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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. 56 No. 6

Week of Wednesday, May 21, 2014

BC Council adds more streets for reconstruction David Ball

For The Record

Some additional streets were added to the list to be reconstructed at the regular meeting of the Bridge City City Council on Tuesday night. City Manager Jerry Jones announced the streets of Woodsong, La Mesa, Romero, a block of Gilmer and a block-and-a-half of Short will be worked on using city funds while contractors are still working in the city. Jennette, Calvin, East and West Darby and Billeaux were added at the last meeting on May 6. Jones added crews will be working on these streets for another year. At the May 6 meeting, some residents who live on Jennette,

Vehicle fire under investigation Debby Schamber For The Record

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a “suspicious” fire of a vehicle. In the early morning hours Friday, the Newton County Fire Department received a call about a vehicle on fire near the dam at Toledo Bend Lake. After the fire was extinguished a body was discovered inside the vehicle. The Newton County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene and they launched an investigation, according to Sheriff Eddie Shannon of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. DNA results are pending and are expected to be available near the end of this week. Although it is not confirmed, the body is believed to be that of Justin Martin, a 2011 graduate of Bridge City High School.

Tequila’s owner dies Debby Schamber For The Record

An Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called Tuesday morning to the home of Richard and Carmella Ceja in the Waterwood housing addition on Highway 62. Once the deputy arrived it was discovered Carmella Ceja had a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating to determine the manner of death, said the Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt. The Cejas own the Tequilla’s restaurant in Bridge City.

Mayor Kirk Roccaforte

Nancy, David and Calvin said their streets were left with rock and gravel after street work instead of being re-paved. Residents said vehicles were being scraped by the rocks, flooding was an issue after a pouring rain and drainage was an issue. One resident who resides on Jennette said if her home floods, her insurance company would drop her and she wouldn’t be able to sell her home. “Eighty five percent of our

streets have been redone. This is a one-time opportunity for us. We can either redo these streets or turn the money back in,” Jones said. He said it costs the city twice as much to use hot-mix method to pave streets, so the streets will be paved using the chip-seal method. The streets will be increased four inches in height. In other council business, an ordinance regarding peddlers and solicitors was tabled to allow council members to study the ordinance. City Attorney Paul Fukuda said the ordinance is needed because the city has an interest in protecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens. A provision prohibiting registered sex offenders, those with a felony arrest from the last five years and/or moral turpitude (theft/deceit) can be considered from having a license. Other items to consider is violations of residents on no call lists and no solicitors notices. Fukuda said he hopes the ordinance will have an impact while being sensitive to Constitutional rights. Jones said a need for this or-

dinance arose after door to door vendors were prohibited following the confusion wrought by Hurricane Ike. The ordinance was kept in place to everyone’s liking. He added if there’s a problem with the law, the city needs to address it. The ordinance will not apply to nonprofit groups soliciting on right-of-ways. A workshop is scheduled for the city council on June 3 to discuss the ordi-

nance. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte asked why solicitation cannot be banned within the city. Fukuda said the Constitution will not allow a blanket ban of soliciting. Jones reported prior street work within the city is progressing and sewer work is in its last stages. Danny Cole was selected as mayor pro tem. Richard Savoy

was serving in that position. Roccaforte, Cole and Concilman Robert Simonton along with Jones, Fukuda, and Police Chief Paul Davis were appointed to the 2014-2015 Bridge City Police Association contract negotiations. Likewise, Roccaforte and Councilman Kevin Mott were re-appointed to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee.

