Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 484
The competition was fierce this past Friday between football coaches, mayors, chemical plants, and captains. They rang bells for the Orange County Salvation Army's first Red Kettle Ring-Off. Winners were Little Cypress-Mauriceville Coach Eric Peevy over West Orange-Stark Coach Hiawatha Hickman, West Orange Mayor Randy Branch assisted by Robert Currie over Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr., and Chevron over Dow. "Who won overall? The people of Orange County," said Captain Jan Zunig...
Orange County voters have a good chance of soon being able to vote at any polling site, no matter where they live.O Orange County Commissioners Court agreed to a that plan, but County Judge John Gothia said it has to be approved by the Texas Secretary of State. Commissioners Court held a public hearing on the proposed changes and heard nothing but approvals from people, including Vidor ISD Superintendent Dr. Jay Kilgo, Orange City Councilor Terrie Turner, and representatives...
The Bridge City Middle School placed 24 students in the All-Region Band along with two alternates. They were chosen after judging by outside band directors and music teachers on Saturday, December 3. Kennedy Smith on tuba was selected to Band 1 first chair, making him the top choice of the judges. Other tuba players in All-Region are MaxBuysse, Band 1 fifth chair, and Jackson Hoffpauir, first alternate. The alto saxophone students earning honors are Blake Braneff, Band 1...
The game is on this Friday with a fierce battle between West Orange-Stark and Little Cypress-Mauriceville. But the competition isn't on the field. It's at the doors to the West Orange Wal-Mart. Football coaches Hiawatha Hickman from WO-S and Eric Peevey from LC-M will be vying to see who can raise the most money for the Orange County Salvation Army's Red Kettles as they ring the traditional bells to get donations. They won't be the only players. Orange Mayor Larry Spears is go...
A common complaint about voting may be gone if Orange County Commissioners Court approves a new plan to allow countywide Election Day voting. The plan, though, could eliminate the number of voting boxes by nearly one-third. Commissioners Court will have a public hearing about the proposal on Tuesday, December 13, at 1 p.m. in the Courthouse Administration Building. Any member of the public may give their opinions on the planned changes. Currently, and for more than a century,...
First United Methodist Church wants to give Orange County a downtown building that can be used to house first responders and volunteers during an emergency like a hurricane. But an impasse on an agreement for use of a parking lot across the street is holding up the deal. Tuesday, Orange County Commissioners Court tabled accepting the building at 702 Elm Avenue until a parking agreement can be worked out with the Stark Foundation. Precinct 1 Commissioner Johnny Trahan presided...
Warm muggy weather doesn't evoke feelings of Christmas, but Shangri La has a way to get into the holiday spirit. The gardens area of the botanical center is decorated with tens of thousands of lights and is ready for the annual Christmas night strolls. The strolls will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on December 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, and 21. Admittance will end each night at 8:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to go through tunnels of lights and visit areas covered in...
Green Avenue in downtown Orange will have an eye-catching two-story building with a glass tower in front as Lamar State College Orange constructs a new, $38.15 million Academic Building. The college this week released architectural drawings of the building, which will be along Green between Fifth and Fourth streets where the old glass Orange National Bank, later Capital One, stood for some 40 years. The Texas Legislature in 2021 approved the money. The legislature was led by...
Here comes Santa Claus, and Santa Claus, and Santa Claus. The Jolly Old Elf will be spending lots of time in Orange and West Orange the next couple of weeks as the Christmas season spreads wide. The longest-lasting community event, the 73rd Annual Orange Christmas Parade through downtown will be on Saturday, December 3, starting at 6 p.m. The Orange Kiwanis Club took over sponsorship of the parade which includes marching bands, floats, drill teams, and, of course, Santa at...
The Texas Public Utilities Commission has approved Entergy's plans for a new power plant in Bridge City, clearing the way for construction to start in the upcoming year. Entergy said the project should have 7,000 construction jobs and 26 permanent jobs. The new plant will replace the plant built in the early 1960s that uses natural gas to make electricity. Current estimates call for it to be finished in 2026. The addition of more construction jobs in the next couple of years w...
Orange County Commissioners Court Tuesday renewed the county's tax abatement policy for another two years, days after Chevron Phillips-QatarEnergy announced an $8.5 billion new plastics plant here. The county gave a tax abatement contract to the company as part of an incentive package to attract the plant, which is supposed to bring up to 3,500 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs. "My belief is the agreement is serving us well," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Robert...
The halls have already been decked with wreaths around Bridge City as the Chamber of Commerce helps spread the Christmas season spirit. The Chamber is sponsoring a wreath silent auction to raise money for scholarships. The wreaths are on display at Bridge City City Hall and businesses around town. Also, the Chamber is sponsoring its Second Annual Christmas in the Park on Friday, December 2, and Saturday, December 3. Then on the night of December 3, the annual lighted Christmas...
