The Orange Mardi Gras Parade was so big the Beatles showed up! More pictures in our KOGT Gallery And the float winners are.........

The Monday, February 8, 2010 meeting of the West Orange City Council has been cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 22, 2010 in the West Orange Community Center.

While just about everything else with roots was dead in Orange after a hard freeze, there began to appear bright green "fuzzy fish" around different areas of town. Known to most as the "Jesus Fish" that you've seen for years on the back of cars, the religious symbol has taken on a new life thanks to Keith Adams and Michael Christian. Christian, the youth minister at North Orange Baptist Church the past two years, said it was Adams who had been experimenting with the idea. "Keith was trying different things in his own yard when he came up with the right formula that would make this work," he said. The two created a stencil with the hopes of using the idea as a fundraiser for their youth group while spreading the message. Adams said, "Our pastor has been preaching to us to think outside of the box when it comes to spreading the word and this was my way of doing that. Jesus said follow me and I will make you fishers of men and the fish symbol lets people know that we are followers and that they live in a Christian home." Adams said that the recipe calls for moist ground and we certainly haven't had any problems with that this winter. With moist ground the seeds take about two weeks before you start to see the pattern.

Fred Hanauer, with wife Linda, found the KOGT Mardi Gras Treasure underneath this cigarette outpost at the West Orange City Hall Friday morning.  Hanauer said once he knew Friday's clue was about Stephen F. Austin he knew it would be off of Austin St. which led him to City Hall.  Hanauer wins $500 to spend in the greater Orange area. Check out the clues and hints

Beaumont Police arrested 49 year old Chad Arthur Lindsey, of Orange, early Thursday morning after robbing a Waffle House with a knife. Just after midnight Thursday morning officers were called to the Waffle House restaurant at 5875 Hwy. 105 where a man armed with a knife threatened an employee before leaving with an undetermined amount of cash. The man fled in a white van. Officers checked the area found a 2005 white van in the 4800 block of Concord. The man inside the van matched the description of the suspect from the robbery. Police say the van he was in was stolen. Lindsey was arrested for Aggravated Robbery, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and a Parole Violation Warrant.

Around 5pm Thursday, Claudia Jones, 33, of Orange was driving this Durango north on Hwy. 87 when she rear-ended a white Ford pickup that was attempting to turn left on Canterbury.  Alexander Smith, 16, was driving the truck and Collin Foster, 15, was his passenger.  Foster was taken to the hospital with neck pain.  Jones was cited for failure to control speed.

On Thursday February 4, 2010 at approximately 8:15AM, Narcotics Officers with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at 8325 Buffalo Road in Orange. Upon entry, a felony amount of methamphetamines was located. The Officers also located an amount less than 2 ounces of marijuana inside the residence. During the search of the residence, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, surveillance equipment, and other contraband was seized. The suspect, SHERRY JOHNNIE GOULD, a 45 year old Orange resident was arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, along with Class B Possession of Marijuana and transported to the Orange County Jail for booking. She was arraigned and bond set at $10,000 for the Felony and $500 for the Misdemeanor. The OC Sheriff's Dept. reminds you that if you have information on drug activities occurring in your neighborhood or other areas please call EasTex Crime Stoppers at 409-724-TIPS. You will remain anonymous and you could earn a cash reward for your information.

U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady announced Thursday that the West Orange Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $8,550 grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. “I’m honored to congratulate the West Orange Volunteer Fire Department on receiving this grant,” Brady said. “The grant provides resources the fire department needs to ensure their ability to continue to protect the health and safety of the local community.” The purpose of the FY 2009 AFG is to award grants directly to fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The man who jumped off the Veteran's Memorial Bridge on Jan. 1, 2010 was located Tuesday, Feb. 2. The body was recovered after being spotted on the bank by some boaters and transported to the Marine Fueling dock in Port Arthur where he was positively identified by his Texas DL as GEORGE RAYMOND TRENHOLM, a 56 year-old white male from Spicewood, TX. His wallet and drivers license was still inside his pants pocket. Justice of the Peace Janice Menard responded and pronounced him deceased and ordered an inquest. Mr. Trenholm’s body was transported to the Jefferson County Morgue where an autopsy will be performed. The location where the body was located was on the north side of the ship channel, almost directly across from the location where the victim had last been seen on January 1st.

