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Popular stories in 2024 were a mixed bag with celebrations, bankruptcies and a tornado to local events, an election and crime.

 

Here’s a summary of some of the top news:

• The first half of the year saw the resignation of Nederland High School Football Coach/Athletic Director Monte Barrow. He had been a 30-year school district employee.
• Veteran owned Clifford Distilling shut their doors permanently after about two years in business. 

Sean Clifford chose downtown Procter Street in Port Arthur as the site of his whiskey making operation. During the years it held tasting and tours, creating a variety of spirits that were sold in liquor stores, bars and restaurants.

• Central Mall’s new owner believes it has the right ingredients for success, according to Felix Reznick, principal with 4th Dimensions Properties, which recently bought the mall.

Company officials started with cosmetic fixes and owners are ready to attract different types of tenants.

• A 2-day Otaku Food Festival brought Asian street food, anime-themed fun, lion dancers, sumo wrestlers, cosplay and more to the Mall.
• The city of Port Arthur cut ties with Acadian Ambulance. 

Acadian operated in the city for 17 years and was the sole 911 provider for the past 13 years, but last year city leaders opted to bring in a second ambulance service.

The city had brought in City Ambulance as a second ambulance service but representatives of the Louisiana-headquartered Acadian Ambulance

cited a number of reasons for their departure, mainly that a multi-provider system was not viable for Acadian. City Ambulance remains the sole provider for the city.

• Longtime lawmaker and Port Arthur political titan Carl A. Parker died. His list of accolades includes more than three decades in the legislature (the House of Representatives and the Senate)  

He wrote legislation to create the Port of Port Arthur. He wrote legislation to create Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar State College at Orange and passed a bill elevating the status of Lamar University and much more.

His wife Beverly Parker died of cancer three weeks later. She was a retired professor and served on many chairs.

• An EF-2 tornado moved through a portion of the city leaving a swath of damage to a building on the Buu Mon Buddhist Temple grounds, causing structural damage to homes and other buildings, and destroying Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 1749 13th St. 
• The Middle Passage Marker in Port Arthur was unveiled commemorating ancestors and providing a history of the local slave trade.

The marker notes — “Remembering Ancestors, commemorating the lives of African ancestors who perished during the Middle Passage and those who survived and were transported through Sabine Pass, Texas 1817-1837.” It is located on Waco Avenue across from the side entrance to the Jefferson County Sub-courthouse.

• Zachry Industrial Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy thus pulling out as one of the Engineering, Procurement, and Constructing Contractors on the Golden Pass LNG project. 
• Steward Health Care, which operates The Medical Center of Southeast Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• A suspected drunk driver who was traveling in the wrong direction struck a vehicle carrying two women killing them on US 69 in Beaumont.

The women, Camille Marti, 21, of Beaumont, and Loren (Icenhower) Stacks, 25, of Beaumont, were friends and attended The Apostolic Church of Beaumont.

Stacks had recently married husband Chris Stacks and Marti had recently gotten engaged to fiancé Boston Carr.

The second half of the year was equally remarkable.

• Mike’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shop in Port Neches got new owners, Daviss LaBove, her fiancé Jeremy Hebert and Hebert’s parents. 
• Tia Juanita’s temporary closure and subsequent move to a new location at 7500 Twin City Hwy. caught the eyes of many readers this year. 

The popular eatery first opened in 2018 on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard.

• A story about a fight at a gender reveal party at a Nederland restaurant spilled from the banquet room to the main dining room caught the attention of many readers. 

The cause of the fracas — someone did not like the way they were told to pay their tabs, according to police.

The party and the fight occurred at Sombrero Mexican Grill. 

• Area travel agent Mary Emily Lockard-Furry, who is believed to be part of a nationwide vacation-travel scam, made headlines several times in 2024 with a number of warrants in several different counties. 
• The City of Port Arthur presented a proclamation naming Oct. 22, 2024, as Ronnie Moon Day.

Moon has spent years keeping Pleasure Island’s North Levee clean from litter and provided critical information on shrimp and fish. 

• The bid to restore Tugboat Island in Port Neches is coming to fruition after a large financial gift from Ed Hogenson. 

Volunteers are needed for work dates in the new year to construct the playground. 

• Nederland community members came out to take a tour of the recently opened Nederland High School. 
• Area’s first brew pub, Neches Brewing Company, announced they are closing its doors. 
• Mardi Gras Southeast Texas has a new home, Doggett Ford Park.

The upcoming event will be held Feb. 28 to March 2 with the theme “Life’s A Beach” at the center, 5115 I-10, Beaumont.

• Groves’ city council run-off election brings two new faces to seats, Brandon Holmes and Rae Shauna Gay.
• Former Port Arthur ISD football coach Mike Owens dies. 

Owens coached at Thomas Jefferson High School for 14 years leading them to five playoff appearances. 

He moved on to coach at Tyler Legacy from 1996-2010, where maintained a winning record and led the program to a state football title in 2004. 

• Defending state champions Port Neches-Groves Indians battled their way to the top again but fell to South Oak Cliff 56-14 in the 5A Division II Region 3 final.