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Vol. 52 No. 42
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, January 9, 2012
Horrific crime spree marks 10 years this week Debby Schamber For The Record
This week marks a 10 year anniversary of one of the most “unnecessary” and horrific crimes in Orange County. Walter Wade Rice Jr. was 32-years-old when he began the drug-related crime spree which left two people assault-
Internet scam reaches Orange County Debby Schamber For The Record
Recent scams circulating on the internet have caught the attention of local citizens and police. Bill Willis, a Deweyville resident and employee at the Penny Record, was online when he received an instant message from someone claiming to be Dave Sayer with the Prize Patrol at Publisher’s Clearinghouse. They informed Willis he had won $18,000 for placing second place in the December Bonus Raffle. They also inquired if he was at home for delivery of the check. But, before Willis could receive the check he would have to go to Walmart or Walgreens and purchase a Green Dot card with $385 deposit on it. The person on the Internet then requested his phone number. Willis complied
ed and two dead in January 2003. He remains the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on charges of aggravated robRICE bery and two counts of capital murder, His cumulative offenses leave him with a life sentence. Rice will first become eligible for parole in June 2043 at the age of 72 years old. Rice fled to Orange County after he assaulted and robbed his brother-in-law in Dequincy, La. Within a few days he assaulted and robbed another man. West Orange Police responded to a call at an auto repair shop in response to a 19-year-old man being assaulted and robbed. According to archives, the man was found on the floor of the shop bleeding from a head injury. The victim later told police a man had entered the shop asking for his vehicle to be repaired but was told he would have to speak to the owner about the repairs. The man left the business but returned a short time later. When he returned he struck the victim with a hammer and took his wallet. A witness reported to police a man in his 30s was seen fleeing the scene. He was later identified as Rice. Another witness reported to police he has helped Rice with his vehicle and later dropped him off north of Interstate 10 on Bob Hall Road. After Rice was apprehended he informed police he had gotten onto a train and as the train rounded a curve got off which was near the backyard of his next victims in the Echo Loop area where his crime spree continued. A neighbor had noticed the
CRIME SPREE Page 2A
James Fisette is the newly elected Fire Chief for the Bridge City Fire Department.
Fissette becomes new BC Fire Chief Debby Schamber For The Record
After more than 23 years of serivce to the Bridge City fire department, James Fisette, was recently elected to be the new Fire Chief. Fisette, who has lived in Bridge City his entire life and graduated from Bridge City High School in 1975, started as a junior firefighter in July 1974. He continued working as a volunteer firefighter for about 15 years while also working as a reserve police officer for area agencies. As his schedule became increasingly busy, he was forced to quit the
fire department for about 12 years. But, the love of being a firefighter called him back to service and he has been back with the department for eight years. Following his return he was promoted to lieutenant due to his experience and advanced certifications. He is the current vice president of the Orange County Fireman Association, and the past president of the East Texas Division of the State Fireman and Fire Marshall Association. Fisette was assistant fire chief for two years prior to becoming the chief. He will serve a two-year term as chief. All of
the officer terms are two-year terms. When not at the fire department, his full time job for the past five years is as an analyzer technician at a local plant. “I like doing this,” Fisette said. “It’s my way of giving back to the community.” His wife, Tammi, shares the same passions and works as a firefighter/EMT at the Bridge City fire department. “People have told me to get a hobby,” he said. ‘This is my hobby.” Not all calls in Bridge City have firefighters rushing out to extinguish a blaze. About
75 percent of the approximately 112 monthly calls are for medical issues. The department covers about 90 square miles which includes outlying areas of Bridge City and Orangefield. In addition, they provide mutual aide to other departments when needed. Fisette makes as many calls as he can — even the late night calls. Sometimes those are the hardest, but they still need to be done. After a fire is extinguished, their job as a firefighter is not done. They still
FISSETT E Page 3A
Newly released flood maps unacceptable
INTERNET Page 9A
Debby Schamber For The Record
H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Jerry Jones, Bridge City city manager, studies a map in an effort to reduce the amount of property in the floosd zones. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
Homeowners, renters and business owners in Orange County are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions. Orange County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are presenting the preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use the information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and how the community should move forward with any development. Jerry Jones, Bridge City city
manager, has been studying the new maps and is working to reduce the amount of property in the flood zone. “There is substantially more areas in the flood zone with the new map,” Jones said. Bridge City officials are going to appeal the way the map has been put together. They feel the map has changed dramatically because of the information used following Hurricane Ike in 2008. “That’s just not acceptable,” Jones said. The storm is said to be an uncommon event which has not previously occurred in nearly 100 years. The historic storm left only 16 houses out of about 3,800 unaffected by the storm.
NEW FLOOD MAPS Page 3A
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