Dickie Colburn: Fishing See Page 1B
Orange County Cooking See Page 8A
Hometown Baseball
Page 1B
County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 51 No. 49
Week of Wednesday, March 7 , 2012
Redistricting settled, OC gains new reps David Ball
For The Record
Skeeters not going away any time soon David Ball
For The Record
Patrick Beebe, director of the Orange County Mosquito Control Department, reported to the Orange County Commissioners’ Court at their Monday af ternoon meeting there is still a mosquito i n fest at ion problem. In fact, the departBEEBE ment set a record for February with 260 service calls. “Our records go back to the early 1980s and some other years. The adult mosquito activity is extremely high,” he said. The department is monitoring stations and counting mosquito traps. Mosquito control personnel have only captured salt water mosquitos, so far, and none of the disease-carrying species found in brackish waters. Beebe reported 91,164 acres have been treated by ground and 19,840 acres treated by air for 112,000 acres treated — another new record. Precinct 1 Commissioner David Dubose commended Beebe and his department for springing into quick action during they are usually inactive. Beebe told the court many full-time employees have been out spraying while new personnel were being trained or interviewed, so there is an additional cost for services. Overtime salaries, furthermore have been depleted. County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said for Beebe to come to commissioners’ court next week with a bud SEE COUNTY PAGE 2A
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Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........4B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
After weeks of haggling and disagreement, Texas now has a district map to work with. Federal judges in San Antonio entered an order on March 1 setting the Texas primary for May 29 and making certain
adjustments to the Texas Election Code to accommodate the new primary date, according to www.txredistrictin.org. Texas had new districts drawn after the 2010 Census was completed. Census results are used to determine the number of congressional seats apportioned to each state.
Texas currently has 32 members of the United States House of Representatives as a result of the apportionment based on the 2000 census figures. Based on the estimated 2010 census counts, Texas is expected to gain three to four congressional seats based on increased population.
Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Article III, Section 28, of the Texas Constitution requires
the Texas Legislature to redistrict both houses (the Texas House of Representatives and Texas State Senate) at its first regular session after publication of the federal decennial census. The Legislature meets in ORANGE COUNTY PAGE 3A
Karr replaces Welch as interim superintendent David Ball
For The Record
Philip Welch has been with the Orangefield ISD for over 20 years and the district superintendent for five years, but that all ended on Tuesday night. The board of trustees named Kay Karr as the interim superintendent at a special meeting Tuesday night. Karr said she’s honored to be named to a position to the Orangefield ISD because of the district’s positive reputation. “There’s more pluses her than any minuses,” Karr said. “I propose no changes but only stability and consistency until someone long-term is named.” In the meantime, Karr will be preparing the district profile. Karr has been an educa-
KAY KARR
tor for 47 years at every grade level. She’s been a superintendent for 17 years. She has since retired, but joked there is no such thing as retirement for an educator. Since retiring, she has started a business and still works daily with children with the Texas Education Agency as a
monitor and as a conservator. “I’m thrilled to be part of the team. I see this as an opportunity to make Orangefield grow bigger and better,” she said. Karr originally hails from Lubbock. She grew up in West Texas before moving to East Texas in the Guadalupe Mountains. She moved to Orange in 2002 after her daughter married a man from Orange. Since then, she said she’s been loving every minute spent with her grandchildren. Welch is now officially retired as the Orangefield Board of Trustees accepted his retirement. “This is my fifth year as superintendent. I have been in the district for 26 years as a teacher, assistant principal, OISD NAMES KARR PAGE 3A
FEMA drafts new flood maps Penny Leleux
For The Record
Members from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently gave local officials and citizens their first look at initial drafts of updated flood maps for Orange County. There were representatives from all Orange County Municipalities, county officials, business and homeowners.
Larry Voice, an engineer with FEMA in Region 6 answered questions people had as they viewed the maps. These maps are just drafts, in a few months preliminary maps will be released and will be posted to the internet at that time for anyone to access. In the meantime, Voice said, “The county judge has requested we get a copy [of the maps] to him.” He said they are also going to get a few cop-
ies out to some other offices. “We’re asking them not to make copies and hand them out. People can go over there and look at them.” Since these are just drafts they do not want them disseminated at this time. Once the preliminary maps are released there will be a period of time before they become official allowing time for people to ask questions and for any protests to be filed.
Joel Ardoin looks over drafts of new flood zone maps previewed by FEMA recently. Preliminary maps will be released in a couple of months at which time they will be available for viewing online. RECORD PHOTO: Penny LeLeux
Zerko Eagle project warms needy citizens Mike Louviere For The Record
In planning his Eagle Scout project Nathan Zerko wanted to help his fellow citizens with a need they may have. Zerko visited with Captain Michael Cox of the local Salvation Army in Pinehurst during the planning stage. The two discussed specific client needs Cox is faced with. When Zerko stated that his project would be done in the late winter, early spring, Cox had the ideal project for the young scout. “In the winter we always have a need of winter clothing, coats, and blankets. When I told Nathan that, he knew what he wanted to do. He decided to conduct a coat and blanket drive,” said Cox. The concept of an Eagle Scout project is for the Scout to first decide on a project, then to plan how the project will be carried out. He should also involve other Scouts, friends, and family members in the project to learn to delegate jobs and supervise the overall carrying out of the project. After Zerko decided on the drive, he designed flyers to pass out in two neighborhoods in Pinehurst. He enlisted fellow scouts to help distribute the flyers. Zerko designed and placed several collection boxes throughout the community for people to place donations in. “Families in my community will benefit from this project,” said Zerko. “This project not only helps people in my community, but it also will involve the whole community in aiding others. When people help others, it creates a sense of goodwill that can create unity and responsibility in a community. This project ZERKO PAGE 3A
Boy Scout Nathan Zerko collected over 800 items of blankets and warm clothing for his Eagle Project.