March 28-April 3, 2024

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Slipping through the cracks

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TRUTH

The Examiner puts the truth front and center every week

... thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins Matthew 1:21

... His name shall be called WONDERFUL,COUNSELOR, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, THEPRINCEOFPEACE Isaiah 9:6

... God hath made that same Jesus ... both LORDANDCHRIST Acts 2:36

... Behold the LAMBOFGOD which taketh away the sins of the world! John 1:29

... they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of THELAMB Revelation 15:3

... Behold, the LIONOFTHETRIBEOFJUDAH Revelation 5:5

... and the BRIGHTANDMORNINGSTAR Revelation 22:16

... and our hands have handled, of the WORDOFLIFE 1 John 1:1

... we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ THERIGHTEOUS 1 John 2:1

... whereby the DAYSPRING from on high hath visited us Luke 1:78

... Before Abraham was, IAM John 8:58

... And I saw, and have record that this is the SONOFGOD John 1:34

... are now returned unto the SHEPHERD and Bishop of your souls 1 Peter 2:25

... We have found the MESSIAH which is, being interpreted, the Christ John 1:41

... I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me John 14:6

... through the knowledge of the LORDANDSAVIOR Jesus Christ II Peter 2:20

... a name written KINGOFKINGS AND LORDOFLORDS Revelation 19:16

... I am the LIGHTOFTHEWORLD John 8:12

... I am the ALPHAANDOMEGA the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THEALMIGHTY Revelation 1:8

JOYTOTHEWORLDTHELORDISRISEN

FROM WAYNEA. REAUDAND FAMILY

System fails to track indicted stalker

James Timothy Rhoades, a 38-yearold resident of Beaumont and employee of the local federal prison recently indicted on the third-degree felony charge of stalking, stood before Judge Raquel West, March 25, as she prepared to decide whether his bond would be raised following calls made to Beaumont Police Department Detective Sgt. Yvette Borrero.

Unbeknownst to Judge West and against the original conditions of his bond, it was learned that Rhoades was not wearing a GPS tracking device.

An attempt to reach an administrator with the Jefferson county correctional facility was unsuccessful as of press time.

“I wanna go back and look if that’s one where the conditions are on some other screen at the jail, and show them how important, why that’s an issue,” said West, indicating prior issues with ensuring bond conditions are met before defendants are released from custody. “Make a note for us to check on that GPS tomorrow.”

According to Borrero, she received multiple calls following the Feb. 1 publication ofThe Examiner, which detailed Rhoades’ indictment based on public information.

Borrero stated that Rhoades, indicted for stalking after admitting to placing a GPS tracking device on his ex-wife’s vehicle, called and left her a voicemail.

“He expressed to me he was upset and was angry about it and it’s ruined his life and made reference to, ‘I’m not going to take it,’” Borrero told Judge

West. “I tried to call him back to reassure him … I don’t talk to the press.”

The Examiner can confirm that public information from Rhoades’ indictment was the only information used in the article titled “Local prison employee facing prison time.”

Borrero said the defendant did not directly threaten her, but that it did concern her because he said he was angry.

“I’ve been in this for 30 years; when people get emotional or upset, I don’t take it lightly,” Borrero advised, and also indicated that she had received a call from Rhoades’ estranged ex-wife and victim, concerned he would be able to find her.

According to Rhoades’Jan. 24 indictment, the arrest unfolded after a complaint filed by Rhoades’ex-wife reached the Beaumont Police Department. Borrero, handling the case, detailed in the probable cause affidavit that Rhoades’ ex-wife reported harassment that came to light when she discovered a tracking device her ex-husband confessed to installing on her car; Rhoades explicitly directed the victim to its location.

Borrero disclosed in the indictment, “He had also sent her multiple unwanted text messages and emails trying to speak with her.”

Although the couple’s divorce had been finalized on Nov. 27, 2023, accompanying evidence for the pending stalking claim included footage from a Ring camera capturing Rhoades showing up uninvited at a friend of his ex-wife’s home, displaying an eagerness to make contact.

Within one of his messages detailed in the affidavit for his arrest, Rhoades openly admitted to engaging in “stalker-

ish behavior” and expressed regret over his actions. He likewise admitted awareness of his ex-wife filing the police report as the tracking device revealed her presence at the police department.

Fearing for her life due to the consistent and alarming pattern of behavior exhibited by Rhoades, the ex-wife conveyed to officers a belief that he posed a credible threat to her and her children. She pointed out that Rhoades possessed prior military and law enforcement training, coupled with access to various weapons.

In response to the ongoing threat, the ex-wife’s place of employment, a federal prison, opted to transfer her to another state. Both Rhoades and his ex-wife worked at the same federal prison, prompting measures to ensure they were scheduled on opposite shifts until the completion of the relocation process.

Law enforcement officials revealed the existence of an audio recording in which Rhoades confessed to placing the tracking device on her car.

“What I need to know is what, if anything, has happened since then, and have there been any violations of any bond conditions,” West asked to Borrero denial. Rhoades’ attorney, Carl Allen Parker Jr., couldn’t be certain that his client was indeed current on bond condition adherence.

“For the court, I don’t think there’s ever been a GPS monitor device, which I think is custom,” Parker interjected.

“It is, and I don’t understand why (Rhoades does not have a GPS), and the bond conditions are obviously something I’m going to address today,” West declared before turning to address the defendant directly.

“Without any issues that I know of since December, I’m not going to increase your bond Mr. Rhoades,” West said, before adding strict stipulations: “I want you to understand, you see where everybody is on this, the importance of you not having contact or communication with your ex-wife is the only thing that is going to keep you out of jail.” West ordered Rhoades to acquire a GPS monitoring device, allowing 24 hours for its placement.

“I want proof of that by tomorrow morning,” said West. “If you contact, communicate with her, or are around her, we’re gonna know about it, your bond is going to be raised, and you’ll be right back in jail with a higher bond.”

West reset Rhoades’ case, allowing him 30 days to hire an attorney as he stated he could afford his own legal representative rather than the one provided by taxpayers up to this point.

Speaking with The Examiner after court, West said personnel are navigating system upgrades made in March 2023.

“It’s not that we’re having a huge problem across the board, but there may be some during the transition, where conditions were put on a differrent screenandwiththenewprogramweren’t seen,” West said. “Everyone is aware and has had ongoing training to make sure the bond conditions are input in the correct place so that the defendant is given those bond conditions when they are let out of jail.”

— barbara@theexaminer.com

Rhoades

Under-enrolled and under-performing Beaumont middle school to close

The decision to close Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School during a recent Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) Board of Trustees meeting on March 21 was unanimous. Leaders cited both under-enrollment and poor campus performance as the primary reasons behind this resolution. In their view, this closure would serve the best interests of both the students and the district as a whole.

Most recent campus ratings put King Middle School at the bottom of the district’sperformingcampusesand,although in 2022 it improved from its F rating in 2018-2019, the last year that schools were rated prior to the pandemic, the TEA did not provide grade ratings for schools receiving less than a C, which resulted in four of the district’s five middle schools not rated in 2022.

King Middle School, situated at 1400 AvenueA, operates under the auspices of acharterentity,GreenDotPublicSchools.

This partnershipcommencedinthe20202021 academic year, mandated by the state’s accountability structure, which necessitates collaboration with a charter school. Reflecting on this partnership, school authorities emphasized the promise of accessing innovative programming and additional funding aimed at enhancing the school’s accountability ratings.

Despite Green Dot’s efforts in implementing its model and witnessing some growth on campus, persistently low enrollment across middle schools within the district and King’s current campus

rating prompted BISD to propose the closure for the 2024-2025 academic year.

In correspondence addressed to parents of King Middle School students dated March 19, the Board of Trustees outlined their intention to deliberate on this recommendation during the scheduled March 21 board meeting. Acknowledging the potential disappointment this decision might evoke, the district underscored that it was made after careful consideration and with the overarching aim of serving the best interests of the students and the district.

BISD Superintendent Dr. Shannon Allen shed light on the multifaceted considerations leading to this decision. She mentioned ongoing rezoning efforts and highlighted the persisting issue of underenrollment across middle school campuses. Notably, King Middle School has grappled with under-enrollment for several years, with its current student population of 478 falling considerably short of its capacity, which could accommodate well over 700 students.

Allen articulated the district’s commitment to optimizing efficiency by consolidating student populations into fewer campuses. Addressing concerns about outdated attendance zones and transportation logistics, she emphasized the importance of ensuring that students attend schools closer to their residences.

“The current attendance zone for King Middle School is very outdated,” said Allen.

In 2014, the district closed Austin Middle School and allowed parents to choose to send their students to King or another middle school and, according to

Host families sought

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking host families in Southeast Texas for students aged 15-18 from various countries for the upcoming academic year. Students come with insurance and pocket money. To get involved, call (404) 814-0696 or visit www.host. asse.com.

ASSE, a nonprofit organization

facilitating the placement of foreign exchange students, accepts students from all over the world – including Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, and Ukraine, to name a few. Students are selected for participation based on academics and good citizenship. Host families can choose their students from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.

Allen, students are passing up schools near their home in order to attend King.

Approximately 296 students currently enrolled in 6th and 7th grades at King Middle School will be affected by this decision. Plans are underway to notify parents of their children’s new school assignments for the 2024-2025 academic year by Wednesday, April 17. Meanwhile, classes will proceed as usual until the conclusion of the current school year.

Allen reassured that all teachers in good standing would be provided with

another opportunity within BISD and encouraged their participation in the upcoming BISD job fair. Regarding the future of the King Middle School campus, Allen affirmed that the name would endure in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She further conveyed the board’s commitment to collaborating over the summer to reimagine the facility’s purpose, ensuring its repurposing and maintenance.

— barbara@theexaminer.com

$72 million bond proposal invests in Early Childhood education, district upgrades

West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District announced there will be a $72 million bond proposal on the Saturday, May 4, ballot.

According to information from the district, the bond aims to enhance education facilities and ensure the safety and security of students and staff. The bond will include projects such as constructing a new North Early Learning Center campus, district-wide safety upgrades, restroom and HVAC upgrades, technology enhancements and acquiring new buses.

Built in 1964, North Early Learning Center, 801 Cordrey Ave., has historically been the home of North High School and M.B. North Middle School and operates as North Early Learning Center.

North offers full-day Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, Head Start and Early Childhood Special Education.

The bond proposal’s centerpiece is the construction of a new North Early Learning Center campus on 27 acres of land behind the elementary school that the district purchased.

“This modern facility will cater to

our community’s early education needs and provide an immersive experience,” according to the district proposal, which will also allocate funds for safety and security upgrades throughout the district, as well as student and staff restroom facilities upgrades.

“HVAC systems will be modernized to enhance energy efficiency and indoor air quality, creating a more comfortable learning environment,” the district reported.

The technology upgrades will reportedly enable WOCCISD to stay at the forefront of educational innovation and offer students access to state-of-the-art tools and resources, empowering them to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

The district’s tax base and valuation allow these improvements without impacting homeowners’ tax rates, the district further shared.

“Homeowners will not see an increase in their tax rate,” district officials announced, pointing to an additional 20% district homestead exemption allowed for WOCCISD homeowners in addition to the general $100,000 state exemption. “WOCCISD’s tax rate has remained the same or decreased for the past 10 years. However, it’s important to note that state law now requires every school district to include the statement: ‘This is a property tax increase’on the ballot, regardless of the actual impact on the tax rate.”

Information on the district tax rate and for the current and previous years can be found atWOCCISD.net or www. WOCCISDbond.com.

Residents must be registered to vote by Sunday, April 7, to be eligible for the May 4 election. Early voting will take place from April 22-26 and April 29-30.

For more information on the bond proposal and voting details, visit woccisdbond.com.

Cities prepare for contested May races

With federal, state and county elections making up most of the headlines, several contested municipal races are also slated for cities in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties on Election Day, Saturday, May 4. Candidates were required to file for offices before Feb. 16; write-in candidates were required to file by Feb. 20.

Here is a preview of the contested municipal races:

• BRIDGE CITY — Mayor David Rutledge is challenged by Carl Harbert, while Place 4 Councilmember Patty Collins and Place 6 Councilmember Shelby Dixon are unopposed. Place 2 Councilmember Mike Reed decided not to run for re-election and retired BCISD administrator Gina Mannino applied for the post unopposed.

• KOUNTZE — Place 2 Alderwoman Andrea Cutwright is challenged by Connie Winger, while Mayor Fred Williams and Place 1 Alderman Jack Darden are unopposed.

• SILSBEE — Newcomer Tina Young-Holman will challenge incumbent Adelaide Balaban for At-Large Place 1, while Roy Graves (District A) and William Bass (District B) are unopposed. Caleb J. Buse, a college student, filed to run against Balaban, but was not eligible to run for coun cil because he registered to vote at Lamar University.

• SOUR LAKE — Incumbent Mayor Bruce Robinson has two oppo nents in the May 4 elec tion. Councilmembers Connie Murphy and Kevin Cudd are seeking to unseat the longtime Mayor. Running unop posed for the two at-large council positions are Ryan Elmore and Jody L. Butler. According to City Secretary Debbie Morgan, Murphy’s seat was up but she decided to run for mayor and Cudd has one year left on his council term. Cudd will not give up his council seat unless he wins the mayor’s race. If Cudd wins, the mayor will

have to appoint someone to fill his vacancy for one year.

A host of canceled elections were called for the following cities:

• CHINA — Councilmembers Rachel Shauberger (At Large 1), Laura Zaro (At-Large 2) and Jesslyn Durand (District C) are unopposed, along with Phillip Kibodeaux, who is unopposed to fill the remaining term for the District A post.

• LUMBERTON — Mayor Don Surratt and Councilmembers Joey Schoen (Position 2) and Kimberly Cline (Position 4) are unopposed.

• NEDERLAND — Councilmembers Sylvia Root (Ward 2) and David Guillot (Ward 4), along with Mayor Don Albanese are unopposed.

• ORANGE — Mayor Larry Spears will serve another term and Matt Chandler will take over David Bailey’s seat after he decided not to seek re-election.

• PINEHURST — Mayor Sarah McClendon and Councilmembers Cynthia Adams, Greg Willis and Joey Vance are unopposed.

• VIDOR — Nicole McGowan (Ward 2) and Michael Thompson (Ward 3) are unopposed. Ward 5 Councilmember Gary Herrera will not seek re-election and newcomer Mikayla Bourque will fill his seat.

• WEST ORANGE — Councilmembers Mike Shugart, Lanie Brown and Jay Odom are unopposed; no elec-

The last day to register to vote in the May 4 election is Thursday, April 4. Early voting is Monday, April 22, through Tuesday, April 30. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Tuesday, April 23, and mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on the day of the election.

— Dannie Oliveaux, Staff Writer dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com

No charges anticipated in youth/adult brawl in Port Arthur

Two videos circulating on social media show a major brawl between students from Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School and Hamshire-Fannett High School, and adults, that took place March 16 during a 7-on-7 football contest at Port Arthur Memorial High School. The Examiner asked officials for the status of any investigation into the matter, to mixed results.

One of the videos, nearly a minute in length, shows two adults on the ground fighting and other teens from both schools engaging in fighting as several adults or coaches attempt to break up the melee. The video also shows players from West Orange-Stark encouraging the participants while standing in the end zone.

A second video, more than 70 seconds in length, shows coaches separating players from the two schools.

Diocese of Beaumont Superintendent of Schools Robert Reid, Kelly High School oversight, in an email response, stated the event was not approved by school.

“Our athletic director and football coach were not aware of it and our understanding is that this was an AAUsponsored 7-on-7 tournament,” Reid responded.

According to the superintendent, two Kelly High School student-athletes were among the at least seven team players, “and the coach was using the name ‘Kelly Dawgs’ without our authorization.”

“We do not know who the head coach is,” Reid added. “Once we identify the coach, we will ask him to cease from using the name ‘Kelly Dawgs.’ This group does not represent Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School.” Hamshire-Fannett ISD Superinten-

dent Dr. DwaineAugustine was likewise contacted concerning the incident but did not reply as of press time.

According to the Chief Tim Duriso of the Port Arthur Police Department (PAPD), investigators are looking into the incident because it happened on Port Arthur ISD property. PAPD officers responded to the scene because there were no officers from the Port Arthur ISD Police Department on site, the police chief noted.

Duriso said no charges have been

filed – and he is unsure if charges will ever be filed.

“The only way charges would be filed, would be if someone came forward,” Duriso said. “They would have to pursue it.”

In the spring, many Southeast Texas high schools participate in the Texas 7-on-7 Organization, a private organization not associated with either the UIL or the Texas High School CoachesAssociation, that promotes the game of football through 7-on-7 competitions. Teams from Sabine Pass, Nederland, Port Arthur, East Chambers, Port NechesGroves, West Brook and Hardin-Jefferson also competed in the March 16 tournament.

State Qualifying Tournaments (SQTs) are held throughout the state, hosted by individuals selected by the organization’s SQT director. Each SQT follows similar procedures as outlined by the Board of Directors. SQTs are held in May and June. Division 2, for Class 4A and 3A Division 1 schools, will host tournaments at Hardin-Jefferson High School on May 11 and Hamshire-Fannett on May 25.

Teams that place in an SQT qualify for the 7-on-7 state tournament on July 27-29 in College Station.

— dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com

An image from a video shows players and adults engaged in a brawl. View the entire videos at www.theexaminer.com.

Arc conference set

The SETX Nonprofit Development Center is partnering with several organizations to host the Beaumont Parent Conference on April 5 at the Arc of Greater Beaumont, 4330 Westridge Lane in Beaumont. This free conference is offered for families of children with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions or other health care needs, selfadvocates, family members, educators, service providers and other interested

community members.

Contact Cynda Green at cynda. green@txp2p.org for more information, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

‘Coffee with a Cop’ continues

Beaumont Police Department will continue its efforts to connect with the community this Saturday, March 30, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Starbucks inside Target, 5850 Eastex Fwy. Just a few

weeks ago, Target reached out to BPD to invite officers to join their efforts to bring the community together and host the event.

“We are thrilled to participate,” said BPD Officer Haley Morrow.

Children of all ages are invited to check out a patrol car, say “hi” to a K9 officer and visit with those entrusted to serve and protect even the youngest citizens.

Book sale in downtown Beaumont

The Friends of the Beaumont Public Library (BPL) will host a book sale on Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, at the librarylocatedacrossfromtheBeaumont Civic Center.

