Features

In the Dark: Still incredible nearly 15 years later

Incredibles 2 cast photo

‘Incredibles 2’

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by: Brad Bird

Rated: PG

In the pantheon of animated studios, Pixar remains the best, not only for the high-quality graphics, but for the storylines and characters as well. It’s been almost 15 years since the first “Incredibles” premiered in 2004. It was a huge hit then and outshined such luminaries as “Toy Story 2” and “Shrek.” So my only complaint about this movie is why did it take so long to get here?

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Fourth of July: For the first time, Event Centre hosts evening's festivities

Beaumont with fireworks

It’s a long-standing event like no other as the City of Beaumont presents its 32nd annual Fourth of July Celebration in downtown Wednesday, July 4, but with a brand new location. The Downtown Event Centre (700 Crockett St.) will become the hub of activity for the yearly tradition, which will include live entertainment, food trucks, a Budweiser beer garden and an unforgettable fireworks display. This year marks the addition of a spectacular laser light show on the lake, presented by JK Subaru, to kick off the fireworks presentation.

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Big Thicket tourism

Park Ranger Alex and a group of students on the Sundew Trail

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 170,649 visitors to Big Thicket National Preserve in 2017 spent $10,690,600 in communities near the park. That spending supported 136 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $13,515,500.

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Automotive review: Toyota's 2018 RAV4

the 2018 Toyota RAV4

With a starting MSRP of $24,660, the Toyota RAV4 offers seating for five, fuel-efficiency and a stylish design. For 2018, the RAV4 is available in six grades: LE, XLE, Adventure, SE, Limited and Platinum. Additionally, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (our press vehicle of the week), has a starting MSRP of $27,385, and is available in four grades for the 2018 model year: LE, XLE, SE, and Limited.

Under the hood

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Garden Gate: Jefferson County Fruit, Herb and Vegetable Show

Grant Boucher of Groves won the youth category with his bell peppers

Tensions were high among the affable crowd at Central Mall last week. Area gardeners were about to be judged on their efforts in the garden in the 46th annual fruit and vegetable show. This is the longest running contest of its kind anywhere around Texas. I visited with both David Oates and Peggy Coleman of Texas Agri-Life Extension Agency recently. Oates is the county extension agent and Coleman is head “inside agent” as she has been with the agency since way back when.

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