SFA athletics updates

Updates given by Travis Turner, SFA Athletics.

Jack Basketball -

• February 13 and 20 is Kids Day, kids get in free.
• February 20 is also Pink Zone Game. Zeta Tau Alpha will promote Breast Cancer Awareness, and everyone is encouraged to wear pink. Also the Academic Shoot out at this game, fundraiser for athletic Lady Jack basketball.

Jack Baseball and Softball -

• Season begins in February.

Jack Bowling -

• February 6 and 7 – Bowling teams first tournament at Texas Pro Bowl.

Go to SFAJacks.com for more information and schedules.

Valentine's Day specials

Lyric's Lateedas & OohLaLasLet us wrap up some love for your Valentine! All candles, soaps and select gift items are 30% off. You choose the items for your loved one and we'll make a gift basket that is sure to bring a smile to their face!

Also, beginning Saturday, January 30 through Friday, February 5 Enjoy 20% off all children's clothing patterns and Best Press starch alternative.

Voter registration deadline approaching

Read story at The Daily Sentinel online.


Voter registration deadline approaching
Gaston advises potential voters to come by courthouse annex
By MONICA GORDON
Sentinel intern

Friday, January 29, 2010

For anyone who is not registered to vote, the deadline is approaching if you want to participate in the March 2 primary.

Monday, Feb. 1, is the deadline, and any potential voters may go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex and complete a voter registration application.

"At this point, I recommend that the application be brought in to the office, because we have to have the applications in our office by then (Feb. 1)," county Elections Administrator Debra Gaston said.

Click to read more.

7th Annual Kid Fish Event 2010

Come out this Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Lakeside Park on Pearl Street behind The Sports Shack. This is the seventh year that the city recreation department has sponsored Kid Fish, a fishing event for families and kids ages 1 to 16. This year there will be a new catch...more than 700 rainbow trout are waiting to be caught! Normally this type of beautiful fish is not available in this area. Fishing will be the main activity of the day, but there will also be raffles, cooking demonstrations and other interesting things to keep participators entertained. There will be various prizes for the participants for largest string, largest trout and smallest trout, there will be prizes for every age group. Participants are greatly encouraged to keep any trout caught due to the fact they will die when it gets warm outside. There will also be trout recipes and demonstrations by Nacogdoches Naturally on a Dutch oven at the park if participants wish to cook their catch. The event is FREE and the bait will be provided!! Last year 300 kids enjoyed the event and the recreation center is hoping for the same if not an even better turn out. For more information reguarding Kids Fish 2010 contact the Nacogdoches Recreation Department at (936) 559 - 2960. Or for registration information call (936) 468 - 1832. LETS FISH!!

Court Appointed Special Advocates Hosting 4th Annual "Justice is Served" Donations and Sponsors Appreciated

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Deep East Texas (DET) is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to speak in court for Nacogdoches County child victims of abuse and neglect living in foster care. February 20, 2010 CASA of DET will host its 4th Annual "Justice is Served" Celebrity Waiter fundraiser. The banquet will feature guest speaker, Dr. Tom Middlebrook along with both a live and silent auction. They will be accepting donations that will assist in raising funds needed for the upcoming fiscal year.

CASA is also currently collecting items for their silent and live auctions. Any cash donations or items are greatly appreciated. All items donated are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. If possible, all auction items need to be donated no later than February 15, 2010.

Companies, Foundations or Individuals are greatly encouraged to become sponsors for the 4th Annual ... And Justice is Served banquet. There are many levels of sponsorship available.

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Presenting Sponsor: $2,500

• Prominent recognition as Presenting Sponsor in all event-related publicity and media exposure
• Prominent recognition on cover of event program
• One reserved table for 10 at the 2010 And Justice is Served banquet with your celebrity waiter
• Gift basket to take home
• Recognition in the CASA of DET newsletter

Gold Sponsor: $1,000

• Recognition as a Gold Sponsor in all event-related publicity and media exposure
• One reserved table for 10 at the 2010 And Justice is Served banquet with your celebrity waiter
• Gift basket to take home
• Recognition in the CASA of DET newsletter

Silver Sponsor: $750

• Recognition as a Silver Sponsor in all event-related publicity
• One reserved table for 10 at the 2010 And Justice is Served banquet with your celebrity waiter
• Gift basket to take home
• Recognition in the CASA of DET newsletter

Bronze Sponsor: $500

• Recognition as a Silver Sponsor in all event-related publicity
• One reserved table for 8 at the 2010 And Justice is Served banquet with your celebrity waiter
• Gift basket to take home
• Recognition in the CASA of DET newsletter

Friend of CASA Sponsor: $350

• Recognition as a Friend of CASA Sponsor in all event-related publicity
• One reserved table for 8 at the 2010 And Justice is Served banquet with your celebrity waiter
• Gift basket to take home
• Recognition in the CASA of DET newsletter

Individual Tickets may be purchased for $40 per person at the CASA of DET office - 117 North, Ste 2.

