Throw a dart at any map of the Canadian Rockies and you’ll suddenly find dozens of worthy additions to a bucket list of the world’s most breathtaking destinations. Summertime and winter visits provide totally different experiences. Below, you’ll find some of the must-see points of interest in western Alberta. 1. Moraine Lake Located in the Valley of…
Category: Lane’s Topics
These posts are general interest topics that I address.
Will people know the color of your heart?
I was very honored to have the opportunity to speak to the graduating seniors of my alma mater, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. On Thursday, May 5, NSU threw a ‘Fork Em Farewell Crawfish Boil’ for seniors and their families. As a board member for the NSU Alumni Association, I was asked to share…
WATCH: Cruising the Caribbean to Cozumel
Click here to watch highlights from my Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.
WATCH: Spring blooms in the 57th annual Tyler Azalea Trail
Click here to watch a tour of the 57th annual Tyler, Texas Azalea and Spring Flower Trails, which draws more than 100,000 visitors to the city each year.
WATCH: World War II era Consolidated B-24 Liberator flies over Tyler
Click here to watch a World War II era Consolidated B-24 Liberator fly over The Cascades Country Club in Tyler, Texas, on approach to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
New spacecraft named after astronaut killed in E. Texas space shuttle tragedy
The next cargo spacecraft to launch to the International Space Station will bear the name of an American astronaut killed in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy over East Texas. An Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo resupply spacecraft bearing the name S.S. Rick Husband will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 22. Husband served as commander of…
Where to find the best gumbo in Texas
Texas is proud of its culinary heritage — a figurative and literal melting pot of cultures and signature dishes known the world over. Drawing discerning foodies from around the world, the Lone Star State is no longer catering only to those with a taste for barbecue. Kitchens are serving up creations by world-renowned chefs and…
East Texas Symphony presents ‘Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant’
Have you ever heard of a “Zipperpotamus,” a “Panthermometer,” or a “Pop-Up Toadster?” These imaginative animals come to life illustrated in the children’s book, “Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant” were brought to life in the East Texas Symphony’s Family Concert on Saturday, February 27. I had the great privilege of serving as narrator for the poetry,…
Remembering a pioneer in East Texas television history
This week, we learned of the passing of KLTV’s first chief engineer, Hudson Collins, who lived a long life of 94 years. While I never had the opportunity to meet him, I’m fascinated by many of the details of his pioneering career. An engineer is an important position in any television station, but he holds…
WATCH: Time-lapse of taxiing & takeoff at Bush Intercontinental Airport
Click here to watch a time-lapse of push back, taxiing, and takeoff from my flight from Houston to Tyler, Texas.
WATCH: Spectacular sunrise takeoff from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
Click here to watch a time-lapse of push back, taxiing, and takeoff from my sunrise flight from Tyler to Houston, Texas.
WATCH: Natchitoches Christmas Festival fireworks display
Yahoo ranked the Natchitoches, Louisiana Christmas festival the number three light show in the country, behind Rockefeller Center and Disney World. Click here to watch highlights of the fireworks display.
In memory of longtime NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb
It’s been a tough week for many at my alma mater, Northwestern State University, with the passing of former president Randall J. Webb. While he had been retired for almost a year — you’d never know. His devotion to the success of NSU never waned. You’d see him on campus, at alumni events in Shreveport, and doing…
WATCH: Helicopter tour over Tyler, Texas
Click here to get a view of Tyler, Texas during my ride-along with Air One, ETMC’s air ambulance service, which celebrates 30 years of operation in 2015.
Pastor’s spiritual walk leads him from orphanage to Capitol Hill
As a coach, pastor, and foster parent, Reverend Jerome R. Milton has touched the lives of hundreds of East Texans. On December 12, 2012, his devotion to spreading the word of God earned him an invitation to lead the U.S. House of Representatives in prayer as guest chaplain. After an introduction by East Texas congressman…
Major relics of history’s youngest saint in history visit Tyler cathedral
Thousands of East Texans journeyed to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler this week to venerate the youngest saint ever canonized. The major remains of Maria Goretti left Italy for a first-time tour of the United States. For the faithful, it was an opportunity to reflect on the life and sacrifice of the…
Actor Kirk Cameron shares his spiritual walk from atheist to evangelist
Actor Kirk Cameron became a pop culture idol as the star of the 1980s hit TV comedy ‘Growing Pains.’ Raised in a family without God, he found his faith while portraying teenager Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom. Now, as one of the most prominent Christian voices in Hollywood, Cameron is inspiring others by sharing…
Advice from a 105-year-old with no intent of slowing down
What a privilege and honor it was Wednesday morning to visit with Tyler resident Earline Andrews on her 105 birthday. She happens to be the oldest living graduate of my alma mater, Northwestern State University! I don’t think she could have been more delighted when we arrived with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf…
WATCH: A vacation with a greater purpose
When was the last time you received a postcard? I received one in the mail this week that has a great story that comes all the way from Taiwan. Click here to watch.
