Everybody Reads The Record

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Dickie Colburn: Fishing See Page 1B

Cooking with Katherine See Page 8A

East Team All-Stars Win Page 1B

The       Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 51 No. 10 Week of Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960

BCISD names King as lone candidate Nicole Gibbs For The Record On Monday, June 13, the Bridge City School Board officially announced the lone finalist for the BCISD Superintendent office. Michael King, 45, from Longview, was chosen late Sunday night to be the new Superintendent for the Bridge City School District. He is currently the Director over Federal Programs for the Longview Independent School District in Longview, Texas. “It was unanimous,” said Mark Anderson, BCISD School Board President. “We

interview many folks and we had the best pool of candidates that the region had to offer at this time. He stood KING out in his leadership abilities and he looks like the best fit for our school district and where we’re at right now. He’s just a great fit.” King received a Bachelors of Science Degree in biology from Stephen F. Austin University(SFA) in 1988, a Master of Education from SFA in August 1999, a Mid-Management Certification from SFA in April 2001 and his Su-

perintendent Certification from SFA in August 2006. He initially went to college for pre-medicine but decided to go into education instead. “I wanted to really be a part

H

of kids’ education,” King said. “Unfortunately, teachers are not paid for what they are worth. It is one of the professions where you’re paid in goosebumps and that’s one of

the things I truly believe make teachers special.” Education is something that King has known for his entire life. He grew up in a house of educators. His father was a

teacher/coach, principal and superintendent; his mother was a first grade teacher; and even his grandfather was a suBCISD SEE PAGE 2A

Hometown Boys Lead East Team To Victory H

Ellender celebrates Father’s Day by honoring son

Orangefield Bobcat Logan Moss shakes hands with famed UT Longhorn fullback Steve Worster of Bridge City during introduction ceremonies of the East vs. West All-Star Football Game at Lamar University on Saturday. Worster was honorary captain for the East Team and Moss played defense. East defeated West 20-13 in the second annual event. For story and additional photos see Section B. RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn

Drought threatens to snuff fireworks Bootcamp graduation: Kirk Ellender pins decorations on his son, Micah’s, Army uniform at his Bootcamp Graduation.

Darla Daigle For The Record From the day children come into the world and begin to carry a piece of their parents’ hearts around with them, they are molded and shaped them into the vessels parents hope they become. It isn’t uncommon that all the while they are molded they are also being shaped to walk

Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................1B • Kaz’s Korner Joe Kazmar...........4B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B

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out the door and leave. This is a natural progression of growing up. For one Bridge City man this Father’s Day will be very different from any other he has experienced. Kirk Ellender will celebrate this Father’s Day with one child talking up arms in a dangerous providence of Afghanistan. A soldier, Micah Ellender or “Big Mike” as he is called these days, is walking in harms way with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team with the 25th Infantry of the U.S. Army serving in Zabul Province of Afghanistan. Kirk has been a long time resident and active community leader along with his wife, Brenda, in Bridge City for several decades. All of his three children attended and graduated from Bridge City High School where he has also been a member of the school board serving as its president for three separate seasons. He was a ‘father’ to dozens of children when he and Brenda owned and operated a day care her parents built as well. A stop by his current office where he is financial advisor with Edward Jones leaves no doubt that his priority of being a father is one of his most vigilantly sought after treasures. Photos of family adorn every wall. There is a price to be paid for raising independent children. This is not to say there isn’t pride and boasting but it costs in hours of sleep and testing of faith. Kirk and Brenda are also membership pastors at Triumph Church in FATHER HONORS SON PAGE 3A

Nicole Gibbs For The Record The burn ban and fireworks were some of the major topics at the regular session of Orange County Commissioners’ Court Monday. Parts of Orange County have reached the highest level on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. Jeff Kelley, Emergency Management director, advised commissioners to keep the burn ban in effect. The county is 16-20 inches short of rainfall this year. Kelley said the county hasn’t seen drought conditions this severe since 2000. Several people from the fireworks industry came to speak before the court this week since commissioners banned aerial fireworks at last week’s court session. Jaime Peltz representing Joe’s Hogwild Fireworks asked the court not to place a total ban on fireworks. She said fireworks are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to Peltz, fireworks are tested for safety “to make sure they are not the fire hazards people think they are.” She stated it is the misuse of fireworks that causes fires. Peltz said closing the short window of sales opportunity is very detrimental to not only fireworks stands but also area organizations. Volunteers man their booths for a percentage of the sales. She also said there is an additional two percent sales tax on fireworks in Texas that goes into a fund specifically for volunteer fire departments. “All they have to do is apply for these benefits.” Joe Daughtery, President of Texas Fireworks Association said less than 1 percent of

fires are from fireworks. He asks them to just prohibit use before they prohibit sales and use. “As of right KELLEY now, I don’t mind telling you, the judges, there’s not a single one of us that wants to pass a total ban,

including myself,” said Thibodeaux. “That’s like banning ice cream and apple pie in America.” But, Thibodeaux did say he was going to keep a close eye on the situation. Beaumont VA to help with veterans Because of vacancies that were created in the Veteran’s office by last week’s dismiss-

Thibodeaux said that vets needing immediate action can pick up their files and take them to the VA clinic in Beaumont. Thibodeaux said the Beaumont office had agreed to see Orange County veterans that need to be seen right away. “The veterans are being patient about it. A few are COUNTY BUSINESS PAGE 2A

Orangefield homecoming promotes local history Penny Leleux For The Record Attendance was down at the 63rd annual Orangefield Homecoming Saturday.als, “There were a lot of other things going on today,” said Mary Nixon, a member of the organizing committee. Nixon said she spoke to several people that had other commitments Saturday. She also speculated the economy and price of gas may have affected the number of out of town alumni present. Mary Nixon and A.G. Shepherd are members At the peak of the event there was close of the organizing committee for the annual to 100 in attendance. Orangefield Homecoming. The low turnout was visible on the food RECORD PHOTOS: Penny LeLeux tables. Usually there are three sets of tables full of food; one for casseroles, one for vegetables and another for desserts. There was plenty of space available on the casserole and vegetable aisles, but there was no lack of desserts. Former Orangefield Superintendent Robert Montagne greeted the alumni and Ron Hutchison said grace. During the meal Bo Henley gave a slideshow presentation of the project to move the two remaining oil derricks in Orangefield to the Cormier Museum for preservation. “We lost nine after the last storm, including the famous one, the Christmas Mann LeBlanc and Bennie Cotton visited at ORANGEFIELD HERITAGE 3A

the Orangefield Homecoming Saturday. RECORD PHOTOS: Penny LeLeux

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