Chamber representatives are currently accepting promotional products and materials at the chamber office for the new teacher goodie bags. From Enterprise Staff Polk County Emergency Management Coordinator Courtney Comstock will be the guest speaker for the next quarterly membership meeting of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce at noon Tuesday at Cho-Yeh Camp & Conference Center. Reserve a seat by contacting the chamber at 936-327-4929 or by making a reservation on the chamber’s website at polkchamber.com. Door prizes will be available. “Please check out the chamber’s calendar on our website for upcoming events and activities. It is free to add all your events to the calendar,” Chamber President/CEO Yvonne L. King said. Chamber representatives are currently accepting promotional products and materials at the chamber office for the new teacher goodie bags, an annual project of the chamber that also provides an opportunity for local businesses and service providers to promote…

By Chris Edwardsnews@tylercountybooster.com WOODVILLE – A recent study from UV University of Amsterdam suggested that touching stuffed animals help with a variety of anxieties and angst-y predicaments. For children, the textures and comfort afforded by a stuffed teddy bear or a warm blanket can help them mitigate traumatic episodes. To that end, Tyler County Hospital and Citizens State Bank recently teamed up to collect both stuffed animals and blankets.The drive to collect these items runs throughout August 1, and the items will be delivered to law enforcement agencies in the area The items will then be delivered to children who have been exposed to trauma or traumatic incidents. TCH and Citizens is calling the effort “Blankets & Buddies,” and donations can be delivered to either the ER Admissions Office at the hospital or at any Citizens location. Only new items are being accepted, and the following is what is being collected: stuffed animals measuring 12 inches or less and blankets…

By Tony Farkasnews@sanjacnews.com SHEPHERD — The Shepherd City Council tended to all the details to start the process of replacing all water meters with automatic read meters at its regular meeting on June 13. City Secretary Debra Hagler said the replacement has not started since the meters are backordered, and it could be up to 6 months before meters start hitting the ground. The council approved a purchasing agreement through The Interlocal Purchasing System, approved a contract with Bee Engineering to report on estimated revenue benefits, contracted with AMI Water Meters and approved a lease-purchase agreement with First Security Finance. Hagler said the benefit to city will be more accurate readings, which is guaranteed for 20 years; based on that, it will increase revenues for the city. She also said the public will benefit as there will be an app to monitor daily usage. The city also will catch leaks quicker, and since the meters are read automatically, it will free up manhours…

Centenary CollegeSHREVEPORT, La. — Centenary College of Louisiana held commencement exercises for the Class of 2022 on May 7. The College awarded bachelor’s degrees to undergraduates as well as master’s degrees in education and business. Twenty-four students in the Class of 2022 graduated summa cum laude, earning grade point averages of 3.9 or higher. Nineteen students earned the magna cum laude designation, with a 3.7 to 3.89 GPA, and 12 achieved cum laude, with a 3.5 to 3.69 GPA. Twelve students graduated with departmental honors, including one student who earned honors from two different departments. The local student graduating was Mallory Stout, bachelor’s degree in Business Administration: Commerce, magna cum laudeStout also was named to the Dean’s List. Sam Houston State UniversityHUNTSVILLE — The following area students received degrees during the 2022 Spring semester at Sam Houston State University. Apple Springs: Jayvan Aycock, bachelor’s degree, Business Administration, MGT…