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
Alcohol, Gasoline, and Lighters! Oh, My!
Alcohol, gasoline and lighters don't mix well. Orange police had a 9-1-1 call Friday night at 9:39 concerning a man throwing gasoline on another man and setting a fire. However, no one was seriously hurt. Detective Captain Cliff Hargrave said the people involved were drinking and no one wanted to file charges. Officer M.T. Roush reported that he went to the 200 block of Farragut Street. A man told him that someone he knew took his cell phone. He found the man at First and Curtis streets and got his phone back and went home. The second man went to the house and threatened to set the resident on … [Read more...] about Alcohol, Gasoline, and Lighters! Oh, My!
Drunk Driver Crashed Near Orange County Jail
Orange police didn't have far to drive to take a suspected drunk driver to jail Friday night. Officer D.B Mulhollan reported that he was called to an accident at 8:48 p.m. Friday in the 200 block of Border Street, the same block as the Orange County Jail. A red pickup truck had been traveling northbound, left the roadway and hit a utility pole with the passenger side outside mirror. Then the truck ran front ways into another utility pole. The driver, a 53-year-old man from Orange, was not hurt but was arrested for driving while intoxicated. … [Read more...] about Drunk Driver Crashed Near Orange County Jail
Copper Theft Burglary
Copper thefts were reported at a house in the 600 block of Bridal Wreath and in the 3500 block of Bowling Lane. A burglary at a house in the 3000 block of 16th Street was discovered Sunday morning. Someone got inside the house between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. and stole a 32-inch TV. At 12.22 a.m. Monday, a woman living at a house in the 1500 block of Church Street was awakened by a loud noise. She walked to the kitchen for a phone and found herself walking on broken glass from a window. She called 9-1-1. Police discovered had thrown a rock through the window but apparently did not get inside. … [Read more...] about Copper Theft Burglary
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