Plano Independence Day Parade

photos © Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

See a larger version of this slideshow.

Participants and fans attend an Independence Day Parade on Independence Parkway in Plano on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The parade was sponsored by the Plano Early Lions Club.

Named in this slideshow are: Mike Lambert, Gene Fruth, J.D. Lawless, Shenna Lawless, Dale Lockhart, Debbie Beachum, Dan Reed, Bill Neisel, Morris McCann, Tye Phelps, Devin McDaniel, Karen Robertson, Donna Rowe, Kristen Tsu, Reilly Geary, Genevieve Paugh, Joy Sharp, Ellie Scowden, Emberlea Rhea and Michelle Rhea.

The assignment desk wanted us to include the capture time in the cutline for each image so the newspaper could make a region-wide timeline. Because it shows the quality of light at various intervals, I've included the time in each caption of this slideshow.

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.

Lumberton Christmas Parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Deeann Cisco of Winnie, (from left to right) Carlene Fontenot and Susanne Jones, both from Orange, prepare Buddy, a 2-year-old miniature gelding, for the annual Nighttime Lighted Christmas Parade in Lumberton on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007.


Lumberton High School wide receiver Taylor Granato (No. 9, right) helps put lights on the team float before the annual parade. Lumberton is celebrating both the holiday and the football team's first trek into the playoffs.


Lumberton Municipal Utility District maintenance technician Joel Alpers settles into his role as the Grinch before the annual Nighttime Lighted Christmas Parade.

Juneteenth parade

Thandi Hicks of Kuumba House dances down Proctor Street during the Juneteenth Parade in Port Arthur on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of Texas slaves in 1865.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Tekoa Academy Drum Line members (from left to right) Angie Moore, 10; Lorenzo Henderson, 10; James Collins, 14; Amos Jones, 13; and Derek Moore, 7, practice before the Juneteenth Parade.


Miss Juneteenth, Ozen High School senior Danyelle Vaughn, 16, finds her place atop a truck before the Juneteenth Parade in Port Arthur.



Red Hat Society members Barbara Scott (left) and Jeanette Stafford (right) watch nearby preparations before the Juneteenth Parade in Port Arthur.

Believe it or not, this is every participating group in the parade. There were almost as many law enforcement officials in the parade as there were other parade participants.

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.

Mardi Gras on the Neches

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Beverly Allen of Nederland (center) shows her beads to friends Charlotte Davis of Beaumont (left) and Lisa Harper of Port Neches (right) during the first-ever Mardi Gras on the Neches parade in Beaumont on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2007.


Members of the Krewe Lagniappe throw beads during the first-ever Mardi Gras on the Neches parade near the Crockett Street Entertainment District in Beaumont.

Beaumont Christmas Parade

Parade fans line Main Street near the Crockett Street Entertainment District during the annual City of Beaumont Christmas Parade in Beaumont on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


The headlights of a truck illuminate Kerany Robertson, 5, of Beaumont as she waits for candy and other gifts during the Beaumont Christmas Parade on Main Street.



A float motors past the AT&T building on Main Street during the Christmas Parade.


The Energy Museum of Texas float passes Rio Rita's Mexican Restaurant in the Crockett Street Entertainment District during Christmas Parade.



A float passes the city's Christmas Tree outside the Art Museum of Southeast Texas during the Christmas Parade.


Santa Claus guides the final float past the Beaumont Civic Center during the annual City of Beaumont Christmas Parade.
 

Neches River Festival Parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Bands, floats and participants get organized before the Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont on Saturday, April 22, 2006.


(Left) JaNasea Stoker, 2, of Beaumont runs after some overthrown beads during the Neches River Festival parade.

(Below) Ozen High School students lead the band down Calder Avenue during the Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont.




Kelly High School junior Lauren Munro (right) prepares to board the Beaumont Heritage Society float before they ride in the Neches River Festival parade.
 

Orange Mardi Gras parade

Kacy Manshack, 12, has a laugh with the Krewe of Des Amis de la Rue before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade in Orange on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006. She was dressed as a joker playing card for the Las Vegas-themed parade.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


(Left) Krispen Choate (left) helps her husband Greg Choate (right) with his costume before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.

