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DOWN LIFE’S HIGHWAY

HUNTING AND FISHING

SPORTS VIEWS

Kaz’s Forecast

Roy Dunn Columnist See Page 9A

MUSTANG INSIDER Mustang Football Meri Elen Jacobs Page 1B

Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 5B

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County Record H The Home Of Seattle Seahawk Earl Thomas III H

Vol. 56 No. 27

The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Week of Wednesday, October 22, 2014

County discusses proposed hurricane levee David Ball

For The Record

A protective levee around Orange County took another step in becoming a reality at the regular meeting of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court on Monday afternoon. Commissioners approved County Judge Carl Thibodeaux to sign a right of entry agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of soil borings and cone penetration testing. Bobby Fillyaw, director of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation, reported the pace has picked up on a storm protection system. Plans for a protective levee started after Hurricne Ike hit the area. Fillyaw said a potential area for the levee has been lined out and the Corps needs access to various properties.

Owen Burton, Precinct 2 commissioner, asked if any of the dredging material created by the widening and deepening of FILLYAW the Neches River could be used for the levee. Fillyaw answered a designated spoils areas are needed first but there’s a possibility plans could coincide. Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, asked if this action committed the county to the area or commit it to funding the project. Fillyaw said the majority of the proposed route was selected from the county’s schematic diagrams and they can’t make adjustments once the Corps chooses a route. He added there may be a local match compo-

nent for funding later in the process. “It’ll be well down the road,” Fillyaw said. Thibodeaux said it isn’t feasible to build the levee behind the Orange County Adminis-

tration Building on Sixth Street and a retainment wall will be built there instead. Crump asked if it will take 20 years to build the levee. Fillyaw said that’s a possibility, but the county was three to

five years ahead of schedule because they took the initiative in building the levee. “It’s not an easy process. On January 16 (2015) we’ll have a real good idea the path that lays ahead of us,” he said.

During the open court session, Crump announced there will be a Texas Department of Public Safety mobile unit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West COUNTY BUSINESS‘ Page 3A

BATTLIN’ BEARS CELEBRATE HOMECOMING VICTORY

Early voting underway in General Election David Ball

For The Record

The first day of early voting for the November 2014 General Election seems to have gotten off to a respectable start. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Monday was the first day of early voting. Results from the Orange County Elections Administration office were as follows: Orange- 236 votes cast Bridge City- 289 votes cast Vidor- 253 votes cast Mauriceville- 89 votes cast Mail- 819 votes cast Out of Country- 4 votes cast Total- 1,690 votes cast Early voting locations are: West Orange-Cove CISD old administration building, 505 N. 15th St. in Orange on Monday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.;Sunday, Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. First Baptist Church of Mauriceville, 11540 Highway 12, Monday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bridge City Public Works Building, 220 Nitsche, Monday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Raymond Gould Community Center, 385 Claiborne in Vi-

dor, Monday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 27 through Friday, Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some of the recognizable names at the top of the ballot among various other statewide races are Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis for governor. The lieutenant governor’s race has Republican Dan Patrick against Democrat Letica Van de Putte; Republican incumbent John Cornyn against Democratic challenger David Alameel. There is also a constitutional amendment providing for the use and dedication of certain money transferred to the state highway and to assist in the completion of transportation construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation projects, not to include toll roads. Locally, races that are challenged are Republican Brian Babin, a Woodville dentist against Democrat Michael Cole, an educator with the Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD for U.S. Congress, District 36. Republican Dade Phelan, a broker from Beaumont against Democrat Gavin Bruney, a Nederland anesthesiologist, for State Representative, District 21; Republican incumbent David Bradley, a real estate and insurance agent from Buna against Democrat Kathy King, an occupational therapy assistant from Port Neches, State Board of Education, District 7. Republican incumbent

Ross Smith’s

EARLY VOTING Page 2A

A Night To Remember . . . Above: Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bear cheerleaders, grizzly crew and the student section cheer on the Bears as they win their Homecoming game against the Bridge City Cardinals. The Bears 4-0 in district play travel to play the Jasper Bulldogs 3-0 at Bulldog stadium this Friday night. Right: Ethan Reed and Sophie Braud were named LCM’s Homecoming King and Queen Friday night. RECORD PHOTOS: Ty Manuel (See More Photos Section B)

Bridge City council extends BP agreement David Ball

For The Record

The Bridge City City Council approved a six month extension to the interlocal agreement with the city of Orange in seeking BP Deepwater Horizon restoration funding. The interlocal agreement is in regard to a consulting agreement with Tim Richardson to provide consulting services. City Manage Jerry Jones said their has been movement, but not in the process. “Everyone is still jockeying on the amounts. I suggest we should extend. This is about the regional wastewater plant,” he said. “We’re in a pretty good position.” At the October 14 meeting of the Orange City Council, an agreement was also extended

with Richardson for a six month period for consulting work related to the city seeking Bridge City Mayor BP DeepKirk Roccaforte water Horizon Restoration Funding for a variety of purposes determined by the city including environmental infrastructure improvements. The term of the extension will be Oct. 1, 2014 and expire on April 1, 2015. The monthly invoice of $4,000 monthly and $48,000 annually as approved in the original agreement. In other city business, the Bridge City Council approved

a resolution supporting passage of a Texas State Constitutional Amendment for the November General Election. The resolution provides increased funding for highway maintenance and construction. Jones said the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission asked the city to support the resolution. “It’s a way of ensuring there’s money for annual maintenance for state highways. The funding was cut by the federal government,” he said. In the city manager report, Jones said crews are still working on the street program, working on shoulders and shooting rocks. Crews are also finished installing flush-outs on more than 22 dead end lines. He added this will help with the recent brown water prob-

lems in the city. Furthermore, the flood insurance appeal related to new FEMA maps is still ongoing. The council adopted an ordinance amending the city’s personnel policy. Jones said the language in the policy was addressed and some issues in the policy not being used. For instance, there’s a section for evaluating employees every year the city does not do. A group recently met and went line by line over the personnel policy. Lastly, resolutions were approved adopting affirmatively furthering Fair Housing Policy and for amending the current Fair Housing Activity Statement-Texas form. Jones said the resolutions are required to receive grants from the federal government.

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