Inside: Hurricane repairs give Southeast Texas contractors work aplenty Page 1B

Cheers Stormy Week 5

here? How many local bars
class
Sabine Pass students faced
preview
Predictions for small school
still make time for good Rita as freshmen and Ike as game of the week, Fab 5
old happy hour? 1D seniors: COMING SUNDAY games and more: SECTION C
 WEATHER: Sunny, Highs: 80s, Lows: 60s/2A 

The tastiest bits

of Southeast Texas are on FRIDAY
OCTOBER 3, 2008

at beaumontenterpris com

V OL . CXXVIII , N O. 333   THE ADVOCATE FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS SINCE 1880   50 Cents

State says muck is OK; residents worry

Biden and
Palin smile
through it
In courteous exchange,
VP candidates debate
nation-wrenching issues
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
and MICHAEL COOPER
A whitish film floats on the waters of Taylor’s Bayou near Burrell Cemetery Road in LaBelle. N.Y. TIMES NEWS SERVICE

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska and

Surge sludge
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware politely
sparred on Thursday night about
the economy, Iraq and social issues
in a vice presidential debate in
which both claimed they were
agents of change for a nation in
financial crisis.
Palin, who displayed more confi-
dence and fluency than she did in
recent television interviews, largely SpeakUP
refrained from the cutting com- ◆ Biden or Palin — who would
Despite TCEQ assurances, ments she has made in some of her you want to be a heartbeat
Theresa speeches. From the beginning, the
health fears about gunk stick White debate was marked by an air of cor-
away from the presidency?
Take our survey at Beaumont
in minds of LaBelle folks looks over
DEBATE, page 5A
Enterprise.com
her ruined
By SARAH MOORE belongings
THE ENTERPRISE left in her
backyard
When Donna Green looks around
at the extensive damage to her
LaBelle neighborhood, she wonders
whether people are going to be able
after storm
surge
flooded her
home in
Inspector goes beyond
obvious storm damage
to rebuild. LaBelle.
Even more, she wants to know
Photos
how safe it is to do that. by Tammy
McKinley/
GUNK, page 4A The Enterprise
What might look OK
to homeowners could
Good luck foils thieving Hurricane Grinch develop problems later
By RYAN S. CLARK
The name
of the child
who made
Ornaments swept clear from
Sabine Pass to Corpus Christi
ONLINE
See video of the
 THE ENTERPRISE

BEAUMONT — Getting an
this Christ- ornaments Ike inspector to check out Madonna
mas orna-
are found, sent back to owners tried to take: Rake’s home cost $250, but it’s
ment in Beaumont allowing her to save thousands of
By CHRISTINE RAPPLEYE Enterprise.com dollars on her Hurricane Ike
first grade
THE ENTERPRISE repairs.
helped the
The Labelle resident said Thurs-
finder of a SABINE PASS — Part of the plastic bag was barely visible in day she lost her roof and gained a
box of orna- the sand and other debris on the Corpus Christi beach. flooded attic because of the storm,
ments track When Theresa Cass and her family pulled it up, there were prompting her to call a home
down the eight Christmas ornaments inside. inspection service.
family to One, a red and white beaded candy cane, had a laminated Rake used Curtis Carr of Home-
whom they tag with the name “Brad Berg” on it. team Inspection who did more Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise
belong. An Internet search, several phone calls and a trip to the post than point out the obvious as Curtis Carr inspects a Beaumont
Dave Ryan/
The Enterprise RETURN, page 4A INSPECT, page 4A home for hurricane damage.

INSIDE Classified ........6C Opinions ........12A Dow Nasdaq Average price of a

WE ARE Advice & TV ....2D
Comics ............3B
Markets ..........2B
Puzzles ............3B
Sports ............1C
gallon of regular gas
in Southeast Texas: $3.50
HERE FOR Business ..........1B Obituaries ......10A Weekend..........1D -348.22 -92.68 As of Thursday morning Sources: AAA, Oil Price Information Service

YOU!
0 DOWN 0% A.P.R. FOR 54 MONTHS Beaumont Tractor Co.
On Select Kubota Models
• Package Deals 4430 College Street • Beaumont
• Generators
• Loader Grapples (409) 866-3360 Everything You Value
• Chain Saws BeaumontTractor.com
$0
0 Down,, 0% % A.P.R.. for r 54
4 months s on
n L,, M,, CEE orr TLBB Series s $0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for terms up to 54 months on purchases of new Kubota L, M, CE, or TLB models from available inventory at
participating dealers through December 31, 2008. Example: A 54-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R requires 54 payments of $ 18.52 per $1,000 borrowed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no
dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Only Kubota and Kubota performance-matched Land Pride equipment are eligible. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended APR. Dealer charge for
document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Not available for Rental, National Accounts or Governmental customers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., subject to credit
approval.Some exceptions apply. Offer expires December 31, 2008. See us for details on these and other lowrate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information.

◆ Section designed and copy-edited by Vic Odegar, Christopher Clausen, Julian Galiano, Tammie Hodges, Megan Kinkade and Wendi Wilkerson, (409) 880-0795 ◆