Join us August 7th & 8th for a full weekend of shopping, special deals, new finds, and back-to-school fun at your favorite Jasper boutiques! Each participating shop will have its own specials, so make plans to visit them ALL
And did we mention it’s Tax-Free Weekend?! Even more reason to grab your shopping crew and make a day of it!
Save the dates, share this post, and stay tuned for all the deals and details!
Below is a description of the work planned for July 27 through July 31 in the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Lufkin District.
Project timelines are subject to change due to weather conditions and material availability.
There will be no update next week as I’ll be out of the office with limited email access.
Area Office Projects
Lufkin Area Office (Angelina, Houston, and Sabine counties)
Angelina County
US 59, Redland Project. Forms will be set for bridge caps and abutments on the northbound frontage road and Mill Creek bridge. Covered prime will be applied on the US 59 northbound main lanes.
Business (BU) 59/First Street, resurfacing and striping Night operations to mill, lay and stripe the road will continue. Lane closures will occur.
FM 324, bridge replacement and roadway rehabilitation. Concrete columns and caps will be poured. Concrete barriers and environmental controls will be installed, and lane delineators will be added near the detour. Traffic will need to follow a pilot car.
US 69, cable median barrier. Contractors will continue working on the barrier on US 69 south of Zavalla and US 59 south of Livingston.
State Loop (SL) 287, auxiliary and turn lanes. Construction of the ramp near Lucky Puppy and Carroway Funeral Home will continue, and the ramp from Feagin onto the loop will remain closed.
Houston County
SL 304 overlay. Slope and shoulder work will continue, requiring intermittent lane closures.
FM 2076, rehabilitation and roadway widening.Contractors will be milling, treating cement and hauling road base, which will require drivers to follow a pilot vehicle. Concrete pouring will occur along the shoulder, which will also require lane closures.
Livingston Area Office (Polk, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties)
Polk and San Jacinto counties
US 59, cable median barrier. The contractor will remove silt fence between Livingston and the Trinity River.
Polk County
US 59, Corrigan Relief Route. Railing will be installed on the south railroad bridge. Crews will set deck panels and build steel forms for the north railroad bridge. Concrete work will occur on the main lane and non-mow strips at the
southbound exit. Flex base installation and prime coating is planned at Union Springs Road intersection. Earth and shoulder work will occur at the north and south tie-ins. Culvert work is ongoing at the north tie in. Drilling for signage and high-mast lighting foundations will be performed.
FM 2610 at Menard Creek. Crews will work on non-mow strips and install riprap.
County-road bridge projects.
Piney Creek on Carmona Road: column preparation will continue.
Long King Creek on Old Bearing Road: bridge deck work will occur.
San Jacinto County
US 59, Shepherd to Cleveland upgrade to interstate standards. Crews will install main-lane U-turn deck panels, perform excavation and install base near FM 2914. Asphalt work is planned along the northbound frontage road. Grading and ditch work near Tarkington Bayou is scheduled.
SH 156, Stephen Creek bridge replacement. Excavation, prep work and drilling will occur for bridge supports.
SH 150 sidewalk project. Excavation ahead of sod placement is planned.
Nacogdoches Area Office (Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and Shelby counties)
Nacogdoches County
US 59, intersection improvements at SL 224. Work on milestone items will continue.
SH 7 and CR 724, Morral Bayou bridge project. The contractor is removing embankment and the detour bridge.
BU 59, SH/BS 7, SH/BS 21 and FM 2259 stripingNight-time striping on BS 21 and BU 59 will occur.
Sabine County
US 96, road rehabilitation The contractor will be working on drainage and junction boxes and hauling base.
Shelby County
County road bridge projects.
Seeding will occur at the CR 3689 and CR 1440 bridges.
Guard-rail work will be performed at various county-road bridge locations.
Reminder to Motorists Drivers are urged to remain alert in work zones, obey posted traffic controls, and watch for construction crews and equipment. Remember to move over or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing or approaching TxDOT vehicles, law enforcement, and other vehicles with activated overhead lights on the side of the road.
Please remember to buckle up, stay sober, and Drive like a Texas: Kind, Courteous, Safe.
Tim Monzingo Public Information Officer TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Lufkin District timothy.monzingo@txdot.gov | 936-208-5651 | TxDOT.gov
Disaster Recovery Assistance is Available for San Jacinto County Residents!
The San Jacinto County Long Term Recovery Group is here to help connect our community with resources available through the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for homeowners affected by the 2024 disasters, including Hurricane Beryl and the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds that impacted our area. The programs are available to eligible homeowners in the designated 27 counties, including San Jacinto County.
Need an application?
Visit our office every: Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
San Jacinto County Long Term Recovery Group 250 Live Oak St. Coldspring, TX 77331
We’ll provide the application and answer your questions. SPECIAL APPLICATION WORKSHOP
Saturday, August 1 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The San Jacinto County Long Term Recovery Group is partnering with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to host a FREE application workshop.
If your home was affected by the 2024 disasters and you live in one of the eligible counties, this is the perfect opportunity to:
Complete your application
Receive one-on-one assistance
Ask questions about the program
Get your paperwork started correctly
Knowledgeable staff will be on-site to assist you every step of the way.