Members of Friends of the BPL shop early from 3-5 p.m. April 5. Join the Friends before the sale at the door on Friday; individual dues are $10 and family dues are $20.The public sale is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday; cash only.

During the sale, volunteers will continually restock tables from the array of donated and deaccessioned library items. Money raised supports the libraries, their literacy programs, educational and social events at various branches.

For more information, call Elaine Wikstrom, president of the Friends of the Beaumont Public Library, at (409) 4546460.

Amid problems, FAFSA deadline extended

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has extended the state financial aid application priority

deadline to April 15 due to continued technical challenges related to completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In July 2023, the Board amended the rules regarding the financial aid priority deadline, providing Commissioner Harrison Keller with the authority to delay the priority deadline for a specific aid cycle. The original January deadline was previously extended to March 15.

The priority deadline is neither a guarantee to receive funding if a student applies by the applicable date for the academic year, nor is it a restriction to those that apply beyond the date. It is meant to encourage students to complete their application promptly to increase the likelihood of receiving state funding, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board announced.

Construction to close Rainbow Bridge

Southern Road and Bridge, LLC was recently awarded a project in the amount of $10.9 million to perform extensive maintenance to the Rainbow Bridge, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

During construction, the Rainbow Bridge will be closed, and all traffic will be diverted to the Veterans Memorial Bridge with two lanes in each direction. A temporary detour will be constructed on the west side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge to help alleviate traffic while the Rainbow Bridge undergoes maintenance.

Construction is anticipated to begin in late summer or early fall 2024 and will take approximately 18 months.

Details emerge from March murders

A man wanted in connection with the March 19 murder of Nicholas Hughes was arrested, reported the Beaumont Police Department.

Malcolm Jamall Haymond, 35, of Beaumont, was taken into custody and trans ported the Jeffer son County Correc tional Facility on March 21 for the shooting death of Hughes, 29, of Beau mont, who was found dead just after 7 p.m. in an alley behind the Ace convenience store in the 2000 block of Magnolia Avenue.

According to BPD, investigators obtained a murder warrant signed by Pct.

1 Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr., who set Haymond’s bond at $900,000. In another March 19 homicide, a murder warrant was obtained March 20 for a 19-year-old Beaumont male wanted in the shooting death of teenager TadranAmon Carmon.

According to BPD, investigators obtained the warrant for Koy Wayne Dodd Jr., who was listed at large and considered armed and dangerous as of press time. BPD, responding to calls of shots fired, had located Carmon lifeless inside a white 2015 Kia Optima that was backed into a yard in the 4100 block of ChaisonAvenue at 8:30 p.m. March 19. Pct. 6 Justice of

PAPD searches for missing man

As of press time, the Port Arthur Police Department (PAPD) was seeking the public’s help in locating missing man, Marvin Giovanni Cruz-Orellana, 45, last seen on March 6 at 11:30 p.m. He is described as 5 foot, 6 inches tall, weighing about 117 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair, no tattoos or scars. He was last seen driving a black 2009 Chevrolet 4-door truck with Texas license

plate TJZ-5828.

An investigation showed Cruz-Orellana was traveling north from the area in a truck. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the PAPD Criminal Investigation Division at (409) 983-8624 or Detective Tomas Barboza at (409) 983-8650.

Bridge City man arrested for Louisiana drive-by

An eighth person –who has been on the lam for nearly two weeks – was arrested in Beaumont for a fatal drive-by shooting that happened March 2 on West Tank Farm Road near Lake Charles, Louisiana; one suspect still remained at large at press time.

Tyler D. Lewis, 25, of Bridge City, was captured on March 18 in Beaumont and booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility, accused of principal to second-degree murder. His bond was set at $1 million.

the Peace Ransom Jones ordered an autopsy.

Anyone with knowledge of Dodd’s whereabouts is asked to contact BPD at (409) 832-1234 or Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at (409) 833-TIPS, 833TIPS.com or on the P3 TIPS app.

Additionally, BPD reported that preliminary autopsy findings in the March 19 death of Eric Lydell Holman, 44, of Beaumont, show no evidence of assault or trauma, and the final cause of death is pending toxicology results. Holman was found dead inside an apartment in the 1800 block of Broadway Street.

BPD reported the apartment in which Holman was found is known for narcotic and prostitution activity. Several squatters were in the process of being evicted but were not present when officers arrived at the scene.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff-elect Stitch Guillory said two 17-year-old females, 18-year-old Jordan L. Jones and Lewis were traveling together along West Tank Farm Road and Sailfish Drive when at least two of them began firing multiple rounds from the vehicle at neighboring residences.

A bullet passed through one of those homes, striking Annette D. Touvell, 65, as she watched television with her husband. Guillory said Touvell died from herinjuries;herhusbandwasnotharmed.

Woman arrested for hindering arrest

A Vidor woman was arrested and jailed for hindering the apprehension of a felon.

According to the Vidor Police Department (VPD), Crystal Dawn Carmona, 45, was arrested March 23. VPD reported that, at about 5:15 p.m., officers, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, served a felony burglary warrant on a white male while at a home in the 700 block of North Tannahill Street.

During execution of the warrant, a second white male was arrested for a

local Class C warrant and felony hindering the apprehension of a known felon. The woman was also placed under arrest for hindering apprehension of a known felon. All three individuals were transported to the Orange County Correctional Facility and released to jail staff.

OCSO: Body discovered in Mauriceville

March 25, Orange County Sheriff Office (OCSO) deputies investigated the discovery of a body in Mauriceville. OCSO reported the body was found beneath a carport at a vacant mobile home in the 5300 block of Mesquite Drive, north of Texas Highway 12.

Capt. Joey Jacobs stated that a neighbor walking around the property discovered the body before calling deputies at 10:45 a.m.

Deputies were working to identify the body as of press time.

‘Safe Neighborhood’ grant secures arrest of five

Working under the scope of a grant called Project Safe Neighborhood, members of the Narcotics and Gun Unit,

Dodd
Haymond
Lewis
Cruz-Orellana

along with officers in the Field Operations Division, located and served five warrants on March 21, reported the Port Arthur Police Department.

Arrested were Taviontae Fontenot, assault; Mikeshia Williams, possession of a controlled substance (two cases), felony possession of marijuana and resisting arrest, search or transport; Thanh Nguyen, possession of a controlled substance; Fernando Castro, possession of a controlled substance and Kemien Taylor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and a parole violation.

Pair of evaders indicted

A pair of Jefferson County accused felony offenders were indicted March 20 by a grand jury. Jamykel Phillips, 22, was indicted on a state jail felony charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle stemming from an incident on Jan. 12 on East Lucas Drive.

According to the probable cause affidavit for Phillips’arrest, while on routine patrol and scanning plates, Beaumont Police Department Officer Joey Mclemore’s plate reader was notified of a reported stolen 2021 black Charger out of Houston.

While giving commands to Phillips and his passenger to place their hands

outside of the windows, Phillips began revving the engine and proceeded to evade until he eventually wrecked into multiple pedestrian vehicles, resulting in the Dodge becoming inoperable. Phillips exited the vehicle and fled on foot eastbound onto the 8700 block of Eastex Freeway, where he was eventually detained. He was arrested for evading arrest or detention with a prior conviction and evading in a motor vehicle.

In an unrelated incident, Ray Edward Savant, 33, of Nederland, was also indicted on a third-degree felony charge of evading arrest or detention with a vehicle stemming from an incident on Feb. 15.

According to the probable cause affidavit for Savant’s arrest, Nederland Police Department officers were on patrol on North 27th Street in Nederland when they observed Savant’s vehicle had a defective brake light.

After activating their overhead emergencylights,Savantcontinuedeastbound on Helena Avenue, making no effort to pull over and increased speed, swerving from side to side in what officers described as an erratic manner.

Driving roughly nine blocks before pulling into his residence on Helena Avenue, Savant was detained and when asked why he did not stop, he told the officer he wanted to get his vehicle home because his vehicle always gets towed. Savant’s record revealed a previous evading arrest conviction.

‘Take Back Our Community’ on March 28

Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas is partnering with West End Crossing Apartments to host a “Take Back Our Community” event on Thursday, March 28, from 4–6 p.m. at the apartment complex located at 6550 Phelan Blvd. in Beaumont.

The event is open to the public and will have free food and a bounce house for children.

The event will feature appearances by the Beaumont Police Department, Mayor Roy West, Councilman Mike Getz, Pastor Kennedy Andrews of Harvest for Lost Souls, Michael Knight and Terri Clifton, the owners of Better World Properties, and Jeremy Raley of Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.

The event was organized by Kathryn Holland of West End Crossing. For more information, call Holland at (409) 8663791.

The TxDOT Beaumont District will host a virtual public meeting with in-person options to gather input on the proposed US 69 relief route that stretches approximately 23 miles from Cooks Lake Rd (south of Lumberton) to FM 420 (north of Kountze) in Hardin County.

The virtual meeting will consist of a pre-recorded video presentation including both audio and visual components. In-person attendees will be able to view the same presentation delivered in the virtual public meetings, review hard copies of project materials, and ask questions of TxDOT staff and/or consultants. The proposed project would, subject to final design considerations, require approximately 940 to 1,100 acres of right-of-way (ROW).

PLEASE NOTE THIS ROW ACREAGE HAS BEEN CORRECTED FROM THE PREVIOUS PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE ON MARCH 14, 2024.

Based on public input received during the May 2023 public meetings, TxDOT has eliminated the previous alternatives from further study and has developed a revised recommended alternative for public review and input.

In-person options

Kountze Public Meeting

6 – 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Kountze High School

Cruse-Wilson Gym 1488 FM 1293

Kountze, TX 77625

Lumberton Public Meeting

6 – 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Lumberton Performing Arts Center

105 South LHS Drive Lumberton, TX 77657

Virtual option

Available by 12:00 p.m., CT on April 2, 2024 at www.TxDOT.gov, keyword search “US 69 Lumberton-Kountze Relief Route”

Or scan QR code with mobile device to access the virtual content

Questions orComments

All comments must be received by Monday, May 6, 2024.

Submit via the following:

MMaaiill:: TxDOT Beaumont 8350 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX 7708

OOnnlliinnee: Submit your comment via TxDOT.gov and search “US 69 Lumberton-Kountze Relief Route”

EEmmaaiill:: bmtprojects@txdot.gov

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Castro Nguyen Fontenot
Taylor

Senator Carl Allen Parker, distinguished lawyer, statesmen and devoted native son of Port Arthur, Texas, died peacefully in his home on March 22, 2024, following a long illness. He was 89 years old.

A life-long public servant, Carl will best be remembered for his 34 years as a member of the Texas Legislature, starting with his election to the House of Representatives in 1962 and later to the Texas Senate, where he served until 1995.A staunch, unwavering and wholly unapologetic proponent of public safety, public education, workers’ rights and protection of the environment, Texas’ “Singing Senator” was a formidable legislative opponent who used his sharp and disarming wit and even sharper mind to stubbornly push his people-first priorities into law. His humorous and sometimes scorching quips during legislative debate were legendary but were inevitably tied to persuasive points supporting the bill he was advocating. His toughness was tempered by his pragmatic devotion to getting things done. He was too clever to hold a grudge, and fellow legislators were often shocked to find that after suffering the consequences of opposing him on one issue, Carl was willing to become a crucial ally on another. His

Carl allen Parker

august 6, 1934 — MarCh 22, 2024

ability to build consensus and, yes, even compromise, made him unusually effective. Following the 1991 legislative session where Carl had bested the changing political winds in Texas and passed a variety of bills from school finance to creating a new environmental superagency, Texas Monthly begrudgingly proclaimed: “Weneverthought we’d say this, but … thank the Lord for Carl Parker.”

Carl’s devotion to the needs and hardships of everyday folks and his conviction to improve their lives was instilled at an early age. Carl was born in 1934 in Port Arthur during the Great Depression. His father Harvey was a refinery worker, a nationally recognized union leader, and was ultimately elected mayor of PortAthur. His mother Juanita, who was herself unable to attend college, was an active advocate and zealous, life-long supporter of higher education.

When Carl was 17 and working a summer job at Zesto’s, an ice cream parlor in Port Arthur, he decided that he wanted to be either a florist or a lawyer. With considerable encouragementfromHarvey,heultimatelychose the latter and went on to attend the University of Texas Law School. During his final year at UT, he met Beverly Stiegler, a student from San Antonio attending nearby Southwestern University. Carl’s children recall their father often shared that his two best life decisions were asking Beverly to marry him and becoming a lawyer, in that order. Carl and his cherished “Bev-o” were married in 1960 and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

Following law school and his first legal job as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Navy, Carl returned to his beloved Port Arthur and joined the law firm Long and Parker (now the Parker Law Firm). Carl was a lawyer’s lawyer who relished a widely varied and local practice that included criminal defense, family law, business transactions, personal injury, and even

representing foreign governments. Carl received but steadfastly turned down offers to join bigger and more specialized firms, preferring the variety, satisfaction, and autonomy of maintaining a hometown law office that helped and provided services to his friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, and East Texas.

In the later years of his life, Carl reduced his professional commitments but was anything but idle. He continued to answer the call of community service, joining various government committees and working groups that supported education and economic development. He remained a voracious reader who gobbled up books in a day and then ordered copies for his friends for discussion. He wrote an autobiography to share his personal history, wisdom, and life lessons with family and friends. He stayed current with the news of the day and had no shortage of opinions, which he happily shared in op-ed contributions to local newspapers. He became an enthusiastic user of social media with varying measures of success. Carl also found time to retreat to his woodworking shop where he created toys for his adoring grandchildren and legions of holiday-themed figurines for his friends and family. At age 88, he still traveled to and presided as Mayor of the Parker deer lease in central Texas, where he shot the self-proclaimed best deer of the season. And

of course, until his last day, he continued to meet with and talk to family and friends to share his thoughts on life, laced with plentiful doses of his inimitable East Texas humor.

Carl is survived by his wife, Dr. Beverly Parker; his daughters, Valerie Hintzen (Erich) and Chris Parker (Elena Labrador); his son, Allen Parker (Andrea); his grandchildren Andrew Hintzen, Emma Hintzen (Michael Martinez-Silva), Peyton Garrett (Jace), and Tripp Parker; and his sister, Karen Parker Trees (Bob).

Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. with funeral following at 3 p.m. April 2, 2024, at Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Parker Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 1446, Port Arthur, TX, 77641; Gift of Life, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, TX 77706; or Calder Baptist Church, 1005 N. Eleventh St., Beaumont, TX, 77702

Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Texas State Cemetery located at 909 Navasota St, Austin.

Courthouse witness rooms receive makeover

The Junior League of Beaumont held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Witness Rooms at the Jefferson County Courthouse, courtesy of the Provisional Class of the Junior League of Beaumont (JLB). The project marks the culmination of four months of planning and hard work, aimed at creating inviting and comforting spaces for witnesses awaiting testimony.

The ribbon cutting ceremony March 26 at the District Attorney’s Office on the third floor was attended by members of the Junior League of Beaumont, representatives from the Jefferson County Courthouse, and other community stakeholders.

The Witness Rooms received complete makeovers, including fresh paint, artwork and new furniture, transforming them into environments conducive to relaxation and ease of mind. Understanding the stress and anxiety witnesses often experience while waiting to testify, JLB spared no effort in ensuring these rooms provide a soothing atmosphere.

In addition to the aesthetic enhancements, special attention was given to the Children’s Witness Room. Recog-

nizing the unique needs of young witnesses, the room now boasts an array of new books, movies and games available in multiple languages. This room was curated to provide entertainment and distraction, alleviating apprehension children may feel while waiting to testify.

“The Junior League of Beaumont is so proud of the Provisional Class, and we are so fortunate to have these outstanding ladies representing us in the community,” said Mattie Beaver, chair of Membership Development for the Junior League of Beaumont. “The work they have done for the Jefferson County Courthouse will have a lasting impact on Southeast Texas. We thank them for all their hard work and the love they have put into this project.”

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Junior League of Beaumont Provisional Class for their dedication and commitment to this project,” said District Attorney Keith Giblin. “The renovated Witness Rooms will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the experience of witnesses, ensuring they feel supported and cared for throughout their time at the courthouse.”

Mercy Funeral System, Inc.

Golden Triangle Polymers donates $100K to LSCO Foundation for student scholarship program

Golden Triangle Polymers Company LLC donated $100,000 to the Lamar State College-Orange Foundation to fund the Golden Triangle Polymers Scholarship for students interested in pursuing degrees in industrial systems or preengineering.

The Golden Triangle Polymers Scholarship is the largest single donation the school’s foundation has received for a non-endowed scholarship. It will fully fund a twoyear degree, including tuition, books and fees for three students per academic year. Stu dents also may be eligible for the scholarship if taking courses during summer sessions.

“Investing in the next generation workforce is key to ensuring the longterm success of our facility,” said Chad Jennings, plant manager for Golden Triangle Polymers. “We never

want finances to be a barrier to having a skilled local workforce, so we’re excited to make this donation and hope it encourages young people to seek out careers in the petrochemical industry.”

Full-time Lamar State College-Orange students studying industrial systems, which includes degrees in instrumentation, process technology, safety, health and environment, and pre-engineering are eligible for the scholarship. Eligibility for the Golden Triangle Polymers Scholarship will also require that students graduate from a high school in the nine-county Golden Triangle region to encourage participation in the regional workforce. These counties include Orange, Jefferson, Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Liberty, Tyler, Chambers and Galveston.

Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Group, Inc.

Job Description

Executive Director

The Mission of the Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Group, Inc. (JCLTRG) is to assist with the longterm recovery of low-income individuals and families who were affected by and have unmet needs caused from manmade or natural disasters, in Jefferson County, Texas. This is to be conducted through a case management program to obtain the resources necessary to meet those needs while avoiding duplication of services.

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating disaster recovery efforts for the Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Group, Inc. (JCLTRG) as part of Jefferson County’s disaster response and recovery process. This includes oversight of staff and volunteer management, confidential case management services, advocacy, case monitoring, referrals, and other aspects of assistance to disaster victims.

Minimal Skills: Must be a self-starter. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills are necessary, with the ability to work efficiently and effectively while managing multiple priorities. Will develop project plans & budgets to achieve organizational goals. Must demonstrate decision-making skills to develop and recommend creative processes for continuous program or service improvements and have in-depth knowledge of programs and service needs. Proven record of collaboration, facilitation, problem solving, flexibility in evolving situations, marketing, leadership, teamwork, and partnership management with strong interpersonal and relationship building skills. Must be people oriented, organized, and able to operate with an orientation toward solution, with the ability to demonstrate empathy for disaster impacted individuals. Must understand how to work with and manage volunteers effectively. Additionally, this position requires the ability to develop presentations for the board and members of the public. Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite. Familiarity with federal, state, and local employment laws. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in disaster recovery or social service work.

Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of experience with organizational management, disaster recovery, or service/program delivery, and providing leadership to a department, program, or service. Demonstrated experience in coordinating staff and volunteer activities. Ability to interpret program trends, results, and related data to formulate recommendations. Ability to manage multiple priorities with strong skills in planning and problem-solving. Ability to relate well and effectively with diverse groups and individuals. Must be willing to complete the following National Incident Management System (NIMS) trainings.

Travel: Moderate, local travel required with occasional out of area travel.

For a more detailed job description please visit: https://www.jeffersoncountylongtermrecovery.org/jobopening

Gregory B. Cantue, Owner

Please include salary and benefits expectation when applying and send resume to: director@jcltrg.org Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Group (JCLTRG)

Local photographer featured for FotoFest 2024

TheArt Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) is presenting the work of Dennis Moncla in “Freeze Frame,” on view now through May 26 at the museum’s 500 Main St. downtown Beaumont locale as part of Houston’s biennial FotoFest project. This is AMSET’s third year participating.

Local photographer Dennis Moncla was born and raised in Beaumont and, from an early age, reported finding solace and inspiration in the wilderness surrounding his hometown. As a child, he borrowed his parents’ camera to capture the landscapes and diverse wildlife of the region; as an adult, Moncla dedicated himself to exploring the natural wonders of Beaumont and beyond through his photography.

Freeze Frame showcases images of birds in the wild, frequently those native and migrating in Southeast and East Texas at prominent birdwatching destinations such as Cattail Marsh, High Island and Big Thicket National Preserve, where over 350 species of birds can be seen during migratory season.

Moncla’s work has garnered widespread acclaim, earning him recognition in local and national photography exhibitions. A reception will take place at AMSET on Sunday, April 21, from 2 – 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

For more info on this exhibition and upcoming programs, visit amset.org or call (409) 832-3432. For more information on FotoFest and to see other participating organizations, visit fotofest.org.

Company contributes to city park

Sour Lake city officials received a welcome surprise in the form of a donation for the city park. At the March 19 city council meeting, Gus Dugas, president of Acadian Waste Services (AWS) of Lafayette, Louisiana, presented Mayor Bruce Robinson and city council members with a $24,000 check in mem-

Dugas said he was glad there was something they could do in memory of McBee.

“Anything happening in Sour Lake, she was either involved or spearheading,” said Dugas. “You would have thought she lived in Sour Lake because of the way she was involved in the community.”

LU names 2024 Distinguished Alumna

Carmen Angelle Jordan, Class of 1990, was named a 2024 Lamar University Distinguished Alumna.

ory of Sharon McBee. The money will be used for erecting a shade structure at the Sour Lake City Park.

McBee, a Wildwood resident, served as general manager of the Sour Lake office of AWS for nearly six years. She died suddenly on Feb. 26, 2023, at age 61. Dugas noted McBee worked in the solid waste industry for more than 35 years with several companies, including AWS, and her consulting company.

Jordan, a Lamar University BBA in Finance graduate, is Origin Bank’s regional president for Greater Houston. Joining in 2018 as executive vice president, she elevated the Houston market, quadrupling loans and doubling deposits while enhancing credit performance, the company supported. Specializing in merger and acquisition finance and energy service lending, she chairs Origin’s corporate loan committee.

Previously, as Houston Market President at IberiaBank, Jordan led loan growth from $400 million to $1.4 billion amid challenging energy down-

turns.As chief lending officer at Encore Bancshares (2009-12), she achieved substantial growth and improved credit quality, resulting in a 300% stock price appreciation in three years. Jordan has received many accolades, including American Banker Magazine’s Top 50 Women in Banking – twice, and various

Jordan

diversity awards. In April, she’ll be inducted into the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame.

Jordan has chaired the College of Business Advisory Board for Lamar University and contributes to the Lamar University Foundation.

Honor Society funds Beaumont student success

The National Honor Society (NHS) announced that Jason Norman, a senior at Beaumont ISD’s West Brook High School and member of NHS, has been selected for an NHS Scholarship worth $3,200 and as a National Merit Finalist. Since 1946, more than $25 million in scholarships have been awarded to outstanding NHS senior members to support college access and student success. The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of the NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated work to support the four pillars of NHS:

scholarship, service, leadership and character.

“We are very proud of Jason! He is hard-working, gives of his time and is always willing to help anyone who needs it,” said Nicholas Phillips, principal of West Brook High School. “Jason is a true example of what we want all of our students at West Brook to strive to be.”

At West Brook, Norman serves as president of the National Honor Society, team captain/coach of the UIL Debate Team, treasurer/vice-president of the West Brook Red Cross Club (which he also co-founded), and treasurer and founding member of the West Brook Green Club. He also finds time to peer tutor at least one hour a week at West Brook and performs community service through Key Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Green Club, Interact Club, and other organizations. This fall, he plans to attend the University of Texas to get a degree in Business and then on to law school.

Hundreds volunteer during ‘Day of Caring’

Nearly 500 volunteers from over 28 organizations dedicated their time and talents to make Southeast Texas a better place to live, work and raise a family during the United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County “2024 Day of Caring” event on March 22.

Volunteers convened at various sites across Southeast Texas, including the Southeast Texas Food Bank, where they sorted school supplies for the School Tools Program and assembled senior food boxes.

Among the volunteers were representatives from ExxonMobil, Del Papa Distributing Company, Entergy Texas, Rave Financial, 10 departments from the city of Beaumont and Coastal Lawn Services.

City of Beaumont photo

Lamar forges partnership to enhance job search opportunities

In a move aimed at bolstering employment prospects for students and alumni, Lamar University has solidified its partnership with the Indeed Job Search Academy. Positioned as one of the leading institutions in the region facilitating seamless transitions from academia to the workforce, Lamar University’s collaboration with Indeed marks a pivotal moment in their ongoing stated commitment to career development.

This partnership, a first of its kind between a university system and Indeed, encompasses the Texas State University System’s seven-member institutions, including Lamar University. Through a series of co-branded initiatives, students and alumni gain access to a comprehensive array of resources tailored to enhance their job search endeavors. From informative webinars and online workshops to a robust job search platform and invaluable career guidance tools, the collaboration aims to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

Haley Tyson, director of the Lamar University Center for Career and Professional Development, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing its potential to empower students and alumni.

“We are thrilled to be part of the inaugural TSUS rollout with Indeed’s Job Search Academy,” said Tyson. “This partnership augments our existing resources, providing our students, graduate students and alumni with invaluable support as they navigate their career paths. Our focus remains on fostering career readiness and ensuring our students are well-prepared for the workforce.”

Through collaborations such as this, Lamar University and its affiliated institutions, including Lamar State College Orange and Port Arthur, along with Lamar Institute of Technology, continue to demonstrate the efficacy of their programs in facilitating local employment opportunities.

TSUS Chancellor Brian McCall highlighted the importance of such partnerships in driving post-graduation success, citing the system’s record in producing gradu- ates that find employment in Texas within a year of graduating.

“TSUS leads the state in the percentage of graduates working in Texas one year after graduation, and we plan to build on this achievement through innovative partnerships like Indeed’s Job Search Academy,” noted McCall.

Central to the Job Search Academy are five key skills: job searching, resume writing, interview preparation, job offer evaluation and career direction. To kick off the program, Lamar University is hosting a professional networking and career advancement discussion featuring Career Coach Dr. Chela White and Indeed Career Strategist Matt Berndt. The upcoming event, scheduled for April 1, will offer participants the opportunity to engage in a live Q&A session with Berndt and co-strategist Clint Carrens, where attendees can seek advice and insights on navigating the job search process effectively.

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by some job seekers, the partnership also offers specialized support through webinars such as “Getting a Fair Chance: Strategies for Job Seekers with Criminal Records.”

For those interested in participating in upcoming events or accessing resources offered through the partnership, online registration is available through www.linkedin.com/events/7178056144861483008/comments/.

Baseball

Beaumont’s own Jim Dishman, the last surviving member of the 1951 Texas A&M baseball team that played in the College World Series, threw out the first pitch at the Aggie baseball game March 23 against Mississippi St. in College Station. Many of the 92-year-old’s friends and family were in attendance.

Coaching

Port Arthur native Aaron Babino was recently named athletic director and head football coach at Cameron Yoe High School. The Yoemen compete in Class 3A Division I, Region III.

Babino, who played football at both Stephen F. Austin and Lincoln High School, spent the last five season at Desoto, where he was the defensive coordinator, and helped the Eagles to back-to-back Class 6A Division II state championships in 2022 and 2023 includ-

ing a perfect 15-0 season. After the season, Babino was named Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Region 3 Assistant Coach of the Year. Anthony Bryant, Babino’s father, also played football at Port Arthur Lincoln then went on to the college level at the University of Oklahoma with Port Arthur teammate “Little” Joe Washington Jr.

Softball

The city of Port Arthur Parks and Recreation Department men’s softball league is scheduled forApril 7-June 2 at Barbara Jacket Park (100 Gilham Park).

Registration, which closes Saturday, March 30, can be done in-person at 1308 9th Ave. Teams consists of 15 players and entry is $150 per team with an age restriction of 18 and older.

For more information, call Harry Chevalier at (409) 983-8167.

sports shorts Beaumont

Powerlifting

Several lifters placed at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association State Championship on March 22-23 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

Vidor’s Riley Marlow brought home the only first-place medal among local competitors. He earned gold in the Division II 220-pound class with three lifts totaling 1,790 pounds.

Two athletes finished third – Lumberton’s Grayden Spencer (D2) and Akilles Garcia (D3) of Orangefield.

Area lifters who were among the Top 10 finishers in their weight classifications were Cayden Guerra of Nederland (D1, 8th), Kaleb Johnson of Lumberton (D2, 8th), Kaiden Welch of Vidor (D2, 10th), Nick Lejeune of Bridge City (D2, 8th), Carson Phelps of LCM (D2, 10th), Jaden Thibodeaux of East Chambers (D3, 4th), Trent Bruno of Kountze (D3, 10th) and Emmanuel Hernandez of Newton (D3, 7th).

The girls competed March 13-16 at the Comerica Center in Frisco.

Medaling were Andrea Pulido of Nederland (5A D2, 2nd), Camryn Barragan of Vidor (4A D1, 2nd), Hallie Bearden of Bridge City (4A D2, 2nd), Emma Smith of Silsbee (4A D2, 3rd), Culiesha Busby of Silsbee (4AD2, 2nd),

Dziya Evans of West Orange-Stark (4A D2, 3rd), April Sinopoli of East Chambers (3A D1, 2nd), Maria Gomez of Buna (3A D1, 3rd) and Jakhia David of Newton (3A D2, 2nd).

Golf

Chad Johnson has joined the family at the Henry Homberg Golf Course as the assistant golf pro. Johnson comes to Homberg from Brentwood. Prior, Johnson helped launch The National Golf Course in Westlake, Louisiana, and oversaw operations for eight years.

A native of nearby Lake Charles, Louisiana, Johnson played golf for the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where he graduated.

Lamar Cardinals

The Cardinal baseball team’s 13, which was the longest in the nation, came to an end March 16 in a 6-4 loss at Houston (15-9) at Schroeder Park. LU, now 19-5, scored their four runs on eight hits, outhitting Houston, who scored six runs on six hits.

Six different Cardinals recorded hits led by multi-hit efforts from senior Ethan Ruiz (2-5, double, run scored) and junior Drake Varnado (2-3, double, RBI, run scored.

LU will head north Thursday, March 28, for a three-game series at Oklahoma (15-9) before returning home to host Sam Houston (17-9) for a nonconference game Tuesday, April 2, at 6 p.m.

The LU softball team matched their entire win total of last season, 22, with a 4-2 victory at UTSAon March 26 in San Antonio. It was also their sixth consecutive win to improve to 22-10 overall.

The top seven batters in the lineup for the Cardinals all recorded a hit including freshman Veronica Harrison (2 RBI, home run), sophomore and former PNG standout Cameron Niedenthal (double, RBI) and junior Jayne Sepulveda. Junior Karyana Mitchell earned the complete game victory allowing just two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Nicholls (17-15, 4-2) will come to Beaumont to play Lamar for three Southland Conference games beginning Thursday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m.

Courtesy photo
Jim Dishman, Jim Schlossnagle (Aggies head coach) and a young Aggie fan
Aaron Babino is named new athletic director and head football coach at Cameron Yoe High School.
Riley Marlow

Spousal and survivors benefits for men

In the past 27 years, I bet I have written hundreds of columns explaining spousal and widow’s benefits that are availabletowomenonahusband’sSocial Security account. And usually if I have enough space, I try to squeeze in a line that says the same benefits are available to husbands and widowers, even though I know those benefits to men are rarely paid.

Why is that so? Because a woman’s Social Security benefit is almost always smaller than her husband’s benefit. Andthathappensfornumerous reasons, but mostly because women tend to take time out of the paid labor force (and thus time away from paying Social Security taxes) to raise children. So, a woman is much more likely to qualify for extra benefits off of a husband’s Social Security record.

And the obvious reason why women qualify for widows benefits more often than men get widowers benefits is because most wives outlive their husbands.

sporadically throughout my life. But most of the time, I stayed home to care for our children and later our grandkids. My 65-year-old wife is a doctor. She is about to retire her practice and she plans to file for Social Security soon afterward. I plan to file for mine at the same time. The work I’ve done over the years has earned me a very small Social Security benefit on my own. But I’m wondering if I will be due any spousal benefits on my wife’s record. If yes, can I file for my own benefits now – and then when I reach full retirement age, switch to the higher spousal rate?

Social Security and You

And the numbers back this up. There are almost 2 million women who get spousal benefits from a husband’s account. But there are only 140,000 men who get benefits as a dependent husband on their wife’s Social Security record. Similarly, there are about 3.6 million widows getting survivors benefits but only about 170,000 widowers getting them.

But maybe times are slowly changing. In more than a few married households today, the wife is making more money than the husband, meaning she could end up with higher Social Security benefits than her husband. And maybe men are starting to take better care of themselves physically and thus living as long as, if not longer, than their wives. Why am I saying this? Because I’ve been getting more and more emails from men asking me about spousal and widower’s benefits. Here are some examples.

Q: I am 62 years old. I’ve had jobs

A: It sounds like you will be due spousal benefits on your wife’s record. But you must file for both your own retirement and spousal benefits at the same time. At 62, you will get about 75%ofyourfullretirementbenefit rate. And then that benefit will be supplemented up to around 30% of your wife’s full retirement age benefit. Or to put that another way, if 30% of your wife’s FRA benefit is higher than 75% of your own benefit, you’ll get the difference in a supplemental dependent husband’s benefit.

Q: My wife of 40 years sadly died last year at age 62. She was still working at the time of her death. I just turned 62 and am thinking of retiring. I always made more money than my wife, so my Social Security benefit is going to be more than hers would have been. Would I possibly be due any benefits on my wife’s record?

A: Yes, you should be. You could employ what is normally referred to as the “widow’s option.” But of course, in your case, we’ll call it the “widower’s option.”

In the answer to the prior question, I told the husband who was due two benefits (his own and something off his wife’s record) that he could not file for one benefit and wait until a later date to file for the other one. That is because of Social Security’s “deemed filing” rule that

essentially says when you file for one Social Security benefit, you are deemed to be filing for any and all other benefits you are due at the same time.

But that deemed filing rule goes out the window for widows and widowers. And so you have options. For example, you could file for widowers benefits now, and at your full retirement age, switch to 100% of your own benefit. Or you could wait until age 70 to make the switch and end up with about 130% of your retirement benefit.

And to help other widowers (and widows) with slightly different circumstances understand the rules, let me give some other examples of how this widow(er)s option might be used. Let’s say 62-yearold Jerry’s full retirement age Social Security benefit was $2,200 per month. And let’s say his wife, Carole’s, FRA benefit was $2,500 per month. And Carole died. Here are some options for Jerry to consider:

He could file for reduced widowers benefits now and get about 80% of her full retirement rate, or $2,000.Then at his full retirement age, he could switch to 100% of his FRA rate, or $2,200. Or he could wait until 70 and get an augmented benefit of about $2,860 per month.

Another option would be for Jerry to file for reduced retirement benefits first. He’d get 75% of $2,200, or $1,650 per month. And then at his full retirement age, he could switch to 100% widower’s

benefits, or $2,500 per month. (There are no augmented widow(er)s benefits after FRA, so there would be no point in waiting until 70 to switch to widower’s benefits.)

Q: I am a retired teacher in California. I never paid into Social Security but get a California teacher’s pension of $3,800 per month. My wife worked and paid into Social Security all her life. She gets a $1,900 Social Security benefit. I recently learned that because of some dumb pension offset law, I won’t get anything from my wife’s Social Security if she predeceases me. Can you explain this?

A: Yes, I can. The Government Pension Offset law just says that a non-Social Security retirement pension (like your teacher’s pension) will be treated the same way as a Social Security retirement pension. For example, if you were getting $3,800 in a Social Security retirement benefit, you never would be due widowersbenefitsonyourwife’srecordbecause your own retirement benefit is so much higher. The GPO law simply treats your teacher’s retirement pension the same way. Because it is so much higher than your potential Social Security widowers benefit, you would not be due that benefit if your wife dies before you do.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Mar- genau has two books with all the answers. One is called “Social Security – Simple and Smart: 10 Easy- to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.”The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.”

Tom Margenau columnist

Obituaries

Dr. O.R. (Rudy) Allred, 91, of Beaumont, died March 24. He was born to Eliza and Nellie Cowart Allred on September 1, 1932, in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He grew up in Groves and graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School.

Allred came to Beaumont in 1957 after graduating from the University of Texas Dental School-Houston. He practiced dentistry there from 1957 until 1998. He was always active in the Southeast Texas Dental Society where he served as president and past president. Allred was involved with many other dental associations as well, becoming a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentist and Fellowship in the American College of Dentistry. In 1986, he was voted the Dentist of theYear.Additionally, he served on the staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital for over 45 years.

yon,diveFloridaandCozumel,aswellas fish fromAlaska to Brazil.

