2005 - Rita - Front Pages

8/9/2019 2005 - Rita - Front Pages

1/14

By DAN WALLACH

THE ENTERPRISE

Entergy Texas will begin itsnormal storm-recovery plan-ning beginning today, depend-ing on the predicted track ofRita, the storm coming aroundthe bend of Florida and aimingfor the open Gulf.

Theres no consensus yet asto the direction of the storm,said Dave Caplan, EntergyTexas spokesman. Its too early

to tell yet, but folks are watch-ing.

Caplan said anywhere from70 to 100 members of repaircrews began returning last Fri-

day to Southeast Texas fromHurricane Katrina duty in andaround New Orleans.

We have a tremendousamount of resources aroundthe Gulf we can deploy. Wellhave enough time to react.

In other news affectingEntergy, the Public Utility Com-mission postponed until

Wednesday a decision that

ENTERGY, page 4A

By MADLEN READ

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK Crude-oil futuressurged more than $4 the biggestone-day price jump ever amid

worries that Tropical Storm Ritastrengthening off the Bahamas couldhit U.S. oil facilities in the Gulf ofMexico later this week, strikinganother blow at an industry strug-gling to recover from Hurricane Kat-rina.

The swells in crude, heating oiland gasoline futures came as OPECministers met to discuss how torelieve price pressures in the oil mar-ket and expressed concern that Rita

OIL, page 4A

WEATHER: Sunny skies and hot, Highs:90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 19

www.SoutheastTexasLive.com THE ADVOCATE FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS SINCE 1880 50 Cents

TUESDAY

Section designed and copy-edited by Rae Ann Spitzenberger and Christopher Clausen, (409) 833-3311, ext. 411

In Sports: Saints lose home opener; Cowboys honor Triplets Page 1B

I N S I D E

Advice & TV ................2C

Business ....................8B

Classified....................6C

Comics ......................5C

Friends & Family..........1C

Obituaries ..................10A

Opinions ..................12A

Puzzles ......................3C

Region ........................9A

Sports ........................1B

Dow

Nasdaq

-84.31

-15.09

Pirates snap Houstons 5-gamewinning streak: IN SPORTS

1880 2005

years

125

Average price of a gallonof regular gasoline inSoutheast Texas:$2.70

Source: AAA and Oil Price Information Service

Price as of Monday morning

AP

Rita has eye set onTexas Gulf Coast

Bevil Oaks parents want kidsin Hardin-Jefferson schools

Oil pricesshoot upat 1-dayrecord

Dad:That wasmy best friend

Scott Eslinger/The Enterprise

Spray paint marks the spot on Sapp Graveyard Road between Kountze andSour Lake where Thomas Hall, 26, was shot to death and Brandon Ander-

son, 26, was shot and critically wounded Saturday night.

By KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

KOUNTZE Thomas Robert Hall was described many ways Monday,but his father offered the best andsimplest compliment.

That was my best friend, the Rev.Robert Hall, 49, pastor of Happy Val-ley Baptist Church, said of his son.

Hall, 26, of Kountze, was shot todeath Sunday during an argumenton a remote Hardin County road.

Halls mother, Paula Hall, 43, saidthe thing she will miss the mostabout her son are his big hugs. Ahabit that started at a young age, shesaid her son continued it as an adult.

At a time when boys are in LittleLeague and football, when boys shyaway from their parents, he wouldalways put his big arms around me,Paula Hall said.

She added that Halls hands wereso big his wedding ring bought for

a November service was a size 15.It looks like you could put it on a

pipe as a nut, she said with a sadsmile.

Memorabilia of Halls life filled acabinet inside the entrance of theFirst Baptist Church in Kountze,

where family and friends gathered toremember him Monday. His baseballglove and motorcycle helmet werethere, as well as trophies from hissuccess on Kountzes baseball andfootball fields and a Future Farmersof America Reserve Grand Champion

HALL, page 4A

By BETH GALLASPY

THE ENTERPRISE

Forecasts painting a bulls-eyeMonday on Southeast Texasprompted emergency officials to

warn residents about TropicalStorm Rita and the possibility ofan evacuation this week.

Rita was expected to strength-en to a hurricane before makinglandfall in the Florida Keys thismorning.

Once it enters the Gulf of Mexi-co, the storm is expected tostrengthen to a Category 3 hurri-cane or higher, which would meansustained winds of at least 111mph, said Roger Erickson, meteo-

rologist with the National WeatherService in Lake Charles, La.

The stretch from Sabine Pass toFreeport has the highest probabil-ity for a Saturday morning strike.

The good news is were still

looking four to five days out. Itstoo early to pinpoint exactly whosgoing to get it, Erickson said bytelephone. Really, everyone alongthe Texas coast has to be keeping

track of this.

Jefferson County Judge Carl

Griffith said officials would make a

RITA, page 4A

Spokesman: We haveplenty of time to react

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

SOUR LAKE Unhappy withschool zoning and the quality ofeducation in Beaumont, some

Bevil Oaks residents want to see

their children go to school in the

neighboring Hardin-Jefferson

school district.The Hardin-Jefferson school

board had a public hearing Mon-

day night on annexation of the Jef-

ferson County community and to

SCHOOL, page 4A

Loved ones rememberman killed near Kountze;second victim now stable

Storm could becomeCategory 3, hit between

Sabine Pass, Freeport

Dispute ends in shooting

Entergy Texas plansfor storm recovery

FINDING HOME: 9A

Groups help evacuees findhousing in Port Arthur

New Orleans mayor suspendsreopening city with Rita looming: 5A

FORGOTTE

N: 5A

Mississippi town waits daysbefore getting official help

HOU

SING: 8B

Mobile home industryset to increase production

TIPS: 4

A

A list of ways to preparein case of a hurricane here

Adam Moorman, left, was chargedin the shooting death ofThomasRobert Hall, who died Saturday.

MiracleWorkerA staging of TheMiracle Worker hitsclose to home forBrett Simpson, who isblind and deaf. Notonly is he teaching thecast about being blind,hes also in the play.

MiracleWorker

Friends&Family 1C

District has public hearingon annexing community

23.3 N77.8 W

WNW at14 mph

MAX SUST.near 70 mph

As of10 p.m. CDT


2/14

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, Highs: 90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 20


WEDNESDAY

Section designed and copy-edited by Vic Odegar and Christopher Clausen, (409) 833-3311, ext. 122

In Sports: Houston keeps wild card lead with 7-4 win against Pittsburgh Page 1C

I N S I D E

Advice & TV ............2BBusiness..................1DClassified ................9CComics....................8C

Body & Mind............1B

Obituaries ..............10AOpinions................12APuzzles ....................3BRegion ....................9A

Sports ....................1C

Dow Nasdaq

-76.11 -13.93

Map of evacuation routes: 4A

Bush reviews damage from one storm, braces for another: 3A

1880 2005

years

125



Price as of Tuesday morning

AP

Its decision timeH U R R I C A N E R I T A

By BETH GALLASPY

THE ENTERPRISE

With Hurricane Rita bearingdown on the Texas coast, South-east Texas officials planned tomake the call today about whetherto order evacuations.

