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Food & Fun in Lufkin

Patrons can easily spend up to an hour — just as we did — looking through the finds on the outside of His and Hers Mercantile in Burke, Texas.

The first edition of Food and Fun appeared in the spring 2024 edition of the East Texan. I had no plan of making it a series, but there was also no plan, so here we are. . . . The first stop was in Burke, just south of Lufkin, where His and Hers Mercantile sits.

Saving Lake Tejas

Lake Tejas in Colmesneil is well maintained and offers fun and affordable recreation to those wanting something different from a water park. The famous high dive platform has been rebuilt in recent years, and new inflatables have been added, along with covered picnic areas available for rent.

All roads lead to Lake Tejas in the summertime for many in East Texas. It is one of the only small swimming holes to include food, picnic tables, diving platforms, slides, tubes, paddle boats, music, fishing, games, campgrounds and cabin rentals.

Squirrels Possibly the Perfect Small Game

Why would I think Mr. Busheytail is the perfect game animal? The reasons are many; squirrels are very challenging to hunt and pursuing them greatly increases one’s hunting knowledge; they will …

Warm Weather Meat Care

Taking care of all that good eating pork after a successful hunt is of prime importance and it’s a relatively easy task when hunting during the cold weather months but, what about those of us that enjoy hunting wild hogs throughout the year?

‘Old School’ Catfishing

A fishing trip last week began as many do, with a telephone conservation. I called my long time friend Jason Barber who guides for about anything that swims to get an update on the fishing for a …

Welcome to Lake Livingston State Park

Fish one of the largest lakes in the state, hike quiet trails through the forest or camp under the trees at Lake Livingston State Park which is located on the east shore just above the dam, occupying …

Whitetail Report

Texas’ 2024-25 white-tailed deer season is still months away, but early reports from Blaise Korzekwa indicate it should be a good one in most areas of the state. Korzekwa, 34, heads up the …

Groups enjoy the serenity of a day fishing.

Nature with a side of SERVICE & CONSERVATION

As a kid, Allen Schwind would go with his father to a deer lease, and like many people, those times became some of his best memories. Throughout his life, his enjoyment of hunting, fishing and nature walks just grew. Then it grew into a mission.

Places to go

Our visit to the Selena Museum

The Selena Museum, part of Q Productions, is located at 5410 Leopard St. in Corpus Christi.
[above] This wall is filled with some of Selena’s highest-selling albums and CDs.
Photos by Emily Banks Wooten.

My family and I traveled to Corpus Christi in March for a little spring break getaway. Having researched things to do and see, we knew that one of the places we wanted to visit was the Selena Museum.

Power to the people (batteries not included)

It always startles me, even when – tipped off by swaying pines and limbs pelting my house – I suspect that it might happen. After a minute or two . . . I begin to gather my wits and my battery-operated gadgets around me and settle in for what I hope will be a short-lived power outage.

Recalling Leon Hale

Leon Hale and his family’s late Lab, Charlotte Bronte. Photo by Babette Hale.

Leon Hale’s March 16, 2014 column announced his retirement from writing columns after almost 65 years on the job, in aggregate, for the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle. He deemed it time to retire, 30 years past the time most people quit the rat race.

Hybrid bass stocking program could have huge economic impact

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPW) Inland Fisheries Jasper District Supervisor Todd Driscoll hands a box containing 50,000 fry to TPW Inland Fisheries Biologist Dan Ashe as TPW Technician Ray Lenderman waits in the wings. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten.

An ambitious project kicked off in April that could potentially have huge repercussions for Lake Livingston and the surrounding area for many years to come. Through a project that was about three years in the making . . .(several groups launched) a hybrid bass stocking program, which could result in a significant economic impact on the East Texas area.

Cork This Tap That!

As we walked across the parking lot toward the entrance, we could see a little covered bandstand outdoors where some live music was already underway. We entered the building and knew immediately that we had made a good decision. We appreciated the funky, homespun vibe that we picked up all around us.