From the Creaux's Nest

FINAL STOP TO SUPER BOWL

The NFL will hold its championship games this Sunday.

The game everyone is talking about is a rematch between Payton Manning and the Broncos against Tom Brady and the Patriots.

The other game will feature Cam Newton and Carolina against Arizona.

I believe if Manning goes to the Super Bowl he will hang it up and call it a career.

My bet is that Tom Brady and Cam Newton will face off in the Super Bowl.

First we will have the Pro-bowl.

I’m glad to see Earl Thomas make it but am disappointed they passed him up for All Pro at safety.*****Pete Rose is headed to the Hall of Fame, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

The team will induct Rose into its Hall of Fame during the weekend of June 24-26, bypassing the usual election process and changing its rule that had matched the rule of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which barred those on baseball’s permanently ineligible list from induction.

In December Rose’s request to be lifted from baseball’s banned list was denied.

*****Now I’ve got to move on.

Please hop on and come along, I promise it won’t do you no harm.

CONDOLENCES

Longtime Bridge City resident Ann Bryant dies.

A great lady has left us.

For over 65-years, Ann Louise Bryant, age 86, had been a public school and private music teacher.

She began teaching in 1948 and taught generations of students in Orange and Bridge City.

Hundreds of students received private music lessons in her home studio.

I first met Ann and her husband Cecil, who was also a career teacher in 1957.

He and his brother Casey were Bridge City High School’s first coaches.

Cecil was instrumental in naming the cardinal as Bridge City’s mascot.

He was also a business man and investor and at one time Ann and Cecil were the largest real estate owners in the B.C. area.

Ms.

Ann, as she was affectionately known by so many, always stayed in the background and pursued her love for music and teaching.

She was a very kind and caring lady and always had a smile for those she met.

Ms.

Ann died Jan. 13, at St. Elizabeth Hospital after a month long illness.

Services were held Monday, Jan. 18 at Winfree Baptist Church.

She is survived by a son Cecil Paul Bryant, Jr., wife, Van, and their family, daughter Lisa Ann Bryant Keller and husband Dr.

Michael Keller of Port Neches and their family.

Serving as pallbearers were Raun Bryant, Josh Landry, Billy Bryant, Kim Bryant, Matt Bryant and Marc Mesch.

Honorary pallbearers were Aden Paul Bryant, Mason Paul Bryant,Andrew Mambretti, Dr.

Michael Keller, Dylan Kitchen Mikoletopoulos and George Ela.

Memorial Service for Dirk Flowers

Our friend and a youngster we had known since he was a baby, Dirk Flowers, 59, passed away Monday, Jan. 18. He had fought the good fight battling cancer for over a year. His wife Missy, always at his side, optimistic and looking at the bright side, gave Dirk the strength to fight on. Over the year, we had chronicled his battle and the spirit of this great guy. A memorial service will be held Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. at Triumph Church in Nederland.

Gentry service to be held in Vidor

Mike Gentry, age 69, worked 32 years for the Orangefield School District. He died Sunday, Jan. 17, Gentry started his career at Orangefield as a science teacher and coach. He rose in the ranks to become Superintendent. Over the years he had a widespread influence on the school and district. Service will be held Thursday, Jan. 21, at First Baptist Church in Vidor. Visitation begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor.

Elsie Albair services to be held in Sulphur

Our friends Richard and Peggy Albair have had their share of death lately. Richard lost a brother last year, one last month and this past Saturday, Jan. 16, he lost his sister Elsie Albair, age 86. A native of Hackberry, service will be held in Sulphur, Wed. Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. Our deepest sympathies go out to Richard and the Albair family. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

The state of the storm is still a mess four months after hurricane Rita.

The County Judge said although he didn’t think the county would look as good as it does, there is still a lot left to do.

Thibodeaux said a survey shows 3, 600 single family residents totally destroyed, 9,000 homes with extensive damage and 30 percent of all Orange County houses are damaged.

Already 655 FEMA trailers are being used, 48 other families are waiting on trailers, and 45,000 roofs are covered with blue tarps in the Blue Roof program.

Debris, 20,000 to 40,000 cubic feet, is still being removed every day.

The eye of storm Rita passed through Orange County on September 24.*****Alissa Williams is named “Ambassador of the Year” by Bridge City Chamber.*****An unfortunate accident cost the life of Charles Foster, 61, while shopping with his wife, Rita, at Fashion Floors, on Texas Ave., in Bridge City.

