Polk County News

Write a comment

Courtesy Photo

 

KOUNTZE, Texas – Calling anglers of all ages! Visit Big Thicket National Preserve on Saturday, June 4th, for a free family fishing event. Together with theTexas Parks & Wildlife Department, we are providing certified Angler Education instructors to teach basic fishing skills to beginning anglers and their family members. If you’ve ever wanted to try fishing but aren’t sure where to start, this event is for you! Stop by anytime between 10 am and 1 pm and stay as long as you want.

The fishing event will be held on Village Creek at theTexas Highway 327 boat launchnear Silsbee. We will be set up on the west side of the creek, below the south side of the highway. There will be signs near the road to direct you.

Big Thicket National Preserve will have fishing gear for use, but you may bring your own gear as well. We ask that attendees bring bug spray, water, sun protection, and closed-toe shoes that can get dirty. No fishing license or reservations are required!

Big Thicket National Preserve is in Southeast Texas, near the city of Beaumont and 75 miles northeast of Houston. The preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 113,000 acres. The Big Thicket, often referred to as a “biological crossroads,” is a transition zone between four distinct vegetation types: the moist eastern hardwood forest, the southwestern desert, the southeastern swamp, and the central prairies. Species from all these different vegetation types come together in the thicket, exhibiting a variety of vegetation and wildlife that has received global interest.

-NPS-

See Big Thicket National Preserve Celebrates Texas Free Fishing Day - Big Thicket National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) for more information

Write a comment

Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Lumber and Diboll Particleboard have been awarded the Resiliency Award for conserv-ing energy to help protect the Texas grid during last year’s winter storm. Accepting the award on behalf of Geor-gia-Pacific are (from left to right) Danny Wright, Diboll Lumber Plant Manager; and Pat Aldred, Vice-President of Composite Panels. Courtesy photo

DIBOLL—Georgia Pacific’s Diboll Lumber and Diboll Particleboard have been recognized for their efforts to help conserve energy following one the region’s most severe winter storms in February 2021. Enel X, an advanced energy services company that provides smart value-added services and solutions that enable businesses and communities to create, store, use, and manage energy more efficiently, has awarded the two local building products facilities with the prestigious Resiliency Award. 

East Texas is known for its warm and humid weather. Summers are hot and for the most part winters are mild, but last year that weather pattern took an unpredictable turn when a winter storm blew through the region dumping snow and ice while causing widespread power outages. Energy demand climbed to record levels for the season, putting extreme pressure on the Texas power grid system. In an effort to protect the state’s power gird, Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll mills chose to significantly reduce its power consumption.

“Georgia-Pacific was chosen for the Enel X Resiliency Award for reducing their energy load over the four-day emergency period to help the grid,” said Joel Obillo, Head of Demand Response for Enel X North America. “We appreciate their efforts to go above and beyond during critical times when it is needed most to help their local communities. This award is one way we can show our appreciation for those who are making a difference.”

Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Lumber and Diboll Particleboard plants relied on back-up generation for several days to maintain power to critical infrastructure systems to minimize impact on the Texas grid. 

“It was an operational challenge, but we understood the significant positive impact our efforts would have on the area and the state of Texas,” said Danny Wright, Diboll Lumber Plant Manager. 

The two Georgia-Pacific plants have participated in the Enel X energy conservation program for many years, but this is the first time the facilities had to rely on backup generation for multiple days. 

“We usually reduce our energy consumption during the heat of the summer periodically for a couple of hours to help alleviate demand on the grid,” said David Thelen, Area OSB/CP Manager. “Despite the operational interruptions, doing our part to protect the power needs of our communities is the right thing to do.” 

Extreme weather events, like storm Uri in February, are becoming all too familiar. According to Obillo, companies can help protect the state’s ability to keep the power on. 

“Demand response efforts, like Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll plants demonstrated last year, are a great example of how companies can help stabilize and build a more resilient grid.”

Write a comment

The Livingston Police Department is investigating the burglary of a vehicle, occurring in the parking lot of a local business. The vehicle seen in these photos capture the suspect’s vehicle. Those with information on the owner or location of this vehicle are asked to contact the Livingston Police Department at 936-327-3117 with reference case number 220502739.

1 Comment

Daniil Rusanyuk and Livingston Mayor Judy Cochran stopped to talk after the meeting. Photos by Brian Besch

By Brian Besch
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 A special guest speaker highlighted Thursday’s meeting of the Rotary Club. Recent Livingston High graduate and Ukrainian exchange student Daniil Rusanyuk, along with his host mother, Kelly Shepard, spoke to those in attendance.

The pair gave insight on the challenges the war in Ukraine has placed on Rusanyuk’s family, as well as the obstacles for furthering his education.

“Everything was all good until February. February hit, and it was like a disaster,” Shepard said of the war beginning. “He has been accepted to college, but now he has a problem with financial aid. He cannot even apply for financial aid unless he has asylum or refugee status. He cannot get that status until he gets everything approved by the government, and we know how long the government takes.”

An A/B honor roll student in his senior year at Livingston, Rusanyuk has been accepted to attend school at Stephen F. Austin University, However, the school in Nacogdoches has a few demands before he begins classes.

“SFA will not allow him to start school until he has a bank statement showing $30,000 in it. They want a full year of tuition,” Shepard said. “We were hoping we could get by with one semester of room and board, which would be about $15,000, but no, they want the whole $30,000.”

There is currently a GoFundMe account for Rusanyuk (see bottom of article), which will remain up until they can apply for financial aid. His parents are not able to send money currently. His mother has escaped the country to Italy, while his father returned to the capital city of Kiev.

Shepard describes her new addition to the family as intelligent, a strict scheduler and very goofy. He speaks English, German, Italian, Russian and Ukranian. He has a J-1 Visa that most exchange students receive. Rusanyuk is trying to have that changed to an F-1 Visa, which would allow him to pursue an education. He has filed for temporary protective status, given when a country is unable to handle the return of its nationals safely. His J-1 Visa is set to expire on the last day of August.

“If we don’t have anything by Aug. 31, I don’t know what to do,” Shepard said. “Because, if he goes back to Ukraine, he’ll join the war. In January, they (Ukrainian officials) came knocking at his parents’ door, looking for him. He had to show proof that he was in the U.S. studying. That’s why I’m trying to keep him here as long as I can.”

Ukraine has a law in place during war that does not allow men aged 18-60 to leave the country, instead requiring them to participate.

Rusanyuk grew up playing ice hockey, finished musical school two years ago for piano, and enjoys activities like fishing. He played tennis and took part in theatre at Livingston High. He hopes to study construction in college, eventually going back to Ukraine, starting a business with his father, who is also in construction, to help rebuild the country.

To contribute to Rusanyuk’s college until he is able to receive financial aid, go to gofundme.com and click on the magnifying glass. Provide the name Kelly Shepard or the name Daniil Rusanyuk in the space provided and you will be taken to his page.