ADVISORY #5-Persons having interests in the Sabine River Basin below the reservoir are hereby advised that at 3:15 P.M. on Saturday, March 13, 2010, the reservoir elevation was 172.35' m.s.l. Currently, both generators are operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. All spillway gates are closed. Interested persons should monitor current river and reservoir levels and reservoir release amounts since the river could reach flood stage and evacuation of persons, animals and property may become necessary.

At approximately 3:52 am Friday, the Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department responded to call to assist Deweyville Fire Department for an accident on Hwy 12 approximately 2 miles west of Hwy 87 in Newton County. The accident involved an 18 wheeler and a full size Ford pick up truck. One person was air lifted by Air Rescue to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. The accident is under investigation by Texas DPS.

Delis Chalambaga and Tim Burch of Deweyville attended the calf scramble at the Houston Rodeo and caught a calf. The victory gives them a certificate worth $1250.00 to purchase a show calf and bring it back next year to show.

The Orange County Grand Jury met on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 and returned the following true bills of indictment. The allegations are as follows:

Joel Ardoin, who was a candidate for JP Prec. 1, was defeated Mar. 2 by David Peck who garnered 50.6% of the vote, barely avoiding a runoff.  Ardoin said election night that he would ask for a recount but on Thursday he told KOGT after looking at the numbers he would not pursue a recount.

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, Officer Leonard Roff of the Pinehurst Police Department arrested a white male for an outstanding warrant. Once in custody, Eugene Robarefound, 58 years of age was found to be in possession of a crack pipe. He was also charged with Possession of drug paraphernalia. More reports from Pinehurst PD

For the month of February the Mauriceville Volunteer Fire Department responded to 4 fires, 23 medical calls and 1 good intent call for a total of 28 calls and a total of 58 calls for the year.

NASA Astronaut Captain Lee Morin and NASA Engineer Jeff Fox visited the Mauriceville Elementary recently to take part in their Read Across America Celebration. This year's theme was "There's No Place Like Space!" Captain Morin spoke to over 700 students and community members about the importance of reading in attaining your dreams. An avid reader, Captain Morin has over 4000 books in his personal library. He also read Dr. Seuss's, "Oh The Places You'll Go" to students in the library. Also in attendance were Texas State Representative Mike Hamilton, The Astronomical Society of South East Texas, The Shangri La Starlab, and guest readers Dan and Marcia Perrine.

Tuesday night officers of the Orange Police Department were dispatched to the Oaks Apartments at 111 Pine in reference to a vehicle that had struck an apartment building. Two victims inside the apartment were transported to Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital Orange by Acadian Ambulance Service with minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle, a 24 year old male, was located a short time later. The incident is currently under investigation by the Detective Division of the Orange Police Department.

April Wilson, 23, of Orange, told police she was driving south on 16th St. Monday afternoon following a shower, and as she went to change lanes, she fish-tailed, ran up the curb and took out a light pole, shrubs and a fence at Shangri La. Fortunately she did not need medical attention.

Auto Burglary Prevention Tips from the OC Sheriff's Office-
Vehicle burglaries are very difficult cases to solve as there is usually very little physical evidence left behind after one has occurred. The crimes usually occur in the early morning hours in apartment or business parking lots when it is less likely the thieves will be seen. In order to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a car burglary we have provided some easy tips to follow.

KOGT has learned that Mike Sanchez, DuPont Sabine River Works Site Manager, will be leaving the Orange plant after being named Global Program Director, Process Safety Management. Sanchez will work with the Operations Regional Leaders to provide overall leadership for the improvement of Process Safety Management systems across Operations. He will work from the DuPont Cypress Station offices located just north of Houston. Sanchez succeeded Jerry Ehrman as plant manager just over three years ago. He will be replaced by Bobby Laughlin who has been the plant manager at the DuPont site in LaPorte.

Specialty chemicals producer Lanxess Group is expanding global capacity by 50,000 metric tons/year of its high-performance neodymium butadiene rubber. The $27 million project will increase production between the first quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012 at plants in Orange; Dormagen, Germany; and Cabo, Brazil. In a statement, the German company says the capacity expansion is needed because of projected 10% global demand growth for Nd-BR rubber in coming years-especially in the BRIC markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China. "Without this capacity expansion, there would be a worldwide product shortage for this type of material by 2014," says Axel C. Heitmann, chairman of the management board.

Orange Police Reports-
      The State Farm Office at 3127 16th St in Orange notified police on March 9, at 7:53 AM that they had been burglarized. A window had been broken and a large amount of computer hardware had been stolen.
     Orange Police reported an Orange woman being scammed on her Facebook account. The victim said she had been contacted a subject identifying themselves as Milia Yea on Facebook. Yea told her she had been selected to win a prize of $10,000 and a HP Laptop. All the victim had to do is send a total of $150 to Milia Yea to cover cost and Yea would send the prizes. After feeling convinced the woman was telling the truth the victim sent $150 to Milia Yea by Western Union to an unknown address in Moorefield West Virginia. After the payment had been accepted, Milia Yea emailed the victim back and was asking for $550.00 more to cover unexpected charges. She then contacted police to report the crime and having never received the prizes.
     On Monday, March 8 at approximately 12:37 a.m., Orange Police responded to a theft at the Hampton Inn. The clerk said someone had taken a monitor and a printer from the business center.
     On Monday, March 08, 2010 at 1:47 a.m. and Orange Police officer on patrol noticed the glass on the door of Red's Liquor was broken. After the building search produced no suspects the owner was called who produced surveillance video of a black male throwing a large rock threw the window and stealing two bottles of vodka.
     A shoplifter was caught at HEB on 16th St. after an employee saw him place food items under his clothing. Alphonse Sean Larkins was detained until police arrived. A check of Larkins produced multiple convictions for other thefts. Due to the prior thefts, this Class-C misdemeanor theft was enhanced to a State Jail Felony. The items stolen totaled $32.71.

Orange County Building Permits for Feb. 2010.

Starting Feb 15th thru April 1st, the Pinehurst Municipal Court will offer an Amnesty Program. This program will allow any person with outstanding warrants through the City of Pinehurst, come in to make arrangements with the court. At this time all warrant fees will be dismissed, as long as the defendant completes the arrangement made by the court. Each case will be handled on its on merits, so this is a second chance to clear up the warrants. This will save you time, money, and the embarrassment of being arrested at your job or simply on a traffic stop. This will also help those with a hold on the renewal of their license. The Judge will be in court on Mondays at 3 pm or Thursdays at 8:30 am. If you are not sure if you have a warrant, simply call 409-886-3873.

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.