold them back, with AC taking road wins at Northeast Texas Community College on Thursday and at Paris Junior College on Friday.
In Thursday’s NTCC match at Mount Pleasant, the Roadrunners battled the always-tough Eagles to a scoreless draw in the first half before erupting for three goals in the second to take the 3-0 win. Albi Zyla, Kanta Maruyama and Diego Ramirez scored for AC, with Jhosua Jory assisting on two of the goals. Maruyama picked up the assist on Ramirez’ goal.
AC’s defense proved solid in the win, allowing just six shots on goal. Runner-keeper Harrison Bond helped preserve the clean sheet with six saves.
Saturday in Paris, Ramirez scored both goals in the Roadrunners’ 2-1 win over the Dragons – including the unassisted game winner in the 88th minute.
The Roadrunners (2-0, 2-0) travel to Dallas this Thursday (Sept. 3) to face Eastern Florida State College in a match scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
Roadrunner Basketball Welcomes New Men’s Assistant Coach
The Angelina College men’s basketball program was fully aware of Brandon Martinez and his coaching prowess, having squared off against Martinez’ Coastal Bend Community College teams over the past four years.
When CBCC shuttered its basketball program this past year, converting Martinez into a Roadrunner was an easy choice to make.
AC recently named Martinez its new men’s assistant basketball coach to work alongside head coach J.J. Montgomery. While Martinez fielded highly competitive teams during his tenure at CBCC, his focus on getting his student-athletes to the graduation stage stands out: His graduation/transfer rate topped 95 percent over his four years at the helm.
We welcome Coach Martinez to the Roadrunner family. Click the link below for his full bio:
Basketball Schedules Available for Viewing
We’re still a couple of months away from the start of basketball season, but the Roadrunner and Lady Roadrunner teams already have their 2026-2027 schedules in place. Visit the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view those schedules.
Hoops season is going to get here before we know it.
For those who just can’t wait to know, the Lady Roadrunners tip off their regular season Oct. 30 in Baton Rouge against Delgado Community College, following with another game on Saturday against Baton Rouge Community College – also taking place in Baton Rouge. The Lady ‘Runners host their first home game on Nov. 6 against Southern University-Shreveport.
On the men’s side, the Roadrunners open their new regular season with a home game against Strength ‘N Motion on Nov. 2 at Shands Gymnasium.
Here are the links to both teams’ schedules:
Lady Roadrunners’ basketball 2026-2027 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
Roadrunner men’s basketball 2026-2027 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
AC Baseball, Softball Fall Schedules:
The Roadrunner baseball team will open its Fall 2026 schedule this week with an away game against Alvin Community College. The ‘Runners and Dolphins will square off at Lamar University in Beaumont, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.
Here are the fall schedules for both the Roadrunner baseball and Lady Roadrunner softball teams. NOTE: These are exhibition games, so there won’t be any live streaming available, nor will there be stats or final scores posted.
Roadrunner Baseball Fall 2026 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/bsb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
Lady Roadrunner Softball Fall 2026 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/sball/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
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:
Thursday Sept. 3:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. No. 8 Navarro College, 6 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
Roadrunner Soccer vs. Eastern Florida State College, 7 p.m. in Dallas, TX.
Friday, Sept. 4:
Roadrunner baseball at Alvin College, 1 p.m. at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX.
Sunday, Sept. 6:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer vs. No. 9 Trinity Valley Community College, 6 p.m. at the Larry Phillips Family Sports Complex on the AC campus.
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
Capitol Update: Preparing Texas for Wildfire Season
September is one of my favorite months of the year. The school year is underway, Friday night lights are back, and the opening of dove season means another hunting season is finally upon us.
For generations of Texans, hunting has been about much more than the harvest. It’s about time spent with family and friends, traditions passed from one generation to the next, and an appreciation for the land and natural resources we’re blessed to enjoy. As hunting season gets underway, I hope everyone heading to the field has a safe and successful season. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to purchase or renew your Texas hunting license before heading out.
