From the Creaux's Nest

SKEETER INVASION – TIME TO FIGHT BACK

Six months ago we predicted it would be a mild winter but we are even surprised that it has been so mild, not only here but all over the country.

The rain we’ve gotten lately is appreciated but would have been a lot more helpful last spring and summer.

Many of our great trees might have been saved.

*****I don’t recall that mosquitoes have ever been so bad in February.

It’s really time to do something about it.

We were raised with “Skeeters” and learned to live with them, small price to pay for the privilege of living here.

The present situation however is unbearable and should be declared an emergency.

I’ve joked about it before but believe me, it’s no joke when they attack by the 100’s, from house to car.

*****I’ve gotta move on.

I’d appreciate you coming along, I promise it won’t do you no harm.

SHEDING LIGHT ON DOMESTIC OIL

I haven’t said it before but we are grateful to Lynn Greenwell for the donation of the Sunday Houston Chronicle to The Record every week.

We read many papers daily from different parts of the country and also several magazines.

Today our reading is costly so we are thankful to Lynn for her contribution.

The lead story in the latest Sunday Chronicle is titled “Oil and Outlook Gushing.” It’s a long study of the present oil outlook.

Here’s how they sum it up.

Bouncing back after falling to levels not seen since the 1940’s, U.S. oil production began rising again in 2009.

More rigs are working, the number of rigs in U.S. oil fields have more than quadrupled in the past three years.

The U.S. energy information administration likes it’s bright forecast of crude production by the EIA. They forecast the U.S. will challenge Saudi Arabia as the world’s top oil producer, including crude and other forms of oil.

That’s all good.

No doubt the Obama administration has been good for big oil but it leaves me with questions.

Why are oil companies killing natural gas wells? It’s cheap is one good reason.

Why are gas prices at the pump so high? We have to look at the whole picture.

Something is really wrong plus the working class suffers.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2002

Monte Morphew plans to restore the house at 205 College Street, in Orange, from its current condition to the glamorous home it was in the early 1900s.

The home is owned by Monte and Kathy and is the second house they own, the other is in the historical district.

*****Pct.

2 Constable Parker “P.T. Thompson receives DPS award for averting a crisis.

Texas Ranger L.C. Wilson presented Thompson with the award at the DPS headquarters.

Thompson had convinced Keith Wayne Gonzales to surrender and give up the hostage he was holding in Judge Clark’s courtroom.

*****Drainage District candidates begin filing.

Brent Peveto filed Monday for the OCDD’s at large director’s seat.

Three district directors plan to run again.

They are Pct.

1 Bill Dixon, who has served 24 years, Pct.

3 Karl Stephenson and Elwayne McCray, incumbent in the at large position, who will seek his first full term.

He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Albert Adams.

*****Diane and Mark Wimberly celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on Feb. 18.

(Editor’s note: Congrats on your 28th this week.)*****Donna Scales is one of the areas best pastry bakers.

She also makes a great Almond Joy cake and from time to time she sends Jimmy over with a platter full of goodies.

(Editor’s note: I remember those good old days at the old Creaux’s Nest.)*****Mike and Darlene Peebles, owners of the Yellow Rose Barbecue place, brought the crew etouffee stuffed baked potatoes.

(Editor’s note: I wonder what happened to the Peebles anyway.

I’m also wondering if Darlene is still hanging with that guy.)*****Sidney Poitier turns 75 on Feb. 20.

*****Fain Holbrook celebrated another birthday Feb. 18.

*****The Gunn twins, Trevor and Tyler, turned seven on Feb. 10.

*****Blum “Sonny” Smith and Frances celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, Feb. 17.

*****Ricardo “Ricky” Trevino has announced he will be a candidate for mayor of Pinehurst.

*****Justice of the Peace Cimron Campbell seeks a second term to Pct.

2 post.

Others running against the Republican Campbell are Democrats Ed Barton, Roy Derry Dunn, A.C. Helton and “Dawl” Cooper.

