Angry gator

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

Big Al, the largest captive alligator in Texas, defends his territory at Gator Country in Fannett, Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2008.

Johnson shifts gears video

video by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jonathan Johnson, former funny car Rookie of the Year, earned his architecture degree from Texas A&M last year and moved to the dirt track with a new outlaw modified race car. He and his crew designed and built the car at his family's garage in Beaumont. Now he races most Fridays at Golden Triangle Speedway Park in China.

Please also see the photo slideshow and short trailer video.

Please read, "Architect mastered straight lines as drag racer; now he's trying curves as dirt track driver" by Fred Davis.

Johnson shifts gears trailer

video by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
This is the short trailer for the Jonathan Johnson story. It's similar to the begining of the long version.

Jonathan Johnson shifts gears

See a larger version of this slideshow.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jonathan Johnson, former funny car Rookie of the Year, earned his architecture degree from Texas A&M last year and moved to the dirt track with a new outlaw modified race car. He and his crew designed and built the car at his family's garage in Beaumont. Now he races most Fridays at Golden Triangle Speedway Park in China.

Please see the video.


Please see the YouTube version of this slideshow with music. Please set your YouTube viewer to 1080p to see the show in high definition.

Gator Grabbin' Champion

Jonathan Hancock, my nephew, momentarily loses his grip a 5'9" alligator he pulled from a pond during a Gator Grabbin' Contest at Gator Country in Fannett, Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2008. Hancock won the largest gator category of the contest. It was his first time trying to catch alligators.

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com


video © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

Jonathan Hancock catches a 5' 9" gator during a Gator Grabbin' Contest at Gator Country in Fannett, Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2008. Hancock won the largest gator category of the contest. It was his first time trying to catch alligators.

My brother found out Gator Country would have its last Gator Grabbin' Contest this weekend. He registered himself and his youngest son for the competition. Neither have tried to catch gators before.

Since it was Easter weekend, we needed my sister here as well to make it a family reunion.

We expected my brother and nephew to get chewed on and get a once-in-a-lifetime story. We thought one might possibly catch a baby gator. Nobody expected my nephew to reach into a blind gator den and pull out the biggest gator of the competition.

My nephew spent most of his spring break in Katy competing in a robot challenge sponsored by NASA. His next adventure is to travel to Miami to defend his team's high school National BattleBot Championship title (here's a cool video [not mine] of the bot in action). They expect to win again this year and destroy every other robot in the competition.

Needless to say, we're all quite proud of him. :-)

China VFD

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Kibodeaux family members (from left to right) Phillip, Joe, Tytus and Katlynn pose for a portrait at the China Volunteer Fire Department station in China on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. The VFD is mostly staffed by Kibodeaux family members.


Engine 5 remains inside the China Volunteer Fire Department barn in China. The Kibodeaux family started the VFD after losing a house to fire in 1963 because it took too long for firefighters from other communities to arrive.



Engine 1 remains at the China Volunteer Fire Department barn. The department started with one donated oil field truck. All fire engines - some running, some not - have been donated by area municipalities and businesses with fire departments.


A former Texas Forest Service truck awaits use at the China Volunteer Fire Department barn. The VFD got the truck after Hurricane Rita.


Two engines rest inside the China Volunteer Fire Department barn in China. The VFD tried to establish an emergency service district. The district would have provided a tax to generate income to support the department. It was defeated by two percent.

The China Volunteer Fire Department will hold a gumbo benefit to support the department at 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 10 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in China.

Please read "Generations of family..." by Sarah Moore.

Gator Country expansion

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Big Al catches some rays in his pond while work continues on a new, full-service restaurant at Gator Country in Fannett on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007. The theme park will reopen on March 1 and the restaurant will open April 15, 2008.


One of two new Nile Crocodiles lays in the sun at Gator Country in Fannett.


Gator Country owner Gary Saurage (right) directs Steven Parr (in backhoe) as they move a gift shop at the theme park.


Cold-blooded alligators try to absorb sunlight at Gator Country.

These were shot right after a cold front, so the gators and crocs were moving slowly. Don't get this close to a Nile Croc unless it's cold.

Please see the Gator grabbin' contest video at Gator Country from this summer.

Spook-Tacular Book Sale

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Joseph Scott of Nederland (left) and Cliff Rees of Groves (center) shop during the opening day of the Spook-Tacular Book Sale at the Groves Public Library in Groves on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of Groves Public Library and continues through Saturday during library hours.

Texas Pecan Festival

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Erin Purifoy (left) and her son Garrett Purifoy, 5, (right) ride the Bear Affair on the midway during the annual Texas Pecan Festival in Groves on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007.


Aubrey Ueckert, 3, of Kountze rides the Happy Dragon on the midway during the annual Texas Pecan Festival.