Unfortunately, the beginning of hunting season also comes at a time when much of our state is facing dangerously hot and dry conditions. In North Texas, the massive Ross Fire has burned more than 80,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties, damaging structures, threatening rural communities, and providing another sobering reminder of just how quickly a wildfire can spread when conditions are right.
The timing is especially relevant as lawmakers continue our interim work ahead of the 90th Legislative Session. Earlier this month, the Texas Senate Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing to examine our state’s wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts and consider what more Texas can do to protect lives, property, and natural resources.
Among the issues discussed were prescribed burning and mechanical thinning to reduce dangerous fuel loads, improvements to early-warning systems, and ways state and local officials can better coordinate wildfire prevention and response.
For those of us who live in rural Texas, these are not abstract policy discussions. When drought, high winds, and heavy vegetation come together, a wildfire can quickly threaten homes, farms and ranches, timberland, livestock, and entire communities. Some of the best tools we have to combat catastrophic wildfires are the steps we take long before a fire ever starts.
Prescribed burning is one of those tools. When conducted safely by trained professionals, prescribed fire reduces the vegetation that can fuel catastrophic wildfires while improving wildlife habitat and promoting healthier forests and rangelands.
That’s why I’m pleased to see the Texas A&M Forest Service preparing to officially launch the Texas Prescribed Burn Manager Insurance Program on September 1. Last session, I was proud to work with the Forest Service to establish this program through House Bill 2563, helping qualified prescribed burn managers access liability coverage and removing one of the primary barriers to expanding the responsible use of prescribed fire across our state.
With the 90th Legislative Session just a few months away, I’m paying close attention to conversations like these taking place across the Capitol. There will be no shortage of important issues before us next session, but protecting our land and natural resources and supporting our rural communities will remain a top priority.
The mobile office is on the road again in September, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates at the following times: September 2 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9:30-11:30 a.m.; September 9 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m.; and September 16 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
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 my 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 at your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: Rep. Trent Ashby on Facebook.
Moment of Silence (Polk County)
September 11 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
IN REMEMBRANCE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH
The City of Onalaska invites our community to join us as we gather in remembrance of September 11th and honor the lives lost, the heroes who answered the call, and all those forever impacted by that day.
Gather at 9:00 a.m.
Moment of Silence at 9:11 a.m.
Caney Creek Park – at the Flag Pole
416 Onalaska Loop, Onalaska, TX 77360
We encourage our residents, first responders, veterans, community leaders, and neighbors to join us for this time of remembrance and reflection.
We will never forget.
(936) 327-4929
info@polkchamber.com
Related Events
Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update
Hey, sports fans,
After a hectic first two weeks of getting back on campus, this past week saw our Angelina College athletes getting back into their daily routines, meaning there was something happening nearly every single day.
Our Lady Roadrunner soccer team opened its regular season in Miami, while the Roadrunner men had to delay their own season opener after a Friday cancelation. This week, both teams dive straight into conference play, with games on the road on Thursday and Saturday.
Baseball and softball are revving up to begin their fall seasons soon, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams have released their official 2026-2027 schedules.
Our teams didn’t waste any time getting back to the exciting stuff.
We are AC, and we’re ready to Run ‘Em.
Here’s a quick rundown of recent events, along with what’s coming up next:
Lady Roadrunners Open Regular Season in Miami
Lady Roadrunner head coach Sergio Gardea brought in a lot of new faces for his 2026 squad, and he didn’t have a lot of time (just a couple of scrimmages) to see what his Lady ‘Runners can do – much less build the necessary cohesion.
This past week, the Lady ‘Runners traveled to Miami, Florida to open their regular season – just two weeks after the players arrived on campus.
AC’s ladies fell 4-0 on Thursday to Daytona State, the No. 1 team in the nation in the pre-season NJCAA polls. On Saturday, also in Miami, the Lady ‘Runners dropped a nail-biting 2-1 decision to Miami Dade College. Beatriz Almeida scored AC’s lone goal on a penalty kick.
This week, the Lady Roadrunners (0-2) open conference play on the road, traveling to Mount Pleasant to face Northeast Texas Community College at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. Saturday’s match will see AC’s ladies at Paris Junior College, with the match set for an 11 a.m. start.
