Court gets update on possible energy savings Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Commissioners received an update on a potential energy savings project which could save the county millions of dollars. Orange County Commissioners met Tuesday afternoon to conduct routine business and received a report from Way Service, Ltd. pertaining to a study to identify areas in energy expenses where the county can reduce savings in the future. Much of this project will include either repairs or upgrades to a variety of energy related systems, such as lighting, HVAC and more. According to Ken Morris, Capital Generation Executive “Green Solutions Team” for Way Service, Ltd., the original assessment has been completed and Way Service, Ltd. has started the IGA development. “We have looked at a variety of items across the county,” Morris said to Commissioners on Tuesday. “We have found a lot of needs at the Orange County Jail, especially with the air-conditioning system which everyone already knows about, but it is definitely in need of replacement.” Morris said all air-conditioning systems at county buildings have been inspected
for energy savings potential and condition. Also, each system has had a “datalogger” installed and Carlton downloads operational information and interior conditions to a computer for analysis. He also recommended going to a centralized control system for all air-conditioning systems, which would alert personnel of potential issues and save manpower. “We also looked at the lifecycle of each of the units and what have been the most efficient over time,” he added. “It’s all part of trying to generate savings.” Morris said the company has also inspected lighting systems in each county building and looking at retrofitting all lighting with newer, less expensive LED systems. Other items which Morris stated the county may want to look at soon include replacing the water tower at the Orange County Courthouse, repairs to the marble facade of the courthouse, as well as correcting air duct problems inside the Orange County Courthouse Administration building.
Bluegrass band plays The Who at Lutcher The Lutcher Theater is slated for an upcoming show that presents a classic rock experience, iconic British group The Who’s rock opera Tommy, through the strings and vocals of progressive bluegrass band, The HillBenders. The show is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 pm. Tickets from $20-$37 are available now at www.lutcher.org or by calling the Lutcher Theater Box Office at 886-5535. Rolling Stone Magazine named The HillBenders, “one of the 50 Best Things We Saw at SXSW 2015.” And of the ‘rock opry,’ “You haven’t heard ‘Acid Queen’ until you’ve seen it sung by a bearded man with a mandolin.” 45 years after its original release, this classic of classic rock is fully realized as a full-length bluegrass tribute featuring Springfield, Missouri’s The HillBenders. Conceived and produced by SXSW co-founder and longtime musician/producer Louis Jay Meyers, this Bluegrass Opry brings a new perspective to Tommy while paying total respect to its creators.
Originally composed by guitarist Pete Townshend, the rock opera tells the story about a deaf, dumb and blind boy and his experiences with life and the relationship with his family. The original album has sold 20 million copies and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “historical, artistic and significant value”. Meyers had been looking for the right band to pull off this high wire bluegrass approach for several decades and The HillBenders are the right band. With a perfect mix of virtuoso musicianship and rock star vocals, The HillBenders bring Pete Townshend’s original vision to life in a new and exciting way. The HillBenders are one of the few bluegrass groups that recognize their ability to bridge the gap between the common music consumer and the bluegrass genre, selecting material that defies any hillbilly stigmas. With their widely varied influences, they are trying to bring to bluegrass, songs that unify. “We wanted to pair bluegrass with the
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Morris stated the IGA report is expected to be ready on Feb. 11, but Commissioners still need to finalize the scope of the project itself by determining what items are of a priority to have repaired and replaced. According to Orange County Judge Brint Carlton, Com-
missioners had two companies express interest in the energy savings project for the county but opted to go with Way Service, Ltd. According to its official website, Way Service Ltd offers a variety of services which can reduce owning and operating costs while simultaneously im-
proving working conditions, upgrading infrastructure and protecting the environment. The company provides services for municipalities, healthcare facilities, educational facilities and for the manufacturing industry and has offices based in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Vidor.
