Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and more...

Dr. David Creech points out the contrasts between traditional and deciduous azaleas at the SFA Arboretum and Ruby Mize Azalea Garden during the Ag Tour Friday, March 30. Listening, from left, are Jimmy Scott, Dr. Leon Young, Roy Mills, Anthony Scott, County Judge Joe English, Sylvia St. Andry, Crispin Skinner, Patrick Lanmon, Hyman Boozer and Chad Gulley. Also attending but not pictured were Adell Mills and Joe Fuller. Attendees also toured Cal-Tex, Norbord and the SFA Poultry Research facility. The Ag Tour was organized by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service and is part of the activities leading up to the Monday, April 2, Agriculture Awareness and Appreciation Banquet at the Fredonia. Tickets are available at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Bruce R. Partain)

Justice Is Served ... for dinner

Enjoy a delicious dinner

served by local judges, law enforcement

and other community leaders
6:30 p.m. on March 31
The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center in Nacogdoches
$35/person or $350/table for 10

Reservations: call 936-560-4711

Benefit for CASA of Deep East Texas

PR Secrets Revealed at Fourth Friday Luncheon

Dallas anchor and reporter Jeff Crilley talks to a packed house at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Fourth Friday Luncheon on March 23, 2007.
Jeff Crilley illustrates how news releases can seem to reporters like a cascade of bubbles.

Left to Right: Chamber President Bruce Partain, Fourth Friday Chair Shirley Luna, Guest Speaker - TV Reporter Jeff Crilley, Chamber Chairman Jim Elder.

Emmy Award winning TV reporter Jeff Crilley shared his thoughts and experiences of getting good news stories at this months Fourth Friday Luncheon. His presentation was filled with detailed information and interactive demonstrations. Each activity had attendees on their feet participating and experiencing his ideas. Crilley discussed how to come up with real stories and keep your stories form reaching the recycling bin.

Following the luncheon was a 1-hour workshop where Crilley discussed his book " Free Publicity, A TV Reporter Shares the Secrets of Getting Covered on the News."

Alive After Five - R&K Distributors & Clear Channel Radio

Photo - Left to right: Clear Channel Market Manager Johnny Lathrop, R&K Manager Gary Justice, Chamber Chair-elect Kim Luna Snyder, and KICKS105 morning show DJ Danny Merrell.

R & K Distributors and Clear Channel Rodeo kicked off this years Pro Rodeo and Steer Show by sponsoring the Nacogdoches County Chamber's Alive After Five reception. The Chamber had great door prizes and cash drawings.
Chamber and community members enjoyed delicious food provided by Bullfrogs and refreshing drinks from R & K Distributors.

Event Coordinator and Talent Promoter Cynthia Allen Cuts Red Ribbon

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber ribbon cutting for C. Allen Productions Unlimited, Inc., 2476 Bolsover # 306, Houston 77005, (713) 204-9554.

C. Allen Productions Unlimited, Inc. (CAPU) is a music entertainment company that specializes in artists' consultant, promotions, special event planning and coordinating. CAPU is responsible for coordinating the East Texas Blues Festival that is held in July at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center.

President/CEO Cynthia Allen travelled from Houston to greet Chamber members and guests.

The Chamber opens its lobby and meeting area for ribbon cutting events to member businesses and organizations that are out-of-town or may not have a storefront.

"The Character of Kelly" presented at ribbon cutting

District Manager Candyce Wagnon of Kelly Services, Inc. welcomed Chamber members and guests at a recent Nacogdoches County Chamber ribbon cutting. Kelly Services is located at 412 North St., Ste. B, (936) 569-2272.

Wagnon named the different areas of staffing and services provided by Kelly and explained the importance of quality instilled by founder William Russell Kelly. Wagnon added that the same values are present in the Kelly Services of today.

Important points in time for Kelly Services:
1946: Kelly Services, Inc. was established by William Russell Kelly, the founder of the modern temporary help industry.
1962: The company becomes publicly-owned.
1986: Sales exceed $1 billion
1992: Kelly opens Nacogdoches branch office.
2004: Kelly expands into Hungary. Sony Tempstaff Kelly Joint Venture.
2006: Kelly opens office in Istanbul, Turkey. Company expands global network to 30 countries

Kelly Green ribbon cutting at Kelly Services, Inc.

Don't miss the ribbon cutting event at Kelly Services, 412 North St., Ste. B, on Friday, March 16 at 1:15. Kelly Services is celebrating 15 years of service excellence in Nacogdoches and surrounding areas, with over 60 years in the staffing industry.

Kelly Services: the right talent, the right jobs, all under one roof. Thanks to our customers and employees who helped us grow into one of the finest staffing agencies in the world!

District Manager Candyce Wagnon is getting a jump on St. Patrick's Day,

so wear your Kelly Green to the event ... or you might get pinched!

Local issues discussed with elected officials and CRC recognition at state capitol

Photo by Bruce Partain.
SFASU Alumni Association Associate Vice President Jim Jeter and Mayor Bob Dunn arrive at the Texas State Capitol ready to attend the Lufkin/Nacogdoches/SFA Day briefings and reception that occurred February 21 and 22 in Austin.


Photo by Bruce Partain.
From left: Lufkin Economic Development Director Jim Wehmeier, Nacogdoches Mayor Bob Dunn, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, State Senator Robert Nichols and Athens Mayor Randy Daniel. Nacogdoches County and the cities of Lufkin and Athens were publicly recognized during a briefing on February 22 as the first entities to earn the Certified Retirement Community title. The CRC program is a new Texas Department of Agriculture program designed to promote Texas communities as retirement destinations to retirees and potential retirees both in and outside Texas.