Some Texas officials suggestedcoastal residents start leavingimmediately to avoid the storm,even as it battered the Florida Keyson Tuesday. Hurricane Rita isexpected to pack a Category 3punch or greater, which means

winds of at least 111 mph, when itmakes landfall in Texas on Fridaynight or Saturday morning.

Chambers County Judge JimmySylvia on Tuesday called for a vol-

untary evacuation of mobile homeresidents and those in low-lyingareas. Galveston city officials start-ed a voluntary evacuation Tues-day, and Galveston Countyplanned a mandatory evacuationat 6 p.m. today.

Evacuees who fled HurricaneKatrina and are stranded in South-east Texas without transportation

were scheduled to fly to Smyrna,Tenn., today. The 190 evacueesscheduled for two state-arrangedflights starting at 10 a.m. shouldarrive at Southeast Texas Regional

Airport at 8:30 a.m. today, JeffersonCounty Judge Carl Griffith said.

Katrina evacuees who are notscheduled for flights but need tomake arrangements can contactJefferson County EmergencyManagement at (409) 722-4371,Griffith said.

RITA, page 4A

By ANGELA MACIAS andRACHEL STONE

THE ENTERPRISE

Shopping carts clattering fromthe Wal-Mart Supercenter storeTuesday in Port Arthur carriedbatteries, flashlights and otherprovisions for riding out Hurri-cane Rita.

Customers were preparingdays earlier than in past storms,despite predictions the hurricane

would land farther down the GulfCoast, said store manager DarleneSutton.

We thought today the panicwould ease, but it hasnt, Suttonsaid. Its grown more, eventhough the storm is a couple of

SUPPLIES, page 4A

Residents load up on storm supplies

By KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

KOUNTZE First Baptist Churchof Kountze was filled to overflowingMonday as a host of family andfriends packed the sanctuary to saygoodbye to Thomas Robert Hall.

Almost 500 people equal toabout 25 percent of Kountzes popu-lation attended the funeral forHall, who was shot to death Sunday.

We thank you, Lord, for the time you loaned us Thomas, the Rev.Rodney Weiler of the Happy ValleyBaptist Church said to open the ser-vice.

Halls father, the Rev. Robert Hall,said while the familys hearts werebroken by his sons death, they were

also filled with joy because he was ina better place.

I know my son is going to beraised again, Robert Hall said.

He also spoke of a time in 1995when Hall almost died from an infec-tion, but the community cametogether and brought him back.

Many times Ive stood beforeyou, but Im here today to say thankson behalf of my family, Robert Hallsaid. This is the best place to liveoutside of Heaven.

Hall and Brandon Anderson, 26,also of Kountze, were shot with a .30-caliber M-1 carbine during an argu-ment on the side of Sapp GraveyardRoad about 11 p.m. Saturday.

Adam Moorman, 25, of Baytown was arrested and jailed Sunday. He

was charged with murder and aggra-vated assault with a deadly weapon.

Moorman was released from theHardin County Jail on Monday afterposting a $450,000 bond.

The late-night encounter was thefirst time Hall and Anderson ever raninto Moorman, Hardin County Sher-iff Ed Cain said Monday. If convictedof the charges, Moorman faces life inprison and up to $20,000 in fines.

Greater love hath no man thanthis, that a man lay down his life forhis friends, said the Rev. WarrenHall, Halls uncle, quoting John 15:13from the Bible.

Thats what Thomas was. Hissoul, his spirit, is alive today in glory.He is OK, but we still miss him.

Edmond Johnson of Port Arthur surveys the empty water aisle shelves at Wal-Mart in Port Arthur on Tuesday.

Mark M. Hancock/The Enterprise

By SARAH MOORE

THE ENTERPRISE

Michael Marshall learned earlyto respect the power of MotherNature.

The Port Neches resident was 8years old in 1961 when he and hisfamily fled from their home inClute, in Brazoria County, ahead ofCarla, a Category 5 hurricane.

They headed north to Hunting-ton to wait out the storm, andreturned to find a drowned world.Trees and signs were blown downand dead animals were tangled infences, Marshall, now a 52-year-old salesman, said.

The smell was horrible.The water line on the walls of

their house was eight feet high,Marshall said.

And when the floodwaters sub-sided, they left an unwelcomeintruder a water moccasin,curled up in Marshalls bed.

It wasnt that big, but I didntwant him in my bed, he said.

On Tuesday, Hurricane Rita wasfollowing much the same path asCarla and was predicted to makelandfall somewhere aroundMatagorda Bay. Its strength and the

location it strikes land depend on anumber of factors, experts say.

Carla Prater, associate directorof Texas A&Ms Hazard Reduction

CARLA,page 4A

Evacuate or stay put? Southeast Texas officials make call today

Carla, a Category 5,devastated coast in 61


Motorists wait for fuel at Murphy USA at Wal-Mart in Port Ar thur on Tuesday.

Hundreds mourn shooting victim

Alzheimers tollPatients, caregivers sharesuffering caused by disease

PAGE 1B

DuPont dealLucite to assume someof Beaumont operations

PAGE 1D

Holocaustsurvivor whohunted Nazisdies at age 96PAGE 11A

ON THE BOLIVA

R PE

NINSU

LA: 9AResidents prepare for the worst, hope for the best

NOTA ROO

MTO BE HA

D: 14

AHotels and motels far and wide are booked solid

SU

RVIVA

LTIPS: 4

AAre you fully prepared?

SCHOOLS: 5

ASeveral cancel classes

Rapidly strengthening HurricaneRita lashed the Florida Keys onTuesday and headed into theGulf of Mexico, where forecast-ers feared it could develop intoanother blockbuster storm tar-geting Texas or Louisiana.


3/14

WEATHER: Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the afternoon,Highs: 90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 22, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 21


THURSDAY

( )

In Sports: Astros win 7th time in 8 games with 12-8 victory vs. Pirates Page 1D

I N S I D E

Advice & TV ............2B

Business ................8B

Classified ..............1C

Comics ..................7D

Life & Style ............1B

Obituaries................8A

Opinions ..............10A

Puzzles ..................3B

Region....................7A

Sports....................1D

Dow

Nasdaq

-103.49

-24.69

Bus pickup points in Port Arthur, Orange County and map of evacuation routes: 4A

1880 2005

years

125



Price as of Wednesday morning

AP

DAMAGE FE

ARS: 8BHomeowners, insurers brace for

storm that could cost billionsALSO IN BUSINESS8B:With refineries in projectedpath, Rita could raise gas prices8B:Dow down more than 100points in face of hurricane8B:Gulf Coast ports get ready8B:Hibernia closes branches

RESPONDERS: 7AEmergency crews and policeprepare to face disaster

ALSO IN REGION7A:Some hospitals, nursinghomes evacuate, while somestand ready to do so7A:All Southeast Texas schooldistricts cancel classes7A:How will Beaumontsoldest landmarks hold up?7A:Katrina evacuees mighthave to take flight again8A:Storm survival tips12A: How to stay informed

STAY OR GO: 1BMany factors influence decisionALS

O I

N LIFE&ST

YLE

1B:Harvest Club concert off3B:Museum safeguards art

H U R R I C A N E R I T A

Sea monsterEvacuation could becomemandatory for rest of countyif hurricanes path changes

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

Southeast Texas highways were crowded Wednesday andsupplies flew off store shelves asHurricane Rita intensified to aCategory 5 and residents startedfleeing the area.