Roadrunner Soccer Kicks off Regular Season This Week
The AC men’s soccer team has looked strong in every pre-season scrimmage, so they felt ready to roll for the scheduled season opener against Ranger College this past Friday.
Unfortunately, Friday’s match was canceled, and now the ‘Runners will have to wait until this week to show their skills for real.
And they’re starting the season with conference matches on the road.
AC will travel to Mount Pleasant on Thursday to face Northeast Texas Community College, and the team will follow that on Saturday with a trip to Paris to face the Paris College Dragons.
Thursday’s match kicks off at 5 p.m. in Mount Pleasant, while Saturday’s match at Paris is set for a 1:30 p.m. start.
Basketball Schedules Available for Viewing
We’re still a couple of months away from the start of basketball season, but the Roadrunner and Lady Roadrunner teams already have their 2026-2027 schedules in place. Visit the Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com) to view those schedules.
Hoops season is going to get here before we know it.
For those who just can’t wait to know, the Lady Roadrunners tip off their regular season Oct. 30 in Baton Rouge against Delgado Community College, following with another game on Saturday against Baton Rouge Community College – also taking place in Baton Rouge. The Lady ‘Runners host their first home game on Nov. 6 against Southern University-Shreveport.
On the men’s side, the Roadrunners open their new regular season with a home game against Strength ‘N Motion on Nov. 2 at Shands Gymnasium.
Here are the links to both teams’ schedules:
Lady Roadrunners’ basketball 2026-2027 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
Roadrunner men’s basketball 2026-2027 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
AC Baseball, Softball Fall Schedules:
If you’ve been on the AC campus this past week, you probably saw some action on our baseball and softball fields. Both the Roadrunners and Lady Roadrunners already are putting in the work for the upcoming season, with both teams bringing in tons of new faces.
Here are the fall schedules for both teams. NOTE: These are exhibition games, so there won’t be any live streaming available, nor will there be stats or final scores posted.
Roadrunner Baseball Fall 2026 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/bsb/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
Lady Roadrunner Softball Fall 2026 schedule:
https://angelinaathletics.com/sports/sball/2026-27/schedule?jsRendering=true
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:
Thursday August 27:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at Northeast Texas Community College, 2:30 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.
Roadrunner Soccer at Northeast Texas Community College, 5 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.
Saturday, August 29:
Lady Roadrunner Soccer at Paris College, 11 a.m. in Paris, TX.
Roadrunner Soccer at Paris College, 1:30 p.m. in Paris, 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
Lufkin Firm: Why That Postcard In Your Mailbox Might Beat a Hundred Emails
Most households in Deep East Texas get a handful of pieces of mail on a given day. Most inboxes get dozens of emails, most of them opened for two seconds or less before being deleted or ignored. That simple contrast is behind a counterintuitive trend local businesses are being encouraged to notice this fall planning season: physical mail, the channel plenty of businesses quietly stopped using years ago, has become one of the least crowded ways left to actually get someone’s attention.
The case isn’t just intuitive. A research series from the USPS Office of Inspector General, conducted with Temple University’s Center for Neural Decision Making, used neuroscience methods to compare how brains process physical mail against digital advertising, and found that physical ads require meaningfully less cognitive effort to process. In plain terms, a postcard on the kitchen counter isn’t fighting a dozen open browser tabs for attention. It just sits there, tangible, until someone deals with it.
Layered on top of that, response-rate data tracked by the Association of National Advertisers and the Data & Marketing Association consistently shows direct mail outperforming email by a wide margin, piece for piece. Put the neuroscience and the response numbers together, and the picture holds up: mail gets picked up because it demands a physical decision, it’s processed with less mental friction, and it gets acted on more often.
According to MSGPR, the Lufkin communications and print firm serving the region since 1991, none of this means abandoning email or social media. It means recognizing that the channel most competitors have walked away from is, for exactly that reason, less crowded than the one everyone is still fighting over. The firm points out that the difference between a mail campaign that pays for itself and one that quietly flops almost never comes down to the channel itself. It comes down to the planning: building a tight list around people who already have a reason to care, timing the piece to something real like back-to-school season or year-end giving, and designing it to actually be handled rather than glanced at and tossed.