The deadline is fast approaching for nonprofit organizations throughout Southeast Texas to apply for a grant of up to $1,000 through the Entergy Community Partnership Grant program. Since 1995, the program has awarded more than $300,000 to a variety of organizations, many of which are small and have few other grant opportunities. It provides grants for projects that effectively impact education and literacy, community improvement/enrichment, healthy families, or arts and culture. The deadline to apply for a grant this year is March 31. All applications must be made online at www.entergy.com/our_community/cpGrant_Guidelines.aspx .  Those interested in applying in Texas may contact Mary Young, Entergy Texas Customer Relations, at 409-981-2656. “These grants provide a wonderful opportunity for organizations to get financial help for projects that will help improve the quality of life in Southeast Texas,” Young said. Entergy Texas serves 400,000 customers in 27 counties.

The Bridge City Strutters traveled to New York City and learned from master dance teachers at Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center . Their educational trip included the familiar NY sites and they attended the Broadway show, Wicked, at Gershwin Theater, during the four-day trip. On their last day in New York , the Strutters and their chaperones arrived at the ABC Studio for the taping of Good Morning America where they were viewed by America. New York bound Strutters included Emily Ginn, Gretchen Hollier, Maci Mathews, Katelyn Norman, Lyndsay Powers, Holly Simpson, Alyson Smith, Meghan Smith, Mallory Wappler, Taylor Dishon, Jordyn Ewing, Allison Morphew, Karli Anderson, Caylee Champagne, Nicole Encalade, Kaitlyn Ezell, Devon Skidmore, Samantha Morphew, and Madison Woodruff. Strutter Escorts included Sawyer Hogan, Tyler Landrum, and Matthew Wappler. Chaperones were Belinda Norman, Fay Ginn, Charlene Wappler, Melissa Smith, Dana Weeks, Rita Hollier, Lisa Laird, Traci Ewing, Leslie Dishon, Kim Ezell, Jodi Morphew, Janet Encalade, Jami Fairley, Amy Skidmore, Christy Podnewich, Melani Woodruff, Cindy Landrum, Juli Dee Hogan, and Director Cathy Riley.

The Orange County Texas Exes proudly announces the creation of the Judge Patrick A. Clark Endowed Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is being made possible by a generous donation from The Beaumont Foundation in conjunction with the sponsorship of the Orange County Texas Exes Will Muschamp Scholarship Fundraising Dinner on February 11th. This endowed scholarship will be given each year in perpetuity to an Orange County high school senior that excels in community service and will attend the University of Texas as a freshman. Judge Clark is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and a past president of the Orange County Texas Exes. He has served as Judge of the 128th District Court here in Orange since 1980. Prior to his current bench, Judge Clark served as judge of the County Court at Law in Orange County. Judge Clark has served as president of many local Boards including Camp Fire, Orange County Credit Union, St. Mary School Foundation and the Parish Council. He is extremely active in the community and his love for all things burnt orange is legendary. Judge Clark will be honored with this scholarship endowment at the Orange County Texas Exes Will Muschamp Scholarship Fundraising Dinner on February 11th at 6:30pm. This event is generously sponsored by The Beaumont Foundation. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting Ann Seals at 409-779-8330 or Susan Swan at 409-883-9875. The deadline to receive payment for reservations is Thursday, February 4th.

Annie was last seen off of 37th St. in Orange. Please call 779-6263 if you've seen her. This little guy (right) was found near the 2300 block of Sunset Drive. White collar with no identification. Call 886-2789 to claim.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville Elementary schools hosted the regional UIL Elementary Academic Meet on Saturday, January 29. The team, made up of second through fifth graders from Mauriceville Elementary (MVE), Little Cypress Elementary (LCE) and Little Cypress Intermediate (LCI), placed 37 students in the top six places and claimed third place in the overall meet.  more

Mauriceville Middle School choir students competed at Solo and Ensemble Contest on Saturday, January 30, bringing home seventeen medals. Fleachia Isbell received an “Excellent” rating for her solo. Those receiving “Superior” ratings for solos were: Kirsten Buchanan, Michaela Dorsey, Sadie Greer, DeNay Hutchison, Taylor Hutto, Madison Kay, Taryn LaCour, Macy Malin, Sarah Martin, Kender Myers, Alidia Norton, Hailee Sasser, Alex Saucier, and Abby Turner. Two ensembles won “Superior” ratings. A trio whose members were Kender Myers, Hailee Sasser and Alex Saucier, and a sextet with Abby Turner, Macy Malin, Taryn LaCour, Michaela Dorsey, Kirsten Buchanan, and Taylor Hutto. Angela Greer is the choral director for Mauriceville Middle School.

