Dickie Colburn: Fishing See Page 5B Cooking With Katherine See Page 8A
High School Football See Page 1B
County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 51 No. 24
Week of Wednesday, September 21, 2011
County okays budget, Jacobs awarded Nicole Gibbs
For The Record
Money is never an easy topic to discuss but as the deadline approaches for Orange County to adopt a budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, money
was the main topic of discussion at Commissioners’ Court on Monday. While County Judge Carl Thibodeaux informed those attending the public hearing that the Commissioners cut as much of the expenditures
they could, the Commissioners passed (with a four to one vote) a 2.92 percent tax increase over the current effective tax rate. The property tax rate for 2011-2012 Orange County citizens is now .52990, which is less than last year’s
tax rate of .53507. Had the Commissioners not increased the tax rate at all, the County would most likely see a deficit of approximately $330,000 at the end of the year. Even a one percent increase would have left the
H Winfree herds Cow Bayou Cattle Drive H
DEA Agent Toby Swartz gives the Outstanding Achievement Award to Investigator Joey Jacobs. RECORD PHOTO: Nicole Gibbs
county in a deficit. The adopted budget will raise property taxes by $1,067,736, 4.55 percent more than last year’s budget. Of that amount, $205,337 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.
Port of Orange board member, Barbara Winfree, scoops the grand prize winning cow from the bayou during the Cow Bayou Cattle Drive last Saturday. Similar to a rubber ducky derby, a herd of 500 floating cows drifted with the tide to the finish line. Dr. Chris Penning of Bridge City won the 40 inch television donated by the Sears Hometown Store in Orange. The event was hosted by the Historical Museum of Bridge City in celebration of the Winfree family legacy in Orange County and to promote the upcoming Bridge City Heritage Festival, Saturday, Oct. 1. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Meanest drought in Texas history
Mike Louviere For The Record
Travelers on I-10 may have noticed an unusual number of 18 wheel trailer loads of hay, but probably think nothing of it. The person who the hay is to be delivered to thinks a lot about that load of hay. The 20 or so bales of hay may be the thing that keeps his cattle alive and his family fed, clothed and housed. As he ordered the load of hay he was probably praying that he could get another load, if someone had that much to sell him again and if he could even afford to buy another load. “We are selling every blade of grass that we can bale. Dad, Dan Harris, is in the hay field every day, bailing and shipping hay. We have sent hay as far out as Brownwood,” said Bubba Harris. “It is getting to the point that we are going to have to decide how much we can afford to sell and still have enough for our needs.” The round bales, called rolls, are four feet by five feet in diameter on average and weigh between 900 and 1,000 pounds. The roll cost is about $40 to $50 dollars and when freight is added the cost doubles at least. “Some areas of the state are bailing anything in the grass line they can. Rice straw and Milo are being used. They provide roughage, but not much protein, but guys are taking anything they can get,” said Harris. While there is quite a bit of water in Orange County, much of it cannot be used in hay fields. The irrigation sys-
tem of canals was built for flooding rice fields. There is no way to get enough water out of a canal to irrigate a hay field. Flooding is not the way to do it. There would need to be a pumping and spraying system installed in the fields. Orange County may face a problem growing hay this year. “We are hanging in there this year,” Harris said. “It will be tough but we can get by. At this point it is not worth spending the money on the equipment to irrigate hay fields. It is one of the decisions you have to make carefully. “This drought could be a once in a lifetime and we could install the system at a great cost and never use it. We just have to wait and watch how things go. It’s all part of the business.”
Cattle throughout Texas suffer in the worst drought in Texas history. COURTESY PHOTO
The changing economics has caused drastic effects on Texas agriculture. Farmers and ranchers have been effected by high interest rates and lower prices offered by the
buyers. Fuel costs haven’t been helpful either. Farmers and ranchers often have to borrow enough money TEXAS DROUGHT PAGE 2A
Tunnel boat races this weekend Staff Report
For The Record
Bigger engines and more speed brings greater excitement to the 4th annual “Showdown on the Sabine” this weekend in Orange. “The Formula One class will replace the SST class that we have had in the past,” said Darlene Zavada, of the Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Some of these boats will reach 150 miles per hour.” Youngsters 8 to 12 will also be competing in the J-Hydro class. “It is a fun class to watch, but the kids are as serious as the adults,” said Zavada.
Formula Light and Tri-Hull classes will also be competing. “This year we will be selling pit passes. They can visit with the mechanics and drivers. It will be a unique opportunity,” said Zavada. There will be food vendors, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and a water slide. “Kids wanting to go on the water slide need to plan ahead and bring appropriate gear,” said Zavada. Admission and parking are free. No coolers, pets, bicycles or skateboards allowed. “We will allow folks to set up canopies, but this year we are limiting that to the top of the le-
• Award Winning Hometown News
vee.” The “Showdown” begins with boat inspections at 8 a.m., Saturday and Formula One trials at 9 a.m., Sunday. It’s fun for the entire family. The event is located at the Orange Public Boat Ramp on Simmons Drive. Crowds for the two day event have reached as high as 15,000 in the past. “We are expecting about 60 boats and drivers to be with us this year,” said Zavada. “We have been bigger and better each year. We hope a lot of fans come out for the races and that everyone has a great time.”
One of the reasons why the budget is increased is because of the payroll, which is increasing by $674,683.85: $463,373.49 for the union contract required for the Sheriff’s Department; $11,382.50 for COUNTY BUSINESS PAGE 2A
Britt Godwin headlines Bridge City Heritage Festival Mike Louviere For The Record
Country music has undergone many changes since the day it was known as “Hillbilly Music.” Writers write different, arrangers arrange different, musicians play different and singers sing different. There are some artists who have remained true to the roots of country music. Britt Godwin is one of those who want to keep country music true to its roots. Godwin will be the headline performer at the upcoming Bridge City Heritage Festival, Oct. 1. The festival is being hosted by the Bridge City Historical Museum, a nonprofit charitable organization formed in 2009 to preserve local history and enhance tourism. Godwin is a triple threat artist. He performs solo, he heads B.B. & Company and he also has the Remember Me When Orchestra that does the big band sounds of the 1930s and 40s. At the Heritage festival he will be performing with B.B. & Company. Godwin started performing and recording as a teenager. He is a Bridge City native and a 1986 graduate of Bridge City High School. Godwin was on the road with Tracey Byrd for 11 years. “We must have performed at the Opry at least 50 times and it was always a thrill, and also a little scary,” Godwin said. “We walked on stage and in the wings were Bill Anderson, Porter Waggoner, and Jimmy Dickens waiting and watching the boys from Texas. That’s scary.” They did well. Little Jimmy Dickens complemented them of their Western Swing. Eddie Stubbs, long time Opry announcer, also said he liked the traditional sound they played. Godwin is carrying tradition every time he goes on stage.
BRITT GODWIN
“When they called me and asked me to come to the Heritage Festival, I was like ‘WOW’ this is great. It is like a homecoming, it is great to be asked to do this in my hometown,” he said. “This is such a great cause! For Bridge City to have the opportunity to have a museum of the quality this one is going to be is great. I am BRITT GODWIN PAGE 3A
Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................5B • Kaz’s Korner Joe Kazmar...........4B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B