2023 Nederland Heritage Festival

Miss Nederland wants to be advocate for children

Evei Shipley is on the path to be a voice for others. From her work as a Foster Care Companion and volunteer with Adaptive Sports for Kids to lending her sailing skills to teach youth about the sport, Shipley is taking steps toward her future.

“I want to be a family law attorney like my mom and a voice and advocate for kids,” Shipley said.

Shipley has been working as a Foster Care Companion for five years.

She said a lot of times the girls at Girls Haven don’t have necessities such as underwear, shoes or deodorant, so her and her mother donate these needed items.

The girls who receive the donations look up to her, which she sees as an accomplishment.

“And I just like putting a smile on people’s faces. I think that’s the most rewarding thing,” she said.

Shipley is a junior at Nederland High School and was crowned the 50th Miss

Nederland.

Her list of community service and other activities is long. Besides the Foster Care Companion and volunteering with Adaptive Sports for Kids, Shipley was named Junior Sailor of the Year at Port Arthur Yacht Club and taught sailing to youth. She earned the Face of Muzzie’s Award, has been on Student Council for seven years, is on the A-B honor roll, is a lifeguard and takes part in golf and track.

Teacher Whitney Wolf called her an absolute joy to have in class.

“She is very outgoing while still making everyone around her feel comfortable and included. She always strives for excellence in understanding assignments and maintaining a high (grade point average),” Wolf said.

Teacher Celine Hodge called her a pleasure to have in class.

“Her bubbly personality, aptitude for the language and drive contribute to a collegial and productive learning environment,” Hodge said.

Courtesy of Kreative Kamera

Evei Shipley is crowned Miss Nederland for 2023. The Nederland High School junior’s list of community service and other activities is long.

Courtesy of Kreative Kamera Evei Shipley is described as a very outgoing person who makes everyone around her feel comfortable and included.

Golf Coach Anney Montalvo also offered kudos, saying that Shipley is a third-year golfer.

“I call her my social butterfly on the course,” Montalvo said. “Her personality is something that is really special about her, and she never lets anything get to her. Always happy.”

Teacher Whitney Fowler commended Shipley for her positive outlook when faced with challenges.

“She’s resilient in every aspect of her life,” Fowler said. “Evei also works hard to do her best in every aspect of her academics and extracurricular activities.”

Academics are important to the queen. She is enrolled in AP courses and is co-enrolled at Lamar State College Port Arthur.

She hopes to study abroad, preferably in Greece or Italy, she said. If not, she would like to attend Baylor University or Texas A&M.

The idea of studying abroad

may have come from her love of travel. She plans to visit Costa Rica in the spring and has traveled to Jamaica, Italy, Mexico and Canada.

When Shipley was named Miss Nederland, she said her heart dropped. At that time all she could think about was she was the 50th Miss Nederland. Her sister Lilei Shipley was queen in 2020.

While she will have her crown for a year, she would like to do something for her legacy to live on — plant tulips.

Her target areas include city hall, the windmill and the police station — places where people will see them, she said.

When the tulips bloom they will be a reminder of her reign as queen.

Shipley is the daughter of Jolei Shipley and Terry Shipley.

— Written by Mary Meaux

Courtesy of Kreative Kamera

While Evei Shipley will enjoy her Miss Nederland crown for a year, she would like to do something for her legacy to live on — plant tulips in places where people can see them.

TINY PRINCESS Autumn Johnson

TINY PRINCESS Callie Pontiff

TINY PRINCESS Daphne Wolf

TINY PRINCESS Emerson Lindsey

TINY PRINCESS Emmie Rendon

TINY PRINCESS Haidyn Foster

TINY PRINCESS Isabella Ogden

TINY PRINCESS Jeannette Martin

TINY PRINCESS Katina Hernandez

TINY PRINCESS Kayli Mckeever

TINY PRINCESS Knightley Melancon

TINY PRINCESS Nina Pallone

TINY PRINCESS Paisley Cox

TINY PRINCESS Penelope Pryor

TINY PRINCESS Stella Shuff

TINY PRINCESS Stevi Gillespie

TINY PRINCESS Sutton Lemoine

TINY MISS Amy Jo Pringle

TINY MISS Audree Dixon

TINY MISS Berkley Cullia

TINY MISS Evelyn Wilson

TINY MISS Guinevere Mitchell

TINY MISS Hadley Hoelzer

TINY MISS Isley Duhon

TINY MISS Karsyn Smith TINY MISS Kaslyn Fondren

TINY MISS Savannah Magana TINY MISS Saylor Woolls

TINY MISS Kaydence Kennedy

TINY MISS Rylan Adams

TINY MISS Skylee McCormack

TINY MISS Maryn Bergeron TINY MISS Naomi Jerry

the safety and the environmental integrity of the waterway. We have done so since 1881 and pledge to continue.

