Dickie Colburn: Fishing See Page 1B
Cooking with Katherine See Page 8A
Down Life’s Highway See Page 9A
County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 51 No. 19
Week of Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Hodgkinson becomes new Chief Deputy Deputy. “It really doesn’t matter which title I carry, I am still going to serve the citizens [of Orange County] the best I
can,” Hodgkinson said. Chief Hodgkinson is a lifelong resident of Orange County. He has attended both Lamar University and the Lamar
Institute of Technology. In 1994, he began as a corrections officer at the Mark W. Stiles prison unit in Beaumont. He was hired in 1997 by
the Orange Police Department and attended the Lamar Regional Police Academy. As an officer with the City HODGKINSON PAGE 2A
H Orange County SMASH now underway H
Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt promoted Clint Hodgkinson from Captain of the Patrol Department to Chief Deputy. RECORD PHOTO: Nicole Gibbs
Nicole Gibbs
For The Record
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has been without a Chief Deputy for a few weeks now. On Thursday, Aug. 11, Sheriff Keith Merritt officially announced that the position of Chief Deputy has officially been filled.
“It is my honor and pleasure to announce that the former Captain over Patrol, Clint Hodgkinson, as the new Chief Deputy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department,” Merritt said. On Monday afternoon, Aug. 14, the Sheriff’s office hosted a small reception welcoming Hodgkinson as the new Chief
Orange County few in state without burn ban Nicole Gibbs
For The Record
Jeff Kelley, director of Emergency Management for Orange County, informed the Commissioners that, as of Monday morning, 248 counties across the state of Texas have enabled at Burn Ban. There are six counties left that have not implemented one and Orange County is one of them. “The only reason why I’m not [asking] for [a burn ban] is the fire weather conditions haven’t coincided with everything else,” Kelley said. “We’re getting pretty bad. At this time, I would recommend no action, but be prepared to do so.”
Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................1B • Kaz’s Korner Joe Kazmar...........1B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
On Wednesday, Aug. 10, Jesse Charles “Chuck” McClain Jr., director of the Management Information Systems department, unexpectedly passed away. The Commissioners and all those in attendance to the Court Session took a moment of silence to honor McClain. In order to maintain stability in this difficult time, the Court approved appointing Lisa Reeves as interim Director of Management Information Systems-MIS. “I spoke with all of the employees, I spoke with [Lisa] and everyone is comfortable with this,” County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said. “We need someone there if there’s authoritative [business] that needs to be done until the Court moves forward to appoint a new director.” The Commissioners approved the contract between Orange County and Lester A. Saucier Jr. P.E. for Engineering Services on the Coastal Impact Assistance Program Grant project. The motion authorized the County Judge to sign the same. The Court approved the revision of the On Site Sewer Facilities Program Guidelines to include connection to public sewer system if available for low to moderate income households approved by the Committee. The Commissioners approved the filing $31,792.78 in the minutes of the court revenue received from the City of Pinehurst. These funds are reimbursement for road materials. The total for bills paid this week is $354,446.27 including $37,239.39 to Memorial Herman Baptist for supplemental COUNTY BUSINESS PAGE 2A
The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off 2011 Orange County SMASH with a ribbon cutting held at Hometown Sears in Orange on Thursday. Russell Dillow, owner of Hometown Sears along with the members of the Orange County Car Crew cut the ribbon with chamber representatives. SMASH stands for ‘summer music and shopping holiday.’ An array of events and celebrations continue through Sunday, Aug. 21. Go to TheRecordLive.Com for schedule of events. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
LCM alum, Mohon, featured in SL magazine Darla Daigle
For The Record
Every year Southern Living Magazine, the eighth largest subscribed to magazine publication in the U.S, with over 16 million subscribers, contracts a designer to design and build what they deem the ‘Idea House.’ This year Marcus Mohon, a native to Orange County and an LCM Alum, had the honor of being approached and contracted to head that team to create a home here in Texas. “They approached us,” Mohon said by phone interview, “I have, in the past, thought of this as ‘my mom’s magazine,’ but I think they are taking a new approach in their magazine, a bit more modern. I had a working relationship with someone from Coastal Living magazine who now is with Southern Living, he is familiar with my work. I think that’s how they came to look my way.” Mohon is referring to how the executives decided to speak with him about being over the eight month project. “It’s quite a big deal. Some people start calling in January to find out where the house will be built and plan their vacations to come tour it.” The home, Escondido, is built in Horseshoe Bay, Texas on a waterfront piece of property, is currently open for viewing until the beginning of October. The Mediterranean style home boasts 5000 to 6000 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space and blends oldworld charms and elegance with modern living and re-
Marcus Mohon, a native to Orange County now living in Austin, was contracted by Southern Living Magazine to create this “Idea House.” Each year Southern Living chooses a designer to build an “Idea House.” Many of the 16 million subscribers journey to the location of the “Idea House” and Mohon started receiving calls on it’s location as early as January of this year.
laxed lifestyle for life on the water. The design of interior furnishings includes fabrics that are wearable but easy up keep. “We used sunbrella material on several pieces. The whole idea is that people coming in from skiing on the water and find they can live in a home that looks priceless,” Mohon explains. “The days of having that extra living room where no one sits on the furniture because it’s so expensive and elegant are gone. One should
be able to surround themselves with the look they want but be able to use it as well.” Mohon’s first plan was not that of designer. A graduate of LCM in 1988 he first went to Baylor and received his degree in Economics. His idea was to go on to law school and get his law degree. Deciding he was sick of school for a time, he found himself working in Fredericksburg, Texas selling antiques. By the late 90s his interest in design had developed
to the point he returned to get his post-grad credits in design at the University of Texas by 2001. Since his graduation he has met his business partner, architect Michael A. Imber, and owns/operates two interior design businesses, one in San Antonio and one in Austin. He and his wife reside in Austin with their four young children. As with the Idea House, their personal clients are looking for specific requirements. One of which is custom made pieces. Part of what Mohon specializes in is making those one-of-a-kind pieces a reality. Though the Idea House is decorated and built largely through sponsors, there are some custom made pieces which of course includes millwork. They also chose to use recycled materials. “It’s really more of an ‘Aspirational” house,” Mohon explains of Escondido. It is his hope people will see elegance that is also livable. The Idea House is filled with hints of European touches, while staying within the southern ideals and Texas flavor. On the shore of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, it also has practical outdoor spaces that are useful for entertaining and water recreation. Its multi-level architecture is beautiful to the eyes as well quality design throughout, but the practicality is also evident in every room. “The dining room is the hub of the house. Its where a family can eat or play games,” MOHON PAGE 3A