BEST FISHING IN TEXAS
SPORTS NEWS
Kaz’s Korner
OUTDOORS WEEKLY Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 4B
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1B
Page 1B
LOCAL SCHOOL NEWS See Page 6B
H H H H H Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1958 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Vol. 54 No. 3
Week of Wednesday, April 23, 2014
OC Veterans Service Good news: flood Officer fired from job law will help BC David Ball
For The Record
David Ball
For The Record
Gene Smith, Veterans Service Officer for Orange County, was terminated from employment at a lengthy regular meet-
BC resident appeals for help
Steve Bisson, a 1974 Bridge City High School graduate, is on a waiting list. A waiting list for people that can’t wait, but still have to. He knows the folks at St. Lukes are working really hard to find a liver to transplant into his body. But now he is not only running out of time, but also, running out of money. Steve has to drive back and forth to Houston all the time for his medical needs. He has no one to help him and now he cannot afford to pay his doctor bills. Please, if you can donate to help Steve, go to Firestone Credit Union where an account has been set up under Steve Bisson.
H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page................ .....9A • CLASSIFIED ADS Page.......................7B
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Gene Smith adderesses Orange County commissioners upon his firing on Monday. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball
ing of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court on Monday afternoon. Carl Thibodeaux, county judge, informed Smith the laws of the State of Texas do not require to give a reason for cause of termination, though Thibodeaux said Smith “blasted” the commissioners’ court on his Facebook page. Thibodeaux added Smith also called the commissioners a “kangaroo court” on his page. Smith said the commissioners and judge had met together to discuss county business outside of the commissioners’ court meeting. Thibodeaux replied it is not a violation for the three commissioners to speak together. The commissioners
will place hiring a new Veterans Service Officer on their agenda at their meeting on April 28. In other county business, the court approved the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to accept an awarded armored Caiman Multi-Terrain vehicle from the Texas 1033 program. Sheriff Keith Merritt said this program provides military surplus equipment to law enforcement agencies at no cost to the OCSO or the county. This armored vehicle will be used in extreme emergency situations where the officers and citizens safety is of the utmost imporCOUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
VSO statement in reply to termination David Ball
For The Record
Gene Smith, Veterans Service Officer for Orange County, was terminated from employment at the regular meeting of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court on Monday afternoon. No reason was announced for the termination. The following is some of the abridged pertinent points Smith delivered to the court in a prepared statement in response to the commissioners court.
1. When the veteran service office asked to be put on the court docket to replace an employee who left the county, it was very odd that the request to hire a replacement was one item below (Precinct 4) Commissioner (Jody) Crump’s request to adopt a no-hire clause with a six-week waiting period. 2. After this motion was passed, (Precinct 3 ) Commissioner (John) Banken made a motion to require that a hiring committee be commissioned to hear requests for manpower VETERANS SERVICE Page 3A
The city of Bridge City recently received some good news- some really good news. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte said federal legislation passed through amending the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 will give relief to residents of the city on flood insurance rates by reinstating the grandfather clause and subsidies. “The Pre-FIRM (prior building) elevation needs to be at least eight feet in base flood elevation. If it’s nine or 10 feet, the homesteads will get better rates,” Roccaforte said. “Most of Bridge City is over the eight feet elevation mark. It stays with the property, however, not with the person.” The Biggert-Waters Act enacted the actual rates per property, he said. For instance, some properties escalated 400 percent, from
Bridge City Mayor Kirk Roccaforte
$1,200 a year to $8,000 a year. “Property values would hved plummeted,” Roccaforte said. He cited his son’s property as an example. He has a nine foot elevation, but it went from $700 a year to $4,800 a year. FEMA came out with new floodplain maps for the city at the end of last year. The new rate maps have been appealed and most of the city
has been taken out as a most preferred area. “Eighty percent was not in the flood zone (under the old map). Now, 80 percent of the city is in the flood zone,” he said. The city has also hired an engineering firm out of Cameron, La. who has been successful in the past in revising rate maps. The appeal from the city was made December 24, 2013. FEMA signified in February they received the appeal. Roccaforte said, however, it may be May 2015 until FEMA will act on the maps. “A coalition was formed in the bay area of Houston. It’s been a great thing,” he said. Roccaforte added the National Flood Insurance Program affects many cities along waterways nationwide. Bridge City officials would make conference calls to coalition members every Friday NEW FLOOD Page 3A
OCSP Rodeo ready to ride Debby Schamber For The Record
The Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo has been an annual event for over 60 years. This year, however, has a change to it. The rodeo will be held during the beautiful Spring month of April rather than the usual hot and dry month of July. Yet even though the dates have changed, it still should be another fun and exciting rodeo for everyone. Lue Harris is a member of the OCSP. She says the rodeo will start at 8 p.m. on April 2526 at the rodeo arena on Highway 105 near Highway 62. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. The rodeo is operated by SYJ Productions. Shane Young is the promoter. Negative coggings is required. The rodeo is sponsored by Chad Harvey’s Precision Hydrovac Excavation, LLC and the OCSP. Events will include junior bull riding, break away roping, tie down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding. Special events are: calf scramble, lamb scramble for children 12 and under, a ribbon run, open calf dressing,mutton busting for ages 6 and under, area firefighters doing a steer saddling, and something new
Bull riding competition is a highlight of the OCSP Rodeo that takes place this weekend. RECORD FILE PHOTO: Larry Trimm
this year- lamb chop dressingarea school cheer leaders dressing a lamb. Each of the special events is free of charge and prizes will be awarded. Harris said $1,000 will be donated each night of the rodeo to the winners for their cheer leading programs. The rodeo, additionally, is the main fund-raiser for area scholarships. Area high school seniors apply and write an essay in hopes of securing a scholarship. Three to five are given to the seniors.
There will also be entertainment, clowns, vendors and a full concession stand. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Amateurs and semi-professional cowboys will be competing in the events. The OCSP president if Becky Rhoden and Gus Harris is drill captain. “All the members worked hard and worked together,” Harris said. “It’s always a good rodeo.” For more information on events, contact Jamia Harris at 409-233-7641.