Sabine Pilots are serving the shipping industry and the public ports of Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange as well as the private oil terminals and the industrial complex of Southeast Texas. The Sabine Neches Waterway is the economic lifeline and the gateway to world commerce. It is the duty of the Sabine Pilots to maintain

LITTLE MISS A’ve Lowe

LITTLE MISS Anslee Guy

LITTLE MISS Aubrie Araujo

LITTLE MISS Brooklyn Guidry

LITTLE MISS Hudsyn Richard

LITTLE MISS Jemma Hebert

LITTLE MISS Kaselyn Douga

LITTLE MISS Kimber Fondren

LITTLE MISS Kynleigh Adams

LITTLE MISS Linley Yarbough

LITTLE MISS Livia Jones

LITTLE MISS Lyda Davis

LITTLE MISS Nora Aycock

LITTLE MISS Raynee Dykes

LITTLE MISS Saige Merren

PETITE MISS Callee Howell

PETITE MISS Emery Best

PETITE MISS Emma Newton

PETITE MISS Hayden Davis

PETITE MISS Madelynn Weeren

PETITE MISS Natalie Nutt

PETITE MISS Olivia Forkner

PETITE MISS Presli Akins

PETITE MISS Kooper Smith

PETITE MISS Kyler Fondren

PETITE MISS Ricki Rockenschuh

PETITE MISS Scarlett Reynolds

Weekend, March 11-12, 2023

YOUNG MISS Addison Araujo

YOUNG MISS Austyn Guidry

YOUNG MISS Bethany Graham

YOUNG MISS Bria Nectoux

YOUNG MISS Lilly Michalk

YOUNG MISS Maris Craver

YOUNG MISS Parker Kendrick

YOUNG MISS Piper Thompson

YOUNG MISS Charlee Harber

YOUNG MISS Laykin McCormack

JUNIOR MISS Addyson Harris

JUNIOR MISS Alexandra Mullin JUNIOR MISS Baleigh Hileman

JUNIOR MISS Brylee Walker

JUNIOR MISS Catalina Duran

JUNIOR MISS Emma Labouve

Evyn

MISS JUNIOR MISS Kate Mullin

Weekend, March 11-12, 2022

MISS NEDERLAND - Ashlyn Junot

MISS NEDERLAND - Deanna Harris

MISS NEDERLAND - Erin Conlin

MISS NEDERLAND - Evei Shipley

MISS NEDERLAND - Kaydence Alphin

MISS NEDERLAND - Kynslee Harris

MISS NEDERLAND - Mily Pastrana

MISS NEDERLAND - Ryleigh Richie

Food addition, new ride to the Nederland Heritage Festival

The Big Kahuna is coming to Boston Avenue. The thrill ride is a new addition to the Nederland Heritage Festival, scheduled for March 14-19.

But it’s not the only new treat for patrons.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Arthur has been added to the food vendors, where they’ll be serving up Mexican food such as quesadillas and tacos.

And that as well as the other tasty foods at the festival this year can be enjoyed under a 40-feet by 80-feet covered area with tables and chairs underneath. It’s double what was available last year in the new, expanded food section.

“There were people sitting on the ground, walking around holding their food,” said Nederland Heritage Festival Director Shannon Hemby. “That’s another improvement. As we go with that, we’ll make more and more improvements with what we have, what we can add and what the people are asking for. I like listening to what the patrons want while keeping in mind our workers behind the scene.”

Because, Hemby said, it takes between 80 and 100 volunteers to make the festival happen each year.

“It’s multi-layered because there are two chairmen for every event, and under those chairmen there are also people who volunteer to help them out,” she said. “Transportation, for instance — the ones that bring all of the food vendor’s stuff in — there’s a chairman and a co-chairman, then it takes about a team of 20-30 to run the golf carts. So there are many layers to all of this.”

