Colleyville fire safety program

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Tyler Johnson, 2, of Keller inspects his own reflection on quint fire truck's bell during a children's fire safety program at Borders Books in Colleyville on Saturday, June 14, 2008.


Colleyville firefighter Dustin Wynn (center) reads a fire safety book during a children's program at Borders Books.


Spencer Hickman, 2, of Hurst gets excited as Colleyville firefighters teach a fire safety program at Borders Books.




Guests collect promotional items before Colleyville Fire Department safety program.


Lt. Eddie Moran of the Colleyville Fire Department helps children enter a quint fire truck during a fire safety program in Colleyville.


Colleyville firefighter Dustin Wynn (right) explains parts of an ambulance to children during a safety program.


Lt. Roy Fergason of the Colleyville Fire Department (right) talks with Erik Hogg, 3, of Hurst (left) during a fire safety program.

RHS graduation 2008

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Arcery Portillo (center) shares a hug with teacher Shannon Range (right) before the Richardson High School graduation ceremony at the Special Events Center in Garland on Saturday, June 7, 2008.


Dorissa Martinez (left) holds roses as she looks for her niece Shelby Martinez during the Richardson High School graduation ceremony.


RHS valedictorian Lisa Rochelle Greenblatt waits with other Richardson High School graduates for the commencement ceremony to begin.




Carlos Augusto Martinez, Jr. celebrates with other graduates during the Richardson High School graduation ceremony.


RHS graduate Sulema Salmeron (right) gives a hug to her best friend Lilian Obando (left) after the Richardson High School graduation ceremony at the Special Events Center in Garland on Saturday, June 7, 2008.

Autos in the Park show

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Chrome shines on an antique Cadillac during the 3rd Annual Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas on Sunday, June 8, 2008. Exhibit fees were donated to the Cooper Institute and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.


Ken Godden of Tyler (left) has a laugh with Bob Bishop of Van Alstyne (right) next to Godden's 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Estate Car during the car show.


Jeff Ruff dusts his 2005 Ford Mustang during the car show.


Visitors examine fine examples of European engineering during the Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center.


Sun reflects on the hood ornament of Bill Kimball's 1941 Cadillac Convertible.


Evelyn Godden (left to right), Bob Bishop and Ken Godden have an original tailgate party under the trees next to Godden's 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom 1 Estate Car.


Bill Norris' 1934 Ford rests quietly under a tree during the car show.


Kathryn Cantwell of Flower Mound (right) talks about a new Mercedes SLK 300 with Jed Siddle, parts manager of Park Place Motorcars of Dallas, (left) during the car show.


Joe Fernandez of Garland (right) takes a break with Mars, his 3-year-old Doberman pincher, (left) during the 3rd Annual Autos in the Park car show at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.

Star-spangled shaved ice

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Robert Hill holds his daughter Julia Hill, 2, and a well-earned shaved ice after the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade on Lucas in Beaumont on Monday, July 4, 2005. Everyone received participation awards and special prizes were awarded by category for decorations.

Happy Independence Day

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kim Burbank (left) prepares her daughter Annalise, 19 months, before the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade along North Street to Lucas in Beaumont on Monday, July 4, 2005. Everyone received participation awards and special prizes were awarded by category for decorations.

Turducken?

A male Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata, watches a sunset near a private lake in Plano on Monday, June 30, 2008.

Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles


I don't eat birds, but this one is supposedly leaner and more flavorful than other ducks.

Village Creek vacation

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Humble residents Travis King (left) and Rose King (right) prepare their tent for camping at Village Creek State Park in Lumberton on Friday, May 16, 2008.

Go Skateboarding Day

Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park in Allen on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

photos by Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles



Westin Smith of Plano catches some air during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park. Go Skateboarding Day (GSD) is the official annual skateboarding holiday.



A shattered board is discarded during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park. GSD occurs on June 21 each year.


Metroplex youths take turns working the course during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center.


Michael Tang of Dallas turns during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.



Westin Smith of Plano practices a move during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.


Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.



Paul Adams of Dallas works a bowl during Go Skateboarding Day at The Edge Youth Center at Allen Station Park.

Uban bunny

Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles

A rabbit tries to blend into the scenery in Plano on Thursday, June 19, 2008.

I've already used the "Every bunny loves some bunny" headline. Blogger's display image compression was horrible in 2004, click on the image to see it more clearly.

Vocal Trash concert

Chris Beck (from left to right), Steve Linder, Chris Norwood and Sean Edins of the band Vocal Trash perform at the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park in Plano on Thursday, June 19, 2008. The free event was part of the City of Plano's Picnic in the Park series.

photos by Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles




Chris Norwood (from left to right), Kelsey Rae, Chris Beck, Steve Linder and Sean Edins perform as the band Vocal Trash from North Richland Hills.