Orangefield High School sophomore, Alex Gilson, will be performing in the Symphony of Southeast Texas Youth Concert on February 2 and 3. The concert will be held at the Julie Rogers Theatre and will feature local musicians. The purpose of the concert is to introduce school-aged children to the symphony. They will be playing familiar classics such as "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Greig and "The Star Spangled Banner." Gilson will be performing on the cello. It is an honor to be selected to play in this concert. It is comprised of mostly professional musicians and select Lamar scholarship students.

Orange Camp Fire Council awarded it's Community Service Award to Danielle Heil and the Dan Domas Youth Award to Heston Cheshire at it's 67th Annual Dinner.

An armed robbery at the Vinton Dollar General was caught on tape. It happened the night of December 28th. Vinton Police say they got the call around 8:18 p.m. after a black male entered the store with a gun demanding money. "He made away with about 33-hundred dollars in cash from the store," said Vinton Police Chief Ricky Fox. But Fox says the robbery was captured on surveillance video and if you look close enough you can see the cashier smiling and laughing while unlocking the safe. "The most striking, very seldom have I seen anyone smile or laugh when they turn around in an armed robbery and that's that caught our attention right off the bat. It made us very suspicious. We've had our sights on her since day one," said Chief Fox. She's not smiling now. Charged with principle to armed robbery, Jamisha Cousar of Orange was arrested Saturday evening after missing work two days in a row. "We received a phone call Saturday afternoon, late Saturday evening that she was packing to leave town," said Chief Fox. "So before she could run, Orange Police arrested her at her home." Cousar's accomplice, the armed robber, was arrested hours after the robbery. According to Chief Fox, "He was arrested about 5 hours after this robbery by the Rayne Police Department and he still had approximately $1300 still in his pocket." 29-year-old Anthony J. Meaux of Crowley was being held in the Acadia Parish Jail on unrelated charges but is now charged with armed robbery. But how did investigators link Cousar to Meaux? Initially she told them she didn't know him, but they say her story changed several times before she admitted the two were close friends. Cell phone records would tell the rest of the story. "The phone records sealed the deal. It showed that she had contacted him regularly to include just before and just after the event that night," said Chief Fox. Both remain behind bars, Meaux's bond set at 100-thousand dollars; Cousar's set at 50-thousand dollars. (KPLC-TV)

The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce congratulates Demetrielle Washington as its Student of the Month. Washington is a senior at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High. She has been a part of the Leo Club, Future Teacher of America, Student Counsel and FCCLA – President. Demetrielle has also received the STAR Student Award in 2009 and the NHS award. Not only is Ms. Washington an outstanding student and involved in many school programs she donates her time to her community through volunteer work. Teachers and Staff alike hold Ms. Washington in high regard stating that she is responsible, loyal, trust-worthy and honest and a high moral character. Demetrielle plans to attend McNeese State College to earn her teaching degree. Ms. Washington was recognized by Cliff Ozmun, Chairperson of the GOACC Education Committee and by other members of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce. She also received gifts from Greater Orange Area Chamber members.

Fourteen students at Lamar State College-Port Arthur qualified during the fall semester for membership in the Alpha Lambda Rho chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at the college. The 2009 fall and 2010 spring new members will be inducted into the society during a May ceremony and reception in the Carl Parker Center. Phi Theta Kappa, which has more than 1,500 chapters around the world, was established in 1918 by a group of two-year college presidents to recognize and encourage scholarship and to encourage an intellectual climate for continued academic excellence at colleges that offer two-year associate degree programs. Membership is open to full-time and part-time students. To qualify, a student must attend a regionally-accredited school offering associate degree programs, complete at least 12 hours of college-level courses leading to an associate degree and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. The new members include Lisa Smith of Bridge City.

