H H H H H YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 52 No. 6 Week of Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960
Orangefield looks for superintendent David Ball
For The Record
Residents get new hearing on firearm ordinance David Ball
For The Record
One resident said Monday afternoon she wasn’t aware there was a problem in her subdivision where an ordinance was passed at last week’s meeting of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court. The commissioners passed an ordinance dealing with prohibiting the discharge of firearms within the Quail Trails Estates Subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 off of FM 1442. Christina Cornell is a member of the Quail Trails Neighborhood Watch and said she didn’t know there was a no-shoot ordinance voted upon until her neighbor told her. “We’ve had no problems except for the call-outs and they’re already resolved because the sheriff’s department can’t find who did it,” Cornell said. “We have great policing out there. Me and my husband target shoot and we send out letters to the neighbors before target practicing. We live on five acres. We have friends who are police and they shoot there too. We do it the safe way.” She said she heard of a petition circulating in the subdivision related to the no-shoot ordinance, but she never saw one. Cornell then rhetorically asked the commissioners what home owners in Quail Trails are to do if there is a predatory animal in their yard. She added they already call the Orange County Sheriff’s Office when needed. “Is this against our rights as homeowners?” Cornell COUNTY BUSINESS PAGE 3A
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Nancy Ashworth, president of the Orangefield Independent School District Board of Trustees, said the hiring of a new superintendent is the most important job the school board does. The board met for a special meeting Monday night to discuss employment of a superintendent and starting the process. In addition to the board searching, they also want input from the community and from focus groups. A question raised was if the board wanted to hire a search firm to handle the search or perform the search themselves. Philip Welch retired from the district in early
March. He spent over 20 years in the district and he was the superintendent for five years. Kay Karr was named interim superintendent soon afterward. Karr said if they did use a search firm, they should keep costs at a minimum. One search firm, Education Data Solutions, works through the law firm of Powell and Leon which would be a conflict of interest because one of their attorneys is used by the district. Karr then brought up the firm DRD which is doing data analysis for OISD and could also search for a superintendent. Their proposal is $6,500 which is the lowest bid. Ashworth asked if at the
minimum, the district could pay DRD a fee to do background checks and other things to save money. Karr KARR answered they could and oftentimes the firms personally know candi-
dates school districts are looking for. Trustee Jack Smith asked if most school districts use a search firm. Karr answered yes and that was the reason there are so many search firms. The time frame to find a new superintendent is brief — either July 9 or July 16 for the candidate to assume office.
For The Record
Orangefield ISD has announced their 2012 Teachers of the Year. Elementary school teacher Cheryl Linscomb, Junior High teacher Donna Thomas and High School Teacher Jennifer Rumsey. These teachers are also nominated receive the Reaud Excellence in Education Award. This year, Cheryl Linscomb was chosen to receive the award out of many nominations by schools in Southeast Texas. Linscomb, a veteran first grade teacher at Orangefield Elementary School, has been an educator for 31 years, nearly all of them with OISD. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1979 and master’s degree in 1984 from Lamar University. Over the course of her career, she has taught Special Education classes, Kindergarten, and first grade. She has
been a fixture as a first grade teacher in Orangefield since 1981. She has assumed many roles over the LINSCOMB years, most notably as a leader in her grade level. She has supervised five student teachers, and has mentored five first year teachers. The time demands of assisting new teachers are great, but Linscomb has always been willing to help the next generation of teachers get off to a positive start. Her co-workers admire her, former parents and students revere her, and her current principal doesn’t want to know what it would be like to not have her on his staff. She is a true professional in every sense of the word. She was honored with a plaque and a check for $10,000 at a dinner on May 3 at Lamar University.
