County officials are responding to requests for help from citizens in the Greenwood Acres housing addition of northern Orange County. Rhonda Vercher said she has met with Commissioner Barry Burton and County Engineer Clark Slacum concerning a drainage problem which has led to an infestation of mosquitoes in the community. Located north on Highway 12 off of Highway 62 Greenwood Acres is a community of about 273 households with close to one thousand residents and a lot of children. Vercher admitted the community has a problem with standing water as a result of the poor drainage which Burton, … [Read more...] about Greenwood Acres Residents Seek Assistance

The City of Pinehurst has appointed a seven-member Planning Commission, and Code Enforcement Officer Harry Vine will serve as a non-voting member on it. Vine thinks he has the first task in mind for the new commission. The Tool Loan Center was started by the City of Round Rock, and Vine believes maybe the Planning Commission can develop a similar plan for Pinehurst. The goal of the Tool Loan Center or TLC, as it is called, is to get a donated trailer and have equipment provided that can be used by volunteers to help take care of the property for other citizens who are less able to do so. … [Read more...] about Pinehurst Has Planning Commission

Orange Firefighters responded to a house fire at approximately 6am Thursday at 2113 Oak Forrest in the Oak Creek Subdivision. The homeowners said they heard a boom or loud pop and found the garage on fire. The fire department says fire is under control and they are investigating the cause.   … [Read more...] about House Fire Thursday Morning

On Wednesday 20 year old Lakendrick Jarone Sonnier of Orange was sentenced to 35 years in jail after being found guilty of aggravated robbery at Whataburger.  On April 8, 2015 officers responded to the Whataburger Restaurant located at 2300 MacArthur Drive in reference to an armed robbery.  Witnesses said a black male entered the restaurant, displayed a handgun and demanded cash from the register.  The manager recognized the subject as a former employee.  An officer with the Orange Police Department spotted a vehicle leaving the area and conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of 16th … [Read more...] about Sonnier Sentenced In Robbery

An 18-wheel rig carrying 6,000 live chickens caught fire on Interstate 10 eastbound about 12:15 Wednesday afternoon. An estimated 2,000 chickens died and four thousand survived. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Stephanie Davis said the Texas Animal Commission come to the scene to assist. Orange Fire Department Captain Randy Ener said the truck rig had a tire blow out and catch fire. The fire spread under the trailer carrying hundreds of cages with the chickens. Ener said another motorist saw the flames and flagged the driver to pull over. The driver was not … [Read more...] about Blown Tire Kills Chickens

Landscapers Wednesday morning were putting the final touches on shrubs and flower beds at Park Manor Apartments as local officials, chamber of commerce members and others gathered inside a community room. "This particular property has not been the prettiest place in Orange," said City of Orange Housing Authority Board President Mike Combs. Previously, the Pine Grove apartments stood at the site. The 1940s complex was damaged after two hurricanes and left vacant. Now, the housing authority has built the new Park Manor affordable housing. The group gathered for the traditional … [Read more...] about Affordable Housing Cuts Ribbon In Orange

These ladies enjoy a morning at The Natatorium and said they appreciate the city reopening the public pool after closing it last summer.   The Orange City Council today unanimously without comment approved a development plan that would allow American Airboat owner Stan Floyd to build an alligator farm and tourist courts on land on Lutcher Drive off Interstate 10 at Simmons Drive. City Planning Director Kelvin Knauf said the city created a Mixed Use Zoning District for the properties north of Interstate 10 at Simmons Drive back in 1999. However, the city never set a development … [Read more...] about Council Gives Its Approval