Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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This week session began! It will be an exciting and fast-paced 140 days. We will do our best to keep East Texans informed about the goings on in Austin. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. 89th Legislative Session begins On January 14, 2025, the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature began at noon. On the Senate side, members who successfully won in the general election were sworn in. There are three brand new members of the Senate: Senators Molly...
When I first met Dr. Tom Johnson, the new president of Lamar State College-Orange, who replaced Dr. Mike Shahan, who served 24 years as LSCO president. I liked Mike, he and I were bonded by an old Port Arthur connection but here was this new guy, Johnson, I had no idea where he hailed from but I knew that he was going to be alright. I could tell right away, and I told him so, that anyone who wore a bow tie with cowboy boots had to be alright and would do to ride the range...
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT As Joe Biden leaves office the U.S. economy is the envy of the world. Remember that when Biden came into office the U.S. economy was in such bad shape that a recession was widely forecast by Republicans and Democrats. Four years later, no recession ever gripped the American economy thanks to Biden. And the job market flourished under Biden Unemployment hit record lows. The recession never happened. And inflation is coming down. Biden ended America’s l...
DR. TOM WILL BE MISSED I visited with Dr. Tom Johnson by phone over the weekend. He was at his place on Lake Livingston doing nothing, totally deserved rest. “The heaviest thing I have lifted is this coffee mug as I enjoy the outdoors and the million dollar view.” He said he would call me Monday. I know now he must have been deep in thought about his future. He has put in 42 years in government service. That left little time with family. His life and accomplishments at suc...
STATE FUNERAL TO BE HELD FOR CARTER James Earl Carter Jr., an American politician from Plains Georgia, served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He was a member of the Democratic Party and had previously served in the Georgia State Senate from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. A state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held on Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C, according to a presidential declaration by...
How quickly the years have flown by. I just recently realized that come December 31, Phyl and I will mark our 70th wedding anniversary. I knew, my heart knew, and my soul knew, the second I met her that she was the one I wanted to spend my life with. I went home and told my mom that I had met the girl I wanted to be my wife. Phyl never suspected. She was blinded by a smooth talking half-breed Cajun and Irish. I'd been around a lot and mostly on my own since the age of 14. She...
CHRISTMAS THE BIRTHDAY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING It’s come on the Christmas season, a joyous time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On Dec. 25, many people who attend church just once a year will attend religious services. The youngsters will wake up to the joy of gifts under the tree, many not yet realizing why this day of gifts from Santa Clause and the big feast mom has planned is a special day and why we celebrate. Many youngsters are happy that they are going to G...
With the holidays right around the corner, now is an appropriate time for reflection, grace, and thanks. I want to express my gratitude to each of you for continuing to allow me to advocate on your behalf. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to represent East and Southeast Texas in the Texas Legislature, and a responsibility I do not take lightly. I hope you all have a safe holiday season and a very Merry Christmas. Here are five things happening around your state: 1....
CHAMBER BANQUETS ORANGE and BRIDGE CITY Dec. 19 at noon is the deadline for reservations to the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and awards banquet. The 2024 Citizen of the Year and the Non-Profit and Business Community Service Awards will be presented Jan. 7, 2025 at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center. Sponsorship tables are $650, while individual tickets are $60 per person. Contact GOACC to reserve your spot. The GOACC is currently seeking...
PHELAN BIG LOSS FOR ORANGE COUNTY The Texas House Speaker is one of the most powerful legislative positions in the state. For a district like ours, it is a big loss to lose Dade Phelan. It really doesn’t matter if a state leader is Republican or Democrat, he always is in a position to bring good things to his district. Phelan, 49, has been one of the most powerful elected officials in Texas. Phelan started to lose his grip on the House last year when Attorney General Ken P...
REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR, DEC. 7, 1943 I was a youngster when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. I recall sitting next to the old radio with family and neighbors listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt address the nation about the attack. My aunt was saying her Rosary. She was praying for her son who was at Pearl Harbor. It turned out he had been severely injured when a lifeboat crashed down on him when his ship was hit. He recovered after a long hospital stay...
Last week we celebrated one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. Enjoyed food, family, and football – including the return of a historic in-state rivalry. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Comptroller announces awards for broadband programs The Broadband Development Office (BDO) announced it has notified the first wave of awardees for its Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) II program. This represents $580 million in funding that will connect alm...
A TIME FOR GIVING THANKS It’s come on Thanksgiving time and we certainly have plenty to be thankful for. It looks like Thanksgiving time I remember as a boy with the changing of the leaves. It’s not New England but I still appreciate the bright colors, even on the Tallow trees, Oaks, etc. I hope you all get to enjoy a nice day with your families. This year, for the first time, too many of our tribe are away and can’t get home. On a personal note, I’m very thankful for the man...
