Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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Many enjoy having a real Christmas tree for the holidays. And when the holidays are over, there are several eco-friendly ways to dispose or recycle a Christmas tree. Living Christmas trees benefit the environment by sequestering carbon, supporting local businesses and tree farmers and filling families’ homes with the smell and feel of a real tree. “As Christmas trees grow, they provide many of the same benefits our urban and natural forests do, such as clean air, soil sta...
ORANGE, TX – Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) announced today that its Fall enrollment of 2,629 students is the highest since 2012. This represents an 11.7% increase in enrollment from last Fall. Enrollment at LSCO has grown by creating new academic and vocational programs as well as expanding to 8-Week Terms. Additionally, more dual credit students in area high schools are now being served by the college. “We are seeing that when students are given opportunities to thrive, t...
For Jeffrey Perkins, Orangefield Class of '93, it IS rocket science. The former Orange Countian has been involved with the Orion program, helping to design the spacecraft that will take Americans back to the moon, since the design part of the project started in 2007. His involvement came about serendipitously. He happened to be in the right place, at the right time. After Perkins graduated from Orangefield, he spent two years at Lamar University, then transferred to A&M....
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...
Santy Roberts, owner of Roberts Ford on Green Avenue, wanted to help for the Christmas season this year and decided to have a festival dubbed Jingle Bell Rock Out. She didn't realize the Saturday event marked her first anniversary of assuming the dealership. "It's the holiday season and we wanted to get the community together," she said. It was also a time for the community to meet the Roberts "family" at the dealership, the employees who help keep it running. Will Palasota,...
The Orangefield Fine Arts Boosters will reintroduce the “Christmas in Orangefield” event Saturday. “We are very excited to bring this event back to the community after it being absent for a few years,” said Chris Kovatch, treasurer for the organization. “We have a very active board and membership and felt this was something we would like to coordinate as one of our annual fundraisers.” All funds raised by the boosters will benefit their scholarship fund. “We are able to speak...
Theresa Beauchamp poses with other members of Orange County Commissioners Court as she was honored for serving as Precinct 2 commissioner. She is retiring when her term ends December 31. Theresa Adams Beauchamp has spent the past four years walking along rural roads and stomping through ditches. But she's ending her term as Orange County Precinct 2 Commissioner in a wheelchair. Instead of sitting up with the rest of the court, she sat in the wheelchair at a staff table. On...
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 special thank you to the Orangefield High School Partners: Aveanna Health Care, Dow Industries, First State Bank of Texas-Orange, Lamar State College-Orange, Turner Industries, and Valero for participating in the first annual Student Mock Interview Event, hosted by Lamar State College-Orange. Thanks to the support and dedication of these partners, this event was more successful than imagined! There were over 100 students interviewed, and the feedback from the students was...
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,...
The Heritage House Museum located at 905 W. Division St. in Orange has been closed since sustaining damage in 2017 from Hurricane Harvey. They are happy to announce a grand reopening today at 4 p.m. Santa will make an appearance 6-8 p.m. for pictures and to listen to youngsters wish lists for Christmas. "We are excited to get to show the community once again inside the Heritage House Museum," said Adam Conrad, museum board president. "It has been closed since Hurricane Harvey...
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...
A public hearing regarding countywide voting will be Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in the Orange County Commissioners’ Court Room at 1:00 pm. If approved, the countywide voting program would allow voters to cast votes at any polling location within Orange County on election day, rather than limiting the voter to a specific precinct. Countywide voting would allow for the convenience of voters and eliminate confusion as to which polling location they would need to visit. C...
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...
There is not a better role on the planet for Adam Conrad’s return to the live stage after a 12-year hiatus than Buddy in “Elf the Musical.” He is excited to be cast as the lead character in Beaumont Community Player’s newest musical offering that opens this weekend for a three-week run. Those that know him are familiar with his over-animated antics which are the perfect embodiment of Buddy’s character. “I’m goofy and I’m crazy and this part is so much energy, so much fun (cl...
Orange County Special Angels Rodeo is one of eight charities participating in the Trees of Hope contest at Delta Downs Casino in Vinton, La. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three charities receiving the most votes for their decorated trees. "We need people to go vote," said Special Angels representative Deborah Harris. All voting is in person and is open Nov. 23-Dec.15....
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...