Chris Norwood of the band Vocal Trash from North Richland Hills plays guitar at the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park.




Chris Norwood of the band Vocal Trash from North Richland Hills plays guitar at the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park.


Guests listen and dance to the tunes of the faith-based band Vocal Trash from North Richland Hills.


Chris Beck (left) and Steve Linder (right) of the band Vocal Trash perform at the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park.


Chris Norwood (from left to right), Steve Linder and Chris Beck of the band Vocal Trash from North Richland Hills perform at the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park in Plano.

Egrets, I've seen a few...

... but in the end, I shot them my waaay...


Two great egrets trade places on a tree at Smith Oaks bird sanctuary in High Island on Friday, April 25, 2008.

photos by Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles



Families of great egrets nest on a tree at Smith Oaks bird sanctuary in High Island.

Smokin' shark

Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles

Anglers pose with a shark caught during a chartered fishing trip on the Fisherman's Wharf in Galveston on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2006.

Kemah Boardwalk train

The CP Huntington train takes passengers on a tour through the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah on Aug. 5, 2007. Many coastal communities want to emulate the waterfront success story of Kemah's boardwalk area.

Mark M. Hancock / © NewsEagles.com

"Annihilation" practice

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Matt Chambers (left) drinks water as CMM (Dave Brown, right) finishes a call before a Gulf Coast Power Pro Wrestling practice at Ace Glass in Nederland on Friday, April 25, 2008.


Matt Chambers (top) gets thrown by CMM (Dave Brown, bottom) during a Gulf Coast Power Pro Wrestling practice at Ace Glass in Nederland. The wrestlers will be part of a special "Annihilation" event on Saturday.

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.

Ducky Derby

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Five thousand rubber ducks are released to start of the Ducky Derby at Riverfront Park in Beaumont on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Proceeds from the event benefit the Shorkey Center.


John Gordon with Coastal Paddler of Beaumont moves ducks along the chute during the Ducky Derby at Riverfront Park.


Shorkey Center executive director Karen Newton (left) and executive assistant Linda Gillespie (right) cheer as John Gordon (center) herds ducks to the finish during the Ducky Derby at Riverfront Park.

Deer, deer, deer

© Mark M. Hancock / NewsEagles

Deer move near the brush at The Pointe Apartments in Beaumont on Sunday, April 27, 2008.


A deer looks up from grazing near the pool at The Pointe Apartments.

The top photo reminds me of a cave painting.

It's strange how life goes in circles. The first week after Fay and I moved to Beaumont, I was amazed there were deer munching on the grass a few feet from the apartment. After Hurricane Rita, the deer vanished for a while.

Now, three deer appear. So, I looked them up in my "Medicine Cards" book (Page 53).

Deer means gentleness. The book states, "Apply gentleness to your present situation and become like the summer breeze:   warm and caring. This is your tool for solving the present dilemma you are facing."

The deer helped us get a good start here in Beaumont. I hope they're wishing us bon voyage as we move back to Dallas.

"Life is a Game" author

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jim Copeland (right) talks with his wife Tiffany Copeland (left) at their home in Beaumont on Thursday, April 17, 2008. Jim Copeland, a special education teacher at a federal prison complex in Beaumont, wrote a motivational book based on his life experiences.


Jim Copeland (left) and his family gather at Copeland's home in Beaumont before Copeland's brother deploys to Iraq. Family members include (from left to right) his wife Tiffany; grandmother Mary Cunningham; grandfather Billy Cunningham, Sr.; daughter Trinity Copeland; father Jimmy Copeland, Jr.; mother Sherrie Copeland; and daughter Essence.


Jimmy Copeland, Jr. (left) talks with his son Jim Copeland (III) at Jim's home in Beaumont. Jim Copeland's motivational book is titled "Life is a Game."

Neches River Festival parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Fans scream for beads as one of the royal floats moves through the Crockett Street Entertainment District during the annual Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont on Saturday, April 19, 2008.


Cheerleaders separate beads as they reflect off a truck hood before the annual Neches River Festival parade.




Horse riders carry the American and Texas flags through the Crockett Street Entertainment District during the annual Neches River Festival parade.

Mercado Days Festival

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


(Above) Marlon Keffer, 6, of Beaumont smashes open a candy-filled pinata during the Mercado Days Festival in Port Arthur on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

(Right) Mariachi Sol de America performs during the Mercado Days Festival in Port Arthur.