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INSIDE: Silsbee ISD holds official groundbreaking - See page 2, section 1
SilsbeeBee The
Chain Gang tacks on more years See Section 2
The only newspaper of record in Hardin County since 1917.
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Notice from the City of Silsbee
Hardin County
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Vol. 98, No. 40 • 50¢
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The City of Silsbee will be performing work on city water mains installing and testing isolation valves and fire hydrants in certain areas on Oct. 7 with an alternate date of Oct. 9. There will be short time water outage in affected areas of MLK from 12th Street to 22nd Street Other streets in the area that may also be affected will be West Avenue K, West Avenue L, and West Avenue M. The city will also be performing value test on Roosevelt Drive, which may also affect Weathersby Street, Free Street, Parks Street, and Parker Lane and Lee Miller. Customers affected are advised to check water quality and discoloration before washing clothes, due to the change in direction of water flow. For further information, call 409-385-3535.
Silsbee
City council shuts down internal audit
Photo by Daniel Elizondo/Silsbee Bee
State DPS troopers and Silsbee volunteer fire personnel investigate a crash on FM 418 on Tuesday that claimed the life of a 19year-old Silsbee woman. One man was also injured in the accident that shut down the road for nearly three hours.
Silsbee city council disapproves of audit being asked by the Silsbee EDC.
Road closed for three hours during investigation.
Teen killed in fatal crash on FM 418
By Daniel Elizondo editor@silsbeebee.com Silsbee city council persons questioned the reasoning for an internal audit that the Silsbee Economic DeWe’re not velopment Corporation board agreed upon, but the doing this to discussion turned to disapgo aer proval in a 3-2 vote. The EDC board preanyone. sented to council a letter of approval by its board in a Chris Smith Silsbee EDC Board unanimous vote, to have an internal audit, outside of its normal annual audit. Because the cost of the audit exceeded $10,000, the EDC board needed to seek approval from city council to move forward. "We're not doing this to go after anyone," EDC
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By Daniel Elizondo editor@silbeebee.com A fatal crash on FM 418 in Silsbee claimed the life of a 19-year-old Silsbee girl on Tuesday. According to DPS reports, a 2014 Mack truck tractor was traveling westbound on FM 418 when it struck a 2007 Saturn vehicle attempting to make a left turn into a store parking lot near FM 1122 at 2:30 p.m. The passenger of the Saturn, Jobaha
Sanchez, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The truck struck the passenger side door of the Saturn that was originally traveling eastbound on FM 418. The driver of the Saturn, 20-year-old Chase Spencer of Silsbee, was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont by Acadian Ambulance in serious but stable condition. The driver of the truck, Frank Morgan of
Livingston, 60, was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene. The impact of the collision caused the truck to roll on its side, with both vehicles ending up off of the roadway. FM 418 was closed for almost three hours during the investigation of the crash. DPS troopers were assisted by Hardin County Sheriff’s Department deputies during the investigation. Silsbee volunteer fire personnel also assisted in the rescue effort.
Kountze
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
See SILSBEE on PG. 8, SEC. 1
Sour Lake
Foundation threatens H-J
School districts elementary program causes stir.
By Daniel Elizondo editor@silsbeebee.com The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has threatened the Hardin-Jefferson school district after a parent complained of religious activity being held at its campuses. Hardin-Jefferson Supertinendent Dr. Shannon Holmes was contacted by the foundation via letter that was sent on Sept. 19 by Freedom From Religion staff attorney Sam Grover. “A concerned parent of a student at China Elementary contacted us,” Grover said. Grover would not release the name of the parent. The parent contacted FFRF with constitutional concerns about a religious club known as Hawks For Christ, which is on several campuses in the district. According to information provided to FFRF through the parent, Hawks For Christ at China Elementary School, was being promoted on its Facebook page and teachers are said to be in-
A closer bond
Photo courtesy Joseph Orlando Jr.
The Coe sisters (from left) Janice Coe Palermo, Elaine Coe Orlando, Mary Coe Johnson, and Susan Coe Jennings, are all breast cancer survivors due to awareness.
By Meagan Moore reporter@silsbeebee.com For a family from Kountze, breast cancer has been a major concern for years. Three out of four of the Coe sisters have had to remove a breast during the past two decade – giving the notion that apparently, cancer does run in the family. The first to undergo surgery was Susan Coe Jennings, the youngest out of five siblings. Eighteen years ago, at the age of 39, Jennings woke one morning feeling as if she had been punched it the chest.
See RELIGION on PG. 6, SEC. 1
Weekend Weather FRI.
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"I felt as if I had a bruise around my left breast." she stated. Curious as to where the pain was coming from, Jennings pressed and poked around until she came across a lump. It was then that she went in for her first mammogram. The test showed that she had a mass right against her breast wall, almost like a tumor, and black spots were all throughout her left breast. Because of the size, Jennings didn't need chemo treatment, but she ended up having a Modified Radical Mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy within See AWARENESS on PG. 5, SEC. 1
Prayer
Almighty God, sometimes I move forward, making plans without discerning your will. When you thwart my plans, remind me that it is because you know what is best for me. Teach me to trust in you and in your will for my life. Remind me to turn to you and seek guidance from you.
Photo by Daniel Elizondo/Silsbee Bee
Kountze Police Chief Paul Darks served his last day on Tuesday. The veteran is officially retired.
Service complete
Kountze Police Chief hangs up the badge for retirement.
By Daniel Elizondo editor@silbeebee.com Kountze Police Chief Paul Darks isn’t one to boast a lot about his work, but certain to say that he has no regrets. The veteran police officer has decided to hang up the badge forever, announcing his retirement over the summer, with his last day of duty being on Tuesday. “The greatest reward is knowing that in 38 years, down the line – knowing you helped somebody,” Darks said. “Being a police officer is quite an experience. You are in it because it's something that you want to do and See DARKS on PG. 6, SEC. 1
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