Dickie Colburn
Joe Kazmar
Sabine Lake Fishing
Sports And More
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This Christmas Season
H H H H H Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1960 H H H H H
The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 52 No. 35 Week of Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Penny Record of Bridge City and Orangefield • Founded 1960
BC historical marker unveiling set for Sat. Larry Joe Johnson For The Record
The Cow Bayou Swing Bridge in Bridge City will be recognized by the Orange County Historical Commission on Saturday. The unveiling of the historical marker on Texas-87 is scheduled for 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend the ceremony. The Cow Bayou Swing Bridge is one of only two of it’s kind remaining in Texas. Completed in 1940, the bridge was the last major project along the “Hug-the-Coast-Highway,”on the then new Texas-87. Construction began in 1939 upon completion of the Rainbow Bridge– known in 1940 as the Port Arthur-Orange bridge. Following the dedication of the swing bridge in 1941 the town of Prairie View became known as Bridge City. The new span over Cow Bayou brought
LIT sponsors Health Awerness Summit Staff Report
For The Record
The Lamar Institute of Technology Student Government Association will sponsor a Health Awareness Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The summit is designed in concert with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MultiPurpose Center. Participants will include: The Bone Marrow Donor program will recruit individuals for the National Registry. Triangle AIDS Network (TAN) and P.A.L.M. will be available to provide facts about AIDS in our area, AIDS in general, preventative measures and free, confidential testing for those interested. The Texas Black Women’s Initiative will promote area awareness of AIDS.
about the consolidation of the Prairie View and Winfree school districts to become Bridge City I.S.D. Near it, community, commerce and industry flourished to become the City of Bridge City in 1970. Plans for the removal and demolition of the rare World War II era swing bridge was averted in 2007 by a citizens committee, the Bridge City Citizens for Historic Preserva-
The Bridge City High School Strutters dance and drill team posed on the Cow Bayou Swing Bridge in 2007 to mark “50 Years Proud.” RECORD PHOTO: Mark Dunn
construction. An engineering marvel of in it’s day, the center pivot swing bridge was built with an electric motor that operates the swing span. Large watercraft on Cow Bayou were freCOW BAYOU SWING BRIDGE PAGE 3A
Arrest on murder charges leaves suspect’s family distraught OCSO investigation ongoing Debby Schamber For The Record
When officers arrived in the 15000 block of FM 1442 to arrest Curtis Allen Garrison, who is suspected of gunning down two Vidor people, his father, Larry Garrison, 52, of Mauriceville, was “weeping uncontrollably” as his son informed officers, “I will not give y’all any problems, I will go peacefully.” According to reports, Nathan Garrison, 22, the suspect’s brother, and 49-year-old Linda Garrison, the suspect’s mother, arrived in the lobby of the Orange Police Department, to report a possible homicide. They reported Curtis Garrison arrived at their residence on Friday and informed them he has just killed a man and a woman at his residence located at 5620 Woodside in north Vidor. Officers responded to the murder scene and approached the residence in an attempt to locate any possible wounded victims. A detective found a
maroon Nissan Maxima with temporary tags which appeared to have been driven into a wood line on the property. While GARRISON checking the vehicle, they found gunshots consistent with being shot by a firearm. In the front passenger seat, they found the deceased body of who would later be determined as 30-year-old Summer Conn. Her husband’s body, 36-year-old Aaron Conn, was laying across the back seat. It appeared the victims had been shot multiple times. According to neighbors, they heard multiple gun shots and a short time after saw a white van drive away from the residence driven by the suspect. The white van was located at Garrision’s parent’s house hidden in a wooded area. It was taken for processGARRISON PAGE 3A
LIT HEALTH PAGE 3A
H • SHERLOCK BREAUX Page..................... 4A • Obituaries Page......................8A •Dicky Colburn Fishing..................5B •Outdoors Weekly Chuck Uzzle..........5B • CHURCH NEWS Page......................9A • CLASSIFIED ADS Page......................8B
tion. The group, co-chaired by Mark Dunn and Beverly Perry of Bridge City, campaigned to spare the bridge with the help of the Historic Bridge Foundation and the Texas Historical Commission. Ultimately, the Cow Bayou Swing Bridge would become listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, one of just six such properties in Orange County. “The bridge has been a constant in Bridge City,” said Beverly Perry. “It’s a part of the city’s history and that’s why Mark Dunn, myself and others were so enthused to save it. We would have lived through losing the bridge, but we would have been without some of our intricate history and there’s only one other bridge in the state like it.” Upon the success of the campaign the Bridge City Citizens for Historic Preservation disbanded. Although the swing bridge played a central role in the development and growth of the Bridge City area it’s listing to the National Register is attributed to it’s distinctive design and
The annual Toy Coffee is ready this year at the home of Frank and Sue Pritchard. The fundraiser helps children have a brighter Christmas morning. See Story On Right.
Dee Reeves and Patsy Phillips dress some dolls and brush their hair to get them ready for the annual Doll Tea at the Salvation Army on Dec. 6. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
All dolled-up for annual tea Debby Schamber For The Record
It was her love of dolls which has inspired 75-year-old Patsy Phillips to make dresses for the annual Doll Tea at the Salvation Army. Phillips was given her first doll when she was just a girl in 1944. “In my day, dolls were priceless,” Phillips said. During the war era, toys were difficult to obtain, she said. Her very much loved and treasured doll, “Sweetie Pie” serves as a reminder as she hopes a little girl will love one of the dolls she has created the clothing for. The Doll Tea at the Salvation Army, located at 1950 Martin Luther King Drive, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 6. The ladies mission of the Salvation Army is responsible for the tea this year. For more than 25 years, the dolls have been dressed by individuals, local civic and church organizations. Before the guests arrive, the dolls will be judged by three judges. They will have ribbons
placed on them for first, second and third place. The various categories include most outstanding doll, bridal wear, evening wear, Sunday best, school attire, sleeptime, playtime and costumes. Following the awards, light refreshments will be served. In addition, to dolls, some people have chosen to make clothes for bears. The dolls
and bears are provided by the Salvation Army. The dolls start out basically the same with the exception of hair color and skin tone. When completed, there will be hundreds of dolls and bears lined up for judging. Since 2002, Phillips has worked on making the doll SALVATION ARMY PAGE 3A
Service League hosts 56th Toy Coffee Staff Report
For The Record
To help kick off the holiday season, members of the Service League are gearing up and adding a little Christmas cheer with their annual Toy Coffee. With a theme of “Got Toys?” the Service League will begin their 56th year of the annual event. “We have an upcoming event that is very important to our community and it helps the children that are unable to have a Christmas gift,” said Lisa Fournet, of the Service League. “The Toy Coffee event
is a combined effort with the Salvation Army and the Service League of Orange. “ In order to find the families eligible for the program, the Salvation Army takes applications and diligently sorts through them. The Service League locates a beautiful home that will be perfectly decorated for Christmas and provides delightful refreshments. This year, the home chosen belongs to Frank and Sue Pritchard. The address is 180 Greenhead Point which is located in the WaterTOY COFFEE PAGE 3A
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