“They are trying to help us find ways to save money for Orange County,” Carlton said. “And we are not committed to anything with this study. We are just trying to get the best bang for our buck, so to speak, and they have come up with
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Cyber Safety topic of BC presentation
Students at Bridge City Intermediate School and Bridge City Middle School participated in an interactive cyber safety presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Mark Sequin, TBG Solutions, used straight talk mixed with humor to encourage students to think about the importance of keeping safe and protecting their privacy. Students learned that “free” does not always mean free, because free apps can cost you your privacy. The presentation also included information on cyber bullying and how to report and react to it. There was time for discussion on cyber citizenship, losing control of what you post, and thinking before you post on the Internet. Students learned that Internet postings have a fifty year lifespan on the Internet. Examples were shown of students losing control of information, scholarships, and other opportunities because of inappropriate postings. This was a successful presentation and a great chance to create safer digital citizens.
County property taxes due by Feb. 1 Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Property taxes are typically due at the end of January, but taxpayers will get an extra day this year. Local taxpayers in Orange County will get an added to to submit tax payments this year as property taxes, which are normally due on Jan. 31, will be due on Monday, Feb. 1 instead as the 31st is on a weekend. Payments can be made on Monday, Feb. 1, without penalty and interest. “To avoid late fees, people should come in as soon as possible,” said Lynda Gunstream, Orange County Tax Assessor Collector. “The sooner the better because this Friday and
Payment plans available by calling tax office Monday (Feb. 1) will be extremely busy. The penalty increases by a total of seven percent, with six percent being penalty and one percent interest.” According to Gunstream, the Feb. 1 postmark is crucial for those who are submitting payments via mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Taxypayers should be aware of the last pick-up times at each Post Office or, better yet, have a clerk personally stamp the mailpiece inside the Post Office.
Payments can be made at the tax offices located inside the Orange County Courthouse Annex at 123 S. Sixth St. in Orange and at the Vidor Tax Office at 155 Wilson St. in Vidor. Each location has a drop box located outside its front entrance, which are available for payments being made after business hours. Payments can also be made online at www.co.orange.tx.us/ taxoffice and then by clicking “Tax Records and Tax Payments Online.” However, the
credit card service provider charges a fee of 2.5 percent of the total tax payment or $1.50 if paid by E-Check. Property taxes are used to help fund numerous services and need throughout the state of Texas since it is the largest source of funding, as the state does not have an income tax. According to Texas Gulf Coast Online, property taxes provide more tax dollars for local services in Texas than any other source. Property taxes are utilized for things such as funding public schools and some community colleges, as well as city streets and county roads. These
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Pastor travels long road to Bridge City Tommy Mann, Jr. For The Record
Doug Shows has always been involved with church in some capacity, but his road to being pastor of his own church was one he had to travel for a long time to reach his destination. Shows is the new pastor of First Baptist Church in Bridge City and has already fell in love with the community he now calls home. It took him some
time to find his path, but he knows God’s will is all he had to follow to reach this point in life. “I grew up under the ministry of my grandfather (R.E. Barclay), who was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Silsbee for 30 years,” Shows said. “So I always thought, one day, I might end up doing some kind of ministry with the church in some capacity. However, as a teenager, I was the epitome of rebellion and had other ideas.”
When he was just 17 years old, Shows faced his own “lifechanging” events as his teenage girlfriend became pregnant and he was now faced with the responsibility of fatherhood at such a young age. “My own sin had not only affected my life, but that of my girlfriend and my child,” he explained. “It really brought me to my knees and put me on my direction toward God.” Shows and his girlfriend eventually married and had six
children before he faced with another life-altering moment in 1997, when she was killed by a drunk driver. “All of the sudden, I was a single-dad to six children,” Shows said. “So my job at that point was to work and provide for my family.” Shows remain involved with church and he credits another member of the ministry at First Baptist Church in Silsbee with keeping him involved. As it turns out, Shows now realizes
this was part of God’s plan for his life too. “Ed Killough really cared about me and he knew what I was going through,” he said. “He got me involved again and that made a difference. It was his care that helped get me through a tough period and kept involved in church, when things could have been Doug Shows is the new pastor of First Baptist Church in Bridge different.” As it turns out, he wasn’t the City. Shows, who is shown standing by a portrait of his
PASTOR Page 2A grandfather, R.E. Barclay, who