News

Constable honored at conference

Pct. 2 Constable Christopher Bates won the 2023 Constable of the Year Award at the National Constables and Marshals Association 50th annual conference in Biloxi, Mississippi, recently. Bates was elected in 2012 and took office in 2013.

Local doctor appointed to state commission

Gov. Greg Abbott has reappointed Ray Callas, M.D., FASA, of Beaumont, to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation for a term set to expire on Feb. 1, 2029. The commission oversees the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

TCA awards grants to Beaumont groups

Sept. 8, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) approved funding of 929 grants in the first funding round for fiscal year 2024. The grants total over $15 million and will go to nonprofits and units of government in 110 Texas cities.

GoFundme account set for crash victims

A GoFundMe account has been established to help with funeral expenses for two Port Arthur brothers killed in a Sept. 10 crash in Calcasieu Parish. The crash reportedly happened just before 7 a.m.

World War II veteran asks for pen pals for 100th birthday

Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham challenged Texans to show their support for U.S. Army veteran and Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home resident Ethelyn Szad Bell on her 100th birthday. Bell’s centennial celebration will be on Oct.

Medical field journey begins for Silsbee high school students

About 79% of nurses already report that their units are inadequately staffed per the 2023 State of Nursing survey, according to Nurse.org. For most states, including Texas, the dim data means maintaining current nursing workforce levels won’t be enough to stop the shortage.

Schools scramble to secure campuses as underfunded state mandate begins

Following the tragic school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year, both the House of Representatives and Senate were in agreement in regard to prioritizing school safety during the most recent session. Passed on June 14 and effective Sept.

Wildfires rage on; evacuation order lifted by OC officials

Sept. 11, Orange County officials released information that all evacuation orders in the area of FM 2802 and Texla Road had been lifted. Fire crews continued to work in the area to cover hotspots, but all homes were safe to return to as of 1 a.m.

City manager placed on leave

Vidor City Manager Robbie Hood is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, according to Mayor Misty Songe. On Aug. 24, the council went into executive session to discuss Hood’s employment, including his annual evaluation.

Fentanyl flowing in; fatalities adding up

“We’re actually taking steps backwards,” Texas Harm Reduction Alliance Executive Director Cate Graziani explained of the fight against fentanyl during an April discussion moderated by the Texas Tribune, which featured commentary from a group of experts befuddled by the drug’s growth in use – and in...