(Editor’s note: Derry Dunn won and is still J.P. Pct.2.)*****Judge Martin Ardoin turns 99 on Feb. 23.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

B.E. “Bob” Hankins, George W. Stevens, Barry Murchison, Chad Boatman, Harry Risher, Jasmine Lindner, John Curphy, Leslie Braus, Wesley Arnold, Brint Carlton, John Hughes, Jody Andes, Betty Davis, Crystal Jones, Misti Bishop, Juanita Sullivan, Kelle Betz, Matthew Bland, Rachel Doucet, Joe Hebert, Dalton Bonds, Brently Sholmire, Regina Harrington, Scarlett Fontenot, Taylor Brownlie, Bill Bennett, Brad Frye, Zelda Jones, Kaylea Smith, Doris Byrd, Angela Brinson, Anita Murchison, Betty Sherman, Kayden Meulemans, Braelyn Baugh, Michael Gray, Claudia Williams, Eleanor Shult, Marilyn Powell, Zachary Gilliam, Amanda Beeson, Jeffrey Fregia, Beth Lee, Ellen Nickum, Bailey Noah, Beth Mathews, Butch Choate, David Claybar, Gretta Brinson, James Wilkinson, Lindsey Moreau, Sarah Havens, Allisha Bonneaux, LaVerne McDonald, Anna Marshall, Randy Lowe, Bob Moore, Amy Ball, Kathy McKenzie, Kurt Reeves, Royce Pendergast and Ginger Romero.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Judge Buddie Hahn’s court coordinator Judy Mingle, who has been with the county since 1987, is retiring at the end of February.

We wish her God’s speed and happy retirement.

Our longtime friend Cheryl Donnard has been hired to replace her.

We’re proud for her.

*****A few folks celebrating their special day this week.

I’m not sure when but I do know that Chief Jerry Wimberly has a birthday this week.

I think it’s Feb. 20.

***Best wishes to Barry Murchison and happy birthday on Feb. 22.

***Our friend, the beautiful Regina Harrington, celebrates Feb. 24.

She’s a brand new grandmother.

***Feb. 25 is a special day for major Brad Frye.

Surely the Bridge City Police Department is hosting a birthday party.

***One of our bestist friends, Moe Litton, cuts another notch on the tree of life on Feb. 26.

What a guy.

*****Lovely Ellen Nickum, who a long time ago was from Rye, Texas and for many years happily married to Bill, will celebrate another birthday Feb. 27.

Best wishes for a long, healthy life.

***David Claybar celebrates Feb. 27 as his special day.

Happy birthday and we wish for clear sailing ahead.

*****Wednesday, Feb. 22 will mark the beginning of the Lenten season.

When I was a boy, the holy season was taken very seriously and was a special time.

*****Feb. 23 will mark 16 years since the death of Annalee Knight who passed in 1996.

A remarkable lady, mother and teacher who we will never forget.

*****Mike Marion, assistant district attorney and retired chief deputy Orange County Sheriff’s Dept., is retiring at the end of March.

He will go into private practice in Vidor.

He has been with the county 22 years.

*****The Postal Service is warning it will lose as much as $18.2 billion a year by 2015 unless it can cut Saturday deliver, slow First Class mail by a day and raise stamp prices five cents.

A five-year cost cutting plan would close up to 252 processing centers and 3700 post offices.

It’s the changing age of the computer world.

Mail delivery started with the Pony Express, that took mail weeks, now it takes seconds.*****CREAUX’S TIP OF THE WEEK: To clean a thermos bottle, fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour or longer.

Your thermos will be like brand new.

*****CAJUN DEFINITION: Zydeco (Zid-e-co) a kind of Creole dance music that is a combination of traditional Cajun dance music, R&B and African blues.

The word Zydeco in Cajun means green bean or snap bean.

***** With the primaries moved to May 29, Texas can kiss its GOP clout goodbye, it’s likely the Party would have picked a nominee by then.

The long, contentious redistricting dispute was the culprit.

The primary has already been postponed twice and the battle over Republican drawn gerrymandered maps may not be over yet.

