FISHING ORANGE COUNTY
Sports
OUTDOORS
Kaz’s Korner
Capt. Chuck Uzzle
Hunting & Fishing
Commentary
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1B
Page 1B
Page 3B
HEALING POWER OF PRAYER Church Briefs Page 7B
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 57 No. 46
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, March 9, 2015
Gift of Life proclamation approved by County first held in 1996, is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. As the next National
Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Commissioners approved a special proclamation on Tuesday afternoon on behalf of a well-known organization and its quest to help those in need battle cancer. Orange County Commissioners approved a special proclamation on Tuesday, March 8, for the Julie Rogers Gift of Life and its Youth Advisory Council in observance of National Kick Butts Day, which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, across the country to spread the word as anti-tobacco advocates. Connie Berry of the Julie Rogers Gift of Life attended Tuesday’s meeting in Orange County, along with seven members of the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School Key Club, to present information to Commissioners and accept the proclamation from the court. “Tobacco imposes a terrible toll on everyone,” Berry said.
Kick Butts Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, more than 1,000 events in schools and communities across the United States, and even around
the world, are being planned. Such events are designed to help youth leaders, teachers
COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
Iconic neon sign ignites opening of new business Orange County Commissioners Court proclaimed Wednesday, March 16, as “National Kick Butts Day” on behalf of the Julie Rogers Gift of Life program. Commissioners Barry Burton, Precinct 2; John Banken, Precinct 3; and Jody Crump, Precinct 4, are pictured in back. Front row features members of the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Key Club and Connie Berry, at right, of Julie Rogers Gift of Life. RECORD PHOTO: Tommy Mann Jr.
“Our organization works with groups across Southeast Texas, including high schools, and our future rests with students like those that are here today.” According to findings from the National Youth Tobacco Survey in 2014, e-cigarette use
increased among high school students from approximately 660,000 to more than 2 million. Also, 90 percent of all smokers begin smoking as teenagers or earlier. According to its official website, Kick Butts Day, which was
Turnout in Primary near record in OC
‘Bunny Run’ March 26 Staff Report For The Record
Make plans to join in on the third annual Bunny Run and Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 26, at Bridge City Intermediate School. There will be a 5k run at 8 am and a 1k run at 9 am. The Easter egg hunt will immediately follow the 1k. New this year will be timing chips and tech shirts and as always, every participant will receive bunny ears. All money raised stays local and is given to Bridge City and Orangefield students in the form of scholarships. Walk up registration / late packet pick up starts at 7:30am. To register, follow the link through the active website https://endurancecui. active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=32046153 Entry fees are $30 for 5K and $15 for 1K. March 23rd fees go up to $40 for 5K and $25 for 1K. Teams of 4-8 participants are $25 per person for 5K. Packet pickup is Friday, March 25, from 6-8 pm, at the Bridge City Elementary School.
H
THE RECORD DIGITAL EDITION ONLINE NOW
TheRecordLive.com
Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
The March Primary elections of 2016 will be one to remember for years to come with a near record turnout and close races. A total of 18,327 registered voters submitted ballots in the March 1 Primary election in Orange County. Although this was not a record for a Primary election, it was a nearrecord. “The largest turnout we have had for a Primary election, since I’ve been in this office, was in the 2008 Primary elections when we had just over 19,000 people vote,” said Tina Barrow, Orange County Election Administrator. “This is definitely the second most.” Of the 18,327 ballots submitted during this election period, 8,567 ballots were submitted during the early voting period from Feb. 16 through Feb. 26, while 9.760 were submitted by voters on election day, March 1. Orange County has traditionally been known as a
Democratic county, but it has gradually shifted to become more and more Republican in the past few elections. According to final results from the March 1 election, a total of 15,545 ballots were submitted in the Orange County Primary Election or 84.82 percent of the total ballots received. A total of 15,380 votes were submitted in the Republican Primary for U.S. President. Ted Cruz won the state of Texas, as well as Orange County with 48.62 percent or 7,478 votes. Trump finished second with 33.39 percent, or 5,135 votes. The race for Orange County Sheriff generated the most interest in local races on the ballot with 14,240 votes being received, as incumbent Sheriff Keith Merritt defeated opponent David W. Smith. Merritt received 11,173 votes, or 78.46 percent, to Smith’s 3,067 votes. The Orange County Tax Assessor-Collector’s race was
Elizabeth Hoosier-Bloodworth is seen in her new business Elizabeth’s Hidden Treasurers located within the former Bridge City Cleaners location. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Mark Dunn
For The Record
Elizabeth Hoosier-Bloodworth returned to Bridge City to be near her mother after the loss of her father, Johnny Hoosier, 82, in Oct. 2015. His wife, Betty, found comfort in the company of her daughter. Elizabeth was the owner of a resale and gift shop in West Lake, Louisiana and the long vacant Bridge City Cleaners building presented an opportunity for the family. She decided to move her business from West Lake to Bridge City, her hometown. “Mom loved the idea,” Elizabeth said, and having a business in Bridge City was also appealing to the 1985 BCHS grad. She put the plan in motion and by the end of 2015 she was near moving her West Lake store to it’s new location, the empty Bridge City Cleaners on Texas Avenue. In the process, however, Elizabeth’s mother became ill and passed away in February 2016. “We dreamed and talked a lot about me moving my business here,” Elizabeth said, “Mom was friendly and enjoyed people. She was looking forward to working with me in the new store.”
