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FISHING ORANGE COUNTY

Sports

OUTDOORS

Kaz’s Korner

Capt. Chuck Uzzle

Hunting & Fishing

Commentary

Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 4B

Evy’s Cajun Kitchen

Page 3B

Page 9B

Page 4B

County Record

TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 57 No. 06

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, June 10, 2015

County to stay with current retirees’ insurance David Ball

For The Record

Commissioners decided the grass wasn’t necessarily greener on the other side pertaining to retiree medical insurance. The Orange County Commissioners Court approved staying with the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield plan for county employee retirees at their regular meeting on June 8. The courtroom was packed with retirees and there were some lengthy discussions at the meeting. County Judge Brint Carlton introduced possibly going to the Silver Plan supplemental plan which has a Tier 4 plan. Carlton said there would be no change in the retirees’ insurance and it was a proposal. Barry Burton, Precinct 3 commissioner, asked for “a lot of data from TAC (Texas Association of Counties).” He then asked if the data was complete in which Carlton answered it

Stark Museum of Art hosts Doodle Days The Stark Museum of Art will host Doodle Days Friday, June 12, 19 and 26, from noon-3:00 pm. Doodle, draw and sketch your way into a creative summer at the Museum. Take a break on Fridays and enjoy drawing and sketching in the galleries. Included with general admission. Members free.

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was not. Minnie Hightower, county HR director, said no counties have switched back from the Silver Plan to Blue Carlton Cross/Blue Shield. She added she has received no Tier 4 data from TAC. Tier 4 pertains to prescription drugs as the following: Tier 1 is usually includes generic medications are at the lowest cost. Tier 2 is usually preferred name medications and are mid-range cost along with Tier 3. Tier 3 is usually non-preferred name medications. Tier 4 is usually specialty medications are at the highest cost. John Banken, Precinct 3 commissioner, told Hightower she keeps talking about other counties but he’s concerned about Orange County employees. He gave as an example a retiree may need a kidney transplant and Tier 4 medications. “We have a moral obligation to take care of the employees who have worked here 25 to 30 years,” Banken said. Hightower said some counties don’t offer insurance. Banken replied it’s not the time to do away with what the county has to offer. He favored leaving the Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan as it is for this year.

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The Mustang baseball team is all aboard the bus just moments before driving off to Austin.

Bus ride to destiny

The West Orange-Stark Mustang baseball team climbed on board for the ride of their lives on Tuesday morning. The Mustangs earned a trip to the pinnacle of Texas high school baseball and a shot at winning the state championship. Not since 1991 has WOS made the trip to the state baseball tournament. The 2015 Region III Championship team will conclude a remarkable season in Austin far from WOS high school where their journey began. Their are no free rides to the state championship and this team certainly earned their ticket.

Amid cheering fans the Mustangs led by Jack Dallas file out of the locker room to board the bus taking them to the state baseball tournament. RECORD PHOTOS: Mark Dunn

SEE SECTION B PAGE 1 FOR MORE

Eagles land at Pinehurst park for cleaning Mike Louviere For The Record

One civic minded organization moved beyond their comfort zone to make a difference in their community. The city of Pinehurst park on West Park Street was a flurry of activity as members of Eagles Aerie 2523 worked in the heat to install new equipment, repair and renovate present equipment, and began to survey what needs to be done in the future to install a walking track around the park. The Eagle Riders are heading the project with assistance of other members of 2523. The Riders have worked with Home Depot to buy picnic tables at a deep discount and the club has assembled and installed them on the slabs at the park. The two new tables are ready to be used. “As soon as the ground gets dry enough for a tractor, these guys are going to bring in some equipment and get start-

Members of the Eagle Riders and Pinehurst Mayor Pete Runnels at the recent workday at the park on West Park in Pinehurst.

ed on building a walking track around the park. We are going to measure the distance and hopefully we will be able to work out a full quarter mile track. We are looking at options for the surface. The city really appreciates all that this group of Eagles has done. They have already cleaned up and done some repair work on the city park behind the old city hall on Nightingale Street”, said Pinehurst Mayor Pete Runnels. “The city crews did some of the cleanup of weeds and brush at this park, but the Eagle Riders have spent a lot of time using their weedeaters to clean up what the city crews did not. The city did the heavy removal around the outside edges and the Riders cleaned around the equipment in the park and the signage, and places like that.” There is a new swing set complete with slide that has been installed at the front of PINEHURST Page 3A


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