Later in life, he and his wife Martha, enjoyed touring the United States and shopping for antiques.Heinstilled theimportanceofthe power of education, loyalty, honor, and responsibility in his 4 children and had a great sense of pride at how they all had such success in life. He is survived by his four children, Gerald and Debbie Allred of Dallas, Jim and Jane Allred of Houston, Dr. Terri and Bobby German of Beaumont and Dr. Cheryl and Steve Nelson of Lumberton; 10 grandchildren, Chris and Matt Allred, Jacob, Andrew and Melanie Allred, Van and Zack German, Emily Nicotre, Taz and Luke Nelson and three great grandchildren.

BUILDINGANEMERGENCY FUNDWHENCASHISSCARCE

The traditional rule-of-thumb for emergency funds is to have enough cash stashed away to cover 3 to 6 months worth of expenses. For many people, though, thissoundsbetterintheorythaninpractice.

When you're starting from scratch and don't have a lot — or any — extra cash at the end of the month, consider these ideas to help grow your emergency fund.

CuttingExpenses

• Review recent statements to find opportunities to save. Look over your bank statements and credit card bills from the last few months to see where all your income is going. Spend some time tallying up expenses in categories you havesomecontrolover,suchasentertainment,diningout,clothing andonlineshopping.

• Cutdownonlifestyleexpenses.Identifyareastocutyourspending andcreatenewspendinggoalsincategoriesthatwereproblematic inpreviousmonths.Someoftheeasiestplacestocutincludeonline shopping,subscriptionservices,clothing,moviesandmusic.Once you reach your emergency fund goal, you can consider adding someofthesespendingareasbackintoyourbudget.

• Spend less on food. One of the biggest budget busters for many families is their spending on food — both at the grocery store and at restaurants. Control food spending by making a meal plan and cooking most of your meals at home, shopping sales at the supermarket,andmakingmealswithingredientsyoualreadyhave.

IncreasingIncome

He also served the community through the Lions Club of North Beaumont as President and Deputy District Governor. He was also active in in the First Baptist Church of Beaumont, later joining Westgate Memorial Baptist Church in Beaumont and Ebenezer Methodist Church in McCall Creek, Mississippi.

His greatest service was to his family. He enjoyed outdoor activities with the family such as camping, backpacking, scuba diving, hunting and fishing. He also had some adventure lined up for the kids. He was able to hike the Grand Can-

Memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Methodist Church, 4596 Bogue Chitto Road Southeast, McCall Creek, Mississippi 39647, or Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate, Beaumont, Texas 77706.

A gathering for family and friends is 5–7 p.m., Thursday, March 28, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. An additional gathering will begin 1 p.m. with his funeral service to follow at2:00p.m.,Saturday,March30,2024,at Ebenezer Methodist Church, 4596 Bogue Chitto Road Southeast, McCall Creek, Mississippi. Interment will follow at Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery, McCall Creek.

• Squirrel away windfalls. Consider adding windfalls such as tax refunds, work bonuses, or annual gifts you may receive from a familymembertoyouremergencysavingsassoonasyoureceive it.

• Sell stuff you don't need. Look around your home for items you rarelyuseandthensellunwantedstuffusinganonlinemarketplace. Used items that can fetch a good sales price include workout equipment, brand name clothing and accessories, small furniture andantiques.

• Addapart-timejoborsidehustle.Boostyourincomebypickingup moreshiftsatwork,askingforovertime,orgettingasecondjobor side gig to fill your spare time. This step can help you bring more moneyhomesoyoucanaddtoyouremergencyfund.

Once you start looking for ways to spend less and earn more, there's onefinalstepthatcanhelpyougrowyouremergencyfund.Makesure the money you find on both ends of the spectrum makes its way to yoursavings,eitherthroughmanualorautomatictransfers.

The best way to do this is by having a dedicated emergency fund in an account that's separate from your regular checking and savings accounts.Bymovingyourextramoneyintothisaccount,youcangrow youremergencyfundwithlesstemptationtospendit.

JANA URIBE, CPA, IS A PARTNER AT POLLANS & COHEN P.C.

Making chemicals that people use every day

Indorama provides solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges. From cleaner energy and high-performance textiles to fuel-efficient transportation and stronger, lighter building materials, we deliver innovation that touches people’s lives every single day.

Indorama currently has the following positions open at our facility in Port Neches, Texas.

Physician - Orthopedic Surgeon 16491572 BEAUMONT

Diagnose & perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Mobile Associate, Retail Sales 16491852 BEAUMONT

Builds proficiency related to serving & selling to customers. Uses digital tools ininteractions&on-boarding.HS/GED. Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Analytical Technician 16491184 BEAUMONT

Provides ongoing support to the Measurement Team. Operates & maintains process on-line analyzers, lab analytical equipment, etc.Inspections&calibrations.HS/GED. Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Staff Chaplain, Spiritual Care 16490723 BEAUMONT

Console Operator Environmental Specialist

Indorama Ventures Oxides & Derivatives is a leading chemical intermediates and surfactants producer with a diverse range of products in growth markets such as home & personal care, agrochemicals, oilfield technologies, fuel & lube additives and more. The successful candidate will receive a competitive compensation and will be eligible to participate in a comprehensive benefits package which includes: medical, vision and dental, basic life insurance, AD&D insurance, and 401k. Here, you can make an impact and make a difference. Come join us!

Third-party resumes not accepted.

Indorama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identification, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

Provides timely & sensitive spiritual care to patients, families, associates, and physicians via individual & group interactions. Masters. Call 1-877-8345627toapply.

Field Service Technician 16491473 BEAUMONT

Partner w/sales reps. Execute service plans in strategic district accounts. Provide customers with problemsolving support. HS/GED. TXDL. Call 1-877-834-5627toapply.

Chemical Plant Production Engineer 16495381 BEAUMONT

Monitor daily operations, production rates and product quality. Sustains productswithcostreductionsandyield improvements. Bachelors. Call 1-877834-5627toapply.

Petroleum Inspector III 16498772 PORTARTHUR

Volume measurement, temperature measurement & sampling of commodity materials contained or conveyed in lines, shore tanks, cars, tank trucks and barges and ships. Call 1-877-834-5627toapply.

Heat Treat Assistant 16441749 BEAUMONT

Performs Electrical Heat treatment to achieve a desired result such as hardening or softening of a material.

HS/GED.Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Scale Clerk  16449790 BEAUMONT

Handle cash sales by collecting cash, checks, or credit card transactions. Answer phones & handle office duties. HS/GED.Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Administration Assistant 16489875 BEAUMONT

Answer phones & directs calls. Coordinates questions & issues w/ department personnel. HS/GED. 21YOA/older. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Supervisor, Residential Market

16487868 BEAUMONT

Responsible for meeting/exceeding budgeted headcount & sales goals. Supervise the daily operations of sales team. Bachelors. Starts at $18.00/hr. Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Retail Associate 16488085 BEAUMONT

Ensurethestorestaffprovidesfriendly, open & enthusiastic customer service, in person & via phone. Assist w/ product selection, purchases, returns. HS/GED. 18YOA/older. Call 1-877-8345627toapply.

Computed Tomography

Technologist

16488299 BEAUMONT

Performs diagnostic procedures utilizing state of the art computerized diagnostic imaging equipment. Associates. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Project Manager II - Facilities 16488596 BEAUMONT

Responsible for planning, organizing, managing & executing projects. Bachelors. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Armed Security Officer 16488856 BEAUMONT

Conducts frequent security patrols of the facilities and grounds. Controls & enforcesfacilityparking.HS/GED.TXDL. Level3Certification(Texas).Call1-877834-5627toapply.

Structural Fitter 1st Class 16427984 ORANGE

Performbargerepairwork.Lays-out& fabricates metal structural parts, plates, bulkheads & frames; brace in position.  24YOA/older. HS/GED. Call 1-877-834-5627toapply.

Store Associate 16436962 BRIDGECITY

Identify & resolve potential service issues. Perform cashier duties; cash handling. Open/close store. HS/GED. Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Warehouse Attendant 16446618 VIDOR Organization, shipping/receiving, inspection, cleaning, loading/ unloading, of tools & equipment. HS/ GED. TXDL. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Strategic Sourcing Specialist 16499614 PORTNECHES Maintain PO / Proposal logs & folders, supplier setup. Purchase materials & services required for plant operations. Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Managing Partner  16332779 BEAUMONT On-going oversight of gym operations & leading a team. Oversee & maintain training standards. HS/GED. 18YOA/ older.Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

16495454 PORTNECHES

Performs all routine/complicated lab procedures: specimen processing & handling,testingofpatientspecimens, calculating, reporting of results, etc. Bachelors. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Purchasing/Receiving 16495420 VIDOR Procurementofcommodities,reducing overall costs, developing, & implementing sourcing strategies. HS/ GED. TXDL.  Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Billing Clerk  16484709 BEAUMONT

Daily invoicing, accounts receivable, some accounts payable & collections. HS/GED.Call1-877-834-5627toapply.

Dental Lab Tech 16466821 PORTNECHES Construct & repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. Clerical duties may be assigned. HS/GED. Call 1-877-834-5627toapply.

Hotel Front Desk Agent

16495177 BEAUMONT Greet & welcome guests. Check guests in/out. Answer phone calls. Assist w/ reservations & bookings. $11.00$12.00/hr. Call 1-877-834-5627 to apply.

Care Manager II

16493551 BEAUMONT

Identifying, initiating & managing optimal patient flow/throughput to enhance continuity of care through assessment, planning, implementation, etc. Call 1-877-8345627toapply.

RN, CVICU- SEASONAL  16495129 BEAUMONT

Responsiblefordeliveryofpatientcare through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation & evaluation. $65.00 per hour. Call 1-877-834-5627toapply.

LegaLs

INVITATION TO BID

BID NO. WU0224-12

Sealed bids will be received online until 2:00 p.m. (CST), THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024, for furnishing all plans, administration, superintendence, labor, services, materials, tools, equipment, supplies, transportation, utilities, and all other items and facilities necessary therefore, as provided in the Contract Documents for the construction of:

CITY OF BEAUMONT

ELECTRICAL CONTROL

IMPROVEMENTS FOR MULBERRY STREET, PINEY POINT LANE, AND WALL STREET LIFT STATIONS

BID NO. WU0224-12

Bids will be opened and publicly read in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid or combination of bids deemed advantageous to it.

Bidders must submit an original Bid Bond, Cashier’s Check, Certified Check or irrevocable Letter of Credit issued by a bank satisfactory to the Owner, payable without recourse to the order oftheCityofBeaumontinan amount not less than five (5) percent of the largest possible bid amount as a guaranty that the Bidder will enter into contract and execute bond and guaranty in the form provided within fourteen (14) calendar days after date of Notice ofAward of the contract. Bids without the required financial security deposit will not be considered.

A MANDATORY Pre-bid Conference will be held at 10:00 A.M., on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024, in-person at 1350 Langham Rd, Beaumont, TX 77707 and virtually on Microsoft Teams. Attendees may join by internet or phone call:

https://bit.ly/43l3dPQ +1 903-405-2009 Passcode: 847 821 302#

Attendance at the Pre-bid meeting is a prerequisite to bidding. Prior to the prebid conference, interested bidders should obtain forms of proposal, contract, bond, and specifications. No one will be allowed to enter the pre-bid virtually or in-person if arrival is later than 5 minutes after the designated time. Calls for any technical difficulties must be made prior to the meeting.

Biddingforms,specifications and all necessary information may be downloaded from the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas.ionwave.net/Login. aspx and on civcastusa. com. There is no cost to view the plans, and printing can be done through the websites. Sets of hard copies of bidding Documents will not be sold.

Bids must be submitted through the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas. ionwave.net/Login.aspx

Vendors must register to submit a bid. Be advised, e-bids is the only option to submit bids to the City of Beaumont effective 8/1/23.

Please make sure to reference to Bid Number: WU0224-12

CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OWNER

INVITATION TO BID BID NO. PW0224-04

Sealed bids will be received online until 2:00 p.m. (CST), THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024, for furnishing all plans, administration, superintendence, labor, services, materials, tools, equipment, supplies, transportation, utilities, and all other items and facilities necessary therefore, as provided in the Contract Documents for the construction of:

CITY OF BEAUMONT FORSYTHE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

BID NO. PW0224-04

Bids will be opened and publicly read in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid or combination of bids deemed advantageous to it.

Bidders must submit an original Bid Bond, Cashier’s Check, Certified Check or irrevocable Letter of Credit issued by a bank satisfactory to the Owner, payable without recourse to the order oftheCityofBeaumontinan amount not less than five (5) percent of the largest possible bid amount as a guaranty that the Bidder will enter into contract and execute bond and guaranty in the form provided within fourteen (14) calendar days after date of Notice ofAward of the contract. Bids without the required financial security deposit will not be considered.

A MANDATORY virtual

Pre-bid Conference will be held at 2:00 P.M., on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024, on Microsoft Teams. Attendees may join by internet or phone call:

https://bit.ly/3x4eqIG +1 903-405-2009 Passcode: 288 175 889#

Attendance at the Pre-bid meeting is a prerequisite to bidding. Prior to the prebid conference, interested bidders should obtain forms of proposal, contract, bond, and specifications. No one will be allowed to enter the pre-bid virtually or in-person if arrival is later than 5 minutes after the designated

time. Calls for any technical difficulties must be made prior to the meeting.

Biddingforms,specifications and all necessary information may be downloaded from the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas.ionwave.net/Login. aspx and on civcastusa. com. There is no cost to view the plans, and printing can be done through the websites. Sets of hard copies of bidding Documents willnotbesold.Bidsmustbe submitted through the City’s e-bids platform at: https:// beaumonttexas.ionwave. net/Login.aspx Vendors must register to submit a bid. Be advised, e-bids is the only option to submit bids to the City of Beaumont effective 8/1/23.

Please make sure to reference to Bid Number: PW0224-04

CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OWNER

By: Tina Broussard, TRMC City Clerk

INVITATION TO BID

BID NO. PW0324-05

Sealed bids will be received online until 2:00 p.m. (CST), THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024, for furnishing all plans, administration, superintendence, labor, services, materials, tools, equipment, supplies, transportation, utilities, and all other items and facilities necessary therefore, as provided in the Contract Documents for the construction of:

CITY OF BEAUMONT UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DITCH MAINTENANCE WASHINGTON BLVD TO VIRGINIA ST

BID NO. PW0324-05

Bids will be opened and publicly read in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid or combination of bids deemed advantageous to it.

Bidders must submit an original Bid Bond, Cashier’s Check, Certified Check or irrevocable Letter of Credit issued by a bank satisfactory to the Owner, payable without recourse to the order oftheCityofBeaumontinan amount not less than five (5) percent of the largest possible bid amount as a guaranty that the Bidder will enter into contract and execute bond and guaranty in the form provided within fourteen (14) calendar days after date of Notice ofAward of the contract. Bids without the required financial security deposit will not be considered.

A MANDATORY virtual Pre-bid Conference will be held at 3:00 P.M., on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024, on Microsoft Teams. Attendees may join by in-

ternet or phone call:

https://bit.ly/3x7kmR8 +1 903-405-2009

Passcode: 505 070 681#

Attendance at the Pre-bid meeting is a prerequisite to bidding. Prior to the prebid conference, interested bidders should obtain forms of proposal, contract, bond, and specifications. No one will be allowed to enter the pre-bid virtually or in-person if arrival is later than 5 minutes after the designated time. Calls for any technical difficulties must be made prior to the meeting.

Biddingforms,specifications and all necessary information may be downloaded from the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas.ionwave.net/Login. aspx and on civcastusa. com. There is no cost to view the plans, and printing can be done through the websites. Sets of hard copies of bidding Documents willnotbesold.Bidsmustbe submitted through the City’s e-bids platform at: https:// beaumonttexas.ionwave. net/Login.aspx Vendors must register to submit a bid. Be advised, e-bids is the only option to submit bids to the City of Beaumont effective 8/1/23.

Please make sure to reference to Bid Number: PW0324-05

CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OWNER

INVITATION TO BID

BID NO. PW0324-06

Sealed bids will be received online until 2:00 p.m. (CST), THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024, for furnishing all plans, administration, superintendence, labor, services, materials, tools, equipment, supplies, transportation, utilities, and all other items and facilities necessary therefore, as provided in the Contract Documents for the construction of:

CITY OF BEAUMONT CITYWIDE PAVEMENT MARKINGS - PHASE III BID NO. PW0324-06

Bids will be opened and publicly read in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid or combination of bids deemed advantageous to it.

Bidders must submit an original Bid Bond, Cashier’s Check, Certified Check or irrevocable Letter of Credit issued by a bank satisfactory to the Owner, payable without recourse to the order oftheCityofBeaumontinan amount not less than five (5) percent of the largest possible bid amount as a guaranty that the Bidder will enter into contract and execute bond and guaranty

in the form provided within fourteen (14) calendar days after date of Notice ofAward of the contract. Bids without the required financial security deposit will not be considered.

A MANDATORY virtual Pre-bid Conference will be held at 9:00 A.M., on THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024, on Microsoft Teams. Attendees may join by internet or phone call: https://bit.ly/4av4yGs +1 903-405-2009 Passcode: 974 791 148#

Attendance at the Pre-bid meeting is a prerequisite to bidding. Prior to the prebid conference, interested bidders should obtain forms of proposal, contract, bond, and specifications. No one will be allowed to enter the pre-bid virtually or in-person if arrival is later than 5 minutes after the designated time. Calls for any technical difficulties must be made prior to the meeting.

Biddingforms,specifications and all necessary information may be downloaded from the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas.ionwave.net/Login. aspx and on civcastusa. com. There is no cost to view the plans, and printing can be done through the websites. Sets of hard copies of bidding Documents willnotbesold.Bidsmustbe submitted through the City’s e-bids platform at: https:// beaumonttexas.ionwave. net/Login.aspx Vendors must register to submit a bid. Be advised, e-bids is the only option to submit bids to the City of Beaumont effective 8/1/23.

Please make sure to reference to Bid Number: PW0324-06

CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OWNER

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Proposals will be received by the City of Beaumont, Beaumont, Texas, until 2:00 P.M. (CT), THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024, and all proposals will be opened and publicly read in the City Council Chambers on that date for:

HUD FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR 2025 – 2029 AND THE ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS FOR FAIR HOUSING CHOICES

RFP NO. DF0324-15

There will be NO Pre-Proposal meeting.

Questions about the RFP must be submitted by 10:00 AM (CT) on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Answers to the questions may be provided through an Addendum.

