SPECIAL EDITION: ORANGE COUNTY 2011 GRADUATION
County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 51 No. 07
Week of Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Piece of U.S.S. Dyson returns to Orange on the Dyson,” Goudeau said. “I assume his heart skipped a beat when he found a guy at the memorial wearing a U.S.S. Dyson Little Beaver Squadron
hat.” The man under the brim of that hat was Joe Malone, who happened to volunteer at the memorial for the U.S.S. Kidd.
It wasn’t long before Goudeau said he received a contact letting him know his ship’s old bell was in Baton Rouge. “I decided I’d go over and
see it so I drove over there,” Goudeau said. “When I got there I couldn’t find it anyPIECE U.S.S. DYSON PAGE 2A
H All Work And No Play In The Short Life Of A Bee H
Eugene Goudeau stands next to the bell that was once aboard the U.S.S. Dyson at the Heritage Veterans Memorial Plaza. Godeau served on the U.S.S. Dyson while in the Navy during WWII. RECORD PHOTO: Greg Hayes
Greg Hayes
For The Record
Eugene Goudeau can recall the torpedos flying at the U.S.S. Dyson destroyer like it was yesterday, as well as the dark, cramped quarters that he called home while floating on the waters of the Pacific during WWII. He remembers it all clear as a bell … in a sense. Approximately three years ago, Godeau was able to see the bell that was on the U.S.S. Dyson for the first time since
his service days, collecting dust in a warehouse in Baton Rouge. “The captain of the Dyson, named Roy Gano, was given the Navy Cross after the war and he was also given the ship’s bell,” Goudeau said. “From what I understand, he kept it in his garage until he died.” Upon his death, Gano’s son took the bell to a memorial for the U.S.S. Kidd in Baton Rouge. “He was hoping to find someone who may have served
County remains under burn ban Greg Hayes
For The Record
The burn ban will remain in effect for another 30 days, Orange County commissioners decided Monday. The last 30-day ban would have concluded today. The ban just voted on will last 30 days from the Monday vote. Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator, said that conditions have just not improved enough to lift the ban.
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Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................8B •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................1B • Kaz’s Korner Joe Kazmar...........4B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................9B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page....................10B
“We’ll continue to look for that window of opportunit y,” Kelley said. John Dubose, precinct three commissioner, asked if there was anKELLEY other way that they could let the public know about the ban. “I get calls often,” Dubose said. “The public seems to not know.” Some counties put up signs saying that a burn ban is in affect, but Orange County does not. The county relies on a flag system that many may not understand, Kelley said. “We have the flags and the public notices in the media,” Kelley said. “We would like to come up with some kind of signage. I know that some of the fire departments have signs that they put out.” In other business, the commissioners also made sure that there will be a local option homestead exemption for disabled citizens and for those 65 years of age or older. Those citizens will have $25,000 in their exemption, the same as last year. Other citizens will continue to have the 20 percent local option. Lynda Gunstream, county tax assessor, asked the court for an increase in the cost of tax certificates from five dollars to ten. Gunstream said that the increased charge would help the cover of yearly cost for leased state equipment in the customer service reorganization. The court passed the increase by a four to one vote, with only Jody Crump, precinct four commissioner, voting against it.
A honey bee cascades among flowers at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange. This little worker is captured in flight on her way back to the hive to feed the larvae, drones, and queen. Worker bees only live a few months. RECORD PHOTO: Larry Trimm
Travis Seals was promoted to Captain of the Orange Fire Department.
A Benefit for Holden Gothia will be held June 5 at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La.
Seals promoted to OFD Captain
Music legends aid local boy
Community News Sources For The Record
Penny Leleux
The City of Orange Fire Department promoted a new Captain at a ceremony held at Fire Station No. 3 this week. Travis Seals was promoted to Captain following a promotional exam given on Wednesday, May 18. Five firefighters took the exam and Seals achieved the highest score. The Captains position became available in December when the 31 year veteran Captain Kenny Parsons retired. Following civil service rules, the promotional exam was posted 90 days before the test date. The time preceding the 90 day posting was filled with determining appropriate study material and hiring a vendor to create the exam. High security procedures were followed to insure no one in the fire department had any knowledge of the tests content. To this day, the only people that have witnessed any of the test questions created by the vendor are the five firefighters that participated in the exam process. Travis Seals has been an employee of the City of Orange Fire Department for over six years. His typical job duties as a firefighter was driving one of the fire engines and occasionally being “stepped up” to the Captains position while the assigned SEALS PAGE 3A
For The Record
Country and Cajun Legends Tracy Byrd, Jerry Jeff Walker and Wayne Toups join a host of other entertainers to raise money for reconstructive surgery for 4-yearold Holden Gothia. Holden was mutilated by his mother when he was an infant. It is estimated that Holden’s lifelong medical needs will exceed half a million dollars. A foundation, Heroes for Holden, was created to collect donations. The first of a yearly fundraiser will take place Sunday, June 5, at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La. One of Holden’s aunts, Cindy Vallet, lives in Orange. She and oth-
er area citizens have joined the effort to raise funds for Holden’s surgeries. Holden’s story is unbelievable. Authorities were called to a suburban Houston apartment in March 2007. Holden, only 5 weeks old, was found lying on a bed with the lower half of his body covered in blood. He was viciously attacked by his biological mother. She was found to be in a drug-induced state at the time. Holden narrowly survived. His genitals were entirely severed. He was listed in critical condition, treated for shock and put on a ventilator for several weeks. Holden GOTHIA BENEFIT PAGE 2A