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County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Vol. 52 No. 28
Week of Wednesday, October 10, 2012
James Whitehead family settles out of court Debby Schamber For The Record
After more than two years since the fatal shooting of James Whitehead by Orange Police Officer Robert Arnold, the family has settled out of court. According to Diana Franken-Whitehead, James Whitehead’s mother, after lawyer’s fees and court costs, the family received $610,000. Whitehead’s 5-year-old HeavenLeigh, received 60 percent of
Kenney issues invite to OC Livestock Show, Auction Penny Leleux
For The Record
Raising and showing animals is an educational process that many area students participate in. The Orange County livestock show and auction is one of the venues in which they participate. The annual event is held for members of Orange County 4-H and local FFA members to show animals in a local environment. Marie Kenney, the County extension agent covering 4-H, invited commissioners and the public to the show and auction scheduled Oct. 19-20, this week at commissioners’ court. The event will be located at the show barn located at 5319 Cohenour Road in OC LIVESTOCK PAGE 3A
the settlement which will be placed into a trust until she turns 21 years old. The remainder has been split be- WHITEHEAD tween Whitehead’s mother, his father Vernon Whitehead amd James Whitehead’s common-law wife, Karlen, at the time of the shooting. It has been a “rough” two years for the Whitehead family as they cope with his loss. “Most of the time it’s still rough.” said Brandy Boyette, Whitehead’s sister. But added, no amount of money is worth it since it won’t bring her brother back. HeavenLeigh, who will soon
be six years old, has a lot of her father’s traits. Not only is she considered tall for her age, but has his laugh. She also has a love of music. Whitehead was shot and killed in July 2010 by Arnold who was off-duty at the time. Whitehead had tried to return an auto part at the O’ Reilly’s Auto Parts Store on 16th Street, but the store would not accept the part back. Arnold who was in the store with his 14-year-old daughter attempted to intervene when Whitehead became loud and belligerent. Although 9-1-1 had been called there was an altercation in the parking lot. As a result, Whitehead was shot in the chest as he sat in the front seat of a pickup truck and died, ac-
cording to reports. An investigation into the matter was conducted by the Texas Rangers. The case was turned over to the Orange County Grand Jury. They decided to “no-bill” Arnold of any charges. Arnold was sent a letter of indefinite suspension from former OPD Chief Sam Kit-
trell in November 2010 following the shooting. In May 2011, city officials and Arnold were involved in a hearing with arbitrator, LeRoy Bartman. By July of 2011, Bartman issued his ruling in the case. “The Grievant (Arnold) is exonerated of all charges,” Bartman wrote. “The city of Orange, Texas violated state
and federal law when it deprived Captain Arnold of his ‘due process rights.’ The indefinite suspension is reversed and the disciplinary reinstatement of Captain Arnold is so ordered.” As a result, the city filed an appeal. The appeal hearing is WHITEHEAD FAMILY PAGE 2A
Youngsters get tour of new Orange Fire Station
Two area teachers may face felonies Debby Schamber For The Record
Two area teachers are under investigation for improper relationships between an educator and student. They each could face up to 20 years in prison for the second degree felony. Most recently was a teacher from Community Christian School located at 3400 MLK Drive. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the administration personnel at Community Christian School on Oct. 1 concerning an improper relationship between a 30-year-old female teacher and a male high school student. The accused teacher formerly taught 7th to 10th grade English classes. The reported victim is a former student. The Investigations Division of the OSCO was contacted and investigators obtained information from school district officials and students about the alleged offense. No arrests have been made and no other information can be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation, according to information re-
ceived from the OCSO. “An allegation of inappropriate relations between an educator and student has been made to the school. The educator is no longer employed by the school. This allegation was immediately reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department by the school, and is currently under investigation. We do not have all the details at this time. We are now cooperating and will always cooperate with law enforcement authorities. The safety and welfare of our students is always of the highest priority. No additional statements will be made by the school. This matter is now in the hands of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department,” according to a written statement from Community Christian School. Expected to be turned over to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office this week, is the case involving a Little Cypress-Mauriceville Junior High School teacher who is also under investigation for charges of an improper relationship between educator and student. Concerned friends of the TEACHERS PAGE 3A