Proposal forms, specifications and all necessary information may be downloaded from the City’s e-bids platform at: https://beaumonttexas.ionwave.net/Login. aspx

Proposals must be submitted through the City’s e-bids platform at: https:// beaumonttexas.ionwave. net/Login.aspx Vendors must register to submit a bid or proposal.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, or to accept any proposal or combination of proposals deemed advantageous to it.

Please make reference to RFP Number: DF0324-15

Proposal Closing Date: APRIL 18, 2024

Tina Broussard, TRMC City Clerk

CITY OF BEAUMONT BEAUMONT, TEXAS

*NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING*

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON:

DATE: Monday,April 8, 2024

TIME: 3:30 p.m.

PLACE: Council Chambers, City Hall, 801 Main Street.

The meeting will also be broadcast on the City’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCnY6nNk8zfXZulMg1zbwEBg

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: A request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove stucco and replace with siding Planning Division File #PZ2024-93.

FILED BY: Tristian Addington

LOCATION OF PROPERTY: 1880 Broadway Street

ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: Being Lot 4 and the Eastern half of Lot 5, Block 12, and half of the adjacent alley, McFaddin Second Addition Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, containing 0.241 acres, more or less.

“Equal Housing Opportunity”

THE MEETING IS OPEN THE PUBLIC

HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Elayna Luckey, Planner I

CITY OF BEAUMONT BEAUMONT, TEXAS

*NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING*

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON:

DATE: Monday, April 15, 2024

TIME: 3:00 p.m.

PLACE: City Council Chambers, 1st Floor of City Hall, 801 Main Street

The meetings will also be broadcast on the City’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCnY6nNk8zfXZulMg1zbwEBg

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: Request for approval of a Replat of Lots 11, 12 and 13, Block 1, Horton Addition into Lots 11A and 13A, Block 1, Horton Addition, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. Planning Division File: PZ2024-85.

FILED BY: Colby Brackin of Access Surveyors

LOCATION OF PROPERTY: Two lots southwest of and including 6078 Chandler Drive

ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: Lots 11, 12 and 13, Block 1, HortonAddition, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, containing 0.89 acres more or less.

A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ON:

DATE: Monday, April 15, 2024

TIME: 3:15 p.m.

PLACE: City Council Chambers, 1st Floor of City Hall, 801 Main Street

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: a request for a Rezoning from RM-H (Residential Multiple Family— Highest Density) District to PD (Port Development) District. Planning Division File: PZ2024-38.

FILED BY: Port of Beaumont

LOCATION OF PROPERTY: Blocks surrounded by Buford, Port, Lamar, Herring, Stewart and Leiper Streets, including lots approximately 160’ south of Lamar Street southern rightof-way boundary line.

ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING 15.46 acres of land, outofandapartoftheDavid Brown Survey Abstract No. 5, Leonard Addition Volume 1, Page 15, Leonard Addition Volume 1, Page 133 and Neches River Addition Volume 4, Page 198, deed and map records Jefferson County, Texas; said 15.46 acre tract being more fully described by metes and bounds as follows, to wit:

Note: Bearings, coordinates, distances and acreage are based on the Texas Coordinate System of 1983, South Central Zone, US Survey Feet, and are referenced to SmartNet, North America.

BEGINNING at a point being the intersection of the East right-of-way line of a dedicated road named Port Street and the South right-of-way line of a dedicated road name Buford Street; said point being the Northwest corner of the herein described tract having a Texas Coordinate of N: 13970230.01, E: 3523045.83;

THENCE, on the South right-of-way line of said Buford Street the following bearing and distances;

South 89 deg., 57 min., 48 sec., East, 197.22’,

North 87 deg., 39 min., 33 sec., East, 212.37’,

North 83 deg., 58 min., 44 sec., East 30.07’, North 76 deg., 23 min., 35 sec., East, 221.42’,

THENCE, North 81 deg., 43 min., 31 sec., East, a distance of 40.15’, to a point for corner on the intersection of the South right of way line of said Buford Street and the East right of way line of a dedicated road named Verone Street;

THENCE, South 02 deg., 09 min., 08 sec., East, on the East right of way line of said Verone Street, a distance of 299.58’, to a point for corner on the intersection of the East right of way line of said Verone Street and the North right of way line of a dedicated road named Stewart Street;

THENCE, North 87 deg., 02 min., 41 sec., East, on the North right-of-way line of said Stewart Street, a distance of 304.64’ to a point for corner;

THENCE, South 03 deg., 03 min., 01 sec., East, a distance of 60.00’, passing the South right-of-way line of said Stewart Street, continuing for a total distance of 350.76’ to a point for corner being the intersection of the West right-of-way line of a dedicated road named Herring Street and the North right-of-way line of the dedication road named Lamar Street;

THENCE, South, 86 deg., 57 min., 35 sec., West, on the North right-of-way line of said Lamar Street, a distance of 200.22’ to a point for corner;

THENCE, South 02 deg., 08 min., 15 sec., East, a distance of 40.00’, passing the South right-of-way line of said Lamar Street, continuing for a total distance of 166.15’ to a point for corner;

THENCE, South 86 deg., 38 min., 10 sec., West, a distance of 806.64’ to a point for corner on the East right-of-way line of said Port Street;

THENCE, North 02 deg., 08 min., 15 sec., West, on the East right-of-way line of said Port Street, a distance of 788.89’ to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing 15.46 acres of land, of which 3.056 acres Lies within public right-of-way, more or less.

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: a request for a Specific Use Permit to allow two (2) duplexes within the RCR-H (Residential Conservation Revitalization-Historic) District. Planning Division File: PZ2024-46.

FILED BY: Cornell Price

LOCATION OF PROPERTY: 2490 LibertyAvenue ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: Being all of Lot 14 and western 15’-3/10” of Lot 15,

Block 26, Averill Addition, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, containing .0241 acres more or less.

“Equal Housing Opportunity” THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

PLANNING COMMISSION

Chris Boone, Secretary

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed lump sum BIDS will be received by the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas at the Port of Beaumont Administrative Office, 1225 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701 until 2:00 p.m. local time, Beaumont, Texas on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 for the 2024 MAINTENANCE DREDGE, at which time the BIDS will be opened publicly and read aloud. BIDS received after closing time will be returned unopened.

Each BID must be submitted in a sealed envelope, addressed to Mr. Brandon Bergeron, Director of Engineering, at the Port of Beaumont, P.O. Drawer 2297, Beaumont, Texas 77704. Each sealed envelope containing a BID must be plainly marked on the outside as BID for 2024 MAINTENANCE DREDGE and the envelope should bear on the outside the name of the BIDDER, its address, and its contractor’s license number (if applicable). If forwarded byovernightorexpressmail, the sealed envelope containing the BID must be enclosed in another envelope addressed to Mr. Brandon Bergeron,PortofBeaumont, 1225 Main Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701. For purposes of express mail forms, the Port’s telephone number is (409) 835-5367. BIDS received by telefacsimile will not be accepted.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Port of Beaumont Administrative Office, 1225 Main Street, Beaumont,Texas. The pre-bid conference willbeheldat2:00p.m.local time, Beaumont, Texas on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. ATTENDANCE AT THE PRE-BID CONFERENCE IS MANDATORY AND IS A PREREQUISITE TO A BIDDER BEING AWARDED THE BID.

TWIC Cards are required for all contractor and subcontractor employees that enter the Port of Beaumont. The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining these cards and the cost of these cards shall be included in the bid price. The Contractor will be responsible for obtaining training (performed by Port Authority Police) for their supervisors or designated employees to be certified as TWIC escorts to accompany any non-TWIC employees, subcontractors, vendors, etc. as per 33 CFR 101. Each BID must include a BID BOND (certified check, cashier’s check or BIDDER’S bond), equal to five percent (5%) of the amount

of the BID. BID BONDS of unsuccessful BIDDERS will be returned after award of successful bidder.

The Project includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following items in accordance with the TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS and PROJECT DRAWINGS:

• Contract award

• Notice to proceed

• Mobilization

• Pre-dredge hydrographic surveys

• Commencement of Dredge Operations

• Completion of Dredge Operations

• Post-dredge hydrographic surveys

• Demobilization

The BID Documents may be examined without charge at the Port of Beaumont’s address listed above during normal working hours.

TheBIDDocumentswillalso be available at the Port’s website for download at the following link: https://www. pobtx.com/bids-and-qualifications-requests

In accordance with Texas State law, including Local Government Code Chapter 176, each BIDDER MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT WITH THEIR BID A COPY OF THE VENDOR’S CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE CONTAINED IN EXHIBIT “O”.

The Port of Beaumont reserves the right to reject any or all BIDS and to waive formalities in BIDDING. In case of ambiguity or lack of clearness in stating the price in any BID, the Port of Beaumont reserves the right to consider the most advantageous BID thereof, or reject the BID.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION:

Legacy Housing Corporation, as lienholder, is selling 137 mobile homes as 20 sets of homes, each ranging between 2 and 13 homes, located at 6650 Broad Oak Street, Beaumont, TX 77713. These homes were manufacturedbetween2017 and 2022. The sale will take place at the most northerly door of the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1001 Pearl Street, Beaumont, Texas, on April 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM, or at the place that may be designated by the Jefferson County Commissioner’s Court on the date of sale as the place for conducting non-judicial sales of personal property.

The sale will be conducted by Jones Swenson Auctions as a public auction to the highest bidder for cash, subject to the provisions of the notes and security agreements and Texas law permitting the lienholder to have its bid credited to the note up to the amount of the unpaid debt secured by the security agreement at the time of sale. Those desiring to purchase the property will need to provide a cashier’s check in the amount of $20,000 made payable to themselves in order to reg-

ister for the auction. Copies of the titles to each mobile home to be sold, terms & conditions and other auction information, can be obtained by contacting Jones SwensonAuctions at Scott@JonesSwenson.com or (512)261-3838 or visiting www.JonesSwenson.com

The mobile homes will be sold in “as is, where is” condition, without any express or implied warranties. Prospective bidders are advised to conduct an independent investigation of the nature and physical condition of the property. The mobile homes may or may not be occupied by tenants. Successful bidders will be responsible for relocating the mobile homes purchased and/ or removing tenants, if necessary.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Bluebonnet Sequestration Hub, LLC, a business unit within Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation seeks bidders for the following project:

Pipeline Front End Engineering and Design for a greenfield CO2 Sequestration System located in Chambers, Jefferson and Liberty, Counties, TX.

Those interested in submittingbidsorinobtainingmore information regarding this procurement may contact Melisa Reyna, melisa_reyna-fancher@oxy.com before March 27th at 2PM CT.

Request for Proposals will open on or about March 29, 2024, and will close on or aboutApril 12, 2024.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Bluebonnet Sequestration Hub, LLC, a business unit within Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation seeks bidders for the following project:

Airborne magnetic data acquisition and processing for mapping of existing wells located in Chambers, Jefferson and Liberty, Counties, TX.

Those interested in submittingbidsorinobtainingmore information regarding this procurement may contact Melisa Reyna, melisa_reyna-fancher@oxy.com before April 8th at 2PM CT.

Request for Proposals will open on or about April 10, 2024, and will close on or aboutApril 24, 2024.

NOTICE OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR

BIDS

Recovery Council of Southeast Texas is seeking proposals to complete multiple renovation projects in multiple buildings. The project will be awarded based on total cost, value for money, proven quality of work and materials, estimated completion time, ability to manage permits, and demonstrated knowledge of rules, regulations, and codes.

Female Residential Sheetrock, elec., paint

Block off/remove bay doors A/C, new water line

Privacy fence, Landscaping

Workforce Development Sheetrock, paint, check systems

Parking lot

Male Residential Staircase reroute

Add exit door to break area

Open SS room into dayroom /counter

New drop ceiling Privacy fence around break area

Landscaping

Outpatient/Admin Paint building Overhang forAdmin Parking lot re-surface

Recreation Area and Warehouse Sheetrock Exterior

Privacy fence

Please submit serious inquiries for onsite appointments to taardahl@rcsetx.org before March 30th, 2024

NO. 24CCPR0178

ESTATE OF DAL WORTH BADGETT, DECEASED § IN THE COUNTY COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS IN PROBATE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of DAL WORTH BADGETT, Deceased, were issued on the 11th day of March 2024 in Cause No. 24CCPR0178 pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: KAREN ANN BADGETT. The post office address of theIndependentExecutoris:

c/o James M. Black Attorney at Law 3535 CalderAvenue, Suite 310 Beaumont, TX 77706

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED this 12th day of March 2024.

JAMES M. BLACK

Attorney at Law 3535 CalderAvenue, Suite 310 Beaumont, TX 77706

Telephone: (409) 951-4732

Fax: (409) 951-4791

Email: jblack@jamesmblack.com

/s/ James M. Black

James M. Black Texas Bar No. 02372000

ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE OF DAL WORTH BADGETT, DECEASED

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary were issued in the Estate of Karen Louise Gary, on March 13, 2024, in Cause No. 23CCPR1166, in the County Court of Jefferson

County, Texas, to: Mark James.

All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o Rick Williams

Attorney at Law 1233 NederlandAvenue Nederland, TX 77627

DATED the 13th day of March 2024.

/s/ Rick Williams

Rick Williams

Attorney for Mark James State Bar No. 00794860 1233 NederlandAve. Nederland, TX 77627

Telephone: (409) 727-5045

Facsimile: (409) 724-0514

Email: rnwilliams@gt.rr.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary were issued in the Estate of Gracie Joyce Comeaux, on March 13, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0146, in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: CharlesAnthony Comeaux.

All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o Rick Williams Attorney at Law 1233 NederlandAvenue Nederland, TX 77627

DATED the 13th day of March 2024.

/s/ Rick Williams

Rick Williams

Attorney for CharlesAnthony Comeaux State Bar No. 00794860 1233 NederlandAve. Nederland, TX 77627

Telephone: (409) 727-5045

Facsimile: (409) 724-0514

Email: rnwilliams@gt.rr.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of RONALD JOSEPH NUNEZ, Deceased, were issued on March 18, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0195, pending intheCountyCourtofJefferson County, Texas, to: Janet Nunez.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o: Myra Gregory Attorney at Law 1617 MagnoliaAvenue Port Neches, Texas 77651

DATED the 18th day of March 2024.

/s/ Myra Gregory Myra Gregory

Attorney for Janet Nunez

State Bar No.: 00789091 1617 MagnoliaAvenue Port Neches, Texas 77651

Telephone: (409) 727-0900

Facsimile: (409) 727-0902

E-mail: mgregory@gregory-lawfirm.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of NORMA COLE, Deceased, were issued on March 18, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0196, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: Effie Britten.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o: Myra Gregory Attorney at Law 1617 MagnoliaAvenue Port Neches, Texas 77651

DATED the 18th day of March 2024.

/s/ Myra Gregory Myra Gregory

Attorney for Effie Britten State Bar No.: 00789091 1617 MagnoliaAvenue Port Neches, Texas 77651

Telephone: (409) 727-0900

Facsimile: (409) 727-0902

E-mail: mgregory@gregory-lawfirm.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of BLANCHE H. CHURCH a/k/a BLANCHE HELEN CHURCH a/k/a BLANCHE MCRIGHT CHURCH, Deceased, were issued on March 15, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0063, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to MARGARET ANN FAZIO a/k/a MARGARET ANNE EVANS and KENDA MONIQUE HALL.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

MargaretAnn Fazio a/k/a MargaretAnne Evans and Kenda Monique Hall c/o Sheigh Summerlin Rhodes Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P. P.O. Box 26005 Beaumont, Texas 77720-6005 (409) 838-1000 Telephone (409) 833-8236 Fax srhodes@rmqlawfirm.com

DATED the 18th day of March 2024.

SheighSummerlinRhodes Sheigh Summerlin Rhodes Attorney for Independent Co-Executrixes State Bar No.: 24051401 Physical: 801 Laurel, Beaumont, TX 77701 Mailing: P.O. Box 26005 Beaumont, TX 77620-6005 Telephone: (409) 838-1000 Facsimile: (409) 833-8236 E-mail: srhodes@ rmqlawfirm.com

NO. 23CCPR1087

ESTATE OF ARTEMIO GALVAN, DECEASED § IN THE PROBATE COURT

OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

PUBLISHED NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Independent Administration for the Estate of Artemio Galvan, Deceased, were issued on May 18, 2024, in Docket No.23CCPR1087 pending in the Probate Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: Adriana Salazar.

Claims may be presented in care of the attorney for the estate, addressed as follows:

Adriana Salazar c/o William H. Yoes THE YOES LAW FIRM, L.L.P. P. O. Drawer 7584 Beaumont, Texas 777267584

All persons having claims against this estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 18th day of March 2024.

Respectfully submitted, THE YOES LAW FIRM, LLP 1855 Calder, Ste. 200 2nd Floor (77701) P. O. Box 7584 Beaumont, Texas 777267584

Tel: (409) 833-2352 Fax: (409) 838-5577 Email: why@yoeslawfirm. com

By: /s/ William H. Yoes

William H. Yoes State Bar No. 22157000

ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE OFARTEMIO GALVAN

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that originalLettersofDependent Administration for the Estate of BOBBIE LEE WATKINS COLE, Deceased, were issued on March 21, 2024, in Cause No. 23CCPR1123, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: Freya Trimmer.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o: P. Dean Brinkley Attorney at Law 2905 Toccoa Road Beaumont, TX 77703

DATED the 21st day of March 2024.

/s/ P. Dean Brinkley P. Dean Brinkley Attorney for Freya Trimmer State Bar No.: 00793388 2905 Toccoa Road Beaumont, Texas 77703

Telephone: (409) 835-5800

Facsimile: (409) 835-5880

E-mail: dbrinkley@ctclaw. com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamen-

tary for the Estate of James Lee Willis, Deceased, were issued on January 29, 2024, in Cause No. P19863, pending in the County Court at Law of Orange County, Texas, to: Connie Mae Willis.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o: P. Dean Brinkley Attorney at Law 2905 Toccoa Road Beaumont, TX 77703

DATED the 19th day of March 2024.

/s/ P. Dean Brinkley P. Dean Brinkley

Attorney for Connie Mae Willis State Bar No.: 00793388 2905 Toccoa Road Beaumont, Texas 77703

Telephone: (409) 835-5800

Facsimile: (409) 835-5880

E-mail: dbrinkley@ctclaw. com

NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS

THE STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF JEFFERSON §

JUDITH ANN SLACK LANDRY, appointed Independent Executrix of the Estate of JOHN D. LANDRY AKA JOHN DOUGLAS LANDRY, Deceased, Cause No. 24CCPR0130 in Jefferson County, Texas, by the Judge of the County Court of said County on March 4, 2024, hereby notifies all persons indebted to said estate to come forward and make settlement and those having claims against the estate to present them to her withinthetimeprescribedbylaw

c/o LAW OFFICE OF PHILLIP R. DOWDEN, attorney for said estate, at 1217 NederlandAvenue, Nederland, Texas 77627

WITNESS my hand this 19th day of March, 2024.