Once, Orange Memorial Hospital, now closed, saved lives. On Friday, the building once again helped save lives, but this time for law enforcement. The building became the training ground for the Orange County Sheriff's Office SWAT team with a simulated hostage situation in close quarters. "This is a rehearsal and practice for SWAT training in a worst-case scenario in any potential situation," said SWAT Commander Jimmy Smith. Sheriff Lane Mooney brought in two former military...
Orangefield ISD gave the oath of office last week to three trustees, including one new one. Kyle Dubose, left, is the new school board member. He is replacing Donovan Weldon, who decided not to run again for the position after serving 19 years on the board. Weldon during his tenure helped with the 2003 bond election along with working on recovery after hurricanes Rita, Ike, and Harvey. Laura Clark and Marcus Wernig are the returning board members. The district was able to...
The official announcement Wednesday that Orange will be getting a new $8.5 billion petrochemical plant for plastics may be the biggest news since 1945, when DuPont announced its plant here. "It's an economic impact we haven't seen in years," said Ida Schossow, president of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce. Chevron Phillips QatarEntergy Wednesday morning made the official announcement of the new plant along State Highway 87 South between Orange and Bridge City. The p...
People with questions about the levee-floodwall project across Orange County will be able to submit them by email and then listen for the answers on a virtual, online conference about the $2.4 billion project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District is holding the virtual meeting on Thursday, November 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions should be submitted before the meeting to [email protected]. Access to the online meeting will begin at 11:15...
Sales taxes were mixed across the county in September as cities were having a difficult time keeping up with the inflation rate. However, Orange County's sales taxes continue to stay above the inflation rate, which was 8.2 percent for the month of September. The Texas State Comptroller's Office recently sent the payments to entities with sales taxes. Orange County has a 0.5 percent sales tax and received $641,893 for the month, an increase of 10.66 percent from the $580,038...
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a man on a working tugboat on the Neches River side of the county. Captain Joey Jacobs described the death as "unusual," though he was not releasing details on Tuesday. He said deputies were called about 5 p.m. Monday to the 19000 block of Mansfield Ferry Road outside of Vidor. The road goes to the Neches River. Crew members had found a member of the crew dead. Jacobs said the man is middle-aged and the identity...
Grant Hale, left, president of the Bridge City High School student body, along with Aidan McAllister, student council public relations officer, were invited to help lead the Texas Association of Student Councils meeting in San Marcos last week. The two presented special break-out sessions and also performed with their swing dance group....
The final results of the November 8 general election shows that nearly 46 percent of registered voters in Orange County cast a ballot. The county in the last census had a population of 84,800. The county elections administration office reports 55,026 people are registered to vote. In this election 25,240 people voted. The Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD had a Voter Approved Tax Election to have citizens vote on a 12-cent tax increase for the maintenance and operations...
The city of Orange on Tuesday announced that Adam Jack has been appointed to become the new public works director. He replaces Jim Wolf, who retired earlier this year after more than 25 years in the position. Jack is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology. He has more than 35 years experience as an engineer, including the the past nine years with the Texas Department of Transportation....
The Lutcher Theater on Tuesday announced the a capella singing group Home Free, which includes a Nederland native, will present a concert on Sunday, February 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday, November 21, at 8:30 a.m. Home Free won the fourth season of NBC's The Sing-Off. The top prize was $100,000 plus a Sony recording contract. Since then, the group has released albums and performed with stars like Kenny VIP lam Home Free has five singers, a lead tenor, high...
Early votes Orange County votes tabulated Tuesday night show that voters in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD are rejecting a proposition for a basic tax rate to be more than the "effective" tax rate for the year. The district had 4,104 early votes with 2,428 opposed to the higher tax rate, and 1,676 for the rate. The school board agreed to ask voters to approve a tax rate for the maintenance and operations income that would be more than the same rate of last year adjusted...
Orange County Commissioners Court Tuesday declared November as Gift of Life Prostate Awareness Month and learned about a free men's health screening clinic to be held in Orange. Quintella Smith of the Gift of Life foundation based in Beaumont talked about prostate cancer being the number two cancer in men, with skin cancer being the most prevalent. She said early detection is the key to surviving. She said the Gift of Life helps men without insurance, or those who cannot...
City halls, the county courthouse, state and national offices, and banks will be closed Friday for Veterans Day, a national holiday that dates back 104 years. But the holiday was an evolution. November 11, 1918, was Armistice Day, the day the peace accord ending World War I was signed. The famous signing was scheduled for "the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month." The signing was in Paris, France, which translated to 5 a.m. in Orange. At that precise time, the local...
