The News

Port Arthur police officers terminated

More than one veteran police officer was released from duty at the Port Arthur Police Department within a week’s time. Mickey Sterling and Rickey Antoine were terminated from employment on consecutive Fridays amid allegations of impropriety. Both had been on administrative leave pending a final decision to terminate or to return them to work by PAPD Chief Patrick Melvin. 

Officer Darren Johnson, placed on administrative leave at the same time as Antoine, resigned.

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Orange County’s 22nd Cops N Kids

Orange County has been introducing children to first responders through the annual Cops N Kids picnic for more than 20 years, with each event drawing in a large crowd. About 2,700 people attended the picnic last year, and thousands were again present at Claiborne Park for the 2017 picnic.

Matt Schneider is a flight paramedic with Air Evac and rides in the air rescue helicopter regularly. It’s his job to provide medical care for patients in critical need. When those patients are children, the job can be even tougher.

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Mall open-carry incident not a crime, jury says

Beaumont shop owner Derek Poe carries a rifle into Parkdale Mall.

After a 9th Court of Appeals decision not to intervene on behalf of former Beaumont shop owner Derek Poe, it was up to a Jefferson County jury to decide whether Poe’s December 2013 walk through the mall where his shop was located with an assault rifle strapped to his back was indeed a crime punishable under the law. This month, the six-person jury recorded its verdict.

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Four more take oath with Beaumont PD

Beaumont’s Police Chief Jimmy Singletary swore four more officers into the department’s ranks during a ceremony at the downtown station June 9.

Assistant Chief Jim Clay opened the ceremony, thanking council members Virginia Jordan, Robin Mouton and Gethrel “Get” Williams-Wright for attending the swearing-in event and showing support for the new officers and their families.

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As water heats up, live bait rules at Sabine jetties

Free-lining live shrimp at the jetties will catch more trout than lures.

The water temperature along the upper Texas coast is inching up to the 85-degree mark. That’s some pretty warm water, and when that happens, trout will be much easier to catch on live baits such as shrimp, mud minnows and finger mullet.

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