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
Target Date Set for Budget and Tax Rate Approval
Two public hearings on the county budget and the proposed tax rate were approved by the Commissioners’ Court Monday. Commissioners at the recommendation of County Judge Carl Thibodeaux approved using .5440 as the proposed rate for next year, which is the same as last year’s tax rate. The dates of the two public hearings in September were also recommended by Judge Thibodeaux as Monday, September 8, at 1 PM and Monday, September 15, at 6 PM. He said this will satisfy the Texas statutes dealing with truth in taxation and still allow the Commissioners’ Court to vote on the tax rate on the 22nd. … [Read more...] about Target Date Set for Budget and Tax Rate Approval
Tax Office Request For Two Clerk Positions
Tax Assessor Lynda Gunstream requested Monday the Commissioners’ Court approving her filling one of two clerk’s positions in the tax office that will be vacant by the end of August. Commissioners Jody Crump and John Banken asked if Gunstream could wait until the new fiscal year to fill one of the positions. Gunstream said the timing would be tough for her office since that is the start of the tax season when her office gets busier, and she would want to train a new clerk some before the peak time. Gunstream has been willing to work with one less clerk, but two less clerks is making it … [Read more...] about Tax Office Request For Two Clerk Positions
No City Council Fireworks When Budgeting 4th Fireworks Show
The Orange City Council didn't have any fireworks about a fireworks show. Monday afternoon the council had its first budget workshop and didn't argue with City Manager Shawn Oubre added $20,000 to cover a Fourth of July fireworks show. "Yay!" exclaimed Councilwoman Mary McKenna. "Thank you," was the reply from Councilwoman Theresa Beauchamp. The council last month discussed the possibility of having a fireworks show at the Riverfront Pavilion on Labor Day. However, council members said they thought Orange should have an Independence Day fireworks show. For nearly 30 years, a local business … [Read more...] about No City Council Fireworks When Budgeting 4th Fireworks Show
OCSO bust in Vidor
On Thursday, August 21, 2014, around 10:20 p.m., Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, along with assistance from the Vidor Police Department, conducted a search warrant at a residence in the 4500 block of Caribou Road, Orange, Orange County, Texas. During the search, Deputies located approximately 36 grams of methamphetamine. The resident, identified as 33 year old white female Larissa Jester of Orange, along with 56 year old white male Roger Hanks of Vinton, Louisiana, were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a 2nd Degree Felony. Both Jester and Hanks were … [Read more...] about OCSO bust in Vidor
Melissa Davis Elected as LCM-ISD District Director
Melissa Davis, a teacher at Mauriceville Elementary in Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD, will serve in a new leadership position as she heads back to school for 2014-15. On August 1, she began a one-year term as a district director for the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, a non-union professional association for teachers, librarians, counselors and other classroom professionals with 50,000 members across the state. Davis was elected in June by TCTA members from District 5 — a six-county area that includes Tyler and Orange — who attended the TCTA’s state convention in Fort Worth. She will … [Read more...] about Melissa Davis Elected as LCM-ISD District Director
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