Part Two of Two Hank Williams was born in Mount Olive, Alabama on Sept. 17, 1923. When he was eight years old, Williams was given a guitar by his mother. His musical education was provided by a local blues street singer, Rufus Payne, who was called Tee Tot. From Tee Tot, Williams learned how to play the guitar and sing the blues. Williams began performing around Georgia and Greenville areas of Alabama in his early teens. During his shows Williams would sing songs from his...
CAN PHELAN SURVIVE AS SPEAKER The race for speaker of the Texas House has narrowed, pitting Beaumont Republican Dade Phelan, who has held the gavel since 2021, against Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, who has emerged as the challenger designated by a group disillusioned with House leadership. Phelan says he has the votes to be reelected to a third term as speaker. The speaker race typically takes off in the fall, but the quest to replace Phelan by his critics got started before...
* Remembering Roy Acuff and Hank Williams A two part series "I wondered home one day, where I used to run and play, only to find I was too late. Old Rover was gone from his pallet on the lawn, the old folks had died and gone away." Read Part 2 on Hank Williams next week in The Record Jimmy Rogers, the singing brakeman, blues and yodel man died about the time I was born but his songs lived on for years. They still bounce around in my head today. As a child, I met a young hobo w...
U.S. MAY NEVER HAVE A ‘MADAM PRESIDENT’ I would have liked to have a woman elected president but now I know it will never happen in my lifetime. There may never be a ‘Madam President’ in the United States. The Latino population will continue to grow and Latino men believe a woman’s place is in the kitchen. They will never support a woman CEO. As much as they loved Bill Clinton, they voted against Hillary. Kamala never had a chance. She got 10 million less votes than Biden. I...
6th US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN HISTORY BOOKS President Joe Biden pulled out of the presidential race for re-election 108 days ago, leaving just over three months for the Vice-President to mount a campaign that might produce the first woman president. Breaking that glass ceiling was a long shot, making VP Kamala Harris the underdog. Many women, because of female issues, including abortion, had hoped to shatter the glass ceiling. Harris and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walt...
The holidays are fast approaching and we’re busy gearing up for the next legislative session. It will be here faster than we know it! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Texas Veterans Commission awards over $1.4 million in grants to 8 East Texas organizations Last month, the Texas Veterans Commission presented over $1.4 million to eight East Texas organizations that provide services for veterans and their families. Those grants include: • A $300,000 gra...
ROY AND WILLIE AWAITING LAST CHANCE (Will History Be Made In Their Lifetime) There is a wide musical space between Beyoncé and Willie Nelson. Both were part of a star powered rally for Vice-President Kamala Harris in Houston. Willie, who is 91 years old and Roy Dunn, 90, said they have waited all these years to witness a female being elected president of the United States. They say they both missed their chance when an October surprise by the FBI head, James Comey, ended Hilla...
JAN. 6 RIOTER JUDGES FEAR REPRISALS According to the Associated Press, over the past four years, judges at Washington’s federal courthouse have punished hundreds of rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in an unprecedented assault on the nation’s democracy. On the cusp of the next presidential election, some of those judges fear another burst of political violence could be coming. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he prays Americans accept the outcome of the next ele...
WELCOME TEXANA TOYOTA Owner of the new Toyota dealership, Rick Jones, said they intend to play a large part in the community. He’s ready to invest time and monetary donations in community projects. County Judge John Gothia said he visited with the General Manager Mike Grewening and staff on Friday and welcomed them to Orange County. Gothia said they sincerely want to be part of the local community, chamber of commerce and overall involvement. Jones also owns other Toyota d...
MILTON CAUSES RECORD EARLY DEADLINE In early predictions hurricane Milton, a category four storm, barrels towards Florida, due Wednesday evening. Thankfully, that has been delayed. However the fear of evacuation and losing power threw us into an early Tuesday afternoon deadline. Mark Dunn, who produces our publications, is in Florida and feared that if we waited any longer to complete the papers to send to press we would be gambling. The eye of the storm is predicted to go...
GONE WITH THE WIND--85 YEARS LATER The 1939 epic Civil War film “Gone with the Wind” celebrates its 85th anniversary. The timeless story of love and war has been re-released nine times. The nearly four hour drama, hailed as a masterpiece, has grossed more than any other movie in history. $1.7 billion. It was nominated for 13 Oscars and awarded 10, including best picture. Vivien Leigh, as Scarlett O’Hara, won best actress. Here’s an interesting sidebar, Best Supporting Actress...
ALLRED AND CRUZ IN TIGHT SENATE RACE There was a time in Texas that the United States Senate race was always the hottest, most expensive race. Orange County was once a hot bed for U.S. Senators. The state has two senators who do not face elections at the same time for six-year terms. Most states have a senator from each party. Texas, for 30 years, has had two Republican senators. This election cycle could change that. A new poll puts U.S. Rep. Colin Allred up by one point...