PHILLIP R. DOWDEN State Bar No.: 24012549 (409) 729-0008

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF FLOYD W. MARCEAUX A/K/A FLOYD WAYNE MARCEAUX, DECEASED

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of FLOYD W. MARCEAUX A/K/A FLOYD WAYNE MARCEAUX, Deceased, were issued on March 19, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0145, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to JUDY MARCEAUX and LAURA J. CHILDRESS.

The address of such Co-Executors is:

JUDY MARCEAUX and LAURAJ. CHILDRESS c/o Bradley Law Firm

P.O. Box 1148 Port Neches, TX 77651

All persons having claims

against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 25th day of March, 2024.

BRADLEY LAW FIRM

Attorneys at Law

P.O. Box 1148 Port Neches, TX 77651 (409) 724-6644

By: /s/Lance P. Bradley

Lance P. Bradley

State Bar No. 02826650

Attorney for the Estate of FLOYD W. MARCEAUX

A/K/AFLOYD WAYNE MARCEAUX, Deceased

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH STANLEY PRICE

a/k/a J. STANLEY PRICE, DECEASED

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of JOSEPH STANLEY PRICE

a/k/a J. STANLEY PRICE, Deceased, were issued on March 21, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0216 pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to STANLEY K. PRICE.

The address of such Independent Executor is:

STANLEY K. PRICE

c/o Bradley Law Firm

P. O. Box 1148 Port Neches, TX 77651

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 25th day of March 2024.

BRADLEY LAW FIRM

Attorneys at Law

P. O. Box 1148 Port Neches, TX 77651 (409) 724-6644

By:/s/StephenL.Townsend

STEPHEN L. TOWNSEND State Bar No. 24071539

Attorney for the Estate of Joseph Stanley Price a/k/a J. Stanley Price, Deceased

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF JAMES LOUIS NOBLE, DECEASED

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of JAMES LOUIS NOBLE, Deceased, were issued on March 21, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0129 pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to CINDY BONIN.

The address of such Independent Executor is:

CINDY BONIN

c/o Bradley Law Firm

P. O. Box 1148 Port Neches, TX 77651

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 25th day of March 2024.

BRADLEY LAW FIRM

Attorneys at Law

P. O. Box 1148

Port Neches, TX 77651 (409) 724-6644

By:/s/StephenL.Townsend

STEPHEN L. TOWNSEND

State Bar No. 24071539

Attorney for the Estate of JAMES LOUIS NOBLE, Deceased

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF JAMES CECIL OUBRE, DECEASED

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of JAMES CECIL OUBRE, Deceased, were issued on March 21, 2024, in Cause No. 23CCPR1355pendinginthe County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to JAMES CHRISTOPHER OUBRE.

The address of such Independent Executor is:

JAMES CHRISTOPHER OUBRE

c/o Bradley Law Firm

P. O. Box 1148

Port Neches, TX 77651

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 25th day of March 2024.

BRADLEY LAW FIRM

Attorneys at Law P. O. Box 1148

Port Neches, TX 77651 (409) 724-6644

By:/s/StephenL.Townsend

STEPHEN L. TOWNSEND

State Bar No. 24071539

Attorney for the Estate of JAMES CECIL OUBRE, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Kenneth Dale Devers, Deceased, were issued on March 25, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0248, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: Dwayne Dale Devers, Independent Executor.

All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Dwayne Dale Devers

10380 E. Clubb Road

Beaumont, Texas 77705

DATED the 25th day of March 2024.

/s/ TravisMcCall

Travis McCall

Attorney for Dwayne Dale Devers

State Bar No.: 13320200

3350 Eastex Freeway

Beaumont, Texas 77703

Telephone: (409) 833-2889

Facsimile: (409) 833-2890

Email: Travis@travismccall. com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of JudyAnn Devers, Deceased, were issued on March 25, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0247, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: Dwayne Dale Devers, Independent Executor.

All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Dwayne Dale Devers 10380 E. Clubb Road Beaumont, Texas 77705

DATED the 25th day of March 2024.

/s/ TravisMcCall

Travis McCall

Attorney for

Dwayne Dale Devers

State Bar No.: 13320200 3350 Eastex Freeway

Beaumont, Texas 77703

Telephone: (409) 833-2889

Facsimile: (409) 833-2890

Email: Travis@travismccall. com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Gloria R. Bishop, Deceased, were issued on the 22nd day of March 2024, in Cause No.24CCPR0201, pending intheCountyCourtofJefferson County, Texas, in Probate to Bradley G. Bishop, as Independent Executor.

All persons having claims against the Estate which is currently being administered are required to present same within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to:

Lance C. Fox Creighton, Fox, Johnson & Mills, PLLC P.O. Box 5607 Beaumont, Texas 77726.

DATED this 22nd day of March 2024.

Bradley G. Bishop, Independent Executor of the Estate of Gloria R. Bishop, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of John Edward Cormier, Deceased, were issued on March 25, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0246, pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to: John Edward Cormier.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them totheundersignedwithinthe time and in the manner prescribed by law.

c/o Richard G. Lewis

BONEAU & LEWIS, P.L.L.C.

Attorney at Law

1503 S. Highway 69 Nederland, TX 77627

DATED the 26th day of March 2024.

/s/ RichardG.Lewis

Richard G. Lewis

Attorney for John Edward Cormier

State Bar No.: 12302300

BONEAU & LEWIS, P.L.L.C.

1503 S. Highway 69 Nederland, TX 77627

Telephone: (409) 983-5188

Facsimile: (409) 983-4171

Rglewis1@sbcglobal.net

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of EMILY LEDOUX, Deceased, were issued on March 25, 2024, in Cause No. 24CCPR0204 pending in the County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, to Troy Selman, Jr.

All persons having claims against this Estate are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to:

EMILY LEDOUX, Estate c/o Melody Carrier 505 Orleans St. Suite 505 Beaumont, TX 77701

THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION

TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF GEORGE FECOWYCZ, JR., DECEASED

DEFENDANT(S) GREETING:

YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear before the Honorable Probate County Court of Jefferson County, Texas, at the Courthouse in the City of Beaumont, at or before 10:00 a.m. of the first Monday after the expiration of ten (10) days from the date of issuance thereof, same being Monday, 03/25/2024 then and there to answer the proceeding to declare heirship filed by Jennifer Fecowycz, Applicant, in said Court 03/07/2024 in Cause No. 24CCPR0051, styled,

In the Estate of: George Fecowycz, Jr., Deceased

A brief statement of the nature of the petition is as follows, to-wit:

DETERMINE THE HEIRS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE, SHARES & INTERESTS UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE OR IN THE TRUST, AS APPLICABLE IN THE DECEDENT’S ESTATE

as is more fully shown by the petition on file in this cause.

The officer executing this process shall promptly execute the same according to law and make due return as the law directs. If this citation is not served within (90) days after day of issuance, it shall be returned unserved.

Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at Beaumont, Texas, on this 8th day of March 2024.

Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg, County Clerk Jefferson County, Texas

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code that Major Beaumont Business LLC, dba Major Liquor has filed for a Package Store Permit to be issued at 4320 N. Major Dr, Ste C, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. ManagersSohail Momin

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code that Sun Lion Business, LLC dba Fuel Dude #2 has filed for a Wine Only Package Store Permit to be issued at 19216 FM 365 Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. ManagerShahnawaz Momin

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code that Sushi Masa Beaumont, LLC dba Sushi Masa has filed for a Mixed Beverage Permit to be issued at 4185 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. General PartnerSen Yu

Entertainment SOUTHEAST TEXAS

The Examiner | March 28-April 3, 2024

Explore Orange’sArt in the Park

A springtime tradition is set to turn 22-years-old on Saturday, April 6, as Explore Orange hosts “Art in the Park Vendor Market and Car Show” in the city’s downtown Stark Park that features something for everyone.

“This is one of our most popular events and also my favorite,” said Brandy Judice, CVB Coordinator for the City of Orange. “The community can enjoy the atmosphere, shop and everything is literally in walking distance. You can see all the new projects that the artists have been working on throughout the past year.”

This annual celebration showcases the kaleidoscope of talents of local artists from Southeast Texas and Southeast Louisiana who will display a variety of works such as paintings, woodwork, painted glass, metal sculptures, pottery, monogrammed items, books, jewelry, crocheted items, hand-made soaps and more.

“This is the earliest we have reached vendor capacity,” said Judice. “That means we will have 120 vendors on site.”

Gates open at 9 a.m. at Stark Park (201 7th St.) and close at 3 p.m.Admission, as always, is free.

Within walking distance near Front Avenue will be the fifth annual Car Show where enthusiasts and collectors will marvel at the captivating display of classic automobiles, from sleek vintage models to roaring muscle cars, hot rods,

and custom vehicles.

Looking for some food?

A plethora of food vendors will be servingbarbeque,seafood,hamburgers, hot dogs, kabobs, nachos, cotton candy, baked goods and drinks including The Revival Brew Box, Home Plate, Mice Ice,The Shack, Miss B’sTakeout,Wing Junkiez and Betty & Nedra’s Good Eat.

Kiddos are in for a treat with plenty of games, bounce houses, as well as other fun things for them to do in the Kiddie Zone while attending Art in the Park plus the new “Touch a Truck.”

Get up close and personal with many of the City of Orange’s public vehicles

such as a high-water rescue vehicle and grapple truck.

Two local popular musical acts will perform beginning at 11 a.m. with Osmosis Jones followed by the award-winning Curse & The Cure duo at 1:30 p.m.

“One of the purposes of the Art in the Park is to promote the arts with art-

ists and crafters on display throughout the day,” said Judice. “Also, the event is intended to promote tourism and hotel stays by highlighting downtown attractions.”

Pets and coolers are prohibited.

For additional information aboutArt in the Park, call (409) 883-1011 or view orangetexas.org.

YMBLRodeo

March 29-30, 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. • Ford Park, Beaumont • Free-$12

Catch all the thrills and spills of rodeo at the YMBL South Texas State Fair. The United Pro Rodeo Association (UPRA) showcases many of the country’s top cowboys and cowgirls in this year’s bull riding completion. To ensure our high standards of rodeo entertainment, Jerry Nelson, will again be producing the event. Also, eight-time world champion Don Gay will be on hand providing the play by play. Tickets are free into the rodeo with paid fair admission, but reserved seats at the rodeo can be purchased for an extra $12 online at fordpark.com.

JoshAbbott Band

Friday, March 29, 6 p.m. • The Venue @ Belle Oaks, Beaumont • $99+

Texas Red Dirt icons the Josh Abbott Band have announced a tour for their new album, “Somewhere Down the Road,” and that tour lands at the Venue @ Belle Oaks. It also marks the first effort from the band’s newly reconfigured lineup, including longtime members Eddie Villanueva (drums), Austin Davis (banjo), David Fralin (keys) and Jimmy Hartman (bass) as well as recent additions Adam Hill (fiddle) and guitarists Cale Richardson and Kris Farrow. The album represents the very beginning of a new chapter for the Lone Star band. Tickets available online at thevenueatbelleoaks.com. Dinner is included.

Music of Billy & Elton

April 4-5, 7:30 p.m. • The Hobby Center, Houston • $49+

Michael Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American rock and roll songbook and a charismatic performer and musician made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical “Movin’ Out.” Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in “Movin’ Out,” Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades. The show culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations. Cavanaugh began playing at age 7, when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10.

Thurs., April 4, 7:30 p.m. • Lutcher Theater, Orange • $30+

Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in a new production – just as you remember it and just when we need it most. Annie, directed by Jenn Thompson, features the iconic book and score, written by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. This celebration of family, optimism and the American spirit remains the ultimate cure for all the hard knocks life throws your way.

FRIDAYS

Photo by Evan Zimmerman
Michael Cavanaugh

Gyllenhaal gets ripped in ‘Road House’

Have you ever noticed, when somebody remakes an old genre movie, that the original film suddenly morphs from vintage knucklehead fodder to “cult classic”? This is happening right now to “Road House,” a remake of the 1989 movie of the same name, which starred the late Patrick Swayze, still red hot at the time for his star performance in the 1987 “Dirty Dancing.”

Thatfirst“RoadHouse”wasaworldwide hit – well, among people who had to shell out their own money for tickets, at any rate. Snooty film critics helped

give the movie an overripe 41% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes. “Grotesquely implausible,” grumped the Chicago Tribune’s Dave Kehr (as if simple implausibility were a deal-breaker in the movie biz). Elsewhere in the Tribune, Gene Siskel described Swayze’s performance as “mindless posturing.” But Siskel’s print and TV colleague Roger Ebert offered a more nuanced view: “This is not a good movie,” Ebert said. “But viewed in the right frame of mind, it is not a boring one, either.”

The movie’s most hurtful slams may have been inflicted by the annual Razzie Awards, where it was nominated in five categories – Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Lead and Supporting Actor. Appropriately, even in contending for these bottom-tier honors, “Road House” was an acrossthe-board loser. (It was bested by the likes of “Cocktail,” the Tom Cruse hit; Sylvester Stallone, of “Rambo III”; and DanAykroyd of “Caddyshack II.”)

Theoriginal“RoadHouse”inevitably feels a little dated now. Swayze’s char-

acter, a sort of barroom bouncer-philosopher, really wouldn’t pass Dave Kehr’s old “grotesquely implausible” standard these days. But the actor stepping into Swayze’s shoes – Jake Gyllenhaal, fearsomely ripped and not to be messed with – is a more layered character. He’s still named Dalton, but now he’s a former Mixed Martial Arts champion who once killed a man in the octagon and has been feeling down about it ever since.

Also, a good idea in remaking the 1989 “Road House” was switching the story’s location from Jasper, Missouri (actually various places in California) to the Florida Keys (actually the Dominican Republic). This “Road House” is thus brighter than the first film, and it feels balmier, too.And as an action flick, it greatly benefits from having an action specialist like Doug Liman (director of the first Bourne movie) at the controls. In addition, the main cast is pretty near perfect, especially Jessica Williams, who hires Dalton to keep the peace at her surf-and-sandy Road House, and 14-year-old Hannah Love Lanier, who manages an appealing combination of cuteandcoolasayoungbookstoreclerk.

But the most striking performance in the movie is supplied by real-world MMA champion Conor McGregor, whose character, a notorious and awesomely tattooed MMA champ called Knox, might have been custom-tailored for him. He enters the movie pantsless, walking away from the camera, and he’s so convincing as a homicidal lunatic that you almost ... well, lemme check with legal counsel before going any farther down that road. You wouldn’t want to upset this guy.

The movie’s plot, while usefully retuned, is still gratifyingly basic. Dalton accepts Frankie’s job offer, starts bouncing creeps out of her beachside bar, and then keeps discovering more creeps to bounce, giving full employment to some top stunt folk. (There’s a great bar fight, and a very funny parking lot standoff, and the hits just keep raining down.)

Gyllenhaal’s Dalton, also heavily inked, is a master of ironic concern. (Preparing to inflict some major hurt on a hapless biker, he gently enquires, “Do you have insurance?Your coverage is good? Like, you have dental?”)

Gyllenhaal’s simple star power overqualified him for a movie like this, but he never condescends to his character. He’s tough but never sullen, the way some people find Jason Statham to be. His Dalton is Mr. Zen: Whenever he walks into a room, chances are good that the rest of the bozos on hand will soon be getting wheeled out.

“Road House” is available now on Amazon Prime.

Kurt Loder, a New York Times best-selling author and former host of MTV’s “The Week in Rock,” is the film critic for Reason Online.

MOVIES

March 29 Regal Star For showtimes, please visit www.regmovies.com

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE PG-13 | 1 hr 55 mins

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE PG-13 | 1 hr 55 mins

KUNG FU PANDA 4

PG | 1 hr 34 mins

IMAGINARY

PG-13 | 1 hr 44 mins

LOVE LIES BLEEDING R | 1 hr 44 mins

LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL R | 1 hr 32 mins

DUNE: PART TWO

PG-13 | 2 hrs 46 mins

ORDINARY ANGELS

PG | 1 hr 56 mins

ARTHUR THE KING PG-13 | 1 hr 47 mins

MIGRATION

PG | Animated | 91 mins

LUCA (2021) - PIXAR THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT

PG | 1 hr 38 mins

Cinemark Tinsletown For showtimes, please visit www.cinemark.com

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE PG-13 | 1 hr 55 mins

GHOSTBUSTERS PG-13 | 1 hr 55 mins

IMMACULATE R | 1 hr 29 mins

LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL R | 1 hr 32 mins

ARTHUR THE KING

PG-13 | 1 hr 47 mins

KUNG FU PANDA 4

PG | 1 hr 34 mins

IMAGINARY

PG-13 | 1 hr 44 mins

CABRINI

PG-13 | 2 hrs 25 mins

DUNE: PART TWO

PG-13 | 2 hrs 46 mins

THE CHOSEN: SEASON 4 EPISODES 4-6 NR | 3 hrs 27 mins

LUCA (2021) - PIXAR THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT

PG | 1 hr 38 mins

BOCCAFELICE

Fri.,March28:HunterCourts

BULLFISH(ORANGEFIELD)

Sat.,March30:Curse&TheCure

Tues.,April2:BlakeSticker

CAMPMARGARITAVILLE (CRYSTALBEACH)

Fri.,March29:ShawRevolver

Sat.,March30:ZakWebb

CHARLIE’S(WINNIE)

Sat.,March30:HipShot

DYLAN’S(PORTARTHUR)

Thurs.,March28:LayneAllen

Fri.,March29:BrianaLanette&Keith

Kire

Sat.,March30:OleLonesome

FREESTATECELLARS(ORANGE)

Sat.,March30:Bree&MasonFeduccia

GOLDENNUGGET

(LAKECHARLES,LA)

Thurs.,March28:CoryLandry(Rush), ChrisBreaux(BlueMartini)

Fri.,March29:JacksonDean(Grand EventCenter),LoganSolieau(Blue),The Fuse(Rush)

Sat.,March30:LoganSolieau(Blue), TheFuse(Rush)

Sun.,March31:BlackheartMercy(Rush)

Mon.,April1:JoshTaylor(Rush)

Tues.,April2:Bubba(Rush)

Wed.,April3:CoryLandry(Rush)

To submit live music, email cooper@theexaminer.com.

LARRY&RITA’S(GROVES)

Fri.,March29:Rollin’Bones

Sat.,March30:StillCruisin’

MACKENZIE’SPUB

Thurs.,March28:BrittGodwin

Fri.,March29:Kenny&TheClassics

Sat.,March30:BarbaraHickey

MADISON’S

Thurs.,March28:JoeyGreer

Fri.,March29:RobertFrith&Mike

Monroe

Sat.,March30:AndrewMcCabe

NECHESBREWINGCOMPANY (PORTNECHES)

Fri.,March29:ChloeOverstreet

Sat.,March30:PaulNoyola

PINETREELODGE(LABELLE)

Fri.,March29:Caleb&April

Sat.,March30:Kenny&TheClassics

RANCHOGRANDE(PORTARTHUR)

Fri.,March29:CaliforniaMix

Sat.,March30:FusionLatina

RAYBURNCOUNTRYRESORT (BROOKELAND)

Sat.,March30:TheSuperSoakers

RIKENJACK’S(VIDOR)

Sat.,March30:BradBrinkley

7OAKSEVENTGARDEN

Fri.,March29:SundanceHead

Sun.,March31:Singin’intheGarden

Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, Three Thirty-Seven (or 337, the area code), began as a rag-tag, makeshift configuration to cover a contracted wedding gig, who has since turned into a 10-piece band complete with a trio of singers with soulful voices – Cory Landry, Katie Kenney and Scott Suire – a killer rhythm section, perfectly placed rhythm and lead guitars that are accompanied by a powerful horn section. For more than a decade, 337, has become “the” party band performing songs for more than half-dozen decades with stage energy that can be rivaled by none.

J ACKSON D EAN

THEGRILLATCALDER

Fri.,March29:LarryTillery

Sat.,March30:TimBurge

THELOGONCAFÉ

Fri.,March29:Chew,HotGrits

THEVENUE@BELLEOAKS

Fri.,March29:JoshAbbottBand

THEPOMPANO(GROVES)

Thurs.,March28:HunterCourts

THEROXY

Fri.,March29:JustinKemp

Sat.,March30:ThreeThirty-Seven

THETREE(LUMBERTON)

Tues.,April2:SethStevens

THEWHEELHOUSE(PORTNECHES)

Thurs.,March28:ParrotHeadNight

Fri.,March29:Curse&TheCure

Sat.,March30:PopGun

THIRSTY’S

Fri.,March29:MelonJelly

Sat.,March30:BlakeSticker

TIAJUANITA’S(ORANGE)

Thurs.,March28:SethStevens

Fri.,March29:TheBogarts

Sat.,March30:CajunHarmony

Wed.,April3:LoganSoileau

TIAJUANITA’S(PORTARTHUR)

Thurs.,March28:Curse&TheCure

Sat.,March30:LarryTillery

Fast-rising Country singer/songwriter Jackson Dean is quickly earning a reputation for his old school, gritty, lyric-driven, outlaw style of Country following a breakout year that landed him on Pandora’s 10 for 2023, Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch 2023, the CMT Listen Up class of 2023, CRS New Faces 2023, Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch: Country Class as well as a slew of other artist to watch lists. The Maryland native’s single, “Don’t Come Lookin’” was the fastest debut to reach No. 1 in 2022 and cemented Jackson as the youngest solo male Country artist to reach the top of the charts with a debut.

Sun.,March31:HunterCourts

TWOAMIGOS(ORANGE)

Thurs.,March28:Crossroads

HOUSTON

DOSEY DOE (CONROE) Thurs., March 28: Charles Esten Fri., March 29: Petra

HOUSE OF BLUES

Thurs., March 28: Upchurch Fri., March 29: Ministry

STEREO LIVE (EDM/DJ) Sat., March 30: Robin Schulz

THE HEIGHTS THEATRE Fri., March 29: Uncle Lucius Tues., April 2: Big Bad VooDoo Daddy Wed., April 3: Katie Pruitt

THE IMPROV (COMEDY) Fri., March 29: Andrew Santino Sat., March 30: Andrew Santino

TOYOTA CENTER

Thurs., March 28: Madonna Fri., March 29: Madonna

WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL

Thurs., March 28: Hail the Sun Sat., March 30: Amaarae Wed., April 3: Nicotine Dolls

Photo by Chad Cooper
Courtesy photo

Asea of lavender

More than 400 guests filled the ballroomattheMCMElegantélastThursday for the Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Texas Chapter’s Family Portrait Luncheon. Chairs Sherrie and Jeff Branick expressed their thanks for all who attended and discussed how the disease has affected their family. An inspirational video was also shown of Honorary Chairs Stacy and Jaime Taylor along with a personal message concerning the challenges they were facing with Alzheimer’s. Lucky silent auction winners were Charlie Holder, Steve Shoemaker, Roseanne Blount, Norma Sampson, April Tolbert, Jennifer Laughlin, Pam Meier, Kristi Dodd, Linda Haynes, Becky Steward, Cindy Stinson, Meredith Hise,KateCarroll,AshleyCarter,Lee Ann Fuselier, Kathie Kincer, Sarah Fisher, Regina Rogers, Bob Meier and MarisMehaffy.Abeautifulpresentation was given by guest speaker and author, SarahAllison, who lost her mother seven months ago to the disease. Guests left with an uplifting feeling as they emptied the ballroom. Supporting the wonderful cause were Merritt and Will Hicks, Ellie Grace Branick, Phil Chamberlin, Sheila Umphrey, Becky Hunter, Brooke Umphrey, Dottie Schulz, Jo Vance, Colleen Reynolds, Shana Rob-

Out & About with Albert Nolen

inson, Nicole Saba, Ashley Messina, Gigi Mazzola, Mandy Mazzola, Rinal Doshi, Christi Lawdermilk, Lisa Mathews, Odile Silva,Ashley Bryan, Mary Beth Messina, Dinah Bernsen, Gay Scott, Pat Sherlock, Connie and Milt Prewitt, Kathy Malley, Raymond Begnaud, Starla Foust, Bishop David Toups, Bishop Curtis Guillory, Fr. Salvadar Culotta, Cheri and Gerard Parigi, Rita Davis, Kim Phelan, Gwendolyn Lavalais, Pat Klein, Amanda Ellis, Lorraine Evans, Jean Moncla, Tracy Nelms, Crissy Darling, Larie Bishop, Mellie Bevilacqua, Tara Audilet, Trisha and Roy West, Jamie Pope, BrandiCoffin, Marianne Youngblood, Jessica Neff, Dawn Isabel, Stephanie Shoemaker, Rene McCabe, Paula Feltman, Scarlett Romero, Pam Young, Sandra and Cary Erickson, Sheree and Vernon Pierce, Jim Malain, Monica Deese, Linda Haynes, Marty Craig, Cynthia and Michael Wolf, Karen and Mike Fuljenz, Susan and Wayne Margolis, Linda and Joe Domino, Robin Broussard, Andrea Deaton, Charlotte Mains, Kimberly Goodson, Kathy Thomas, Kit Ohmstede, Leigh Green, Marilyn Gripon, Allison Gilbert, Christina Rivas, Kim Moncla, Stephanie Harris,Virginia Bean, MaryAnn

Williams, Sara Graham, Gail Steward, Ruby Franklin, Charlotte Fontenot, Shelley Duke, Donna Swain, Terry Morgan, Amy Pyburn, Pride Parr, Gerry Edwards, Carol Hearn, Sarah Wells, MaureenWinchell, Dana Johnson, Sue Philp, Catherine Holtzclaw, Gina Satler, Connie Hebert, Jo Marie Hebert, Krystal Sanchez, Leslie Pember, Sandy Fertitta, Nancy McGrade, Kim Steinhagen, Beverly Escamilla, Miriam Johnson, JoRita Lyle, Aggie In, Patti McSpadden, Michele Cobb, Gabe Olivier, James Wright, Jane Austin, Nicole Hebert, Alyssa Miller, Josh Wilson, Susan Lampson, Geneva and Joe Peters, Hillary Shanning, Joseph Trahan,Ashley Colgan and too many more to mention!

Excited about… next week’s Julie Rogers Gift of Life Champagne & Ribs 17th annual fundraiser Thursday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Civic Center. Honorees are James Payne, Bishop David Toups, Carl Griffith, Jerry Nathan and Rudy Sotolongo

See you there!

Weather was…perfect for the Chambers House Museum Lawn Party honoring Neches River Festival princesses Avril Robledo, Lila Oxford and Macy Briggs. All of the NRF princesses and escorts adhered to the white linens dress code as they enjoyed croquet and sliders. Standing ovation to the NRF LXXVI Citizen of the Year, Tim Sudela!

An honorable evening… Lamar University’s Distinguished Alumni will be presented Friday, April 5, at a reception and dinner at the University Event Center in the Mary and John Gray Library at 6:30 p.m. This year’s Distinguished Alumni award recipients are Charles Breithaupt, Stephen Head, Carmen Jordan and Edwin Vallery

Yummy meal… Honey B Courthouse Café is now serving a delish breakfast menutogoalongwithlunch,sonowyou can enjoy both in downtown Beaumont. Happy anniversary… to Kylee and Jeff Borden (11 years), and Claire and Ryan Meeks (1). Felicitations!

News of I do…Best wishes to Erin Hester and Caldwell Kent on their recent marriage merger!

Candles and cakes…b-day wishes to Lila Oxford, Pam Edwards, Ashley Thompson, Alex Parker Lippert, Lee Melton, Betsy Jenkins, Ronda Harkey, Juan Zabala, Joseph Edwards, Jacey-Kay Carter, Maggie Westby, Floyd McSpadden, Marianne Laine, Kelli Phelan Smith, Gina Harris, Erin Godina, J. Mark Smith, Gay Scott, Jerry Ayres, Mary Colley, Robert Calvert, Susan Phelps, Logan Franklin, Brittany Pippin, Kristin Beal, Elaine Browne, Pink Carden, Debbie Headrick, Rocky Chase, Margaret Green and Kathryn Phelan

Until the next RSVP!

OUT & ABOUT

Jane Leger and Paul Trevino
Sara Norman and Erin Godina
WHAT:
Junior League of Beaumont’s ‘Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas’
WHERE: Beaumont Civic Center
Photos by Brandon Gouthier
Austin and Nicole Williams
Baylor and Lindsay Wortham
Junior League of Beaumont’s ‘Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas’ • Continued from page 9B
Terri and Lee Potter
Erika and Kenny Harris

OUT & ABOUT

Junior League of Beaumont’s ‘Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas’ • Continued from page 10B
Ethan and Sadé Chick
Zach Stiles and Brooke Morrow

OUT & ABOUT

Junior League of Beaumont’s ‘Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas’ • Continued from page 11B

Cash and Lauren Williams
Miles Haynes, Shelly Vitanza, Ginger Gummelt and Amy Wright
Michelle and Blake Matheson
Russell Perry, Natasha Garrett and Lacey LeMoine
Jo Bievnvenu, Maureen Wiggins, Gerry Edwards and Carol Hearn
Tania Castelan and Nicki Messina
Eric and Amy Peevy
Jessie Mudd and Michelle Kuester
Jenny and Jimmy Kasiser
Megan and Blake Moss

Final chance for fair food

The 80th annual YBML South Texas State Fair ends Easter Sunday, March 31, so you still have four days at Ford Park to enjoy amazing fair food options.

Gates open at 5 p.m. onThursday, March, 28, and noon through Easter. Parking is free. For admission tickets and discount deals, view ymbl.org.

Sandwich at Mr. Sims
Watermelon bowl at Mabel’s Elephant Ears
Crawfish Eggrolls at Wicked Casian Crawfish at Wicked Casian
Amish Donut Smash Burger at Smash Wagon Amish Donut Smash Smash

OUT & ABOUT

Anna and Anthony Papa
Micah and Sarah Gibson
Junior League of Beaumont’s ‘Dancing With the Stars of Southeast Texas’ • Continued from page 15B

Crossvine

Your Garden with Joette Reger

One of the things that differentiates the landscape architect yard from most of our yards is the element of height.

Plants that climb and vine are perfect to add this professional touch to our outdoor spaces. The climbers and viners serve a specific purpose in the landscape and they add a vertical accent.

When I think of my yard on 23rd Street years ago, it came with lovely old plants in the backyard. There were vines on the fence and tall trees that made the yard more interesting and gave texture and height. Many of the new homes built now come with a flat, clean vista. It might be fun to start to create some texture and height if you don’t already have it in your outdoor spaces.

For height we think of the gorgeous climbing roses on a trellis or a wisteria vine on an arbor, but what about the precious crossvine.

A few “knocks” on climbing vines are that they require lots of maintenance to keep them sized properly. And some climbers have to be trained onto a sup-

port of some kind, plus they lose their leaves in the winter and that is not especially attractive.

An ideal vine to solve these typical vining plant problems is the crossvine. This flowering, evergreen vine has good mannersandstaysaboutwhereyouplant it. Crossvine, aka “Bignonia capreolata”, is a winner.

This Bignonia is evergreen or semi-evergreen with leaves that are glossy and dark green in the summer. By the fall and winter, the leaves are a darker maroon (think fightin’TexasAggies).

The author Larry Mellichamp who wrote many books including “Native Plants of the Southeast,” is quoted as saying, “Only one vine climbs by claws on the tips of its tendrils and this is Crossvine. It grabs the bark and climbs, later using roots for a tighter grasp.” So, you can safely use crossvine to climb fences, walls, trees.

The way that most of us know crossvine is by its wonderful fragrant spring trumpet-shaped flowers. You will usually find the spring blooms in bright orange to orange-red. They smell like chocolate mocha to me.

If space is limited and you don’t want to be bothered with too much gardening upkeep it is important to differentiate between crossvine and trumpet vine. I have used both and they were both on their

best behavior. But given enough time the trumpet vine will send underground runners fairly far from the main plant. Also, the trumpet vine is deciduous (loses its leaves in the winter). Crossvine flowers are reddish orange while trumpet vine blossoms are yellow or yellow-orange. Crossvine is not invasive while some consider trumpet vine invasive.

Crossvine is an easier job to remove from a surface than trumpet vine. So, if these differences are important to you, read the nursery tag well and choose the best of these two similar vines for your purpose.

I love to use native plants whenever possible in my yard and this is one of the best spring bloomers. It is favorite of Ruby throated hummingbirds returning to their breeding grounds in the southeast. Look for this beauty to draw in bumblebees and swallowtails, too. The crossvine should be a more popular plant for we home gardeners to try in our

own backyards. Try it and you can enjoy it for years to come.

If you have questions or comments about anything gardening, email Joette at joreger@msn.com.

New trout regs begin

Rule changes to bag and size limits for speckled trout will go into effect March 26 across the Texas coast.

The new statewide changes consist of the following:

• Three fish daily bag limit per angler.

• A minimum size of 15 inches and a maximum size limit of 20 inche.s

• One oversized trout greater than 30 inches allowed as part of daily bag limit.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted these changes at its January meeting to assist trout recovery after several years of below-average abundance.

In addition to these regulations, TPWD proposes an additional change to the harvesting of oversized trout, or those greater than 30 inches. The proposed change would prevent anglers from keeping fish greater than 30 inches as part of a daily bag limit until a tag system is implemented in the next license year, beginning Sept. 1.

This tag would allow anglers to har-

vest one trout greater than 30 inches with the purchase of a saltwater fishing license or endorsement. In addition, the proposed rule would also implement a $3 Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag and a $3 Exempt Angler Tag (for individuals who, by law, are exempted from license requirements) that would allow for the retention of one oversize trout per license year.

Last week two more giant largemouth bass were brought to the scales. A lot of big bass are spawning right now and are up very shallow.

Inks Lake and O.H. Ivie registered Legacy Class ShareLunkers on backto-back days to start the second week of March. Inks Lake in Central Texas etched its name in the Toyota ShareLunker record books with its first Legacy Class largemouth bass, while O.H. Ivie delivered its sixth Legacy Lunker this season.

Darrly Hanson reeled in 13.40-pound ShareLunker 662 Sunday, March 10 and with his catch, Inks Lake became the 78th public water body to produce a Legacy Lunker. Larry Walker of Irving landed 13.83-pound ShareLunker 663 Monday evening March 11, at O.H. Ivie – the 13th entry overall of the 2024 Toyota ShareLunker collection season.

“In the Lone Star State, there are nu-

merous water bodies capable of reaching an impressive 13 pounds or heavier,” said Natalie Goldstrohm, Toyota ShareLunker program coordinator. “There are reservoirs that have historically produced bigger bass, like Lake Fork and O.H. Ivie, and those that are lesser known that have remarkable trophy bass fisheries.”

Hanson’s ShareLunker 662 was the third from a new water body this year, with Inks Lake joining J.B. Thomas and Fort Phantom with its first Legacy Class fish. Seven different reservoirs have provided entries to the fold this collection season. Hanson’s ShareLunker 662 from Inks Lake was a monumental catch in more ways than one because it’s the new Inks Lake record for largemouth bass.

Hanson headed to Inks Lake early in the morning Sunday to compete in the Tonkawa Bassmasters Club tournament. He had not fished Inks Lake in a couple of years but had a plan for where to fish based on past trips to the lake.

“I’ve had decent luck at Inks Lake in the past, and the lake has some good structure,” said Hanson. “There is a particular area that has all sorts of docks and cement dock structure all around, which provides great cover, so I decided to target fish there. I put a couple of fish in the live well using an A-rig first thing in the morning to try and capitalize on bites. Then there was an area that I could see

off to the left that was on a point with structure. I threw anA-rig running it parallel against it and she slammed it.”

“I set the hook, and she pulled back and ran out to open water,” added Hanson. “She came up out of the water and I knew this was a big fish. She made five or six runs with two of them going underneath the boat. She got to the point where I could get her closer to the boat and scooped her into the net.”

Hanson weighed the fish on the tournament scale, and it checked in at 13.40 pounds.

“I headed over to the Inks Lake State Park office and officially weighed her there for the Angler Recognition Program,” said Hanson.

At O.H. Ivie,Walker was fishing with his guide and good friend Kyle Hall on Monday. He has fished the lake for many years, and Monday’s mission was to catch a ShareLunker.

“We started out early in the morning, caught a few small fish, saw some big ones and then finally saw a great big one on the nest,” said Walker. “I got lucky, and it bit. It came out of the water, and it looked like Moby Dick. When I got it in the boat, it weighed 13.83 pounds.

