H H H H H Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1958 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 53 No. 45
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Former BC police chief Faircloth dies
Steve Faircloth at his graduation from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. in 1990.
From Staff Reports
Art students acclaimed
For The Record
Steve Faircloth, former Bridge City police chief passed away at his residence in West Orange on Feb. 7, 2014 at the age of 63. A long time resident of Bridge City, Faircloth had been living in West Orange since Hurricane Ike. Steve was the son of the late Lee Scott and Doris Mae Faircloth. When he graduated Bridge City High School in 1969, he knew he wanted to be police chief someday. The reason, he said, wasn’t complicated. “I felt a calling to spend a life of service,” he said. “And what better place to do it than the place you grew up.” He attended Sul Ross and the University of Virginia. Faircloth had graduated the 18 week FBI Academy in Quanti-
Eagles to host pool tourney The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2523, located at 803 N. 28th St. in Orange, will host a pool tournament at 8 p.m. each Friday. The two tables are free Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. Popcorn will be served and a drink special will be offered until 11 p.m. The community is invited to come meet the members of Aerie 2523 and join in the fun. For more info leave a message for Sharon Bodin after 4 p.m. at 886-7381.
H • Obituaries Page.......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page.......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
Bridge City High School student artists Jessica Tinger, Linda Pham, Diana Pham, Caleb Marshall and Wade Howard. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Bridge City and Orangefield students display art in major shows
Steve Faircloth, pictured when he was police chief of Bridge City. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
co, Va. and was a Master Police Officer through T.C.L.E.O.S.E. which is now known as T.C.O.L.E. Steve was also a member of the Bridge City Masonic Lodge. Faircloth started his law enforcement career in 1973 with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, serving under Sheriff Buck Patillo. In a past interview with The Record he recounted that first interview. “I remember it so well because that was the last time we had a real snow here,” he says. “I drove through the snow to be interviewed by the sheriff’s department. Buck kept trying to discourage me by saying, ‘You really don’t want to do this.’ But I was persistent, and they eventually hired me because they realized I was just going to keep coming back.” He spent some time serving under Chief Wilson Roberts in Bridge City, hired with Burns Bobbit as his partner. “That was a time when the government was putting a lot of money into private and public jobs,” he says. “We were hired with some grant money.” After briefly serving with Chief Butch Reynolds in Vidor, he ‘CHIEF’ FAIRCLOTH Page 3A
Orangefield art student Shelbi Haney.
Mark Dunn
For The Record
The art work of several students from Bridge City and Orangefield have been selected to be on display in the Museum of Southeast Texas in Beaumont beginning Feb. 20. The work of the local senior artists were selected from 121 entries from throughout the area in the 28th Annual Protege Competition and Exhibition. Only 21 pieces were chosen by jurors to be displayed at the museum. The art of Bridge City’s Caleb Marshall, 17, Linda Pham, 19, Jessica Tinger, 17, and Orangefield’s Shelbi Haney, 17, will be on display in the museum Feb. 20 March 23. The Opening Reception and Award Ceremony will be held when the art goes on show Thursday, Feb.
Orangefield High School student artists Dell Burns, Thanh Tsan, and Joseph Winfree.
20, at 6 p.m. The first place winner will receive a four year scholarship to Lamar University for $350 per semester and $225 gift certificate for art supplies. Marshall’s work “Memories From The Past,” Pham’s “The Year Of The Horse,” and Tinger’s “Behold The Ripples,” earned them the honors. Representing Orangefield High School, Haney’s “To Kill A Humingbird” was also highly ac-
claimed. Bridge City High School will also have three students whose art has been selected to be shown at the 2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, March 4-23. Once again the work of Linda Pham will be on display after winning a Gold Medal. Her sister, Diane Pham, a sophomore, received Best In Show. BCHS senior Wade Howard, 17, also received a Gold Medal.
In addition the art work of three Orangefield High School students will also be on display at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Thanh Tsan won Best of Show. Dell Burns and Joseph Winfree were Gold Medal winners. The students will be awarded trophies during the School Art Presentation on Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m in the Hayloft Gallery in the Reliant Center.
OC takes bids on mobile home with title Debby Schamber For The Record
Orange County Commissioners voted Monday to finally get rid of a county owned mobile home located on the corner of Border and Polk Streets. The trailer was obtained following Hurricane Ike to be used as temporary office space. After county buildings were rebuilt the mobile home
was vacated and remained on county property. Commissioners thought about relocating it, but were unable to find Thibodeaux a solution. Orange County Judge Carl Thibodeaux remarked the city of Orange has called him daily about moving the mobile home since the area is not
zoned for that type of structure. In the end, commissioners voted to pursue a title for the mobile home and once it is obtained it will be put up for bids and sold. Other action taken by commissioners included a payment to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab in the amount of $182,670. This is an annual payment. According to Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt, this payment is for much needed ser-
vices which is not available in Orange County. Commissioners approved travel for the County Clerk, Karen Vance and her employees to attend educational conferences throughout the remainder of the budget year. The funds used will be from the dedicated funds instead of the travel education and registration seminars funds. Also, approved by commissioners was permission to hire a replacement driver in the
Transportation Department. Two bullet proof vests will be donated to local agencies. Tommy Smith, who retired from the OCSO in January will be able to take his vest with him for his new job at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, a former reserve deputy will take his vest with him to his job in Pinehurst. Merritt said this is not uncommon and the sheriff’s office has plenty of them to allow for the transfer.
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