Polk County News

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Congratulations to Natalie Bachynsky, (center) nurse practitioner and owner of Houston County Family Medical Clinic in Crockett, TX. She is the big winner of our easttexasnews.com app download contest. The contest took place during the month of February, and the drawing was held live on March 1. The prize package, worth over $1200, includes a two night stay at Moody Gardens resort in Galveston, a family four pack of tickets to several Moody Gardens attractions, $100 gift card from Moody Gardens, and a $25 gift certificate to Gypsy Joynt in Galveston. Pictured with Natalie are Brandy Jones, left, graphic designer at the Houston County Courier newspaper, and Kelli Barnes, right, publisher for Polk County Publishing Co. group of newspapers. 

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Angelina College President Dr. Michael Simon and Sharon Shaw, chief executive officer of the Angelina County and Cities Health District, cut the ribbon on the newly opened Public Health Resource Center on the AC campus. The center will provide AC students and employees with services including medical and overall well-being. Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo

From Enterprise Staff

Officials from Angelina College (AC) and the Angelina County and Cities Health District (ACCHD) gathered recently for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony officially signaling the opening of a new Public Health Resource Center located on the AC campus.

AC president Dr. Michael Simon said such a service has been a college priority since he arrived, and despite the pandemic’s interruption, the center would provide much-needed support for Angelina College students and staff.

“When I first arrived here, I asked what we as a college were doing well, and I asked about the areas in need of improvement,” Simon said. “One of the issues discussed most was the need for an on-campus health facility serving both our students and our staff.

“Through our collaborations and partnerships with area health professionals, we were able to bring this idea to fruition, and what you’re seeing today is the result of a lot of planning and hard work on the part of people who wanted to see this happen.”

The new center, located in AC’s Hudgins Hall, will provide free services to AC students and staff. Those services include medical services from the ACCHD and overall well-being services from the Burke Center for those in need.

Sharon Shaw, chief executive officer of the ACCHD, said the ceremony was the culmination of extensive effort from all parties involved.

“This is such a great opportunity for us to work together,” Shaw said. “We had a vision back in 2019 to start putting something together for students. We had an interruption with the pandemic, but we got back on track quickly. In fact, the interruption in a way highlighted just how much of a need existed.

“Dr. Simon has been fabulous with kind of shepherding this idea of putting public health and community college together. Now, more than ever, it’s important to create a resilient environment.”

Shaw noted how AC’s efforts throughout the past couple of years showed just how valuable such a partnership could be.

“The college came to our aid with the mask and vaccination clinics,” Shaw said “The health careers poured out and worked the clinics, and Dr. Simon even drove a golf cart to help the elderly get to their vaccinations. We were able to forge such a great bond.

“We are the only local health department to have a collaborative effort with a community college, to put public health services, public health mentality and the possibility of some curriculum building on preparedness in the future. This really is ground-breaking.”

For further information, contact Krista Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Firefighters from 14 area departments responded to a fire at the Roy O Martin OSB Plant in Corrigan Thursday morning.

“We received a call at 5:30 a.m. Thursday stating that Roy O Martin had a fire,” Corrigan Volunteer Fire Chief Jimmy McDonald said. “I believe it started in the dry bins, then went into the blenders.

“The majority of the fire was under control probably around 9:30 or 10 but we stood around putting out hot spots,” McDonald said, adding that firefighters left the scene around 12:30 p.m.

“I don’t have any idea what started it and will probably never know,” McDonald said, adding that there were no injuries to firefighters or plant personnel.

Firefighters from Corrigan, Livingston, Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation, Holiday Lake Estates, Scenic Loop, Woodville, Shepherd, Diboll, Cleveland, Tarkington, South Polk County, Trinity, Groveton and Onalaska responded to the fire.

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By Brian Besch
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the death of a Katy man from seven years ago.

On March 3, 2015, Katy resident Kyle Thomas Rugg, 20, attended a party at a nearby Motel 6 with a friend. The following day, it is believed Rugg traveled to Polk County to fish with friends.  That was the last time of his known whereabouts.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Missing Person Division became involved, and later the homicide division. Investigations were conducted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Texas EquuSearch later conducted searches around the State Park area of Lake Livingston and other fishing areas, but never discovered evidence relating to Rugg.

Human remains were discovered Jan. 21, 2020, by law enforcement in a wooded area in Polk County. The remains were sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth, TX. They would be later identified through DNA as Rugg.

 After meeting with Harris County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case detective, the PCSO has opened an investigation into the death of Rugg. At this time, the PCSO is assisted in the investigation by the Texas Rangers Cold Case Division Ranger Brandon Bess.

Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons asks that anyone with information into the death of Rugg contact the criminal investigation division of his office at 936-327-6810, or Crime Stoppers at 936-327-STOP (7867), where you do not have to give your name. Any information leading to an arrest and prosecution of person or persons involved in the death of Rugg could receive a cash reward.