It’s a sure bet Texas will not play a key role in the GOP presidential race.

It will be interesting to see who the Party picks and if it differs with the voters.

*****Twenty-eight states already have the birth control law.

More than 600 physicians and medical students, from 49 states, signed a letter of support to President Obama.

They said millions of women rely on birth control pills for other medical conditions.

Ninety-eight percent of all women have used contraceptives.

Women’s groups say most women are united when it comes to access to birth control.

Rick Santorum, on the campaign trail, has blistered the policy.

*****LBJ lost the South for Democrats over the Civil Rights Act, and the GOP will lose the women’s vote in large numbers if they continue to politicize the contraception issue.

Bet on it.

*****The GOP presidential race is far from over but some people are already thinking ahead to the number two spot.

Florida’s Sen.

Marco Rubio tops the list in a survey of registered Republican and Independent voters nationwide.

Next is Rick Santorum, followed by Gov. Chris Christie.

Santorum as of now leads Mitt Romney in the presidential race and Rubio and Christie both said they don’t believe they will be on the ticket.

*****Former Orange Police Chief Sam Kittrell is the new chief of Pineforest.

He will do them a good job and it will keep Sam busy and not likely to get in trouble.

We wish our friend the best.

*****Our buddy King Dunn was feeling puny, went to Houston for test.

Last Wednesday they put a stent in an artery that was 95 percent blocked.

The good news is he’s home, ready to run a race, drive his tractor and make the Lunch Bunch meeting.

By the way, this Wednesday the Bunch will dine at Novrozsky’s.

Special guests are expected.

Next week it’s back to Robert’s.

Everyone is always welcome.

WHITNEY HOUSTON LAID TO REST

After over a three-hour service at her home church, Whitney Houston was buried next to her father.

Her catalog of songs and albums sold one million copies in one day after her death.

Since her death album sales are up 6,000 percent.

In one week sales of Whitney’s music exceeded all 2011 and 2012 sales for both years.

Dolly Parton isn’t doing bad either, the song she wrote, recorded by Whitney, “I Will Always Love You” sold 195,000 downloads in the fist couple of days after the death.

In the coming weeks consumers will scoop up millions of albums.

This will make Whitney’s estate the most earning of any artist of the year.

Reports are that she was very low on funds despite being one of the best selling artist worldwide.

A NOTE ON MISS MATTIE

I’ve been asked about the latest on Mattie Dellinger, the 100 years old historical columnist for the Shelby County Light and Champion.

Like this Creaux’s Nest column, Mattie still writes a long column every week called “Party Line” about the happenings around East Texas.

In January her son Dan died.

It was sudden and unexpected.

Another sad episode for Mattie was the death of classmate and lifelong friend Kate, who died in Sulphur.

There were 47 in their 1929 graduating class and she and Kate wrote each other daily.

Then her devoted tomcat and companion Tuffy died at age 18.

Mattie called Susie Nelson about son Dan’s death and she notified Willie, who called her right away while on his bus going to Amarillo for a concert. A few days later, Mattie received several CD’s of Susie and Willie’s recordings, one a recording of Susie’s gospel hour.

One song by Willie and Susie is dedicated to Mattie.

She also received recordings of Willie and sister Bobbie.

If you would like to drop Miss Mattie a note address it to Mattie, Box 744, Center, Texas, 75935.

A lot of folks in Orange County are imports from East Texas, such as Grady Johnson.

NEWS ON THE LIGHT SIDE

The final four GOP candidates will meet Wednesday in Mesa, Arizona for their 20th televised debate to air on CNN. *****The long wait for Oscar finally arrives Sunday night.

All the final ballots from the 6,000 voters arrived Tuesday by 5 p.m.

Of all the talent, two of the biggest stars, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, add a level of excitement, both double nominees.

The two friends say people love to see them pitted against each other.

This year features other high profile performers like Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, newcomer Gary Oldman and a host of others.

*****Lindsay Lohan will make her return to Saturday Night Live on March 3.

That will mark Lohan’s fourth turn as guest host.