Monday officials opened up photos for the Passports to Fun, which are open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nederland Heritage Festival office on Boston Avenue.

Passports sold out Feb. 6, and Hemby said they’re selling out faster each year. Per the contract with GoldStar Amusement, they are allowed 3,500 each year. This year they sold 1,000 online for the first time.

Passports go on sale the first Monday in November.

“People buy them for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, Valentines gifts, good grades,” Hemby said. “Stocking stuffers for Christmas is a big thing.”

Last year, attendance hit an alltime record.

“We don’t have a gate, so we go off money,” Hemby said. “Moneywise it was the largest year we’ve ever had, which in turn means we can give more back in scholarships, more back to the city because we do

Candace Hemelt/The News

The Zipper is a routine favorite at the Nederland Heritage Festival. In 2023, the Big Kahuna is coming to Boston Avenue as another thrill ride.

Candace Hemelt/The News Caden Pitre and Naye Coleman are seen that the festival in 2022.

Weekend, March 11-12, 2022

the parks department, police department, fire department. We’ve given to animal control. But my favorite thing other than being able to give back to the city is awarding scholarships.”

They’re up to seven scholarships now, and Hemby hopes attendance continues to climb so they can offer more money to local students.

Festival Chairman Kasey Taylor anticipates large crowds in 2023.

“We just want everyone to come out,” Taylor said. It’s free to get in, free parking anywhere that’s legal in Nederland, free live music on stage. We have our craft market on the weekend that’s free to get into. Saturday is a funfilled day. We have the parade, chili cook-off, car and motorcycle show. Sunday we have a washer tournament. We also have crawfish races that are fun for the kids. We have so much fun.

“I’m so excited. It’s like we get to give the City of Nederland a giant party.”

— By Monique Batson

Heritage Festival Cuisine Walk

Food vendors at the Nederland Heritage Festival are all nonprofit entities and officials with the festival make sure each group has something unique to offer.

• Port Neches Rainbows No. 159

— Funnel cake/friend Moon Pies

• Port Arthur Little Theater — Scottish eggs/snow cones

• First United Methodist Church

— Strawberry shortcakes

• Hillcrest Baptist Church — Monte Christo sandwiches

• Nederland Masonic Lodge — Street taco’s/ coke floats

• Boy Scouts No. 232 — pork kabob/chicken on a stick

• Nederland Rotary — pizza/fried Oreos

• Beaumont St. Joseph Catholic Church — popcorn shrimp

• Noon Optimist — corndogs/

chicken fajitas

• Nederland/Port Neches Evening Optimist — hamburgers/curly fries

• Wesley Methodist Church — chicken and dumplings/sausage bread

• Noon Sertoma — blooming onions/boudin balls

• Nederland Chamber of Commerce — variety of funnel cakes

• Nederland KC’s — shrimp etouffee /corn on the cob

• Nederland Girls Softball — cheesecake on a stick

• Port Neches KC’s — chicken strips/shrimp gumbo

• Demolay — potato bites/fried cookie dough

• Faith Tabernacle — flavored tea/ smoked boudin

• Port Arthur St. Joseph Catholic Church — quesadillas/ burritos

Specials Catering Customized Charcuterie Boards or Boxes

Grace Baber finds passions, purpose in volunteering

Grace Baber has a good reason to spend hours volunteering at the Nederland Heritage Festival.

“I just love it,” Baber said. “I love the fact we’re all there to give back to the community and are able to help other nonprofits that help the community. It’s a about paying it forward.”

Baber, a longtime volunteer, is this year’s program dedication honoree.

She is described as a passionate, giving and determined person who loves spending time at the festival events.

According to information from festival organizers, Baber’s volunteering with concessions row sparked her interest in 2001.

“Grace’s passion for giving back makes her the perfect fit to cochair concessions. She served on the executive board from 2011 to 2022,” according to the information from the event program.

“Her insight, experience and dedication assisted in many of the improvements that we enjoy today.”

A lot of work goes into putting on a festival, from the pageant weekend to fence posts driven into the ground to helping trailers park.

“Our volunteers put in a lot of manpower and we couldn’t do it without all of the volunteers. It’s a lot of work for the volunteers and

myself,” Baber said.

Many of the volunteers are so dedicated they give up vacation time to put in the hours to work the festival.

