Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Sorted by date Results 851 - 875 of 15398
From the Office of Glenn Hegar (AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced this month that he has joined with state Sen. Joan Huffman, Senate Committee on Finance chairwoman, to exempt feminine hygiene products from state and local sales tax. The effort will require new legislation and would likely not be finalized until the 2023 legislative session. Hegar and Huffman voiced strong support for the initiative. “As chair of Senate Finance, I am proud to make this eff...
Jerrod Lee Watkins, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the June 2020 deaths of two people in separate crashes. He agreed to serve two terms of 20 years each. Intoxication manslaughter carries the punishment of two to 20 years in state prison. Watkins admitted he killed bicyclist Robert Jackson, 45, of Bridge City, and then Jillian Blanchard, 20, of Groves. Watkins was set to go on trial for one of the manslaughter cases on...
Sales tax incomes were mixed in June for the Orange County entities getting the tax, according to figures from the Texas Comptroller's Office. The revenues from June were sent to the entities in August. The city of Bridge City had a strong showing of sales tax returns compared to the same time last year. However, the increase in tax income for the city did not offset the national inflation rate. For June, the national inflation rate was 9.1 percent, a 40-year high. The...
When you see the beautiful flowers growing at #3731 Bowling Lane in Orange, you will know that Louis Ardoin enjoys working in his yard and seeing his plants grow. The raised beds at the front of the house have a nicely arranged mix of plants, set off by various borders of stones and wood at different levels. Two of those plants completely surprised him by spouting tall blooms just shortly after being planted. But they only lasted a few days and then disappeared. The...
Orange County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved a new property tax rate with a small decrease in the rate. However, tax payments may go up for many people because of an increase in property values. The new rate will be 53 cents per $100 valuation, changed from the current rate of 54 cents per $100 valuation. A house valued at $100,000 with the county's 20 percent homestead exemption will pay based on an $80,000 valuation. Under the new rate, the homeowner would pay about $4...
Property owners in Bridge City will be paying more in school taxes this coming year, but the increase is nothing unexpected. Voters in May approved a $72 million bond election to construct new buildings and improve other ones. The tax increase is to pay off the bonds, which are a kind of loan. Based on calculations from the legal numbers provided by the Bridge City ISD, the owner of a home at the average value in the district will pay $77.94 a year more. For someone making...
Once a year, Orange's history comes alive as local high school drama students dress up and tell true stories from the past. The Heritage House Museum in downtown holds the Historic Ghost Walk in October. The date this year is Saturday, October 15. Because of the success of the past ghost walks, Heritage House is turning the event into a fundraiser and festival. "We never expected the Historic Ghost Walk to become so popular," said Adam Conrad, president of the Heritage House b...
The Stark Museum of Art will have a free family day event with activities and crafts on Saturday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is in downtown Orange at 712 Green Avenue. Families can tour the museum's galleries and take a look at a special exhibition of local artwork. Students from the museum's Summer Art Quest hand-colored pictures from a coloring book of places in the Stark Cultural Venues, which include the art museum, Shangri-La gardens, the Lutcher...
After a citizen complaint about speeding in the Victory Gardens neighborhood outside Bridge City, the Orange County Commissioners Court is proposing to install a four-way stop sign. Other stop sign installations to slow traffic are also in the future for two different Little Cypress neighborhoods off Highway 87 North. The court will conduct public hearings on the proposed stop signs, as required by state law, on Tuesday, August 30, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom...
AUSTIN – Three of Texas' 10 Most Wanted offenders are back in custody following their recent arrests. Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender Rodney Hunter, of Waco, was arrested August 9 in Waco. Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Thomas Naranjo, of Houston, was arrested August 10 in Houston. Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender Bruce Clifton, of El Paso, was arrested August 15 in Mesilla Park, N.M. A Crime Stoppers reward will be paid in Clifton's arrest. Rodney Eugene Hunter, 50, is a hi...
AUSTIN – The new school year has arrived, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reminds drivers to use extra caution in and around school zones and neighborhoods. This includes knowing the Texas laws about driving near stopped school buses and not using cell phones when you’re behind the wheel. It also means utilizing the many safety resources available to parents, school staff and students. “Heading back to school is such an exciting time and we all need to work toget...
The Texas Department of Public Safety is releasing the names of two drivers killed in a head-on collision in Orange County Monday night. The head-on wreck happened near Tulane Road along Texas Highway 62 in at about 9:30 p.m. according to a news release from the DPS. Troopers believe 2014 Honda passenger car, driven by 59-year-old Sheila Lavalle of Orange, was traveling north, when it drove into the southbound lanes and struck a 2019 Kia passenger car, driven by Brittnie...
The Bridge City City Council Tuesday evening voted on a general operating budget of $10.06 million budget includes a 3 percent pay increase for employees. The budget is for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which will begin on October 1. The budget goes with a proposed tax rate 48.2 cents per $100 valuation. A public hearing on the tax rate will be held a council meeting Tuesday, September 6, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor David Rutledge told The Record the city staff and council keep...
