We have seen over the years where the true meaning of Memorial Day seems to have tumbled into a celebration instead of honor and reverence for our men and women of our Armed Forces who gave their life for our freedom. It has become lost in a three-day weekend, a trip to the lake, barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, beer bust, football, and a much-needed day off to relax and enjoy their family. In fact, surveys reveal less than one half of the population know Memorial Day is a holiday honoring those who died in service while in the U.S. Armed Forces.

As East Texas residents return to clean up their homes and businesses after extensive flooding earlier this month, the Texas Department of State Health Services urged residents and business owners to exercise caution. Among the recommendations:

The Lumberton Police Department has released the following information. Each individual in this report is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information. Each individual in this report is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Silsbee Police Department has released the following information. Each individual in this report is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A 73-year-old Beaumont man was killed and a 49-year-old Buna woman was seriously injured in an accident that occurred last Wednesday on Hwy 96 near Evadale in Jasper County. The body of Homer Crawford was pulled from the Neches River Saturday morning.

The Hardin County Christian Care Center is celebrating its 40th year of continuous service to residents of Silsbee and Lumberton who are experiencing a crisis. The care center provides assistance with food, utilities, clothing, prescriptions and emergency tooth extractions. It provides services to over 200 households each month.

A 38-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison last Wednesday for the murder of a 64-year-old man in Kountze on Sept. 21, 2022.

For a short time last week, the Silsbee Fire Station #1 was the home for a rescue team from Nashville, Tennessee. The group is known as Tennessee Task Force #2.

Five winners were selected in the 2024 Miss Kountze Pageant held Saturday, May 4, in the Kountze Intermediate School Auditorium. The winners included Rylee Holland, Miss Kountze; Ruth Joines, Junior Miss Kountze, Evelyn Walters, Little Miss Kountze; Our Lovely Miss Ady Lou Bingham, Our Lovely Miss and Ellie Puckett, Miss Tiny Tot.