Texas, Beaumont | featured news

Church members and a large crew of volunteers got to work unloading thousands of pumpkins and gourds that arrived by truck for Wesley United Methodist Church's annual pumpkin patch. After a delay in transport, the shipment arrived Monday, in time for the church's planned Tuesday pumpkin patch opening from 2 - 5 p.m. The patch will be open for picking, as well as offering family friendly activities, Saturdays 9 - 8 p.m. and Sundays noon - 8 p.m.

LUBBOCK - Police apprehended a 19-year-old student accused of fatally shooting a Texas Tech University police officer at the campus police station Monday night.
University officials issued an alert saying the suspect was taken into custody and that the campus lockdown order had been lifted.
In an earlier statement, the university identified the suspect as Hollis Daniels.
University spokesman Chris Cook said that campus police made a student welfare check Monday evening and - upon entering the room - found evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Vidor superintendent Dr. Jay Killgo released a statement on Sunday after "several" band students were treated for symptoms of overheating during Saturday's football game against Nederland at Pirate Stadium.
"Shortly after halftime of yesterday's Vidor vs. Nederland football game, several Vidor band students became ill due to heat. Quick action was taken by several staff members and the students were taken for medical attention at the ambulance.

Annuncia Wright planned to start an online microbiology class at Lamar State College-Port Arthur this fall, where she was hoping to work toward becoming a registered nurse.
But after Harvey damaged her Groves apartment, as well as her textbooks and computer, she dropped for the semester, putting her education on hold while she puts her life back together.
She's not alone in that decision, as storm damage left many local college students without homes, school supplies, or money for tuition.

Brian Johnson is greeted each morning by the sounds of dozens of dogs barking as he loads plastic dummy ducks into launchers around his man-made pond.
As the sun begins to rise, Johnson brings dogs out one at a time so he can work with them on their retrieving skills.
With the press of a button, the plastic ducks fly through the air. Johnson gives a command and the dog takes off, sprinting and splashing to snag it.
Johnson began training dogs in college and has since turned it into a full-time family business called DuckDogTrainer.com.

The Beaumont Fire Department held its annual Fire Prevention and Family Safety Festival Saturday at the Fire Museum of Texas. More interactive stations and demonstrations were added to this year's event, which drew a large crowd of families throughout the morning and afternoon.