All of Orange County's public school districts have earned a "B" grade from the Texas Education Agency this year. TEA released the grades on Monday. The grades from "A" to "F" are based on a number of criteria, including the STAAR scores and improvements from past years. This was the first year since 2019 the grades were assessed because of the affect of the Covid 19 pandemic on classes. The Bridge City, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Orangefield, West Orange-Cove, and Vidor sch...
The Bridge City ISD Education Foundation has two fundraisers scheduled to help in the effort to raise money for special school projects. The non-profit community group is sponsoring a Bridge City High School Alumni volleyball game on Friday, August 19, at 6 p.m. at the high school. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. A concession stand with snacks for purchase will be open and proceeds will go to the foundation. The Bridge City education foundation was started a...
Steve Worster was probably the biggest celebrity from Orange County. He died Saturday at the age of 73. Though his peak fame coming during his teens and early 20s, the news of his death has put his name in headlines once again. He was a football running back and was one of those once-in-a-lifetime high school and college players. "We always say he put Bridge City on the map," said Darrell Segura, his longtime friend and high school teammate. The headlines of his death are on...
Orange, TX – Lamar State College Orange hosted its Summer 2022 Graduation this past Saturday, August 13, 2022. The graduation was held at the J. Michael and Bridget Shahan Events Center and 100 students graduated. President Tom Johnson served as the commencement speaker. 75% of the graduates were first-generation college graduates. HONOR GRADUATES Summa Cum Laude (3.80 - 4.00 GPA) Sarah Isabelle Banker Bianca Denee Bourque Christopher E. Brewer Sandy Van Anh Bui Jessica D...
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas State University System (TSUS) Foundation today announced winners of the 2022 Regents’ Professor, Teacher, Staff Excellence, and Student Scholar Awards at the TSUS Board of Regents meeting in Austin. Rebecca “Becky” McAnelley, Assistant Dean of Student Services and Registrar at Lamar State College Orange, received the Regents’ Staff Excellence Award. The award recognizes staff who excel in six areas: commitment to the college and its mission; job compe...
The new Gisela Houseman Medical Complex with hospital got another boost Tuesday when the Sabine River Authority of Texas gave $220,000 to Orange County to help pay for the infrastructure in the new construction. David Montagne, SRA general manager, and longtime Board of Directors member Earl Williams of Orange County presented Commissioners Court with a mock check. Montagne said Williams had the idea to help the county. Williams commented that a hospital will help the county...
Yee haw! Orange Community Players, Inc. (OCP) is hosting a country music show Saturday, Aug. 20, at Orange Train Depot, 1210 W. Green Ave, Orange to raise funds to continue the renovations of the old movie theater. "We've worked hand in hand with the depot for years," said Paul Burch, president of OCP. They provide entertainment for events such as Depot Day in exchange for use of the venue for fundraisers such as the upcoming dinner and country music show. A barbecue dinner...
The Orange County Sheriff's Office recruited help from county code enforcement, a county emergency services district, and the Rose City marshal to shut down three gaming rooms last week. According to a press release from Sheriff Lane Mooney, detectives with the Narcotics Division investigated the three rooms and found multiple violations of the county gaming ordinance and state gambling laws. On Wednesday, August 3, the detectives went to the Double Diamond Game Room in the...
The naked truth was revealed Thursday night at the Bridge City Chamber's roast of County Judge John Gothia. However, it wasn't him that was naked, though the question is left: Was he wearing Spiderman or Batman underwear? The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce through the years has used a "roast" of prominent citizens as a fundraiser. The roast of Gothia was the first since 2015, when Kirk Roccaforte, now a county commissioner, was roasted when he was Bridge City mayor. The...
ORANGE, TX - Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) shared progress this week on the construction of a new Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training facility, made possible by a grant from the Office of Governor Greg Abbott. The state’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund awarded LSCO an $800,000 grant to build a 54,000 square foot driving pad and a covered area with a concrete base for seating and instruction, all with enhanced lighting. "In partnership with the Texas W...
Competitors from all over the World showed up for the Grappling Industries Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Houston, TX this past weekend. Nine competitors from Mooney Boys Jiu Jitsu represented Orange County accompanied by head coach Marshall Mooney and assistant coaches Noah Flynn, Erin Ayers, and Justin Lambert. The Mooney Boys team competed in 40 total matches bringing home 3 gold, 7 silver, and 8 bronze medals. The Competitors ages ranged from 10-19 years old, with...
The OCARC conducted its 34th fishing tournament this past weekend. It was another successful event for the association. There were 230 participants that entered the OCARC Fishing Tournament in the waters around Orange County with 71 of the participants being younger than 16 years old. "That's what we always like to have is a lot of kids out here so they'll be fishing in the future," John Thomas the Director of OCARC announced. This year's tournament was done in remembrance of...