Foster, along with store owner Kenneth Sweat, was struck when a pickup, driven by Don Price, age 75, left the roadway, hit a vehicle sending it into a telephone post that crashed into the store, exiting on the other end.

Sweat’s injuries were not serious.

*****Jimmy Harmon, son of Corky and Betty Harmon, had surgery in Houston for throat cancer.

His voice box was removed.

(Editor’s note: Jimmy recovered and learned to live with his new gadget.)*****Doris Kearns Goodwin, a world renowned historian and Pulitzer winning author and longtime baseball fan delivered a public lecture at the Lutcher Theater.

*****Gary Kubiak is coming home to be the new head coach of the Houston Texans.*****When our longtime friend Frances Hoosier fell and hit her head and headaches continued to persist, a visit to the emergency room was required.

She was immediately sent into surgery to remove two blood clots in her head.*****We learned Hugh Bacon, Julia Bacon’s son, who lived with his brother Gary, died in Houston.*****Arlene Howland, Commander of Post 250 of the American Legion, has announced that the Post is moving back to Bridge City.

The Post started out in Bridge City in the 1940’s.

Howland said it was begun by Glen Humphrey.

Howland has been Commander since 1991 and Post Commander since 2002.

*****GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Jeffery W. ‘Turk’ Trahan, 82, of Orange, died Jan. 16.

He was a WWII Navy veteran and pipefitter with Local 195.

*****Geneva Ann Gonzales, 64, of Port Arthur, died Jan. 16.

Officiating was Sister Ruth from Harvest Chapel in West Orange.

*****John Young, 91, of Orange, died Jan. 17, 2006.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Velma and their sons and their families.

*****Donald David Tynes, Sr., 69, of Deweyville, died Jan. 19.

He was a lab technician for DuPont.

He is survived by wife Patsy, their children and their families.

*****Dorothy Flanagan ‘Dot’ Sims, 79, of Orange, died Jan. 19.

She was a native of Zwolle, Louisiana.

She was preceded in death by her husband Earnest Elton Sims, children and step-children.

40 Years Ago-1976

Sheriff Allen ‘Buck’ Patillo has announced he will seek a third term.

Patillo is a lifelong resident of Orange County.

He retired from Texaco in 1966 and served 28 years.

He was elected sheriff and took office January 1, 1969, after defeating longtime sheriff Chester Holt. When he took over, the sheriff’s department had 16 employees, today there are 30.

*****Johnny Wade Jr., former chief deputy under Patillo, has filed for sheriff in the May 1 Democratic primary.

Wade is a retired Army reserve first sergeant with 26 years of service.

He is married to the former Bobbie Cherry of Bridge City, who teaches school at West Orange-Cove.

They have four children.

*****Precinct 1 Constable Forrest Hudson files for reelection.

He was first elected seven years ago.

*****Judge Sid and Mrs. Caillavet celebrated 59 years of marriage on January 21.

*****Buddy and Jeanie Moore are the proud parents of a beautiful, blue-eyed, baby girl.

They named her Cherrye Rheal. *****Joe and Dixie Dupuy are on a New Year diet and vowing to stick to it.

Also on diets are Bill Townes, Wayne Morse, and the annual dieter, Sharon Bearden. *****Jessie Powell, from Tulia, a former linebacker with the Super Bowl Miami Dolphins, was a houseguest of Phyllis and Roy Dunn. He sports a big Super Bowl ring, having played on two championship teams.

Roy ribbed him about the one they lost to Dallas in New Orleans.

Roy and Pete Runnels attended that game as guest of the NFL. *****Lew and Virginia Malcolm attended market in Dallas over the weekend.

*****Jimmy and Ann Segura are the proud grandparents of a baby girl born to son Darrel and wife Sharon. They named the new baby Mitzi Ann. *****Bill McClure, Bridge City city manager, was passing out gold ceremonial shovels.

What the people he presented them to don’t know is that they received shovels McClure had Police Chief Wilson Roberts steal and spray paint gold.

*****Trivia: The American Baseball League was organized Jan. 29, 1900.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Donna and Judge Jimmy Scales are ecstatic about becoming grandparents for the first time.

Donna said Jimmy wanted to start fixing up a nursery before he knew if the baby was going to be a boy or a girl.

