Beaumont Enterprise

26 April 2008

Bouquets go to:

Active and retired judges who served as waiters Tuesday at a banquet held at the MCM Elegante hotel to benefit the child advocacy group CASA. The non-profit organization provides trained volunteers to look after the needs of abused and neglected children as they make their way through the court system.

Former U.S. Rep. Jack Brooks, who became the 12th person honored in Lamar University's Southeast Texas Legends Scholarship series. He served 42 years as a Democratic congressman.

The Southeast Texas Sickle Cell Association gala Thursday at Suga's, which raised awareness about the red blood cell disorder that affects one out of every 500 African-Americans. Proceeds went toward opening a local clinic to treat the disease, an educational scholarship and summer programs for kids afflicted with the disease.

Four Lamar faculty members recognized as University Merit Award recipients for their outstanding commitment to education. They are assistant professors Monica Bellon-Harn of Lumberton, speech and hearing sciences; Jiangjiang "Jane" Liu, Beaumont, computer science; Edythe Kirk, Port Arthur, psychology; and associate professor John Payton, Beaumont, health and kinesiology.

Award winners announced Thursday by the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. They include Deanna Lane of Guardian Force Security Services, Ambassador of the Year; Allen Perkins, founder and owner of WOW Food Concepts LLC and Tom Jordan, president of U.S. Flag and Flagpole Supply, Robert Swerdlow Small Business Persons of the Year; and Vesta Brandt, general manager of Clear Channel Radio, Chamber Volunteer of the Year.

Twenty-seven Cub Scouts and family members with First United Methodist Church of Groves Pack 287, who recently helped clean up Sea Rim State Park in Jefferson County.

Brickbats go to:

Vandals who slashed pews, flooded and left a racial slur and satanic markings in Port Arthur's Stonegate Missionary Baptist Church. Damage was discovered Tuesday morning. The number "666" -symbolic for the devil - was written in ketchup on the floor. Kitchen counters contained statements like: "The devil rules all and is coming for you" and "All that worship God will die." The racial epithet was directed at blacks. The church was remodeled about a year ago after damage from Hurricane Rita.

A fake priest arrested Monday in Las Vegas who was sought by East Texas authorities for alleged thefts from hospital patients. The arrest comes almost a year after he allegedly took wallets from patients and a nurse at hospitals in four states. The fake priest was caught on security video at a Kilgore pharmacy using a stolen credit card to buy 800 dollars worth of gift certificates.

Send Bouquets and Brickbats to:

opinions@beaumontenterprise.com or mail them to The Enterprise, P.O. Box 3071, Beaumont, Texas, 77704.