BEST FISHING IN TEXAS Dickie Colburn Page 1B
SPORTS NEWS & OPINION
OUTDOORS WEEKLY Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 7B
JOE KAZMAR
Page 4B
County Record Vol. 53 No. 28
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Family files lawsuit after inmate death Debby Schamber For The Record
Attorneys representing the family members of Robert Montano have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court alleging Orange County employees consciously chose not to ensure that Robert Montano, who is a known mental health patient, received basic human needs, medical and mental health care, food or water. According to the petition
filed with the court, on 6:24 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2011, an Orange County deputy was dispatched to the area of Montano 9974 Bessie Heights Road, following the County 9-1-1 call. The caller indicated Montano “was running around in people’s yards and
in the roadway, yelling for help, and saying that there was someone chasing him with a gun.” The caller reported to dispatch he did not see any weapons and it appeared that Montano was intoxicated. When the deputy arrived, she noted Montano was standing at the edge of a neighbor’s property, flailing his arms in the air, sweating profusely and yelling. She further indicated that he was foaming at the mouth.
Based on her observations Montano was deemed intoxicated to the degree that he was a danger to himself and others. He was arrested and charged with the Class C misdemeanor offense of public intoxication. Upon arrival at the county Jail, a nurse evaluated Montano prior to his acceptance into the jail facility. It was decided Montano would be placed into a medical observation cell, known as the “bubble,” until
the booking process was completed. He remained there for five days until his death. Initially, the plan by the nurses was to simply observe Montano. After two days passed, they allegedly made the decision that Montano was too paranoid and delusional to be checked for vital signs. The lawsuit alleges, Monano was placed in a medical observation cell so nurses could observe his health but covered the windows of the cell with
paper. According to the petition, in a statement from a nurse she described Montano as “paranoid.” “He refused to eat, drink or wear uniform clothing. He was constantly screaming.” She also said, Montano stated someone was “going to kill him.” He also crawled around the cell on his hands and knees. INMATE DEATH Page 3A
St. Paul Episcopal celebrates 150 years Honey Bears Bulls and Barrels Rodeo Oct. 26 The Little Cypress Mauriceville Honey Bear Drill Team will hold their eighth annual Bulls and Barrels Rodeo, at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Cowboy Church of Orange County Arena, located at 673 FM 1078, Orange, Texas. The show is open to those wishing to participate in bull riding or barrel racing. Other events will include mutton busting (sheep riding) for younger cowboys and cowgirls. Rodeo contestants wishing to enter should call Brittney Wacasey at 817-253-3042. The rodeo is open to the public and admission is $5 per person. The Honey Bears will facilitate the rodeo operations including registration procedures and concessions sales. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Honey Bear Drill Team program. This event has become an LCM tradition and provides quality family entertainment for residents of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.
H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................8A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page.......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
Debby Schamber For The Record
St. Paul Episcopal Church is celebrating 150 years in Orange. The first church services were in 1863 at the Orange residence of Mr. and Mrs Jerome Swinford where Mrs. Mary W. Trumble lived with her daughter Anna Trumble and son-in-law. These two women were directly responsible for the start of the Episcopal mission in Orange. To honor and celebrate founder’s lives, the church will hold a memorial service 3 p.m. Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery located at 920 Jackson Avenue. As the community grew along with the congregation, they rotated services among member’s houses. By 1868 regular weekly services were held for the small church. Around 1880, Mary Trumble donated land at 4th and Main streets. She obtained gifts of lumber from the local saw mills and the small church was built on the site. A pipe organ was installed in 1880 and the congregation occupied their first chapel. The congregation continued to meet there until 1897 when it was destroyed by what is called the “great storm.” Everything was lost, except their faith. They lost their records and other contents, but remained steadfast through it all. They would rebuild again,
Hillbrook Estaste residents discuss housing complex David Ball
For The Record
There will be celebration for the 150th anniversary for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Sunday. Morning prayer will be at 8 a.m. followed by the Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. There will be a coffee hour and visitation between services. There will also be a luncheon following the services. RECORD PHOTO
but this time at 6th and Main Streets. St. Paul’s struggled to survive during the next few decades. During the war, Orange began to expand with the shipbuilding industry. As a result, the number of members grew too. The processional cross, brass altar cross and communion candle holders were purchased at this time. An English bell was placed in the belfry as a memorial to all the men who died in World War I. Church leaders and members rejoiced when the church officially became a parish in ST. PAULL Page 3A
The location of one proposed public housing project drew a crowd Tuesday afternoon at the regular meeting of the board of commissioners of the Orange Housing Authority. The first public hearing was held on the proposed development of the Arthur Robinson II unit on Sikes Road off of North MLK Drive. Residents from nearby Hillbrook Estates gave their comments on the project at the public hearing. There were also public hearings on the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and other available funds for affordable rental family rental housing in the development of Pine Grove and Velma Jeter. Most of the comments made were not in support of Arthur Robinson II being built in the neighborhood. One resident believes the project takes from the rich and gives to the poor and he wanted to know why the
project could not be built on Simmons Drive or expand the Pine Grove project on Park Street. He was concerned, too, there would be an increase in drug trafficking from residents at the complex. Commissioner Patricia Coppage replied there are requirements for living in the affordable housing units and drugs are grounds for eviction. Commission president Michael Combs also answered the resident and said funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development set rules where the money may be spent. He added the OHA would lose out on millions of dollars for affordable housing if it was turned down. Coppage said a federal lawsuit determined low income housing cannot be built only in prior low income areas. The OHA originally wanted to build on Burton Road, but HUD directed them to build on Sikes Road.
“This (Hillbrook Estates residents’) comments are close to NIMBY which means Not In My Back Yard and that is illegal,” Coppage said. Another resident voiced the opinion the Arthur Robinson residents are “too lazy to help themselves” and they never had the initiative to help themselves. He also believed some residents received rent-free housing. He thought funding would be better spent on education and job training. Combs replied he wouldn’t let comments at the public hearing be insulting and the majority of the Arthur Robinson residents are employed who receive a lower rent, but not free rent. The resident completed his comments to Combs by saying the city should focus on rebuilding properties still damaged by Hurricanes Rita and Ike, possibly through a bond election. “Who gave y’all the auHOUSING COMPLEX Page 3A
Linda Garrett: Mammograms save lives Linda Garrett was shocked when the doctor told her she had breast cancer in 2006. “I never had any symptoms,” she said. Breast cancer did not run in her family, but she always cautious of the deadly disease since her father had prostate cancer. A history of breast cancer in the family leads to an increased risk; however, breast cancer is still diagnosed in
women with no family history, according to breastcancer.org. One in seven women who live to age 85 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and if detected early the fiveyear survival rate exceeds 95 percent success. In addition, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women ages 40 to 45. This year more than 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 women will die.
Garrett hadn’t missed a mammogram appointment and still doesn’t miss her annual Garrett exam. At the time, she qualified for the Gift Of Life program for underserved women in need of a mammo-
gram. “I didn’t think I would qualify for the assistance,” Garrett said. “I am so glad I went — it saved my life.” Mammograms are among the best early detection methods for breast cancer, yet 13 million women 40 or older have never had a mammogram. A mammogram is a low dose x-ray examination that can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is large
enough to be felt. For Garrett, the mammogram showed a small growth in her breast. “I probably wouldn’t have detected it myself since it was very deep,” Garrett said. Garrett said she had no visible lumps or symptoms. She was sent to UTMB-Galveston for additional testing and a biopsy. Tests confirmed it was MAMMOGRAMS Page 3A
1.866.270.2898 DavidSelfOrange.com 1601 Green Ave. Orange Tx