Hopefully, this time she can stay straight.

Over the years, she has been riddled by multiple arrest and battles with substance abuse.

*****Sir Paul McCartney says he’s given up pot for his daughter.

Paul reveals that Bob Dylan introduced him to cannabis and that he also experimented with heroin, LSD and cocaine but had stuck with the weed habit until now.

He says, “It’s time to give up that part of my life.” I would think so after nearly 50 years.

He was busted for pot in Japan in 1980, over 32 years ago.

*****MSNBC dropped conservative commentator Pat Buchanan after four months of suspension.

His book, “Suicide of a Super Power,” contains chapters titled, “The End of White America” and “The Death of Christian America.” Critics called the book racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic.

The former GOP candidate, who was once with CNN News, was out of place with MSNBC. *****Marc Anthony and J. Lo will be together again on a television project.

“Q’Vival! The Chosen” will premiere March 3rd at 8 p.m.

ET, on FOX. The reality competition show, which focuses on Latin music and dance, will be a two-hour episode lasting five weeks.

The project was announced before the couple split in July.

*****The “VOICE,” NBC’s singing competition, is about to unseat 11th season FOX juggernaut, “American Idol” from it’s rating throne, particularly among younger viewers that advertisers covet.

It’s a game change for NBC.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Drew Barrymore turns 37 on Feb. 22; On Feb. 23, Dakota Fanning will be 18; Peter Fonda, 73 and James Blunt, 35. ***Joe Lieberman will be 70 on Feb. 24; Paula Zahn, 56 and Billy Zane, 46. ***Nancy O’Dell turns 46 on Feb. 25; Carrot Top, 45; Julio Iglesias Jr., 38 and James Phelps, 26. ***On Feb. 26, Michael Bolton will be 59; Erykah Badu, 41 and Corinne Bailey Rae, 33. ***Adam Baldwin will be 50 on Feb. 27; Chelsea Clinton, 32 and Josh Groban, 31. ***John Turturro will be 55 on Feb. 28 and Ali Larter, 36.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Amy Comeaux was riding da bus from Abbeville to Baton Rouge wen da bus stop to take on passengers in Lafayette. A man got on da bus wit boat of his front trouser pockets full of golf balls. He sat next to Amy, who is a very attractive blond. Amy was puzzled and she kept looking at da man and his bulging pockets. Finally, after many glances from Amy, da man said, “It’s golf balls.” Amy her, continued to look at him for a very long time tinking deeply about wat da man had said. After several minutes, not being able to contain her curiosity any longer axe, “Does it hurt as much as tennis elbow, hanh?”

C’EST TOUT

The Dow tops 13,000 Tuesday for the first time since May of 2008.

Meanwhile, gas consumption is down seven percent since last year, yet prices, at the pump, continue to rise.

Everyone loses because taxes are collected on each gallon sold at the pump.

The only one who grows with high prices is the oil company.

Don’t buy into the lie that restrictions are causing high prices.

It’s not the Keystone Project either, that oil will belong to Canada.

Our refineries are overflowing, docked tankers are full, and there is no shortage.

They’re gutting the poor and middle class.*****Every four years you can expect the Rev. Franklin Graham to inject himself into the political action.

He’s making the rounds of the talk shows questioning President Obama and Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs.

He draws attention to himself and gets more exposure.

What he doesn’t say is that he supports extreme right-winger Rick Santorum.

If Graham professes to be a preacher he should stay out of politics.

He might be his son but he’s no Billy Graham even though he is trying to capitalize on his name.

Well, I knew I couldn’t make it through a column without getting in trouble but it aggravates me when tax-exempt preachers go down a political path, influencing who we should vote for.

Something Franklin’s dad never would have done.

We’re not electing a preacher, we’re electing a president.*****I’m done, thanks for your time, mine is up.

Please read us cover to cover and shop our family of advertisers.

Look them over inside this publication.

I hope I’ve run a little something for everyone.

Have a nice week.

Take care and God bless.