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FROM WHERE I SIT
I’ve been under the
weather and I’m told I need down time so I sit here
at home on a
quite Sunday morning. Over the last many years, I’ve been
at
home very seldom on Sunday morning. For me it’s a down side to
getting any writing done. I’m a hawk when it comes to politics and on
government as a whole. Sunday has too many distractions for a
political
addict like me. On CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ I enjoyed a
much thinner
Tom DeLay, who made some good points. I also watched
Meet the Press,
George on ABC, NSNBC, Fox News etc. I find myself not
only absorbing
the different views but also identifying those
bluffing and those
spinning and in my mind I argue my own views.
Politics are not for the
faint at heart, but it is a special
responsibility.
GAZING AT THE CRYSTAL BALL
I believe anyone
who is even just a little knowledgeable about politics
knows what the
outcome was likely to be in most races. Locally, David
Peck worked
harder and smarter and by far ran the best campaign. He
stayed on
track with qualifications and why he should be elected judge
of the
Pct. 1, Justice of the Peace Court. On Friday we ran a phone
straw
poll. It indicated that Peck would win with over 50 percent,
avoiding
a runoff. A very unusual happening against two well-known
candidates,
Joel Ardoin and attorney Mike Abbott.
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AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS----
If you’re a
political student or an interested observer, this is the
week in the
primaries we have been waiting for. By now, we have a good
idea who
the leaders are. In the final week those running behind will
always
go negative. Over the weekend, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison started
her
negative television ads. Going negative is akin to the lawyer
creating doubt in the jury’s mind. It sometimes works.
WHEN DESTINY CALLS – SUPER BOWL XLIV
The
New Orleans Saints were underdogs going into the Super Bowl. We
hadn’t picked either team to win but knew that the Indianapolis Colts
had the upper hand. We thought the Saints might be holding an
ace-in-the-hole called destiny. When it’s cast in stone nothing can
wash destiny off, if it’s going to happen it happens. If the Colts and
Saints played 10 times the odds are the Colts would probably win nine
of them. I believe Saint’s coach Sean Payton believed destiny would
play a part when he rolled the dice to try an on-side kick to start
the
second half. The gamble paid off so he rolled them again going
for two
points after a TD. First he got a bad call but called for a
replay that
reversed the first.
THE JOYS AND AGONY OF LIFE
During these bad
times nothing could have been more spirit lifting in
the “Who Dat”
Nation than the 33-28 overtime win by the Saints over
Brett Favre and
the Vikings. The natives are ecstatic over the Saints’
first
appearance ever in the Super Bowl. Early in the season we
predicted
it would be the Colts and Saints in the Super Bowl.
SO YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GLOBAL WARMING
I
mentioned in this column that things would be ugly after this hard
freeze came through. Also, I said that houses would burn and pipes
would break. Unfortunately all of the above happened. When I was a boy
winters were much worse than they are today. Sometimes we get an
arctic
blast like we just went through but in my youth, every winter
was cold.
Icicles hanging off of the roof were commonplace. We broke
them off and
dunked them in sugar and made popsicles. Most days, the
old hand pump
had to be defrosted with hot water to melt the ice. We
slept under all
the quilts we could pile on and put a hot brick at
the foot of the bed
to warm our feet enough to get to sleep.
A DECADE FROM HELL
Back in 2000 when the
new decade arrived we were full of promise and
hope. We had
experienced economic growth and prosperity under President
Bill
Clinton.
A DROUGHT IS OK BY ME
I am tired of all the
wet, fog, and just plain nasty weather. Bring on
the cold, heat or
whatever but this dampness has gotten on my last
nerve. ******You
missing a bet if you are not giving Orange County
citrus for
Christmas. Fresh off the tree, grapefruit, oranges, satsuma,
lemons
etc., the crop has never been better. I’m shipping some out this
week. It’s a good way to brag about Orange County. Fresh off the tree.
Contact a local citrus grower. *****You’ll enjoy this week’s paper.
We
have gotten great response on the history of the Port of Orange
now
being run in installments. Part 2 appears this week, others to
follow.Enter your introduction text here.
