Where The Sun Rises On Texas And The Stars Shine First!
County Record Vol. 56 No. 4
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, May 7 , 2014
Republicans Orange County’s most hold political senior mother, Inez Turner debate Penny LeLeux
David Ball
For The Record
Voters received one last chance to hear from candidates before they cast votes in the May 27 run-off. The Orange County Republican Party Runoff Roundup took place Tuesday night at the Orange County Expo, Hospitality and Convention Center on FM 1442. Debates were for the Orange
First Financial Bankshares elects Ross Smith to holding company board The Shareholders of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. elected Ross H. Smith, Jr. to the Company’s board of directors at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held in Abilene recently. “We are very pleased that Ross, who currently serves on the First Financial Bank, Southeast Region advisory board and previously served on the Orange Savings Bank, SSB board of directors, has been named to our holding company board of directors,” said Stephen Lee, President and CEO of First Financial Bank, Southeast Texas Region. “We know that he will represent Southeast Texas well on the holding company board and will be a great addition.” Smith is the chairman and president of Akrotex, Inc., David Self Ford, Inc., Volkswagen of Lake Charles and Nexus Resin Group, LLC. He is a graduate of Little Cypress High School and attended Lamar University and the University of Houston. A native of Orange County, Smith is married to Eva, and has three children and six grandchildren. He is a Board Member of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army of Orange, the Boys and Girls Club of Orange, Boys Scouts of America – Three Rivers Council, Lamar State College Foundation’s Board, St. Henry’s Catholic Church, Lutcher Theater, and the Southeast Texas Foundation Board and “2010 Citizen of the Year” by the Greater Orange Chamber of Commerce.
H
FREE DIGITAL EDITION Online Now
TheRecordLive.com
County judge, District 36, U.S. representative and Precinct 2 commissioner run-off races. John Dubose and Brint Carlton are facing each other in the run-off election for county judge. Each candidate made opening statements. Dubose told how he moved to Bridge City in 1972. He began working at the Port Arthur News at age 12 with a newspaper route which lasted until he was in college. He then became manager of the mail room and then the youngest circulation manager in the history of The Orange Leader. He earned an MBA at McNeese State University and became general manager and then controller at The Port Arthur News. He earned his CPA license and taught at Lamar State College-Orange and at Lamar State CollegePort Arthur. He was elected to the Bridge City City Council where he learned to work with others to not be disagreeable. He was elected mayor the second time he ran for the office where he restructured the city’s debt and left finances in much better shape. As a county commissioner for Precinct 3, he made contacts with other governmental agencies and he was instrumental in building the fishing pier on Bailey Road in Bridge City. Carlton spoke about his family and his wife who is 8-and-ahalf months pregnant with their first child. He graduated from Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Florida where he earned an MBA and a law degree. He served in Kuwait as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He practiced family law before joining the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Carlton said he’s an avid volunteer, an active reservist and a Christian. He added his professional background and military experience have suited him to be a county judge. He said the county has a $3.1 million deficit while taxes and the median age in the county have been declining. Carlton said the county has everything a business would want, but they’re not locating here. The first question was what is the current state of the budget and how would they eliminate budget spending. Dubose said the county is deficit-free. There is no problem today but there may be a larger deficit at the end of the year due to road work projects that won’t be reimbursed until the fall or winter. Carlton referred to Dubose’s “Experience Counts” campaign slogan. He said Dubose should had been in the best position to stop a budget deficit. Dubose replied he made the best decisions he could with the information given to him. He added the county judge is the chief financial officer and some of the revenues didn’t come in as REPUBLICAN Page 3A
For The Record
To the best of our knowledge at The Record, Inez Turner, born May 17, 1909 is the oldest living mother in Orange County. In 10 short days, she will celebrate her 105th birthday. “If I make it,” she said, smiling. “You never can tell. I’m hoping, but you never know.” Turner has one son, Roy Ballard, 60, one granddaughter named Monica who is 34 and a great-grandson Miguel,8, who she fondly calls “Bo Peep.” She still attends Mount Zion Baptist Church in Orange, when she is up to it, but says she hasn’t gone in about three months. Darlene Wissing, administrator at Optimist Village, where Turner lives said every morning Turner’s son is off work, he brings her breakfast; “Isn’t that precious. He’s really good to her. She’s a fine lady.” Ballard said he has actually cut back on bringing her pancakes and sausage for breakfast, because his mother has become diabetic and he’s had to watch the flour and sugar. “I bring her breakfast about once a month now,” he said. But he does other things she needs like buying her groceries and taking her to the doctor when she doesn’t have other transportation.
