The Home Of Super Bowl Champion Earl Thomas III
County Record Vol. 53 No. 46
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday February 19, 2014
County examines cuts to cure budget David Ball
For The Record
One Orange County commissioner is leading the way with proposed budgetary cost saving measures to begin to solve the county’s $3 million deficit. Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, created a list of ideas with assistance from acquaintances and county personnel to save the county money. The Orange County Commissioners’ Court announced at the beginning of the Fiscal Year in October they were looking to cutback on expenses following the $3 million deficit budget, as previously
Earl Thomas to ride in Mardi Gras Parade One Orange resident who has gained national and international fame will be a special guest for the 2014 Mardi Gras on the Sabine on February 22. Earl Thomas III, Super Bowl champion, Seattle Seahawk, former Texas Longhorn and West Orange-Stark Mustang, will be riding in a vehicle for the course of the parade. Ida Schossow, president of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, said they are very excited to have Thomas participate. The parade grand marshals will be Juanita Smith and her family. She and her husband, Edward who passed away in January, helped with Mardi Gras the last 11 years. The parade starts at 5 p.m. at the downtown Pavilion on the river walk. It then proceeds down Division, to 10th, to Green, to Simmons, to Front and ends at the Pavilion. Then, the after party starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion with Wayne Toups playing. The event is sponsored by the city of Orange and is free to the public
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reported in The Record. The budget is based on projected numbers and a shortfall in said numbers Crump caused a deficit. During one meeting, for instance, commissioners took early action allowing only mandated travel by county employees. It was stated since the start of the budget year, there has been a “mass exodus” of employees incurring traveling expenses to obtain training and commissioners were only trying to hold down “unnecessary” travel. A motion was made to put into effect immediately that all department heads are to
make a list of mandated travel for the budget year up through the last day of Sept. Crump’s following proposals would introduce a preliminary spending review process in county operations by commissioners’ court. It would also review where applicable, and permissible, according to state and federal statute processes to be implemented before the invoice stage, but not during bill paying process. Reduce all travel with county owned vehicles to county business only. “Take home” vehicles are to be supplied only to personnel that have been approved by commissioners’ court. Begin monthly presentations to commissioners’ court by the Orange County Eco-
nomic Development Corporation. Review staffing levels of all departments beginning immediately. Staffing levels, after review by commissioners’ court and department heads, are to be reduced to essential levels. Reductions in staffing are to be implemented by department heads and elected officials
based upon retiree levels, resignations and reduction of payroll budget in each department. Eliminate one county court at law. Eliminate termination pay. Eliminate longevity pay. Implement Scoff Law (defined as a person who flouts the law, especially one who fails to pay fines owed, accord-
ing to dictionary.com) through the tax office. Consolidate the mail room clerk and switchboard operator. Contract janitorial services. Contract MIS department. Contract court reporter services. Reduce notaries to one per COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
Prescription fraud busted Orange filmaker James Ural on location in West Africa.
Courtesy Photo
Orange filmmaker is turning pages in life’s story David Ball
For The Record Candy Rash
Debra Godfrey
Debby Schamber For The Record
Following an investigation which took about a year, 10 people were indicted and later convicted of obtaining fraudulent prescriptions from a doctor’s office. A former office manager for Dr. Howard Williams, Candy Rash, was approached by Debra Godfrey about participating in the drug ring. It was later determined during the investigation Rash was forging the prescriptions and as part of a larger ring of people who would then pick up the prescriptions at local pharmacies and bring them back to the ring leader, Godfrey. She would in turn pay them cash or drugs, according to reports. It was an alert pharmacist at Scholar’s Drug, that contacted Dr. Williams office with his suspicions. They then contacted the Orange Police Department. After Rash gave a statement to police, it opened up the investigation and led to an indictment and further arrests.
