Texans have been focusing on the governor's race in the November 4 general election, but in Orange County different voters may think an alcoholic beverages wet-dry issue is the most important. Other local voters may find that a school bond issue is the drawing card to the voting boxes, or perhaps a special sales tax to finance firefighters. Orange County Elections Administrator Tina Barrow said the county will have general election ballots for offices. People living in Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 will also decide on whether or not to sell beer, wine or alcoholic beverages. Two options … [Read more...] about November 4th Election Decisions Facing Orange County Voters
Orange City Council Considering $27.6 Million Budget
The Orange City Council is considering a $27.6 million budget for the new fiscal year. More than half of that amount will be spent to pay salaries and benefits of city employees. The city has 194 full-time workers and two part-time. Many of them work for the police and fire departments. City Manager Shawn Oubre presented a break-down of the expenses in a letter to the council. The city pays 58.5 percent of the budget on personnel. The next largest expenditure category is for maintenance and services with 24.1 percent. Those items would include keeping the water and sewer departments running, … [Read more...] about Orange City Council Considering $27.6 Million Budget
Orange County Police Calls
A woman living in the 2200 block of Coronado Place left her SUV running in the driveway Tuesday morning to go back into her house for a couple of minutes. That's all the time someone needed to steal the vehicle. The woman called Orange police at 7:38 a.m. to report that her 2011 gray Kia Sorento was stolen. Johnny Manziel isn't the only person getting in trouble for his gestures. A man from Orange was arrested late Monday morning for resisting arrest after police went to check on complaints about a man making "inappropriate gestures." Officer Patrick McDonald went to the 2200 block of 16th … [Read more...] about Orange County Police Calls
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Faced Leg Amputation
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn isn't sitting on his bench wearing a robe these days. He's propped up in bed, wearing shorts, with a small medical device connected to hoses taped around the calf of his right leg. Every couple of minutes the machine starts up and makes a noise. It's a wound vacuum doing its job to help heal the two large holes in Dunn's leg. The bedside table is covered in prescription pill bottles of all sizes. But at least he's home in Mauriceville. He spent 14 of the past 16 days in hospitals. Dunn is a survivor of what is called 'flesh-eating' bacteria. He … [Read more...] about Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Faced Leg Amputation
County Budget Workshops Continue
Budget workshops for the county have been held the last couple of weeks and will continue next week as well. During discussions at the workshop this afternoon the topic of the county needing to borrow money to pay bills for the final quarter was raised. County Auditor Mary Johnson joined County Judge Carl Thibodeaux and Commissioner John Banken in agreement on the strong possibility the county will need to borrow money. Thibodeaux said the county will need to include the interest in next year’s budget, but Banken does not want to wait until the last minute like last year. Johnson said County … [Read more...] about County Budget Workshops Continue
Lamar State College-Port Arthur Conferred 122 Degrees
Lamar State-Port Arthur conferred 122 degrees, certificates at Summer 2014 Commencement. Lamar State College-Port Arthur awarded 59 two-year associate degrees and 63 certificates of completion at its Summer 2014 Commencement Ceremony held Friday, August 15 at the Parker Center in Port Arthur. Carl A. Parker, a member of the Texas Legislature for more than 30 years and for whom the Parker Center was named, was the keynote speaker. Much of his talk focused on Dr. W. Sam Monroe, who is retiring later this month after four decades as president of the college, and the work the two men did to grow … [Read more...] about Lamar State College-Port Arthur Conferred 122 Degrees
Orange County Loses Billion Dollar Plant Project
Enterprise Products may be the big one that got away from Orange County since Enterprise decided to build their billion dollar liquid petroleum plant on the Houston Ship Channel instead of in Orange County. The county still made a strong impression with Enterprise according to Orange County Commissioner David Dubose who met with officials from Enterprise Products August 15. Dubose and Orange County Economic Development Director Bobby Fillyaw both talked with vice-presidents from Enterprise which invested about 180 million dollars in the county when it was looking to build the plant on the … [Read more...] about Orange County Loses Billion Dollar Plant Project
Bridge City Dirty Water Still a Problem
Bridge City is still working to fix the problem with the city’s water system. City Manager Jerry Jones says despite new pumps and numerous flushings the water problem is not resolved. The city is trying to control the problem right now. Many of the areas that were having problems are not having a problem, but other areas have popped up with the brown water. Jones is hopeful the city is making some progress and with reduced flow as the summer ends the problem will gradually decrease. City Manager Jones adds they are looking at a filtering system for the main well in the water system. The … [Read more...] about Bridge City Dirty Water Still a Problem
Public Hearings for Bridge City Budget and Ad Valorem Tax
Public hearings were held by the City Council in Bridge City Tuesday on the budget and ad valorem tax for the fiscal year. There were no citizen comments on either during the hearings. The City Council will vote to approve the 47.8 cents per 100 dollars valuation tax rate at the September 16 council meeting. City Manager Jerry Jones updated the city council on storm related projects in Bridge City. Most of the projects being done with storm related grant money are closing down, and if they can be completed by the end of the year Jones indicates Bridge City might be eligible for leftover money … [Read more...] about Public Hearings for Bridge City Budget and Ad Valorem Tax
Brown Hangar at Orange County Airport Still an Eyesore
The Brown Hangar at the Orange County Airport has been an eyesore for months. Commissioner John Banken has asked county Maintenance Director Mark Wimberley for some projections on what it would cost to fix it up. Banken repeated his request Monday. Banken expressed concern about the appearance of the old hangar, but also was curious to how much it will cost to make it look better and wants to look at some numbers though. He asked Wimberley if there were any bids on painting the hangar. Wimberley referred the question to Emergency Management Director Jeff Kelley who has had some dealing with … [Read more...] about Brown Hangar at Orange County Airport Still an Eyesore
Social Media