Everybody Reads the Record

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Dickie Colburn: Fishing See Page 6B Cooking With Katherine See Page 6A

Hometown Football

The       Record

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TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 51 No. 21 Week of Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960

Commissioners keep burn ban if effect Nicole Gibbs

For The Record

Jeff Kelley, director of Emergency Management, told the Orange County Commissioners on Monday that the last little bit of rain Orange County had didn’t even register. “We don’t really have any long-term relief in sight,” Kelley said. “Maybe a little bit of rain this Thursday and Friday, but it’s only a 60 percent change of isolated thunderstorms.” Kelley went on to explain

that there were only two counties in the state of Texas that have not yet implemented a burn ban. The Emergency Management ofKELLEY fice is working diligently with the Road and Bridge Department to distribute Burn Ban signs throughout the county. The Burn Ban remains in effect. Veteran’s Service Office

Gene Smith, Veteran’s Service Officer, asked the Commissioners to consider the re-classification of the Benefit Coordinator position to Assistant Service Officer with ef-

fective date of Oct. 1, 2011. “We used to have an Assistant Veteran’s Service Officer,” said County Judge Carl Thibodeaux. “That position became empty when the past

assistant resigned from her position to work with the County.” Thibodeaux further explained that the County hasn’t has anyone qualified apply

to fill the position since that time. “As I mentioned on my initial interview, it has been my COUNTY BUSINESSY PAGE 2A

Servicemen honored with Blue Star Banners

Mike Jones, owner of Coastal Propeller Service in Bridge City, fires up an oxygen acetylene torch that he will use to straighten an inboard propeller. RECORD PHOTO: Greg Hayes. Post 49 member Roy Nation receiving banner for his grandson, Sgt. Tyler Nation, U.S. Army. RECORD PHOTO: Mike Louviere

Mike Louviere For The Record

For the second year the American Legion has honored active duty service men and women by sponsoring the Blue Star Banner Program. The Blue Star Service Banner Program was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry. Queissner had two sons serving in the front line in France. The banner quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio Congressman read the following into the Congressional Re-

Inside The Record • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................7A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................5B • Kaz’s Korner Joe Kazmar...........4B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................7B • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B

cord: “The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce, and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who gave so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a mother and father—their children.” During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on the manufacture of the flag as well as guidelines dictating when and by whom the Service flag could be flown or when the Service Lapel button could be worn. Typically, the Blue Star Service Banner displayed in windows in an 8.5 by 14 inch white field with a blue star sewn onto a red banner. A banner can contain more than one star. There can be one for each child in service. The size can vary, but the banner should be in proportion to the U.S. Flag The blue star represents one family member in active duty in the armed forces. There can be as many as five stars on one banner. The Blue Star Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in the armed forces, including the National Guard and Reserves of all military departments. The banners, widely used in the periods of the two world wars, were not embraced during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The use of the banners had nearly disappeared. The American Legion has rekindled the program. In the difficult period of the “war on terrorism,” the use of the banner reminds us of the sacrifices of our active duty personnel and that the war touches every BLUE STAR PAGE 3A

Labor keeps business moving Greg Hayes

For The Record

Sept. 5, the first Monday of the month, will see the traditional cook-outs and lake-bound vehicles as the common sight, as the heat will be fought with the last official pool parties and lake-swimming afternoon of the summer. Yes, it is Labor Day, the day in Southeast Texas that the working man and woman put aside their tools of trade for grill spatulas and bathing suits, and look forward to the beginning of the fall season and all it brings to our proverbial backyards, such as falling leaves and football — and sometimes hurricanes. In the midst of the festivities, one should pause and take the time to reflect on the ones in our community that keep it turning like the spokes inside a wheel. People like Mike Jones, owner of Coastal Propeller Service in Bridge City, without which that afternoon on the lake might not be possible. “We’ve been very busy lately with recreational propellers and ski-boat propellers,” Jones said. “We usually do work LOCAL LABOR PAGE 3A

Mark Pilcher, a collision technician at Like New Automotive in Bridge City, repairs a vehicle’s rear door. RECORD PHOTO: Greg Hayes

Numbers remain low at OC Social Services Greg Hayes

For The Record

Despite the current state of the economy, and unemployment on the rise around the nation, the Orange County Social Services have not seen an influx of people knocking down the proverbial door. In fact, director Jennifer Haney can count the number of new applicants on one hand … literally. “We have had five applicants file under the new guidelines,” Haney said. “We really haven’t had an increase in ap-

plicants like some think we might have.” The new guidelines Haney speaks of is the minimum percentage of the poverty level income being raised in the county from the state requirement of 21 percent to 49 percent of monthly income this past year. Under this increase, a family of five which would have received $458 under the state’s 21 percent can get $1,069 under the 49 percent. Applicants are re-evaluated every three months to see if they can keep receiving the as-

sistance, Haney said. The numbers for 2011 under the new guideline were approved by the Commissioners’ Court on Monday. “The commissioners approved the new guideline because they want to be able to help as many people as they can,” Haney said. “Raising the percentage under the new guideline was able to be done without affecting the budget.” Haney said that she thinks the reason they have not seen as many applicants approved is because people do not want to fill out the proper paper-

work and give the mandatory information required. “We’ve had people come by and ask, but a majority do not follow through,” she said. “I think it is because they do not want to fill out the required paperwork.” In the completed application, applicants must provide proof they are an Orange County resident such as: a driver’s license, mail addressed to their current address or a voter’s registration card. Social Security cards

OC SOCIAL SERVICES PAGE 3A


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