Heritage Walk Banquet hosted by Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc.

The Heritage Walk Banquet will be hosted by the Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc. at 7 pm on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at The Hotel Fredonia.

Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc. is working with local organizations to fund the expansion of the Heritage Walk which will add four new statues to the already existing three public sculptures. The statues will extend the walk along Mound Street beginning in Nacogdoches' historic downtown to the Stephen F. Austin campus. The new statues include: The Country Doctor, a representation of local medical doctors who have served in the community during the years of house calls; Stephen F. Austin professor, historian and Episcopal Rector, George Crocket; poet, author and educator, Karle Wilson Baker; and respected architect and builder Diedrich Rulfs. These statues will expand the awareness of the community and visitors to our distinguished, varied, and personal past while preserving our history in a visual and unique way.

Tickets are $40 each and tables of eight are available for $320. Reservations are due by Monday, February 1, 2010. Tickets may be purchased at the Nacogdoches Visitors' Center at 200 East Main or payments can be mailed to:
Heritage Walk Banquet
PO Box 630411
Nacogdoches, TX 75963.

For questions, please contact Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc. at (936) 553-8639 or email at fohni@yahoo.com

Donate goody items for Expanding Your Horizons Career Conference for young women

Dear Community Leader:

American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring the 16th annual Expanding Your Horizons Career Conference for young women grades 6th through 8th on Saturday, February 13 at SFA. We expect approximately 400 girls from our East Texas area to attend and participate in three career workshops of their choosing. An estimated 40 parents and teachers will attend separate adult sessions. This is a tremendous outreach for our community in encouraging these young women to select a more rigorous high school curriculum and plan to attend college.

Stephen F. Austin is providing backpacks, and we would like “goody” items (pens, pencils, notepads, small calendars, etc.) to stuff into the backpacks. AAUW Nacogdoches Branch’s tax exempt ID is 74-6061178.

This year we want to recognize our sponsors during the opening session of the conference that begins at 8:30 in the Twilight Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center at SFA. You will be listed as a sponsor in the EYH conference brochure.

Thank you for helping make the career conference a success.


Sincerely,
Donna Heeney
936-569-9469
donnaheeney@sbcglobal.net

Fourth Friday Luncheon 01/23/10

Representatives of Nacogdoches Water Works Jarrod Null and Jamie Wood soaked community guest with information about Water Works, at the Fourth Friday Luncheon held Jan. 22, 2010 at Hotel Fredonia.

Pictured (left to right) Paul Smith, Jarrod Null, Jamie Wood, and Bruce Partain. Click here to view more photos.


(photos by Porcha Giles)

View photos from Alive After Five

The Daily Sentinel hosted Alive After Five, Jan. 21, 2010, at Lanana Hall in downtown Nacogdoches. Editor and publisher Rayanne Schmid welcomed Chamber members and their guests.

Pictured are Corey Ashley, left, and Paul Smith enjoying the event. Click to view more photos.

(photos by Chelsea Wemhoff)

Attention: SFA alumni

Nacogdoches Area SFA Alumni - Upcoming Events:
Happy Hour - Tuesday, January 26th at 5:30 p.m. at Flashback Cafe

Lunch - Thursday, January 28th at noon at Fuddruckers

Job Fair next week for biomass construction

Fagen Inc., which is managing the construction process of the biomass power generation plant near Sacul, will be holding a job fair in Nacogdoches next Thursday, January 28, from 10am to 2pm. The Job Fair, in partnership with NEDCO, will be held at the Nacogdoches Workforce Center at 2103 South Street.

Diane Fagen, Human Resources Director for Fagen, along with three HR specialists, will be Nacogdoches for the job fair. They will be taking applications and conducting interviews for construction jobs at the plant.

The construction phase for the $400 million facility will extend throughout the next 32 months, with the power plant scheduled to become operational in mid-2012.

For more information on the job fair, contact Peggy Muckelroy or Misty Roe at NEDCO, (936) 559-1255.

Hotel Fredonia Presents: CASA COMEDY NIGHT THURSDAY JAN 28TH

New Chamber Web site ready for launch

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Web site launches a fresh-for-2010 look to complement the 2010 directory and map, on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Click here to read more.