As Rita strengthened andinched her way toward the Texascoast Wednesday, Port ArthurMayor Oscar Ortiz ordered amandatory evacuation for SabinePass starting at 6 a.m. today.

Although Jefferson County

officials have urged residents toleave voluntarily, a possiblemandatory evacuation still couldbe called as late as tonight if Ritaspath changes.

The storm is still continuingon the same track that weve seenit on, Jefferson County Judge

Carl Griffith said during a 6 p.m.

press briefing Wednesday. If itcontinues on that track, we willnot issue a mandatory evacua-tion order. But we will not stop

watching and should thatstorm make just the slightest

RITA, page 4A

1.3 million ordered to flee storm that could be worst to hit state

By ANGELA MACIAS and

RACHEL STONE

THE ENTERPRISE

Retailers replenished stock

Wednesday as quickly as South-east Texans wiped out necessitiesin preparation for Hurricane Rita.

Tanya Linderman of Beau-

mont waited in line for gasolineat the Kroger on Dowlen Road,only to find pumps tapped dry.

The grocery store ran out ofregular grade, but a truck carryingmore was on its way, said DavidHimsel, store manager.

SUPPLIES, page 4A

By PAM EASTONTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GALVESTON Gainingstrength with frightening speed,Hurricane Rita swirled toward theGulf Coast a Category 5, 165-mphmonster Wednesday as morethan 1.3 million people in Texasand Louisiana were sent packingon orders from authorities wholearned a bitter lesson from Katri-na.

Its scary. Its really scary,Shalonda Dunn said as she andher 5- and 9-year-old daughters

waited to board a bus arranged byemergency authorities in Galve-ston. Im glad weve got theopportunity to leave. ... You neverknow what can happen.

With Rita projected to hit Texasby Saturday, Gov. Rick Perry

MONSTER, page 4A

By CHRISTINE RAPPLEYE

THE ENTERPRISE

BOLIVAR PENINSULA LyleSimptons evacuation preparationlist had something more thanboarding up his house.

Rounding up his cattle was onthere too.

The 72-year-old Port Bolivarresident coaxed a couple of strag-gling wayward cows as his friend,

Walter Nelson, headed them offwith his tractor. The men were try-ing to corral 125 head of cattle intoa pen on the bay side of Texas 87.

BOLIVAR, page 4A

Peninsula residents pack up all

from appliances to horses

FOOTBALL: 1DHS,college, pro games affected

Port Arthur mayor ordersresidents to leave Sabine Pass

Rita feeds on warm Gulf andsurges to top of hurricane scale


Lyle Simpton, 72, of Port Bolivar herds about 125 head of cattle into

a pen at a friends house in Caplen along the bay side of Texas 87

Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Rita.

Jennifer Reynolds/The Enterprise

Andy Slaughter carries the family dog to the car as he, his wife Gin-

ger and daughter Cheyenne along with a macaw and three ham-

sters evacuate Sabine Pass on Wednesday. Ginger Slaughter said

they were going to stay with family in Marshall.

To our readers

Regardless of when andwhere Hurricane Rita makeslandfall, The Enterprise and itsreaders likely will be affected.

Beginning today, deliveriesto homes and stores might belater as carriers and otheremployees continue to evacu-ate. Deadlines will be earlier toaccommodate longer deliverytimes, which could mean somelate-breaking stories dontmake the paper.

Our employees are preparedto make every effort to publishthroughout Rita and its after-math. Be sure to go toSoutheastTexasLive.com, evenif you plan to evacuate, for the

most complete coverage andlatest updates on the big stormand its effects on SoutheastTexas.

Gasoline, lumber, pet carriersand kennel space run out fast

Customers wait

in line for gener-

ators at Home

Depot in Beau-

mont on

Wednesday.

Some waited aslong as 9 hours

with no firm

arrival time on

the truckload.


TEXAS LA. ALA.MISS.

25

Houston

Gulf of Mexico

0 150 mi

0 150 km

CorpusChristi

8 p.m.Thurs.

8 p.m. Fri.

8 p.m.Sat.

SOURCES: NOAA; WeatherUnderground; ESRI

AP

Getting strongerHurricane Rita reached category5 status Wednesday, still oncourse for the Texas coast.

ProjectedPath 5

NewOrleans

T E X A S


4/14

Tensionsrun high asgas runs low

By KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT For residentsfleeing in the face of Hurricane Rita,even the chance of filling up or top-ping off their gas tanks was worthstopping for.

If one car pulled into a station even those closed for hours Thurs-day a parade of cars was likely to

follow into the parking lot.And the slim or non-existent gas

supplies caused tempers at somestations to grow short.

People have been real aggres-sive, Robert Justen, 49, a nurse fromPort Acres, said as he was trying to

GAS,page 4A

WEATHER: Hurricane warning in effect for area,Highs: 90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 23, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 22


FRIDAY

SPECIAL HURRICANE EDITION

1880 2005

years

125

H U R R I C A N E R I T A : H E A D E D T O H I G H E R G R O U N D

IN PICTURES: 8

ASoutheast Texas before thestorm is captured on film

For the most up-to-date coverage of Hurricane Rita, visit www.SoutheastTexasLive.com

Fleeing the furyTO OUR

READERST

odays special hurricaneedition of The Beaumont

Enterprise and maybenewspapers in coming days will be reduced to essen-tials so we can balancestorm coverage against thesafety of our employees,many of whom have evacu-ated.

Continue to go towww.southeasttexaslive.comfor expanded, real-timeupdates as Rita unfolds.

By land and by air,residents wait forhours to get to safety

By KEVIN J. DWYER,and JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

While Hurricane Rita churnedwestward across the Gulf of Mex-ico on Thursday, Southeast Tex-ans packed northbound roads toescape the powerful storm.

Even the inland counties thatnormally serve as a refuge forcoastal evacuees were givenmandatory evacuation ordersbecause of the harm Rita isexpected to leave in its wake.

The roads north, jam-packed with cars and trucks, movedalong only slightly faster thancars in a parking lot.

Otis Briggs, 67, of Beaumont

and his friend, Betty Jones, 67, ofPort Arthur, were headed forshelter in Little Rock, Ark. By3:20 p.m. they had spent almostsix hours in traffic.

I left Beaumont at 9:30 thismorning and I havent gotten toJasper yet, Briggs said by phonefrom his car. Its been bumper-

STORM, page 4A

Southeast Texans pack their bags as storm barrels toward the Gulf Coast

Nothing but taillights for miles

TEXAS

25

Houston

Gulf of Mexico

0 150 mi0 150 km

CorpusChristi

7 a.m.Fri.

7 a.m.Sat.

8 a.m.Sun.

OURCES: NOAA; Weathernderground; ESRI

AP

Swirling toward TexasHurricane Rita has slowed to a Cat-agory 4 as of Thursday afternoon.

