H H H H H YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 52 No. 02 Week of Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960
FEMA changes ‘disturbing’ to county
David Ball
For The Record
Texas first to get oil spill funds Staff Report
For The Record
Texas is the first state to confirm a deal to spend settlement money from the Gulf oil spill for long-term coastal conservation, the Associated Press reports. Working with a private nonprofit to cut through red tape and buy 80 acres of prime habitat for endangered whooping cranes. A three-way deal calls for MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC, a partner in the ill-fated offshore well, to give $2 million to the Texas Nature Conservancy, which will use it to buy a tract of coastal land where whooping cranes spend the winter. The nonprofit will then give the property to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
A company’s request to proceed with its geophysical operations was tabled at the Orange County Commissioners’ Court at their meeting Monday afternoon. John Hoke with Cimarex Company asked permission to vibe on Four Oaks Ranch Road in western Orange County for oil and gas exploration. The operation would start in August if approved. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jody Crump — where Four Oaks Ranch Road lies within — asked what method of vibing they would use. Hoke said they will be using vibracides and explosives on private property and not on county
right-of-ways. Judge Carl Thibodeau x will have County Attorney Douglas Manning review the matTHIBODEAUX ter and document it before proceeding. “They will be bringing heavy equipment down the road,” Thibodeaux said. Crump added he would like the public notified before vibing started. Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator for the county, recently attended an emergency management national conference in Orlando, Fla. and reported back to the court. He said FEMA will be rein-
David Ball
For The Record
The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce has a new president. Former President Bobby Vincent submitted a letter of resignation on April 2. President-Elect Brandy Slaughter will fill the remainder of Vincent’s term, according to information from the Bridge City Chamber’s board of directors. Vincent too over the presidency from Eric Andrus when he ended his term early.
David Ball
For The Record
Department to be incorporated into Goose Island State Park. The contract with the landowner has been signed and the handover is tentatively set to be finalized by the end of May. The Associated Press was given the details of the deal
He did not give a reason for resigning other than it was not health related. Slaughter said she was surprised by SLAUGHTER Vincent’s sudden resignation since he took over the post in March of 2012. She said her goals as president is to help promote Bridge City businesses while not costing them anything to do so. “I want to do for businesses SLAUGHTER PAGE 3A
An Orange County eating establishment has closed its doors for good. Tuffy’s Eatery at the intersection of Highways 12 and 62 in Mauriceville went out of business last week. The landmark Southern and Cajun food restaurant served the public for nearly 30 years. Opened in 1985 by James and Janet Linscomb, Tuffy’s was named after Janet’s neph-
ew, Donald “Tuffy” Bishop, who worked as the restaurant’s general manager and could often be found in the kitchen or visiting patrons, according to the restaurant’s website.. A centeries old warehouse in Louisiana provided some of the architectural antiques to the interior, including large timber beams dating to 1885. In the summer of 2010, the restaurant entered the next chapter when new owners, TUFFY’S PAGE 3A
TEXAS PAGE 3A
H Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........6B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
how we do things and how we plan things,” he said. FEMA officials told Kelley it would cost the agency more for debris monitoring than to pay for the cost of fraud. In other emergency management business, the contractor
will soon be pouring the concrete roof at the shelter of last resort on FM 1442. Work has begun on the structure’s interior walls. Thibodeaux said Kelley COUNTY BUSINESS PAGE 3A
Slaughter becomes BCCC president
Tuffy’s now closed
Texas will buy 80 acres of prime habitat for endangered whooping cranes.
tegrating its policies such as eliminating debris monitoring funds— funds used by Orange County in the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Ike. Kelley called the action “really disturbing.” “It could potentially change
Tuffy’s Restaurant in Mauriceville is closed after 30 years.
On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set out on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City with 2,224 passengers on board. Above are remnants of the vessel.
Titanic
Historic Tragedy 100 Years Ago Nicole Gibbs
For The Record
I
n a time when Twitter, Facebook and Google weren’t even a forethought, one of the most astonishing tragedies unfolded without the world even knowing. On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set out on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City with 2,224 passengers on board. Her passengers included some of the wealthiest people in the world to emigrants seeking a new life in North America. The ship was designed to be the best in comfort and luxury, with a gymnasium, swimming pool, several libraries and high class restaurants on board. She had advanced safety features such as watertight compartments and remotely activated watertight doors in case of an emergency. Through a series of ill-advised decisions, there weren’t enough lifeboats on board, but no one could see the need for them. The Titanic was thought to be the unsinkable ship. Four days into the ship’s voyage, about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, the ship hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. The collision caused the hull plates to buckle inward in several compartments on the starboard side and open five of the 16 watertight compartments
to the sea. Even though other ships had warned the Titanic of drifting ice in the area, Captain Edward Smith could not “imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.” The ship gradually filled with water over the next two and a half hours. Many of the lifeboats were launched partly full with passengers and crew members. Women and children were the first to board the life boats. Many men (over 90 percent from the second class) and families who chose not to be separated remained aboard the ship. Just before 2:20 a.m., the Titanic broke apart and sank, bow first, into the deep abyss TITANIC PAGE 3A
Earth Week starts on April 17 at Shangri La Jenny Morgan For The Record
Earth Week starts on April 17 at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, Texas. Shangri La will offer programs and informational talks regarding the environment and earthfriendly practices, throughout the week activities, concluding with a two-day celebration at Eco-Fest on April 21 and 22, and a Butterfly Release on Earth Day, April 22, at 2 p.m.
Shangri La opens at noon on Sunday, April 22, and all entry fees (except for Outpost Tours) will be waived for visitors in celebration of Earth Day. “This is an excellent opportunity for the entire family to learn about the importance of being kind to the world and enjoy a day in a beautiful garden and nature center. This year Shangri La will offer more activities for children of all ages along with a greater variety of exhibitors,” says Shangri La Director, Michael Hoke.
During Earth Week from April 17 through April 20, Shangri La will have daily educational excursions and activities that visitors can attend. Space is limited for these activities and a reservation is required. Call 409.670.9799 to make a reservation. For more information about these programs, visit www.shangrilagardens.org. Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Evening Outpost Tour (6 - 7 EARTH WEEK PAGE 2A