Central relays to state

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School 4A state-qualifying relay team members pose for a portrait at the school in Beaumont on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Team members are (clockwise from left) Randy Wilson, Victor Spikes, Charlie Thomas, Jeffrey Thomas and Derrick Hall.
They are the first runners in the school's history to qualify for state in both the 400-meter relay and the 800-meter relay.

Mother-Daughter Tea

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kayla Bonier, 9, (right) and her grandmother Mary Como (left) talk with other guests during the 1st Mother-Daughter Tea at Central Medical Magnet High School in Beaumont on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Bonier presented "The Question" during the program.

Central's 4x100

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jeffrey Thomas (left to right), Randy Wilson, Charlie Thomas and Derrick Hall pose for a portrait at Central High School in Beaumont on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. They are the Central's 4X100 relay team and are headed to the Region III track and field championships in Huntsville.

Top SAT scorer

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School senior Alana Akers (left) observes as Dr. Bobbie Colbert gives a hug to Dalton Kirk, 9, of Fannett in the doctor's office in Beaumont on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Akers earned the highest BISD score on her SAT exam with a 2290 of 2400. She plans to become a doctor.

Hoop fight

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Breon Johnson (No. 11, left) tries to take a rebound away from Central's Gavin Donald (No. 32, right) at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008.

Central soccer standouts

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School soccer players Fernando Uribe (No. 10, left) and Ernesto Alvarado (No. 11, right) pose for a portrait at the school in Beaumont on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008.

Central layup

Central's Lincoln Charleston takes the ball to the hoop during a high school basketball game at Central High School on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Central is relatively close to the office. The game started later than most, so I planned to shoot it, split and turn it out at the office.

When I got to the truck, I found some jerks (more than one) had parked in the exit lanes. My truck was trapped. Ten years ago, it would have been a major crisis. Anymore, it's an annoyance. I went back to my parking spot, pulled out the laptop and transmitted via a broadband card.

Some PJs may yearn for the "good old days." However, it's all good. I didn't need a darkroom or a phone line. I could have edited and transmitted a video if it was needed. It may not be old, but it seems pretty good to me.

Enough for now,

Cross-town hoops rivalry

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Basketball players Adrienne Minor (from left to right) and Jacoby Joseph from Ozen and Jarmar Gulley and Katrina Harris from Central pose for a portrait in Beaumont on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The teams will tip off against each other on Friday.

Boys to Men dinner

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Mark Daire, Jr., 14, (left) and his father Mark Daire, Sr. (right) listen to the featured speaker during the Boys To Men program at Central High School in Beaumont on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007.


Guests listen to introductions during the Boys To Men program at Central High School in Beaumont. The program seeks to pair young men with positive role models within their family, the school or community.


Jacob Kennebrew, 4, works on his engineering skills with plastic forks during the Boys To Men program at Central High School in Beaumont.

Please read, "Central introduces mentoring program for boys" by Dee Dixon.

Central Medical Magnet students

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central Medical Magnet High School seniors Adriana Gomez (right) and X'alexis Rawlins (left) share lunch and conversation during a visit from Ugandan representatives at the school in Beaumont on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. The vice president of Uganda is a medical doctor and sent representatives to arrange exchange students in America.

Central fumble

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School's Charles Thomas (No. 9) fumbles the ball as he's hit by West Brook's Blake Chavis (No. 10, right) during game two of the Beaumont Bowl in Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. Central eventually recovered the ball to keep possession.

Proud grandmother

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Verna J. Payne of Beaumont points out her grandson, Quenton Woods, as the Central High School band moves into the stands in Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. Central squared off against West Brook for game two of the Beaumont Bowl.

Memorial run

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Memorial's Patterson Clay evades Beaumont Central's defense during a football scrimmage at Memorial High School in Port Arthur on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007.

Neches River Festival Parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


(Above) Kelly High School sophomores Trey Carden (left) and John Pickren (center) adjust their spurs before the Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

(Left) Central High School senior James Wilson plays his Sousaphone before the Neches River Festival parade.



Neches River Festival royal court members prepare for the Neches River Festival parade.


City of Beaumont representatives throw beads and candy during the Neches River Festival parade.


YMBL representatives ride horses past the Mildred Apartments during the Neches River Festival parade.

BISD vocational welding program

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School junior Annias Bean works on a weld at the BISD Taylor Career Center in Beaumont on Thursday, March 29, 2007. With many new, high-paying jobs available soon, the school district is training students in metal trades to meet workforce needs.


Central High School senior Zach Mayo (right) works on a computer assisted design as instructor Bid Schroeder (left) grinds the edges off a piece of metal at the BISD Taylor Career Center.


(Left and below) Central High School senior Zach Mayo adjusts the Plasmacam macine at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





(Right) Sparks fly below the Plasmacam machine at the BISD Taylor Career Center.

(Below) Completed pieces rest on a workbench at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





(Right and below) Central High School senior Donald Price operates a track torch at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





Welding and metal trades instructor Bid Schroeder observes as West Brook High School senior Matthew Bender marks measurements on a smoker at the BISD Taylor Career Center.



(Left) Award-winning metal works greet visitors at the BISD Taylor Career Center.

(Below) Central High School junior Annias Bean works on a weld at the BISD Taylor Career Center in Beaumont.




For more information about the program, please read, "Schools train students for lucrative jobs" by Beth Gallaspy.

District championship battle

Lumberton's Wes Brackin (No. 4, left) runs into the kick of Central's Juan Cardenas (No. 8, right) during a high school soccer game at Lumberton High School in Lumberton on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Lumberton won the game 2-1 and handed Central its first loss of the season.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Lumberton's Taylor Granato (No. 6, right) connects an elbow to the head of Central's Ernesto Alvarado (No. 12, left) during a high school soccer game at Lumberton High School. Both teams end regular season at 18-1 and advance into the playoffs.



Lumberton's Mark Brackin (No. 11, left) loses the ball to Central's Juan Cardenas (No. 8, right) during a high school soccer game at Lumberton High School. Lumberton earned a first round bye with their win.

Please read, "Lumberton nips Central" by Johnnie Walters.

Central air conditioning

Central's Mario Riley (No. 34) goes to the net over Lamar Consolidated defenders during a high school basketball playoff game at Lee College in Baytown on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007. Lamar Consolidated won the game and advanced.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ground attack

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Fred Merchant (No. 15, right) and Central's Jaaron Edwards (No. 5, left) scramble for a loose ball during a high school basketball game in Beaumont on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.
 

Ozen blocks

Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24, right) tries to block the shot of Central's De'Mond Chambers (No. 22, left) during a high school basketball game in Beaumont on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
 

Beaumont's future

Michael Sterling works with mock trial students at Central High School in Beaumont on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006. Sterling, a 3rd year law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, has been identified as a future leader by Beaumont Mayor Guy N. Goodson.

Please read "Man with a plan: Michael Sterling sets sights on mayoral job" by Colin McDonald.