PEARL HARBOR DAY, DEC. 7
At one time,
several Pearl Harbor survivors lived in the Orange-Bridge
City area.
Today, I just know one, Cedric Stout, who served on the
Utah. Mr.
Brody and others have either moved or passed away. Pearl
Harbor is a
day like 9-11 that should never be forgotten.
PENNY RECORD FOUNDER GASTON SUCCUMBS
In
April of 1960, Walter and Audrey Gaston started The Penny Record in
Bridge City and operated it for 30 years. Plans are underway for our
50th anniversary and like previous years, we had hoped that Walter
would be a part of it. He passed away Tuesday morning at age 89.
A SUPER WEEK IN STORE
Tuesday was Ground
Hog Day but since I’m writing this column early, I’m
not sure of the
results. In south Louisiana, the Cajuns go by the
nutria “Pierre C.
Shadeaux.” Somewhere in this paper there is a story
about Pierre and
the results of if he saw his shadow or not.
HAITI NEEDS HELP BEYOND THE DISASTER
The
disaster in Haiti caused by a magnitude seven earthquake leaves the
estimated death toll to be 150,000 and up. The task now is providing
medical care for the survivors. You have to feel for those poor people
regardless what you think about their corrupt government and failed
state. It’s really a hellhole for its people. It is the most corrupt
and least efficient government in the world. Before the earthquake, it
was an on-going humanitarian disaster. Those very poor people must
not
be forgotten after the dust settles.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WEATHER
This is our
first column of the year 2010. The big news this week will
be the
worst winter blast in years. On Jan. 12, 1997, we were turned
into an
ice bowl with the great ice storm. This is not expected but
there may
be a few wet snowflakes and probably it will be colder than
in 1997.
Eighteen degrees will just about kill any plants in the yard.
Covering them probably won’t save them. Three days of freezing will
break exposed pipes. Business will be good for plumbers because some
people will not heed the warning. Cats or short haired dogs will
probably die if they can’t find a warmer place to hide. I remember in
the 1970s it got as low as 14 degrees here and the place really looked
ugly and dead. I hope the bitter cold doesn’t hurt the Orange County
citrus trees.
REMEMBERING YOU AT CHRISTMAS
At Christmas
time our thoughts turn to our friends, past and present.
First we
extend to each of you readers the best of wishes from our
advertising
family throughout our distribution area. We want to extend
our
gratitude to the many businesses and professionals who advertise in
The Record through the year. They make these home-owned, hometown
community newspapers possible. Please shop with them and thank them
for
bringing to you, absolutely free, this newspaper throughout the
year.
Special thanks to all of you for making us Orange County’s best
read
publications. Your support is appreciated. For more than 30
years, Joe
Kazmar has been sending out his Christmas list. Be sure
and check it
out. We join him in extending best wishes to so many of
the natives.
CITY CHANGING IMAGE
Right after Hurricane
Ike dealt Bridge City an unexpected blow, the
city’s image went down
to zero. In the minds of people away from Bridge
City the town was
just a swamp area. They didn’t consider that the
hurricane was a
once-in-a-lifetime event. Even many of the lifetime
residents left
the place they had been proud to call home, raise their
families and
help to build into a great community. A lot of work lay
ahead to
change the negative image. I’m proud to say that 15 months
later,
Bridge City has taken great steps to recovery and putting the
city in
a good light.
GIVING THANKS
How fortunate we all are. To
start with, I’m thankful that God chose to
put us Cajuns and the
crawfish down in the same place. How awful it
would have been if he
had put the Cajuns in Arizona. Personally, I’m
thankful for great
friends. We’re thankful for the outstanding
readership The Record
Newspapers enjoy. More readership than the other
publications
combined. Thanks to the business people who support us.
It’s been a
steep climb to come back after Hurricane Ike. We took a
licking and
kept on ticking and remain today the most popular papers in
Orange
County. We’re thankful to our staff that are dedicated to their
jobs
and take pride in putting out a good, loyal, hometown newspaper,
locally owned and locally supported.