A thunderstorm brought a downpour of rain and lightning streaking across the skies over a flooded Sabine River on an April evening in 1874. A stranger pounded on the door of the Ochiltree house, the most prominent house on the river, which also rented rooms. The next night, the stranger would be dead; so would Mrs. John Jett and two of her children. The stranger was shot by a mob after he was arrested for what became known as "The Jett Massacre." The Jett Massacre was reported in the Galveston Daily News April 8, 1874, edition. Other accounts can also be found through the … [Read more...] about The Jett Massacre

The Orange City Council Tuesday will vote on getting a $150,000 payment to lease office space to the city's Economic Development Corporation at city hall. The payment will cover a 10-year lease at the current city hall on Green Avenue and the future city hall at 812 16th Street, the current First Financial Bank. The city bought the bank building last year. In addition, the board of directors for the Economic Development Corporation will meet before the council to vote on paying the lease. The lease will be from 2017 to 2027 and include an option for a 10-year lease extension until … [Read more...] about Orange City Council Meets Tuesday

Spring has brought growing grass and the lawn equipment thieves have started. Orange police said a burglary of an outside shed at a house in the 4300 block of 27th street was reported on Friday. The resident the shed's door was forced open. Lawn equipment and tools were stolen.  - A 3-year-old boy was taken by ambulance to a Beaumont hospital after the car he was riding in went into a ditch on Main Avenue Sunday morning. Orange police report his injuries are not serious and he was secured in a child booster seat. Police said the accident was at 9:50 a.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of … [Read more...] about Weekend Reports