On Thursday the Chevron/ Phillips Chemical Company made a $500 donation to the Orange County Sheriffs Office Blue Santa program. Blue Santa is a program that provides holiday gifts for underprivileged children in Orange County. The program has been in existence for over twenty-five years and is organized by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The program is entirely supported by donations from the local community. Toy donation collection boxes will be placed around the community and a list of donation centers will be available later in the month. The Orange County Sheriff's Office will be accepting applications for the Blue Santa program between November 1 and November 25. To apply, applicants must completely fill out an application and submit it along with all required documents, in person at the Sheriff's Office, located at 205 S. Border St. in Orange, between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Orange County Grand Jury returned the following indictments on Nov. 18

Hatton Elementary employees were pleasantly surprised this Thursday with an early visit from "Santa's Helpers" delivering their annual longevity checks. Pictured above are Superintendent Dr. Jamey Harrison, Asst. Superintendent Joe Chenella with school board members Thad Hill, Jerry McInnis, Tom Orozco, Mark Anderson and teacher Kaylin Perkins.

On Monday, November 2, 2009, at approximately 10:00 AM the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a missing person that was last seen at 8869 Creek Road in Orangefield. Deputies met with Lori Hermann who wanted to report her husband as missing. The missing person has been identified as JAY DEE HERMANN, a 41 year old Orangefield resident. According to the Mrs. Hermann, the last time she saw her husband was on Oct. 27 at their residence. Mr. Hermann told her he was going to the unemployment office located in Orange and he would return after a couple of hours. He never returned and has not been seen since. He left the residence in his black 2004 2 door Pontiac Sunfire bearing Texas plate, Z13-XHL. He was last seen wearing a tan long sleeve button up shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. He is described as being 6ft tall, slim build, weight 189lb, clean shaving, bald head, and covered in tattoos. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of JAY DEE HERMANN or if you have any information on this case, please call EasTex Crime Stoppers at 409-724-TIPS. You could earn a cash reward for your information.

Martin Fox, 43, of Vidor, received life in prison Wednesday by Judge Buddie Hahn after he plead guilty for shooting and killing his wife Candy Renee Fox, 40, and Christina Marie Adams, 27 in a home located at 4575 E. Railroad back on June 7.

Members of the Orangefield Water Supply Corp. Board along with contractors and engineers, broke ground Tuesday on the 19 million dollar wastewater treatment plant to be built off FM 408 near the Hwy. 105 intersection.  "Residents have been asking when we would offer sewer after bringing them water in 2000 and now that phase of the project can begin," said board President Kent Hannegan.  The project is expected to take 18 months.

Orangefield ISD will have early release at 1:00pm on Friday, Nov 20th and will be out the week of Nov 23 thru 27th for Thanksgiving Holidays.

On Tuesday at 2:14 a.m., Venoy Harmon was sleeping at his home at 5522 Mickler when he told Orange Police that he heard a loud noise come from his living room. He got out of bed and started down the hallway when he saw a man and heard his voice. Harmon exited his residence at that time and called police from a neighbor's phone. The residence was searched but the suspect was not located. Information was obtained for a report and photographs were taken.

The Pinehurst FD has elected their 2010-2012 Fire Department Officers. Fire Chief Grady Gray, Asst. Chief Jeremy Tidwell, Battalion Chief Loyd Trammell, Senior Fire Captain J.B. Lanting, Fire Captain Travis Donnaud, Lt. Gordon Fregia, President Jeremy Tidwell, Vice President Brandon Roy, Secretary Allen Cowart, Treasurer J.B. Lanting, and Chaplain Clint Hall. The Oath of Office was administered by President Jeremy Tidwell.

Not your average theft. On Monday Orange Police were dispatched to Harry's Appliances, in reference to a theft in progress. Owner Harry Stephens had detained Eyeshea Brown, 23, after she walked into the back of the store and took two dryer belts from the store. The two items cost $61.51.

Michael Williams took matters into his own hands Monday after he caught a man that had broken into his home. Williams, stated when he and his wife entered their home on Sholars St., the suspect saw them he ran out the back door. Williams chased after the suspect and caught him outside of the house. Silas Tremaine Johnson, 25, was wearing Williams' coat when he was arrested for burglary.

National Junior Honor Society students at Deweyville Middle School are preparing holiday “care packages” for military heroes serving our country. DMS students, parents, community members and local businesses are sending wish list items, which will be divided and sent to troops currently enlisted. If you would like to donate to this cause you may contact organization sponsors Karen Granger or Paula Ashworth at 746-2924. Clockwise from left is Taylor Swarers, Tori Lummus, Krislyn McBryde and Ashlee Dille.

