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County Record The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas

Vol. 52 No. 36

Week of Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Arnold case to get new hearing examiner Debby Schamber For The Record

In a final order, it has been ruled there will be a new hearing examiner for a second arbitration hearing for former Orange Police Officer Robert Arnold. According to City Attorney, John Smith, the case was remanded by the American Ar-

Toilet Paper Tea hosted by hospice Debby Schamber For The Record

The Southeast Texas Hospice will host their annual Toilet Paper Tea from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 13 located at 912 W. Cherry. People attending are asked to contribute items such as toilet paper, cleaning and office supplies or make a monetary donation to help support the hospice so that other funds collected can be used to benefit the clients served. In addition, for a donation of $10 a person can purchase a dove with their loved ones name on it for the dove tree. “Anyone can purchase a dove with their loved one’s name on it, they don’t have to be a patient,” said Renee Droddy, of the Southeast Texas Hospice. “Some people come annually to participate and have their loved ones dove placed on the tree.” Hospice is for patients who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of one year or less as certified by their physician and are referred by a friend, family member, social service TOILET PAPER PAGE 3A

H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................8A •Dicky Colburn Fishing....................5B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........6B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................9A • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B

bitrators Association and there will be another hearing examiner chosen to reside over a second hearing. ARNOLD Leroy Bartman, the hearing examiner during the first hearing in May 2011, had “exceeded his jurisdiction” and made his decision “void” when he made a ruling for Arnold to be reinstated to his job. Bartman stated Arnold was not given due process which would allow Arnold to be reinstated on the technicality. Cash insists Bartman did not follow the facts of the case before he made his ruling. The city of Orange filed an appeal of the decision and in October Smith argued the case before Judge Elizabeth Ray. In November, Ray made a ruling and the city won the appeal. As a result, both sides would have to ”start from square one” and undergo an

arbitration hearing once more. However, Arnold’s attorney could also file an appeal disallowing the change to a new hearing examiner. Smith said he will wait to see what the next step will be. He added he does not know when the new hearing will be conducted. Arnold was discharged from his job at OPD following an incident in July 2010 when he shot and killed 28-year-old James Whitehead of West Orange. Whitehead had gone to the O’Reilly Auto Parts store on 16th Street to return a part for a pickup truck he was attempting to repair. However, the clerk refused to allow the return on the part. As a result, Whitehead became angry and began cursing. An employee of the store call 9-1-1 for assistance in the matter. Arnold who was off duty and also a customer at the store reportedly told WhiteARNOLD PAGE 3A

Tradition continues with Senior Citizens Supper Debby Schamber For The Record

A 36-year-old tradition continues this week with the Mauriceville Senior Citizens Supper. The Mauriceville Elementary School cafeteria will be transformed into a “Winter Wonderland” at 5 p.m. on December 8. All past and present Mauriceville residents 55 and older are invited to come join the fun. Attendees will be served a Christmas dinner with “all the trimmings” and Santa Claus has a gift for each person. Entertainment will be the Martin Family who will sing gospel music and Judge Derry Dunn will be the Master of Ceremonies. “Come early to have a cup of coffee, reminisce with old friends and take a trip down memory lane with 35 years of Senior Citizens Supper pho-

tos,” said Nelda Burton, co-organizer. “Who knows, you may see a picture of yourself in one of the many photos?” Mary Jane Johnson, Patsy and Orey Viator, Roger Holsomback and Burton are just a few of the many volunteers who have kept up with the idea of “Cha-Cha” Holsomback. The supper was once a dream of Cha-Cha Holsomback’s about 34 years ago. She wanted to do something nice and as a gesture of gratitude for the senior citizens of Mauriceville. At first she thought of hosting the supper at her house but as the number of attendees grew she knew she was going to have to find another location soon. Kid’s Cafe became the next best place to have the dinner. With the ever-increasing number of people coming to the supper, the cafe became too small as well.

Kathy Bell-Schexnaider, advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, holds a cross made to honor her husband who was killed by a drunk driver in 1991.

Wreck brings back bad memories Debby Schamber

For The Record

W

hen 29-year-old Thomas Bell was in a recent wreck, he told the officer at the scene, he had called his mother, Kathy Bell-Schnexnaider, and “she is MADD.” What the officer later found out, was Schexnaider is the local advocate for 12 counties, including Orange County, for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and the statement her son made had double meaning. “Mom, I’ve been in a wreck,” he told his mother over the phone. For both of them, this statement was filled with emotion since Bell’s father, Lawrence, was killed by a drunk driver in 1991. The driver of the vehicle involved in wreck with Bell is suspected of driving drunk too. Formal charges are pending with the results of a blood test. Schnexnaider quickly got dressed and headed to the wreck site.

“The only saving grace was that it was Thomas calling me instead of a trooper,” Schexnaider said. She added, it would be one of her biggest nightmares to be like the mothers of her victims who had that knock at the door or a phone call from law enforcement to tell them of their loved ones being killed on the highways. Bell and his girlfriend were coming back from Moody Gardens and were traveling on Highway 73 and County Line Road in Winnie in a four-door Mercury sedan. As they traveled down the roadway, Bell said he saw a pickup to his left and took it for granted it would stop at the two stop signs before entering the highway. Suddenly he heard his girlfriend say his name and in a split second he realized what was about to occur and veered left to avoid a direct hit to the driver’s side door. Instead, ADVOCATE FOR MADD PAGE 3A

SENIOR CITIZENS PAGE 3A

Orange County sailors remember Pearl Harbor Nicole Gibbs

For The Record

Imagine a beautiful sun rise on the Island of Oahu. It’s a peaceful Sunday morning with the ocean waves rolling up on to beach. It was quickly labeled as one of the darkest days in American history. What makes it worse is that the U.S. government knew that an imminent attack was coming. On Dec. 7, 1941 at approximately 6 a.m., 183 Japanese planes took off from six aircraft carriers 230 miles north of Oahu. This was just the first wave that would hit Pearl Harbor. At 7:02 a.m., two Army operators at a radar station on

Navy Seaman 1st Class Joseph Rougeau served on the USS Medusa.

Pearl Harbor survivor Cedric Stout served on the USS Utah.

Navy Seaman McKinnley Bland served on the USS Salt Lake City.

Oahu’s northern shore detected the fleet of planes approaching. It was disregarded

because several American B-17 planes were expected to come in from the U.S. west

coast. At 7:15 a.m., 167 more Japanese planes take off and head

for Pearl Harbor. This was the second wave. The naval base was not put on high alert because the senior commanders felt that there was no reason to believe an attack was imminent. Aircrafts were parked wing tip to wing tip. Anti-aircraft guns remain unmanned and ammunition remained locked up. Also, there aren’t any torpedo nets protecting the fleet anchorage. Given that it was a Sunday, many officers and crewman were ashore. At 7:53 a.m., the first wave of Japanese planes reached Pearl Harbor. The battle commences. “It took us a while to wake WWII VETERANS PAGE 2A

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