Ingrid Norris of Groves rides the Giant Wheel on the midway during the annual Texas Pecan Festival.

Doguet Rice Farm harvest slideshow

Photos and music by Mark M. Hancock / photos © The Beaumont Enterprise

Farmers faced a tough year after extensive rains during planting season and now have been hit by Hurricane Humberto. Rice crops in particular are expected to suffer the most from the recent hurricane.

Please read, "Heavy rains, hurricane put rice crop in jeopardy" by Emily Guevara.

Patriot Guard Riders' welcome

Music & photos by Mark M. Hancock / photos © The Beaumont Enterprise

The Patriot Guard Riders started as a counter-protest group for the families of fallen military personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. The grassroots organization has quickly evolved into one that supports and honors all military personnel and veterans.

Now, local riders provide honor escorts for any fallen veterans and try to welcome home all active military personnel. At the Welcome Home celebrations, they also welcome home all Vietnam-era veterans, who didn't get a proper welcome and thanks for their service.

Gator Grabbin' Contest

Video © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

Each year, alligator wranglers gather at Gator Country in Fannett, Texas to see how many gators they can grab from a pond in 15 minutes. The gators are later tagged and released back into the pond.

Gary Saurage, co-owner of Gator Country and opening narrator, gets bit at about 2:00. Since folks across the pond are unaquainted with the reptilian man-eaters. I cut one scene and deleted the comment and response.

Gator Country has a special license and is responsible for the safety of each animal. They have a high-quality show and the animals are well maintained. This is part of why they must tag them each year. The tag actually protects the gators during floods.

This is part of the "Movie Mondays" series. Please take a moment to click the Google Video link on the video player and vote for this video (or my others). Even if it's only worth one star to you, please vote. A video's overall rank is determined by how many people vote at all. Thanks. :-)

Lenten "mudbugs"

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A sign invites Interstate-10 motorist to stop for crawfish near Hamshire on Thursday, April 5, 2007. The last Friday of lent is traditionally a high point in the crawfish season. In Texas, this year's yield was good due to several reasons including favorable weather.


A duck floats in a flooded crawfish field at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm near Hamshire. Many Texas rice farms are converting to crawfish farms as the crustaceans have gained commercial popularity.


Crawfish collection boats use a steel-paddled wheel attached to a shallow-water boat (inclusively called crawfish combine) instead of a propeller. The wheel slowly pulls the combine through the mud and shallow water. The shallow water, about two-feet deep, in most crawfish ponds make propeller-powered boats an impossibility while airboats are cost prohibitive.


Dirty crawfish wait in a boat to be placed in purging tanks at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Crawfish breathe through gills contained within their shells. A crawfish's ability to burrow into mud and create a water chamber allows it to move inland where other crusteaceans can't. This is why the animal is often called a "mudbug."


Geranimo Vera dumps captured crawfish into a purging tank at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Freshly harvested crawfish are placed into purging tanks of filtered fresh water.


Sevando Salinas dumps crawfish from a purging tank into a loading tray at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. The purging tanks allow crawfish to clean themselves and remove mud from their gills. This process naturally reduces the size of their sand veins and reduces their "fishy" odor and taste.



Freshly purged crawfish are hoisted from a purging tank at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm.


Sevando Salinas removes fish and separated crawfish claws from purged crawfish at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Only live crawfish are placed into bags. Dead crawfish should never be cooked or eaten.



A large crawfish tries to escape a bagging tray after being purged at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Crawfish take about three months to reach maturity.


Sevando Salinas scoops live, purged crawfish into a bag at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Live crawfish are sold by the pound.


Alan Gaulding (left) weighs bags of crawfish while Hal Fischer (right) tags them at Southeast Texas Crawfish Farm. Once weighed, the crawfish are placed into 40-degree Ferenheit coolers.

They can live several days in this environment because they go into hybernation. Once warmed to room temperature, they become active again. Then, they are placed into pots of boiling water with spices and lemon halves. They typically don't survive the final step of the process. ;-}

Please read "Crawfish easier to find than last year" by Mike D. Smith.

Beaver's Christmas Tree Farm

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Robert Beavers inspects this year's crop at Beavers Christmas Tree Farm in Nome on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. Trees with white tags have already been selected by customers.


Kaden Richard, 2, and his grandmother Febra Boyd of Sour Lake lead Robert Beavers to the tree they selected at Beavers Christmas Tree Farm. Selected trees are tagged and continue to grow until the purchaser is ready for the tree.


Zoe Boyd, 8, of Sour Lake runs through a young crop of trees at Beavers Christmas Tree Farm. The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest day on tree farms across the nation.


Mario Rodriguez (left) and Antonio Rodriguez move an imported tree at Beavers Christmas Tree Farm. Some trees are imported from the mountains of North Carolina for customers who moved to Southeast Texas from northern states.