Persons having interests in the Sabine River Basin below the reservoir are hereby advised that at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the reservoir elevation was 172.58' m.s.l. Currently both generators are operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. All spillway gates have been closed. Total discharge is +12,870 cfs.

RAILROAD CROSSING CLOSURES IN THE CITY OF ORANGE FROM 07:00 A.M UNTIL 12:00 P.M. FOR RAILROAD REPAIR ON NOVEMBER 19,
W. Orange St. Railroad Crossing
W. Cypress St. Railroad Crossing
W. Pine St. Railroad Crossing
W. Elm St. Railroad Crossing

ROAD CLOSURE FROM NOVEMBER 21-29, 2009 Sewer and Water Repair:
12TH Street from Green Ave. to Elm Street Full Closure.

Jasper has been missing from the Brownwood area of Orange. If you have information on his whereabouts please contact us. 409-779-6685.

The Foundation for Southeast Texas has announced that it has received  $150,000 from the estate of Maurine Gray.  The gift will establish two endowed funds for organizations that were close to Maurine’s heart.  more

The City of Pinehurst is offering for sale used and surplus equipment using the internet auction site provided by Rene Bates Auctioneers. Rene Bates assists numerous cities, counties and school districts across the State with the sale of surplus equipment, seized and abandoned property. The City of Pinehurst equipment sale will be offered on the internet site from November 16th until 10 am on December 1st. Items included in the sale are a trailer mounted Par Kettles oil distributor, a 1999 Dixie Chopper mower, a 1975 Ford garbage truck, a 1991 Eager Beaver Chipper, and a 1993 Gradall excavator. Information, bidder registration and bidding can be done by going to the Rene Bates auction site www.renebates.com. A link to the site is also on the City of Pinehurst web site.

	The Port of Orange held a groundbreaking for for their new Containerized Cargo Yard Project on Monday and also dedicated their new $3.5 million Command Control Center to longtime Port Commissioner Buckshot Winfree.  Winfree has been on the board since 1980 and has served as president the last 21 years.

Scarecrow Winners Announced
Saturday during the Autumn festival at Shangri La the winners were announced for the first Scarecrow contest which featured 78 entries.  The winners of each category are above.  Complete list of winners.

The Hurricane Ike Disaster Recovery Funds application is now available for Small Business located in Orange, Hardin or Jefferson County. Small businesses affected by Hurricane Ike may be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in a grant for their business.  The applications and criteria for this program may be downloaded from www.orangecountyedc.com or you may attend an informational meeting that will be held at Lamar State College Orange on Wed, Nov. 18 at 1pm.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Officers of the Orange Police Department were dispatched to the Executive Inn in reference to an aggravated robbery of an individual. Officers arrived and made contact with the 24 year old victim. The victim, a resident of the Executive Inn, was in the parking lot and was approached by two black males. One black male produced a pistol and demanded money from the victim. Another black male stood by while the other grabbed the victim’s wallet and both suspects jumped in a vehicle and left the area. The suspect vehicle was located parked and unattended at one of the suspect’s residences. All the suspect’s are known but are still at large. Detective Sgt. Jefferson-Simon was notified and responded at the scene and the investigation is still ongoing. The victim was not injured.

On Saturday November 14, 2009 at 2:00 a.m. officials from the Orange Police Department, Orange Fire Department, and Acadian EMS responded to the 300 block of Border Street in Orange. There it was learned that Christopher Raymond Busby, a twenty-five year old white male of Orange, had jumped from a moving vehicle. Busby was a front seat passenger in a 2001 white GMC truck driven by Carrie Laughlin, a twenty-three year old white female also of Orange. Busby was transported to Baptist Hospital-Orange by Acadian EMS. He died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Justice of the Peace Rodney Price ordered that an autopsy be performed. This case remains under investigation by the Orange Police Department. Update from Orange Police: During the course of the investigation of this event, it has been learned that the driver of the vehicle presented a false identification during the initial phase of the investigation. The true name of the driver is Sherrie LeBouef Busby a twenty-three year old white female of Orange. During the initial investigation she said she was Carrie Laughlin, her twin sister, and provided identifying information as such. Sherrie LeBouef Busby provided the false identity in an effort to prevent her arrest for outstanding traffic warrants. Criminal charges regarding her having provided false information regarding her true identity are being considered. There is no new information regarding the events specific to the fatality. Information regarding whether or not alcohol or drugs may have been factor are pending the return of toxicology tests.

Advice about Swine Flu

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You can find out if you, your friends, or your relatives have outstanding warrants in the City of Orange by clicking on the orangetexas.net website. The City of Orange Municipal Court is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Court is held at 8:30 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If you have any questions about an outstanding ticket you may talk to the Municipal Court staff at 883-1063.