PUBLISHED FOR ORANGE COUNTIANS BY ORANGE COUNTIANS
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Historic Astrodome soon gone- Kaz, 1B
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Lure Size Matters. Summer Fishing 2B
County Record Vol. 53 No. 12
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
The Record staff wins media awards Debby Schamber For The Record
Media professionals from Southeast Texas and throughout a nine county region gathered Friday night at the Lamar University Library to award those who have showed excellence in their fields during 2012. The banquet and competition raises funds for scholarships for communications student at Lamar University. Record Newspapers, Mark Dunn swept the category of New Page Design/Layout and won first, second and third place. He also took home a first place for overall excellence page design/layout. The Record Newspapers were awarded third place for overall excellence. Penny Leleux won a second place award for Fine Arts Reviews/Critiques when she wrote “Momma God,” a tale of lost love found. Her award winning story written in October 2012 read, “Sometimes mental illness manifests in the form of religious fervor. Such is the case in “Momma God” written by Glenda Dickey and Bob Parr. A fictionalized memoir, the names have been changed, but the story is true. It’s a tale of a
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lifelong love began as teens, torn apart by a zealot mother and reunited more than 50 years later.” Winning first place under the General Column category, was Debby Schamber. She wrote the column in December after listening to the news one morning and heard a woman sobbing about the loss of her 6-year-old daughter following the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. In her column, Schamber recounts the struggles she too had at the loss of a child and the journey which lies ahead for the parents of the children lost in the shooting. Schamber also took home third place award for a column she wrote in October 2012, “Domestic Violence: a life changing experience.” She told of the abuse she suffered from an ex-husband and wrote, “ Personally, I am urging abused women to do something for themselves and their children, because more than likely the violence will not just stop. It starts with maybe a push or a shove and then maybe a slap. He will say he is sorry and promise it will not happen again. But, I can assure you it does — over and over again.” In the Feature Story category, Schamber received a third place win for “Heart of a Champion.” It is the story of a champion quarter horse owned by Shirley Marshall and two friends who despite the hardships won several races and always gave 100 percent effort. The blood line of the quarter horse with a champion heart lives on in a brood mare which was once a foal of Sweet Toro. Village Sweetie still produces strong colts and fillies for generations to come where others may also come to feel the thunder of a race horse. The Newsmaker of the Year Award has been given annually since 1991 and this year it was given to the Kountze varsity cheerleaders. Several cheerleaders and sponsors were present to accept the honor on behalf of their colleagues even though it was the night of Kountze High School graduation. The cheerleaders were honored for their defense of faithbased run through banners and other signs they displayed at football games despite protest from some that the banners were inappropriate. Their struggle became news across
THE RECORD Page 3A
Week of Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tom Ray; a son’s hero and a daughter’s first love Debby Schamber For The Record
Tom Ray Jr. is to some a model father, but most importantly he is a “dad” to his children. “I love my kids and do all I can for them,” Ray said. The relationship between Ray and his children is like a 1950s family sitcom. Ray’s home life can be compared to “Father Knows Best” where the family loves and supports each other. Like the TV show, each child has a special relationship with their father and know at the end of the day, he will always be there for them —no matter what. “I truly have that with my kids,” Ray said. Ray’s job at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as an investigator is demanding and stressful. He has worked dangerous cases involving people and circumstances, but when he goes home he puts it all behind him as he walks through the door. He is in a relaxed state because he
Tom Ray, his daughter Blair and wife Mariah at his son, Justin’s, graduation from high school in 2012.
is right where he wants to be. He flips an imaginary switch from tough investigator to husband and father. ‘I’ve always been able to separate home and my job,” Ray said. Ray said he was never the type of parent who hung out at bars. Instead he worked and at the end of the day,
went home to his children. Vacations and time off was spent at Disney World or the beach. For Ray, being a father meant providing for his family. He also strived to be his son’s “first hero” and his daughter’s “first love.” A son has to learn how to love and treat his wife and a
father teaches his daughter in what to look for in a husband, Ray said. Ray first became a father when he married his first wife, Nichole. She had a three-month-old son. Ray raised the boy like he was his own son. But, he suffered from medical issues and died in 1998 at the age of 7 years old. The couple had two more children, Justin and Blair. The couple later divorced, but shared custody of the children. Even after the divorce, Ray made it a point to be a big part of their lives. Tom later remarried to Mariah, who had a son named Alex. Justin would grow into a young man and graduate from Port Neches-Groves High School in 2012. Blair was right behind him in high school. Like many teens, Blair’s future was bright and limitless. Not only did she achieve, but excelled at everything set
A FATHER’S Page 3A
‘Cops and Kids’ slated for Friday Debby Schamber For The Record
It is time once again for the annual Cops and Kids picnic in Orange County. The completely free even will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. on Friday at Claiborne West Park. Day care centers and area churches along with families are invited to attend. Last year more than 1,300 children went to the park to join in on all the fun. This year, officials are expecting there to be more children at the park and up to 1,700 children coming to the event. This is the 19th year for the annual picnic organized by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. There will be food such as hot dogs, chips, drinks, cotton candy, sno-cones and ice cold watermelon. There will also be a petting zoo and two super slides and a moonwalk. This year, the Big Thicket Outlaw Association will conduct a Western themed re-enactment of the sheriff and his posse trying to tame the west and the bad guys. In full period costumes, they will perform throughout the day. The show is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.
Also in attendance will be the Southeast Texas Air Rescue and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office who will have their helicopters on display. Area fire departments will bring their fire trucks too. Ares law enforcement such as the Texas Department Public Safety and members of the the US Coast Guard will be at the picnic to ensure children emergency personnel are their friends and only want to help. “This is a day where children and emergency personnel can bond,” said Orange County Deputy John Badeaux, organizer of the picnic. “This will help provide a great education to the kids.”
Children gather around a SETX Air Rescue helicopter during a previous “Cops and Kids” celebration. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
July 4th fireworks in BC Staff Report For The Record
Darrell Segura with the Bridge City Historical Society is excited about the upcoming 2nd annual Fourth of July celebration on Cow Bayou. The celebration will be held at the foot of the historic swing bridge at the former location of Joe Bailey’s Fish Camp. “We will have a live band starting at 5 p.m., Three
Legged Dawg,” said Segura. The band will play till dark, when the fireworks display will begin. Before the fireworks, 11 year old, Madison Juneau will sing the National Anthem. “They are calling her the next Kree Harrison,” said Segura. Food will be available for sale. The Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be selling hot links.
Memberships to the Historical Society will be available for $20. Segura wants to remind people to bring their lawn chairs or they can watch the festivities from the water. “Some people came by boat last year.” The concert and fireworks are a free, family friendly event. No alcohol will be allowed.
• Award Winning Hometown News