Please Bring:
Valid photo ID for everyone in the household age 18 and older
Proof of property tax payment
Insurance claim documents (if applicable)
FEMA, SBA, or other disaster assistance documentation (if received)
Proof of income for household members age 18+ (if applicable)
Mortgage information (if applicable)
Child support verification (if applicable)
Ownership and primary residence documents (if applicable)
Any additional supporting documents requested for your situation
If you’re not sure whether you qualify, come anyway! We’ll help determine which program may be right for you.
The San Jacinto County Long Term Recovery Group is committed to helping our residents recover by connecting them with the resources they need. Please share this post so we can reach those who may need assistance!
Due to a loss of water pressure the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Nacogdoches’ 1740003 public water system to notify all customers south of Main Street and west of Press Road (see attached map) to boil their water prior to consumption (i.e., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.
Affected Area Map
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the Water Utilities Department at 936 564-5046.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas’ ability to detect, track and fight wildfires is growing even stronger with the acquisition of three new multi-mission aircraft for Texas A&M Forest Service.
The purchase marks the agency’s second major aviation acquisition in recent weeks, following the addition of two wildfire suppression helicopters, and represents another significant step toward building Texas’ first dedicated, state-managed wildfire aviation fleet.
“The safety of Texans is our No. 1 priority. Texas has secured a dedicated fleet of multi-mission aircraft to fight wildfires on our own terms,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “These aircraft deliver early detection and critical intelligence so our firefighters can protect lives and property.”
A chinook helicopter dumps water on the Smokehouse Creek Fire on Saturday, Mar 02, 2024, in Hemphill County, Texas after high winds caused a flare up to reignite the record breaking fire. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)
Multi-mission aircraft enhance firefighter safety and improve decision-making by detecting wildfires early, tracking fire behavior in near real time, providing crews with accurate imagery of the entire incident and helping coordinate air and ground resources more effectively.
“Texas is making a historic investment in protecting our people, property and communities from wildfires,” said Robert Albritton, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “These aircraft will give Texas A&M Forest Service the speed, intelligence and flexibility to respond more effectively when lives are on the line. The Board of Regents is proud to help build a dedicated Texas fleet that will be ready when Texans need it.”
Texas A&M Forest Service developed its aviation strategy based on recommendations from a 12-entity Aviation Task Force created to determine the aircraft and capabilities Texas needs for a flexible, effective wildfire response fleet.
The Task Force recommended a combination of helicopters for precise water drops and tactical support, versatile fixed-wing multi-mission aircraft for intelligence and coordination, and large airtankers capable of delivering substantial amounts of fire retardant to slow a wildfire’s spread.
“Texans should not have to wait for aircraft to become available when a wildfire threatens our communities,” said Chancellor Glenn Hegar. “Building a dedicated state fleet gives Texas A&M Forest Service the ability to see fires sooner, make better decisions and move resources where they are needed most. This is a practical investment that will help Texans and protect their property.”
Without a dedicated fleet, Texas historically has relied on aircraft obtained through federal resource-sharing agreements. Those aircraft can be reassigned when higher-priority fires develop elsewhere in the country.
With funding provided by the 89th Texas Legislature, Texas is building a fleet dedicated to protecting communities within the state. The aircraft will remain under state management, giving Texas a more dependable and responsive aerial defense against wildfires.
“During the 89th Legislative Session, we made a historic promise to the people of Texas to bolster our state’s defenses against catastrophic wildfires,” said state Rep. Ken King. “Today, I am proud to see Texas A&M Forest Service moving with incredible speed and administrative precision to turn that promise into a reality. This fast-tracked acquisition means these life-saving airplanes and helicopters will be in our skies and ready to protect our communities sooner.”
The new aircraft will provide near-real-time video, mapping, heat detection and other situational awareness tools that give incident commanders and firefighters a more complete picture of conditions on the fire line.
“Every wildfire is different, which is why a diverse aviation fleet is so important,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Jared Karns. “Having multiple aircraft types available, including multi-mission aircraft platforms that can serve a variety of roles, allows us to respond effectively to the unique demands of each incident.”
Through House Bill 500, the Texas Legislature appropriated $257 million in 2025 for Texas A&M Forest Service to purchase, operate and maintain wildfire suppression aircraft.
Nine aircraft are currently staged in Texas for wildfire response. Since Jan. 1, Texas A&M Forest Service has mobilized aircraft 115 times in response to wildfire incidents. Those aviation resources have dropped more than 1.25 million gallons of water and fire retardant on wildfires across the state.
The multi-mission aircraft were acquired through the State of Texas procurement process administered by the Texas Comptroller’s Statewide Procurement Division. After an evaluation of submitted proposals, the contract was awarded to Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings LLC.
Texas A&M Forest Service also is pursuing the final planned component of the new fleet: Four large airtankers that are currently in the state procurement process.
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth, and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System serves nearly 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service, and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities, and drives Texas’s economy forward.
The 2026 Global Leadership Summit is only two weeks away!
Join us August 6-7 in Lufkin for two days of world-class leadership development that will challenge, encourage, and equip you with practical ideas you can put into action right away.
Whether you’re leading a business, a team, a nonprofit, or simply looking to grow your influence, GLS offers valuable insights for leaders at every level.
Chamber Investors: Be sure to check your email for exclusive Investor pricing before registering.
