Pan American Soccer Association growth

© Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Roberto Castillo, president and CEO of the Pan American Soccer Association, poses for a portrait in his Dallas office on Friday, June 20, 2008. For 38 years, Castillo has been an amateur soccer leader for the Hispanic communities. The league has grown from 20 teams to about 90 and is expected to top 100 next season.

The championship trophy is from the 1997 Copa Nuevo Leon tournament. One of his local teams won the international championship trophy in Monterey, Mexico.

Please read, "Tiros de tu esquina: Precursor del gol" by Diego Aparicio.

translated: "Tiros your corner: Precursor of goal."

The Haven

A tire swing remains empty near a building damaged by Hurricane Rita at Boys Haven during a groundbreaking ceremony for The Haven medical facility in Beaumont on Thursday, April 10, 2008. The property under the majority of the boys home was sold to construct a third medical facility in the city.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Allco Construction vice president Joe Ping (from left to right) and partner Gene Allen listen as Barbara E. Mlroy, exective director of the Southeast Texas Chaper of the Associated General Contractors of America, sheds tears during a groundbreaking ceremony The Haven medical facility at Boys Haven.

Please read, "Plans for Mediplex not yet in full swing" by Colin Guy.

First LNG shipment arrives

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

U.S. Coast Guard members provide security as boats maneuver the Celestine River LNG vessel into position during the first arrival of liquified natural gas at the Sabine Pass LNG on Friday, April 11, 2008.


U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Niya J. Williams (bottom) makes photos from the deck of the Sabine Pilot II as boats maneuver the Celestine River LNG vessel into position during the first arrival of liquified natural gas at the Sabine Pass LNG. The 145,000 cm-capacity vessel transported the cargo from Nigeria to the facility owned by Cheniere Energy, Inc.


The Sabine Pilot (center) passes as boats maneuver the Celestine River LNG vessel (right) into position during the first arrival of liquified natural gas at the Sabine Pass LNG.

Please read, "Massive tanker ushers in new wave of LNG supplies" by Christine Rappleye.

Training for craning

Instructors and classmates observe as Crystal Bass of Beaumont operates a crane simulator during a mobile crane operator training program at Lamar State College Port Arthur on Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Edward Randall of Silsbee (left to right) operates a crane simulator as Terry Brickerd and instructor Frank DiMeglio observe during a mobile crane operator training program at Lamar State College Port Arthur. The four-week skills training program is provided through a grant.


Classmates observe as Edward Randall of Silsbee operates a crane simulator at Lamar State College Port Arthur. If students are certified at the end of the course, they anticipate earning from $18 to $30 per hour upon completion.

Please read, "Crane operator class at Lamar-Port Arthur gives students good wage potential" by Heather Nolan.

Texas-sized refinery

The Motiva refinery plant reflects off a commemorative shovel during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Motiva refinery expansion in Port Arthur on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. The $7 billion expansion will increase the refinery's capacity to be the largest in the United States.

© Mark M. Hancock and The Dallas Morning News

Abdulaziz F. Al-Khayyal, senior vice president of industrial relations for Saudi Aramco, signs commemorative shovels during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Motiva refinery expansion in Port Arthur. The project is funded by Shell and Saudi Aramco.



Work continues at the existing Motiva plant during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Motiva refinery expansion. This is the single largest capital investment in the history of Texas.



Ziad Labban of Saudi Refining (left) talks on a phone while Ahmed Subaey of Saudi Aramco (right) encourages another executive during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Motiva refinery expansion in Port Arthur.


Please read "Foreign oil companies building Texas-size refinery..." by Elizabeth Souder and Jim Landers.

Port Arthur hospitality boom

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Vijay Sinh Vansadia, owner of Comfort Inn & Suites under construction in Port Arthur, removes shipping boxes from the inn on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. It's one of several hospitality businesses under construction or renovation on Highway 69 near Central Mall, restaurants and other consumer businesses.
Vansadia, who is from India, said 80 percent of the local hospitality businesses are Indian owned or managed.

Image is part of the faces of immigration series.

Restaurant business booms

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Lynn Ferguson, assistant manager at McAlister's Deli, prepares umbrellas on the patio for lunchtime business at the store in Beaumont on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. The number of Southeast Texas deli-style restaurants has grown in recent years and the trend is expected to continue.


Tia Matos (right) explains deli options to Tazia and James Paul of Beaumont at McAlister's Deli in Beaumont. Texas is ranked 4th in the nation for restaurant sales growth and 10-year industry job growth.

Noticeably absent from local restaurant options are Middle Eastern, (non-Italian) Mediterranean or Indian restaurants.

We just returned from Dallas. While there, we pigged on Middle Eastern food and pleaded at each restaurant for them to open a franchise here. Since Beaumont is located on I-10 between Houston and Lake Charles it's an ideal setting.

Building jobs

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Work continues on the Golden Pass LNG plant in Port Arthur on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. The Port Arthur City Council is concerned about the number of local jobs created by industrial construction.

Please read "... how many locals are hired ..." by Christine Rappleye.

World Trade Building

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The former World Trade Building in downtown Port Arthur is scheduled to be repurposed as an apartment complex. Many vacant buildings in southern Jefferson County are finding a new life as business returns to the area.