A Lufkin-area church MSGPR has worked with runs exactly this kind of approach every fall, mailing a physical invitation to households in its growth corridor ahead of its harvest festival, paired with a QR code routing to an event page and a follow-up email series. The mail piece isn’t competing with the church’s social presence, it’s doing a job digital channels alone can’t do as well: landing in a stranger’s hand with enough physical presence to earn a second look.
For local business owners assembling a fall marketing calendar and wondering whether direct mail deserves a spot on it again, MSGPR’s full guide walks through the research and the planning steps in detail. Reach the firm at 936-637-7593 or msgpr.com.
Read MSGPR’s full guide here: The Gutenberg Principle: Why Physical Mail Still Works in 2026.
First Friday Luncheon (Angelina County)
September 4 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Join us for First Friday Luncheon on Friday, September 4, 2026. Sheila Youngblood, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, will share how the organization is supporting local youth and helping them build brighter futures.
First Friday is presented by Lufkin Coca Cola Bottling Company, with Angelina Community Theatre serving as the monthly sponsor.
Register to attend >>> bit.ly/Sept-FFL-26
Related Events
Mechanical Forest Tree Pruning Field Demonstrations
November 17 @ 8:00 am – November 19 @ 5:00 pm
Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas A&M AgriLife Research will host two field demonstrations in cooperation with Baker Forestry & Contracting Ltd. and the Advaligno PATAS standing-tree mechanical pruning system.
Two Opportunities:
November 17, 2026
Location: I.D. Fairchild State Forest
November 19, 2026
Location: TBD in Northeast Texas or Southwest Arkansas
The PATAS system is an innovative approach to mechanically prune standing trees and has potential applications in improving the efficiency and economics of forest management and wood utilization.
More information, including specific locations, times, registration, and field demonstration details, will be provided soon.
Please mark your calendar and plan to join us!
Related Events
Angelina College’s Electrical Lineworker Program Gets off the Ground
New Program Provides Training in High-Demand Utility Industry
Thanks in part to funding from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant, Angelina College has officially launched its new Electrical Lineworker Program, providing students with the training, certifications, and hands-on experience needed to pursue careers in the high-demand electrical utility industry.
The inaugural cohort is already hard at work, focusing on the critical safety foundations that serve as the backbone of electrical linework. As part of their training, students earn OSHA 10 and CPR certifications, ensuring they develop the safety knowledge and skills necessary for success in the field.
The Electrical Lineworker Program combines classroom instruction with hands-on field training, allowing students to learn electrical theory, equipment operation, and industry safety standards while gaining practical experience using industry tools and equipment in realistic training environments. Graduates are prepared to meet workforce demands throughout Deep East Texas and pursue entry-level careers in the electrical utility industry.
Developed with support from the THECB TRUE Grant and in collaboration with regional industry leaders, the program was designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge employers need. Industry partners serve on the program’s Advisory Committee and play a key role in developing the curriculum and program learning outcomes.
“The support provided through the THECB TRUE Grant allowed Angelina College to create a program that directly responds to workforce needs across Deep East Texas,” Dr. Esther Campbell, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, said. “By combining industry-driven curriculum, hands-on training, and recognized safety certifications, we’re preparing students for rewarding careers that are critical to our communities and infrastructure.”
Advisory Committee members include representatives from the City of Newton, City of Jasper, Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, Houston County Electric Cooperative, Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Oncor, and Sam Houston Electric Cooperative.
“Our industry partners have been instrumental in helping us build a program that aligns with real-world workforce needs,” Aaron Smith, Lead Instructor for the Electrical Lineworker Program, said. “Their expertise ensures students receive relevant, hands-on training and are prepared to contribute immediately upon entering the profession.”
Angelina College is excited to watch its inaugural class, along with future cohorts, climb toward success as they prepare to become the next generation of electrical lineworkers who will help power homes, businesses, and communities throughout Texas.
For further information regarding the program, contact Aaron Smith at asmith@angelina.edu.
Crockett Area Chamber Quarterly Luncheon (Houston County)
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!
