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BEST FISHING IN TEXAS

FOOTBALL IS BACK! WITH GABRIEL PRUETT

Dickie Colburn Page 4B

See page 1B

SPORTS NEWS & OPINION

OUTDOORS WEEKLY Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 4B

JOE KAZMAR

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County Record Vol. 53 No. 23

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Ross Smith to be roasted and toasted by BCCC Debby Schamber For The Record

It’s not too late to get reservations for the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce roast of Ross Smith.

OC Farmers’ Market waiting on fall gardens Staff Report For The Record

If you’re looking for watermelon, you’ll find them at the Orange County Farmers’ Market, as well as lots of yard plants and house plants, homemade baked goods and homemade granola. Jams, jellies, and pickles will be back in September. Garden produce is a little scarce right now, but there will be a large variety of fresh produce to choose from as soon as the fall gardens are ready. Some gardens will be ready earlier than others, so stop by the farmers’ market often to see what’s available. The Farmers’ Market is open 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 7-10 a.m. Saturdays. It is located in Pinehurst in the parking lot in front of Big Lots (off MacArthur Drive). For more information contact the market coordinator, Jean Fregia at 409670-6121 The Orange County Farmers’ Market is sponsored by Texas AgriLIFE.

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

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People wanting to attend need to RSVP by Sept. 5 for the Sept. 12th roast. The event will be at 6 p.m. at the Bridge City Community Center located at 105 Parkside. Monte Morphew will serve

Ross Smith

as master of ceremonies along with the rosters, Larry Webb, Dr. Mike Shahan, Stephen Lee, Trey Smith, John Gothia and Gary Stelly. Bridge City Mayor Kirk Roccaforte said they chose Smith to roast this year because he is so involved in the various organizations and his many contributions to the community. “He’s a good example of a good person to represent the city,” Roccaforte said. “I think we will have a good time.” Smith is a Little CypressMauriceville High School graduate before attending Lamar University and The University of Texas in Houston. He has owned Akrotex, Inc. since starting it in 1990. Smith is also a current board member for: Orange Savings Bank, the Lutcher Theater, the Lamar Orange Foundation, the Southeast Texas Foundation

RECORD PHOTOS: Larry Trimm

Orange waterfront ignites for Labor Day celebration Local residents enjoyed a free concert and fireworks Monday at the Convention and Visitors Bureau Labor Day Celebration at the new pavilion located on the Sabine River in downtown Orange. “Traveling Roads” performed their rendition of songs made famous by artists such Eric Clapton, Carrie Underwood, Jimmy Buffet, the Eagles, Beatles and many more. The fireworks display by Pyrotecnico, dazzled the crowd at dark.

ROSS SMITH Page 3A

Rainbow Bridge spans historic 75 years Jerry Ragsdale For The Record

When you look back, it’s amazing that the Rainbow Bridge was completed in under three years. It was naming the darn thing that took forever. It began as a solution for clogged roads caused by Dryden Ferry traffic. Seventy years later, it still has the tallest vertical span in Texas (177

scape, it united Orange County with Port Arthur. It also served northbound and southbound traffic until 1991, when its neighbor the Veterans Memorial Bridge helped split the load. Jefferson County Commissioners, along with the Port Arthur Jaycees and Rotary clubs wanted to call it “The Port Arthur Bridge.” Some in

feet). It cost $3 million, and the lives of many who worked on it. The Rainbow Bridge did more than change the landThe historic photo above shows the Rainbow Bridge while under construction. The Rainbow Bridge did more than change the landscape, it united Orange County with Port Arthur.

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Justice served after twenty years Debby Schamber For The Record

Twenty years later, a Bridge City woman has finally received the justice she had been longing since she was a girl. Selinda McNeil was sexually assaulted when she was 10 years old for more than a year by her mother’s husband, Michael Modglin. During a dispute between her mother and

intermittent visits. Modglin, the inforModglin was said to mation was made the “love of her life” known of what had for Belinda Terrell and been occurring. Bewith him gone, she belinda Terrell and her came angry and took husband then talked it out on McNeil by about the issue where becoming very abuhe confessed, but she sive. allowed him to stay in “He took everything their home. He left Modglin from me — my family, about six months later my mother, my life,” but continued to be a threat in their lives with his she said.

The abuse McNeil suffered at the hands of her mother and the sexual assault from Modglin was a lot for the young girl to handle all alone. “With him being on probation, it allowed him to drift in and out of our lives,” McNeil said. “My mom didn’t have much of a parental instinct.” McNeil’s life also began to drift too. She stayed with various friends so she would not

have to go home. She also got into the drug scene in order to cope with her life spinning out of control. Finally, when she was 16 years old, she got married to escape her home life. But, this would prove to not be the answer either. This only added to the problems. Modglin was charged for JUSTICE SERVED Page 3A


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