Despite a roller coaster financial year for Lufkin Industries, the newly released United Way fundraising numbers show the company not only helped them exceed this year's goal, but they donated more than a third of the total.

To honor the area's top teachers, Lufkin's business and civic leaders gathered at the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce's First Friday luncheon at Crown Colony Country Club to recognize the "Teacher of the Year" from each local school district. One by one, the event's speakers rose to congratulate the hard work of Angelina County's best teachers.