Donna McCollum
Reporter/MMJ
East Texas
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/raycom/508a503b-11af-49bb-a77c-c1af3ac869fd.png)
Donna McCollum produces stories for the weekday newscasts at 5, 6, and 10. Nacogdoches County keeps her busy, but she also covers news stories in adjacent counties.
Donna is credited with several Associated Press news writing and newsgathering awards. She received the Texas Association of Broadcasters' Steve Pieringer Award, an award for valor and courage during the pursuit of a news story. Donna has also been recognized many times by local organizations. She has been named to the TASB (education) Honor Roll, noted for her media coverage by the Nacogdoches Tri-County NAACP Branch and was presented the State Media Award from the Texas Animal Control Association.
Donna grew up in Houston, where she graduated from Memorial High School. She went on to graduate from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos.
When not reporting for the East Texas News, Donna enjoys horseback riding. Donna's other job is at home, keeping up with her husband, KTRE's Marketing Director Mike Wiggins, and their son, Matthew.
Donna lives just outside the city of Nacogdoches. When asked what she likes about the "Oldest Town in Texas," Donna replied, "I like the old town charm. The leadership takes pride in the heritage of Nacogdoches, but understands that progress is important. They are careful to control progress, however, to help maintain the unique characteristics of the city. I also enjoy the countryside around Nacogdoches."
She says her most interesting assignments are those that tell a personal story. Frequently, people approach her with their experiences. "They believe no one is really interested in their life. Quite the contrary is true. People like hearing stories about their neighbors and, more times than you think, we all relate to them."
Education
Updated: Feb. 25, 2022 at 12:27 AM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A state of the university address was given today by Stephen F. Austin State University president Dr. Scott Gordon.It’s a true illustration the president is back in the public eye following last summer’s harsh criticism over a salary contract.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2022 at 11:17 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
As some of you may have heard, KTRE’s Donna McCollum will be retiring. Her last day is tomorrow. She didn’t want to leave without expressing her gratitude to our viewers. Here’s Donna’s message to you.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2022 at 12:01 AM CST
|By Donna McCollum
New and renovated facilities will result in changes to Nacogdoches ISD attendance zones for some elementary schools. It won’t happen until the fall.Public meetings to gain parent input begin next week.
Updated: Feb. 21, 2022 at 8:23 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The Angelina County Fair is coming up next month.The event ‘Reach for the Stars’ is an opportunity for special needs children to compete.Exhibitors receive a little help from 4-H and FFA volunteers.
Updated: Feb. 18, 2022 at 9:46 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Tonight operators of Light of the Pines, a residential treatment center for girls at risk and victims of sex trafficking tell us they are resubmitting their application, but the challenges reflect a bigger issue.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2022 at 7:45 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Stephen F. Austin State University’s Culinary Café is in its new home. A soft opening happened today. It appears the new location is serving students and dining guests in fine fashion.A stately home on Mound Street is often referred to as the U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison home.It won’t take long before everyone will be calling it the SFA Culinary Café.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2022 at 7:59 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
For over twenty years the Lanana Bayou Watershed, which takes in the city of Nacogdoches, has been designated as being impaired for bacteria. Researchers are gathering data on how best to protect the 32-mile stream. The science is important, but so is public involvement.
Updated: Feb. 14, 2022 at 11:32 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Nacogdoches Floral owner James Ballow and Jeff Floyd, owner of Hills Wholesale Florists in Longview, give us an idea of what it takes to get flowers to your Valentine.
Updated: Feb. 11, 2022 at 6:35 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The keynote speaker for the SFA Office of Multicultural Affairs Diversity Conference performs his poems inspired by personal stories.
Updated: Feb. 10, 2022 at 3:41 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
East Texas-based Hydrex Environmental has adopted a new, cutting-edge technology to expand the Hydrex Drone Division fleet.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 at 3:55 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Deep East Texans looking for work are invited to attend a job fair in Nacogdoches on Thursday.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 at 9:12 AM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
This Thursday night the non-profit Concerned Black Men of Nacogdoches will present numerous scholarships to teens from each school in Nacogdoches County.