Show that purple spirit

SFA student and Chamber intern Lindsey La Vigne poses with the SFA Spirit Flag, a project of the SFA-Chamber Connection.

“Our goal is to have 200 spirit flags flying this year for special events such as commencement, home football games and orientations,” said David Madrid of Huntington State Bank and Chamber volunteer. “Last year we had more than 100 flags flying through business and organization memberships.”

Flag subscriptions are available through the Delta Sigma Phi Sawyers. For more information, contact David at 554-2704 or david.madrid@mail.com. Subscriptions are $50 for 12 spirit days. Additional flags are $25 per flag.

Glass Castles Birthday

You are invited to attend Glass Castles for St. Patrick's to celebrate our 25th Birthday Extravaganza!!! On Saturday March 17th, come in and enjoy cookies, cake, coffee and a chocolate fountain.

“Glass Castles is one of the oldest operating retailers in downtown Nacogdoches, and a real asset to our visitor and retiree industries. They offer evening classes and extended hours to serve the public. Besides their commercial work and beautiful church window work they have really great gift ideas, too!"

- Bruce Partain, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO

Glass Castles is located at 323 E. Main St.

Please call 936-560-3249 for more information.

Glass Castles owners David and Teresa Darby are long-time Chamber members and volunteers. Teresa served on our Executive Committee and board, and currently is the logistics chair for the Texas Blueberry Festival. The Darbys are active in Sacred Heart Catholic Church and assist with the Multicultural Festival. They are members of the Downtown Business Association and support all the activities that make downtown a special place. They have employed many SFA students over the years.

Calling all cowboys and cowgirls to March Alive After Five event

Join the folks of R & K Distributors, Inc. and Clear Channel Radio - KYKS/KFOX/KTBQ/KSFA - when they co-host Alive After Five on Wednesday, March 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event kicks-off the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo and Steer Show and will be held at the sky box in the Nacogdoches County Expo Center at 3805 N.W. Stallings Drive.

The reception is come-as-you-are, and gives every Chamber member a chance to meet and greet others in business. Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks and live entertainment. Register for great door prizes and take home some cool goodies!

All Chamber members are entered in the $600 cash drawing, but you must be present to win!

NACHOS!! Get your NACHOS!!!

Nacogdoches Christian Academy used a nacho sale on Tuesday to teach third grade students how to count change. Every year, the school uses some sort of sale to encourage students to learn how to do make change without using a calculator or cash register. Last year, they sold pickles, but this year the students voted on nachos.

The children were fully dressed in aprons and plastic gloves. Some students took money while others fixed the nachos. These weren't just plain nachos either. They were fully loaded with cheese, chili and jalepenos!

Not only did the students get the chance to improve their math skills, but they also got a chance to work on their creativity. In anticipation of the event, the students posted advertisements throughout the school's halls. One read, "If you're hungry and you know it, buy some nachos."

When visiting the school for a ribbon cutting, Bruce Partain, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce president, and other Chamber members couldn't resist the urge to try some of these delicious nachos.

The children demonstrated good customer service and did a great job calculating the customers' change in their heads. The nacho sale was a huge success for students and teachers. The children learned a lot and had fun too.

The Chamber takes a break for recess

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce recently attended a ribbon cutting for Nacogdoches Christian Academy located at 211 S.E. Stallings Dr., 936-462-1021.

Nacogdoches Christian Academy offers Pre-K through 8th grade classes.

The school celebrated the recent completion of its new playground for the children. The school's director Dana West, teachers, staff and children welcomed Chamber members and guests to join in the fun.

Afterward, members and guests were invited to enjoy homemade cookies and snacks as well as take a tour around the facility and playground.

The children were eager to show everyone how to use the new playground equipment.

Adventure in East Texas

Staci Doty, park operations manager at Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari, using the big scissors at a recent wild and woolly ribbon cutting event.

Adventure in East Texas

Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari. Operations Manager Staci Doty warmly welcomed Chamber members and guest.

Nestled in the lush piney woods of East Texas, Cherokee Trace Drive-thru Safari is a wildlife park that is home to an amazing variety of wildlife. From the comfort of your own vehicle, you can observe, feed, and photograph these beautiful creatures. This natural environment has miles of roads that take you into a whole different world.

CHEROKEE TRACE WILL BE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MARCH - AUGUST!!

March - May (Open 7 Days!)

Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Last car admitted at 4:30

June - August (Open 7 Days!)

Monday - Wednesday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 8:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 8:00pm

Last car admitted 1 1/2 hours before close.

N.O.B.L.E. Banquet is Nearing

N.O.B.L.E. BANQUET

Honoring Nacogdoches County High School Seniors who have participated in N.O.B.L.E.
Nacogdoches Opportunity for a Better Learning Experience

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2007
6:30 P.M.
SFASU UNIVERSITY CENTER

The N.O.B.L.E. Scholars Banquet recognizes students who selected the distinguished academic track for high school and received a 70 or above in all classes. These students are qualified to apply for scholarships provided by the The Daily Sentinel and Citizens 1st Bank. Sponsors will be recognized on the N.O.B.L.E. Banquet program.

To share in the sponsorship of the N.O.B.L.E. Banquet or other sponsorship information, please contact the Chamber at (936) 560-5533.