“We are usually there every morning of the festival. Many of the volunteers are there at 6 a.m., starting to clean up, making sure the garbage cans are out and ready for the crowds,” she said.

“The whole transportation crew is there to help the nonprofit food vendors. They start at 8 a.m., bringing them to get products that are hauled in for the day.”

The volunteers then stay at least an hour after the event shuts down to clean up and get ready for the next day of the festival.

“We‘re a huge family, we’re just a huge family,” she said.

Baber said there’s a whole world that goes on behind the scenes of the festival.

“When you volunteer to sit on this side of a festival or fair it changes the way you look at any that you attend. You know what it takes,” she said.

— By Mary Meaux

Candace Hemelt/The News Pictured, from left, are Stafford Baber, Ellen Baber, Grace Baber, Sarah Stafford and Kasey Taylor.

Weekend, March 11-12, 2023

TINY TOTS - Channing CastilleTINY PRINCESS - Haidyn Foster

TINY MISS - Isley Duhon

LITTLE MISS - Anslee Guy

PETITE MISS - Emery Best YOUNG MISS - Lilly Michalk

JUNIOR MISS - Emma LaBouveMISS NEDERLAND - Evei Shipley

Mr. Nederland tradition continues with Rev. Jason Burden

Much can be said of having a servant’s heart.

It is those people who put others’ needs before their own.

This can be seen with the Rev. Jason Burden, who was recognized by the Nederland Heritage Festival for his works.

Burden is pastor at First Baptist Church Nederland and is the 2023 Mr. Nederland.

The reverend said he is humbled to be part of this group of individuals.

“It’s an honor to be considered by my peers as someone who had an impact, and I hope I can inspire someone else to contribute to our community,” Burden said.

But he doesn’t take all the credit.

“Being a pastor of a really generous church, I get to be the front person, the first contact a lot of people have with either the Red Cross or Texas Baptist Men

Candace Hemelt/The News

Pictured, at far left, are Jason Burden and Kevin Hussey. At far right, Jason Burden of First Baptist Church of Nederland, center, receives a plaque from Shannon Hemby, right. At left, Kristi Burden receives flowers.

or those who come for relief,” he said.

Burden and his church are known for their generosity in helping others during crises or other times.

Nederland Heritage Festival officials noted Burden opened the doors to the church to give shelter during Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda and the TPC Group explosion.

“He worked closely with the Red Cross to provide resources

for their operations during times of tragedy. Jason led his church to form a special agreement with the City of Nederland to partner together in providing shelter in times of crisis,” according to the NHF program.

Burden has also worked closely with Texas Baptist Men on all local disaster relief efforts over the past decade and serves as president of the organization.

That’s not all.

In the summer of 2020 a fundraiser led by Burden made it possible to distribute more than 1,000 box fans for free to people in the community.

The title of Mr. Nederland is given by a group of past recipients, all of whom are known for giving back to the community.

“To all those who threw my name in the hat, I want to try to live up to the standard that my prede-

cessors lived up to,” Burden said. “I truly love Nederland, Texas, Southeast Texas. All of my little family is down here, my grandchildren are here.”

Burden and family are no strangers to attending the annual Nederland Heritage Festival.

He found it a bit difficult to pin down one favorite part of the multi-day festival.

“I love going by all of the different vendors and sampling all

of the wares. Sometimes I overindulge,” he said.

“We go down there and watch people, visit with friends, eat some of everything. That’s kind of the highlight of March. Visit friends that we see not only at church on Sunday, see people outside the context of norm and develop friendships.”

Burden’s church also

has ties to the festival in that every year they feed the carnival workers, give them a gift bag and some homemade goodies — give them some Southeast Texas hospitality, he said.

“We want them to feel like they are part of our community during the time they are here,” he said.

— By Mary Meaux

NEDERLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL FLASHBACK Weekend, March 11-12, 2023

Candace Hemelt/The News

One of the fun scenes from the 2022 Nederland Heritage Festival included Finley Marsh, 6; Shannon Marsh; Emily Marsh, 4; Connor Marsh, 7; and Lois Young.

Candace Hemelt/The News

Olivia Christopher, 10, and Ella Christopher, 4, are seen at the 2022 Nederland Heritage Festival.

One of the fun scenes from the 2022 Nederland Heritage Festival included Blythe Clark, 5; Irish Clark; Blake Clark, 7; and Byron Clark.