Dewey spider

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A spider waits in a dewey web in Tyler County on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. Wednesday morning's thick fog made driving difficult throughout Southeast Texas.

Award Winner:
2nd Place, Feature Photo, Texas Press Association

This image is also the final image in this slideshow. You're not seeing double.

Fair-well

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Fairgoers take in the rides and food during the last weekend of the 2007 South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007. Sunday is the final day of the fair.

Award Winner:
2nd Place, Feature Photo, Texas Press Association

Fair friends

Sunny Reese, 15, of Lumberton takes a nap on Anna Belle, her 9-month-old Red Brahman, during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

South Texas State Fair prepares

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Dave Alexander with Event Toyz of Detroit cleans the cover for his booth before the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007. The fair opens on Thursday and continues daily through Oct. 21.


Nicholas Martin with Reed Exposition Midway of Baytown prepares the Carousel Swing for the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park.

Hurricane Humberto slideshow

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

To make the show play better, CLICK HERE to view only this post.

Hurricane Humberto developed from a tropical depression into a strong Category 1 hurricane in 18 hours. Most Southeast Texas residents went to bed expecting a bad storm and some morning flooding. Instead, Hurricane Humberto hit hard and fast. For residents of High Island and surrounding communities it hit with unpresidented fury.

Luckily, there was only one hurricane-related fatality.

Happy Labor Day

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Three bottlenose dolphins lead a ship near the ferry crossing over the waterway between Calcasieu Lake and the Gulf of Mexico in Cameron, La. on Tuesday, July 3, 2007. Recently a pink bottlenose dolphin was spotted near the ferry. It's believed to be an albino bottlenose dolphin rather than the more rare Asian or South American pink dolphins.

Although our photo staff is currently down to two, I actually have today off. So, y'all get happy dolphins (from this slideshow). If y'all have today off, enjoy. :-)

PN-G Silks

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Sophomore Mehrin Tariq of the Silks flag corps reaches to catch a flag during practice at Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007.

Bridges To Life

Photos & music by Mark M. Hancock / photos © The Beaumont Enterprise

Bridges To Life is a restorative justice program. It allows victims a voice while encouraging convicted criminals to understand the results of their actions through a faith-based program for prisoners who are about to be paroled.

Award winner:
3rd Place, Feature / Multiple, NPPA Region 8 August clip contest


Please read, "Criminals, crime victims share experiences..." by Sarah Moore.


This is my first official published attempt at composing music. The first 30 seconds are meant to be musically disturbing (like prison life). Then, it should become easier on the ears as the inmates and BTL volunteers connect and graduate. Any feedback about the music and/or images is appreciated.

Big gator

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A large alligator prowls for food in the Sabine River near Orange between Texas and Louisiana on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007.

Overturned 7s

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Orange-Stark's Ronnie Dennis (bottom) hits the turf with the ball during a 7-on-7 scrimmage football match against Port Arthur Memorial at WOS High School in West Orange on Tuesday, July 10, 2007. The Texas State 7-on-7 tournament takes place this weekend.

Arte de cerveza

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Judith Jimenez with Nell McCallum & Associates, Inc. sips a beer while she talks to Ann Bryant of Beaumont (left) during the Art of Beer event at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas on Thursday, May 17, 2007.

Beaumont's new mayor

Mayor Becky Ames hugs her husband Rodney Ames during a city council reception at the Beaumont Civic Center in Beaumont on Tuesday, May 22, 2007. Most newly-elected council members took their oath of office during the council meeting.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

RiverFest ready

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


(Above) Devin Corbit of Richmond, Texas cleans his tunnel boat on a boat ramp during the Port Neches RiverFest in Port Neches on Friday, May 11, 2007.

(Right) Bert Hoffpauir performs with the band Lost Cause from Winnie during the Port Neches RiverFest in Port Neches.



Adventurers scream on carnival rides during the Port Neches RiverFest in Port Neches. The festival and boat races continue through the weekend.

Smith Oaks bird sanctuary

Two roseate spoonbills argue for branch space at the Smith Oaks bird sanctuary in High Island on Thursday, April 12, 2007.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise





(Above) A great egret rests on a branch at the Smith Oaks bird sanctuary in High Island.

(Right) A snowy egret rests on a branch at the Smith Oaks bird sanctuary.





(Above) An alligator hunts for dinner at the Smith Oaks bird sanctuary. Gators keep marauding animals such as raccoons from raiding the nests for eggs.

(Right) A great egret guards its chicks at the Smith Oaks bird sanctuary.

