Texas Mutual awards $100K check to LIT
Texas Mutual Insurance Company awarded a $100,000 grant to Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) to continue funding the college’s Safety Awareness Institute, which provides workplace safety courses for community employers, workers and the general public.
This is the seventh consecutive year that Texas Mutual, the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, has given a $100,000 grant to the college to support the risk management program.
“Through the partnership with Texas Mutual, the safety courses LIT has been able to provide usually leads to a certification that subsequently leads to employment opportunities,” said Julia Rodriguez, continuing education coordinator at Lamar Institute of Technology. “The funding from Texas Mutual has allowed us to work with people all across our community, city municipalities and school districts to ensure safety is a priority and allow everyone to go home to their families.”
The safety education grants are one way Texas Mutual is delivering on its commitment to build a stronger, safer Texas.
LIT launched the Safety Awareness Institute in 2017 to provide training to reduce work-related accidents and injuries. Since 2017, LIT has trained about 2,300 individuals, 428 of whom participated in training in 2022. The courses include Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certifications, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid, forklift operation and aerial lift operation at no cost for employees of area businesses and industries.
“Our community college partners have been instrumental to our mission of creating a stronger, safer Texas,” said Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual. “Through this grant funding, we have provided support to these institutions and their communities for more than two decades, and we are proud to continue investing in the continued education of thousands of Texas workers.”
For more information about the upcoming Safety Awareness Institute courses at LIT, visit lit.edu.
NHS brings in ‘Shattered Dreams’ program
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, TxDOT, Acadian Ambulance and Nederland’s first responders (fire and police) were along with the volunteers who partnered with Nederland High School to participate in a “Shattered Dreams” program designed to educate the students of the dangers associated with drinking and driving.
On March 9, a school assembly was held in the Performing Art Center. The program involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash on 18th street directly in front of the senior parking lot, complete with police and EMS response, emergency room treatment, family notifications and the arrest and booking of the driver.
Every 15 minutes someone in Texas is injured or killed as a result of drunk driving. Research has shown that underage drinking and impaired driving can be prevented in much the same way that, other health-related behaviors are addressed.
Statistics show that Texas leads the nation in alcohol-related crash deaths among 15-20 year olds, half of fatal car crashes among 15-20 year olds were alcohol-elated and about 16% of high school students recently reported driving after drinking and 40% reported riding with a drinking driver in the past month.
Vidor bicyclist killed in collision
The Vidor Police Department (VPD) reported a fatal collision involving a pickup truck and a bicyclist on March 7.
Police Chief Rod Carroll reported the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on the Interstate 10 West service road near Rosewood Street and took the life of Stephen Caleb Smith, 39, of Vidor.
The chief noted the male bicyclist was traveling east on the westbound service road and was hit by the pickup truck. Bystanders and emergency crews performed first aid on the victim, but he died at the scene. VPD spent several hours investigating the crash.
Carroll added the area where the collision happened is poorly lit and it appears Smith did not have a light on his bicycle.
Justice of the Peace Chad Jenkins ordered an autopsy on Smith.
Family Services open Port Arthur office
March 13, Family Services of Southeast Texas, whose main office is located at 3550 Fannin, in Beaumont, opened a satellite office in the Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse located at 525 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur. The agency provides services for domestic violence and sexual assault for six counties, with residential shelters in Beaumont and Jasper.
Some of the things non-residential services include are case management, legal advocacy, counseling, and assistance with obtaining employment and affordable housing.
All services are free and confidential.
Two people injured in crash near Buna
Two people were injured in a crash near Buna on March 8, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). It occurred about 9:30 a.m. on FM 1004 near Antioch Cemetery.
Sgt. Sergeant Shana Clark reported a man employed by Pineywoods Sanitation was driving a Ford pickup truck pulling a lowboy trailer. She stated the driver – Christopher Martin, 70, of Silsbee – stopped the truck and trailer which were partially on the roadway as he was on the trailer unloading trash cans.
A Toyota Tacoma truck, driven by Vance Hill, 79, of Buna, side-swiped both the lowboy trailer and the Ford truck.
Clark reported the entire bed of the Ford truck was completely torn off and it flew into the opposite lane of traffic where it was hit by a Dodge passenger car driven by Karlye Bayer, 19, of Buna.
Martin was injured when he jumped off the lowboy as it was being hit by the other truck. Bayer suffered injuries when her car struck the truck bed. Both were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
LU online program ranked No. 5
U.S. News & World Report has ranked five Lamar University (LU) online programs among the best in the nation.
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings and provides easily accessible data that prospective students can evaluate when exploring higher education options. Guidance from the database also helps millions of prospective students better understand their online higher education options, empowering them to make informed decisions.
According to U.S. News & World Report, schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence: Faculty Credentials; Engagement; Student Excellence; Services and Technologies; and Expert Opinion.
Also, LU’s graduate criminal justice degree program is ranked No. 30 for Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs, No. 102 in Beast Online Master’s in Nursing Programs and No. 157 in Best Online Master’s in Education Programs.
Learn more about Lamar University academic programs by visiting lamar.edu/academics.
Veterans event makes stop in Beaumont
Twistin’ the Wrist for the Troops, a group of veterans from Navy Seals, Special Forces and Special Ops groups, are riding cross country from Florida to California to raise awareness of mental health among our Veterans. They are carrying the message that it is unacceptable to lose 22 Veterans to suicide every day in this country.
The veterans departed Florida after a kick-off in Daytona during Bike Week. They will make their 2,500-mile journey stopping at Harley-Davidson dealerships along the way. The group arrives in Beaumont on Friday, March 17, and will be escorted into Beaumont by area law enforcement arriving at Cowboy Harley-Davidson for a welcome reception from 4-6 p.m. at the dealership, 1150 IH-10 South in Beaumont. There will be a short program and representatives from the city and Jefferson County will be a part of the welcoming groups as well as Veterans from various motorcycle clubs.
On Saturday, March 18, after a private Veterans Memorial ride, the Veterans return to Cowboy Harley-Davidson for a crawfish boil that is open to the public. There will be live music, free soft drinks and water. Crawfish trays, t-shirts and challenge coins will be sold with proceeds supporting Twistin’ the Wrists for the Troops and their mission. Only cash will be accepted and an ATM is onsite.
Jesse Clay, retired United States Navy Seal, led the inaugural ride in March of 2022 and will be leading the Veterans again his year.
Harley-Davidson partners with the group supporting their efforts to share their mission. of 22 Veterans a Day.