FISHING AND OUTDDORS
BEST FISHING IN TEXAS
SPORTS VIEWS
Kaz’s Korner
Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 3B
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1B
Page 1B
National Dance Day See Page 2A
H H H H H Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1958 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 56 No. 15
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, July 23, 2014
There’s a new top dog in Orange County David Ball
For The Record
Monday afternoon’s Orange County Commissioners’ Court meeting went to the dogs. Not really, but commissioners did approve an agreement with Hill County Dog Center for the purchase of a new police K-9 for use by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The cost of the K-9 will be $13,200. The purchase money will be paid out of OCSO forfeiture account. The new K-9, Striker, will replace Shadow, the K-9 who will honorably retire on July 31, according to Sheriff Keith Merritt. Merritt said he determined Shadow can no longer perform its law enforcement functions due to medical reasons after
nine years of faithful service to the citizens of Orange County. Cpl. Russell Hall has been Shadow’s sole handler durMERRITT ing the K-9’s service life. Hall will take possession of Shadow and care for him the remainder of his life. Both dogs are Belgian Malinois. “This is the typical age they (K-9s) retire,” said Merritt. “It’s his hips which is common for big dogs and for dogs who do police work with the running and jumping. It’s called hip displacia.” Some of Shadow’s duties
throughout his career included apprehending suspects in wooded areas to protect the deputies and drug seizures. Striker is still completing his preliminary training and Merritt hopes he and Hall will be compatible as partners to work as a certified team. “We’re hoping he’s the dog. They’re getting affiliated with each other. We’re pretty sure he’ll be the one,” Merritt said. Hall also has prior dog handling experience from the military before he joined OCSO in 2005. Merritt said he handled dogs for 14 years as a constable before he became sheriff. “You’re constantly with them. They’re like you’re family because they live with you,” he said. “I still miss it. I’m jealous
(of other K-9 handlers) because I love working with the K-9s. They are extremely smart animals with a keen sense of
smell.” Merritt said there will be a press conference in the near future introducing Striker and
the retirement of Shadow. In other county business, COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
Bassmaster Elite returns David Ball
For The Record
This is a tale about the one that didn’t get away. The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce together with the Stark Cultural Venues are proud to announced the return of Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at a press conference on July 17 at the chamber’s office. The first tournament was held March
The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce together with the Stark Cultural Venues are proud to announced the return of Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at a press conference on July 17 at the chamber’s office. The first tournament was held March 2013. The tournament will be held March 19-22, 2015 at the Orange Public Boat Ramps off of Simmons Drive.
BCISD to host community forum Bridge City ISD would like to invite all Parents and Community members to a Community Meeting on Thursday July 31st at Bridge City High School Cafeteria at 6:00 pm. This Community Meeting will be for the discussion of a potential Bond Election for the construction of an Academic, Fine Arts and Athletic Facility as well as renovations to existing facilities. This is an important meeting as we work together to promote the continued success of our students at Bridge City ISD.
H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page...................... 4A • Obituaries Page.......................6A •Dicky Colburn Fishing...................1B • CHURCH NEWS Page................ ......5B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................6B
2013. The tournament will be held March 19-22, 2015 at the Orange Public Boat Ramps off of Simmons Drive. There are eight elite tournaments during the year, said organizer John Gouthia. Todd Faircloth won the last tournament in Orange with 49.6 total pounds. He also won $100,000 in prized money. The tournament will be aired again on ESPN and The Outdoors Channel. “We’re glad to have the Stark Culture Venues with us again,” Gouthia said. Ida Schossow, president of GOACC, said there were 1,142 motel rooms booked for last
time. “They’ll be here the Sunday before that (the tournament). All of hotels were all full. It was great for the community. BASS usually doesn’t come back to back.” There will be additional events this year including music concerts for Thursday night as well as for Friday night. There will also be a possible 5K run, a fish tank, sponsored by Gopher Industrial, for kids to catch fish all four days of the tournament, a carnival, food vendors, a shuttle bus and a fireworks show by Pyrotecnico of Louisiana. BASSMASTER Page 3A
Homegrown harvest offered to public The Orange County Farmers’ Market is open for business every Wednesday afternoon from 2 p.m. until sold out and 7 a.m. til noon on Saturday mornings. Currently there are plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, peppers and purple hull peas. You can also find eggplant, corn, figs, blueberries, pears, watermelons. Baked goods, pickles and eggs are available too. Check it out in the Big Lots parking lot on MacArthur Drive in Orange. Pictured is Jim Fraiser. RECORD PHOTO: Penny LeLeux
Lawsuit moves forward after inmate death Debby Schamber For The Record
Attorneys representing the family members of Robert Montano have filed a lawsuit alleging Orange County employees consciously chose not to ensure that Robert Montano, who is a known mental health patient, received basic human needs, medical and mental health care, food or water. The case is set to go to Federal court in November. In addition, the family along with the attorneys from the Bernsen Law Firm are seeking a temporary injunction to shut down the daily activities of the Orange County Jail. They are awaiting a hearing date. According to Cade Bernsen, they feel the procedures of the jail could put other lives at risk. Not only are medical needs not being met, but inmates who may have psychological needs are not being properly served. According to the petition filed with the court, the incident began around 6:24 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2011, when an Or-
Robert Montano with his family before his death in 2011.
ange County deputy was dispatched to the area of 9974 Bessie Heights Road, following a 9-1-1 call. The caller indi-
cated Montano “was running around in people’s yards and in the roadway, yelling for help, and saying that there was someone chasing him with a gun.” The caller reported to dispatch he did not see any weapons and it appeared that Montano was intoxicated. When the deputy arrived, she noted Montano was standing at the edge of a neighbor’s property, flailing his arms in the air, sweating profusely and yelling. She further indicated that he was foaming at the mouth. Based on her observations Montano was deemed intoxicated to the degree that he was a danger to himself and others. He was arrested and charged with the Class C misdemeanor offense of public intoxication. Upon arrival at the county Jail, a nurse evaluated Montano prior to his acceptance into the jail facility. It was decided Montano would be placed into a medical observation cell, known as the “bubble,” until the booking process was completed. He remained there for five days until his death.
Initially, the plan by the nurses was to simply observe Montano. After two days passed, they allegedly made the decision that Montano was too paranoid and delusional to be checked for vital signs. The lawsuit alleges, Monano was placed in a medical observation cell so nurses could observe his health but covered the windows of the cell with paper. According to the petition, in a statement from a nurse she described Montano as “paranoid.” “He refused to eat, drink or wear uniform clothing. He was constantly screaming.” She also said, Montano stated someone was “going to kill him.” Montano also crawled around the cell on his hands and knees. According to Cade Bernsen, basic needs such as a toilet in the bubble was not available. Montano only had a drain in the cell. A witness reported, “Robert wanted water and when he received it, he threw MONTANO Page 3A