H H H H H YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 52 No. 3 Week of Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960
BC firefighters honor volunteers David Ball
For The Record
DEA and local law agencies take back unwanted medicines Staff Report
For The Record
Local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 at Northway Retail Center at 3700 N. 16th St. in Orange.. Residents may bring their medications for disposal to the location. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds— nearly 500 tons—of pills. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines— flushing them down the PRESCRIPTION PAGE 7A
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The calls never let up for the personnel of the Bridge City Fire and Rescue. For instance, they received a call about a fire in Orangefield at the beginning of their annual banquet Saturday night at the fire station. Chief Brent Morse said the BCFR, which also part of the Orange County Emergency Services District #2 that covers Bridge City and Orangefield, responded to 1,300 calls last year. It’s because of that dedication that the department held their annual banquet for the firefighters and recognize them. “This shows we appreciate our volunteers,” Morse said. “They spend time here day and night away from their families and risk their lives. This banquet keeps up their morale.” Lt. Mike Garza, consequently, was named as 2011 Firefighter of the Year at the ceremony. Garza began his acceptance speech with the famous quote by baseball player Lou Gehrig, “Today, I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.” “I’m very fortunate to receive this award because of all the people who are eligible for it. They all deserve it. We all love it.,” he said. “When you love something, you never work a day in your life.” The 20-year veteran firefighter thanked his family for their support, his brothers and sisters in the department, and the good leadership of the department. “We received some much needed apparatus and equipment. We have good training and our young firefighters are eager. We do this for the pride, not the pay,” Garza said. In addition to naming the firefighter of the year, James Fisette was named Officer of the Year, Ramona Hanks as Medic of the Year and Lieutenant of the Year, Joe Gilbert. One sad note for the departBC FIREFIGHTERS PAGE 7A
Mike Garza has been named 2011 ‘Firefighter of the Year’ by Bridge City Fire and Rescue. Pictured are Garza and Chief Brent Morse.
Assistant Fire Chief James Fisette receives the 2011 “Officer of the Year’ award from Chief Brent Morse.
Ramona Hanks accepts her plaque as 2011 ‘Medic of the Year’ during the Bridge City Fire and Rescue annual banquet on Saturday.
Norma Ballard received her 20-year pin and a bouquet of flowers as a fire department volunteer. RECORD PHOTOS: Mark Dunn
BC council discusses housing project Mike Louviere For The Record
The first order of business at the Bridge City council meeting Tuesday night was the issuance of two proclamations by Mayor Kirk Roccaforte. The first was to proclaim April as “Sexual Awareness Month” in Bridge City. The second stated that the week of April 22-28 would be designated as “Crime Victims Week.” Cindy
Fertitta received the proclamations and gave a presentation about recognizing potential problems with children possibly being victims and how to properly deal with the children and any problems that may be discovered. There was a standing room only group of citizens that were in attendance to discuss and question the proposed Acadian Village project. Tom Neyhart of Endgame Develop-
ment, LLC, was at the workshop to try to explain the project and answer questions and concerns about the project. There is a ROCCAFORTE great deal of opposition to the project from citizens that are concerned that the housing complex will not be beneficial to the community. There is
Bridge City improving infrastructure
David Ball
For The Record
The city of Bridge City may be able to save some taxpayers’ money by using a method to repair manholes rather than having to replace them. City Manager Jerry Jones said the city has been using a method that sprays concrete in manholes to prevent leaking. Thus far, the city has repaired 55 manholes and replaced 60 manholes that couldn’t be repaired. The process has been around for about 15 years. “It’s a pretty common process (repairing the manholes). Some use a fiberglass lining or other methods. We received mud from the storm into the
holes of the manhole covers that went into the sewer lines we cleaned out,” he said. Juan Moreno of Lewis Concrete Restoration of Buda said the machine is called the Spray Master and sprays three inches of concrete to the walls of the manhole. “We spray it and we stop the leaks after that. We make sure everything is sealed,” Moreno said. He said it takes him and his crew about two hours to repair a manhole. They planned to repair at least 10 in Bridge City on Tuesday. Another Orange County Crews repair a manhole in Bridge City Tuesday morning by spraying city may be interested in the three inches of concrete on the walls to prevent leaking. This methBRIDGE CITY PAGE 2A
od of repair is less expensive than replacing the manhole. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball
concern that the project will be federally funded and will deteriorate in the manner of some of the current HUD and Section 8 projects in the area. Neyhart explained that the project will receive tax credits to offset construction costs and as an incentive to build the project. He explained that the project is not a HUD or Section 8 project. Prospective residents will be subjected to criminal background investigation, credit checks, background checks for drug use and conviction. No one convicted of a felony will be eligible to rent an apartment in the complex. “We are going to check the backgrounds on all of our applicants. We do not want anyone in the complex that will not be a good citizen for Bridge City. We do not want anyone in our complex who does not pay their bills,” Neyhart said. “All of the residents will have to pay all of their rent. No one will get any federal rent subsidy or any kind; they have to bear all of their expenses.” He explained that he wants to build a quality project. There will be granite counter tops as opposed to laminate counter tops. Each of the apartments will have a full range of appliances in BRIDGE CITY PAGE 7A
Strutters host 25th Anniversary reunion David Ball
For The Record
For some, being a Bridge City Strutter is a multigenerational type of thing. For instance, Jana Lyons was a Strutter in the 1980s. Now her daughter, a sophomore, followed in her footsteps and
is a Strutter at Bridge City High School. “My daughter is a Strutter. She’ll be trying out for officer. As a little girl she saw the Strutters perform, she said, ‘Momma, I want to do that.” To honor that tradition, the Strutters will be hosting a 25th reunion barbecue for
all Strutters Forever, former Escorts and former Bootsters from 10 a.m. until on Saturday, May 5 at the Bridge City Community Center. The celebration will also include the Spring Revue, starting at 6 p.m. on May 5 at The Lutcher Theater where the Strutters Forever will be per-
forming and be recognized. The Cardinal Singers, drama class and jazz band will also perform. Cathy Riley has been director of the group for 15 of its 25 year existence. “We have a lot of former students coming and some live all over the place. Our escorts
will dance in the show too. James Guest danced. He can do hip-hop and popping. He taught himself. He danced on a big birthday cake (prop) and we won nationals that year,” Riley said. The Strutters won nationals
• Award Winning Hometown News
STRUTTERS PAGE 7A