General Erbon Wise’s impact on my education
Some truly exceptional individuals have connections to Northwestern State. This weekend, I got to catch up with General Erbon Wise, a noted author and the publisher of several newspapers in Louisiana and Texas. He wrote for our newspaper as a student at NSU and later served in World War II during the Normandy invasion. He…
WATCH: Helicopter drops golf balls for charity tournament
Click here to watch a medical helicopter dropping hundreds of golf balls at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler as part of a charity golf tournament.
Reporter’s Notes: Hurricane Katrina, 10 years later
Hurricane Katrina — perhaps the two most infamous words in Louisiana’s infamous history. The storm rained down so much devastation and sorrow on the Bayou State, yet somehow seemed to bring out the best in us. Now a decade after the fierce hurricane came ashore, the recovery process is far from over. Parts of New…
Celebrating 60 years of broadcasting in East Texas
Happy birthday KTRE! This weekend our station, serving Deep East Texas, celebrated 60 years of broadcasting excellence and service to the community. Hundreds of East Texans, local and state dignitaries, along with KTRE staffers, both past and present, gathered at the studios north of Lufkin for a Texas-sized celebration. A few families even camped out in…
WATCH: Rangers celebrate win with fireworks
Click here to watch the fireworks display following the Texas Rangers’ August 28, 2015 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
WATCH: Cedric Takes a Tumble
Click the video below to watch a clip from GMET, where you should expect the unexpected.
Emotional ESPN film profiles heroic death, legacy of NFL great Joe Delaney
This month, the heroic story of NFL legend Joe Delaney will be shared with millions of people around the world in ESPN’s latest ’30 For 30′ film. Wednesday night, I got the chance to attend an advance screening of ‘Delaney,’ the short film profiling the life and legacy of the Kansas City Chiefs running back who died…
WATCH: Kayaking the Lower Mountain Fork River, Oklahoma
Click here to watch highlights from my kayaking trek along the Lower Mountain Fork River near Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
WATCH: Balloon glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race
Click here for highlights from the annual balloon glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas.
Wildly popular ‘The Art of the Brick’ exhibit opens at Tyler Museum of Art
Thousands of people are expected to wind their way through an exhibition featuring thousands of LEGO bricks arranged into 25 large-scale sculptures at the Tyler Museum of Art. The Art of the Brick, a global-touring exhibit by Nathan Sawaya, is being hosted at the museum on the campus of Tyler Junior College through September 13….
Ministers patrolling E. Texas streets through community policing program
Rockie Simpler is not a peace officer, but a man of the cloth. Still, his ministry puts him alongside Mount Pleasant police officers — armed only with the word of God. “This patrol car is my church,” Simpler said. “I use it as a tool to go out and help people with the Lord. I…
WATCH: Fourth of July fireworks display in Natchitoches, LA
Click here for highlights of the Fourth of July fireworks display in Natchitoches, Louisiana along Cane River Lake.
Shuttle Columbia debris collected in E. Texas goes on public display for first time
A new exhibit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida memorializes the Space Shuttle Columbia, which broke apart over East Texas in 2003. The 2,000 square foot exhibit, housed at the Space Center’s visitor complex, features the personal effects of crew members and recovered shuttle hardware from both the ill-fated Columbia tragedy and the 1986…
WATCH: Nighttime images in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota
Click here to watch some of my favorite nighttime images from my travels in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota in June 2015.
WATCH: Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Click here to watch a slideshow of images taken in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
WATCH: Large hail pounds northwest Nebraska
Click here to watch my report on severe-warned storms that dropped large hail on northwest Nebraska, near the town of Crawford.
Lane Luckie 