FISHING ORANGE COUNTY
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1B
Sports
Commentary Kaz’s Korner Page 3B
RELIGION & LOCAL CHURCH GUIDE Page 7B
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 58 No. 1
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, May 4, 2015
Election day is Saturday; early voting concludes Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
With early voting now officially over, election day looms ahead for this Saturday. Election day for the uniform election is from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday, May 7, for several local races involving officials with school boards, city councils and a water district. The Bridge City Independent School District election has generated the most turnout of all local races for the May 7 election. A total of 731 ballots have been submitted during the early voting period through Monday, May 2. A final early voting figure was not immediately available before press time on Tuesday evening. The races on the ballot include Rebecca Rutledge, the Place 3 incumbent, who is being opposed by Bryan Gremillion, and Place 4 incumbent, Thad Hill, who is opposed by challenger Bryant Champagne. In Place 5, incumbent
Stark Cultural Venues accepting donations Staff Report For The Record
Now through the end of April, all Stark Cultural Venues will be accepting donations for the Sabine River Flooding Disaster Relief. Find donation boxes throughout Orange at the Stark Museum of Art, The W.H. Stark House, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, and the Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts. All financial donations will be given to the local chapters of the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army in support of their efforts. Non-perishable food items and bottled water will be donated to Orange Christian Services. Thank you, from Stark Cultural Venues for helping the community in this time of need. For more information, visit, starkculturalvenues.org.
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Jerry McInnis is opposed by candidate Brandy Slaughter. The City of Bridge City has three races on the ballot this Saturday, and these races have generated a sizable turnout as 509 ballots have been submitted in person and through the U.S. mail through Monday, May 2. A final early voting figure was not immediately available before press time on Tuesday evening. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte and Place 2 councilman Mike Reed have reached term limits and cannot seek re-election for those respective positions. Roccaforte has filed for the Place 2 council position and is being opposed by challenger Carl Harbert. In Place 4, incumbent Eric Andrus is seeking re-election and is opposed by candidate Phillip Todora Jr., while Place 6 councilman Danny Cole is opposed by former Bridge City councilmembers, Lucy Fields and Kevin Mott, in his bid for re-election. Current Place 1 councilman
David Rutledge filed for the open position of Mayor and is unopposed on Saturday’s ballot. The Bridge City Independent School District and City of Bridge City will share the Bridge City ISD Administration Building, 1031 W. Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, as a voting location on Saturday, May 7. The City of Orange has only one race on the May ballot. Incumbent Mary McKenna of District 4 is being opposed by former councilmember Annette Pernell. Incumbents Dr. Wayne Guidry, District 2, and Bill Mello, Place 5, are unopposed. A total of 179 ballots were submitted in person and through the U.S. mail through early voting following Monday, May 2. A final early voting figure was not immediately available before press time on Tuesday evening. The City of Orange will utilize West Orange-Stark Middle School, 1402 Green Ave. in
Orange, as its voting location on Saturday, May 7. The election for the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District
whas five candidates seeking three at-large positions on the Board of Trustees. Incumbent Linda Platt-Bryant is seeking re-election to
the Board of Trustees and is being opposed by four candidates, including former WO-C
ELECTION DAY Page 3A
State Bound Athletes & Coaches
OC senior claims Miss Dance Texas Jennifer Clarke For The Record
Local LCM student, Brooke Manuel, 18, was recently awarded the title Miss Dance of Texas through Dance Masters of America (“DMA”). DMA is a national organization comprised of “professional, certified membership . . . of artists and educators committed to the elevation of the art of dance and to provide innovative artistic experiences for the advancement of dance worldwide” (http://www.dmanational.org). Manuel is a competitor in Chapter 3 of the organization, the South Texas Association of Dance Teachers, Inc. Brooke Manuel attended competition for the title where she participated in several dance classes in which she learned a combination, or short routine, and then performed for the judges. She was also required to perform a solo
in front of the judges, and participate in an interview that addressed a resume she provided, her dance history, and personal Manuel characteristics she possesses. Scholarships are provided based on highest scores in various dance genres in addition to the title of Miss Dance of Texas. Manuel has competed in DMA competitions through her membership in Lorna Badon’s School of Dance, in Orange, Texas. She has danced for 16 years, and this was her second year to compete for the title. “It is a huge honor to win,” says Brooke, “because I get to represent my studio and the state.” In addition to the scholarships awarded to her
Orangefield track coach Joe Peevey gives the thumbs up after his star pole vaulter Brooklyn Goldsmith qualified for the State Track and Field Championships last weekend. The Orangefield junior vaulted 10-09 to claim second place at the Region III meet held at Bower Stadium on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. According to Peevey, Goldsmith has been putting in an extra two hours each practice to improve her skills. Her previous highest vault was 10-02 prior to the regional contest. “She just keeps getting better,” Peevey said, “At state, who knows, if she has a good day there is no telling how well she will do.” Goldsmith is one among a contingency of Orange County track and field athletes that will advance to the State track meet to be held at the University of Texas in Austin on May 12-14. See Page 1B for more.
MISS DANCE TEXAS Page 3A
Funding available for failed waste water systems Staff Report
For The Record
Another round of grants funding will soon be available for residents of Orange County who qualify for improvements to their property’s sewer system. Joel Ardoin, the Orange County Environmental Health and Code Compliance director, announced during Tuesday’s meeting of the Orange County Commissioners Court that funding from a Texas Community Development Block Grant would soon be available for the county to use to help Orange County residents install aerobic systems or tie-in to existing sewer systems. “These funds are for those with a failed system,” Ardoin
Cecilio Lopez, Adult Protective Services supervisor of the Orange County and Southern Jefferson County region, in front, accepts a proclamation from Orange County Commissioners Court on Tuesday after having May 2016 proclaimed as Elder Abuse Prevention Month. Pictured, in back, from left, are Barry Burton, Commissioner Precinct 2; Brint Carlton, Orange County Judge; and Jody Crump, Commissioner Precinct 4. RECORD PHOTO: Tommy Mann Jr.
said. “A failed system is one that is not working the way it was designed or is illegal, like one that drains into a ditch.” The latest round of funding, which the county applied for late last year, is approximately $275,000 and will help install approximately 25-to-28 systems in Orange County. Currently, there are enough remaining funds from the previous grant to allow for the installation of up to four more systems, according to Ardoin. Ardoin presented information to Orange County Commissioners on Tuesday, who approved changes to guidelines and action on advertising for the application process. According to Ardoin, the guideline changes were done by the State of Texas after receiving information from the
Federal government on changes it had made. Applications will not be available to the public until mid-June, and, for those who apply, there is a long, but manageable list of requirements to be met in order to qualify. Some requirements include proof of residency, proof of taxes being current, proof of income, drivers license and many others which will be available on the application. Ardoin stated if there are more applications received than funding can accommodate, a committee will review applications and determine those who best meet requirements. Applications will be made available at the Orange Coun-
COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
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