From a January flood to a statecrowning achievement in baseball
By KATIE WALDROP Staff Writer

Newsboy file photo THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN Jasper were greeted with flood waters in early January.

January

Floodwaters flowed through Jasper affecting homes and businesses near Sandy Creek in Jasper. It was as though Hurricane Rita was sending a year-end reminder, "Don't think your done with me yet."

Mark Allen's first duties as Jasper County Judge was to sign a declaration of disaster Jan. 3 for severe damage caused by torrential rainfall and sustained winds resulting in major flooding.

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a resolution to hold trustee elections in conjunction with the city of Jasper.

Karen Oxley was named fireperson of the year for the East End Volunteer Fire Department.

Glenn Beatty Jr. saved his three-year-old cousin, Keishia Robert, from the fire that consumed his home at 1277 E. Martin Luther King in Jasper.

An estimated $1 million dollars in damage was expected to be the end result of a fire that destroyed the Jasper County Precinct 4 barn, according to Jasper County Judge Mark Allen.

Newsboy file photo JASPER'S BASEBALL SQUAD starts to celebrate as the team captured the Class 3A state baseball title.

Estelle Debney was honored as the Jasper Lakes Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.

February

While the decision to leave Jasper was a hard one, Danny Lauve said it was even harder to tell his football squad the news that he was leaving for Class 4A Elgin.

Former Jasper Fire Marshal James Gunter is contemplating filing a lawsuit against the city of Jasper for overtime money due him during Hurricane Rita.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms continued their investigation of the fire that burned down Jasper County's Precinct 4 equipment barn Jan. 29, according to County Judge Mark Allen.

In order to better reach and serve students in the Jasper region, the Jasper Teaching Center - Angelina College went into the process of applying for an (EDA) Economic Development Administration grant to allow expansion of the school.

Newsboy photo/Sharon Kerr MEMBERS OF THE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms division sift through the rubble trying to determine the case of the fire that destroyed the Jasper County Precinct 4 barn last week.The fire is estimated to have caused more than $1 million in damages. Pictured below, investigators search near a backhoe for the cause of the blaze.

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees approved Chris Coleman as interim Athletic Director at their regular meeting Feb. 12.

In what was being projected as an economic boom for the East Texas region (if it comes to fruition), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began work on a feasibility study for an East-West corridor.

Elijah's Cafe held their annual Valentine's celebrity breakfast to raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children. Jasper County Judge Mark Allen along with many local officials served as waitstaff and donated all tips; Elijah's donated food and all receipts.

The Jasper Independent School District began accepting applications for the head football coach and athletic director position.

Interim Athletic Director Chris Coleman said the district posted the opening on the Texas High School Association website along with the district's site in order to gauge any interest from outside coaches.

Jasper Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Tom McClurg believed commerce might be diverted from downtown businesses in the form of traffic flow.

One of the early projections for the highway would have it coming into Jasper County between U.S. Highway 190 and State Highway 255. It would create a loop around Jasper.

March

Tiger Truck, a company with its headquarters in Dallas, announced a commitment to expand its operations to Jasper.

U-Save closed its doors March 4 and sold its inventory to Brookshire Bros.

Fireman of the year awarded to Glenn Bertund during an Awards Banquet held at Catfish Cabin.

The Azalea Festival is expanded in all directions this year, with a few attractions that are out of this world, according to Liz Street, events coordinator for the Jasper Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Ward, Chief Executive Officer for Tiger Truck, formally announced the comany's purchase of the LP sawmill plant on Hwy. 63 East.

Jasper Independent School District officials insist Rowe Intermediate is a "safe" school after two police-related incidents.

R.C. Horn filed to run for mayor.

L.V. Rasberry spoke to the council following the October flooding on Rasberry Street. Rasberry had requested the city take some action to alleviate the flooding that hurts the neighborhood during hard rains.

A House bill proposed by an El Paso legislator could pave the way for the reopening of the Alabama Coushatta casino near Woodville.

Jasper County Commissioners' Court continued to inch forward on the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) grants to replace homes for residents devastated by Hurricane Rita.

Glenn Beatty Jr. was honored for heroism at an assembly at Jasper Junior High School March 26. He returned to school after spending almost two months and several surgeries at Texas Children's Hospital.

Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson presented Beatty with a medal of valor and Principal Mervyn Cleveland read a poem 'What a hero is to me,' written by student Gabriela Perdichizzi in Beatty's honor.

Thomas Brooks, who coached the Jasper Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001 to two Class 4A playoff appearances, accepted the challenge of leading the athletic program.

