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Published for Orange Countians by Orange Countians H
County Record
TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 57 No. 41
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Price increase set for meals at OC Jail Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Jail inmates and staff will experience a slight increase in meals very soon. Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt informed Orange County Commissioners on Tuesday afternoon that a small
A small price increase will be forthcoming for meals served at the Orange County Correctional Facility. price increase will be forthcoming for meals served at the Orange County Correctional Facility. The reason for the price increase is due to the retirement of a county employee. “We had an employee retire on January 31st, and part of our agreement with the food service provider is that if a county
Merritt
employee in the kitchen retired or left, they would be replaced by a Five Star employee,” Merritt explained. “So, the price will be adjusted
accordingly.” According to information provided by Merritt, Mrs. Beverly Stewart notified of her plans to retire effective January 31. She served as an Orange County Correctional Facility Cook II. Orange County currently utlizes Five Star Correctional Services, which is a private food service designed for jails with inmate populations between 25 and 250 people. A registered dietitian ensures menus meet or exceed nutritional requirements with meals which are prepared from scratch. Also, Five Star staff directly supervise kitchen trustees to ensure food is properly
and safely prepared, and inmates learn a trade which can be used following release. Merritt stated the price increase will be 12-cents for inmates, trustees and staff. Meals, which are currently $1 per meal for inmates and staff, will increase to $1.12 per meal. Trustee meals will increase
from $1.20 per meal to $1.32 per meal. Despite the price increase in meals, the county will save money through the change. According to Merritt, the Orange County Correctional Facility serves 182,865 inmate meal trays per year based on an average inmate population of
167. Increasing costs by 12-cents per meal would increase annual food service costs by an estimated $21,943.80. However, this cost would be offset by a savings of $43,831.56 following the employee’s retirement. Overall, the county would save $21,887.76 even with the in-
crease. “We are very pleased with the service Five Star has provided and it’s been a blessing to work with them,” Merritt added. The price increase will not go into effect until the new Five
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Trash-Off to honor Michael Hoke, Feb. 13
The late Michael Hoke, the first director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and creator of the Community Trash.
The 21st Annual Community Trash-Off will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 throughout the communities of Orange, West Orange and Pinehurst, including waterways. Participants routinely pick up trash and debris, including appliances, tires and even mattresses. RECORD FILE PHOTO: Tommy Mann Jr.
Tommy Mann Jr. Jason Ashworth, at left, and Jonathan Baggett were both promoted to the rank of Lieutentant this past Friday during a special ceremony inside the Danny Gray Room of the Orange Police Department. RECORD PHOTO: Tommy Mann Jr.
OPD promotes two to Lieutenant Tommy Mann, Jr. For The Record
Two officers which have served the Orange community faithfully for many years have been promoted. The Orange Police Department held a special promotional ceremony this past Friday morning inside the Danny Gray room for Jason Ashworth and Jonathan Baggett,
as each man was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. “This is a very exciting time in our department when we are able to promote two people who have worked through the ranks,” said Chief Lane Martin of the Orange Police Department. “I’m very proud of the effort each of these men have given in taking this test,
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For The Record
A yearly project aimed at beautifying the community is on tap again this coming weekend. It also has a bit of extra meaning this year. The 21st Annual Community Trash-Off will be held from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 with individuals and teams, who have signed up to help with the clean-up effort, reporting directly to their assigned locations at the start of the day. Immediately following the event, participants will report to the City of Orange Boat Ramp, which is located off Simmons Drive in Orange for pizza. The event is once again presented by INVISTA and hosted by Shangri La
Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. This year’s event will honor the late Michael Hoke, the first director of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center and creator of the Community Trash Off, who passed away suddenly this past January. He was 68 years old. According to a press release issued by the Stark Foundation, the event is being dedicated to Hoke’s “life and legacy of community caring” and will honor the man who was “a science hero and superstar who touched the lives of countless students during his years as a teacher, educator and mentor.” “Mr. Hoke started this event 21 years ago with just a
small group of people,” said Noelle Jordan, the Environmental Education Coordinator at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. “He left an amazing legacy for the entire community, not just Shangri La. This year’s event is sad, but special at the same time because we are honoring such a special person.” Since the creation of the event in 1995, more than 150,000 pounds of trash and debris has been collected throughout the Orange community as hundreds participate each year to beautify the community and protect the environment. Participants will return to the City of Orange Boat Ramp around 11:30 a.m. for pizza and door prize oppor-
tunities. “These are some of the best door prizes we have ever had,” Jordan added. “And there are about 200 of them.” Individuals or teams of three to five people may register online at www.shanrilagardens.org by downloading register and waiver forms and last minute registrations are always encouraged. “Mr. Hoke would encourage everyone to come out and be a part of this effort to clean our community,” Jordan said. “And that is a great message to be able to continue to share as we honor Mr. Hoke this year.” Call 409-670-0803 for more information on the Community Trash Off.
Filing deadline for May election is Feb. 19 Tommy Mann, Jr. For The Record
Races are beginning to take shape for the May 7 elections as the Feb. 19 filing deadline looms closer. City of Orange The City of Orange had no changes this past week and still has just one race currently on the May ballot. Incumbents Mary McKenna and Bill Mello, District 4 and
Place 5, respectively, have filed for re-election, as has Dr. Wayne Guidry, the incumbent in District 2. McKenna will be opposed by former councilperson Annette Pernell for the District 4 chair. People interested in filing may contact city secretary at 409-883-1042 for more information. City of West Orange The City of West Orange had no changes this past week in
filings for the May election, as the three incumbents - Shirley Bonnin, Dale Dardeau and Mike Shugart Sr. - remain the only candidates to file. Anyone interested in running for office may call the city secretary at 409-883-3468 for more information. City of Pinehurst The City of Pinehurst will have three seats open for filing this election. Seats available include the Mayor position,
which is held by Pete Runnels, as well as at-large council seats held by John Zerko and Mike Anderson. As of Tuesday, Runnels has filed for re-election as Mayor and is unopposed at this time. Anderson, who had initially filed for re-election two weeks, has withdrawn his application and will not seek re-election. Zerko has filed for re-election and is joined by former city councilman Dan Barclay thus far. Call the city secretary at
409-886-3873 for more information. City of Bridge City The City of Bridge City will have a big ballot this May. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte and Place 2 councilman Mike Reed have reached their term limits and neither will be able to seek re-election for those respective position. Also open are seats in Place 4 and Place 6, which are held by Eric Andrus and Danny Cole, respectively.
Current Place 1 councilman David Rutledge has filed for the position of Mayor, while current Mayor Kirk Roccaforte has filed for the open seat in Place 2. Neither is currently opposed. Andrus has filed for re-election to Place 4 and will be opposed by Phillip Todora Jr., Former councilmember Lucy Fields has filed for the seat in Place 6 and will now be op-
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