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Published for Orange Countians by Orange Countians
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County Record
TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 57 No. 25
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Commissioners sort out cafeteria plan David Ball
For The Record
There was some “concerns” and “confusion” on one agenda item at the meeting of the Orange County Commissioners Court on the afternoon of October 20. Precinct 2 Commissioner Barry Burton was absent. Douglas Manning, assistant county attorney, said the following when addressing approving the implementation date for either the calendar year or the fiscal year of the cafeteria plan. The calendar years runs from January 1 through December 31. The fiscal year runs from September 30 through October 1. He said traditionally the plan ran during the calendar year. By shifting it from September through October, there may be some overlap in benefits that do not expire in December. The county’s cafeteria plan is
approved by the IRS and confirmed to run from January through December. John Banken, Precinct 3 commissioner, Manning said the personnel policy doesn’t read one way or the other. Manning said the policy said it will be for the calendar year. “We shouldn’t have to change it,” Manning said. “We need to send a notice to the employees they have the opportunity to opt out.” Banken said Human Resources needs to work on this and this won’t be any extra costs to the employees. Any changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2016. The commissioners approved a lease with the Or-
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Orange County students attended the first-ever meeting of Boots and Bridle 4-H Club on Monday night at the T2 Arena in Orange. The purpose of the club is to educate the youth about horses and introduce new horse concepts and horsemanship. RECORD PHOTO: Lawrence Trimm
OC kids not horsing around David Ball
For The Record
Logan Russell, age 13 and a student at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Orange, gets fingerprinted and photographed at Operation Kidsafe at Sabine River Ford on October 17. Should a child become lost, or even worse, kidnapped, the parent would call 911 and let law enforcement know they have an Operation Kidsafe document. The police department will know how to handle it from there. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball
Dealership sponsors child safety program David Ball
For The Record
It’s not just younger children who need to be fingerprinted and photographed in the event that something goes awry. Take for instance Logan Russell. Logan is a 13-year-old student at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Orange. He attended the Operation Kidsafe screening sponsored by Sabine River Ford at the dealership with his mother, Michelle, on October 17. Michelle said her husband heard about the screening and recommended their son be fingerprinted and photographed again. “He’s done it before when he was little. He’s grown and changed. We thought it was time to do it again,” she said. The Operation Kidsafe system, procedure and layout
were developed using consultants from the FBI, police officials and fingerprinting experts, according to their website. Using the latest all digital systems they capture the fingerprints of each hand along with a full digital head and shoulder photograph. The above information is then printed on hard copy and handed to parent for safe keeping. There is an area on the document for parents to update with a current photo. Operation Kidsafe will not ask for any personal information. They recommend children one year of age and older. They can, however, often times get readable prints on younger babies for parents who want to give it a try. Pat Camfield, general manager at Sabine River Ford, said a current picture of the child OPERATION Page 3A
Though horseless carriages are everywhere one group of people in Orange County are working to ensure the art of horsemanship will stick around for a new generation. Boots and Bridle 4-H Club is a brand new horse club in Orange County. Their first meeting was on the evening of October 19 at the T2 Arena in Orange. Fifteen students, ranging in age from 10 to 16, attended the meeting. Most of the students were girls with one or two boys attending from Orangefield ISD, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD, and Bridge City ISD. Christina Ritter, County 4-H agent and organizer, said the purpose of the club is to educate the youth about horses and introduce new horse concepts and horsemanship skills. She added even those who don’t have a horse can still learn the basics. “To bring in more youth to equine concepts and introducing them to the basics. Eventually we would like for them competing in events in horsemanship projects,” Ritter said.
The 4-H Horse Project in Texas offers activities in horsemanship, horse development, and training. The objectives are: 1. To attain a broad knowledge of the 4-H project and related activities as to the way they improve family and community life. 2. Acquire life skills through project participation essential for becoming an active, skilled, productive, and responsible citizen. 3. Adopt and apply the latest practices and research findings in the project area to everyday project experiences and work. 4. Develop an understanding from 4-H project training and experiences which can assist you in the future for choosing and preparing for a job. 5. Develop leadership skills that promote positive youth development. Some of the career opportunities are: veterinarian, rehabilitation therapist, riding instructor, veterinary technician, artificial inseminator, bloodstock agent, identifier, rodeo professional, station manager, show manager, show secretary, judge, trainer farm manager, mounted police officer, breed-
Christina Ritter organizes a group of Orange County young people participating in Boots and Bridle 4-H Club. RECORD PHOTO: Larry Trimm
er, hot walker, farrier, and pony person. Life skills targeted in the horse project are: Head- managing: Keeping records and goal setting. Head- thinking: Service learning, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and learning to learn. Heart- relating: Communication, cooperation, and social skills. Hands- giving: Community service volunteering, leader-
ship, and responsible citizenship. Hands- working: Marketable skills, teamwork, and self-motivation. Health- being: Self-esteem, self-responsibility, character, and self-discipline. Health- living: Healthy lifestyle choices, stress management, disease prevention, and personal safety.
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Pinehurst receives Dollar Tree fire report David Ball
For The Record
The Pinehurst City Council received a step by step account about the fire at the Dollar Tree on Strickland Drive that occurred on October 14 at their regular meeting on the evening of October 20 after Councilman Dan Mohon asked for a report. Mayor Pete Runnels was absent from the meeting. Shon Brannon, chief of the Pinehurst Volunteer Fire Department, reported the call went out that morning at 7:13 a.m. He was on the scene at 7:20 a.m. Fire was was seen on the exterior of the building. Crews began unrolling the five-inch hoses to attack the
fire. Bridge City, Little Cypress, and West Orange provided mutual aid to ensure there’s was enough personnel Mohon there. They first attacked the overhang of the building and “knocked down real quick,” he said. The way the building was structured served as a type of tunnel for the smoke to travel. Little Cypress firefighters cut access to the roof for ventilation. Brannon said they were fortunate the Dollar Tree manager arrived when she did be-
cause four employees were in the back of the store working stock and they may had not made it to the front because of the smoke. Kam Wah Restaurant next door suffered some smoke and they also had a gas leak that was later repaired. The H&R Block, also next door, moved to Beaumont for the present time. Mi Casa had “a little smoke,” but they still stayed opened. In fact, the restaurant fed the firefighters that day. J. Scott A Florist had little damage. “Everyone was very professional. They done a real fine job,” Brannon said. Fire Marshal Bryant Champagne of the Orange County Emergency Services District
#1 investigated later that day and determined it was an electrical fire in origin. Brannon said if the fire happened earlier that morning the store would had lost much more than it did. The Dollar Tree is still closed for business. Harry Vine, code enforcement officer, estimates it will take six to eight weeks to open because the entire facade must come down. City Manager Robbie Hood told Brannon he and the firefighters did a great job. In other reports, Hood said city water and street personnel have been doing maintenance and lawn work around city
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