Ernie Holmes funeral

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Pall bearers support each other following funeral services for two-time Super Bowl champion Ernie Holmes at Jasper High School in Jasper on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008.
Holmes was one of the NFL's greatest defensive linemen on the Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain. Many funeral attendees shaved their hair into the arrow Holmes wore when he played. While down in his stance, the arrow pointed at the opposing team's quarterback.


Pall bearers place the casket of two-time Super Bowl champion Ernie Holmes into a hearse following funeral services at Jasper High School. Holmes died in a single-car accident near Lumberton.

Please read, "Ernie Holmes went from feared to revered..." by Fred Davis.

Kirbyville VIPs

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kirbyville's quarterback Aaron Hazlewood (left) and receiver Randy Musgrove (right) pose for a portrait at Kirbyville High School in Kirbyville on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. The duo have helped push the team deeper into the playoffs.

Battlin' Buna

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Buna assistant coach Kenneth Riendinger (right) pumps up the team before a high school football game against Hardin in Buna on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. Both teams entered the game undefeated.


Buna's Blanton Craft (No. 7) runs through Hardin's defense for a touchdown during a high school football game in Buna.



Buna's Ryan Sheppard (No. 5, left) tries to fend off Hardin's Tyler Townsend (No. 17, right) during a high school football game. The game ended 49-32. Buna left the field undefeated.

Please read "...battle cry" by Perryn Keys. It's a great example of quality sports journalism with detail and vision. It brings a casual reader (non-sports junkie) into the locker room scene and emotions.

The Kirbyville Showdown

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kirbyville's Broderick Jackson (No. 32, right) gets wrapped up by West Orange-Stark's Josh Lynch (No. 41, center) as Quintavious Garrett (No. 20, left) assists during a high school football game in Kirbyville on Friday, October 5, 2007.


West Orange-Stark's DePauldrick Garrett (No. 24, right) tries to run from the grip of Kirbyville's Stefan Jackson (No. 22, left) during a high school football game.


Kirbyville's Pierce Rhodes (No. 2, top) gets caught by West Orange-Stark's Sam Dixon (No. 35, bottom) during a high school football game in Kirbyville.

For several reasons, many thought Kirbyville would finally beat the dominant West Orange-Stark team. WO-S stopped the speculation with a 31-7 win. The Mustangs remain undefeated in district.

Kirbyville's running threat

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kirbyville running backs Pierce Rhodes (from left to right), Broderick Jackson and Barry Burley pose for a portrait at Kirbyville High School on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. The running backs combined for almost 2,500 rushing yards last season.

Recycled house

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Donald Monson works on his home in Buna on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. He's building the house out of recycled materials on his son's property.

Cruisin' Kirbyville Show

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Auto buffs reflect off the chrome mirrors of a Model T Ford during the Cruisin' Kirbyville Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show at Magnolia Park in Kirbyville on Saturday, July 21, 2007.


Bobby Goynes of Polk County gets a beverage beside a Ford F250 Super Duty truck during the Cruisin' Kirbyville Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show at Magnolia Park.

Scenic Steinhagen Lake

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The boat launch on the eastern side of Steinhagen Lake remains unusable on Thursday, June 21, 2007. Steinhagen Lake near Jasper was refilled with water after it was drained to kill invasive plant species.


A public boat ramp on the western side of Steinhagen Lake remains clogged with growth after the lake was refilled.


A truck passes on a repaired U.S. Highway 190 bridge while canoes await rental by campers in Martin Dies Jr. State Park. The Texas Department of Transportation made repairs to U.S. Highway 190 bridges over the lake while it was drained.


A cattle egret flies over the swimming area of Martin Dies Jr. State Park. Much of the lake is about seven feet deep while it is 35 feet in the deepest part of the Neches River channel.


The swimming and picnic areas of Martin Dies Jr. State Park remains unused. The Hen House Ridge Camping Unit is open for visitors. The Walnut Ridge Unit is still under repair from Hurricane Rita.


Water begins to kill plants that grew on the lake bed while Steinhagen Lake was dry.

Steinhagen's salvinia

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ray Linderman (in water) and David Weeks (in boat) secure a separation boom near an outgrowth of Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) on Steinhagen Lake on Thursday, June 21, 2007. The Cherokee Unit boat launch of Martin Dies Jr. State Park has been closed until the Giant Salvinia is removed.


Howard Elder, an aquatic habitat biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, talks about the dangers of allowing Giant Salvinia to grow. Giant Salvinia doubles its mass each seven days and kills all other water life.



A sign in Howard Elder's office warns of transporting Giant Salvinia in Texas. It is a federal crime to possess the South American native plant. The plant is a significant problem on other Texas lakes.

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An outgrowth of Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is contained on Steinhagen Lake on Thursday, June 21, 2007. The Cherokee Unit boat launch of Martin Dies Jr. State Park has been closed until the Giant Salvinia is removed.
Please see the YouTube version of this slideshow. Please set your YouTube viewer to 1080p to see the show in high definition.

Jasper advances

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jasper's Blake Weller-Alexander (No. 10, top) and Hudson's Daniel Musick (No. 11, bottom) collide at the plate during a regional semifinal baseball game in Jasper on Friday, May 18, 2007.