ProjectedPath

Hurricane watch

Tropical stormwarning

LA. ALA.MISS.

1 p.m.Thurs.

4 5

NewOrleans

T E X A S

Coastal residents try tokeep cool, calm as theyhead inland out of town

By F.A. KRIFT

THE ENTERPRISE

SILSBEE Letdown clottedthe air along U.S. Highway 96.

Anxiety passed between cars asbreak lights flashed on and off.

On and off.On and off. Red lights on and

off.No one no car, truck, van or

RV moved fast Thursday out of

Southeast Texas, but everyonewanted to escape Hurricane Rita soon. As in now.

Thousands of cars clogged thenorthbound escape routes allday after a mandatory evacua-tion was declared early Thurs-day. Most of Southeast Texas380,000 people had joined a

mass exodus that continued intothe night and the wee hours.

Right now, Im frustrated,Julia Hayes said from the win-dow of her green Ford ExplorerThursday afternoon.

Two sets of rosary beads hungfrom her rearview mirror. Theblue-faced watch on her left

wrist read 1:01 p.m. She left Fan-nett at 9 a.m. She had made it tothe northern edge of Lumberton.

In an hour shed gone 1.7miles, In two hours, the traffichad moved 3.3 miles.

Red lights on and off. On andoff.

Ten minutes, another 0.1 of a

mile.Hurricane Rita was headed to

Southeast Texas, reports saidearly Thursday morning.

The storm with 175-mph winds at one point during theday was headed to Hayes home.

EXODUS, page 4A

U.S. refining looks to take a hit as coastal plants closeBy DAN WALLACH

THE ENTERPRISE

A Beaumont refinery that almostnever shuts down began that time-consuming process Thursday inadvance of Hurricane Ritas march

toward the coast.Other refineries and chemical

plants closer to the Gulf of Mexicohad beaten ExxonMobils plant tothe punch, making a call which willresult in less supply at the nationspumps.

Hurricane Katrina already hadput a major snag in the nations

crude and refining production.Hurricane Rita could temporarily

halt up to a fifth of the U.S. refiningcapacity as plants from Houston toSoutheast Texas close down, joining

those in southern Louisiana put outof service on Aug. 29.

The BASF-Fina steam crackerplant, adjacent to the Total Petro-

chemicals USA refinery in Port

REFINE, page 4A

TEXAS PREPARES: 3

A2A:Nearly 2 million coastalresidents flee ominous storm3A:Special needs patients getairlifted to safety from airport3A:Shortage of buses causeproblems for those evacuating3A:Hospitals do what they canto get patients out of harms way


Candace Washington, 8, waits

with her family for a bus at Smith

Middle School in Beaumont to

take them inland as Hurricane

Rita approaches the coast.

Bruce Crabtree, 49, of Pasadena runs down the center

of northbound U.S. 96 Thursday in Silsbee as he tries to

catch up with his family when traffic suddenly started to

move. The highway North of Beaumont stayed clogged

with Southeast Texas residents fleeing Hurricanae Rita

all day Thursday.


MOR

E RITA

C

OV

ER

AGE


5/14

WEATHER: Windy, rain, at times heavy, Highs:80s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 24, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 23


SATURDAY

Section designed and copy-edited by Rae Ann Spitzenberger, Christine Emmott,Seames OGrady and Michael Peters,(409) 833-3311, ext. 411


1880 2005

years

125


BRUTAL BLOWBEAUMONTNear miss still hitstoo close to home PORT ARTHUROfficials, equipmentroll back into town ORANGE COUNTYNo storm surge, butdamage everywhere HARDIN COUNTYHarrowing morningriding out the storm

Photos by Jennifer Reynolds/The Enterprise

Insulation and wires dangle in the wind at the Christian Fellowship Church in Beaumont on Saturday after Hurricane Rita collapsed an outer wall and tore away part of the roof.

No deaths immediately reported

Todays special hurricane edition of The Beaumont Enterprise and maybenewspapers in coming days will be reduced to essentials so we can bal-ance storm coverage against the safety of our employees, many of whom haveevacuated.

Were trying to get information out as quickly as we can, so continue to go to www.SoutheastTexasLive.com for expanded, real-time updates.

TO OURREADERS

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

Jefferson County will shut down indef-initely after Hurricane Rita slammedashore just east of Sabine Pass early Sat-urday morning. It has trudged north bat-tering East Texas.

There were no immediate reports of

deaths, although some people wereinjured.

With no power, water or sewer acrossthe county, residents may not be able toreturn before the end of this week, Coun-

ty Judge Carl Griffith said. Only approvedcontractors will be allowed in the area.

It looks like a war zone in our com-munity, Griffith said almost 12 hoursafter the storm hit. I saw many trees onhomes. Most streets are difficult to navi-gate because of trees crossing them, win-dows blown out, shingles off roofs.

Around the county, metal debris and

glass were scattered on roads, some busi-nesses were demolished, power lines aredown, buildings have awnings stripped

RITA, page 4A

Large Pine trees blown over by Hurricane Rita block a road in the Old Town neigh-

borhood of Beaumont on Saturday. The storm toppled trees and powerlines all over

the city, blocking some neighborhoods completely.

Weathering Rita: Images from the storm SEE PAGE 6A


6/14

WEATHER: Cloudy and humid with chance of rain, Highs:90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 25, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 24


SUNDAY

Section designed and copy-edited by Rae Ann Spitzenberger, Christine Emmott,Seames OGrady and Michael Peters,(409) 833-3311, ext. 411


1880 2005

years

125


AFTERMATHJEFFERSON COUNTY

Governor takes tourof damaged areas

PORT ARTHUR

DPS turning peopleaway on U.S. 69

JASPER & NEWTON

Hurricanes more thanjust a coastal concern

CHAMBERS COUNTY

Released dam couldflood low-lying areas


A Beaumont street is flooded and power lines are left dangling after Hurricane Rita hit the area on Saturday.

Orange County:Restoring powercould take weeks

Eric Gay/The Associated Press

A tractor trailer tossed on its side rests on the median of Interstate 10 in Orange on Sat-

urday after Hurricane Rita made landfall.

Residents toldnot to returnimmediately

Todays special hurricane edition of The Beaumont Enterprise and maybe news-papers in coming days will be reduced to essentials so we can balance stormcoverage against the safety of our employees, many of whom have evacuated.

Were trying to get information out as quickly as we can, so continue to go to www.SoutheastTexasLive.com for expanded, real-time updates.

TO OURREADERS

By JAMIE REID

THE ENTERPRISE

BRIDGE CITY While checking outhurricane damage here, Orange CountySheriff Mike White took rapid-fire cellphone calls from evacuated friends who

wanted to know if their homes were stillstanding.

To one caller he said, stay in Marshall,Texas.

And he asked all Orange County resi-dents who evacuated to wait possibly twoweeks before returning home. It may takea month to get power restored to every-one in the county, he said, while pointingout all the downed power lines.

While driving on Texas 87 beforereaching the Rainbow Bridge, White hap-pened across a traffic accident, where aman drove his small truck into a main

ORANGE, page 4A

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

It could take as long as a month beforeSoutheast Texans who fled from Hurri-cane Rita and her 120 mph-plus windscan return to an area that was left Satur-day without electricity and water in a tat-tered landscape of downed trees, powerlines and building debris.