ORANGEFIELD ISD PAGE 3A
Country mom stays busy David Ball
For The Record
OISD names Linscomb ‘Teacher of the Year’ Staff Report
They decided to shoot for July 1 and use July 9 as a fallback date. Trustee Thad Angelle asked if it was customary to use focus groups. Karr said it was a common practice. Smith said he liked the idea of receiving input from the
Devra Cormeir was recently honored with an award from The Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Area IV in the conservation homemaker category. Cormier cooks, sews, gardens, raises livestock and hunts in addition to helping out with the grandchildren. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
Devra Cormier of Orangefield is one independent and self-sustaining woman. For instance, she can cook, sew, can fruits and vegetables, garden, she knows livestock and she’s involved with rodeo. She was also recently chosen as The Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Area IV for conservation homemaker. “We have seven grandchildren, six girls and one boy. We have two daughters, Karen and Janet. I take the grandchildren to school in the morning and I pick them up from school. I take them home to my house, feed them snacks and let them play. They love the tree house. I enjoy it,” Cormier said. Four of the kids rodeo and Cormier has an arena on their land. They’re also traveling to rodeos every weekend. Cormier cooks everyday because her husband, Bobby, loves home cooking. In fact, she’s been cooking all of her life. “I’m in the kitchen all the time. Everything I cook is good. You can tell by looking COUNTRY MOM PAGE 3A
Seaman named BCCC ‘Employee of the Month’ Staff Report
For The Record
The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce presented Susan Seaman, an employee of Common Ground Community Church located at 1115 W. Roundbunch Road in Bridge City as the Employee of the Month at their monthly Networking Coffee. The May coffee was hosted by Scales Portable Buildings located at 240 Hebert St. in Bridge City, Texas. Susan’s title is Children’s Minister at Common Ground Community Church. The church is only 7 years young and Susan has been in her position since the church was 3 months old. Every Sunday morning and Wednesday night Susan is seen working at the church teaching up to 100 kids at a time. Susan is a part time employee yet puts in over sixty hours a week to make sure that the children’s church has a teacher to teach each Sunday morning and each Wednesday night. And she is also responsible for making sure the teachers have all the materials and they are prepared to teach the kids. Along with working all these hours, Susan is also a mother of two, a wife, and a college student studying to become a nurse. The Children’s Ministry func-
tions well with Susan’s guidance. The children love Mrs. Susan and each can testify of how special she is SEAMAN to them. Susan is an Angel from GOD that is a Godly example to each parent. Working and interacting with children with multiple different personalities, some happy, some sad, some good, and some that are mischievous is a special gift. Susan is just as dedicated to the souls of the kids in her church as she is with her own family. It is not only the 60 plus weekly hours she puts in for only part time pay but it is the heart that God has given her and the heart that she gives to each child that she interacts with. Susan Seaman received a plaque honoring her as the May Employee of the Month sponsored by David Self Ford, as well as gift certificates to The Record Newspaper, Bette’s Gift Shop, Luv Lingerie, DuPuis Tire and Service Center, Sonic Drive-In, Total Impressions Salon, Peggy’s on the Bayou, Trendz, Tiger Rock Martial Arts of Bridge City, David Self Ford and Scales Portable Buildings.
Cardinal Quick Lube of Bridge City held a ribbon cutting ceremony the morning of April 28 for their grand opening. The business served free drinks and hot dogs, gave gift bags and customers could register to win prizes. (BCCC Photo)
Nickum awarded by BCCC David Ball
For The Record
The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce announced that the April Business of the Month is Bill Nickum State Farm Insurance at their monthly networking coffee on Tuesday held at Scales Portable Buildings, located at 240 Hebert Street in Bridge City, Texas. Bill Nickum State Farm Insurance Agency was chosen for their many years of involvement in the community and with the Chamber. Bill Nickum is very committed to helping the Bridge City area fully recover and remain protected from any future hurri-
canes. Besides offering Home, Life and Auto Insurance, Bill also offers Annuities, Health and Disability Insurance as well as other types of financial planning tools. Their Mission Statement is “To help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams.” Bill Nickum began working as a claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance in 1969 and started his own agency in March 1973 in the bedroom of his house. His wife, Ellen, and two daughters served as his staff. Today Bill Nickum Insurance has four licensed staff member that serve the Bridge City area. Between Bill Nick-
um and his staff members they have a combined experience of 88 years in the insurance business. Each member of the team has their own niche making them the ideal office. Bill Nickum states “My staff consists of Donna Gray, office manager, who has been with me for 30 years. She is invaluable to me, she is my “resident counselor” when clients or staff need a helpful or caring ear she is the one they go to. Charlene Wappler has been with me for 10 years and she is my ‘go to girl.’ If I need something she normally can find what I need. Charlene also specializes in my commercial
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NICKUM PAGE 3A