Updated: Feb. 8, 2022 at 6:49 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
In two weeks, the Nacogdoches City Council will take an important step for the future of creating affordable housing in the Northeast Ward.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2022 at 10:49 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The progression of a new Caddo grass house at the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Alto continues.Volunteers, many of them survivors of the April, 2019 tornado which destroyed the last grass house, are busy collecting switch grass.The process rebuilds a Caddo home replica, but also lives.
Updated: Feb. 4, 2022 at 9:34 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Nacogdoches cardiologist Dr. Vijaya Pokala speaks about heart disease prevention and his patient, Emily Harris, is listening.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2022 at 11:38 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Agriculturists are appreciating the moisture Deep East Texas is receiving this week. Still, their worries are far from over. Fertilizer and feed prices are skyrocketing it’s leading to sticker shock for consumers and retailers alike.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 11:15 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Wednesday night some residents in the northeast ward of Nacogdoches began absorbing what they learned about low-income housing. Whether or not it will change their opinion about having the developments close to their homes is yet to be seen.
Updated: Feb. 1, 2022 at 4:21 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative, as well as Oncor, is preparing for the arrival of Wednesday’s artic cold front, which is expected to bring freezing temperatures, wintery precipitation, possible icing and bursts of high winds.
Updated: Jan. 31, 2022 at 2:46 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A backlog of cases has the Nacogdoches County district attorney asking the State of Texas for more prosecutors.
Updated: Jan. 28, 2022 at 8:50 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
A Sabine County jury sentenced a Hemphill man convicted of murder Friday.
Updated: Jan. 27, 2022 at 3:39 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Emergency room workers fondly remember their deceased co-worker, Hector Martinez, who was killed recently in a car crash.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2022 at 10:26 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
We first spoke to the Daniels family in 2012. Since then, his mother has passed away never knowing what could have happened to her son.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2022 at 6:40 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
In the city of Nacogdoches four Low Income Housing Tax Credit proposals are on the table. All locations are within the northeast ward, an area showing very little affordable type housing.
Updated: Jan. 24, 2022 at 11:07 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Chairished Blessings, the February 11 fundraiser for Love In The Name of Christ in Nacogdoches promises to be fun, filling with a buffet dinner, and provide an opportunity to leave with a refurbished piece of furniture.
Updated: Jan. 21, 2022 at 6:00 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The window is narrowing for deadlines surrounding your right to vote in the march 1st primary election. One cutoff date pertains to voter registration, and the other concerns submitting a vote-by-mail application. Both are complicated by unforeseen factors.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2022 at 11:24 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
n a packed Nacogdoches city council chamber, a firm was hired to conduct a hotly debated city comprehensive plan. It’s taken fourteen months of interviews, presentations, reviews, and debate to reach this point. Colorado based DTJ Design is charging $450,000 for four studies. They are the comprehensive plan, an I-69 corridor plan, a housing needs assessment, and a downtown master plan.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2022 at 2:11 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
KTREs Donna McCollum spoke with testers and recipients about the importance of testing.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2022 at 8:22 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The annual Martin Luther King gathering in North Redland in Nacogdoches County focuses on the importance of community.
Updated: Jan. 14, 2022 at 3:59 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
KTRE’s Donna McCollum spoke with SFA Financial Aid Director Rachele Garrett and SFA graduate Joe Reyes about their suggestions to avoid being overwhelmed when the bills come due.
Updated: Jan. 13, 2022 at 6:15 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Perryman is a Texan, called a genius by the Wall Street Journal, a World-Class Scholar by Business Week and the unofficial state economist by the New York Times.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2022 at 3:27 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
KTRE’s Donna McCollum spoke with several students on campus to find out how they feel about the precautions that are being taken...or not taken...on campus.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2022 at 3:23 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
KTRE’s Donna McCollum was with Nacogdoches Chamber CEO Wayne Mitchell who encouraged all members to tune in to the streamed broadcast.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2022 at 7:19 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The Nacogdoches County Republican Women held a prelude to the Republican primary Monday.