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen reported that the first payment of Community Block Development Grants, $487,000+, is finally in Jasper County's bank account.

April

The Jasper Volunteer firefighters were able to pour water onto the ductwork that caught fire at the future Tiger Truck facility.

Rain led a roof collapse at the P.N. Ashy store on Houston St. No one was injured, but a lot of the merchandise had to be moved from the store's location.

The Jasper varsity girls' track team went to the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin.

The Jasper County Commissioners Court opened sealed bids to replace the Precinct 4 equipment barn and office that burned in January.

John Horn led the way for the 18th annual Horn Memorial Scholarship trail ride. More that 500 showed up for the trail ride which featured children riding bikes and ATVs.

Jasper baseball moved into a two-way tie for first place in District 21-A after defeating Bridge City.

Jasper residents showed up to the P.N. Ashy store front outside sale to help Mary Ashy sell off water-damaged inventory.

Head Jasper Baseball Coach, Shawn Mixon, had his head shaved April 20 by Ryan Ellis after the Bulldogs defeated Silsbee.

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen signed the papers for Jasper to receive the next $1.3 million in disaster relief while dining on a fish plate at the Jasper Lion's Club rodeo ticket sales grand opening.

Cassidy Cole said he was coming home with the top prize from the Big Bass Splash and he did just that.

By unanimous decision, the Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees named Bill A. "Butch" Dean sole finalist for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

May

A Jasper varsity baseball player, Jaylon Clotiaux, was airlifted to St. Elizabeth's Christus Hospital in Beaumont after hitting his head on the brick wall at the baseball complex during practice.

Authorities believed a drug sweep made in the Buna area would slow the amount of meth drug trafficking in Jasper County.

The Jasper Independent School District announced changes at three campuses.

Victor Williams was named the principal at Rowe Intermediate and Gwen Gilford served as interim principal at Jasper High School.

Dr. Dean Miller, formerly at the high school, transferred to Few Primary as an assistant principal.

The family of Jasper High School teacher Charles Simmons, who died April 25, set up a memorial scholarship fund at First Bank & Trust East Texas. The annual scholarship was given to a JHS student who is going into a career in education.

Jasper senior baseball player Jaylon Clotiaux remembered nothing of the accident that sent him to the hospital in a helicopter, Monday, April 30.

Jasper Mayor David Barber gained re-election to office.

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees officially hired Bill "Butch" Dean as Superintendent of Schools May 21. The Board approved a three-year contract at a salary of $113,000 per year.

Janice Bezanson, Executive Director of Texas Conservation Alliance, reported that the House Natural Resources Committee took both Fastrill and Marvin Nichols reservoirs out of SB3 before voting it out of committee.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced its plans to refill B.A. Steinhagen Lake by the end of May.

Jasper High School seniors graduate at the Lions Club Rodeo Arena May 25.

The U.S. House of Representatives once again took another swipe at Texas in turning back an amendment, which would have provided equal treatment for communities devastated by Hurricane Rita.

Saying it will "improve the quality of life on Toledo Bend" the Sabine River Authority-TX and LA agreed to amend the power sales agreement to stop hydroelectric production if the lake level drops too low.

Parnell's Ranesha Chambers was named the Teacher of the Year.

June

John Bradley signed autographs during a pep rally at the baseball field house for his game-winning hit on a single to center, scoring Travis Reagan from third in the victory over Bridge City, sending the Bulldogs to the state championship.

The Jasper County fish hatchery received a shot in the arm. The Texas Legislature approved HB 1 and HB 12, which provided significant new funding for state parks.

Legislators reattached Fastrill Reservoir, the proposed additional dam on the Neches River, to Senate Bill 3 at the last minute.

Jasper Bulldog Baseball Team won the Class 3A State Championship.

Jessica Alvis was crowned Miss Jasper 2006 at the Wesley Center.

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a measure to join the City of Jasper as coapplicant for an Economic Development Grant that will provide $800,000 in funds toward the construction of a new Vocational Training Center.

Following up on citizens' complaints, Jasper Police were in the process of serving numerous state and federal warrants aimed at curtailing some of the drug problems in the city.

Combined efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Jasper County commissioners made progress in the debris cleanup from Hurricane Rita, according to Terry McFall, district conservationist.

U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady wore the uniform of the Class 3A baseball champion Jasper Bulldogs during a Congressional baseball game held in Washington, D.C.

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees selected Kevin McCugh as new principal of Jasper High School.

Jasper County officials recieved notice, June 21, that Tiger Truck would not be locate an assembly plant in Jasper.