Molly Beavers, 2, (left) and her grandmother Susan Beavers (right) take a ride through the Beavers Christmas Tree Farm. Farm owners Susan and Robert Beavers (driving ATV) said this year's rain made for a good crop of healthy trees. Other Christmas tree farmers in Southeast Texas remain closed or had their tree growth stunted by Hurricane Rita last year.

Please read "Southeast Texas tree farmers ready for shoppers" by Kristina Herrndobler.
 

Groves Pecan Festival

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
The Groves Pecan Festival midway is busy at Lions Park in Groves, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006.


Bradyn, 5, (left) and Jaxson Marchand, 2, (right) try to select prize-winning ducks at a midway booth during the Groves Pecan Festival at Lions Park.


Amy Boneau (right) of Groves pulls her neice Addie Hervey, 4, (left) from the muddy midway during the Groves Pecan Festival at Lions Park.


Chris Landry of Bridge City carries his daughter Nicole Landry, 6, through the muddy midway during the Groves Pecan Festival at Lions Park.

Remembering China's children

A wreath was placed on a live oak tree before a tree planting ceremony at Chucky Seaman Memorial Park across the street from China Elementary School in China on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. The tree was planted in remembrance of 11-year-old Nathen Lawrence Jennings and his 7-year-old sister, Carmen Leigh Jennings, who were murdered by her father June 30, 2006.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Cub Scout assistant pack leader Steven Hardt (left) helps his son Wyatt Hardt, 9, (right) post an U.S. flag during a tree planting ceremony at Chucky Seaman Memorial Park in China.


Students add cups of dirt around a tree during a tree planting ceremony at Chucky Seaman Memorial Park. The 8-year-old, 15-foot-tall tree could live for more than 1,000 years as a memorial to the slain children.

For more information, please read "China classmates plant memories of slain friends" by Colin McDonald.
Enough for now,
 

Larry's French Market

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

People dance at Larry's French Market and Cajun Cafeteria in Groves on Friday, July 28, 2006. The landmark establishment has been closed since Hurricane Rita destroyed it.


Ken Marvel plays accordion at Larry's French Market and Cajun Cafeteria in Groves. After being "nearly gutted" during reconstruction, the market is finally back in business. It features live entertainment and dancing each Friday and Saturday night.


Larry Judice talks with customers at Larry's French Market and Cajun Cafeteria in Groves.


People eat at Larry's French Market and Cajun Cafeteria in Groves.
 

China murders

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Regional Crime Lab investigators remove evidence from the Jennings home after a domestic triple murder and suicide in China, Texas on Friday, June 30, 2006. Richard Jennings killed his wife Leslie Jennings, 7-year-old daughter Carmen Jennings, 11-year-old son Nathan Jennings and self as well as injured Jefferson County deputy Ed Martin with a shotgun around 3:15 a.m. today. Cullen, 13, the family's other son, survived.


China Elementary principal Melanie Nunez (left) and Henderson Middle School principal Mary Alice Jones (right) prepare to counsel the community following the homicides in China, Texas.

Please read "4 die in domestic carnage" by Beth Gallaspy and "Grieving China community wonders why" by F.A. Krift.
 

Gator Country cleanup

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
An alligator surfaces for a snack during a Gator Country cleanup effort at the theme park in Fannett on Saturday, June 3, 2006.


Gator Country co-owner Sarah Saurage throws a hot dog into the mouth of Kong during a cleanup effort at the theme park in Fannett. The park was seriously flooded by last weekend's rains and almost necessitated the evacuation of some alligators.


Volunteer Vudika Camp (left) of Daisetta, Texas has a staring contest with Big Al (right), a 13-foot alligator, as Camp moves dirt during a Gator Country cleanup effort at the theme park. One of the trees crashed into the fence during the storm. After the tree was uprighted, dirt had to be replaced to let it take root again. Big Al didn't appreciate the work.


Gator Country co-owner Gary Saurage restores a water pump during a cleanup effort at the theme park. The pump filters the water to keep algae from growing in the gator residential ponds. The park is open and ready for visitors again.

Please also see Fay's Gator Country images from July.
 

Workout wars

As older and younger generations begin to work out at the same gyms, the battle over music is also feeling the burn.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The stereo at Total Fitness in Fannett is set on 106.1 FM on Tuesday, April 18, 2006. A musical cultural divide is widening between Baby Boomers and younger generations at fitness facilities across the nation.


Robby Martin of Fannett (top) spots his girlfriend Alisha Winters of Sour Lake (bottom) as she listens to music at Total Fitness in Fannett.


Ryan Bevel of Winnie listens to AC-DC music while working out at Total Fitness in Fannett.