As of 9 p.m., there had been no reportsof storm-related deaths in the area, butRitas wrath on trees and buildings wasanother matter. Along with thousands ofEntergy workers, 2,500 National Guard,2,000 soldiers from 1St Cavalry in FortHood and troopers and firefighters fromFort Worth were expected to swarm theregion and begin the cleanup process.

There is a humongous undertaking totry to get our infrastructure rebuilt and to

STORM, page 4A


7/14

WEATHER: Cloudy and humid with chance of rain, Highs:90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 26, 2005

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DESPERATE NEED

Rescuers wade through water in Sabine Pass

Left: Port Arthur Police Officer Mike Hebertfinds a dry spot at a store in Sabine Pass tomake a phone call. He urged residents notto come back to the heavily flooded city.Below: Amber Harrell of Port Arthur iscomforted by her husband after arriving ata temporary shelter at Ford Park in Beau-mont on Sunday.

County judge:FEMA aid

slow in coming

Todays special hurricane editionof The Beaumont Enterprise and maybe newspapers in comingdays will be reduced to essentialsso we can balance storm coverageagainst the safety of our employees,many of whom have evacuated.

Were trying to get information outas quickly as we can, so continue togo to www.SoutheastTexasLive.comfor expanded, real-time updates.

TO OURREADERS

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Frustrated emergencymanagement coordinators said Sunday theywere seeing the same foot-dragging federalresponse to Hurricane Rita as their counter-parts down the Gulf Coast did during Hurri-cane Katrina.

And in counties to the north and west ofBeaumont, the first deaths attributable to thestorm in the area were recorded.

Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith andother local leaders, haggard after days ofalmost non-stop work with little sleep, plead-

ed with the federal government to get itselfin a higher gear.

RITA, page 4A

NEWTON & LIBERTY

Rita claims lives of3 Southeast Texans

BEAUMONT

Governor assures areathe place is stable

ORANGE COUNTY

Officials seek helpfor medical services

PORT ARTHUR

Refinery attemptsto make fuel available

By CHRISTINE RAPPLEYE

THE ENTERPRISE

SABINE PASS Knee-deep waterstreamed through Sabine Pass streetsSunday as an 11-member crew of theEdmund Task Force 1 rescue team fromOklahoma went house to house lookingfor anyone who might still be left in theflooded coastal community.

Practically every building had somesort of damage in what was one of thehardest-hit areas of the county whenHurricane Rita barreled through Saturdaymorning.

Water flowed through Gabbys Hard-ware store. The car wash awning wastwisted, and telephone poles were scat-tered along the side of it. The brick wallson the storage facility next to the car

wash were reduced to rubble, baring thestuds and ruined belongings inside. Win-dows were knocked out on the fire sta-tion garage door.

At each place, they spray painted X,EDTF-1 (the task force's initials), thetime they came and how many peoplewere there. However, by late Sunday, only

SABINE, page 4A

Jennifer Reynolds/The Enterprise Deborah C annon/Austin American-Statesman


8/14

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with a chance of showers,Highs: 90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 27, 2005

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FRUSTRATION

Bush to meet with frustrated local officials

5 die in Beaumont

Todays special hurricane edition ofThe Beaumont Enterprise andnewspapers in coming days will bereduced to essentials so we may bettercover the aftermath of Hurricane Ritaunder the extraordinary circumstancescurrently facing Southeast Texas.

For expanded, real-time updates, contin-ue to go to www.SoutheastTexasLive.com

TO OURREADERS

SOUTHEAST TEXAS

President Bush willsurvey damage today

BEAUMONT

Ritas latest victimsinclude three children

GETTING HELP

Residents have optionsin rebuilding process

HARDIN COUNTY

Officials conductingsome regular business

By JACQUELINE LANE and KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT President George W. Bush willtake an aerial tour today of Southeast Texas andSouthwest Louisiana, surveying the damagecaused by Hurricane Rita.

Beyond downed power lines and damagedhomes, Bush will find frayed nerves when hereaches the Southeast Texas Regional Airport this

morning.In advance of Bushs arrival, frustrated Jeffer-

son County leaders met Monday morning to dis-cuss problems theyre having getting much-needed help from the federal government.

As 50 generators sat idle Sunday at Ford Park,Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith threatened totake them by force.

RITA, page 3A

Above: Police shield workers as they remove the body of a Beaumont resident who was killed

Monday, apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning. Five people died in the Pine Street apart-

ment, and two more were in critical condition. Below: Pamala Huntley of Beaumont takes a

break at a closed gas station in Raywood as she slowly makes her way to a friends house.

Kevin J. Dwyer/The Enterprise

By JACQUELINE LANE

and KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT A generatorstored inside the door of a PineStreet apartment is believed tobe the cause of the deaths of asleeping family of four and afriend.

Neighbors heard the genera-tor running inside the apart-

ment about 9 a.m. and went to

investigate. They found the bod-ies and immediately begandragging them outside wherethey attempted to revive themwith CPR.

A girl came out screaminghelp, help, somebody help, saidJeffery Rodgers, 29, who is stay-ing with relatives at the com-plex. Thats what caught ourattention. So we ran over there.

TOLL, page 3A

How to

get help

FEMA assistancehot line

(800) 621-3362

Beaumont Red Cross

(409) 832-1644

Orange Red Cross

(409) 883-2322

Red Cross

(800) 975-7585

Houston SPCA Animal

Emergency Hot line(713) 802-0555

Call your local Red

Cross shelter to:Obtain emergencyfood, water andhygiene items.

Call the Red Cross

800 line to: Registerfor emergency finan-cial assistance tomeet urgent needsuntil state and federalaid is available.

Call the HoustonSPCA to: Get pet-related information.



9/14

By SARAH MOORE

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Despite widespreaddamage to Lamar University from Hurri-cane Rita, the fall semester will continue,President Jimmy Simmons said Tuesday.

You cant cancel the semester maybe

extend or shorten it, Simmons said.However, Simmons would not say when

students could return.He didnt yet have an estimate of the

repair costs, but there was damage fromthe baseball diamond to the band hall.

We have a major construction-renova-tion issue, Simmons said.

LAMAR, page 4A

WEATHER: Sunny, Highs:90s, Lows: 70s/2A

SEPTEMBER 28, 2005

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COMMITTED

Distribution ofgenerators begins,but process is slow

Bush promisesaid to get livesback together

Todays special edition of The Beaumont Enterprise and newspapers incoming days will be reduced to essentials so we may better cover theaftermath of Hurricane Rita under the extraordinary circumstances currentlyfacing Southeast Texas.

For expanded, real-time updates, continue to go to www.SoutheastTexasLive.com

TO OURREADERS

SOUTHEAST TEXAS

President takes aerialtour to survey damage

ORANGE COUNTY

Water services areslowly being restored

EDUCATION

School reopeningdates to be determined

HARDIN COUNTY

Officials urge residentsto conserve gasoline

President Bush arrives at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport in Nederlandon Tuesday morning next to Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen. Bush met

with Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and other officials andtook an ariel tour of Southeast Texas and Southwestern Louisiana.


By KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

NEDERLAND After an hour-longmeeting with Southeast Texas leadersTuesday, President Bush said he has seenfirst hand how the area is hurting and isworking to provide the necessities: food,water, electricity and fuel.

We want people to be able to comehome as quickly as possible, Bush saidafter the meeting. Obviously, we wantthem to do so in an orderly way.

Air Force One landed at Southeast TexasRegional Airport at 9:33 a.m. carrying thepresident to the meeting of local officialsfor an update on the damage caused byHurricane Rita and the ongoing reliefeffort.

After landing, the president used the

BUSH, page 4A

How to get helpFEMA assistance hotline

(800) 621-3362Beaumont Red Cross

(409) 832-1644Orange Red Cross

(409) 883-2322Red Cross

(800) 975-7585Houston SPCA Animal Emergency Hotline

(713) 802-0555Call your local Red Cross shelter

to: Obtain emergency food, water andhygiene items.

Call the Red Cross 800 line to:Register for emergency financial assis-tance to meet urgent needs until stateand federal aid is available.

Call the Houston SPCA to: Get pet-related information.

Lamars fall semester to continue despite damage

By SARAH MOORE

THE

ENTERPRISE

Generators at Ford Park were being distributedTuesday to state and local government entities, butthe process remained agonizingly slow, emergencyresponse coordinators said.

After speaking to President Bush on Tuesday, Jef-ferson County Judge Carl Griffith said he thought

FORD, page 4A

Standing water left by Hurricane Rita still blocks MLK Parkway next to Lamar University onTuesday in Beaumont.



10/14

By F.A. KRIFT

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT As curiosity increasesand patience dwindles, displaced SoutheastTexans want to return home after HurricaneRita.

But listen to one word of Alvin Madisonas he walked sweaty, dirty and tired onto abus at Ford Park on Wednesday to evacuateBeaumont for Kelly Air Force Base in SanAntonio.

Stay.How bad can it be? No electricity, no big

deal. Just the word home sounds so com-fortable, even if the mandatory evacuation isstill in place, even if there isnt power, drink-able water or refrigeration.

STAY, page 4A


SEPTEMBER 29, 2005

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Evacuee bustrip was like ahorror movie

Todays special edition of TheBeaumont Enterprise andnewspapers in coming days willbe reduced to essentials so we maybetter cover the aftermath of Hurri-cane Rita under the extraordinarycircumstances currently facingSoutheast Texas.

For expanded, real-time updates,continue to go to www.SoutheastTex-asLive.com

TO OURREADERS

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Help from FEMAslow but noticeable

ORANGE COUNTY

Residents find supplieswhen, where they can

ECONOMY

Ritas effects could befelt for years to come

PORT ARTHUR

When services return,residents can as well

Above: R.A. Ogden, 77, of Port Neches patrolshis neighborhood for looters on Tuesday. He saidhe rode out Hurricane Rita for the excitement.Left: Albert Lovett,73, of Beaumont waits forthe next bus to depart for a shelter in San Anto-nio Wednesday at Ford Park in Beaumont.


How to get helpFEMA assistance



(409) 883-2322Red Cross

(800) 975-7585Houston SPCA Animal Hotline

(713) 802-0555Call your local Red Cross shelter

to: Obtain emergency food, water andhygiene items.

Call the Red Cross 800 line to:

Register for emergency financialassistance to meet urgent needs untilstate and federal aid is available.

Those who rode out storm: Stay away

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Part of the skylineabove downtown Beaumont was expect-ed to light up early Thursday, five daysafter Hurricane Rita left the city in thedark.

Entergy Texas crews continued work-ing after midnight Thursday and hoped torestore electricity through part of down-town at any moment.

Still, officials said the city remainsclosed and residents trying to return willbe turned around.

Its a day-to-day deal, said BeaumontMayor Guy Goodson of when a decisioncould be made.

Residents in unincorporated areas ofthe county with water wells, septic sys-tems and generators are able to return,Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith said.

Goodson said that because Beaumontis closed, the city is not providing food,

COUNTY, page 4A

A LONG ROAD

Some lightsexpected inBeaumont

Scott Eslinger/The EnterpriseBy ROBERT LOPEZ

THE ENTERPRISE

DALLAS Alex LeBlanc left Beaumont onThursday to begin a 50-hour bus trip acrossEast Texas.

What he experienced, he said, was like ahorror movie.

He couldnt get off the bus to buy food. Thedrivers were exhausted. And he couldnt go tothe bathroom.

Just had to wait, he said. I tried to drink aslittle as I could, but Im a diabetic. I need a lot offluids.

LeBlanc was one of about 3,000 evacueeswho fled Hurricane Rita aboard a convoy ofabout 50 Beaumont Independent School Dis-trict school buses. The drivers originally werescheduled to pull into Lufkin, but were prevent-ed from stopping there. That pattern continueduntil they reached Canton, about 250 milesfrom Beaumont, at about daybreak Saturday.

In Lufkin, 81-year-old Charlotte Ranger ofBeaumont was struck by a vehicle and killed

EVACUEES, page 4A

Jason Hamel, top left, and Chuck Roloff,

both with MJ Electric, based in Iron Horse,

Mich., repair power lines Wednesday alongTwin City Highway through Nederland.



11/14

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

NEDERLAND The fed-eral government has pledgedhelp to repair the SoutheastTexas Regional Airport, which took a devastatingpunch from Hurricane Rita.

Secretary of Transportation

MINETA,page 4A

By JACQUELINE LANE and

CHRISTINE RAPPLEYE

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Morethan a week after beingurged to flee Hurricane Rita,residents of Beaumont, Ned-erland, Port Neches andGroves can return home

today from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.to assess damage and recov-er personal items.

However, Port Arthur resi-dents still must stay away

until this weekend becausethe city is having problemskeeping power to the waterand sewer systems.

Despite opening thecities, officials urged thatpeople should leave duringthe dusk to dawn curfewsand seek shelter elsewhereuntil basic services can be re-

established.If you have hotel reserva-

tions, dont cancel them,said Port Neches Mayor

Glenn Johnson.Fully reopening citiescould take time. In a newsrelease, officials with Port

HOME, page 4A


SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

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1880 2005

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Transportationsecretary toursareas airport

Todays special edition of The Beaumont Enterprise is reduced toessentials so we may better cover the aftermath of HurricaneRita under the extraordinary circumstances facing Southeast Texas.

For expanded, real-time updates, continue to go to www.Southeast-TexasLive.com

TO OURREADERS

DEATH TOLL

Carbon monoxideclaims 6th victim

JASPER COUNTY

Search & rescue takespriority over electricity

NEWTON COUNTY

Disaster recoverycenter set to open

SERVICES

Social Security checkswaiting at post office

How to

get helpFEMA assistance



(409) 883-2322Red Cross

(800) 975-7585Houston SPCA AnimalHotline

(713) 802-0555Call your local Red

Cross shelter to:

Obtain emergency food,

water and hygieneitems.