Water park splash at chamber luncheon

Learn the facts about the City’s water park attraction at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Fourth Friday Luncheon. The event is noon to 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, in the Banita Ballroom at the Fredonia. Program speakers are Jarrod Null and Jamie Wood.

“I joined this project for several reasons, one being that I am a native of Nacogdoches, and I will continue to live here,” Wood said. “Being a part of this project allows me to enrich our community and provide family fun and entertainment for the future. I can see my future children having fun in the Nacogdoches Water Works project that I played a role in creating."

Wood pictured above.

Wood is an SFA student set to graduate in May with a degree in hospitality administration.

“Like generations before me, I am trying to do everything I can to enhance our community for future generations to come,” Wood said.


Null came to Nacogdoches in 2005 to attend SFA. He now has his bachelor in business administration, and he is a financial representative at Pineywoods Financial and Retirement Planning Services.
Null pictured left.

“This park will be a great asset to all of us and will enrich our community,” Null said. “We are actively working towards improving our lives and community for ourselves, our children and for those of you that have them, grandchildren.”

Other points of the presentation include project funding plans, attraction benefits, and responsibilities for the city and the attraction’s features that should draw people from the East Texas area to Nacogdoches.

The presented information is vital for all local businesses, and the luncheon serves as the Chamber’s monthly membership meeting. The Chamber Board of Directors urge you to attend and stay on top of what is going on at the Chamber and around town.

Lunch is $16 and an RSVP is required by Thursday, Jan. 21. Call 560-5533 to register. All attending may enter the $50 drawing, and all chamber members are entered in a $250 drawing, but you must be present to win. Both drawings sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas.

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful volunteer opportunities

If you are leading a service organization or are just interested in serving your community, here are some great opportunities for you.

Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful is a non-profit organization, working to keep Nacogdoches beautiful. We host the Texas Trash Off and Make a Difference Day. We also work with the city to make all downtown festivals litter-free.

Because we are non-profit we depend on volunteers. If you are looking for some projects for the year please contact Buzz Dutton, (936)560-5624, info@keepnacbeautiful.org.

2010-2011 calendar:
Ecycle March 6
Texas Trash Off April 10
Blueberry Festival June 12
Make a Difference Day Oct 30
Scare on the Square Oct 30
Lighting Ceremony Nov 20
Lighted Christmas Parade Dec 4

Operation Thank You! good report

Chamber Directors and volunteers are out and about, delivering the 2010 Nacogdoches Guide & Chamber Directory and the City/County Street Map to Chamber members. Members are also getting a sincere Thank You! for their Chamber support.

Here's the latest Operation Thank You! status report from President/CEO Bruce Partain:

Packets ready for deliver at 6:45 a.m. today:821
Packets picked up by volunteers by noon : 578
Percentage of packets now on their way: 70%
Volunteers signing in to assist: 44
Public relations for Chamber and its members: Priceless!

Special thanks to Nacogdoches Medical Center for providing the tasty breakfast!

Nacogdoches FFA 2nd Annual Stew & Auction

The event is Saturday, Feb. 27. Tickets to the dinner are $5 and can be bought in advance or at the door.

This will be our 2nd year to host our Stew & Auction Fundraiser and we would like everyone to come out to support the students," Nathan Jordan, NISD Agricultural Science, said. "We want this fundraiser to be a big interaction with people in our community and our chapter. If anyone would like to help, has questions or just needs more information, please have them call me at school at (936) 564-2466 x2409 on my direct line or my cell is (903) 243-4274."

Invitation for Heritage Festival Duchesses

The duchesses for the annual Heritage Festival come from throughout the country.

"Last year we had a young lady from Massachusetts," said Duchess Chairman Claudette Brown. "If you have a relative or friend who has a daughter that is either a junior or senior in high school who you think would enjoy the festival, please send names and contact information to me at claudettebrown@suddenlink.net or call me at 936-564-6840. We would love to invite all interested young ladies to participate."

According to Brown, most of the young ladies are juniors, but seniors may also participate.

About the Heritage Festival:
The Heritage Festival occurs the first week in June each year. This year’s festival is June 2-5, 2010.
Other festival facts:
• Young ladies who are juniors in high school attend sessions on etiquette, make-up, hairstyling, and learning about outstanding Texas women.
• These young ladies develop skills which will helpful to them in college and in their later years.
• Three of these young ladies will be selected to serve in the Court and will be present to represent Nacogdoches at many events throughout the coming year.
• It focuses on Nacogdoches heritage.
• It raises money which is donated to preserving historical buildings such as the Zion Hill Baptist Church.
• Encourages tourism because we invite young ladies from other communities to attend.

