CR082119

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ORANGE COUNTY

DOWN LIFE’S HIGHWAY

FISHING Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1 Section B

Roy Dunn- Columnist Page 7 Section A

Outdoors

SPORTS

HUNTING & FISHING

Commentary Kaz’s Korner

Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 3 Section B

Joe Kazmar Page 1 Section B

County Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 60 No. 12

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, August 21, 2019

County hearing looks at Reinvestment Zone Dave Rogers

For The Record

Another big step toward the possibility of Orange County landing the granddaddy of new local investment spending arrives next Tuesday, Aug. 27. At 10 a.m. that morning, Orange County Commissioners’ Courtroom will host a public hearing regarding the creation of a Reinvestment Zone to encompass a 1,572-acre tract across from the county airport that could become an $8 billion plastics plant. More than two dozen adjoining parcels were purchased in the first half of this

year by Chevron Phillips Chemical. Qatar Petroleum partnered with Chevron Phillips Chemical in July and the two announced the project, dubbed the U.S. Gulf Coast II Petroleum Project, would include one of the world’s biggest ethane crackers, capable of turning out 2 million metric tons of ethylene per year, and two polyethylene units, each with a 1 million metric ton capacity. It’s all just a projection, though, one that may not come to Orange County or ever be built in any location by the two petrochemical giants. The Chevron Phillips

Developers Ronda and Wesley Dishon join framer Roberto Garcia to talk about the progress on the Dishon’s in-progress “High Tides” restaurant-bar-fuel stop on Cow Bayou below the Highway 87 swing bridge. RECORD PHOTO: Lawrence Trimm

BC couple plans grand for “High Tides” Dave Rogers

For The Record

Dockside dining and drinks are coming to Cow Bayou. Bridge City developer Wesley Dishon and his wife Ronda are building the fish and fill-up place to be on the water at the intersection of U.S. 87 and Cow Bayou, just across the swing bridge. “There’s only a couple of places to go for drinks and dining on the water between Lake Charles and Houston,” Wesley Dishon said. “We’ll be the only one with fuel.” High Tides restaurant will feature 3,500 square feet of air-conditioned space and 10,000 square feet under a roof, Dishon said, and the goal is to open up for New Year’s with live music and

fireworks. Like the Wheelhouse in Port Neches, High Tides will have 8-foot garage doors it can open when the time is right. But unlike the Wheelhouse and other eateries overlooking the water, High Tides will be easily accessed from the water. Plans call for 21 boat slips, jet docks for SeaDoos and non-ethanol fuel. “The fuel dock will be right on Cow Bayou, so boats can pull right up into it,” Dishon said. The developer of Dishon Plantation off East Roundbunch Road is a licensed surveyor with an eye for what could be. He turned his East Round-

Chemical stance on that has been unwavering since the long-rumored project became public in January. “Orange is a finalist, however the location is only one of the alternatives on the

Gulf Coast,” the company has repeatedly put forth. “It is premature to say that Orange is definitely where we would put a petrochemical facility, if we decide to build one.”

But Orange County government wants to do everything it can to make itself attractive. Establishing a Reinvestment Zone enables a county to grant tax abatements to

property owners for up to 10 years in length and 100 percent of its property tax bill. “Before we can do an abatement on the properties REINVESTMENT Page 3A

Orange City Hall makes its move Dave Rogers

For The Record

Moving trucks were coming and going from 803 Green Ave. to 812 N. 16th St. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 19-20, as the City of Orange moved into its new City Hall. The city began accepting payment for water and sewer bills at what used to be the teller windows of the First Financial Bank. Two drive-through lanes are open. “There is a level of excitement among the [city] staff as well as the community,” said Jay Trahan, city economic development director. “The drive-through has been a big plus. People are excited to be able to take care of their city business in the drive-through. The move has been three years in the doing. The city agreed to buy the former First Financial Bank location when the bank opted for a new building next door on N. 16th St. But the move could not be completed until construction was complete on the new bank, and contractors could make some updates and minor changes to the old bank building. Orange’s City Hall had been at the Green Avenue location since 1944, after buying the former home of E.W. Brown, Jr., a prominent Orange businessman and philanthropist. The two-story home housed customer service and human resource departments downstairs and city’s EDC, financial and city manager’s office upstairs in 10,000 square feet. Additionally, the city’s Convention Visitors Bureau was housed behind the old City Hall. Now, all those offices are ORANGE CITY HALL Page 3A

A City of Orange customer service clerk helps a resident with a payment Monday, Aug. 19, at the new City Hall, 812 N. 16th St. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers

Moving trucks outside Orange’s new City Hall at 812 N. 16th St. wait to be unloaded Tuesday. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers

“HIGH TIDES” Page 3A

Vine time for all at winery: Free State Cellar Dave Rogers

For The Record

The workers wearing the green and white T-shirts looked liked they’d lost their minds, swatting at the top of head-high greenery with old corn straw brooms. But there was a method to the madness last weekend at the first crowd-sourced grape harvest at Orange’s Free State Cellars winery. “Big wineries have some type of machine that picks the grapes for them,” Victoria Ibarra of Orange explained. “But the classic way is to hit it with a broom. That warns the bugs and wasps, ‘We’re coming,’ and we don’t really pick them.

Family members of the owners of Free State Cellars swat the vines to shake free ripe grapes at the Orange vineyard on Saturday, Aug. 17. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers

Dylan Rechy pours in the grapes Tuesday afternoon as Mike Swope runs the crushing machine with the latest harvest from Free State Cellars in Orange. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers

CMYK

“If they fall off, they’re ready.” Free State Cellars is located at 4702 Tejas Parkway. The seven acres of real estate planted half with bronze Magnolia muscadine (white) grapes and half with black Noble muscadine (red) grapes used to be Piney Woods Winery, explains Mandy Hernandez, one of six owners. The others include four of her siblings -- Dana Swope, Mike Swope, Laura McHugh, Stephanie Bingham – and a nephew, Nick Swope, Dana’s son. They purchased the property from the family of Alfred Flies, who opened Pine FREE STATE CELLARS Page 3A


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