Congrats.

*****I was disappointed when I learned that Karen Jo Vance would be leaving her county clerk post.

Now tax assessor Linda Gunstream will be leaving at the end of the year.

Linda is such a nice and kind lady.

A woman of few words.

Another from the old gang of county employees we all knew for a long time.

Two employees with the tax office are running for the post.

Karen Fisher, a twenty-three year employee, who is manager/supervisor of the Vidor tax office and Debbie Meaux, a 21-year employee who works in the Orange tax office.

I first met Karen when she was a young woman and delivered a newspaper route for us in Orange.

Gunstream has not publicly endorsed either of her employees.

Linda will be missed.

*****Last week, I met Trish Williams and her husband, Sgt.

Charles Williams, with the Sheriff’s office.

She’s the quite one.

Trish is a former school teacher who is now a court bailiff.

She is running for county clerk, the seat formerly held by Karen Jo Vance. It will be the first election to replace Vance. Presently the office is being held by Brandy Robertson, who was appointed to fill Karen Jo’s unexpired term.

I believe the winner would have to run for election again in two years when the regular team is up.

Brandy is married to Roderick and they have three boys.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at PK’s Grill this week and next week, Jan. 27^th, The Bunch will gather at JB’s Barbecue. These should be two good outings.

Make plans to come break bread and visit with old and new friends.

*****Word out of Florida is that former Texas Governor Rick Perry has registered as a lobbyist in that state.

He met with Gov. Rick Scott concerning MCNA Dental, who were big donors to Perry. It is not known at this time if this is a one-time deal or if Perry plans to become a full time lobbyist.

Perry’s friends say probably not, he has too many other opportunities.

*****I watched both party debates.

The Republican debate was gloom and doom.

They spent two hours running down the country.

They never acknowledged that the United States is the world’s only super power, with the richest, most viable economy on earth.

They preached fear and made it sound like the economy was so bad people were in bread lines.

I drive the streets every day and see two or three cars in the driveway of most homes, also boats and golf carts in many.

They made it sound like we live in a third world country.

You have a better chance of winning the power ball than coming across a member of ISIS. The biggest lie told at the debate was by Donald Trump, who said we paid Iran $150 billion of taxpayer money and exchanged seven hard core criminals for the release of four.

The lie none of the others corrected is that we didn’t give Iran any money, we gave them back $65 Billion of their own money that we had seized during the sanction.

The Democratic debate was far more optimistic and centered around two issues, guns and health care.

It was the last debate for the Democrats.

The GOP has one more.

*****A few folks we know celebrating birthdays in the next few days: On Jan. 20, Coach Steve Griffith celebrates.

Employee of State Rep.

Dade Phelan, Zach Johnson, will be a year older today, as is Melissa Berry, Beth Fisher and Glenda Bertrand. Celebrities celebrating birthdays on this day are Country singer Brantley Gilbert, 29; Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 86 and TV show host Bill Maher, 60.*****Jan. 21, finds Charles Arceneaux, David Doucet, Sarah Bonds and Millagro Foster all celebrating.

They join celebrities Country singer Mac Davis, 74, Opera singer Placido Domingo, 75, and Houston Rockets baseball player Hakeem Olajuwon, 53.*****Jan. 22, finds Judge Janice Menard starting a new year down the road of life.

I understand she’s having a great time in retirement.

Also celebrating is Julian Meadows, Chris Anderson, Don Collins and Myra Sherwood.

They join Actresses Linda Blain, 56 and Diane Lane, 50, Chef Guy Fieri, 47 and Football Player Ray Price, 28.

On this day also, in 1973, LBJ died.

This was the same day Roe vs Wade was legalized.*****On Jan. 23, Wayne’s better half, Rex and Eric’s mom, Sandra Peveto celebrates as does Sue Harris, Harold Collins, Cindy Cain and Stephanie Smith. Also on this day Princess Caroline of Monaco, the daughter of Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly, turns 59, and Actress Mariska Hargitay, 52 celebrate.*****Celebrating on Jan. 24, are Toni Robertson, Randy Franklin, Larry Gray and Eric Shuford. They join Singer Neil Diamond, 75, Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton, 48 and New Orleans’ favorite son Aaron Neville, 75.*****On Jan. 25 our buddy, historian and just a great guy, Roy McDaniel turns 91, also having birthdays on this day are Taylor Thompson, Malissie Bailey, Chelsea Anderson and Judy Rogers. They join celebrities Singer Alicia Keys, 35, Actress Jennifer Lewis, 59 and Wrestler Michelle McCool, 35.

