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Sports

FISHING ORANGE COUNTY

Caroline Brewton

Commentary Kaz’s Korner

Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1B

Evy’s Cajun Kitchen

Feature Columnist For The Record Page 2A

Page 2B

See Page 7A

The     Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 56 No. 39

Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield

Week of Wednesday, January 14, 2014

BCCC awards Messer, Nickum for service David Ball

For The Record

There was a changing of the guard on Monday night for the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce. The chamber hosted the Taste of the Bayou 55th Annual Banquet at the Bridge City Elementary School on January 12. The 2014 Citizen of the Year, the 2014 Business of the Year, the 2014 Ambassador of the Year were presented as well as the introduction of the 2015 chamber president. The outgoing president, Lucy Fields, and

ambassador chair, Scot Shaffer, also made some parting remarks. S. “Mark” Messer, DDS, of Advanced Dentistry, was named as 2014 Citizen of the Year. Messer, son of Shannon and Thelma Loreen Messer, graduated from Silsbee High School in 1965. In December of 1967 he married Rebecca Flag and they have three children: Marcy Messer Hudson, Marion Messer and Jeremy Messer and one grandson, Kaden Messer. Dr. Messer was a corpsman in the Navy. He completed aviLucy Fields presented S. Mark Messer, longtime Bridge City Dentist, with the Citizen of the Year award at the Taste of the Bayou annual Bridge City Chamber of Commerce Banquet Monday at the Bridge City Elementary.

Bill Nickum was presented the Business of the Year award Monday by outgoing Bridge City Chamber of Commerce President Lucy Fields. Nickum owns the State Farm Insurance Agency located on Texas Avenue.

Incoming President Scot Schaffer presents Elyse Thibodeaux with the Ambassador of the Year Award. Thibodeaux is now the president elect. RECORD PHOTOS: Penny LeLeux

BCISD extends gratitude to school trustees Larry Johnson For The Record

January is School Board Recognition Month and Bridge City ISD is joining other districts across the state to thank these local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for our children and public schools. “Even though we are making a special effort in January to show appreciation to our board members, we realize their many contributions reflect a year-round commitment. They generously give of themselves to ensure that decisions directly affecting our local schools are made by representatives of this community, people who are close to our schools and know our teachers, parents, and students,” said Mike King, Bridge City ISD. “As elected officials, they are the voice of their communities, serving first and foremost in the best interest of Texas schoolchildren.” “Board members shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices. Their ultimate goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district,” King said. “It’s more important than ever before that the com-

munity supports public education so that today’s students are prepared to be productive citizens and the leaders of toKING morrow. Our board members provide vision and leadership in their roles as advocates, and they will continue to stand up for public education and guard against anything that takes away from our children or undermines our public schools,” he said. Board members serving Bridge City ISD and years served are: Mark Anderson 10 years, Kirk Ellender 15 years, Thad Hill eight years, Lon Hubbard 15 years, Michael Johnson four years, Jerry McInnis eight years, and Rebecca Rutledge 18 years. “Our district benefits from the tireless work and countless hours contributed by these local citizens who work without pay. Please help us thank these dedicated volunteers for their efforts to make a difference and their unfailing commitment to the continued success of our students now and in the future,” he said.

Dryden Ferry on the Neches River was replaced by the Rainbow Bridge in 1937.

BC before bridges Dryden Ferry spanned Orange and Jefferson counties

Mike Louviere For The Record

A bridge across the Neches River between Orange and Port Arthur was just a far fetched idea when the Dryden Ferry began operating across the Old River Cove portion of Sabine Lake. One source places the ferry operating as early as 1913. There were no highways only shell roads, and crossing the marsh to get to the shore of the lake was a major engineering project.

The strip of water that runs alongside present day Lake Street was originally a canal dug so that a pile driver mounted on a barge could drive pilings for the base of the trestle bridge that would become one of the longest wooden bridges in the south. Hundreds of telephone pole pilings were driven into the mud. Eight inch by eight inch creosoted timbers were bolted to the pilings and then four inch by eight inch stringers were DRYDEN FERRY Page 3A

ation medical school finishing his naval career in 1969. He attended the University of Maryland, Lamar University and Baylor College of Dentistry, graduating in 1975 with his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in only five and-a-half years. In 1975, Messer and his family came to Bridge City to start his practice. His father, (who received the citizen of the year award in 1988) owned Shannon Messer Real Estate in Bridge City which also officed the original Bridge City Chamber of Commerce. That office was expanded to include Dr. Messer’s original dental office. He purchased his current location in 1980. This year, Messer will celebrate 40 years of practicing in Bridge City. Dr. Messer has served as a delegate to the TX Dental Society, Bridge City Chamber and Rotary Club presidents as well as numerous other positions. He has participated in Smiles on Wheel,s Dentistry from the Heart- providing free dentistry to anyone needing it and the Cash for Candy program buying children’s Halloween candy for $1 per pound and sent it to troops in Afghanistan who gave the candy to local children in exchange for information. He is a member of the Bridge City Pentecostal Church and enjoys spending time with his family, attending seminars and traveling in his spare time. Messer said during his acceptance speech his wife Rebecca was from Groves. He asked Dr. Michael Olson if he could use some help in his practice. They’ve been in Bridge City ever since. “It’s been a great life,” Messer said. “Brdige City has been the best place to raise a family and now my grandsons are growing up here. Bridge City has done a lot more for me than I’ve done for Bridge City.” State Farm- Bill Nickum Agency was named as the 2014 Business of the Year. Bill and Ellen Nickum came to Bridge City in August 1965 as newlyweds. Ellen accepted a teaching position with BCISD and is presently employed by the district. Nickum received his BBA in Marketing in 1968 from Lamar State College of Technology. He began his career with State Farm Insurance in 1969 BCCC Page 3A

County commissioners to fill vacancies David Ball

For The Record

Personnel issues took center stage at the regular meeting of the Orange County Commissioners Court on Monday afternoon. Commissioners discussed either posting and taking applications to fill vacant department head posts or to hire longtime department employees from within. The department heads are

Mark Wimberley, operations and maintenance department director; Jill Shores, personnel department director, CARLTON and Donna Minter, transportation department director. John Banken, Precinct 3 commissioner, said if applications are taken, they would

have to be taken from all over the United States. David Dubose, Precinct 1 commissioner, he was in favor of promoting from within. Banken said the court should try to promote those individuals in departments. “Many, many have been loyal through the years,” Banken said. “What are the incentives to stay in a department, work there 20 years, and lose out on a top position?” Banken added he realized

there may be someone in the department who is not qualified for the position, but he encouraged commissioners to visit the departments and get to know them. Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, said it’s not an indictment on the county employees. “We have great employees. If our people are the most qualified.....” he said. COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A


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