We had three now we have two left, these little guys would be your perfect Valentines gift to your loved one. City of Orange Animal Control, 806 Simmons. 409-883-1056. $86.00 adoption fee covers 1st Rabies and Neuter or Spay

On Friday, January 29, 2010, at approximately 12:46 PM the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man who jumped off the IH-10 westbound Neches River Bridge. The man, whose name is not being released, was described as a white male, Beaumont resident in his mid forties. When deputies arrived on scene, they found that the mentally ill man thought that he was being chased by a vehicle. The man then parked his vehicle on the bridge and jumped over the side into the Neches River in an attempt to get away. A good Samaritan was in a boat in the area of the bridge when the man jumped. The good Samaritan, along with members of the Beaumont Fire Department were able to rescue the man from the water. The man appeared unharmed and was taken to Christus Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont for a physical and mental evaluation. The man has a history of mental illness and the investigation showed that there was no evidence of the man being chased. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the scene along with the Beaumont Police Department, Beaumont Fire Department, and the Vidor Fire Department.

The Orange County Grand Jury met on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 and returned the following true bills of indictment.  The allegations are as follows

Who made the LCM Honor Roll for the third six weeks?  click here

Keep Orange County Beautiful (KOCB) presented its quarterly Residential Beautification Award to Ms. Barbara Bates on 35th Street in Pinehurst. J. David Derosier, chairman of KOCB, said, “Ms Bates has done such a fantastic job of bringing in soil and plants to make her home and the area shine. She has set the tone for the rest of the neighborhood to follow.” Pinehurst Mayor TW Permenter said, “We are so proud to have residents like Ms Bates - people that take pride in their property and keep our city looking so nice. They are the true leaders of our community.” Keep Orange County Beautiful presents Beautification Awards each quarter for both residential and commercial properties. Nominations from the public for these awards are always welcome; nomination forms can be found at their website www.KOCB.org. Pictured, left to right, are Sandra Cash and J David Derosier of Keep Orange County Beautiful, Ms Barbara Bates, and Pinehurst Mayor TW Permenter (also a board member of KOCB).

Just when you thought it was about to wind down, comes another project along a stretch of I-10 in Orange County. Next month, TxDOT is expected to open bids to reconstruct a section of the interstate between Womack Road and Adams Bayou, which includes tearing down the MLK overpass. The $35 million project includes making some major improvements to one of the oldest portions of interstate in the U.S.. Work is set to begin in April or May. Flashback 10 years ago: Orange County residents were complaining that their county was being neglected in highway reconstruction dollars. TxDOT said "Hold on; your share is coming." And did it ever come to Orange County! A total of four major reconstruction projects have either been completed or are underway. The first project was to reconstruct the Sabine River Bridge at the Louisiana border. The second project involved widening the interstate through Rose City. Now, two separate contractors are rebuilding I-10 between North Dewitt in Vidor to near SH 62. Both projects are expected to wrap up the middle of this year. The newest project, between Womack and Adams, shouldn't be as big of a project as the other two currently underway. The only major I-10 reconstruction project left to do in Orange County is from Adams Bayou to the Louisiana border. No word as to when this will take place. However, TxDOT continues working the design plans and needed clearances to get the project off the ground.  - Marc Shepherd, TxDOT-

Does the state of Texas have unclaimed property that belongs to you?  click here

	The Orange print is available in 4 different sizes at the KOGT Studios on Meeks Dr. Prints already framed are for sale at Pinehurst Gallery.

Hurricane Ike and Rita books are currently available at the KOGT Studios on Meeks Drive for a limited time.  Office hours are Mon-Fri from 9-noon and 1-5p.

CHECK OUT the KOGT Photo Gallery where you can purchase photos on-line. Click on Photo Gallery Button on the left. New galleries will be added regularly, so check it often.

If you have a news story or see news happening, email us or call the station and let us know about it.
 

Do you have an outstanding warrant in Orange County?  Might want to check the list.  

KOGT.com only carries summations of news stories.  For the full story including interviews, tune in to KOGT Vocal News at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 11:50am, as well as 4:30 and 5:30pm weekdays.

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.