Police in some cities have been facing close scrutiny, but in at least one local community the City Council is singing the praise of their police department. West Orange Aldermen Mike Shugart and Dale Dardeau wanted to publicly thank Chief Mike Stelly for the work he and all his officers are doing with the West Orange Police Department. Shugart thanked Chief Stelly, Assistant Chief Jesse Romero, Investigator Lieutenant Matt Frederick, and all patrolmen Dennis Hankins, John Brown, Steve Hilton, Chuck Cobb, Bobby Ashworth, and Sam Carpenter for their excellent work which he has heard … [Read more...] about WO Council Shows Appreciation

The Commissioners Court took the advice of Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning on Tuesday and tabled until next week any action concerning an audit of the County Auditor’s Office. Manning prepared a resolution at the request of Commissioner John Banken which would authorize an independent audit of the County Auditor. Manning told the Commissioners he would like to meet with the Court in a closed session next week before any action is taken. County Judge Brint Carlton who was the lone member of the Court to oppose requesting the resolution two weeks ago indicates the cost of such an audit … [Read more...] about Commissioners Court Tables Audit

The Meals on Wheels program is in jeopardy of shutting down in Orange County according to director Linda Hughes. Tuesday at the Commissioners Court meeting Hughes spoke during the period for citizen comments. Hughes informed the Commissioners that funding and grants have been cut for the program which feeds meals to shut-ins in the county. Orange Community Action has provided meals to senior citizens for 50 years. If additional funding is not found Orange County could lose the program. Hughes assures the meals would still be furnished their clients, but from another county. One problem … [Read more...] about Meals On Wheels On The Ropes

Sheila Faske went to the National Republican Convention last week as a Donald Trump delegate and discovered her hardest job was explaining gumbo to a German news crew. Faske is the chair of the Orange County Republican Party and has been active in local and state politics for years. This year as a delegate to the convention in Cleveland, she experienced politics on the national level. While at the convention, she dressed in the Texas flag shirt and cowboy hat. Sponsors buy the outfits each year for delegates from the state. The outfit makes the Texas contingent stand out from thousands of … [Read more...] about OC Chair Attends RNC

The West Orange City Council held a brief meeting Monday.  The Council repealed an ordinance regulating coin operated 8-liner machines in the city and replaced it with another similar ordinance.  Mayor Roy McDonald said the original ordinance was replaced to add a mention of the state statute under which it will be enforced at the recommendation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The new ordinance otherwise remains the same with an annual $1,000 regulatory and license fee to be applied for each 8-liner machine.  Kaleb Swarers was approved by the City Council as a Junior Firefighter in … [Read more...] about WO Council Discusses 8-Liners