Damon West speaks to West Brook High School students about his experiences behind bars Nov. 13 | Photo: Eleanor Skelton Port Arthur native, inspirational speaker and ex-convict Damon West told his story of battling addiction and being paroled after receiving the equivalent of a life sentence in prison to West Brook High School students Monday,Continue reading "“Be a Coffee Bean”: Inspirational Speaker Damon West discusses addiction, prison sentence with high school students"
Southlake mother advocates swimmer safety almost 6 years after losing her daughter to drowning
This story was originally published in the Southlake Independent on June 6, 2022. I've reposted the original version here since the Southlake Independent's website is no longer online. Teen competitive swimmer Elise Cerami. Photo: Courtesy Swim4Elise Foundation Lori Cerami wants no other family to lose their child to drowning. Her 13-year-old daughter Elise, a student athleteContinue reading "Southlake mother advocates swimmer safety almost 6 years after losing her daughter to drowning"
How I helped bring TWLOHA’s Between the Bells program to the high school where I teach
The first year I started teaching in Port Arthur, I wanted to bring To Write Love On Her Arms’ Between the Bells suicide prevention program for high school to my school. Our principal said no. Last year, I started teaching in Beaumont and talked to my new principal about the program. He said yes. OurContinue reading "How I helped bring TWLOHA’s Between the Bells program to the high school where I teach"
Village Creek State Park hosts annular solar eclipse viewing
Park Ranger Alex Stamatis tells visitors facts about solar eclipses. | Photo: Eleanor Skelton Dozens of people visited Village Creek State Park over the weekend to watch Saturday’s annular solar eclipse. Park rangers posted a “no vacancy” sign for RV plug in camping sites the morning of the event. Park Ranger Alex Stamatis set upContinue reading "Village Creek State Park hosts annular solar eclipse viewing"
Beaumont’s fifth annual Walk For Freedom aims to educate about reality of human trafficking
Advocates start walking silently, holding signs with statistics about human trafficking. | Photo: Eleanor Skelton 61 youth and child survivors of human trafficking received help through Harvest House in Beaumont last year. Advocates seeking to raise awareness about the reality of human trafficking in the Golden Triangle gathered at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church Saturday toContinue reading "Beaumont’s fifth annual Walk For Freedom aims to educate about reality of human trafficking"
Eleanor Skelton 