Walker has fished around the world, and the largest bass he ever caught was a 14.4-pounder in Honduras in 1977, but his favorite place to fish is Texas.

Outdoors with Robert Sloan

ACROSS

1 Pear variety

5 Universal, as a motor

9 Short hedge?

13 Turner on the radio

17 Farm machine equipped with twine

18 More crafty

19 The right one is usually slower

20 Eclipse

21 Title character for Tyler Perry

22 Bright pink shade

24 Literary friend of Sam, Merry and Pippin

25 ‘‘____ With Marc Maron’’ (podcast)

26 Like a stock quote?

28 Attraction in 69-Across that once froze over for 30 hours in 1848

30 Informally agree to

32 Stick in a cup

34 Buyer

35 Sudden arrival

37 Attraction in 69-Across that withstands dozens of lightning strikes a year, familiarly

39 Didn’t swipe right?

40 Mail insert: Abbr.

42 What prices can do

43 Turning on the waterworks

46 Either end of America?

47 ‘‘I goofed,’’ in slang

48 Fish fittingly found in ‘‘anemone’’

50 Music genre that emphasizes the offbeat

51 Stumbler or bumbler

52 Name that sounds like a letter

54 Actor Kutcher

60 General meeting place

62 School subjects?

65 Steel boot feature

67 Occasion for fireworks: Abbr.

68 Capital city founded by King Harald

69 Locale of this puzzle’s attractions (really, all eight of them!)

72 Spa service, in brief

76 Pro ____ (for now)

78 Bleep out

79 Unwrapped eagerly

81 Voicer of Olaf in ‘‘Frozen’’

85 Typical sock hopper

87 British throne room?

88 Not a good guy

89 Handled thing

90 Handling things

92 Curt reprimand to a dog

94 Wood used to make chess pieces and pool cues

96 Scarfs (down)

98 Caribbean music genre

101 Name of two ‘‘Groundhog Day’’ characters

107 ‘‘Life would be ____ if it weren’t funny’’: Stephen Hawking

109 French eatery

111 Noted name in 2005 news

113 Cause of a driveway stain

116 Attraction in 69Across on the Extraterrestrial Highway

118 ‘‘Nature of a ____’’ (1991 Queen Latifah album)

120 Originally called

121 Children’s author Eric

122 Biggest portion

124 A little crazy

126 Colonized, as bees might

127 Directional heading?

128 Skipjacks and bluefins

129 Perfect places

130 Be on the decline?

131 Spanish for ‘‘weight’’

132 Former L.A. center

133 Clinic liquids DOWN

1 Political party founded in Syria

2 Attraction in 69-Across that’s part of America’s first national park

3 Picture

4 Attraction in 69Across that’s almost 2,000 feet deep

5 Often

9 Owners of an infamous cow

10 Citrus with a portmanteau name

11 Person living in London 12 Consider 13 Comedian Jimmy with a self-described ‘‘schnozzola’’ 14 ‘‘Shoulda listened to me!’’ 15 Confuse

16 One way to be cut 17 Some German rides

18 They’re very attached to their calves

20 Collection during a church service

23 Prepare (oneself) for a challenge

27 Debauchee

29 ‘‘Hail,’’ in old Rome

31 Have down

33 Special attention, for short

36 ‘‘Sup’’

38 Steep

39 Improvises in a jazz group

41 Jazz group, for short

44 Distributor of 1933’s ‘‘King Kong’’ and ‘‘Little Women’’

45 Nigerian staple food

46 Nothing special

47 ‘‘Bulls get angry when they see the color red,’’ for one

49 Meditation aid

53 Small role for Paul Rudd

55 Marble, e.g.

59 ‘‘No,’’ in a certain dialect

61 Default consequence, perhaps 63 ‘‘The lady ____ protest too much ... ’’

64 Brut-ish?

66 Touch gently 70 Division for a tennis match

75 Fictional archaeologist with a whip, familiarly

77 Googled oneself, e.g.

80 Attraction in 69-Across where crocodiles and alligators uniquely coexist

81 Quick boxing move

82 Tic-tac-toe loser

95 Flake, so to speak

97 Came to

99 Supply for kindergarten drawers

100 Eponymous saint of ‘‘Alamo City’’

101 Some clerical workers

108 Wine-menu section

The two wives and 20 children of Johann Sebastian

Letter-shaped beam

Yoga pose

Insurance company whose name contains a diphthong

‘‘Ivories’’

83 Buffet style

Solutions on page 23B

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 4,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

103 Little rascals

104 Attraction in 69Across overseen by the Navajo Nation

Dear Readers:

Wishing each of you a happy Easter and happy springtime. Below are some quotes for inspiration, hope and joy.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“‘Twas Easter-Sunday. The fullblossomed trees filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.”

William Shakespeare

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”

Marty Rubin

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”

Robert H. Schuller

“Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.”

Basil C. Hume

“The great gift of Easter is hope.”

Jessica Harrelson

“Spring adds new life and new joy to all that is.”

Victor Hugo

“Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.”

6 Gives as a reference

7 Many a lib

8 Heady?

Oscar Wilde

56 Word before fly

57 Wyoming’s ____ Range

58 Yellowish pigment

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.”

Reba McEntire

“Easter is very important to me.

It’s a second chance.”

William P. Young

“I really do believe that God is love, one of deep affection and grace and forgiveness and inspiration.”

S.D. Gordon

“Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.”

Evan Esar

“Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket.”

Dolly Parton

“I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don’t even try to tell me different.”

Henri Matisse

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

Dear Annie:

I have a dear friend with a loving dog, but I dread going to her house because her dog enthusiastically jumps up on me for the first few minutes I am there. I have tried doing what she asks me to do – turning my back on him – and have been not doing what she doesn’t want me to do – putting my knee out to keep him back or sternly saying “no.”

71 Persuaded 73 Attraction in 69Across designed to be a ‘‘city of the future’’

74 Academic figures

84 Part of the spine

86 Diamond stat

91 Deliberated (on)

93 Subgenre prefix

102 Seller of over a billion Huggable Hangers on TV

103 It’s a trap!

105 Profitability metric, for short

106 Sea eagles

Buthegetsnobetteratanysubsequent visit with her method of dealing with it. I have had, and fostered, numerous dogs and have trained them to not jump up with just a few minutes of training. I’m coming off caring for her dog while she was out of town and am very over her dog jumping on me. She lives alone and relies on her friends to step in with the dog’s care when she travels. Thanks for any advice short of meeting her elsewhere.

– Friend’s Dog Manners

Dear Friend’s Dog Manners:

Have you tried to train the dog yourself while you are staying at her house? If you have, and he still does not listen, then it may be time to hire a professional dog trainer. Having a jumping dog is not only annoying but can cause someone to fall over. Talk to your friend and tell her your concerns so that she is aware of how much the problem bothers you. Since you work with fosters, you could probably find a highly recommended trainer for your friend.

Dear Annie:

My daughter broke up with her boyfriend several months ago. She just recently hooked back up with him. Needless to say, I don’t like him. He is spoiled and rude.

Bomb 119 Where dinars are spent

‘‘Wait ... what?’’ 125 Work on something you love?

The family was planning a trip for her birthday and she asked if a female friend could come. I told her that would be OK. Now she is telling me that her girlfriend can’t come and that her ex-boyfriend can take her friend’s plane ticket. I told her if he goes, I’ll stay home because I do not want to be around him. She knew this before inviting him to go on the trip. I openly expressed this to her.

Now, my daughter is telling me that she originally invited him to go on this trip if her friend decided not to go. She says I’m being mean and causing her to choose between him and me! I tried to explain to her that I don’t want her to choose and that she already knew how I felt about the whole situation. She still insists I am driving a wedge between us. I’m not sure what to do – either stick to my original decision, as I truly don’t like him, or try to put up with him for the five days we will be on our trip so I can try to enjoy what little time I’ll get with her since her ex will be there and he does notliketobearoundmeormydaughter’s brother.What should I do? I love her, but I don’t like him.

– Unhappy Mom

Dear Unhappy Mom:

Difficult as it might be to feign excitement with this man tagging along, the only person who loses out by not going on this trip is you.As much as you

Simeon Seigel is an architect at the Turrett Collaborative in New York City. He uses his subway commute to ‘‘trainstorm’’ theme ideas — including this one, which has been in the works since 2018. He writes, ‘‘The best themes, to

don’t like him or the situation, you’ll likely feel worse if you don’t go and miss out on celebrating your daughter’s birthday.

Do your best to be cordial and enjoy the time with her and the rest of your family. If she decides she wants to be with this man again long term, you will have to figure out a way to accept their relationship as best you can for as long as they are together. If you don’t, I fear you will only continue to lose more and more of your daughter.

Dear Annie:

My name is “Stephanie,” and my husband’s name is “Travis.” Travis and I have been married for 27 years. About six months ago, I was blindsided with divorce papers. He and his mom made the decision. Yes, you read that right. Anyhow, my husband and I still live together, and the divorce has not moved forward for various reasons. His entire family has completely disowned me, with the exception of my father-inlaw, who didn’t get involved.

Travis’ father, my father-in-law, suddenly passed away recently. It was heartbreaking. I sent food, etc. because that is who I am. When the

WEIRD

Maybe She’s Onto Something

Spanish artist Alicia Framis, now based in Amsterdam, has created the perfect husband: a hologram that she designed and named AILex Sibouwlingen, whom she modeled on past paramours, according to EuroNews. Framis plans to marry him this summer at a museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. On her Instagram page, Framis shares photos and videos of herself and AILex sharing meals and other elements of daily life. “Love and sex with robots and holograms are an inevitable reality,” Framis said. “They are great companions and capable of expressing empathy.”

Truth Is Stranger Than Netflix

Loreen Bea Feralo, 55, and Karen Casbohm, 63, were charged with theft and gross abuse of a corpse after allegedly carrying out a “Weekend at Bernie’s” stunt inAshtabula, Ohio, The Smoking Gun reported. On March 4, police said, Feralo and Casbohm – who were not related to Douglas Layman, 80, but lived in his home – loaded his corpse into the front seat of a car “in such a manner that he would be visible to bank staff” and drove through his bank, where they used his card to withdraw $900.The bank had allowed the women to withdraw from his account before, as long as he was with him. Having secured the funds, the women then dropped Layman’s body at the Ashtabula County Medical Center emergency room “without providing any information about the man or themselves,” police said. They were able to identify the women and question them. The women, both of whom have significant priors, said Layman died at home. Creme de la Weird

Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn,

obituary came out online and in the paper, my name wasn’t in it. My husband’s name and our children’s names were, of course, but my name wasn’t. I am so hurt by this. My father-in-law and I always had a good relationship, and I feel like Travis and his mother did it out of spite. I know they did. In my opinion, that was disrespectful to both his father and to me.

How could people be so cruel? How do I move past this? What are your thoughts? Thank you.

– “Stephanie” Left Out in PA Dear Stephanie:

I’m sorry for the loss of your father-in-law, especially during an already difficult time for you and your marriage. After almost three decades of calling Travis’ family your own, you have every right to feel hurt, excluded and disrespected by their behavior. Ultimately, this action speaks much louder of their character than of yours.

Initiate a conversation with Travis to express how this exclusion made you feel and establish a way to interact and cohabit as you move toward finalizing the divorce. It is disappointing that the people you’ve been closest to have started to act in unrecognizable ways, but remember, you can only control your reactions and behavior. Lean on your true friends and loved ones while you grieve both your father-in-law and your marriage.

Montana, pleaded guilty on March 12 to two felony wildlife crimes after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks conducted a years-long investigation, BusinessInsiderreported.Schubarthwasaccused of buying, selling and breeding “alternative” livestock, such as mountain sheep and mountain goats, for captive hunting operations. Between 2013 and 2021, court documents said, he conspired with others to create a large hybrid species of sheep that would garner higher prices from shooting preserves. To do so, he brought partsofMarcoPoloargalisheepfromKyrgyzstan to the U.S. without declaring them. His other crimes include forging veterinary documents and shipping hybrid semen to other breeders. He faces jail time, fines and supervised release.

Recurring Theme

It’s baaaackkk. In the waning days of 2020, a tallsilvermonolithpoppedupinvariouslocations in California, Texas, Romania and elsewhere. Now, Wales Online reports, it’s back. The 10-foot-tall tower, which appears to be stainless steel, turned up near Hay-on-Wye in Wales around March 10, when Richard Haynes came across it while he was out for a run. “I thought it ... might be a scientific media research thing collecting rainwater. But then I realized it was way too tall and strange for that. It was hollow and I imagine ... light enough for two people to carry it up and plant it in the ground,” Haynes said. Stay tuned.

Awesome!

AttheGoodwillstoreinDuBois,Pennsylvania, workers found a treasure in a box of old Lego pieces, United Press International reported on March 12: a 14-karat gold Kanohi Hau mask from Lego’s Bionicle collection. Originally pricedatGoodwillat$14.95,thepieceeventually sold for $18,100 to an anonymous collector. “We didn’t know it was worth anything until people started asking if they could buy it for $1,000,” said Chad Smith, vice president of e-commerce

Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all the letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
CHUCK SHEPHERD’S

and technology for Goodwill. Lego created only 30 pieces in gold in 2001.

LAD Bible reported on March 5 about two unacquainted Brits who were headed to a holiday in Bangkok, Thailand. At the airport, Mark Garland, 58, of Wiltshire, tried to check in, but gate staff told him he already had. After some sleuthing, they realized there was another Mark Garland (62, from Bristol) on the flight – and the look-alikes were seated next to each other. As it happens, they live only about 15 miles apart and sometimes ride the same bus. They even have a friend in common. “We were so shocked by how strange it was,” said the younger Garland. “It was crazy – I have never known anything like it,” said the older. “I’ve made a friend for life.”

Questionable Judgment

After Jacob Wright, 24, and Cambree Wright, 19, exchanged wedding vows on Feb. 10, it was time for pictures, Fox News reported. So Jacob grabbed his Apple Vision Pro headset and wore it while the photos were snapped. Jacob said he saw an opportunity to have fun and create a viral moment. “I was like, ‘Oh, it’d be like such a meme. It’d be so funny if we just took some pictures with it on after the wedding.” Sure enough, when they posted the pics, Cambree said she started getting “crazy” messages: “I woke up to 200-plus messages and just random girls telling me to divorce my husband.” But the bride said the photos “perfectly encompass Jacob and his personality ... and what our relationship is like.”

Bright Idea

Amber Denae Wright of Cape Town, South

Africa, has shared a marriage tip on TikTok that other wives may want to adopt, People reported on March 9. A video on the social media site shows her husband, Nick, talking when Amber plays orchestra music from her phone. When Nickasks,“Whatisthat?Whatareyouplaying?” Amber says, “It’s Oscars music. You know, when the speeches are too long ...” Nick’s taking it well, though: “She’s been doing this the whole week. Every time I tell a story! Is this gonna be the rest of my life?” One TikTok commenter suggested, “I should use this at work when guys mansplain.”

Field Report

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told city council members on March 13 that rats had infested the department’s building so thoroughly that they made their way into the evidence room and were eating confiscated marijuana. “They’re all high,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “The uncleanliness is off the charts.” She elaborated, saying the building is full of mold and cockroaches, and staff suffer broken air conditioning and elevators.

That’s Disappointing

The Pittsburgh Penguins planned to provide prized playthings to their passionate patrons on the evening of March 14, ESPN reported. (OK, that’s enough of that.) NHL legend Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads were promised for the game against the San Jose Sharks – but the cargo was stolen during transit. Penguins president of business operations KevinAcklin said the team is looking forward to “resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jagr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans.” The hockey great commented, “The legend of Jagr continues.”

Batman was recently surrendered to our shelter. While he is shy in new environments, he can be very loving. Batman flourishes outside and would love a home with a fenced in yard. He shares a kennel with two other dogs and is doing great with them.

Adoption fee is $70.

For more information about adopting Batman, visit 1184 Pine St. in Beaumont or call (409) 838-3304.

ZackHill

What does Easter mean to you?

Brenda Cannon Henley columnist

As a very young child, I remember being excited to see what my Mama Cole or Aunt Anna would buy me for Easter. I always counted on a frilly new dress, complete with matching ruffled panties, matching lace socks, black patent Mary Jane shoes, and a tiny purse, along with white lace gloves, as long as they could find them.

And of course, on Easter morning, I would rush into the dining room or the den to see what the famed Easter bunny had left for me there.As I became a little older, I discovered that they did not and it made me sad.

After I married and had children of my own, I vowed they would have good holidays and blessed memories. I, perhaps, went overboard with Easter, Christmas, birthdays, vacations and decorated rooms for each of them because from the time I left Mama Cole’s wonderful, warm home, I did not have that

attention and showering of gifts. I admit it was strange to understand at first, and the years between 8 and the time I left for college, my life was more difficult. Once I had my own home, I wanted only the best for my own children. I declared that they would be loved and have special days and events to remember.

We were in church every Sunday, and Easter was a big day to look forward to, complete with an egg or candy hunt, and special meal around the big dining table. I thought that was what we were supposed to do as “good” parents.

Only after I grew a bit older and spent time studying the Scriptures did I begin to get the depth of the meaning of Easter. I realize that we have readers of all faiths and that some believe one thing while others believe another. I can only write what I believe and ask that you bear with me. I believe Easter is the cornerstone to our faith. If Christ did not rise from the dead as He said He would, then all of our other teaching is in vain.

The greatest message ever given to anyone was given to Mary Magdalene on that Easter morning. When they discovered the horrid tomb was open, the stone rolled away, and Jesus was alive, they could hardly contain themselves.

Crossword Solution

The message was clear: “Ye seek Jesus. He is not here. Behold and see the place where they laid Him. Go on your way and tell His disciples that He is indeed alive as He said He would be.” This story is covered in all four Gospels, and I find great joy in reading John 20:18 where Mary Magdalene came and told the other disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken to her. I contend that this is indeed the greatest message ever given to anyone. He is risen. He is alive as He said He would be. That, today, should be our message, as well. We serve a risen Savior. He is in the world today. He lives. He lives that we may live also. I no longer need a new spring outfit on Easter. I no longer need fresh flowers on my dining room table. I no longer even need to know that my precious grandchildren have Easter baskets, dyed eggs, or new clothes. But I do need to know that each of them has trusted Christ and know in their own hearts that He lives, and that by believing in Him, they can live for eternity, as well. Happy Easter.

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