“She’s pretty self-sufficient,” he said. According to Wissing, Turner still drove when she first moved to Optimist Village in 2006. Wissing said every time it rained, Turner was downstairs with a towel drying off her car as soon as the rain stopped, to keep it clean. “It was hilarious, you’d see her wiping that car down.” Wissing said she doesn’t remember exactly when Turner stopped driving. “She was way up in her 90s when she went to get an ID card and they let her take the eye test. They gave her a driver’s license for another six years.” Ballard said she only stopped driving about two and a half years ago. “Her license was about to expire at 104.” He said his relationship with his mother is really close. “I’m an only child, so I have to look after her.” Her health is actually better than many in their 80s and 90s. She gets around without a walker most of the time, but is starting to use it a little more. She still goes to local events when she has a ride. Last year, she was awarded the prize for the oldest female at the yearly Senior Citizen Rally Days. She missed this year’s event, which was held Tuesday. She said she didn’t feel quite up to it and the friend that usually takes her
Inez Turner will turn 105 May 17. She is believed to be the eldest living mother in Orange County. RECORD PHOTO: Penny LeLeux
was in Michigan. This year’s prize for the oldest participant went to a young rooster of 97, since she was absent. She has seen a few things in her lifetime though she doesn’t remember them all. “My memory isn’t good and I can’t hear,” she said. “I’ve got hearing aids, but they don’t seem to do much good.” Other than that, her mind is clear and she is in good health. Wondering what she has done to live so long a woman once asked her “Do you eat a lot of vegetables?” “No,” she told the woman, “The good Lord just hasn’t been ready for me.” The daughter of Elzie and Lou Matlock, Turner was born in Patroon, Texas in Shelby County. She had five
younger sisters, but they have already passed. She is the only one left. “Still here,” she said. Gospel is her favorite type of music. “Mrs. Turner is such a kind person. She has a smile for everybody and is always kind to everybody,” said Wission. “She never says anything harsh about anybody else. She is just a wonderful resident at Optimist Village.” They will be having a party for her 105th birthday around 11 a.m., on Saturday, May 17 at the community room at Optimist Village according to her son. “We have it early enough so people who come from far away have time enough to get back home,” said Ballard. He said the public is welcome to attend the celebration. Turner said no gifts please. When asked what advice she would give young mother’s just starting out with their families, she replied, “To live a good Christian life. These days, Turner spends most of her time watching TV and visiting with friends in the lobby of her building, with an occasional nap thrown in. The Record Newspapers honors Inez Turner as the senior mother of Orange County and all mothers on this upcoming Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Temple-Inland receives abatement David Ball
For The Record
Temple-Inland, Inc./International Paper in Orange is expanding thanks to help from the Orange County Commissioners’ Court. The commissioners approved an $80 million tax abatement with the company up to and over four years. There is also an additional four-year abatement on a declining scale of 80 percent, 60 percent, 40 percent and 20 percent for a full eight-year abatement. Holly Smith, controller at Temple-Inland, said this expansion will make the Orange mill more competitive in the paper industry. The mill produces liner board for corrugate boxes which are used for Ebay and Amazon, food and produce. Bobby Fillyaw, director of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation, said the abatement will allow new investments into the facilities. The mill’s employment base will remain the same, but there will be an increase in the number of contractors and construction crews on site. There are more than 300 employees at Temple-Inland. Construction will begin sometime in 2014. “This will be used for efficiencies, upgrades and mill safety,” Smith said.
Temple-Inland is not eligible for the school tax abatement. Fillyaw said the good thing about abatements is the county cannot lose anything they don’t have yet in the form of tax revenue. Additionally, Orange County may ask other entities to join them in the abatement. Commissioners also approved an agreement for the
provision of a law enforcement canine. Keith Merritt, Orange County sheriff, said one of the dogs retired in September 2013. The department has been waiting for the new dog to pass its certifications and this agreement is a reinstatement of the original one made in 2009 made with Deputy Christopher Fred-
Senior Citizens of the Year named
erick. The canine is funded in the OCSO budget. The new canine will back up another canine and bring the department’s strength up to two. Approved was establishing a commercial truck speed limit of 20 mph on
County Business Page 3A
Pam Scales Honeycutt received the Female Senior Citizen of the Year Award for her service to Orange County, Tuesday at the Senior Citizen Rally Days. Pictured with Honeycutt (center) are Commissioner Pct. 2 Owen Burton and Paula Smith. More awards listed on page 5B. RECORD PHOTO: Penny LeLeux