Future ballerina

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Sarah Louise McNab, 15 months, teethes on a pair of glasses at Specialty Shoes and Diabetic Supplies Inc. in Beaumont on Thursday, March 29, 2007. She was abandoned by her mother and raised by her grandmother in a small Belizean village after she was born with bilateral Talipes Equinovarus, commonly known as club feet.


Corrective casts cover Sarah Louise McNab's feet at Specialty Shoes and Diabetic Supplies Inc. She will get corrective surgery on April 11, 2007.

Sarah Como Jones of Beaumont, McNab's legal guardian, met the girl's family while visiting her missionary parents, Bennie and Louise Como, in Belize. When the girl was born. She was named for Jones and her mother. Jones, who works an orthopedic shoe company, said she felt a responsibility to help the little girl.

Please read "Clubbed feet not stopping baby Sarah" by Jamie Reid.

People who would like to help with the costs involved, can donate money to account number 8802858 for "Sarah Louis McNab" at:

Texas State Bank
Sarah Louis McNab fund
PO Box 4797
McAllen TX 78502-4797

Beaumont Beatdown

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Anthony Damingez gets caught against the fence by James "Duece" King, Jr. during the Beaumont Beatdown XTreme Fight Championship at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Friday, April 6, 2007. King won the fight.


Doug Williams (left) connects with a punch as Michael McLennan connects with a kick during the Beaumont Beatdown. McLennen won the fight.





(Above) Daniel Black connects a punch to the head of Jason Wright during the Beaumont Beatdown. Black won the match.

(Right) Tony Guined (right) kicks Chris Andreasson (left) in the head during the Beaumont Beatdown. Guined won the fight.



(Left) Blood spurts from a wound on the face of Chris Andreasson during the Beaumont Beatdown.



Aaron "The Mexicutioner" Flournoy takes Mathew Green to the mat after delivering a knee to his face during the Beaumont Beatdown. Flournoy won the fight.


Jeremiah "Ironman" O'Neal (left) makes Levy Green (right) tap out with this lethal move during the Beaumont Beatdown.

Brandon McDowell lands a fist on the chin of Izzy Johnson during the Beaumont Beatdown. McDowell won the Middleweight Title fight and took the belt from Johnson.



Nick "The Ghost" Gonzales (center) waits to have his belt presented as Adam Johnson (left)gets medical attention during the Beaumont Beatdown. Gonzales won the Lightweight Title Fight.


Jon Anthony "El Jaguar" Kirk tries to land a jump kick on Cedric "Spiderman" Marks during the Superfight round of the Beaumont Beatdown.


The official stops the Superfight round as Cedric "Spiderman" Marks delivers a knockout blow to Jon Anthony "El Jaguar" Kirk during the Beaumont Beatdown. Marks won by TKO.

Award winner:   3rd Place, Sports (single image), Southern Newspaper Publishers Association annual Photo of the Year Contest.


Please read "Contenders square off" by Perryn Keys.

Party Gras

Theresa Guidry of LaFayette, La. (left) dances with Rocky Howe of Groves (right) near the Valero float before the Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade in Port Arthur on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Yvonne Jenkins with Cummulus Broadcasting prepares a float before the Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade.


Janet Wehner of Port Arthur prepares a Krewe of Aurora float before the Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade.



Ray Ybarra (left) plays guitar while Paul Orta of the band Paul Orta and the Kingpins (right) plays a harmonica during the Southeast Texas Mardi Gras in Port Arthur.

Children's Pow Wow

Shiloh Battise, 6, of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe dances during the 9th annual Alabama-Coushatta Children's Pow Wow at the Alabama-Coushatta Multi-Purpose Center in Livingston on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Lyndon Langley, 16, of the Coushatta tribe from Louisiana (left) dances along with Cheyenne Bayles, 14, of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe (right) as she holds her niece Autumn Rich, 2 months, during Children's Pow Wow.




(Above) Members of the Coushatta tribe of Louisiana drum during the Children's Pow Wow.

(right) Nikki Baker, 15, of the Mandan-Hidatsa tribe dances during the Children's Pow Wow.




(Above)Competition dancers of numerous tribes pray together during the Children's Pow Wow.

(Right) Gabe Bullock, Head Man of the 9th annual Alabama-Coushatta Children's Pow Wow, dances during the pow wow.

Chili for Charity

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Dennis May with Smokin' N The Dark Bar-B-Q of Silsbee checks his chili during the "Chili for Charity" cookoff and tailgate party at Ford Park in Beaumont on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007. Teams competed for charity before Friday's Wildcatters game.

Loose ball levitation

Lamar's Darren Hopkins (No. 21) dives for a loose ball during the first regular season Southland Conference college basketball game against SFA at Lamar University in Beaumont on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise