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County Record Vol. 53 No. 43

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday January 29, 2014

Election season Economic development just around occurring all over Orange the corner David Ball

David Ball

For The Record

The primary elections in March will be here before one knows it. The Texas Sec. of State web site and the Orange Co. Elections Adm. office provide some helpful info for voters. The last day to register to vote for the March 4 Primary Election is Monday, Feb. 3. Early voting for the March 4

Lousiana man arrested for Orange bank robbery From Staff Reports For The Record

A 50 year old Cameron, La., man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales. Allen Keith Miller pleaded guilty on Aug. 28, 2013 to bank robbery and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison on Jan. 24, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. According to information presented in court, on June 25, 2013, Miller entered the Capital One Bank branch office located on 16th Street in Orange, Texas, wearing a blonde wig, baseball cap, longsleeve shirt, tan pants and a black knee brace. Miller approached a bank teller and presented a handwritten note advising that the bank was being robbed. Miller also advised that he was armed although a weapon was not displayed. Media outlets broadcast footage of the bank robbery and Miller was identified by citizens. Miller was stopped by law enforcement officers in Louisiana, at which time items from the robbery, including the BANK ROBBER Page 3A

H • Obituaries Page.......................6A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7A • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................6B

Primary Election runs Tuesday, Feb. 18 - Friday Feb. 28 at the following locations: • Orange Public Library • Bridge City Public Works building • Raymond Gould Comm. Center in Vidor • First Baptist Church of Mauriceville Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) is Friday, Feb. 21. Primary Election voters will vote in one of the two political party elections. The chosen candidate (unless a runoff election is necessary) will represent the party in the Nov. 4 General Election. Early Voting begins Feb. 18 and ends on Feb. 28. Residents vote at any polling location in their county. Check for Early Voting times and locations on the Orange County voter registrar web site at www.co.orange.tx.us/Elections_Administration.html. Last day to Register to Vote for the March Primary Election is Feb. 3. To register: Pick up a voter registration application at your library, any government office or download one from this site. Mail your completed application to the voter registrar in the county. Upon acceptance, your voter registration will be effective 30 days from registration. You’ll be mailed a voter registration certificate or card with your name, address and the number of the precinct in which you’ll vote. Unless you are a voter with a permanent exemption on your voter registration certificate, show your approved form of photo ID to the election official. Depending on the type of voting machine used, they’ll provide you with a paper ballot or, for an electronic voting machine, a number or ballot activator card that enables you to vote on the machine. Texas has created laws requiring all polling places to be accessible to persons who are elderly or physically disabled. Texas was also the first state to require that all electronic voting systems purchased after Sept. 1, 1999 provide voters who have disabilities a practical way to cast a secret ballot. Strict accessibility standards include a location on the ground floor that can be entered from the street or via an elevator with doors that open at least 36 inches. Doors, entrances and exits used to enter or leave the polling place that CANDIDATES Page 5A

For The Record

The city of Orange is eyeing to commercially develop in the future along one of its main attributes- the Sabine River. A rumor, however, circulating among some residents who reside along Simmons Drive believe the city may move low and/or moderate income residents to other parts of the city to make way for development. Some cite moving Arthur Robinson Apartment residents from Burton Street on the eastern side of the city, to Sikes Road on the northwest side as an example. City Manager Oubre Shawn Oubre addressed the issue by saying the city’s role in housing is providing the infrastructure (maintenance of roads, water, and sewer) to make an area desirable for a developer and not in building public housing. “I think the confusing thing for your source is how the city (through legislation) has to participate by council approving an Ordinance or Resolution to approve of a loan, tax credit or other legislated mandate action for public housing,” Oubre said. “As you recall, the city approved its support of recent projects because of an earlier agreement to ‘further low and moderate’ housing. This agreement was due to a lawsuit brought on by the housing advocates that felt current public housing was not meeting federal mandates.” Oubre explained in order for the city to keep its prior federal funding, future federal funding, and grants, the city was required to follow the settlement guidelines. This would also include disaster recovery funds, police and fire grants and CDBG funds. So the funds represent many different dollars to the community, he said. The appropriation of private property by the government against the will of the owner can happen legally through a process known as condemnation, according to the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center web site. “Many property owners are not aware of their rights when faced with condemnation and thus fail to act in their own best interests. This publication explains where the power to condemn comes from, which entities have this power, what the condemnation procedure is in Texas and how property rights are best protected. It should be noted that the taking of property by way of condemnation can sometimes be averted or delayed. One way is to discover a procedural error; another is to enter an out-of-court settlement.,” the article stated. The article also differentiates between the terms eminent domain and condemnation. “Eminent domain is defined as the power of the sovereign (or government) to take private property for a public

