Pennyrecordissue081215

Page 1

Fishing: Dickie Colburn Page 1B

SPORTS: JOE KAZMAR PAGE 3B

CHURCH BRIEFS PAGE 8A

The     Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 57 No. 15

Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield

Week of Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Burn ban goes into effect David Ball

For The Record

Hot dry weather led to the Orange County Commissioners Court declaring a countywide burn ban at their meeting on the afternoon of August 10. County Judge Brint Carlton was not present at the meeting and communicated via Skype on a laptop computer. Carlton could only observe the meeting and not participate since he was not present. Ryan Peabody, emergency management coordinator, said as of last Friday the KBDI Index map indicated Orange County was in the red category which is a high danger situation with the possibility of fires. Orange County is projected to be in the red category for the next two weeks. Signs declaring the burn ban is in effect will placed throughout the county. The burn ban will be in effect until further notice. The commissioners were going to deliberate on re-funding the Orange County Economic Development Corporation, but no action was taken. The court

voted not to fund the OCEDC at last week’s meeting. The point was moot, however, since the Port of Orange Board of Peabody Commissioners voted not to fund the OCEDC at their meeting earlier that day. The county commissioners were waiting to see what the Port would do at their meeting. Barry Burton, Precinct 2 commissioner, said the OCEDC’s structure, personnel and finances will be looked into. The court could had refunded the OCEDC, but Burton said it wouldn’t be productive to do so now. “It’s one instrument to bring in new development and this arrow has been taken from our quiver,” Burton said. Different avenues will be looked at to explore economic development options for Orange County. After a lengthy discussion,

COUNTY

Page 2A

Port of Orange opts not to fund OC-EDC David Ball

For The Record

The Orange County Economic Development Corporation is running out of supporters. The Port of Orange is the most recent governmental entity not to fund the Orange County Economic Development Corporation following the city of Orange and Orange County after they chose not to fund. The decision was made at the regular meeting of the Port of Orange Board of Commissioners on August 10. The vote was four to one with Commissioner Keith Wallace casting the only no vote. Gene Bouillion, port director, said the Orange County Commissioners placed on its meeting agenda later that afternoon on August 10 to review its position. The commissioners voted not to fund

the OCEDC the prior week. “We can wait until they come back with their proposal,” he said. Wallace said nobody wants Wallace to write a check not knowing what’s going on. Bouillion said the Port provided 45 percent or $100,000 of the OCEDC $300,000 budget for last year. The Port’s contribution is the largest of any governmental entity in Orange County. He added the OCEDC may be making some changes and they should hear them out before making a decision. Jerry Hughes, port president, said the Port could turn the decision over to the other

PORT OF Page 3A

Orangefield Bobcat Head Football Coach Josh Smalley raises the bar for high school coaches everywhere. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn

Josh Smalley, Athletic Director at Orangefield ISD,

A Coach For All Seasons Jennifer Clarke For The Record

“I’m nobody special,” says Coach Josh Smalley, Athletic Director, at Orangefield ISD. He even claims that in his youth he was not a terribly nice guy. One might suggest that if you have met Coach Smalley, one would have a difficult time believing that claim. “At 22, I was as far away from where I am today, as I could be.” He credits his turnaround to his family and his faith. Coach Smalley has always wanted to win, but “after growing up, maturing, meeting my wife, and finding Christ, my view of what I am here to do has changed.” Winning is still important, and he and his assistant coaches work hard with their athletes on the field. But he also believes he has an opportunity to guide his students in more ways than football. When he came to Orangefield as Athletic Director, he and his fellow coaches set to work building on an existing foundation. They knew how

important hard work was for winning, and they also focus on the goal of a district title. “Our opinion is if you want to raise the bar, you have to raise expectations, and each year we expect to go farther,” he said. In order to accomplish this, he not only pushes his athletes to improve their work ethic on the field, but he focuses on guiding the whole student, helping them be better people in their daily lives. He seeks that same level of ethic and integrity to translate from the football field to their day to day lives. In the past, he may have been focused on winning at all costs, but life experience has taught him to view the opportunity he has been given a little more widely. “We want to win,” he is very clear, but his view of his profession and position changed as he improved his relationship with Christ. Smalley is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hopes to model what ethics and integrity are to his students.

Coach Josh Smalley is surrounded by Bobcats before practise on Monday. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn

“I get to influence people in the best possible way,” he suggests. He participates in a coaches’ Bible study, and uses the foundational aspects of his faith to influence him, as a man and a coach. In many ways, football has opened an avenue for expanded ministry and outreach. His coaching has been heavily influenced by his family and he credits his wife with helping him grow as a coach. “The biggest change I have experienced has been

meeting my wife, and our participation in Orangefield ISD is definitely a family experience.” His wife is the curriculum coordinator and his step-son attends Orangefield ISD. The community, teachers, coaches, school board and superintendent are all invested in the success of the kids, according to Smalley, and no one can be successful alone. “It takes everybody” work-

COACH FOR ALL Page 3A

Stark’s legacy lives on with updates to Carriage House David Ball

For The Record

The Stark Foundation is quietly and steadily making some changes to their facilities to better serve the public. Ellen Welker, communications manager, said renovations are occurring at The Carriage House, the W.H Stark House and the Stark Museum of Art through expansion and revamping some exhibits. The Carriage House at the

W.H. Stark House houses the newest exhibit- the Living Legacy. Curator Jeff Harris said The Carriage House is centered around mini-exhibits based on family research of the Starks and Lutchers and what they were, and still are, about. “They were incredibly generous to the community,” he said. “There was so much that there were dozens of things we had to eliminate. It was too much.” There will now be more

changes to the collection for the public to see. Harris said they are “wonderful changes” in an ongoing process. The museum guides also engage the tourists in conversations about the exhibits. On September 12, specialty tours can be arranged on the second Saturday of each month. One of the themes is why did the Starks choose Orange, Texas to live. The exhibits gives the family

background, early photos, memorabilia, etc. Welker said an inside joke for the staff at The Carriage House is what particular Stark or Lutcher someone is referring to since everyone in the lineage were named Stark or Lutcher. The Living Legacy exhibit opened six months ago to connect the people and the objects together. For instance, there’s information about the Stark Reading Contest, started in 1904 by

Miriam Stark and still continues to this day as part of their legacy. Miriam’s mother, Frances, served in the American Red Cross and she was made an honorary life chair for her service. She was also involved in hurricane relief efforts in 1886. Lutcher Stark was an International Rotary officer for his involvement in that organization. Frances would greet wounded World War I veterans at the

train station and give them orchids. She became known as the orchid lady. She was also instrumental in getting a hospital built in Orange. Before that, residents had to travel to Galveston for medical care. Frances also built the First Presbyterian Church in Orange. Miriam taught Sunday school there. Her class enabled a blind girl to learn Braille, play

STARK’S LEGACY Page 3A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.