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Vol. 52 No. 52
Distributed Free To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Strike affects more than Firestone Debby Schamber For The Record
The United Steel Workers Union, Local 13-836, representing 130 hourly employees, are on strike against Firestone Polymers located at 5713 FM 1006 in Orange. More than 50 people were at the gates of the plant on Monday afternoon while two of the workers held signs and paced back and forth across the driveway. According to Richard “Hoot” Landry, USW in-
O’field student to attend Naval Academy Staff Report
For The Record
The U.S. Naval Academy invited a select group of approximately 2,550 young men and women from around the nation and abroad to attend the Naval Academy Summer Seminar program this year. Tr i s t a n Dunn, a student at DUNN Orangefield High School, will participate in the 2013 U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar program. Summer Seminar teaches prospective applicants about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training are key elements in developing
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ternational staff representative., it is against the law in Texas to “mass picket.” Therefore, the workers must take turns carrying the signs. The last time workers picketed was in 1993. A driver in a United Parcel Service truck refused to cross the picket line Monday to deliver a package because his company was unionized as well. As he drove away, he gave the workers and thumbs up and wished them luck. There are two main reasons why they chose to strike which are health care and wages, Landry said. Both sides were able to resolve many issues, except for health care and wages. Firestone wants to make major changes in its health care offerings by shifting more of the health care costs onto the employees. It wants to change the existing PPO plan by tripling the cost of the out-of-pocket deductible for individual and family coverage and reducing the percentage it will pay of
Joey Cormier and Norman Joseph take their turn holding the picket signs in front of Firestone Polymers located in FM 1006 in Orange. The workers went on strike to protest their current proposed contract which would change their insurance costs and a two percent wage increase. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
Porky puckers for teacher’s kiss Debby Schamber For The Record
The staff of Bridge City Elementary recently had an extraordinary way of raising money for the American Cancer Society which involved a pig and ruby red lips. Jars were set out in the school for a week with the contestants pictures on them. The contestant’s jar which collecte the most money would win the prize of kissing the large, hairy, black pig. The actual kissing of the pig recently took place one morning in front of the staff and students. The top two contestants were so close in the amount of money collected, with only $6.70 between them, it was decided they would both kiss the pig. Ann Cupp,
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Kelly McBride, plants a kiss on the pig to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Kelly McBride, principal, and Ann Cupp, school counselor, of Bridge City Elementary win the honor of kissing a pig in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society
school counselor and Kelly McBride, principal, were outfitted with a sash and crown. But, the pig kissing would not take place until they had the finishing touch of bright red lipstick applied to their lips. The crowd cheered them on as they put their lips on the big hairy beast, but after all, it was for a worthy cause.
BC’s Clint Ray writes romance novel Penny Leleux
For The Record
Clint Ray has always wanted to write a novel. Last October, he published his first book, “Love, Finally.” It’s a romance written from a man’s perspective. “The idea came to me and I just went with it,” he said. As a woman, it felt slightly “off” or skewed. It is just a matter of the way men and women view things differently. The old “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus,” point of view. The primary readers of romance novels are women. This could be a primer for women on how men view love. It will give them the opportunity to learn a little “Martian.” “I’ve gotten a lot of good comments and reviews from
health care costs after the deductible is met, according to information from the USW. The company has proposed a consumer-driven health care plan that has low premiums, but out-of-pocket deductibles that are six times higher than what the workers are paying today. Workers would pay more of their health care costs after the deductible is met. Firestone also wants the union to give up its right to bargain over changes in the health care plans. Local 13-836 members are concerned about their health care costs because they are exposed to highly hazardous chemicals and work in a dangerous environment. They are more likely to need medical care because of their workplace exposure. The workers want the right to be able to negotiate their co-pay amounts, deductibles and premiums on their insurance plans. However, the insurance company is not new to Firestone, since the corporation has been using the plan, but Orange has not had the same program. “What we are saying is that we want the right to sit at the table and achieve a fair deal,” Landry said. Their other source of contention was the amount of the annual cost of living raises which is two percent. The an-
Clint Ray
women saying they wanted to see it from a guy’s point of view, and they enjoyed that aspect of it.” Ray is a good storyteller. The synopsis from the back of the book states: “Cash Collins has a life most guys would envy: a successful career,
money in the bank and a highrise apartment with a glamorous view of New York City. His good looks, quick wit and smooth tongue attract women like bees to honey- until a onenight stand prompts him to reevaluate everything and realize how empty his life is. “With the goal of finding a woman to love, Cash vows to change his ways. Just as he bids a final farewell to his playboy lifestyle, Cash encounters Marie Daniels, a stunning brunette from Texas-who also happens to be married. “Despite his promise to himself and her commitment to her husband, Cash and Marie are immediately drawn to each other. As both of them fight their feelings and attempt to move on with their lives, neither has any idea that Cash is about to receive devastating
news that will change everything.” Ray received a call Tuesday from a publisher wanting to pitch his book to producers for a possible made for TV movie. With his first book under his belt, Ray is working on his second, “The Reason.” He expects to be finished with it sometime this summer. Ray said it could be considered romance, but it goes a totally different way. It will also be based in New York. When Ray completed “Love, Finally” he researched different methods of publication and had some offers from small publishers, but decided to go the self-published route because of the royalties and he retained all rights. “Love, Finally” can be ordered online from Amazon, Barnes and Nobles.
OC grand jury indicts on murder charges Debby Schamber For The Record
The Orange County Grand Jury recently returned indictments for two people on two separate incidences on charges of murder. One of the indictments stem from an incident in November 2012 when Curtis Allen Garrison, 26, was located by Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputies at another residence in the 15000 block of FM 1442 in the Mauriceville area and was detained without incident. It was later learned this was his parent’s GARRISON residence. Initially, there was a report of shots fired in the 5600 block of Woodside in Vidor. When deputies arrived on the scene they found the victims, Aaron Conn, 34, and Summer Conn, 30, dead at the scene. Both victims appeared to have sustained gunshot
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