Soles 4 Souls shoe drive

Rusti Girolamo, owner of Rusti's Shoe Box, poses for a portrait with some of the donated shoes at her store in Beaumont on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Girolamo is participating in the Soles 4 Souls shoe drive through Feb. 29. The drive provides shoes for people around the world who have lost everything due to natural disaster or other circumstances. All kinds of shoes are needed and accepted.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Please read, "Beaumont store taking shoe donations..." by Heather Nolan.

PJ question - 15 Feb. 08

How does the Fairness Doctrine and Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1937 apply to a PJ's coverage of elections?

Know the answer? Take The PJ Quiz.
 

Storm engineers

Jack Hopper, Lamar University dean of engineering, (left) and associate dean Victor Zaloom (right) walk through the rain by the Cherry Engineering Building at the university in Beaumont on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. Tuesday's cold front brought severe thunderstorms and a temperature drop from recent unseasonably warm weather.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

PJ question - 14 Feb. 08

What should PJs do before dramatic weather changes?

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Future leaders

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The children of local leaders are following in their parents' footsteps in Beaumont on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. Future leaders (from left to right) are W. Joe Deshotel, son of state Rep. Joe Deshotel; Lindsey Williams, daughter of BISD secretary Terry B. Williams; Lance Bean, son of NAACP activist Sam Bean; and Sean Samuel, son of Beaumont mayor pro-tem Audwin Samuel.

PJ question - 13 Feb. 08

When it comes to PJ, what is the primary concern of a publisher or assignment editor?

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Black Santa Fe Railroad workers' exhibit

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Lewis James Hodge of Beaumont (left) and Allen J. Scott, Sr. of Silsbee (right) remember Santa Fe workers in a photo at the Ice House Museum and Cultural Center in Silsbee on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008.


Richard Hawkins of Silsbee looks through a photo album at the Ice House Museum and Cultural Center. The museum is currently hosting an exhibit of black employees of the Santa Fe Railroad.



A guest passes a photo display at the Ice House Museum and Cultural Center in Silsbee on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008. The display includes Ollie R. Holmes, the first woman engineer (right).

PJ question - 12 Feb. 08

What should be the first shots taken at any sporting event?

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5A hoops throwdown

West Brook's Donte Lopez (No. 11, left) drives the ball into play past Port Arthur Memorial's Shaquille White (No. 2, right) during a basketball game at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


West Brook's Marcus Malbrough (34, right) gets a piece of the ball before Memorial's Justin Reno (44, left) can take it to the hoop during a basketball game at West Brook High School.



West Brook's William Chu (No. 1, left) and Memorial's JeKore Tyler (No. 10, right) tumble to the floor after an off-balance run at West Brook High School in Beaumont. West Brook won the game 42-38 and advances into the playoffs.

West Brook remains in a three-way tie for first place with Humble and Kingwood. Memorial remains tied for fourth.

PJ question - 11 Feb. 08

Before charging off to breaking news, what should a PJ do?

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Lumberton brush fire

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Lumberton fire marshal Jim Philp investigates following a 24-acre fire in a wooded area of Lumberton off Wheeler Road in Lumberton on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. Philp said lack of humidity has dried out vegetation and increased the likelihood of fires spreading rapidly.


Smoke drifts down a burned path following a multi-acre fire in a wooded area of Lumberton. High winds allowed the fire to spread rapidly.


A stump continues to burn as Lumberton fire officials investigate the cause of a multi-acre fire in a wooded area of Lumberton. No structures were damaged in the fire.

Please read "Lumberton firefighters believe 3-alarm fire might remain mystery" by Julie Shehane.

PJ question - 10 Feb. 08

Why is photography considered the most powerful form of communication?

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OSHA plant safety

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The sun sets over a refinery in Port Arthur on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. For decades, major plants and refineries in Southeast Texas have avoided incidents such as the March 2005 BP plant explosion in Texas City. The BP explosion killed 15 workers.
Southeast Texas industrial officials point to heavy investment in safety personnel, regular equipment upgrades, stringent training requirements and regular testing of plant emergency warning systems as the reasons for safer workplaces.

