News

Man killed in Vidor home fire

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to 297 Pug Road in Vidor to assist the Orange County Emergency Services District #1 with a house fire Tuesday night, Dec. 6. Once deputies arrived on scene, they were alerted that one adult was possibly still inside the burning residence completely engulfed in flames.

When the fire was extinguished, the body of homeowner Howard Asa Baker, 49, was discovered.

shadow

Update: Day 3 concludes in Walker trial

 

Multiple witnesses took the stand to testify in the federal case alleging Calvin Walker of Walker’s Electric Company fraudulently overcharged the Beaumont Independent School District millions of dollars during the third day of presenting evidence in the proceeding.

shadow

Calvin Walker trial Thursday, Dec. 8

The trial of BISD contract electrician Calvin Walker continued Thursday, Dec. 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Returning to the stand was FBI agent Tim Brewer, who executed a search warrant on Walker's home in 2010. He testified as to evidence collected from the residence before prosecutors called a document analyst to explain to the jury the significance of the materials collected during the seizure of items from Walker's home and business.

shadow

Walker trial

The third day of testimony in the federal court case alleging Calvin Walker of Walker's Electric defrauded taxpayers and BISD began Dec. 7. Still on the stand from yesterday was Chris Rybacki of Summit Electrical Supply, the warehouse Walker reportedly purchased supplies from to complete numerous BISD projects.

shadow

Police hunting for suspect in Old Town robberies

The Beaumont Police Department reported that it is looking for 18-year-old Caleb Broussard.

Broussard has two aggravated robbery warrants with $25,000-dollar bonds for each warrant. He has been identified as being part of the robberies in Old Town. The investigation is continuing, according to police.

shadow

Opening statements in Walker trial

After a lengthy jury selection process, 10 women and two men were seated to hear the case against Calvin Walker, of Walker's Electric Company, where the Bob Rawls with the U.S. Attorney Office for the Eastern District of Texas will try to convince them that Walker defrauded taxpayers by falsifying invoices and requests for payment submitted to the district for payment.

"This case is about greed," Rawls told the jury. "It is a violation of the public trust and theft of public funds."

shadow

UPDATE: Day 2 of Walker Trial

12:51 P.M. UPDATE:

Rounding out the morning's testimony in the federal prosecution of Calvin Walker was the questioning of BISD purchasing agent Naomi Lawrence-Lee.

Walker's defense attorney, Dick DeGuerin, cross examined Lee, who is the prosecution's second witness. Lee was asked questions related to BISD's maintenance contract with  Walker and how the electrician was paid for services.

shadow

Mayor unsure how document leaked

Port Arthur Mayor Bobbie Prince remains mystified as to how a draft of the Mercer Report, which involved an outside agency out of Atlanta, Georgia that conducted a performance and management reveiw of the city, ended up with a local media outlet before even she had a chance to look at it.

shadow

Motocyclist dies in accident at airport

A 24-year-old Port Arthur man was pronounced dead at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport early Sunday morning, Dec. 4. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received a call about a one vehicle accident in a secured area of the airport. According to their investigation, deputies found Jared Rogers had been traveling on a runway at a high rate of speed when he lost control and was thrown from the motorcycle he was driving.

shadow

PA police looking for aggravated robbers

Port Arthur police are looking for a black male that robbed the Time Out Convenience Store, located at 1800, Woodworth, late Sunday evening.

shadow