The Pilots

Steve Rask (left) and Will Yonley (right) of The Pilots, a Houston-based Christian band, perform in concert during the annual 9/11 Music Festival at Ford Pavilion on Saturday, September 10, 2005. The day-long festival featured 45 Christian bands.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Playing cool

Sarah Embry (No. 12) of the Texas Aces from Pearland mists herself with a fan to keep cool during the American Fastpitch Association national softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, July 30, 2005.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Rodeo preparations

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Promoter and former rodeo champion Don Gay organizes events at Ford Park Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.


Ford Park Arena is prepared for rodeo action. The annual YMBL Rodeo Chute Out takes place on May 8-10.

Southeast Texas Chili Cook Off

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jefferson County Precinct 1 constable Charlie Wiggins (left) talks with deputy constable Ben Collins (right) during the Southeast Texas Chili Cook Off in the exhibit barns at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, March 1, 2008.


Stan Schell with the Hardin Trio chili team stirs his pot during the Southeast Texas Chili Cook Off at Ford Park. Cook off proceeds benefitted the Three Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America.


Cade Chiappetta, 14, of Lumberton (left) and Zachary Jowett, 17, of Beaumont compete in a Guitar Hero game during the Southeast Texas Chili Cook Off in the exhibit barns at Ford Park.



Cooks listen to chili referee Malcolm Williams of Beaumont (bottom, center) during the Southeast Texas Chili Cook Off in the exhibit barns at Ford Park in Beaumont.

Catters' schoolin'

Wildcatters's Moises Gutierrez (No. 39, left) checks Mississippi Sea Wolves' Lance Monych (No. 18, right) during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Local grade school students cheer before a hockey game between the Wildcatters and Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena. The team-sponsored event helps students prepare for an upcoming TAKS test through applied science.


Wildcatters' Brandon Benedict (No. 26) stretches for the puck as Mississippi Sea Wolves' Jason Tejchma (No. 6) gives chase during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena.




Wildcatters goalie Anton Khudobin blocks a shot with his foot during an ECHL hockey game against the Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena. The Catters remain in first place for the entire ECHL.

Hockey Santa

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Wildcatter season ticket holder Jason Huff of Beaumont helps organize arriving buses before a hockey game between the Wildcatters and Mississippi Sea Wolves at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007. The team-sponsored event helps local grade school students prepare for an upcoming TAKS test through applied science.

Feast of Sharing

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Beaumont resident Julio Raveiro entertains his 5-month-old daughter Solanah Raveiro during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing at the Ford Exhibition Hall in Beaumont on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007. All Southeast Texas residents were invited to free entertainment and a holiday meal.


Volunteer Brad Jorgensen distributes pies during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing at the Ford Exhibition Hall. Volunteers prepared 7,500 meals for the event plus an additional 3,000 meals to be delivered to homebound individuals in the Beaumont area.


Home-schooled senior Meghan Seim, 17, greets guests during the 17th annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing. H-E-B is the largest privately-owend business in Texas.

Wildcatters keep lead

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Wildcatters' Jonathan Paiement (No. 94, right) and Gwinnett's Derek Nesbitt (No. 17, left) battle for the puck during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007.


Wildcatters' Marc Fulton (No. 23, left) and Gwinnett's Jon Sitko (No. 24, right) slam into the glass behind Gwinnett's goal during an ECHL hockey game.



Wildcatters' Anton Khudobin (No. 35. left) blocks a shot while Jordie Preston (No. 17, right) moves in to assist during an ECHL hockey game against Gwinnett.


Wildcatters' Michael Grenzy (No. 3, top) flips the puck over the leg of Gwinnett's Dan Turple (No. 38, bottom) for a goal during an ECHL hockey game at Ford Arena in Beaumont. The Wildcatters won the game 3-2 and keep the ECHL South lead.

Strike Out Leukemia camp

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Pro baseball players Jason Tyner (left) and Jay Bruce (right) conduct a benefit baseball camp at the Southeast Texas Baseball Academy located at Ford Park in Beaumont on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. The camp benefitted David Murphy, a 2007 West Brook graduate recently diagnosed with Leukemia. The camp was organized by Bruce, Murphy's WBHS teammate, and Tyner, also a WBHS alum.

If Bruce's name is familiar, it's probably because he was the Minor League 2007 Player of the Year. He also happens to be a player in this image.


Pro baseball players Jason Tyner and Jay Bruce join forces with a baseball camp to raise money for the family of David Murphy at the Southeast Texas Baseball Academy in Beaumont.

Please read "Pros lead baseball camp..." by Christine Rappleye.

Stick r shock

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Hockey sticks feature wood and composite as well as right and left handed blades in the Wildcatters locker room at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. The Wildcatters hockey team has a $60,000 budget for a variety of professional hockey sticks.


Hockey sticks are stacked together near the bench during a practice session at Ford Arena. Bigger, stronger and faster players shoot pucks harder and break more sticks.




Hockey stick handles are often wrapped with special tape to improve the players grip. Players can easily identify their sticks by the handle alone.


Spare hockey sticks await use at Ford Arena. The team has already broken around 35 sticks since training began in October.


Most hockey sticks feature graphite or other composite shafts. These are more flexible for better power and accuracy, but tend to break easier.




Wildcatters' goal tender Scott Savich blocks a shot with his chest instead of his stick during practice at Ford Arena. If the goalie's stick breaks, the closest teammate immediately surrenders his stick to keep the goal protected.


Please read "Wildcatters budget $60K for sticks..." by Christopher Dabe.

See a larger slideshow version of this essay.

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 sky

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Fairgoers ride the Carousel Swing during the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park in Beaumont on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. The fair continues through Oct. 21.

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.

AFA hair braid

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Sheryl Shepherd (right) braids the hair of Allison Hinton (left) with the Houston-based Texas Peppers Gold softball team during the AFA Nationals Championship tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Thursday, July 26, 2007. Area storms threatened to delay games.

A boy at a girls' event

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Spencer Wilson, 4, of Cleveland, Texas makes his own fun with a cup and sand on an empty softball diamond during the AFA Championships softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Wednesday, July 25, 2007.


Spencer Wilson, 4, of Cleveland, Texas knocks a mound of sand off a cup on an empty softball diamond during the AFA Championships softball tournament at Ford Park.

AFA slide

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Texas Sting's Kait Postle (left) slides safely to second base as Round Rock Blaze National's Kendall Lucas (right) jumps for the ball during the AFA Championship softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Wednesday, July 25, 2007.

AFA Nationals

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Mecca Jamerson of Gardena, Calif. tries to stay cool with a battery-powered fan during the AFA North American Championship softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.


Sydney Wilson of the Louisiana Patriots softball team from Baton Rouge watches opponents play during the AFA North American Championship softball tournament at Ford Park.

Recovering coach

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Coach Keith Graham of the Oklahoma Firebirds watches his team play during the AFA 18-and-under North American Championships softball tournament at Ford Park in Beaumont on Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Graham is recovering from surgery two weeks ago to remove squamous cell cancer and have a segment of his tongue and 50 lymph nodes along his neck removed.

Please read, "From Minnesota to Beaumont for cancer treatment then softball..." by Chris Dabe.

It's over, baby

Alexander Huff, 7 months, of Beaumont supports the Wildcatters' before an ECHL playoff hockey against Gwinnett game at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Wednesday, April 18, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Florida's Everblades declawed the Wildcatters 4-3 in overtime on Friday in Florida. The game ended the Wildcatters' bid for the championship. They'll return to Ford Arena next year to try again.