Please read, "Region's plants stress safety" by Colin Guy.

PJ question - 9 Feb. 08

What is the difference between a "photo clump" and a photo story?

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Hero to the Max

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Max Jones, 9, (right) sits on the lap of Greg Cogswell, his mother's boyfriend and roommate (left), at the Studio 6 Motel in Winnie on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. When the family's rental home caught fire on Jan. 31 in Stowell, Max woke up and alerted the family.


Kelli Jones (right) helps Max Jones, 9, (left) with his homework at the Studio 6 Motel in Winnie. Firefighters told the family they only had 45 seconds left before they would have all died when Max had alerted them.


Only a burned-out shell of a rental home remains in Stowell. Now, the family can't find a new place to live in the community.

Please read, "9-year-old saved family..." by Sarah Moore.

PJ question - 8 Feb. 08

What sells newspapers?

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Smith award finalist

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Orange-Stark football player Cory Bell pumps iron in the weight room at the high school in West Orange on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.


West Orange-Stark football player Cory Bell works on strength training in the weight room at the high school. Bell led the Mustangs with 82 tackles this year and was named as a Willie Ray Smith Sr. defensive player of the year award finalist.

PJ question - 7 Feb. 08

What are the Kelvin-degree color temperatures of daylight and tungsten light?

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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.

PJ question - 6 Feb. 08

Why should business cards be thermographically printed?

Know the answer? Take The PJ Quiz.
 

Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Krewe members prepare for the Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade during the Southeast Texas Mardi Gras in Port Arthur on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008.

See a larger version of this slideshow.

The celebrants include (as appear):   Jennifer Barroeta, Susie Salinas, Laurie Meyer, Renaldo Richard, Bob McNeal, Brittan Chalmers, Dustin Yu, Rhonda Schmidtke, Melissa Evans, Colt Schmidtke, Theresa Guidry, Patti Murphy, Henry Murphy, Arlene Oliver, Garrett Griffin, Joseph Catalina Jr., Reginald Richmond, Tiarra Bob, Brittan McDonald, Tyrone Bolson, Kellie Meaux and Shelley Booker.

PJ question - 5 Feb. 08

In what two ways does "A penny saved is a penny earned" affect a PJ's business?

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Columbia disaster 5th anniversary

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

Hemphill School freshman Adam Nixon plays "Taps" during the 5th anniversary ceremony of the Columbia space shuttle disaster in Hemphill on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008. Seven astronauts died when the space shuttle Columbia broke apart over East Texas in 2003.


Sabine County Memorial Committee co-chairs Marsha Cooper (left) and Belinda Gay (right) talk about moving forward during the 5th anniversary ceremony of the Columbia space shuttle disaster at the Hemphill School.



Please see Shuttle recovery helpers while NASA prepared to resume space shuttle flights. Please also read, "Dreams, not debris..." by Jemimah Noonoo.

PJ question - 4 Feb. 08

What compositional device holds an image together on a printed page?

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Buffalo roams

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

A buffalo roams in a pasture across from Anna Jean Caffey Memorial Park in West Orange on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.

PJ question - 3 Feb. 08

Of the four dimensions, which two can't be captured with a still photograph?

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Super-sizing committments

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen senior wide receiver Chris Raggett poses for a portrait at the high school on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. Many major universities are trying to recruit him for their programs due to recent coaching shuffles.

Please read, "Coaching changes reopen the recruiting process..." by Chris Dabe.

UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2008 - Raggett has committed to Arkansas.

PJ question - 2 Feb. 08

What does it mean to shoot "full frame"?

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Lamar baseball pre-pre-season

Lamar University junior Matt Gore works on his pitching inside the batting cages at Vincent-Beck Stadium in Beaumont on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. The baseball team officially begins practice on Friday.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

PJ question - 1 Feb. 08

What is composition?

Know the answer? Take The PJ Quiz.