Hardin County dispatchers

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Hardin County dispatcher Dee Ann Durbin answers calls at the Hardin County Dispatch Office in Kountze on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. County commissioners approved a new phone system to allow management additional access to 911 phone recordings at their desks.

First Baptist Church fire in Kountze

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Firefighters from several Southeast Texas communities help battle a blaze at the First Baptist Church in Kountze. The historic church was consumed by the fire.

See a larger version of this slideshow.

Please read, "Fire destroys Kountze church" by Fred Davis.

Kirby-Hill House museum

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The Kirby-Hill House Museum and Educational Foundation museum in Kountze has recovered from Hurricane Rita and reopened to guests on Thursday, July 12, 2007. The renovated 105-year-old, eight-room, neo-Victorian-style mansion was occupied by the family until 1990.


Educational program co-director Debra Brown walks past a curving staircase at the Kirby-Hill House museum in Kountze. The house is financed through grants, donations and usage fees.



Kirby-Hill House museum volunteer Sierra Cook, 12, of Kountze reads an etiquette book at the museum in Kountze. The house offers tours throughout the week.



Kirby-Hill House museum volunteer Paige Hasselbach, 12, of Lumberton crochets a pot holder for a friend at the museum. The house is also available for weddings, receptions and operates as a bed and breakfast on the weekends.



Please read "Mansion towers in Kountze for 105 years" by Fred Davis.

Longleaf pine reintroduction

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ricardo Guerero, left, and Juan Guerero, right, with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee return for additional longleaf pine seedings (Pinus palustris) in newly acquired land of The Big Thicket National Park in Kountze on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. The project intends to re-introduce native species of plants to the protected forest.


Workers with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee plant longleaf pine seedlings in newly acquired land of The Big Thicket National Park.


A freshly-planted longleaf pine seedling tries to take root in The Big Thicket National Park.


The Big Thicket's fire ecologist Deanna Boensch, from left to right, fuel specialist D.W. Ivans and lead fire effects monitor Iola Hallock oversee the planting of longleaf pine seedlings at The Big Thicket National Park.


Ricardo Guerero with Valencia Forestry of Silsbee plants longleaf pine seedlings at The Big Thicket National Park.

Please read, "Big Thicket stems from one tree at a time" by Jennifer Avilla.
 

Big Thicket survey

A survey stake marks a point where a small seismic charge will be set near the Kirby Nature Trail at the Big Thicket preserve in Kountze on Thursday, August 10, 2006. Although the park service has control of the area's surface, others own mineral rights under the property.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Big Thicket Association board member Maxine Johnston (left) talks with biologist Haigler "Dusty" Pate, who is an oil and gas program manager for the National Park Service, (right) at the Kirby Nature Trail at the Big Thicket preserve.


Biologist Haigler "Dusty" Pate shows where a project is being considered at the Kirby Nature Trail at the Big Thicket preserve. Pate must balance conservation of the property against mineral owners' rights to their property.


Biologist Haigler "Dusty" Pate of the National Park Service examines a survey stake near the Kirby Nature Trail at the Big Thicket preserve. Pate ensures the surveyors hired by the mineral rights owners do not destroy the natural habitat as they look for oil and gas in the national park.
 

Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart funeral

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Patriot Guard members prepare for the funeral of Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart at the First Baptist Church of Kountze in Kountze, Texas on Thursday, Oct. 26 2006. Spc. Winegeart was serving his third deployment in Iraq when he died. He was posthumously given the rank of sergeant.


Law enforcement officials ensure unlawful protests wouldn't happen during the funeral of Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart at the First Baptist Church of Kountze.
Members of a Kansas church planned to protest at the funeral. However, a city ordinance requires a peaceful protest permit application at least two days before the planned protest date. The church hadn't applied for the permit by the deadline for the funeral.


Patriot Guard members form a barrier to protect mourners from potential protesters at the First Baptist Church of Kountze during the funeral of Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart. The Houston Patriot Guard group was halted en route by severe weather.


An honor guard detachment of the 5th Special Forces Ranger Group of the U.S. Army march through the rain of Hurricane Paul into position during the funeral of Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart at the First Baptist Church of Kountze. Sgt. Winegeart was serving with the 5th Special Forces Ranger Group when he died in Iraq.


An honor guard detachment of the 5th Special Forces Ranger Group stands guard in the rains of Hurricane Paul during the funeral of Sgt. Daniel W. Winegeart at the First Baptist Church of Kountze.

Please read the story about the funeral by F.A. Krift. Please also read a statement from Terri Sue Winegeart, Sgt. Winegeart's mother, and "Mother mourns soldier she says never lost smile" by F.A. Krift.
 

Congressional mobile office

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) introduces his mobile district office in Kountze on Wednesday, April 19, 2006. He and his staff are in the process of touring 11 Southeast Texas communities in converted recreational vehicle used as a mobile district office.


U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands), center, talks with Fred Johnson of Kountze at Mama Jack's Restaurant in Kountze.


U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands), right, introduces his mobile district office to attendees in Kountze.

All-around athlete

(Left and below) Callie Ferguson poses for a portrait at Kountze High School on Thursday, April 20, 2006. She has qualified for regionals in golf, tennis and basketball. She is also on the school's softball team.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise





I know some folks over at Burnt Orange visit this blog. If the University of Texas (UT) still has some Title IX openings, here's your girl. She's unsigned, a good all-around athlete, works well with media and is fearless.

Please read "All-around athlete" by Johnnie Walters.

Super hooper

Gabriell Mattox poses for a portrait at Kountze High School in Kountze on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. She was named as The Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Team most valuable player.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Evacuee wedding

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Luke Dennis and Kelly Hanrahan-Dennis sneak a kiss during their wedding reception at the First United Methodist Church in Kountze, where they are staying as evacuees, on Friday, Sept. 9, 2005. The Metarie, La. couple and their family ended their flee from Hurricane Katrina in Kountze.

I know the background is cluttered, but I needed to show this wasn't a normal wedding. All the church scenes looked like standard wedding images. However, the reception was held in the activities center where the couple and other evacuees are staying.

The couple is likely to live "happily ever after" because the bride has a great sense of humor. During the reception, she asked the official wedding photographer to shoot her and all the other evacuees. She gave them a good-natured ribbing about being evacuees while she and her groom were evacuees as well. :-)

Enough for now,

Pimped ride

(Above) Kevin Kulhanek, 18, poses for a portrait with his truck in Kountze on Friday, July 29, 2005. He spent more than $16,000 customizing his 2001 Chevy Silverado Extended Cab LS. He spends about half his income on accessories.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

(Below) Kevin Kulhanek's truck sits in the driveway of his grandparents' home in Kountze on Friday, July 29, 2005. The interior includes a custom steering wheel, custom control panel and three television screens.

Count the sounds

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Park ranger / education specialist Leslie Dubey of the National Park Service has visitors count the number of natural sounds they hear on the Kirby Nature Trail at the Big Thicket National Preserve on Friday July 1, 2005. Land is being purchased to add to the Big Thicket National Preserve.