Seafood Prices ARE OFF THE HOOK

Early run-off voting underway David Ball

For The Record

With less than a week to go both political parties will know who their candidates will be for the November General Election after the May 27 Primary Run-Off Election is completed next Tuesday. Republicans are the only party who have run-off elections on the local level while both parties have them at the state level. All registered voters who did not vote in the March 4 Primary Election may vote in either party for the run-off election. John Dubose will face Brint Carlton for Orange County Judge in the run-off. Dubose is former Precinct 3 county commissioner. Carlton is a misdemeanor prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Barry Burton is in the runoff election against Ron Cowling Sr. Burton. Burton is an Orangefield businessman and former director on the Mauriceville Municipal Utilities District board and Cowling is a financial advisor and former Pinehurst city councilman. Dr. Brian Babin, a Woodville dentist, will go against Ben Streusand, a Houston area businessman in the run-off to be the Republican nominee for U.S. Representative for District 36. The winner will run against Democrat Michael Cole of Orange in the November General Election. Things heated up in the election when Carlton ran advertisement stating that former Orange County Judges R.L. “Pete” Runnels and James Stringer endorsed him for county judge. Both Runnels and Stringer said they did not endorse Carlton.

“He (Carlton) called me and apologized and said he takes full responsibility for the ad. He said he should had checked it out,” Runnels said. Runnels said he was not personally contacted by Carlton about an endorsement but he was contacted by some of his supporters. Stringer said he met Carlton for the first time the other day. Carlton also called Stringer and apologized about the endorsement. “He (Carlton) could had walked through my door and I would not know him. His father and I have been friends for a number of years, though,” he said. Stringer said two of Carlton’s supporters asked him to attend an event for Carlton. Stringer said he was a staunch Democrat and he couldn’t attend. Dubose believes Carlton ran the ad because he wanted voters to think Runnels and Stringer endorsed him. “I don’t think it was an accident. You can’t un-ring a bell,” Dubose said. He added he doesn’t know if the ad will help or hurt Carlton in the race. The Orange County Republican Party hosted a debate on May 5 for the contested races at the Orange County Convention & Expo Center. On the state level Republican run-off races, Dan Patrick will face incumbent David Dewhurst for lieutenant governor, Dan Branch will face Ken Paxton for Attorney General, Sid Miller will face Tommy Merritt for Agricultural Commissioner and Wayne Christian will face Ryan Sitton for Railroad Commissioner. The only Democratic Party run-off elections are for state

EARLY RUN-OFF Page 3A

Beverly Burk of Orangefield selects shrimp from Willie Larkin at The Shrimp Boat Seafood Market on Highway 62 in Orangefield. Several factors have contributed to prices rising for seafood. Larkin said he hasn’t raised prices to offer quality seafood to his customers. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball

David Ball

For The Record

Seafood lovers may have to pay extra to get their favorites due to several factors affecting prices. Willie Larkin, co-owner with Betty Ricks of The Shrimp Boat Seafood Market on Highway 62 in Orangefield, has an idea why seafood prices, particularly shrimp, are rising. “The shrimp are hard to get now,” Larkin said. “Gas prices have gone up and they

(suppliers) went up on prices. Asia has a virus. They will go up for a long time if they go down.” In a major breakthrough, researchers at the University of Arizona have identified the causative agent behind the mysterious disease that has been decimating shrimp farms in Asia, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations website. The disease, known as Shrimp Early Mortality Syn-

drome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS), has over the past three years caused large-scale die-offs of cultivated shrimp in several countries in Asia, where one million people depend on shrimp aquaculture for their livelihoods. In 2011, the Asian region produced three million tons of shrimp, with a production value of $13.3 billion.

ORANGE TRAIN Page 3A

Bridge City High School has announced the 2014-2015 Strutter Officers. They are left to right: Lt. Kristen Young, 1st Lt. Rachel Hecker, Captain Chassadi Decker, Lt. Raven Cormier and Lt. Cheska Podnewich.

Bearden Law Firm www.beardenlawfirm.net / 116 Border Street, Orange / 409. 883.4501

• Accidents/Injuries • Criminal • Divorce • Child Custody • 18 Wheeler Accidents • Death Cases • Adoptions • Plant Explosions • Credit Card Suits • Dog Bites • Burn Injuries • Brain Injuries • Paralysis (inlcuding spinal cord injuries) • Maritime Accidents

JIm Sharon Bearden, Jr.


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