News

Our cowboys come home famous

When the dust settled in the arena and the last bull was corralled at the end of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas recently, two cowboy heroes from Southeast Texas stood in the international spotlight. Cody Teel, now 20, of Kountze was named the best bull rider in the world and Beau Schroeder, 25, of Nome was fourth in the world. Schroeder had the best average for the 10 events in Las Vegas and brought home two belt buckles, a new saddle and a check for $181,871.

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CASA works to help growing number of kids

After suffering a childhood of neglect and abuse, many children funneled through the maze of Texas’ foster care system have few options. In a down economy, children often suffer the most. Their parents are sometimes too poor or not equipped to raise a child in a manner the state sees fit.

The numbers of such children are on the rise in Jefferson and Orange counties, up from more than 200 in 2007 to 358 as of November of this year.

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Justice department defies Beaumont voters’ intent

The U.S. Department of Justice has denied the Beaumont Independent School District voters who elected to change the trustee make-up of the school board from seven single member districts to five single member districts with two at large representative seats (a 5/2 plan) when called to the polls in May 2011. According to the decision letter penned by Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, the reason for the DOJ decision is due to the retrogressive effect of instituting the change and in his opinion, racist motivations that potentially led to the change proposal in the first place.

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Two scouts in local Troop 85 reach the highest rank, Eagle

Karson Riggs and Ryan Bean are two high school-aged youngsters in a sea of pre-college youth throughout America. They both study hard and have aspirations for their futures. But what sets them apart from your average high school students is an organization and an award they’ve spent half their young lives striving for.

Riggs and Bean are two of the newest Eagle Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America in Beaumont.

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Bicycles and Bibles event makes dreams come true for Vidor family

The Reaud Family Foundation’s Bicycles and Bibles program, which took place on Saturday, Dec. 15, made a difference in the lives of more than 1,000 children this holiday season. Vidor resident Wendy Rendon said hers is one of those families.

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Bicycles and Bibles

It seemed to many gathered at Ford Arena on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, that Bicycles and Bibles, an annual event, might just have been a little extra special this year. For some reason the spirit of the crowd gathered inside the big arena seemed to radiate a need to be together, to be whole, to be happy, and to understand the wonder of being blessed during this Christmas Season. Kids often said, “Thank you,” to passing strangers, and one could sense they meant it deeply.

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From trash to treasure

Beaumont municipal landfill

The trite expression that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is being realized in the city of Beaumont.

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Kountze superintendent resigns

KISD superintendent Kevin Weldon (center)

The board of trustees for the Kountze Independent School District is expected to accept the resignation of KISD superintendent Kevin Weldon on Friday, Dec. 21. According to information from the district, Weldon is leaving to accept a position at another school district.

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Port Arthur ISD superintendent returns

Port Arthur Independent School District Superintendent Johnny Brown

After roughly two months of being missing from the job, Port Arthur Independent School District Superintendent Johnny Brown has returned to his duties as of Dec. 13.

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Worker ‘walk-out’ at Beaumont ISD campus

West Brook decay

Several employees working on the West Brook High School field house and auditorium have walked off the job, saying the Beaumont Independent School District has failed to pay them for work rendered. 

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