Chasing Smoke
Things that are hard to do…ride a unicycle, juggling, learning a foreign language, and I’ll add one more, chasing smoke!
We’ve all done it but I’ve probably done it more than most because of the job. Seeing smoke in the air from a distance and then trying to guess where you think it’s coming from is impossible. Wednesday we had a situation where we had three fires at the same time and from Orange it looked like everything to the south was on fire.
There was a brush fire in West Orange and two separate controlled burns in the marsh behind Chemical Row. I agree it looked like a plant was on fire and I will show you a picture proving it. I have made several attempts over the years for TPWD to give KOGT a days notice on controlled burns so we can let the public know and get ahead of all the calls to us and 911 that “something is on fire.” There are a lot of family members working at the plants and we’re all concerned for their safety. It’s not a lot to ask and the invitation is still there.
Gerald Rach
I don’t like the fact that it seems like I’m doing a memorial every week for another friend lost but I’m glad to have the opportunity to tell you more about them.
Gerald Rach passed away last weekend after a truck he was working on fell on top of him. A terrible way to go for anyone much less a guy like Gerald. Certainly makes you question things.
Gerald was a couple of years older than me (82 OF grad) and we grew up in the same neighborhood. I’ve told everyone since then when discussing Gerald or Rock and Roll, that he introduced me to the music. Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet come to mind first. And the rock station KZOM was basically in our back yard. And he married another sweet friend, Dona, and we got to see each other a lot when their son Lane was going through high school. Unfortunately we had not seen each other much since Lane graduated and the last time we visited was after Gerald’s mom, Beth passed away last year.
Beth was also important in my life as she recommended me for a job at KOGT after hearing me speak in high school. She was working there at the time. I’ve learned since posting Gerald’s obituary that he was involved in several circles and I’m not surprised at the comments about him. There will be a packed house Friday and Saturday at St. Helen’s to honor him.
Mardi Gras
Angie and I got to check one off the Bucket List last weekend and that was to participate in a New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade. Thanks to our good friends Kathy and Randy we were in the Orpheus Parade, complete with costume, mask and gloves. I honestly don’t know if I can type and give it justice if you’ve never been in a Mardi Gras parade before.
First things first, you need to be in shape! It was a 14 hour day of standing, walking, pulling, carrying, throwing, catching, sitting, yelling, ducking, and balancing. Probably 2-3 more I missed. Barely had time to drink and show my boobs.
I could use a whole column of what I observed and how it’s changed in just the few times I’ve been over the years. But what I will say, at least in my opinion, the one thing about Mardi Gras is that it doesn’t discriminate. It looks like everyone, from black or white to gay or straight, are just there to have a good time and it appeared everyone accomplished that. They promote themselves as the world’s largest free event and if you’re just a spectator I have to agree.
Barry Norton and Scott Surratt
A couple of old coaches who spent time here were honored at a banquet this weekend. Former LCM and WOS assistant coach Barry Norton (with his beautiful wife Sheri) was inducted into the East Texas Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Norton left WOS for the head coaching job at Texarkana (aka Texas High) and won a State Championship there in 2002. Norton is a good storyteller and has said he learned to be tough under Coach Dan Hooks where he would regularly be fired on Friday night and then rehired before practice Monday. There’s also the story where Norton showed up to support the Mustangs during a playoff game in the Dome and suggested a play that resulted in a touchdown.
Scott Surratt was honored for winning his 10th, yes his TENTH, State Title at Carthage, which was a baseball school before he arrived. If that’s not enough the 57 year old is 10-0 in State Championship games. Most people can’t believe he was the LCM baseball coach for a short time before Steve Griffith came home. I also saw former LCM assistant Jeff Harrell in the crowd who left the area to coach with Norton at Texas High.
Norton is currently the Executive Athletic Director at Birdville and his Hawks will be playing West Brook for the 5AD1 Basketball Title this week.
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Two other former residents I saw this week. Former LCMHS Principal/Admin Jim Armstrong, who left to become the Superintendent at West Hardin, had retired from there in 2023. But like most educators, media members and law enforcement, it’s hard to stay away. Jim, who I see on occasion at the Lutcher Theater, is the Headmaster at Legacy Christian in Beaumont.
And one of the many things you can say about Dean Crooks, he’s not afraid to speak his mind. The former Orange County Judge who quit “for the good of the county” when he didn’t want to give tax abatements to Golden Triangle Polymers which threatened to squash the deal, has moved to the beach. He found his way in front of the camera Wednesday to protest the new fishing pier being built where Rollover Pass used to be. He wants protection for homeowners before a pier. But that money was supposedly set aside for the pier when the Army Corps of Engineers filled in the pass. But $31.6 billion for a fishing pier?? Wow.
Speaking of the Ike Dike, is it still on the burner? Yes, but it’s the back, back, back burner. I’ve kept up with the completion date which changes all the time. The last time I checked it was 2028. I checked it today and now they’re saying 2033.
Funny thing about this column, I wasn’t sure what I was going to talk about when I began and now I’m 1200 words in! Have a great weekend and thanks for your comments and suggestions.
-Gary Stelly-
gstelly66@gmail.com
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Volume 1 No. 8
The Juice is a weekly column where Gary Stelly discusses things that happened the past week and mixes it with 40 years of being involved in the Orange County community. (If we think of a better way to explain it we’ll change it) You can also check out his podcast by clicking on the Behind the Mic banner on the KOGT.com front page.
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