The February 2 Council meeting Webcast is now available. The next council meeting will be on February 16 at 5:00 pm. This council meeting will also be broadcast on SuddenLink Channel 15. Click here for a schedule. Archived webcast videos are available for all council meetings for the past three years. Be sure and check out our featured videos of public events.

The January 25 Planning & Zoning Commission webcast is now available. The Lufkin Planning & Zoning Commission met Monday to discuss the City of Lufkin's proposed tree ordinance. Under the new ordinance, commercial developers would be required to devote a set portion of their square footage to "green space."

The commission voted 6-2 in favor of the ordinance, which will now move on to the first of two city council meetings. Included was an agreement to consider a suggestion by David Miles, of Card-Miles Enterprises, LLC., in which the committee responsible for the ordinance will revisit it yearly to make any necessary adjustments. The proposal already included a stipulation that committee members would reconvene after a year to gather feedback from developers and the public. Read more about it in the Lufkin Daily News.

Lufkin Mayor Jack Gorden and Angelina County Judge Wes Suiter addressed the state of the city and county in the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber Commerce State of the County/City luncheon at Lufkin's Crown Colony Country Club Friday.

Gorden began his address by chronicling the events of the last five years: two major hurricanes and the influx of people during the aftermath, a devastating tornado and the closing of two major industrial businesses. Read more about it in the Lufkin Daily News. Watch our video of Mayor Gorden's and Judge Suiter's State of the City and State of the County address.

Watch the special City Hall Update edition on the landscape ordinance with councilmember Phil Medford. The City of Lufkin’s Council is taking a hard look at saving the City’s trees. It’s developing guidelines, in conjunction with an all volunteer committee of eight citizens to help preserve the greenbelt in the city that sits in the heart of Texas Forest Country. According to Planning Director Dorothy Wilson, “Most cities of our size have laws in place that help preserve their ‘natural or green infrastructure’. Our goal is to preserve existing trees and incorporate them in new construction and landscaping – in commercial settings while still supporting businesses.”

The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 6-2 in support of the new ordinance which will go before the council on February 2.

Black, white and Hispanic citizens of Lufkin and Angelina County united Monday for the 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March and also to honor two outstanding men who now take their place in the Dunbar Hall of Honor.

The crowd peacefully marched the parade route that led them from the old Social Security office up the street named in honor of legendary civil rights advocate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"We're commemorating the historic march of Dr. King," organizer Linda Pendland said. "We're keeping it in the hearts of the people. It took a march to bring rights for all colors; it's not just a black issue. Sometimes it takes walking and standing together."

The Rev. Bettie Kennedy, a well-known and longtime educator in Lufkin, rode in her car leading the parade of hundreds.

"Dr. King played an important part of all of our lives," Kennedy said. "As Americans and African-Americans, we've experienced hardships, slavery, but then we had the Civil Rights movement to now we have President Obama. MLK paid the price, but now we are all Americans." Read more about it in the Lufkin Daily News. Watch our slide show. Pictures contributed by Luan Tatum.

The January edition of City Hall Update is now available. City Hall Update is a short streaming video covering upcoming events, new facilities, and construction status within the City. City Hall Update is also available on SuddenLink channel 15 and Consolidated Communications' digital TV system. This edition was shot in the Education Center at the Ellen Trout Zoo.

The new year will bring a Dallas-based librarian to head Lufkin’s Kurth Memorial Library. Deputy City Manager and Interim Library Director Keith Wright made the announcement Friday following a national search. “Lorraine Simoneau emerged as the person the City and the Board of Directors felt could move the Library forward into this new decade. Ms. Simoneau will continue to develop the collection, initiate programming and fine-tune operations at our Library.” Wright adds that Simoneau has been the assistant director of a branch library in the Dallas Public Library System and was ready to step up to a director’s job. Read the press release.

Lufkin Police Chief Scott Marcotte has appointed Detective JB Smith to serve as Lufkin Police Department’s Public Information Officer and Crime Stoppers Coordinator. This position was vacated when Lieutenant David Young accepted a Patrol Division Lieutenant appointment earlier this month.

Detective Smith began his service to the Lufkin community in January 1995. During his fifteen years with the Lufkin Police Department, Detective Smith has served as Patrol Officer, Community Policing Officer, Crime Prevention Specialist, Training Coordinator/Instructor, and Detective. He also has achieved the certifications of Master Peace Officer, Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Crime Prevention Inspector, Family Violence/Sexual Assault Special Investigator, Field Training Officer, Hostage Negotiator, Law Enforcement Instructor, Mental Health Officer, and Texas Certified Public Manager.

Detective Smith’s Crime Prevention Inspector certification and experience as Community Policing Officer led him to being the originator of the Texans Against Crime program, a statewide police-community crime prevention program. In his new position, Detective Smith will work to increase local participation in crime prevention programs and to expand the use of proactive crime prevention techniques.

Detective Smith may be reached by telephone, (936) 633-0321, or by email, jbsmith@lufkinpolice.com.

We have a new video of Cassels-Boykin Park. The park improvements are continuing. The park now has a new 5 lane boat ramp with a handicap accessible courtesy dock. The 100 space parking lot is complete and construction has started on the Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion. Watch the video to learn more about this outstanding project.

The Lufkin Police Department is now using www.crimereports.com to provide the citizens of Lufkin with up to date information on crimes that have occurred in the city. The various crimes are visually overlaid on a map of Lufkin. The default time period to show the crime is set to 14 days but can be changed in the tool bar. You can also click on “show sex offenders” and their location will be added complete with their photograph, personal identifiers and age/sex of their victim. Go to www.crimereports.com and add Lufkin, TX into the location bar. Just click on the above links or the banner on the right to start using this valuable information.

Flu season is approaching. Watch our hand washing PSAs in English and Spanish.

Are you ready? Get vaccinated! The Seasonal Flu Vaccine for everyone 6 months and older is available now. The H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine will be available in mid-October. Pregnant women and children first. Age Group 65 and over should consult their physician. Ensure health and get both vaccines. Vaccines are available at the Angelina County & Cities Health District located at 503 Hill St., Lufkin Texas. Call (936) 633-0608 for more information. Click here to download a flyer!

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