News

2018 Service of Lessons & Carols Opens the Holidays

BJ Kirkpatrick Austin College, Christmas Event, News
Austin College Lessons and Carols

Austin College invites the community to welcome the holidays with the Service of Lessons and Carols on November 30, at 5 p.m. in Wynne Chapel on campus. The event is free and open to the campus and community.

Austin College Lessons and CarolsThe College’s Religious Life program and the Department of Music will present a program of choral and orchestral selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” along with readings of Old Testament messianic prophesies and New Testament advent and Christmas scripture.

Readers will include President Steven P. O’Day, Beth Gill, vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty; Jim Hebda, assistant professor of biochemistry, and John Williams, college chaplain and director of church relations. Along with the A Capella Choir, several Austin College students will serve as readers and members of the orchestra.

Following the service, the campus Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will take place outside Wynne Chapel on Windsor Mall.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

Lake Texoma Fisheries Status Meeting

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news, News
Lake Texoma Fisheries Status Meeting

Representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be holding a public meeting at the Eisenhower State Park’s Recreation Hall on Monday, November 26th at 6:30pm (park entrance fees will be waived). A status update regarding Lake Texoma fish populations will be presented and information concerning plans for a year-long angler survey and economic analysis beginning this December will be discussed.

In summary, the focus of this random survey will be to estimate fishing effort and annual harvest of all sport fish species in Lake Texoma. Similar surveys were routinely conducted between 1987 and 2001, but this type of data has not been collected since that time. During the survey, biologists will be contacting anglers on the water and asking a short series of questions pertaining to the group’s fishing activities including the duration of their fishing trip, the species they are targeting, and how many fish the group has caught and harvested. In total, the disruption of fishing activity takes about one to two minutes, although anglers are encouraged to continue fishing during the survey.

In addition to the short, on-the-water survey, ODWC and TPWD biologists will be working with researchers from Texas A&M University to conduct a more in-depth economic analysis of fishing activity at Lake Texoma. During the on-the-water survey, biologists will be requesting contact information from one member of each group who will be sent a more detailed questionnaire about their group’s fishing trip. The goal of this study will be to assess the overall annual economic value of fishing at Lake Texoma as well as evaluate angler opinions and uncover potential fisheries management issues at Lake Texoma.

This type of data is vital to fisheries managers because it helps us to model how current fishing regulations impact fish populations as well as fishermen. The information also helps our agencies distribute information to reservoir stakeholders and prioritize fisheries management and stocking efforts.

The economic valuation will also help define how fishing at Lake Texoma benefits local and regional economies. This value is vital to understand when faced with reservoir or water management issues that may impact this nationally important fishery.
Contact Matt Mauck (ODWC) @ (580) 924-4087; or, Dan Bennett (TPWD) @ 903-786-2389 with questions.

Grief through the Holidays Offered by Home Hospice of Grayson and Cooke Counties

BJ Kirkpatrick News
Grief Support Group

Home Hospice of Grayson and Cooke Counties is pleased to announce a new four-week Support Group starting on November 27, 2018 in Whitesboro. This group will be specially focused on grief through the Holidays. Each week we will work through discussion topics such as facing extended family, creating new traditions and getting through “firsts.” The group will meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 N. Union Street, in Whitesboro.

The sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings from 10:00am – 11:30am November 27th, December 4th, 11th and 18th.

“Experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one is a normal part of life’s journey” said Kelly Lamkin, Home Hospice Social Worker. “However, it can become an overwhelming enemy that can be harmful physically and emotionally. There is no magic pill or quick fix for this grief, but sharing your journey with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one, can make it easier. Come and join us – you can attend all four support groups or just one if you choose.”

To register for the support group, please contact Nancy Jackson at 903-868-9315. Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties is a 501(c)(3) community-based non-profit organization founded in 1982 and serving our communities for 36 years. Our mission is to provide the best care and support enhancing the Quality of Life of our patients and their families. To learn about other community outreach programs offered by Home Hospice, please visit www.homehospice.org or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/homehospiceofgrayson.