The Orange City Council will have its first budget workshop of the year Friday morning when the city staff presents the preliminary budget for 2015-16. The workshop will be inside the Orange Public Library in the Ira Williamson Room. In the current budget, the city had a small tax decrease and a small increase in water-sewer rates. The tax rate and water and sewer departments will be part of the discussion during budget workshops. Also, employees received a 2 percent cost of living pay raise. The workshops are open to the public.   The 8-11-15 agenda for a Joint Meeting of the … [Read more...] about Orange Budget Workshop

More home break-ins were reported to Orange police on Tuesday. One burglary at 3333 Ridgemont Drive apartments included vandalism that caused a few hundred dollars worth of damage to a unit being remodeled. The manager of the apartments called police at 8:16 a.m. after discovering the damage. Officer J.H. Kirkpatrick reported that a fire was started in the bathroom and caused damage. In addition, someone broke the toilet and water flooded the apartment with an inch of water. Kirkpatrick said a neighbor called the fire department about 5 a.m. because of a smoke smell. The fire department … [Read more...] about Burglars, Vandals Strike in Orange

A 33-year-old Pinehurst woman was taken by Acadian Ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont after her SUV rolled over in a ditch on an Interstate 10 access road Monday. Orange Police Officer J.H. Kirkpatrick reported that the injuries of Theodria Denise McDonald are classified as non-incapacitating. He said she had been traveling westbound in the 3400 block of Lutcher Drive off Interstate 10 about 1:18 p.m. Monday. The Chevrolet Equinox she was driving veered off the roadway. She took evasive action and over-corrected, causing the SUV to roll over into the ditch. … [Read more...] about SUV rollover sends woman to hospital

Orange County Sheriff's Office calls July 28-August 3 Burglary of a habitation, 6:58 a.m. July 28, 8700 block West Fox Road in McLewis. Indecent exposure, 1:09 p.m. July 28, 1000 block Kent Street in Vidor. Criminal mischief, 1:29 p.m. July 28, 16900 block FM 1136 in McLewis. Theft of a firearm, 8:34 p.m. July 28, 1900 block Pence Street in Rose City. Aggravated assault occurred, 9:02 a.m. July 29, 1800 block Gall Street in Vidor. Burglary of a habitation, 1:35 p.m. July 29, 6400 block Hudnall Road in McLewis. Disturbance, 4:44 p.m. July 29, 4800 block FM 408 in … [Read more...] about OC Sheriff’s Calls July 28-August 3

Public hearings concerning Bridge City’s proposed budget and tax rate were set by the City Council Tuesday night. The first hearing will be Tuesday, August 18, and the second hearing will be Tuesday, September 1. Both hearings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. City Manager Jerry Jones said there will be a slight increase in the new tax rate for Bridge City. Jones added that the increase in the tax rate is below the rollback level and the increase in the budget is basically for a 3 percent across the board pay raise for city employees and to purchase a new police vehicle. Otherwise the budget … [Read more...] about BC Council Talks Tax Rate

A Smoothie King is being built in West Orange in the shopping center parking lot near Wendy's. West Orange Code Enforcement Inspector Dean Fuller said the building permit was issued for $175,000 worth of construction. The Smoothie King franchise has stores around the world selling custom-blended fruit and vegetable drinks. The smoothie drinks come in a variety of categories including a "slim blend" to help people lose weight and a "fitness blend" to for building muscle and tone, according to the company's website. In the City of Orange, the Orange Housing Authority's construction once again … [Read more...] about New Business in Town!