The former World Trade Building in downtown Port Arthur is scheduled to become an apartment complex. Repurposing existing buildings saves construction costs while reducing vandalism and security problems as well as increasing a city's tax base. Several historic buildings have been saved recently.

More West End jewelers

Marty Banda (top) and Pilar Serna (bottom) with National Signs install a sign at James Avery jewelry store in the Fountain Plaza in Beaumont on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. Not including Parkdale Mall, three other jewelry stores already exist in the area near the newest store.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


Please read "James Avery jewelry store opens..." by Heather Nolan.

Upscale downtown urbanity

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Cathedral Square promotes its proximity to downtown and nightlife in Beaumont on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007. New structures as well as several historic buildings are being converted to residential properties in downtown Beaumont.


Chad Whitehead poses for a portrait in his Cathedral Square loft in Beaumont. Whitehead purchased his loft. Downtown's resident population is expected to double within the next two years.


The former Antioch Baptist Church is undergoing renovation in Beaumont. It had been targeted for demolition by the city.


The former Neches Electric building is undergoing renovation near the museum district in downtown Beaumont. It too was targeted for demolition before Rehab Builders Inc. started restoration. The city has recently added wide, brick-paved sidewalks and nostalgic lampposts.


The White building in Cathedral Square reflects off a car. Each loft property value has increased $5,000 since sales began in March.


New businesses such as New York Pizza & Pasta are building near new developments to cater to downtown residents. A business complex will complete the square.

The city plans further downtown revitalization including a new event center adjacent to a proposed lake park and a waterway connecting the park to the Crockett Street Entertainment District.

Please read "New townhome, loft owners tell why..." by Colin Guy.

BISD bond election results

© Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

Supporters of the $388.6 million Beaumont ISD bond await election results. The Southeast Texas business community considers this bond and other area school improvement bonds critical to the area's ability to create, attract and keep qualified workers.

Please read "BISD bond ..." by Ryan Myers

South Hampton Resources expansion

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

South Hampton Resources, Inc. president Nicholas N. Carter poses for a portrait at the plant in Silsbee on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. The petroleum solvent plant plans a $12 million expansion. In addition to the construction jobs, the plant plans to add 40 permanent jobs.

Please read, "Silsbee plant plans $12 million expansion" by Amy Collins.

Lumberton traffic

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Traffic struggles to move during the evening rush hour on Highway 69 in Lumberton on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. About 20,000 autos commute through the area. Area growth and urban sprawl are affecting smaller cities in Southeast Texas. To some, this is considered a "good problem."

Please read "U.S. 69 congestion..." by Editorial staff.

Eastman moves to SETX

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Eastman Chemical Company's Norris P. Sneed, senior vice president of human resources, communication and public affairs, (left) and Marc R. Ramsdale, vice president of developing technologies operations, (right) talk about the company's future plant while visiting the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce in Beaumont on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. The company plans a $1.6 billion chemical plant on Texas 347, within the BISD taxable area.

Fountain Plaza opens

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Diners visit Pei Wei Asian Diner, which is open for business in Fountain Plaza off Dowlen Road in Beaumont on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007. Fountain Plaza is the newest of several planned upscale retail outlets in Beaumont's West End.


The centerpiece fountain awaits installation as shops are opening for business in Fountain Plaza off Dowlen Road in Beaumont. While most of the country faces financial woes, Southeast Texas is entering a construction boom period, which is expected to last about four years.

Sour Lake City Hall construction

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

James Wilkins with Wilkins Construction of Sour Lake prepares moulding at the future Sour Lake police station and city hall in Sour Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. The building was designed to replicate the small town's original city hall.


James Wilkins with Wilkins Construction of Sour Lake prepares moulding at the future Sour Lake police station and city hall. Sour Lake is the birthplace of Texaco Oil.


Jim Kelley (left) and his son Jimbo Kelley (right)with Wilkins Construction of Sour Lake install cabinets at the future Sour Lake police station and city hall.

Motiva expansion

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Motiva plans to build an additional delayed coking unit (DCU) similar to this one at the Motiva Enterprises plant in Port Arthur on Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. The planned expansion will make the Port Arthur plant the largest oil and gasoline production in the nation with a throughput of 600,000 barrels per day.


Todd Monette, general manager of the Port Arthur plant, discusses the new $6 billion to $8 billion expansion at the Motiva Youth Training Academy in Port Arthur. More than 4,000 constructions jobs will be created by the expansion and more than 250 permanent jobs.


Please read, "Expansion will make PA refinery nation's largest" by Heather Nolan.

Gettin' new Rags

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Manuel Mendez polishes the grill of a Hummer at Rags Car Wash in Beaumont on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007. This is the third car wash in Beaumont opened by the Reed family.

New and improved Lee Elementary

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Beverly Thornton, PAISD executive director of technology and media resources, (left) explains features of one of the computer labs to PAISD trustees Lloyd Marie Johnson (left to right), Kenneth Marks and Willie Mae Elmore at Lee Elementary School in Port Arthur on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007.

Each grade level has its own computer lab while the library has two additional computer labs. The newly constructed $11 million building opens for classes on Aug. 27. The oldest section of the previous building opened in 1922.

Please read, "...new Lee Elementary" by Christine Rappleye.