Updated: Jan. 7, 2022 at 4:35 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Student Nutrition directors at school across the nation, state and Deep East Texas are coping with balancing the pressures of the pandemic.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2022 at 9:34 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A public forum will be held Wednesday night at the city recreation center at 6 p.m. and again on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Nacogdoches High School.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2022 at 9:24 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Nacogdoches residents can get advice and assistance with signing up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2022 at 7:29 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A local bank got hit with a water bill higher than usual when a urinal experienced a significant leak. Now the Nacogdoches City Council is deciding what to do about it.
Updated: Dec. 31, 2021 at 9:02 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A trial date has been set in a First Amendment lawsuit filed by five Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
Updated: Dec. 30, 2021 at 3:17 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
A pause in allocations of two currently available monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 was ordered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Updated: Dec. 29, 2021 at 11:09 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Another long holiday weekend is approaching. For some business, home and vehicle owners in Lufkin the days may be a bit worrisome.They’re the victims of multiple burglaries, break ins, and vandalism that happened over the Christmas weekend.Police have some leads thanks to vigilant property owners.
Updated: Dec. 29, 2021 at 9:46 PM CST
|By Gary Bass, Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
A 2.6-magnitude earthquake rattled residents of western Nacogdoches County Wednesday morning.
Updated: Dec. 22, 2021 at 10:58 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Finding the perfect setting for a selfie or special photograph just got easier thanks to a new Nacogdoches business called The Vision Box.
Updated: Dec. 21, 2021 at 2:48 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
The results of broadband survey for Nacogdoches County are in: Residents want and need more reliable broadband service at affordable prices.
Updated: Dec. 21, 2021 at 12:12 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
The results of broadband survey for Nacogdoches County are in. No real surprises. Residents want and need more reliable broadband service at affordable prices.
Updated: Dec. 20, 2021 at 10:12 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital is introducing technology that will provide testing results for many viruses with one swab. Different means and equipment can be utilized by hospitals.
Updated: Dec. 17, 2021 at 10:06 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Small business owners or those wanting to start a small business have an opportunity to received timely start-up advice, plus apply for specialized financial loans.
Updated: Dec. 16, 2021 at 3:58 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
Longtime Nacogdoches retired surgeon Dr. Larry Walker has died following a lengthy decline in health.
Updated: Dec. 15, 2021 at 4:20 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
When gifting a pet make sure the recipient wants and can take care of a new family member.
Updated: Dec. 14, 2021 at 10:05 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum and Christian Terry
No relief in sight for entities such as cities, counties, school districts and law enforcement in orders to fill their fleet vehicle inventory. The wait can be upwards of a year or longer.
Updated: Dec. 10, 2021 at 11:32 PM CST
|By Donna McCollum
Former U.S. Representative and candidate for Texas Governor, Beto O’Rourke, made a campaign stop in Nacogdoches Friday.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/X7H6QTKZ75BCLIR4TTAHMQ7BIA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MYBMYAENJRF4JPSSAJUKT5BPZA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/K2BZCIJLMRCBLL4EZP5APKSVQE.png)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/JSWB3CI6ZVHMLD2JZ6SQE4PNZ4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WWOWOFZ7V5EBDBIWBB5QCRRKM4.jpeg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SQKUYRSVCBFIDITFF7ODRZWOFA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/W6TOZJM4DJFV7GN7QYEYGRHES4.bmp)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/O3HIDAMIQ5CGPGZVCKCLM24LTI.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UVN5WNIIRNDJZJFZK6TZMPTPCI.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/355CE4SITZEV3OFDWTFUINIML4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/34KHPTDSFPFOXYYPZLGFGEHVVY.jpg)