Webcountyrecord072413new

Page 1

Sabine Lake Fishing

Outdoors Weekly

Commentary

Dickie Colburn

Chuck Uzzle

Joe Kamar

See Page 3B

See Page 1B

See Page 1B

Sports

Senator Nichols Reports See Page 5B

County Record Vol. 53 No. 18

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Latham charged with murder of LA woman Debby Schamber For The Record

The Newton County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Joshua Latham, 26, of Mauriceville, on charges of murder. Latham is accused of murdering 41-year-old Tami Higginbotham, of Vinton, La. He faces up to 99 years in prison for the first degree felony. Before he can be extradited to Newton County to face the

Shangri La to host Wild Wednesdays through Aug. 7 The Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, located at 2111 W. Park Ave. in Orange, will host the Wild Wednesday program through Aug. 7. “Scales and Tails” will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 24. Explore the world of reptiles and amphibians in an up-close glimpse of theses Shangri La inhabitants. “Food Factories and ‘Plant Managers’” will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 31. Leaves are food factories. They come in all shapes and size to make food for the plants. Explorers of all ages are invited to make a leaf collection and sicker the role of leaves as “plant managers.” “Orchid Ice Cream” will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. Spend a morning learning about the vanilla orchid. Participants will gain knowledge about the vanilla bean as a flower seed pot. Ice cream lovers of all ages will enjoy this program and have an opportunity to make ice cream. For more details, please call 409-670-9113 or visit www.shangrilagardens. org.

H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................8B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................9B

FREE DIGITAL EDITION Online Now

charges, he must first complete the jail term in the Orange County Jail, according to Robert Smith, of the LATHAM Texas Rangers. Latham is currently in the Orange County Jail after he violated his probation and was sentenced in March to 180 days in jail and his felony probation term was extended four years. Higgenbotham, left her residence on Feb. 8 from Vinton, La. to go to Orange. Her truck was found later at Blue Bird’s Fish Camp on Simmons Drive, but she was no where to be found. During the trip to Orange she had texted her sister, Staci Robinson, saying she was going to sell her phone to Joshua Latham. Higgenbotham wanted to upgrade so she had decided to sell her phone. Around 1 p.m. Higgenbotham sent a text to her sister saying

Latham wanted her to help him pick out wedding rings. By 1:30 the texts from Higgenbotham stopped. Knowing it was odd for her sister since she was “always connected”, Robinson became worried and tried repeatedly to call her but each call went straight to voice mail. Robinson later went to the fish camp and showed a picture of her sister to people in the area. They told her they had seen Higgenbotham and she had gotten into a vehicle with Latham. However, when Robinson asked Latham if he had seen her sister, he denied ever meeting up with her. Latham’s girlfriend told Robinson, Latham was at work on the day of the disappearance. However, Robinson would later learn he didn’t have a job. Latham, who was a ‘person of interest” in connection with the disappearance of Higginbotham, fled the area. He was arrested a few days later, Feb. 14, in Maryville,

Tenn. Orange police contacted local officials in Maryville, and told them Latham had relatives in the area. Maryville police checked the relative’s residence, and

found Latham, along with his girlfriend, and their twoweek-old infant. The woman and child were reported to be safe. He was held on charges he violated his felony proba-

tion. Detectives and the Texas Ranger went to Tennessee to LATHAM CHARGED Page 3A

American Idol tour to be in Houston Debby Schamber For The Record

Fans of Kree Harrison, runner-up of American Idol’s 12th season, can see their favorite Southeast Texan perform along with other Idol finalists as the tour stops Sunday at Reliant Arena in Houston. The 30-show concert tour, within a two month span, launched in July and stops in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami before wrapping in Nashville on August 31. Tickets are on sale now with Ticketmaster. During the finale show which aired on FOX, when the winner’s name, Candace Glover, was called, Harrison graciously smiled and hugged Glover to congratulate her. Harrison later told her grandmother, Beverly Mire, of Groves, who attended the show, she was “not at all disappointed” and “loved the whole experience.” Harrison recently released a single, “All Cried Out” which is available for downloads through iTunes. The song is said to be “climbing the charts.” Harrison knows first hand about losing parents at a young age. At 12 years old, the future

Kree Harrison will be at Reliant Arena in Houston on Sunday as part of the American Idol tour. The 30-show concert tour, within a two month span, launched in July and stops in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami before wrapping in Nashville on August 31. Tickets are on sale now with Ticketmaster.

music star lost her father in a terrifying plane crash. Later, in a twist of fate, she lost her mother in a car accident. She channelled all her hurt and energy into this stirring song. Following the tour Harrison will return to Nashville to start recording an album.

Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo . . . After a muddy start on Friday night the annual Orange County Sheriff’s Possee Rodeo was a great success. Rodeo fans enjoyed an action packed weekend. Bull riding, team roping, tie down roping, barrel racing, break away and steer racing were just some of the events performed by professional and up-and-coming rodeo stars. As seen above, a bull in the mud is a tough way to earn a living. Each year the rodeo raises scholarship funds for local youth. RECORD PHOTO: Larry Trimm

KREE HARRISON Page 3A

OCARC to hold 26th annual fishing tourney Debby Schamber For The Record

The tradition continues as the OCARC hosts the 26th annual fishing tournament on August 2nd and 3rd at the City of Orange Boat Ramp located on Simmons Drive. The family-oriented event is oldest local tournament in Or-

ange with about 400 people participating annually. For the first time, the tournament will kick off at the boat ramp instead of at OCARC. During the weigh-in, there will be $2,700 paid out in the various categories. For the biggest speck, bass, flounder and redfish $250 will be paid along with a trophy. First place winners catching the biggest white

perch, catfish, croaker, grinnel, black drum and perch will receive $100. While second place for the speckled trout, red fish, flounder, bass and white perch pays $100 and third place for these fish pays $50. Participants with a second place win after catching white perch, catfish, croaker, grinnel, black drum and perch will

win $50 and those winning third place for these type of fish will win $25. Red fish must be between 20 to 27 inches in length while black drums must be 14 to 29 inches long. For the first time in the tournament history, there is an added category of the appaloosa red with a $250 prize. However, this one is different.

It is not for the biggest fish, but for the one with the most spots. In order to be eligible, the fish must be between 20 to 27 inches in length. The entry fee for the tournament is $25. But, children under the age of 16 can participate for free but must still OCARC FISHING Page 3A

• Award Winning Hometown News


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.