Jasper's Travis Reagan (No. 19, left) looks to throw to home as Hudson's Jeremy Murphy (No. 7, right) decides to steal the base during a regional semifinal baseball game in Jasper. Murphy was eventually tagged out in a squeeze play.


Hudson's Jake Wood (No. 15, left) dives safely to first base as Jasper's Chantz Pryor (No. 6, right) waits on the ball during a regional semifinal baseball game in Jasper.

The Bulldogs won the playoff series 18-1 over Lufkin Hudson. Jasper began with a 10-run first inning and the game ended after a mandatory five innings. Jasper advanced to the Class 3A regional final round.

Catfish Festival

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


(Above) Catfish fries in the Relay For Life booth during the 3rd Annual Catfish Festival at Evadale High School in Evadale on Saturday, March 31, 2007. The team won 3rd place in the Catfish Cookoff.

(Right) Ed McCauley of Evadale tries to use his mobile phone during the Catfish Festival.




(Above) Terry and Pat Washington of Kountze have a laugh in the rain during the Catfish Festival.

(Right) Tom Janise plays guitar with the band Rockin' Horse during the Catfish Festival.

(Below) Girls slog through the mud and rain during the Catfish Festival.

Kirbyville stopped

Kirbyville's Pierce Rhodes (No. 2, top) gets stopped by Silsbee's Brandon Watts (No. 21, bottom) and Josh James (No. 20, right) during a high school football game in Kirbyville on Friday, Nov. 3, 2006.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
 

Kirbyville tackled

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kirbyville's Pierce Rhodes (No. 2, center) gets stopped by Silsbee's Brandon Watts (No. 21, left) and Adam Tanton (No. 59, right) during a high school football game in Kirbyville on Friday, Nov. 3, 2006.
 

Evadale drag races

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Tim Hill of Orange gets a clean start during an IHRA time run at Ben Bruce Memorial Airport Raceway Park in Evadale on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006.

 

Neches view

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Water moves calmly down the Neches River through Evadale on Thursday, June 8, 2006. Different plans were considered for the eventual fate of the Neches River's water. Officials decided to protect the upper Neches River area and prevent the City of Dallas from taking the water from the river.

Two toddlers die in house fire

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Amanda Collazo (left) is comforted by homeowner Gretta Mitchell (right) following a fatal house fire in Jasper County on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. Collazo's daughter Kyah Collins, 2, and her son Kameron Collins, 3, both died in the fire.

Award winner:   1st Place, News Photo, Press Club of Southeast Texas, Excellence in Media Awards

Award winner:   2nd Place, Spot News, NPPA Region 8 July clip contest


Officials investigate a home following a fatal house fire in Jasper County. Officials said the cause of the fire was yet undetermined, but the family believes a towel over a lamp may have caused the blaze.



Friends and family members watch as officials investigate following a fatal house fire in Jasper County. Five other residents of the home escaped to safety.

Please read "Two toddlers who died in house fire identified" by Jacqueline Lane, Jimmy Galvan and F.A. Krift.
 

Speed stackers

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jean Few Primary School 3rd-grade students Alex Richardson (from left to right), Trenten Watts and Courtney Hillebrandt practice their cup stacking skills during the 3rd annual Jasper Air Show in Jasper on Saturday, April 1, 2006. The students were raising donations to attend the world speed stacking championships in Denver.


Jean Few Primary School 1st-grader Anna Seale practices her cup stacking skills during the 3rd annual Jasper Air Show in Jasper.

Jasper Air Show

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A remote-controlled airplane flies near an authentic WW II B-17 bomber during the 3rd annual Jasper Air Show in Jasper on Saturday, April 1, 2006.

Kirbyville Auction

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Buyers bid on items as Robert Muckleroy (right) calls the bid during an auction at the Kirbyville Auction Barn in Kirbyville on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005. The barn holds auctions each week.


Dalton Rowe, 6, (left) of Jasper talks with his grandfather Larry Veal (right) during an auction at the Kirbyville Auction Barn.




(Above) Bertha Parker (left) laughs as Robert Muckleroy calls an auction at the Kirbyville Auction Barn.

(Left) Dalton Rowe, 6, rides an electric ATV outside the Kirbyville Auction Barn.

Hometown homecoming

Brookeland is a kindergarten-through-12 school in rural Southeast Texas. Last year, they had seven graduating seniors. This year they expect 12. As such, they don't have a football team. However, they take great pride in their basketball team.

Before basketball season officially starts each year, they celebrate homecoming. It's akin to homecomings of yesteryear. The entire community is invited and involved in the celebration.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

(Above) Harleigh Sepulvavo, 6, (right) waits restlessly for the Queen's Court to begin with her father Durk Sepulvavo during homecoming activities at the school in Brookeland on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005.

(Right) Ryan Whitmire, 6, blows a whistle on his boutonierre during homecoming activities in Brookeland.



(Above) Kindergartener Hunter Spring (right) checks out the trophy of Queen's Court kindergarten dutchess Autumn Murray (left) during homecoming activities in Brookeland.

(Right) Brookeland High School cheerleaders mingle on a trailer near the traditional bon fire during homecoming activities in Brookeland.