Elizabeth regrouped from the loss of her parents and on Friday, March 4 she opened “Elizabeth’s Hidden Treasures” within the former Bridge City Cleaners with it’s landmark neon sign dating back to the early 1970’s. She knew the place well, for decades Bridge City Cleaners and the beloved “Miss Anne” Segura were a fixture in the community. The famed neon sign, once the brightest object on Texas Avenue, had not been lit since before Hurricane Ike after blinking for two generations on the main drag. Upon opening her new business Elizabeth once again fired up the flashing neon Bridge City Cleaners sign. “It seemed appropriate,” Elizabeth said, delighted to be the person to bring back a symbol of that era in Bridge City. The sign needs minor repair but for now is flashing round the clock again. On the wall is a photo of “Miss Anne” standing at the counter of Bridge City Cleaners not long before her death in 2009. Next to it is a portrait of Johnny and Betty Hoosier, her parents when they were young. “This place is part of the community,” ELIZABETH’S Page 2A
PRIMARY Page 3A
New board installed at United Way of Orange County Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
The United Way held its yearly banquet this past Thursday to set the stage for the rest of the year. The United Way of Orange County held its Annual Banquet on Thursday, March 3 inside the Gillespie Building of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Orange as dozens of guests and representatives of the various agencies supported by the United Way were in attendance. Elizabeth Nash, the outgoing president of the organization’s officers, stated how successful 2015 was and that the momentum will continue in 2016. “Everyone has worked very hard and been very dedicated,” Nash said to the audience. “The Board of Directors are very
dedicated in what they do and are hard working volunteers.” She also offered a recap on the United Way of Orange
County’s 2015 campaign fundraising goal for 2016. The goal is $875,000, which is an increase from the previous year’s
The United Way of Orange County held its Annual Banquet this past Thursday, March 3, inside the Gillespie Building of First Presbyterian Church in Orange. Along with its annual report, the organization installed its Board of Directors for the year. RECORD PHOTO: Tommy Mann Jr.
goal of $850,000. “We are at 92 percent of our goal for the year,” Nash added. “We’re not at 100 percent yet, but it’s not for lack of trying.” Pledges continue to come in on a steady basis as the United Way has reportedly received $798,878 this campaign year, which has been led by campaign chairperson David Jones. Also, as part of the annual banquet, the United Way of Orange County installed its new officers and its new Board of Directors. The officers for 2016 through February 2017 are Leslie Uzzle, President; Brian Beach, 1st Vice-President; Mike Cedars, 2nd Vice-President; and Shane Johns, Treasurer. The Board of Directors consists of Michael Bearden, Andrew Culpepper, Demetrius Moffitt, Manuel Ramon, Chris
Riedel, Stacy Brister, Stephen Lee, Bill Powers, Royd Richardson, Gina Simar, Mike Cedars, Dayna Smith, Leslie Uzzle, Betty Morgan, Nancy Vincent and Shane Johns. Through the generous contributions of individuals and business, the United Way of Orange County was able to assist its 22 agencies in 2015. Those agencies include Anayat House, Boy Scouts of America Three Rivers Council, Boys Haven, Camp Fire USA, Family Services/Women and Children Shelter, Friends Helping Friends and Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. Other agencies include Greater Orange Area Literacy Service (GOALS), Habitat for Humanity, Orange County Action Association (Meals on
UNITED WAY Page 3A
• Award Winning Hometown News