Proof of further economic development in the city is this Crawdad’s Convenience Center being built at the intersection of MLK Drive and Interstate 10 next to the old Luby’s.

use. Condemnation is the procedure by which the taking or appropriation occurs. Thus, the former is the power, the latter is the process.” Furthermore, “As to the element of compensation, Article 1, Section 17, of the Texas Constitution provides, “No person’s property shall be taken, damaged or destroyed for or applied to public use without adequate compensation being made, unless by the consent of such person; and, when taken, except for the use of the state, such compensation shall be first made, or secured by a deposit of money. “Due process is a constitutional directive levied against each state. Basically, the condemnee must be provided a reasonable notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present a claim or defense.” Oubre added the city could not acquire land for a third party or for a purpose that is not a benefit for the community. “Lastly, the city currently owns over 160 acres on Simmons. The city would like to develop this property along with other sites that are being discussed with developers in other parts of the city.” Jay Trahan, director of the Orange Economic Development Corp., said his department is foTrahan cused on a quality of life initiative for development along Simmons Drive, such as new restaurants, motels and 120 acres the city owns, known as the Harry Reed Property, that could be developed for recreational/sports activities. “Residents can enjoy it on a daily basis and visitors could, too. It’s a catalyst to draw people in and spur additional development there,” Trahan said. Plans are to develop the city’s natural assets, such as the Sabine River, to play a key role in economic development. Trahan added the city has used its nat-

ural assets in the past, such as, timber and ship building, for economic development. Trahan believes the Riverfront Boardwalk and Pavilion development will complement development on Simmons Drive. “We stabilized the shoreline, constructed the boardwalk and then we built the Pavilion for outdoor events. We already have a world class indoor theater with the Lutcher, but we had none outside,” he said. “Kemah is a model. They began as a fishing pier and then added a boardwalk and I think the first restaurant there was Landry’s.” When asked if part of the economic development plans included a riverboat for gambling purposes, Trahan said there has been no discussions over a gambling venue there and that would be an initiative for the Texas Legislature. Trahan said there are developers in Houston and Dallas who are interested in the Orange area and who can do the work. “They look at the marketing trends, the population density and the possible infrastructure- the availability of water and sanitary sewer as the top two components for economic development. Some other ongoing projects the OEDC was instrumental in creating are as follows: MLK Drive- The city will complete a $750,000 water/sanitary sewer infrastructure project for the purpose of positioning the city for future residential and commercial growth. For instance, a $1 million Crawdad’s Convenience Center is being built adjacent to the old Luby’s Restaurant at MLK and Interstate 10. Another infrastructure project valued at $350,000 is occurring on 15th Street. A sanitary sewer line is being relocated for the purpose of future economic development projects along 16th Street. Development may include restaurants and retail outlets. An ongoing infrastructure project is ORANGE GROWTH Page 3A

Reported crimes in OC drop 58 percent Debby Schamber For The Record

The annual Uniform Crime Report Statistics have been released from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the overall crime rate in Orange County has dropped 58 percent in 2012 compared to 2013. There were 1006 reported crimes in 2012 while the number decreased to 586 in 2013. Of the 544 actual crimes in

2013, investigators were able to clear 44 percent with a total of 240 while in 2012 they cleared 50 percent of the 494 total. The number of murders in Orange County significantly decreased from three in 2012 while there were none in 2013. The last time it was reported to be zero was in 2011. In addition, there was one case of manslaughter by negligence in 2012 compared to zero cases in 2013.

The number of forcible rape cases doubled in 2012 with 12 cases in 2012 and six cases in 2011. However, the number of reported cases dropped to 38 percent to 4 cases. Investigators were able to clear one of the cases in 2013. Forcible rape is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Rapes by force and attempts or assaults to rape, regardless of the age of the victim, are included. Statutory offenses with no force

used and the victim under age of consent are excluded, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Robbery cases decreased by 80 percent in 2012 with 3 cases and the number of cases continued to decline with three cases in 2013, These cases included involving firearms, with a dangerous weapons and strong-arm robberies. Robbery is defined as the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the

care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/ or by putting the victim in fear, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The number of assaults also dropped. In 2012 there were 351 reported cases. But, in 2013, the number of cases dropped 66 percent to 233 reported cases. In addition, there was a 66 REPORTED CRIME Page 3A

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