Comedy Night Benefiting CASA Thursday, Jan 28th

The Hotel Fredonia Presents: Comedy Night Benefiting CASA Thursday, Jan 28th
Hotel Fredonia and Convention Center
Contact: Brent Richardson
Phone: 936-564-1234
E-mail: brichardson@hotelfredonia.com

Starting off the 2010 New Year right, the Hotel Fredonia is proud and excited to host their first comedy night of the year on January 28th! What makes this event so special is that it will be benefitting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Kids of East Texas. Entertaining our guests are Bob Biggerstaff, Slade Ham, and Lee Adams. Pre-Sale tickets are $12.00 and can be purchased through the front desk at the Hotel Fredonia. Ticket may also be purchased at the door for $15.00. Reserved tables are available for $25.00, plus the ticket price, and may be purchased through the front desk at the Hotel Fredonia.

Bob Biggerstaff, a University of Houston graduate, made his national television debut in 2007 on NBC's hit show, Last Comic Standing. Since then, his success has grown exponentially making appearances on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and NESN's Comedy All Stars and other popular shows.

Slade Ham, a Beaumont, Texas native, has performed in 22 countries on four continents. He has seen success headlining the XM Radio's Best of Texas two-hour special and is now a regular on The Bob and Tom Show.

Lee Adams, known for being a "country boy at heart", has made his way around the world performing in 26 different countries, even including a four trips to entertain U.S. troops serving abroad.

CASA for Kids of East Texas has been providing unique and very important volunteer-driven services for the victims of child abuse in our community since 1990.

Coffee with the mayor

The City of Nacogdoches and Mayor Roger Van Horn are proud to announce the inaugural Coffee with the Mayor to be held on Friday, January 15th. The event will be held in the City Council Chambers from 7:30 to 9:00 am. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

This regular event will allow citizens a chance to offer fresh ideas and solutions on ways to improve Nacogdoches in a less formal setting than a City Council meeting. As one of the most valuable historic and economic assets to Nacogdoches, downtown issues will be discussed at this first meeting. City staff members will be on hand to answer technical questions.

Solutions identified at this event will be forwarded to the Main Street Advisory Committee and the Downtown Business Association so downtown goals and workplans for 2010 may be created.

For more information or questions about the Coffee with the Mayor or the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program, please contact the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2571 or via email at mainstreet@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.

Pictured above are Nacogdoches City Council seated: Council Member William Sanders, Jr., Mayor Roger Van Horn and Council Member Don Partin. Standing: Council Member Billy Huddleston Jr. and Council Member Shelley Brophy.
(Photo taken from City web site.)

Chamber event delivers new publications, networking opportunity

Pictured: Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Paul Smith III reviews the 2010 Official Guide & Chamber Directory that will be delivered to chamber members along with the chamber’s 2010 Nacogdoches Official City & County Street Map during Operation Thank You.
(Photo by Bruce R. Partain)

Anyone wanting a “good look” at the county will find it in the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce 2010 Official Guide & Chamber Directory and City & County Street Map.

To get the new material to chamber members as quickly as possible, Chairman Paul Smith III, is challenging board members to personally deliver as many packets as possible during the chamber’s Operation Thank You event.

“The Operation Thank You event has grown dramatically over the last few years,” Smith said. “Dozens of volunteers are taking advantage of the networking opportunity as they deliver the new material to their friends and customers. This is another effort of the chamber that creates a win-win for all involved. In addition, our chamber members are going to be pleased with the directory and map for 2010.”

The seventh annual Operation Thank You kicks off Tuesday, Jan. 12, with a light breakfast buffet between 7:15 and 9:15 a.m. at the chamber, 2516 North St. All members are invited to this come-and-go event to meet chamber leaders and staff, network with one another and receive a sincere thank you for supporting the chamber. There is no cost for attending the breakfast, but members must call to RSVP. Chamber members interested in volunteering to deliver the packets may contact Kelly Daniel, 560-5533.

“The chamber directors would like to extend a special thank you to Nacogdoches Medical Center for sponsoring the breakfast,” Smith said.

Important 2010 Chamber event dates

Click here' for important dates to add to your 2010 calendar.

New Nacogdoches guide and street map for 2010

The 2010 Nacogdoches Guide & Chamber Directory and the 2010 Nacogdoches City/County Street maps are here.

Look out for Nacogdoches County Chamber directors delivering the materials to Chamber members during Operation Thank You! The event begins Tuesday, Jan. 12.