The Commissioners Court approved Monday the county implementing a Texas law to encourage citizens to pay fines and fees they owe the county. County Judge Brint Carlton told the reason for approving the Texas Scofflaw Program for Orange County is to give citizens another incentive to pay fines or fees they owe. Carlton explains that under the new program the Tax Office can reject the renewal of a vehicle registration for customers who have outstanding fines or fees they owe the county. The tax office will be working with the four Justice of the Peace Courts in their collections since their … [Read more...] about Commissioners Meet

A summer fishing trip was ruined by a thief early Saturday morning. A couple of anglers discovered that more than $2,700 worth of rods and reels had been stolen from their boat. The boat was in the backyard of a house in the 2000 block of International Drive. The victim told Officer L.A. Lovelace with the Orange Police Department that they loaded the boat about 11 Friday night. When they went to leave about 5 a.m. Saturday items were gone. The inventory that was missing included two Johnny Morris rods and reels, two Shimano Citiva rods and reels, two H20 Express rods and reels and two Abu … [Read more...] about OPD Weekend Reports

Orange City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre said the city has a timeline for the annexation of the International Paper containerboard mill. Orange City Council will have to vote on the annexation in two separate meetings. Monday morning the council held the second of the required public hearings on the annexation. Once again, Bobby Manshack, a board member of the Orange County Emergency Services District No. 3, appeared to question the annexation. The district provides fire protection and emergency medical care to about 6,000 people in the unincorporated areas of Little Cypress. Manshack said … [Read more...] about Timeline for IP Annexation

The Orange County Clerk's Office received forms Monday morning to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Chief Deputy Clerk Tiffany Schlicher said the office has the forms and received clearance through the county attorney to issue the licenses. As of 11 a.m., no one had filed for one. The U.S. Supreme Court Friday issued a ruling that it is unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriages. Monday morning, Orange County Judge Brint Carlton, who is a lawyer, told KOGT's Gary Stelly on People in the Know that the Supreme Court decision is the law. He said the county will follow the law. … [Read more...] about OC Ready For Same Sex

61-year-old Malinda Pond of Orange was killed Friday night in a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 96 near San Augustine. The driver of the SUV in which she was riding, 61-year-old William Pond, also of Orange, is at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports two children from Indianapolis, Indiana, were in the back seat of the Ponds' Honda Pilot. 11-year-old Brent Silvers was treated and released from the San Augustine hospital. 11-year-old Sierra Muse was taken to the LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. DPS said a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by … [Read more...] about Orange Woman Killed in SA

The Orange County Clerk's office is not issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples now but will soon. The U.S. Supreme Court Friday morning issued a ruling that states could not prohibit same-sex marriages. Texas was the largest of the 14 states that did not have legal same-sex marriage. County Clerk Brandy Robertson issued a statement saying "It is our intent to treat Orange County citizens fairly and to follow the law." Robertson is on vacation this week. Friday morning after the court decision was issued, Chief Deputy Clerk Tiffany Schlicher said the marriage forms the office now … [Read more...] about Same Sex Marriages in OC