Everybody Reads The Record

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FISHING

HUNTING

Rare disease  found in Texas

SPORTS

The Best On The Coast

BC All-Stars Take On Texas

See Section B

See Section B

See Section 4B

H H H H H YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 H H H H H

The       Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 52 No. 16 Week of Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960

Rain postpones rodeo, new event added uled for the third weekend in July, which is this Friday and Saturday, but frequently has had to be postponed due to weather the last couple of years. It will begin at 8 p.m. on the new date. This year’s main rodeo sponsor is David Self Ford. Events include: bull riding, Jr. bull riding, team roping, lamb scramble, calf scramble, steer wrestling, tie down rop-

Penny Leleux

For The Record

A decision was made by the Orange County Sheriff Posse Tuesday evening to postpone the annual rodeo that was scheduled this weekend due to rain. The committee met at the arena to evaluate the situation. “The new date; Aug. 24 and 25 and that’s a Friday and Saturday night. That is the weekend prior to a lot of the area schools starting, so our goal is to promote this as kinda the last summer hoorah with families before starting school,” said Jamia Harris, spokesman for the posse. “Nothing else has changed. All the same events will take place. We’re still promoting the ribbon run, the calf scramble, the lamb scramble for the kids and the calf dressing as well.” The Orange County Sheriff Posse Rodeo is the largest rodeo held in Orange County, drawing over 2,600 spectators annually; one of the highlight events in the county. The rodeo is always sched-

ing, barrel racing and mutton busting. A negative equine infectious anemia (EIA) test result is required. SYJ Productions, owned by Shane and Jodi Young will provide the livestock for the rodeo. SYJ provides livestock for most of the area rodeos. The book will be open Aug. 20, the Monday before the rodeo. The 50-60 that have already

signed up for the rodeo will need to re-sign at that time. Those interested can call 409745-1471 to pre-register for rodeo events or sign up that night. Another fun event is the calf dressing. Participants have to chase down a calf and put clothes on them. It is always good for a laugh or two. To participate in calf dressing, contact Sharon Patton at 409-

781-1181. A new event this year is the ribbon run. It is sponsored by Orange Savings Bank. “We wanted to have an event that was for adults who aren’t competing cowboys. We have 10 events. Fun things for them to do, the lamb scramble and the calf scramble and that type of thing but, we found RODEO PAGE 2A

Family, friends gather to remember Brigette Gearen

Debby Schamber For The Record

A press conference was held at the Galveston County Sheriff’s sub-station Sunday morning to mark five years since the day Bridgette Gearen, 28,of Orange, was murdered. To the packed room, family members spoke of the woman they loved dearly. In a show of support they each wore a small pink silk rose pinned to a small piece of paper which said, “Our

Angel Bridgette.” As the meeting continued the roses were passed out to everyone. Tommy Hansen, lead investigator in the case, would begin by stating this day was the same day of the week and also a windy, stormy day. It was very much reminiscent of the day when deputies were called to the scene on Monkhouse Road in Crystal Beach. Eager to get away from her BRIDGETTE GEAREN PAGE 3A

Lutcher Stark High Class of 1962 50th reunion The Lutcher Stark High School class of 1962 will hold their 50th class reunion from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Sunset Grove Country Club in Orange. Friday evening will be a casual get-together. Saturday will be their main event, with a business-casual buffet dinner, program, visiting, dancing and music by Jim Dunaway. For more information, please contact Sally Ragland Townsend, sjrt62@earthlink.net.

Inside The Record

• SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................1B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........3B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B

BCISD names ‘The Record’ to honor roll The daughter of Bridgette Gearen, 7-year-old Kyra, reads a statement telling how much she misses her mother who was murdered in July 2007. Standing beside her is her maternal grandmother Pamala Kinball. Watching the grieving family members is Tommy Hansen, lead detective in the case. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber

Judge leads by example for jury David Ball

For The Record

When Judge Buddie Hahn of the 260th District Court in Orange County received his jury duty summons notification he did what every citizen ought to do- he served. He was in the jury pool on Monday morning in Judge Coutrney Arkeen’s 128th District Court for the start of a sexual assault case. Hahn, however, was excused from jury duty because he was too familiar with the case. “I’ve got a notice to appear just like everyone else. The county has been insistent on

HAHN

people appearing and going after people who don’t show up. Judges are not exempted by law. It wouldn’t be fair,” Hahn

said. The case was originally assigned three weeks ago in Arkeen’s court. The defendant didn’t appear and a warrant was issued for him and his bond amount was kicked up, he said. “I told both lawyers (the

JUDGE HAHN LEADS PAGE 3A

The Bridge City Independent School District awarded members of the local media with the Texas Association of School Boards 2012 Media Honor Roll. Accepting the honor for The Penny Record and TheRecordLive.com is general manager Mark Dunn seen here with school board president Thad Hill. The Record was awarded for supporting the school district’s mission and goals. RECORD PHOTO: Chris Menard

Blanchard found ‘not guilty’ of aggravated sexual assualt Debby Schamber For The Record

Jamie Blanchard Jr., 24, was found not guilty on charges of aggravated sexual assault Tuesday after a one day trial in the 128th District Court. If convicted of the felony charges he could have faced up to 99 years in prison. The case stems from an incident in September 2005 in which Blanchard, who was 17 years old at the time, was accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl. First called to testify was a former Orange Police Department detective David Vaughn. He testified he took the statement from the sister

of the victim following the outcry of sexual assault. Although the alleged incident occurred in BLANCHARD 2005, the outcry was not made until June 2007. The sister of the victim, Elayah Finster, would testify later her younger sister would tell her of the incident after watching television and she saw a couple engaged in sexual activity. The mother of the alleged victim, Sharon Gilbert, took the stand to tell of the events leading up to the reported incident and what allegedly

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happened afterward. According to Gilbert, Blanchard was the son of her boyfriend of 10 years. Blanchard had moved into the household in July following a falling out with his mother. During his stay, he slept on the couch in the den. The victim slept on futon in the living room. Gilbert testified her daughter would often follow Blanchard around as if she had a “crush” on him. However, the girl dramatically changed her personality and she believed the attitude change was due to the assault. BLANCHARD PAGE 2A

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