Kacey Larkin
In August 2013, a multicount indictment was returned from the Orange County Grand Jury. Monday Rash was sentenced to three years in prison for four counts to be run concurrently. Godfrey was sentenced to 10 years in prison on seven counts to be run concurrently. Glenn Dorrell, Brittany Manning, Derrick Tregre, Olivia Wilson, Brian Larkin and Gary Miller have all pleaded guilty and sentenced to probation. Peggy Gisclair and Kacey Larkin have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Dr. Williams was not involved in the illegal activity.
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ocal filmmaker James Ural’s life is an open book. The 23-year-old West OrangeStark High School graduate looks at life as a chapter. Chapter one was his teen years and now he’s in the early part of chapter two. After he reaches chapter five of his first book, gaining wisdom, he plans to write the next book of his life by applying that wisdom by being wise. “Imagine what entering chapter five will be like,” Ural pondered. James Ural’s present work Recently, the filmmaker is becoming better known in his hometown of Orange after he made a short documentary titled Save the Youth at the Community in Unity! event that was in response to a murder in the city’s east side. Emmanuel M. Thornton, 35, of Orange was found on January 23 in his front yard at 1503 Carter Street with multiple gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead. As a result, many in the community gathered on January 25 to say no more to senseless violence in the city of Orange. In fact, over 200 attended the first meeting of Community In Unity! on a Saturday afternoon at Club Macky on Simmons Drive to offer solutions to the problem. Organizers Mack Macky and Deborah Mitchell said the purpose of the meeting was to express concern over what happened and to prevent it from happening again. Many who expressed their opinions said
they were there to support the community, they were concerned for the youth or they were giving a voice to do something positive. Ural quickly had 2,582 followers, 308 likes, 163 shares and 26 new fans on his Facebook page after James Ural the video went public. He described his work as being a little piece of himself. Many requested he create a Facebook page after he made Save the Youth. “It was just me and a camera with no crew. I didn’t know what the meeting was about. Someone just said they were having some kind of meeting at Club Macky. In less than 24 hours it was an instant masterpiece,” Ural said. Though many didn’t know of Ural’s work prior to the Community in Unity! meeting, he said he’s never been afraid to work hard. “Follow your dreams. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. It’s life. We all know how it can end,” Ural said. “I’m like a dry sponge, soaking up water (taking advice from others). I was always around older people, learning about life.” Ural said he was passionate about making ORANGE FILMAKER Page 3A
Depot Friends discuss publicity campaign Debby Schamber For The Record
The Friends of the Orange Depot received several items of good news at their monthly meeting on Tuesday night at the City of Orange Community Center. Carrie Joiner Woliver, president of the organization, reported to a round of applause an anonymous donor purchased the property across the depot. She believes this property could be used fund-rais-
ers in the future. It is anticipated other developers will become interested in the property. The Friends, likewise, also received their first donation of $100 from someone in Colorado. The organization will have a lowboy trailer with a depot banner on it, too, for the Mardi Gras parade on February 22 and a booth at Art in the Park. Jay Trahan, director of the Orange Economic Development Corporation, said the response has been phenomenal
since Art in the Park was moved from Stark Park to the Pavilion at the boardwalk. There’s a waiting list for food vendors and there will be entertainment all day at the event. A big Save the Depot banner will also soon be placed on the depot itself. A brochure for The Friends should be available in three weeks as well as a brick sale fund-raiser. Prices for the bricks will soon be set. The brochures will be dis-
tributed at local merchant establishments. PowerPoint presentations about The Friends will be presented to local groups interested in the depot. The group is waiting to receive word if they will be a tax exempt nonprofit 5013c organization. The Friends’ goal is to raise $600,000. Most of the major funding will come from business leaders and corporations contacted with a personal visit.
Joiner Woliver said once the organization reaches $300,000 in donations, she expect others to join in. Other future fund-raisers are a fun run, a train ride and a children’s play at the Orange Community Players. The Friends of the Orange Depot T-shirts will be sold at Art in the Park too. Additionally, the group has two websites at www.oranDEPOT FRIENDS Page 3A
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