A two story home was fully involved in a fire Friday, with fire showing from all windows and doors.The City of Orange Fire Department responded about 9:45 p.m.

Orange County commissioners tackled money issues this week, namely the new fiscal budget and how to pay for proposed new buildings to replace those damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Mohon will fill council seat

Although there are a lot of “too early to tells,” Pinehurst City Council agreed Tuesday to carry forward with a deal to buy the Technical Resource building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to replace the city’s more than 50-year old city hall.

Bessie and C.J. Huckaby have lived on the same street in Pinehurst since 1943, but they haven’t been there much lately with Bessie undergoing cancer treatment in Houston.
C.J. Huckaby said by phone from Houston the couple would be there at least through this weekend and possibly a few days after that.

With rain on the way, Orange County commissioners took no action on a burn ban item in special session after hearing from Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Franklin Walters.

The county still hovers in the 500-600 range of the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, projected to rise to 600-700 (just one below the most extreme level) in a 14-day outlook.

Orange County officials will continue to monitor for a possible burn ban, commissioners said in special session this week.

The county also moved the process forward to demolish the downtown Woodworker’s Building, or Woodmen of the World Lodge.

The running joke at Orange County commissioners’ meetings is if a burn ban item is placed on the agenda – it will rain.

Bridge City was named for its bridges. Now, the Cow Bayou Swing Bridge has joined the Rainbow Bridge on the National Register of Historic Places. The rare swing bridge crossing Cow Bayou is one of only two center pivot swing bridges remaining in Texas.

On May 10, 2010 the National Park Service named the Cow Bayou Swing Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.

Orange County commissioners praised Sheriff Keith Merritt in special session Tuesday for the Correctional Facility’s recent glowing report upon a surprise inspection.

For the 12th consecutive year, the jail not only passed inspection but with the status “no deficiencies at all.”

Every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center will be hosting educational programs from now until August 11. These programs are free with the cost of admissions. Please RSVP by calling 409-670-9113.

Orange County escaped a burn ban for another week after commissioners heard from Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator, in special session Monday.

Kelley said a 14-day outlook shows the county at the Keetch-Byram Drought Index’s 600-700 level, just one below the most extreme level of 700-800; while the same projection shows Jefferson and Hardin counties in the latter’s range.
The county is about 14 inches behind regular rainfall levels, “so the emerging drought appears to be just that – emerging,” he said, also noting a 20-acre fire in Mauriceville over the weekend.

BC ditch cleaning gets underway

The projected finish date for Ferry Drive improvements, which began in 2008, is August. The APAC firm is in the process of completing curb and gutter work.
Earlier, contractors told officials the work would likely be done by at least the end of spring.

A county burn ban was once again on commissioners’ minds as they heard from Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator, during Tuesday’s session.
Although Texas Forest Service fire forecasts were in the moderate range, those figures weren’t likely to last for long, he said.

“By no means are we out of the woods as far as overall drought conditions are concerned,” he said.

As a small area of low pressure near Bermuda made headlines, Orange County commissioners in special session Monday proclaimed May 23-29 as National Hurricane Awareness Week.

Recently, at the City of Orange Citizenship Day, the city invited local students to participate in city government.