Welcome to The Juice and Welcome to Football Season! Very excited for our local teams because after all made the playoffs a year ago, I believe they’re all in a position to do it again this year. And three of them, LCM, Orangefield and Deweyville are returning district champs with their eyes on the prize, Part Two!
I believe there are three big games right out of the box. The Bears host Hamshire-Fannett and both are returning district champs. Usually after a big season you have to reload so it’ll be interesting to see how the holes are filled. Both will be playing new quarterbacks.
Of course you have WOS vs Newton and the Mustangs put one on them last year in Newton. After two losing seasons it was a great start and turned out to be a good season for the Mustangs so the fans are back and they’re hoping for more.
Orangefield had a big question mark on them last year with a new coach and new scheme. Even though they had a good season it started rough against Woodville. Now its Woodville with a new coach and scheme after a trip to the State Finals and everyone is expecting big things from the Bobcats with all of their studs back.
I’m also excited to see the new routines for the bands this year. Yes I do take time to watch them and take their pics. Our county bands always do well with LCM, BC, and Vidor making State in recent years. But I want to show some love for the WOS band, the M3 Band as they call it.
It’s been a long time since WOS dominated the UIL band scene with Director Glynn Finley, 300 plus members and Drum Majors like Caroline Mazzola Hennigan and Tina Swift. There was a time not long ago when the band had about 15 members. But credit Mr. Gladney who came in about 6-7 years ago I think and has made them a fun band to watch and listen to. They even played the scrimmage last week.
Told you a couple of weeks ago about the mess at Vidor High School with the roads and that we would post maps, when sent, for visiting teams because basically there’s one way in and one way out. Chief Mike Sanchez sent over the maps and they are below at the end of the column.
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KOGT told you last week that HEB was coming to Orange. I think the only people disappointed was the city council in Pinehurst. In fact it was not a good week for Pinehurst overall with negative stories posted about the mayor and chief.
But after making the announcement I heard a story about an HEB in Austin. The store registers went down and those who were in line received fresh baked cookies while they waited. When they realized they wouldn’t be able to get them back online they let everyone in the store leave with the groceries they had in their basket. Man, what a smart move. You couldn’t buy that kind of publicity. Talked to someone high up at Orange city hall and according to them Market Basket hasn’t announced whether or not they’ll relocate in Orange.
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I was given the opportunity to emcee Dr. Thomas Johnson’s retirement party last week at LSCO. They really did it up for him. Dr. J had his own segment on KOGT each Wednesday and each Wednesday he would wear a bowtie to work. It became known as BoWednesday on the KOGT Morning Show. We even wore a bowtie a time or two. Enjoy retirement Doc. I look forward to working with new President Dr. Wendy Elmore. Wendy, we’ll have to come up with something for us to share!
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BASS held its final tournament of the Elite season last weekend in Wisconsin and Pat Schlapper, the same guy who won on the Sabine River this year, took the blue trophy in his home state.
The last tournament of the year is also sad on the weigh-in stage because many of the anglers know they won’t be with the Elites next year. That included Matty Wong from Hawaii who I believe double his fan base after coming to Orange in 2023 (finishing third).
Skeet Reese also announced his retirement from professional fishing after catching a bass on his final cast of the last tournament on the MLF Tour. Considered to be the best bass fisherman from the west coast, I remember interviewing him in his signature yellow colors driving a ginormous Ford F650 to pull his boat when the Elites first came to Orange in 2013. Turns out yellow was not his favorite color. Instead it was “for marketing. No one else was using that color.” I think it worked.
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We had a lot of good reaction about last week’s Juice on the BCLL ’09 team that included Chase Shugart. Last week he got to make his trip to Williamsport and visit with the boys.
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Shoutout to Louis Nance who turned 90 last week and still owns the title as the most consistent walker Northway Park has ever had. Nance is a member of the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame. The walkers surprised him with a banner at the park.
Have a great and safe Labor Day weekend!
-Gary Stelly-
gstelly66@gmail.com
Volume 1 No. 29
The Juice is a weekly column where Gary Stelly discusses things that happened the past week and mixes it with 40 years of being involved in the Orange County community. (If we think of a better way to explain it we’ll change it) You can also check out his podcast by clicking on the Behind the Mic banner on the KOGT.com front page.
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