TRIES HELPING WITH PLANT RE-INTRODUCTION PROJECT

With the help of Houston area garden clubs, the Texas Regional Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) at Sam Houston State University, and a few strategically-set fires, the Texas trailing phlox may once again thrive in East Texas.

Michael Warnock, TRIES director, is an advisor in a project to re-introduce the native plant to the Turkey Creek Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve in Hardin County. Warnock has provided advice on the project from data gathered through a grant obtained under the Endangered Species Act.

Members of the River Oaks Garden Club, the Magnolia Garden Club and the Garden Club of Houston in conjunction with the Garden Club of America and the National Park Service, recently set out 40 of the plants in the Preserve. The plants were placed in sites where the plant had previously existed, but had been locally exterminated because of canopy closure.

Warnock said that prescribed burning will be a part of the management regime associated with the re-introduction process. The phlox is a fire adapted species, he said, and the fact that fires were once a natural occurrence in the forest but are now suppressed might be one reason why the plant disappeared from some of its native areas.

"The fire adapted nature of Texas trailing phlox makes it possible for the plant to survive under active timber management programs," said Warnock. "With only slight modifications in timber management, landowners can enhance timber production and provide habitat for this endangered species. In such a win-win situation, landowners reach their goals and at the same time provide an opportunity for recovery and removal of this species from the endangered species list."

STUDENTS AND FACULTY CONDUCTING MILKING DEMONSTRATIONS

One of the most popular attractions at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for the past three years has been the Milking Parlor demonstration performed by students and faculty of the Sam Houston State University Department of Agricultural Sciences and Vocational Education.

The parlor is being operated again this year in the northwest wing of the Astrohall. Drs. Murray Brown, Stanley Kelley and Barbara Ward, Roger Walters, and graduate assistant James Frank narrate as students conduct the demonstration. Approximately 300 spectators attend each show.

Houston Channel 39 is the demonstration co-sponsor, with assistance from the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., and the Harris County Extension Service.

TRIO TO PERFORM CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT

The Sam Houston Trio will perform works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Mathias at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Walker Education Center, 19th St. and Ave. N. Violinist James McLeland joins the group which was founded in 1991 and includes cellist Peter Kempter and pianist Charlotte Tull.

"This type of musical activity is tremendously satisfying for performers and audiences alike," said Tull. "The time spent in rehearsal becomes a joyous and exhilarating social as well as music-making experience."

The Trio is also active throughout the area. They played recently on the Concerts at Carter Creek series in Bryan, the PSALM Concerts in Houston, and are scheduled to play in Waco March 1. They say that the Walker Education Center is a great place to perform.

"It is a delightful setting for chamber music," said Kempter. "And as an added perquisite, parking and access to the building are about the best the campus has to offer."

LIBRARIANS PUBLISH HANDBOOK

Dr. Richard J. Wood and Dr. Frank W. Hoffman of Sam Houston State University have completed a book entitled "Library Collection Development Policies," which is expected to be used by academicians as well as professional librarians.

Scarecrow Press of Maryland, the book's publisher, said that it covers all types and sizes of libraries, as well as electronic, non-print, and print materials, and is the "most comprehensive, useful, and up-to-date guide available to librarians and library science students."

Wood, director of Library Services and professor in library science, has written numerous papers and served as editor and contributing editor on two recent works. Hoffman is an associate professor in library science and is known for publications in the area of popular culture, including the "Cash Box" series, the "Literature of Rock" series, and "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship."

WRITERS' FORUM ACCEPTING CREATIVE WORK

The Writers' Forum at Sam Houston State University is accepting creative writing submissions for its upcoming publication "Third Story Presents."

All manuscripts should be typed and include name, local address and phone number. Deadline for submission is March 8.

Manuscripts should be sent to Dr. Paul Child in the Department of English. For more information call Child at 294-1412, Jennifer Krall at 294-3265, or attend the next Forum meeting Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Evans 317.

OUTSTANDING FFA MEMBERS HONORED

Jana Gardner, agricultural sciences major from Lufkin, has been awarded the Lowry Leadership Award for 1996 as the senior FFA member contributing the most to chapter goals and objectives. Gardner, Craig Kettler, and Rhonda Heuring were also awarded Certificates of Merit for their years of service and leadership to the chapter.

The Lowry award was established by the late W. E. "Brick" Lowry and his wife, Julia Mary. He was dean of faculty and academic vice president at SHSU for many years.

BRIEFS

Artist Lee Jamison, creator of the new mural at Scott E. Johnson Elementary School, will present a discussion on the history of black education in Walker County at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Complex Walker Education Center, 19th St. and Ave. N.... "Picnic" will be performed Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Saturday...A three-person exhibition featuring photography by Gloria Defilipps Brush, printmaking by Masahiro Arai, and drawings by Julie Galvin Mitchell, is underway through March 6 in the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery...Registration for the 14th Annual SHSU (Children's) Book Festival March 16 is underway through March 6, with information at 294-1151...Details on the Staff Excellence Award, which has a Feb. 29 nomination deadline, are available from Weldon Matthys at 294-1851...Application deadline for the Psychology Program's John Symonds (undergraduate) and James Patrick Weber (graduate) scholarships is March 31...Prints by John McCaffrey are on display in the Lowman Student Center through Thursday...Guest artist and percussionist Lee Howard Stevens will perform at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Killinger Auditorium.

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SHSU UPDATE is produced by the Office of Public Relations at Sam Houston State University. Faculty, staff, and students may contribute material by mail (Box 2105), (fax) 294-1834, e-mail pin_frk@shsu.edu, telephone (294-1836), or visit (212 Rather Communications Building).
Feb 18, 1996