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County Record Vol. 52 No. 45
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, January 30, 2013
LCM teen finds her calling Debby Schamber For The Record
If Alexis Snyder, 16, an LC-M High School junior, had her way, she would erase the “R word” from everybody’s vocabulary. At 14 years old, Alexis was hospitalized for her cutting addiction which had gone too far. After many years of severe depression, she had given up and lost hope of finding happiness in her life. As she entered high school she was encouraged by her parents to get into something which would make her life more meaningful.
Man indicted on for robbery Debby Schamber For The Record
Samuel David Sanford III, 35, of Bacliff, has been indicted in the Eastern District of Tex- SANFORD as, for the bank robbery of Chase Bank on December 19, 2012. Sanford has been incarcerated since Dec. 21 in a Shreveport jail on drug charges. He is also being held on an outstanding warrant from Galveston County with an aggravated robbery charge. It is also believed Sanford has committed other bank robberies in Louisiana. The bank robbery charges in Orange stem from an
ROBBERY Page 3A
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Alexis Snyder, 16, a LCM junior, with two of her very dear friends, Clyde Jones and Hayden Smith, who have given her a new outlook on life.
They suggested softball, tennis or student council. But, Alexis knew this was not the answer. “Little did they or even I know that Special Olympics was my true calling, and would put me at my best.,” Alexis said. “Many would say that I’m making a difference in the special needs kids lives but they are undoubtably making a difference in mine. They’ve even saved mine. “ It was her best friend, Millie, who shed some light on the wonderful opportunities ahead of her. Millie’s mother drove the bus which took special needs students to school. Alexis saw the joy it brought to Millie and knew she wanted to experience the same feeling. Three years later and three years of being “cut free”, she is still volunteering with the special needs students at the high school with a new lease on life. She feels she has found her place in life too. “I would not be where or who I am without these guys. During the three years I’ve been helping out with the special needs program in my school, I’ve made forever lasting friendships, I’ve had the joy of watching many students graduate and reach new milestones. I have seen the triumph, the joy, the love, the victory, the compassion, and so much more out of these kids eyes,” she said. Alexis not only helps out with the special needs students at LC-M, but also volunteers with the Southeast Texas Special Olympics. She plans to be a part of the National Committee for the Special Olympics by submitting an essay. “They showed me unconditional love and compassion to me which I came to discover I deserved all along,” Alexis said. She is now comfortable admitting she had a problem. “It took a lot to admit it to myself,” Alexis said. But, with her proven success, she hopes others will get through their pains and win the battles too. “Never give up,” she said. “You may find help in the most unexpected places.” With her gained outlook, Alexis is adamantly against anyone saying the “R” word and feels those who use it should stop for it causes unnecessary pain to those who
LCM STUDENT Page 3A
Cliff Hargrave, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Instructor, demonstrates techniques to his class of more than 25 people during a Monday night class. Hargrave began his interest in martial arts when he was 13 years old, but in 1996 began to include Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He earned his black belt in 2011. RECORD PHOTO: Larry Trimm
Jiu-Jitsu: the art of grappling Debby Schamber For The Record
“Jiu-jitsu is for everyone, but not everyone is for jiu-jitsu, “ said Cliff Hargrave, instructor of one of the only four training classes in Southeast Texas. The classes require hard work, effort and dedication but the point of them is to enforce personal development and self-defense. Hargrave began his interest
in martial arts when he was 13 years old, but in 1996 began to include Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Hargrave earned his black belt in 2011. To obtain a black belt, there are stringent requirements and it is a lengthy process. Hargrave has a full time job as a captain at the Orange Police Department, but says he does Jiu-jitsu because he “loves it.” The jiu-Jitsu community may be small, but there is a ca-
maraderie like none other. “There are three attributes to Jiu-jitsu,” Hargrave said. “They are mental, physical and technical.” Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system which focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. BJJ promotes the concept a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using le-
verage and proper technique and taking the fight to the ground. Jiu-Jitsu came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the early 1990s, when Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Royce Gracie won the first, second and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships, which at the time were single elimination
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After 31 years Miller retires Debby Schamber For The Record
After 31 years, Malinda Miller, who is a familiar, smiling face at the Orange Public Library is retiring. Her last day is Thursday. Miller who began at the library as a clerk typist will leave as a library aide, but her love of everything at her former place of employment will have her coming back to volunteer occasionally. Over the years she has seen many changes. When she started, there were card catalogues to look up the books in the library and find where they are located on the shelves. When a person checked a book out a page was stamped with a due date to return the book. Computers and bar codes were later introduced using a computer system from the city of Orange. Later, the library would update their systems and change to SIRSI which still uses barcodes but utilizes the internet. Another change is the addition of computers. Before computers were installed, patrons would look up old magazines or newspapers on microfiche. In addition, in 1990, the library workers began documenting the obituaries found in local papers for future reference. Other employees and volunteers who became friends with Miller have come and gone, but what remains the same is the large volume of books and the “regulars” who often visit the library. “Our patrons are such really nice peo-
Malinda Miller, after 31 years of working at the Orange public library, is retiring. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
ple,” Miller said. Miller didn’t always aspire to work at the library. She has always loved to read, but it was her sister-in-law, Betty, who told her about the job opening. Before then she was busy being a wife and mother to her two sons, John and Matt, and volunteered at the boy’s schools. She also was a den mother while they were in the cub scouts. Plus as the boys
became more involved in school activities such as band, she was there. Now with retirement days ahead, she has already began planning what she will do. Her husband, Ted, of 43 years, has been retired for 15 years and is waiting to spend more time with his wife. But, she will not leave reading fiction
MILLER RETIRES Page 3A
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