Call the Red Cross

800 line to:

Register for emergencyfinancial assistance to

meet urgent needsuntil state and federal

aid is available.Call the Houston

SPCA to: Get pet-relat-ed information.

Some cities reopen; dont plan to stay

By JACQUELINE LANE

and DAN WALLACH

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Part of Beau-monts downtown sky lit up Thurs-day evening for the first time sinceHurricane Rita roared through theregion six days ago.

Shortly after lights came back on,a transformer blew and a smallernumber went off.

At 8:07 p.m., power came on for apocket of businesses in the heart ofdowntown including the Entergybuilding where the utilitys com-mand center is located the Beau-mont Enterprise, SBC, CrockettStreet and the municipal water sys-

tem.Getting power restored specifi-

cally to the downtown area was seenas critical to the restoration effortsbecause its the location of Entergyscontrol systems, Entergy Texasspokesman David Caplan said. Thecommand center is where electric

ENTERGY, page 4A

ILLUMINATED

Some lightsreturn to

Beaumont

Power was restored to parts of downtown Beaumont, including the Orleans Street area, Thursday night at about 8:30 p.m.

Pete Churton/The Enterprise

Volunteer Dylan Henson, 14, of Kirbyville, carries ice to the trunk of a

car Thursday at First Baptist Church in Kirbyville. Hurricane Rita victims

were able to pick up items ranging from hygiene products and baby for-

mula to water, food and ice at the church.


Tips for coming home:

PAGE 4A

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, left, and Jef-

ferson County Judge Carl Griffith tour the damage at the

Southeast Texas Regional Airport in Nederland.



12/14


OCTOBER 1, 2005

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Todays special edition ofThe Beaumont Enterpriseis reduced to essentials so wemay better cover the aftermathof Hurricane Rita under theextraordinary circumstancesfacing Southeast Texas.

For expanded, real-timeupdates, continue to go towww.SoutheastTexasLive.com

TO OURREADERS

LAMAR UNIVERSITY

Officials say classesresume in 2-3 weeks

SALVAGING TIPS

What to keep, throwaway & try to restore

ORANGE COUNTY

Guardsmen leave theirfamilies to help others

PAYING BILLS

Rent is due, but billshave a grace period

ANXIOUS RETURN

By JACQUELINE LANE and

CHRISTINE RAPPLEYE

THE ENTERPRISE

A steady stream of Jefferson County residentsheaded home Friday to get the first glimpse of thedamage wreaked by Hurricane Rita almost a weekago, including those from Port Arthur who wereallowed in after a last-minute decision.

Port Arthur officials joined Beaumont, Port

Neches, Groves and Nederland in letting residentsreturn. Officials reversed their decision to keep thecity closed about 8 a.m. after long lines built up atroadblocks around the city, said Duncan Wood-ford, Port Arthur Police Department spokesman.

It just wasnt going to work, he said. Temperswere rising in the long lines. Not as many peoplecame back as we expected.

Frank Relford left early Thursday to get back tohis Beaumont home ahead of his wife, Kim.I just wanted to prepare her, he said. I was alsotold they wouldnt let anyone in except to work. Itold a little white lie. God will forgive me, I hope.

Beaumont Mayor Guy Goodson said the TexasDepartment of Public Safety and military policestill were turning residents away at 6:30 a.m., 30minutes before the gates opened.

Most people now who didnt believe its as badas it is and are seeing homes literally with treesright in the middle of them are realizing that a lotof people have it bad, Goodson said.

DAMAGE, page 4A

By ROLANDO GARCIA

THE ENTERPRISE

The influx of elderly hurricaneevacuees from Southeast Texas isstraining capacity at nursing homeselsewhere in the state.

State officials temporarily havewaived restrictions on the number ofresidents at licensed facilities, andsome seniors are being moved againto nursing homes with spare beds torelieve overcrowding.

Several nursing home operators inthe Dallas area report their facilitiesare packed. Heritage Oaks NursingHome in Corsicana is transferring

patients to nursing homes in Lub-bock and Mexia.

A church in Lufkin took in 60 resi-dents from Calder Woods retirementcommunity, but they were takenSunday to Longview and Dallas.

Statewide, about 11,000 residentswere evacuated from assisted-livingfacilities, including about 2,700 nurs-ing home patients.

In Tyler, seniors fleeing HurricaneRita were taken to vacant rooms inarea hospitals after nursing homesfilled up, said Trina Seale, nurse liai-son at Reunion Plaza Senior CareCenter.

While capacity requirements havebeen eased, nursing homes remainsubject to the states quality care pro-visions, said Don Rogers, spokesmanfor the Texas Department of Agingand Disability Services.

He added that while some facili-ties on evacuation routes are packed,there are lots of empty nursing homebeds statewide that patients can bemoved to.

But the quality of care in crowdednursing homes could suffer, saidBeth Ferris, head of the Dallas-based

ELDERLY, page 4A

By PERRYN KEYS

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT One family, twotwists of fate.

In the most anxious, nervous tripof his life, Francisco Arellano loadedhis family into their white ChevySuburban, ready to drive back home

to Liberty Avenue. Theydidnt know ifhome still was ahome.

Friday was the

first day residents were allowed tore-enter JeffersonCounty sinceHurricane Ritaripped throughthe region last week; officialsasked families to

check out their homes, tidy up andgo back to wherever they evacuated.

Arellano, owner of a house on Lib-erty and a yellow wristband fromLufkin, was on his way from a shelter.Driving down U.S. 69, he felt goodbecause his wife and kids were OK,riding in the car with him.

Thats the big thing, Franciscosaid. Thats No. 1.

HOME, page 4A

LEFT: Contractor Jason Viator, 29, of Beaumont

talks on his cell phone with a customer Friday

morning while crouching on a large oak tree that

fell into a home in the West End of Beaumont

when Hurricane Rita battered Southeast Texas.

BELOW: Jennifer Reedom, 40, of Beaumont

picks up a bent up window screen from the dri-

veway of her Beaumont home Friday morning.

Reedom, her husband, and her daughter,

returned to check on their home after evacu-

taing to a shelter in Marshall.

Evacuees overcrowd nursing homes

Residentscome hometo evaluatethe damage

Some haveall the luck;

some get allthe breaks

Photos by Scott Eslinger/The Enterprise

Residentsrun thegamut ofemotions

fear, anxiety,sadness,relief,accep-tance and joy when theycome home.Page 6A


13/14

By DAN WALLACH

THE ENTERPRISE

Repair crews restored power tothe Parkdale Mall area and partsof Dowlen Road on Friday nightand could have some West Endneighborhoods connected bytonight, Entergy Texas chief exec-utive Joe Domino said this morn-ing.

Domino said in an 11 a.m.conference call that the utility ishitting a good stride in its restora-

tion efforts. Neighborhoodsaround the Tanglewood sectionof Beaumont and areas aroundMajor Drive could see lights bytonight, he said.

Within the next two days,

ENTERGY, page 3A

By F.A. KRIFT

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT TheTexas Baptist Men haveBibles. They have chain-saws, too.

A three-man team fromthe Collin County Chain-

saw Ministries of the Texas

Baptist Men cleared threepine trees Saturday from ahome on Briarcliff Drive,off Delaware Street.