(Below) Elaine Cook prepares beads for the Krewe Des Couillons to throw before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.




Kenny Elliott, Wendy Elliott, Cindy Foreman, Sherri Foreman and Shannon Foreman of the Krewe Des Couillons gather around a grill before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade. Their krewe's float represented a Las Vegas wedding chapel.


John LeBlanc eats gumbo before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.


Robert Sims of the Krewe L'Orange reflects on a truck window as he prepares for the Orange Mardi Gras Parade. His krewe's float represented The Egyptian.


(Right) Cathy Manshack prepares refreshing shots for the Krewe of Des Amis de la Rue before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade. Her krewe's float represented the Flamingo.

(Below) Tina (left) and Steve Nimitz (center) get good news from Dale Bonin on the Krewe De Bon Amis float before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.




Mallorie Frey reacts during a conversation before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.


Tracey Gilliam (left) challenges her husband Jimmy Gilliam aboard the Krewe De Bon Amis float before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade. Their krewe's float represented Ceasar's Palace.


Elvis (Red Leggett, center) makes a big entrance as the Krewe of Des Amis de la Rue dances on the sidewalk before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade. (Each Las Vegas-themed event needs Elvis.)


Queen Lady Luck (Sabrina Gray, right) dances with other members of the Krewe of Des Amis de la Rue before the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.


(Left) A float appears to float as it goes through a puddle during the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.

(Below) Members of the Krewe De Bon Amis cheer and offer beads during the Orange Mardi Gras Parade.


 

Winter Wonderland Christmas Holiday Parade

(Right) Sgt. James Johnson of the 644th Transporation Comany in Beaumont decorates a float before the parade in Beaumont on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005. This year's parade was dedicated to the armed forces.

(Below) Dinah Rogers (left) and Tim Irvin (right) of CenterPoint Energy help decorate the company's truck before the parade on Main Street.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise




(Right) Doneane Beckcom of Port Neches attaches lights onto parade participants before the Winter Wonderland Christmas Holiday Parade.

(Below) Asia Rogers, 4, (left) watches floats as her cousin Keshawn Morris, 5, (right) runs for thrown treats during the Winter Wonderland Christmas Holiday Parade.




U.S. Corps of Army Engineers and FEMA representatives throw prizes from a float during the Winter Wonderland Christmas Holiday Parade on Main Street in Beaumont.
 

Pick one

Yup, I got oodles of Independence Day photos from all over Southeast Texas. I'll post a few of the less obvious ones over the summer plus the video slideshow at the bottom of this post. Today's post lets y'all play photo editor.



Madison Foreman, 6, of Beaumont offers to pet a dog before the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade at the BISD Administration building in Beaumont on Monday, July 4, 2005. Everyone received participation awards and special prizes were awarded by category for decorations.
Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Madison Foreman, 6, of Beaumont runs with an adoption kitten after the 1st Annual Calder Place Star Spangled 4th of July Parade. The parade ran along North Street to Lucas.

Obviously, only one of these images could get into the paper. I had a rough time choosing which one I preferred. The top one has a cluttered background and some light problems, but the action and connection between the dog and the girl is nice.

The second image is cleaner and has some interesting highlights on her hair. However, the kitten is not exactly pleased with the situation (she was running at the time).

If y'all had to play photo editor between these two images, which would you pick? Neither one ran, so my fragile feelings won't be hurt if someone says they both suck.

video by Mark M. Hancock / NewsEagles.com
Please see the video slideshow.

Surreal St. Pat's

© Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Riders of the US Marshals Posse of Texas wait in front of a parking garage mural for the beginning of the 2005 Downtown Dallas St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dallas on Sunday, March 13, 2005.

In one frame, this is Dallas. We have high art and symphony, but we also have posses of horse riders running around. And if you look real close there is one guy with bright green hair to make things extra weird.

I thought the green-haired guy would leave the scene after a few minutes, but he kept hanging out with the riders. Then, the parade started to line up, so I had to get the shot before they left the staging area.

I wish the finger of the symphony conductor didn't go tangent with the hat of the nearest rider, but what the heck.

Enough for now,