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H H H H H YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 52 No. 15 Week of Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960
Synthetic drugs still a problem in county Debby Schamber
very severe paranoia which can sometimes cause users to harm themselves. Reported effects have included suicidal thoughts, violent behavior, confusion, chest pain and possibly death. The speed of onset is 15 minutes, while the length of the high from these drugs last four to six hours, according to the CDC. Before the drug became illegal to possess, users when pulled over would tell the offi-
For The Record
Synthetic drugs are not as common as they once were in the city of Orange, but narcotics officers are still seeing people in possession of the once popular drugs. According to Robert Estrello, narcotics officer for the Orange Police Department, suspects caught with less than one gram of the illegal drug, bath salts, can be charged with a state jail felony. The amount of time a suspect can receive, “goes up from there” if they are caught with more of the dangerous drug. A recent arrest was made after a TABC (Tobacco Alcoholic Beverages Commission) officer went to a convenience store in the 300 block of Lutcher Drive. They opened a door during their investigation and stumbled upon a large amount of synthetic drugs. As a result, after further investigation, the store owner was arrested, according to Estrello. The white powdery substance has many street names such as Purple Wave or Vanilla Sky but it’s still the same - Bath Salts. Short term effects include
BCLL fall ball registration scheduled Bridge City Little League 2012 fall baseball and softball registration (for children ages 5-15) will be held 6-8 p.m., July 23, 24, and 26 at the BCLL board room. Cost is $100 for the first child, $50 for additional children. For coaches applications and more information go to www.bcll.org.
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Inside The Record
• SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................1B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........3B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................8B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................9B
cers they actually had bath salts. Tests at the scene would indicate it was cocaine, but it wasn’t until it was sent to a lab that it could be confirmed as bath salts. It was in October 2011, the DEA published a final order in the Federal Register to control three of the synthetic stimulants used to make bath salts. Under this order, the synthetic stimulants are designated as Schedule I substances under
the controlled substances act, according to the DEA. The drugs come from the Houston area. But, they have been sold in all areas of Orange County, Estrello said. Synthetic marijuana is also a problem in the area as most often it is seen at convenience stores and not sold by drug dealers on the street since most drug users would prefer SYNTHETIC DRUGS PAGE 3A
Bridgette Gearen During a recent investigation synthetic drugs were discovered at a convenience store located in the 300 block of Lutcher Drive. As a result, the owner of the store was arrested on felony charges.
BCCC awards Gibbs as Record employee Staff Report
For The Record
The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce presented Nicole Gibbs as their July Employee of the Month at the monthly networking coffee held at MCT Credit Union, 4837 South Highway 87. She is the business manager at The Record Newspapers and has received many words of appreciation for her dedication and helpfulness by numerous people. The Record Newspapers, the County Record and the Penny Record newspapers, are Orange County’s largest circulated publication. Each week 20,000 copies of the papers are distributed free to households and businesses throughout the county. The newspapers, and the web site TheRecordLive.com are entirely advertiser supported. Locally owned and operated since 1960, The Record, like most small businesses in Orange County, is built on the foundation of employing local people. The entire staff at The Record are Orange County residents with various skills in newspaper and internet news production and advertising. Like most locally owned businesses, the revenue that supports The Record also provides jobs while keeping local dollars here in Orange
Nicole Gibbs, business manager of The Record Newspapers, was named the “Employee of the Month” by the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce. She was presented an plaque by Bridge City Chamber Ambassador Shirley Zimmerman at the Chamber’s monthly networking coffee at MCT Credit Union on Tuesday.
County. Gibbs is one of those local employees supported by advertising revenue bringing Orange County news to The Record readers each week. Gibbs is a central figure at The Record. By title she is business manager, however, in the two years that she has been with The Record staff she has worked in every as-
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office still working to solve murder Debby Schamber For The Record
Bridgette Gearen, 28, of Orange, like many single mothers wanted to escape the rigors of everyday life and when she got the chance headed to the beach with family and friends. But, her July 2007 weekend getaway turned out to be deadly and a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Gearen and her daughter, who was 2 years old at the time, had driven to Crystal Beach to spend the night with friends in a rented beach house on Monkhouse Road. The area is commonly known by locals as “The Zoo.” Just before midnight the group decided to go for a drive on the beach such to watch the surf under the stars. Gearen left her daughter in the care of others who decided to stay behind. She walked out the door never to be seen alive again by those who loved the young woman with bubbly personality. When she left she was wearing typical beachwear of a red halter top and blue jean shorts on her five feet three inch and 110 pound frame. A few minutes later the group of people would also go outside for their ride on the beach, but Gearen was nowhere in sight. They searched all around the area, but she was gone.
Bridgette Gearen, pictured with her then 2 year old daughter, Kyra, was viciously raped and murder at Crystal Beach in July 2007. Investigators are still diligently working to capture her murder.
After several hours, her friends became worried since they knew she would not be separated from Kyra for such a long time. So, they called the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. By early morning, campers on the beach found her beaten and partially clothed body near the water’s edge.
It was later determined the beating was very brutal as she fought for her life. In addition, she was raped before being strangled. An autopsy would further reveal she was beaten with a blunt instrument. Her head and face suffered massive BRIDGETTE PAGE 3A
BCCC PAGE 2A
BC Council approves property zone changes David Ball
For The Record
The Bridge City City Council had a full slate of zone changes to either approve or disapprove at their regular meeting on Tuesday night. First on the list was a request from the Planning and Zoning Commission for a zone change for Michael Wilson from R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to a C-2 (Second Commercial District) on property located on West Roundbunch Road. The property is 2.446 acres across FM
20-foot space that would 1442 from Common be adequate. The city Ground Church. The approved a 25-foot easefrontage is 304.3 feet. ment for the property. The east side of the The next zone change property is 300-feet approved was from R-1 deep. The west side to C-3 (Third Commeradjoins the back of the houses on the east side ROCCAFORTE cial District) on property located behind the of Charlotte Street and 319.10-feet deep. The back Chicken Express Restaurant side adjoins the remainder of on Texas Avenue. The propWilson’s 18.479 acres and is erty is 2.405 acres . City Manager Jerry Jones said the prop406.14-feet wide. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte said erty will be used to build a the city could allow 50-foot townhome. The council also approved right-of-way or green zone from the back area of the the following properties for a property. Wilson requested a called joint public hearing on
August 7: · A request from Don Breaux for a proposed zone change from R-1 to C-3 on a portion located at 835 Center Drive. · A request from Jalmar and Linda Dixon from R-1 to R-2 (Low Density Residential District) on property located on Ferry Drive. · A request from Louis Miller from R-1 to R-2 on property located on Ferry Drive and Meadowlawn. The council approved awarding the bid for proposed sewer plant improvements in connection with the Texas
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program between the city and the Texas General Land Office. Jones said these are funds left over from Round I funding in the amount of $1.194 million. The contractor has included all alternate bids in the contract. The funds will go for the upgrade of pumps, motors, valves, painting, etc. Jones also reported ongoing street projects and pipe bursting have slowed down due to rain, but should soon be back on schedule.
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