*****Jan. 26, finds one of my favorite friend-girls, Nancy Vincent celebrating.

We don’t hear much about her since she retired from the banking business.

Also celebrating are Flip Flipper, Marie Howell, Mike Faulk and Ron Huebel. Celebrities celebrating today are Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, 60, TV Talk Show Host Ellen DeGeneres, 58, and Hockey Player Wayne Gretzky, 55.

Today is also the anniversary of our friends H.D. and Pat Pate. There’s another lady who has earned her ticket to heaven.

*****Trump is not only a jerk and a joke, he also is a phony.

While pretending to be a good church going Christian speaking at Liberty University, to impress the crowd, he used his showmanship.

Trump sited a Bible verse as “Two Corinthians” rather than the way Christians say it, “Second Corinthians.” He also added, “Christianity is under siege.” I bet Trump doesn’t remember the last time he attended church service.

Meanwhile, Britain’s parliament held a debate Monday on a proposal to ban Trump from the country.

They called him everything but a white man, including a demagogue and a fool.*****Monday Martin Luther King Day was celebrated all over the country but in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi they celebrated, on the same day, Robert E. Lee Day, the birthday of the Confederate general, born in Virginia in 1807.*****Former First Lady and Democratic presidential front runner Hillary Clinton will be in Beaumont Wednesday afternoon for a fund raiser.

Supporters say she will return to the area at a later date.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Little Pistach Fontonot attended da horse auction wit his PaPa Pee-Wee, of Church Point. He watched as his papa moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down da horses legs, rump and chest.

After a few minutes Pistach axe, “Papa, why are you doing dat, hanh?”

His Papa Pee-Wee answer, “Well, it’s like dis, wen I’m buying horses I have to make sure dat dey are healthy dem, and in good shape before I buy dem.

Pistach him, got a worried look on his face and wit a trembling voice, he say, “Papa, I believe me, dat da UPS man, wat drives dat brown truck, wants to buy mama him.”

C’EST TOUT

The music world suffered yet another loss Monday when singer/ songwriter Glenn Frey, 67, died.

He was a founding member of the Eagles.

He died from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia.

Eagles group was formed in 1971, when Don Henley and Frey, along with Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, met as members of Linda Ronstadt’s band.

Frey sang the lead in hits like “Easy.” “Tequila sunrise,” New Kid in Town,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Already Gone,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” He co-wrote many of the songs, including “Hotel California,” “One of These Nights,” and “Desperado,” three classics.

Frey went solo in the 1980’s.

His song “Smugglers’ Blues,” inspired an episode of Mimi Vice in which Frey made his acting debut.

He wrote several soundtracks, including one for Beverly Hills Cop.

*****The Boogie Kings original musician Dale Gothia, 75, died last week on Jan. 12.

Gothia played the saxophone for the Boogie Kings, a blues band that was famous around the country in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.

They performed with music stars like BB King, Ray Charles, Otis Redding and others.

Gothia is an inductee in both the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and Gulf Coast Hall of Fame.

He was a Port Arthur native who grew up with the likes of Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and the late Johnny Preston Courville.

Gene hit the top of the charts with “Breaking Up is Hard to Do,” while one of Johnny’s biggest hits was “Running Bear,” written by Sabine Pass native J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson.

Jivin’ Gene said Gothia was a musical perfectionist.

Homer Pillsbury, music historian, said Gothia never played for the limelight.

His wife, Patricia, said music was his first love, she was his second.

Dale will be remembered by family and friends playing his sax for hours at a time on the porch of his Crystal Beach cabin.

Dale was one of the special, talented youngsters who came out of Port Arthur with their brand of “Swamp Pop” music.

He was the grandfather of Ashlyn Ivy, a talented musician in her own right.

Uncle Jim used to say people are like the oak, they die when the sap is down.

That sure seems to be true this winter, as we have lost many.

*****Well, it’s time for me to shut down.

It’s been somewhat of a downer column but it’s great to have the opportunity to recognize the special folks who have lived among us and went on to their reward.

Someday we will all join them.

Thanks for your time.

Please shop our family of advertisers when you can.

Take care and God bless.