They didnt come toprofit. No exchange of

TREES, page 3A

WEATHER: Scattered clouds with possible isolated thunderstorm, Highs: 80s, Lows: 70s/2A

OCTOBER 2, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 31

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SUNDAY

Section designed and copy-edited by Rae Ann Spitzenberger, Christopher Clausen,Billie Dorman, Beth Gallaspy,Brian Grant, Dennis Meloncon and Seames OGrady, (713) 362-2705


1880 2005

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125


Tree-clearing ministry in area

Were back.The Enterprise resumes daily print publication today,eight days after Hurricane Rita caused severe damage to ourbuilding and forced a halt to regular operations.

Actually, we never left.An editorial staff of more than 15 journalists in Beaumont,

supplemented by about a dozen Enterprise staffers who went toHouston and Dallas, never stopped reporting the story. For ninedays they produced an online newspaper devoted to coverageof the evacuation, the hurricane and its aftermath and providedround-the-clock news updates and dozens of online features atSoutheastTexasLive.com.

The electronic newspapers, dating to the eve of Ritas arrival,were printed in San Antonio. They can be found inside todaysspecial Hurricane edition of The Enterprise.

Like the rest of Southeast Texas, were eager to get back to fullstrength, and well make every effort to make that happen as soonas possible. We appreciate your patience while were working on it.

TO OURREADERS

BRUTAL BLOW

Rita roars into area asCategory 3 hurricane

DESPERATE NEED

Jefferson County pleadsfor faster FEMA aid

FRUSTRATION

Generator kills family;supplies still elusive

ILLUMINATED

Some power restoredto parts of Beaumont

Only way

to look isforward

A construction crew prepares to begin reconstruction on the Target store in Beaumont on Saturday. The stores roof collapsed during Hurricane Rita.


NINE DAYS LATER: Southeast Texas on long road to rebound after Hurricane Rita

COMEBACK TIME

By KEVIN J. DWYER

THE ENTERPRISE

More than a year after Hurri-cane Ivan roared ashore nearPensacola, Fla., Mayor John Foggstill sees homes without roofs,hotels without guests and ongo-ing work to rebuild his city.

His advice to Southeast Texansin the wake of Hurricane Rita:Treat recovery and rebuilding as amarathon race, not a sprint, or

the process will be maddening.Full recovery can take up tofive years, Fogg said.

Hurricane Ivan devastatedPensacola on Sept. 16, 2004. Thestorm damaged or destroyed

FORWARD, page 3A

Tom Moses cuts through one of several trees that

fell across the garage of his Beaumont rental prop-

erty, as he starts cleaning up Saturday.


Beaumonts

West Endlighting up


14/14

WEATHER: Chance of showers,Highs:90s, Lows: 60s/2A

OCTOBER 3, 2005

VOL.CXXV, NO. 3 32

www.SoutheastTexasLive.com THE ADVOCATE FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS SINCE 1880 50 cents

MONDAY

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1880 2005

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Like a lot of Southeast Texas people and businesses, TheEnterprise is digging out from the destruction caused byHurricane Rita. Were working hard to get our people and facili-

ties up and running again. Until we do, the paper will be small-er than usual and delivery might take longer. We appreciateyour patience while thats going on.

In the meantime, continue to go to www.SoutheastTexas-Live.com for the latest news, information and interactivefeatures related to fallout from Rita.

TO OURREADERS

MORE ON RITA

State and national coverage: 3A Helpful info: 5A Rita in pictures: 8A

By JACQUELINE LANE

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT ZendaBrandin and John Bendtsenhave waited in line for some-thing every day since Hurri-

cane Rita struck more than aweek ago.

For all but two days, theneighbors have ridden inBendtsens white van to FordPark, and on Sunday to Park-dale Mall, to get ice, water and

food for themselves and others who live in a mobile homepark.

They estimated that Sun-days wait was about 90 min-utes.

But they didnt care.

No complaints here, saidBrandin, 50.

Were trying to feed our-selves, and theres one otherfamily were trying to help,Bendtsen said. Were trying tosplit it up amongst all of us.

A long line of cars snakedaround part of the ParkdaleMall parking lot Sunday, with ittaking some people up to 90minutes to get ice, water, food

LINES, page 4A

Photos by Mark M. Hancock/The Enterprise

Firefighters battle a blaze at the B.P.O. Elks Lodge in Beaumont on Sunday. The building was completely destroyed.

Electrical problemsspark blaze at Elks

By JAMIE REID

THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT Electrical problemssparked a fire Sunday that leveled theElks Lodge on U.S. 90.

No one was injured in the fire asabout a dozen of the groups 250 mem-bers stood and watched the lodge at11431 U.S. 90 burn to the ground. Someof the Elks cried.

Lost in the blaze were historicalrecords for the 107-year-old group, as well as a 112-year-old Bavarian clock,Elks members said.

Beaumont Fire Department Capt.Brad Penisson blamed the blaze onelectrical problems that arose about1:40 p.m. after power was restored to

FIRE, page 4A Firefighters battle a blaze at the B.P.O. Elks Lodge in Beaumont on Sunday.

By JAMIE REID

THE ENTERPRISE

VIDOR High schoolfootball stadiums usually arethe battlefields of young men,but on Sunday Pirate Stadiumbecame a makeshift holy spot

where Christians gatheredtogether in prayer.

Many churches here, likeall over Southeast Texas, weredamaged or destroyed in thehurricane, so about 75 peoplehad church in the home teamstands.

Despite the hardships,people counted the blessingsthat Rita brought, such asuniting the community andsparing lives.

CHURCH, page 4A

By DAN WALLACH

THE ENTERPRISE

Entergy Texas repair

crews picked up an addi-tional 30,000 restorationsthrough Saturday andexpected to score at least asmany Sunday, bringing totalrestorations down to abouthalf of the peak numberwho lost power to HurricaneRita more than a week ago,said Joe Domino, utility

president and chief execu-tive.

The restoration of powerto customers gets tougherfrom this point because ofheavier damage, Dominocautioned Sunday in a con-ference call with reporters.

At the peak, Rita castabout 287,000 customersinto nighttime darkness and

daytime swelter as the utili-ty struggled to mount anassessment of overall dam-age as it crafted its repairresponse.

To date, Entergy hasmanaged to reconnect112,000 customers thus far,

POWER, page 4A

Power restoredto about half

Faithful thankful for

what Rita didnt take

GETTING HELPResidents wait in longlines for food at FordPark, Parkdale Mall

ELECTRICTYIt could take anotherweek to reach thosewho are still in dark

COMMUNITYYou all got out of ...,

pastor tells group gatheredat football stadium

HISTORIC LOSSFire started after buildings

power came back online

Spirits up despite long lines for aid

I N S I D E

Al-Qaida suspected in Balibombings that leave 26 dead.

PAGE 2A

Mexico lashed by TropicalStorm Stan, Hurricane Otis.

PAGE 3A

Astros earn playoff bidFor the second straight year,

Houston wins wild-card spoton the final game of the

regular season.

SPORTS, PAGE 6A

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2005 - Rita - Front Pages

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