City employee of the month named
Rebekah Bleckley has been named the April Employee of the Month for the City of Longview Public Safety Communications Division.
Bleckley was singled out for this award because of her efficiency and effectiveness while dispatching calls for the Longview Fire Department. During the last month, Bleckley has been involved in several major fire department incidents and has received praise from both the fire department field units and command staff.
She began her career with Longview Public Safety Communications as a Telecommunications Operator I in 2007 and was promoted to Telecommunications Operator II in 2008.
ETHRA meeting set for May 20
The East Texas Human Resource Association will hold its monthly meeting 11:45 a.m. on May 20 at the Tyler Street Bistro, 102 E. Tyler St., in Longview.
Cost is $12 for ETHRA members, students and guests, which includes lunch.
ETHRA is a non-profit organization business partner that provides employer/employee HR-related education and guidance to the East Texas business community while facilitation the growth, development and awareness of all HR professionals. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month. Visit www.easttexashra.org to RSVP for the monthly meeting.
Appreciation dinner for city scheduled
Brookshire's and Super 1 Foods will host a steak cookout on Tuesday at the Maude Cobb Activity Center to show appreciation for the men and women who serve Longview as firefighters and law enforcement officials.
"The fire departments and various law enforcement divisions work hard to make sure we live and work in a safe place," said Rick Rayford, president and chief executive officer for Brookshire Grocery Co. "This is one way to show our thanks for the great job they do."
Steaks, baked potatoes and salad will be prepared and served to the invited guests between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Clinical research director named
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has named Laurie Macleod, registered nurse, director of clinical research.
Macleod comes to UTHSCT from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she was director of the Specialty Advanced Interdisciplinary Training (SAINT) Program in the Department of Clinical Services.
While at UT Southwestern, Macleod developed the SAINT program to offer training, education, mentorship and interdisciplinary networking to all non-faculty personnel involved in the clinical research process.
Macleod also has served as clinical research coordinator for a large National Institute of mental health-sponsored clinical trial while working in UT Southwestern's Department of Psychiatry. Before joining UT Southwestern in 2001, Macleod was clinical research coordinator for the Molecular Genetics Program at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.
Land program taking applications
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples is encouraging families who wish to apply for the Texas Department of Agriculture's Family Land Heritage Program to get started on their applications now.
The Family Land Heritage Program recognizes farms and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural production by the same family for at least 100 years or more.
"Since its inception in 1974, the Texas Department of Agriculture's Family Land Heritage Program has honored more than 4,300 Texas farms and ranches in 233 counties," Commissioner Staples said. "This is proof Texas has a rich history of agriculture."
Applications, which are due Sept. 15, will be accepted for farms or ranches established in 1908 or earlier that are still owned and operated by the decedents of the founder, either through blood, marriage or adoption.
The owners must reside in Texas and actively manage the everyday operation of the farm or ranch.
If all the land has ever been rented or leased to someone outside of the family, it will not qualify. If only a portion was leased, and as much as 10 acres were retained in the family for agricultural production with sales of at least $50 annually, the property will still qualify. There is no cost to apply for the recognition.
For an application or more information, contact Michelle Sneed at 512-463-2631, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711. The application can also be downloaded at www.tda.state.tx.us under the Family Land Heritage link.
Lawless announces retirement from PC
Norma Lawless, professor in the business and computer science division at Panola College will retire this month after 36 years of service.
Lawless association with Panola College began as a student here in the fall of 1966. While attending Panola College as a student, she was also working as a work-study secretary in the county and district attorney's office at the Panola County Courthouse for District Attorney K. Baker.
After moving on to Stephen F. Austin State University, she worked part time in the financial aid department and then the business education department as a graduate assistant and one summer as a purchasing agent assistant at ALCOA.
She also spent a short time in corporate life working for Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation in Shreveport before deciding to work on her master's degree. While in graduate school, she taught business education at CHS. There, she served as a mentor to a student teacher and sponsored UIL shorthand during her first year of teaching, with one student advancing to state level.
"I taught one year at Carthage High School before joining Panola College during the second year of operation of the college's technology division. I've been here ever since," she said with a laugh.
U.S. oil, gas rig count increases by 7
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by seven this week to 1,846.
Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,475 were exploring for natural gas and 361 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Ten were listed as miscellaneous.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas added seven rigs, California added four and Wyoming added one.
Editor's note: Deadline for submissions for the Longview News-Journal's Sunday Business Digest is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Submissions may be faxed to (903) 757-3742; e-mailed to melswick@longview-news.com or mailed to: Mike Elswick, business editor, Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606. For questions, call (903) 237-7737.