The Presbyterian Day School PreK were recently treated to a tour of the new Orange Fire Station. The children each received firemen hats from the Orange Fire Department during the field trip and an up close view of the latest fire fighting equipment in the new facility. The children were, left to right, Emma Williams, Henley Kalena, Tyler Seals, Logan Anderson, Kyler Pancardo, Paxton Oldham and Harper Hunt. Standing arevZachary Moore, Tanner Cloud, Jay Mason Delk. RECORD PHOTO: Angela Delk
Nichols meets with educators Staff Report
For The Record
Senator Robert Nichols (RJacksonville) recently met with local superintendents from Orange County with a purpose of discussing education issues in preparation for the 83rd Legislature which convenes in January. “The Legislature faces many challenges this session, and we cannot make good decisions unless we are listening
closely to those we represent,” Nichols said. “Education is and always will be one of the most important issues we face NICHOLS as a state.” Nichols said the meeting went “very well” and was “productive” as they discussed not only the problems but solutions. Much of what was discussed during the meeting
with Orange educators is what is on the minds of other superintendents across the state. According to Nichols, most of the conversation was dedicated to the testing such as the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness which replaced the TAKS during the 2011-12 school year. The TAKS had been given for the previous eight years. Nichols said the superintenNICHOLS PAGE 2A
Orange woman has new outlook on life after cancer
Debby Schamber For The Record
Vicki Brackens, 50, of Orange, was always very health conscious and usually went for her yearly mammograms and annual exams. But, like most women, she got caught up in everyday life of two children in college and grandchildren when she found a lump on her right breast. Brackins was laying on the couch watching TV in March 2009 when she found the hard lump on the right side of her breast. She usually did her self breast exams in the shower, but when she realized it had been awhile, she felt the urge to do what she had put off. Although the lump was small, in the back of her mind, she knew it was something that didn’t belong in her breast. It was later determined the small tumor was 1.3 centimeters which is the equivalent of a fingernail. She knew she had to call a doctor because it was also painful. Initially, she panicked but thought it couldn’t possibly be cancer since
“chronic information.” the horrible disease did not Brackens would then folrun in her family. low-up with a surgeon who Brackens thought she was suspicious of the results would wait until her next and recommended a scheduled appointment in a lumpectomy. Lab tests refew months to discuss it vealed it was indeed cancer. with her doctor. Her friend The following week she had said not to wait and took a mastectomy of her right the initiative to quickly call breast and 18 lymph nodes a gynecologist . As a result, removed. Three of the reshe was able to get an apmoved lymph nodes tested pointment immediately. positive for cancer. According to Brackens, “Recovery was difficult at the doctor initially thought first,” Brackens said. “I was it was a cyst and ordered a scared about what my future ultrasound. The image Vicki Brackens, 50, was showed a “spider-like” pic- diagnosed with breast cancer was going to hold.” She began to question if she ture. She then was told to get in March 2009. was going to be around to a mammogram for a better picture. Once the mammogram results were watch her “grandbabies” grow up. Brackens admits, “I cried a lot.” returned, she was told to get a biopsy and to But, she says she woke up one morning “not wait, but get it soon.” The following day she had a biopsy and her worst fears would with a new revelation and outlook on life. “I knew I was going to be OK,” she said. come true. The results of the biopsy read,
Brackens endured 16 weeks of chemotherapy and took the drug Herceptin to aid in her recovery. She lost her hair, but it is growing back. To make sure her numbers were low, Brackens initially had blood work done every three weeks to check on her antigens but since then she is no longer required to do frequent tests. In July she had her other breast removed as a preventative measure. “Because of my history, I just wanted it removed,” she said. Brackens is in the process of taking her life back and is undergoing breast reconstruction by having a tissue expander where her breasts once were located. “It’s painful, but worth it and I’d do it again,” Brackens proclaims. She will have another surgery in December, which this time she will come home with breasts. Now more than three years later, she still BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR PAGE 3A