Open House for A. L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport

The A. L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport is having it's 1st Open House on Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the City of Nacogdoches' aviation fuel farm. There will be free food, live music, discounted fuel, free t-shirts (while supplies last) and aircraft, model airplanes, and public safety vehicles on display..

The airport is located at 5650 Terry Crawford Dr. (off Hwy 7 W) in Nacogdoches, (936) 560-9567

The Outlet Center is now on University Drive

The Daily Sentinel recently attended a Nacogdoches County Chamber ribbon cutting celebrating the new location of The Outlet Center, 721 N. University Dr., (936) 559-0300. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Owner Lee Brewer welcomed sponsors, Chamber members and guests.

Driving Jacks Gives Nacogdoches a Safe Ride Home

Started in the late fall of 2004, Driving Jacks is an organization that promises to give free, non-discriminatory rides to anyone in Nacogdoches, within the loop, who may have had too much to drink.

Driving Jacks was the brainchild of Amy Shields, a former member of SGA. She started this project in the late fall of 2004. The organization is modeled after Texas A&M's safe ride program. Later in 2004, Amy Shields was killed in a tragic car accident.

The organization finally came to fruition in January 2007. Driving Jacks started Jan. 25 with only ten members and about 5-6 calls a night.

Amanda Williams taking the first ever Driving Jacks call.

In the course of one semester Driving Jacks was able to grow into a very popular organization giving 619 rides in four months. At the end of the Spring 2007 semester, Driving Jacks had doubled in size and was giving about 20 rides a night.

Driving Jacks in its first night of operation.

"Right now we're sitting at about 45 members, and giving anywhere between 20-25 rides a night," said Matt Bodin, Houston senior and Driving Jacks president.

Since school started about three weeks ago, Driving Jacks has given almost two hundred rides.

Driving Jacks gives rides every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

For more information call (936) 652-6600. To sponsor Driving Jacks e-mail: drivingjacks@yahoo.com. Please visit the Driving Jacks website at: www.drivingjacks.com

Nacogdoches Native Turned Soccer Superstar

Well...maybe he's not a superstar just yet, but Clint Dempsey is moving up in the world of professional soccer. In a recent article in goal.com, Dempsey is described as doing the more for american soccer than David Beckham.

Dempsey is an American soccer player that recently moved to England to play for the Fullham soccer team. There he has been making a name for himself with an aggressive playing style that's earned him three goals in the past three games. This local East Texan is on his way to becoming a soccer icon in both America and England.

Bealls ribbon cutting

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce was present for a ribbon cutting for Bealls, located at 4919 North St., Ste. 101, Markeplace II, (936) 564-4691.

Mike Mayfield, store manager of Bealls, welcomed Chamber members and guests.

Supermarket sweep at Do Dat Barbecue

Ennetta Dunn, left, is surprised and speechless after learning that her raffle ticket was drawn for the $1,000 grocery giveaway prize donated by Kroger. Dunn received the news from Chamber and community volunteer Betty Shinn, right, during the 2007 Do Dat Barbecue event.

Although everyone that attended did not win $1,000 worth of groceries from Kroger, each had the opportunity to enjoy tasty barbecue, fun competition, a variety of entertainment acts and more at Do Dat. Other prizes were awarded in the raffle, and many left with great items from the live auction.

The Do Dat Barbecue held Sept. 15 was a full day of fun. It is the major fund-raising event for many, including the Nacogdoches County Chamber NOBLE scholarship program, which, with a corporate match by Citizen's First Bank, provides 20 SFA scholarships for Nacogdoches County high school graduates.

Others benefiting from the event include the Foster Parents Association, local Boy Scouts and Explorers, the Alzheimer's Association, Nacogdoches Treatment Center, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Crime Stoppers, Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful, POSSE (Peace Officer Special Support Enterprise), and the Nacogdoches Pro-Rodeo Scholarships.

Fairies, leprechauns and belly dancers, oh my!

A troupe representing the Texas Renaissance Festival entertained the Do Dat crowds. Can you spot Nacogdoches Mayor and Chamber Board Director Roger Van Horn and Nacogdoches County Chamber President / CEO Bruce Partain in this colorful mix?

Online Auction to Benefit Nacogdoches Community

Chamber intern Sunshine Dearman, having fun viewing the online auction.

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce is hosting an online auction running through September 23, 2007. There are many items in the auction that range from vacation getaways to relaxing fishing trips to donated items, and more items are to come. To view the online auction and to place a bid, click here. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the community in numerous ways.

Doug James, professional fishing guide, is holding a fish he recently caught at Lake Nacogdoches. One of the items for bid is a guided fishing trip to Lake Nacogdoches.

Healthy ribbon cutting event

The Nacogdoches County Chamber held a Ribbon Cutting event for the new Bethany HomeHealth Services Community Relations office located at 4800 N.E. Stallings Dr., Ste. 120. Contact phone number is 936-560-0606. Administrator/Branch Director Cathy Mullikin welcomed Chamber members and guests.

Community Relations Director Stacy Dicks explained the importance of the services of the new office, the number of Bethany HomeHealth locations throughout the East Texas region and the services that the company provides.

Pictured left: Community Relations Director Stacy Dicks, left, and Administrator and Branch Director Cathy Mullikin explain the Bethany HomeHealth services.

Above: Guests enjoyed visiting with some of the Bethany HomeHealth smiling staff.

It's our goal to provide complete, compassionate home care services through
a team of qualified healthcare professionals. Our work is not done until that
goal is met. Period." - Brad Lassiter, CEO.

Duck Dash 2007

SFA's Alumni Association is hosting the 2007 Duck Dash on October 27 during Lumberjack Alley. There will be approximately $2,610 worth of prizes this year. Everyone is invited to participate. Those who do participate may sponsor a toy duck in a race. Each duck is five dollars, with special prices for those who sponsor six or more ducks. Ducks from first to fourteenth place will receive prizes up to $550.

A picnic lunch will also be available. Tickets for lunch are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. For more information and for sponsor forms, contact the SFA Alumni Association at (936) 468-3407.

Ribbon Cutting at Teddy Bear Connection

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce was present for a ribbon cutting ceremony for Teddy Bear Connection.

Doug Bowlin, owner of Teddy Bear Connection, welcomes the Chamber of Commerce to the ceremony. Sandwiches were served after the ribbon cutting.

Ribbon Cutting Dates

These are the new ribbon cutting dates for the month of September.

Thurs. 9/6/07, 11:15a
Teddy Bear Connection
1023 N. University Dr.

Tue. 9/11/07, 11:15a
CBTx Banking Center
222 Vista Drive
(Inside the Baker Patillo Student Center)

Thur. 9/13/07, 11:00a
Bethany Home Health Community Relations Division
4800 N.E. Stallings Drive

Fri. 9/14/07, 1:15p
Maurices
Nacogdoches Marketplace II

Tue. 9/18/07, 4:30p
Fuddruckers
Nacogdoches Marketplace II

Wed. 9/19/07, 9:30a
Bealls
Nacogdoches Marketplace II

Wed. 9/19/07, 1:15p
The Outlet Center
721 N. University Drive