Countyrecord issue091615

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Published for Orange Countians by Orange Countians

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County Record

TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 57 No. 20

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Commissioners change policy employee termination David Ball

For The Record

The Orange County Commissioners Court shut a “revolving door” for voluntary employment termination at their meeting on the afternoon of September 14. The commissioners deliberated on a county policy involving employees voluntarily terminating employment with the county then rescinding that decision. The vote was 4 to 1 with Precinct 3 Commissioner John Banken voting no. Banken said he favored giving employees at least 15 days to make a decision. County Judge Brint Carlton said five Orange County employees recently retired because they were concerned about losing their benefits. They have since rescinded that decision and are working again with the county. Cartlton said it was a case of the employees either liking or disliking an action of the com-

missioners court and either retiring or un-retiring in response. David Dubose, Precinct 1 commissioner, said Dubose employees retiring or un-retiring handcuffs the court. Douglas Manning, assistant county attorney, said the new policy doesn’t guarantee an employee who voluntarily terminates is rehired with the county. There was a workshop earlier in the day devoted to the voluntary terminating employees. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jody Crump was absent from the workshop. At the workshop, Banken said the employees who retired and returned to work are valuable employees.

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Orange’s first warships were wooden

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a Coastal Storm Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement. The intent of the study is to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay. The USACE will accept written public comments on the DIFR-EIS from Sept. 11, 2015 through Oct. 26, 2015.

USACE seeking input on coastal study

Mike Louviere

David Ball

It’s hard to believe the use of wooden ships lasted until the 20th Century and Orange, Texas played a part in that history. In 1859 Samuel H. Levingston started a shipyard in Orange. Levingston paid his six employees a total monthly salary of $588. Averaging nearly $100 per man, it must have been one of the highest paid occupations in Orange. It was also the start of a long tradition of shipbuilding that continues to this day. Orange first experienced wartime shipbuilding on a large scale during the World War I years. The active shipyards in Orange included the Orange Maritime Corporation, Southern Dry-dock and Shipbuilding Company, Weaver and Sons, Levingston Shipbuilding Company, and the National Shipbuilding Compa-

Here’s your chance to give you input on the proposed “Ike Dike.” The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a Coastal Storm Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement. The intent of the study is to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay, according to a press release. The intent of the USACE is to announce the release of the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement (DIFR-EIS) for the Tentatively Select Plan (TSP) of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study area encompasses six coastal counties on the upper Texas Gulf coast – Orange, Jefferson, Chambers, Harris, Galveston and Brazoria. The (DIFR-EIS) will evaluate structural and non-struc-

For The Record

For The Record

ny owned by Henry Piaggio, who also owned the International Shipbuilding Company headquartered in Pascogoula, Miss. Piaggio’s National Shipbuilding yard would build more ships in less time than any other yard along the Gulf

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tural alternatives which address coastal storm risk management (CSRM) and ecosystem restoration (ER) impacts in the study area. The environmental impact study will focus on environmental and social conditions currently present and those likely to be affected by potential future impacts of storm surge and ecosystem restoration opportunities. Several major historical surge events have occurred in the study area in the past 120 years. The most notable is perhaps the 1900 Storm, which inundated most of the island city of Galveston, and adjacent areas on the mainland. The storm was responsible for over 8,000 deaths and up to $30 million in property damage. Hurricane Rita in 2005 resulted in storm surge of 9.2 feet in Port Arthur and just over eight feet in Sabine Pass. Most recently, Hurricane Ike in 2008 produced storm surges of 14 feet near Sabine Pass and 11 to 12 feet across Sabine Lake. The city of Port Arthur was spared from the impacts of storm surge thanks to its existing 14- to 17-foot hurricane flood protection system. However, the

remaining southern half of Jefferson County was inundated, with estimated high water marks reaching 18 to19 feet to the south and east of High Island. The city of Galveston was protected from Hurricane Ike’s high energy surge impacts by the Galveston Seawall, but much of the city of Galveston was later flooded by about 6 to 10 feet of surge coming from the bay. The city of Texas City was protected from Ike’s surge impacts by its existing hurricane flood protection system. At risk within the study area are approximately 2.26 million people living within the stormsurge inundation zone, three of the nine largest oil refineries in the world, 40 percent of the nation’s petrochemical industry, 25 percent of the nation’s petroleum-refining capacity, and three of the ten largest U.S. seaports. The USACE will accept written public comments on the DIFR-EIS from Sept. 11, 2015 through Oct. 26, 2015. Comments on the DIFR-EIS must be post-

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Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy takes to skies Debby Schamber For The Record

When asked about flying, Charles Lindbergh once said, “It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to be doing so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.” Joey Jacobs, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, doesn’t get his adrenaline rush from flying planes. Instead, he flies helicopters. But, the feeling can be one and the same as he flies at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour and an altitude of 600 to 700 feet. “I’ve always had a fascination with aviation,” Jacobs said. “One day I decided I was going to do it.” Jacobs is no stranger to de-

Joey Jacobs, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, has been learning to fly helicopters as part of a recreational activity.

manding, high energy activities. Jacobs started working in the state prison system in 1994. He joined law enforcement in 1996 as a reserve officer for the Vidor Police Department. In 1997 he was hired by the Governor’s Task Force to work undercover in a high school setting. Only the school superintendent and the principal knew who he really was. To the rest of the school population, he was just another student. For four months he had to maintain his grades and all other high school activities while being part of an investigation. In 1998, Jacobs became a patrol deputy at the OCSO and worked the west side of the county. He remained there for eight years before being promoted to detective. His career

advanced again in 2014 when he was promoted to sergeant over the Mauriceville and Vidor offices. He now supervises cases such as special investigations, crimes against people in addition to his own caseload. When not working, spending time with his wife of 11 years or his two children, 10 and 8 years old, he likes to take to the skies. Sometimes his family accompanies him on the ride. “I have always loved helicopters,” Jacobs said. He explained it is the versatility of the helicopters and the fact they can go anywhere and land just about anywhere which adds to the interest. But, it is not all fun and games, there was a lot of hard work involved leading up to him taking flight. He admits he is still learning

daily. At the Neches Helicopter Training Academy, the very formulated and structured instruction has students on various levels of expertise. Jacobs started more than a year ago reading books before taking his first flight in January. The small fleet of helicopters at the academy vary in size. The smallest could be compared to a sports car model while the next size may be a luxury car. Of course the largest helicopter is like a limousine. However, the general knowledge needed to fly them is what it takes to get any one of them off the ground. “It can be challenging, but very rewarding,” Jacobs said. Before being able to fly, a person must complete some

difficult and complex training. There is book work, videos and a flight simulator to be done first. When ready for flight an instructor flies along too. There is also many hours of recorded flight time. Still, before Jacobs takes flight, he has a long checklist to go through. During this time he thoroughly checks the helicopter to ensure it is ready for flight by checking everything right down to the bolts. Jacobs is especially safety conscious when his son rides along. He must also have a flight plan in place. Finally, he gets inside, puts on his equipment and starts it up. The motor begins to rev up as the rotors turn. This unique

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