Hope everyone had a great Easter! The small cool front made things nice outdoors Sunday and the City of Orange did a good job of putting on a free Egg Hunt on Friday. Art in the Park is this weekend.
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The phone starts ringing when a piece of land is cleared, especially in the city limits. The land at the corner of Strickland and Martin in Pinehurst was cleared quickly last week and we announced on KOGT’s Facebook it will be an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store.
Now I’m thinking the same thing you are but having two if not more locations in the greater Orange area is not new. You have to assume these multi-million dollar companies have done their research. O’Reilly’s has appeared to have taken the Dollar General approach in that they’re popping up in small towns all over East Texas.
Remember at one time we had two Radio Shacks. And we had three Market Baskets in less than five miles. I really wish we had more clothing stores for men. Maybe the new shopping center on MLK will have some.
Back to the O’Reilly’s new location. Many years ago (the 80’s) my family had a small building on that corner called GB’s Goodies. That’s when the New Orleans style sno-cones were real popular and we also had brisket and red beans, rice and sausage to eat. We were across the street from what was Wilson’s Marine and that’s how Angie and I met. She was working part time there and she would come over and get a Dreamsicle sno-cone. Awww! Who would’ve thought she would meet her dream husband…yeh, right (she said).
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I got a several emails asking me if I was surprised Toby Foreman took the Jasper job? Not real surprised because he’s applied for it before. But I think the job of bringing them back to a contender will take longer than it would have when he applied the last time. Not to say he can’t do it but the program has taken two steps back. I will guarantee he will make the track team better by next year. They haven’t been a contender in a long time despite having athletes. I’m also happy that there should be a few more storylines next season.
Cornel Thompson went up to see Toby introduced. I found out when I called him the other day. I said, “Coach T you’re the only guy I can call and talk to about this but Melvin Foster died. He was just 59.” Thompson then took the mic and ran off several stories about him like they happened yesterday. Foster played for Yates in 1985 when they beat WOS and won the state title. He was considered by Thompson and Dan Hooks as one of the best defensive players they ever faced. He would go on to star for Iowa. Thompson said, “I tell you who else you can tell, (QB) Roderick Robertson because he chased him all the way to the parking lot.”
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Speaking of coaches, shoutout to WOS softball coach Matt Robertson. The Lady Mustangs ended a 10 year district losing streak with a win over Jasper. Robertson was asked to take over the team on days notice after their head coach quit and he’s done a good job. Coach Zetar and Coach Garrett promise me that softball at WOS is on the upswing with their daughters and a few others coming up soon. I’ve seen them play and I think they’re right.
Staying with softball it’s not a big surprise that the LCM Lady Bears and the Bridge City Cardinals are fighting for the district title because they’re there every year. But both are doing it this year without star senior players Eden Frenzel (LCM) and Makenna Knight (BC) who are out with injuries. Congrats to Coach Adkins and Coach Tucker for doing a great job. And same goes to first year coach Brooke Collins over in Vidor. She has the Lady Pirates looking at a playoff spot with 5-6 freshmen playing.
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Bassmaster Elite Jason Christie won his ninth big blue trophy last week in Tennessee. Once again solidifying himself as one of the best river fishermen in the world. Christie was the 2022 winner on the Sabine River. If you don’t remember, he was the one who traveled so far north he took unnecessary weight out of his boat because he was worried he wouldn’t have enough gas to get back. Still not sure what/who got him to Big Cow Creek but it worked.
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Orangefield has a bond on the ballot in May to install turf and the trimmings to the football, baseball, and softball field. It’s time that they get it and I believe they will.
Have a great week!
-Gary Stelly-
gstelly66@gmail.com
Volume 2 No. 4
The Juice is a column where Gary Stelly discusses things that’s happened in the area 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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