From the Creaux's Nest

50 YEARS SINCE MASS SHOOTING--OPEN CARRY GOES IN EFFECT

Monday marked 50 years since Charles Whitman, a 25 year old student and former Marine, climbed the tower at the University of Texas with an arsenal of high powered weapons and began killing.

For an hour and a half he fired below at students and passers-by, killing 15 people and injuring 30 others in what became known as the first mass murder of its kind in America.

To us who lived it that incident stood out in our minds for years.

Then came similar shootings around the nation in places like Columbine, Virginia Tech, New Town, Orlando, a Lafayette theater, etc.

Whitman was first but certainly won’t be the last. On the morning of Aug. 1, 1966, he killed his mother then drove to South Austin where he stabbed and killed his wife.

He then made his way to the tower with several rifles and handguns and 700 rounds of ammunition.

Police officers said students grabbed rifles from pickup trucks and began firing back at Whitman.

The officers said this made it worse, plus the students, who didn’t have a chance of hitting him, were shooting up the tower.

Today police have specialized SWAT teams to deal with mass shootings. Today students shooting back would cause more trouble than good and might get officers killed.

Trying to be a hero would complicate things.

What is ironic is that exactly on the 50^th anniversary of UT Texas’ massacre a new campus carry law went into effect allowing handguns at public universities.

Several professors have filed complaints in federal court to block the law before classes begin Aug. 24.

An interesting sidebar: Monday, State Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a suit against the city of Austin because the city is banning open carry of firearms at city hall.

Go figure.

*****I’ve got to move on.

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

TRUMP’S WAGON HEADED IN WRONG DIRECTION

Michel Bloomburg, billionaire and former New York mayor, said about Donald Trump, “I’m a New Yorker, I know a con when I see one.” Warren Buffett, the countries second wealthiest billionaire said, “Trump should release his tax returns and offered to release his at the same time and let reporters question them on each point.” My take has been that Trump will quit the race before he will release his returns.

It would point out the phony he is.

Mark Cuban, billionaire, Dallas Maverick owner, businessman, spoke in terms of Donald being a snake-oil salesman and not capable of running the country.

His own company is a disaster with six bankrupts.

Every one of these gentlemen, either Republicans or Independents, have endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

Also GOP supporters the Koch brothers, who support Republicans up and down the ballot say they won’t have anything to do with Trump. Eighteen Republican senate candidates have run as fast as they could from “The Donald.” Trump said Sen.

John McCain, wasn’t a hero because he was captured.

Military groups criticized Trump for disrespect to Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of a Muslim U.S. soldier, Army Capt.

Humayun Khan, killed in Iraq by giving his life to save his men.

Brian Duffy, National Commander of the VFW said the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star Family member.

Since the convention Clinton has taken an eight point lead average of all polls over Trump in national polling.

Meanwhile, Trump misspoke about Russia’s occupation of Crimea, when he said Russia would never occupy it.

Actually, they already do.

On ABC Sunday, he really showed his ignorance of foreign policy.

He appeared to want to make Russia great again.

He praised Russian president Vladimir Putin but said he didn’t know him.

Video taken in 2013 showed it much differently when he said he and Putin had a good relationship and they had communicated several times.

Win or lose, Trump will get to make plenty of money in Russia.

His campaign manager Paul Manafort, a Washington lobbyist, is well connected to Russia.

The GOP platform has a line that was inserted by a Trump staffer supporting Russia over Crimea, etc.

Here’s the one that really gets to me, I don’t know how any woman who values herself could ever vote for Donald Trump. First he calls women, “dogs,” his word for bitches.

He calls them “fat pigs,” and says women by nature are weak.

Now Donald, defending Roger Ailes, says in an interview with Kristen Powers that women should leave their work place rather than complain about being sexually harassed.

What if someone treated his daughter Ivanka in the way Ailes did? Trump said he’d advise her to find another job or career.

He blames the woman, not the sexual harasser.

He has absolutely no respect for women.

I said when there were 17 running in the GOP primary that if Trump ended up being the nominee he would wreck the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan.

It’s in shambles and Trump’s wagon is headed in the wrong direction.

CONDOLENCES

I was saddened to learn of the death of Tommy Campbell, 80, of Mauriceville, who died Friday, July 29. His service was held Monday at Eastgate United Pentecostal Church in Vidor where he had served as an usher. I had known Tommy and his wife Margie going back 50 years when Tommy was a store manager for Weingarten’s. He later worked in Bridge City and owned his own convenience store in Nederland. I’ve never known a better Christian man. He and Margie were special people I’ve been privileged to have known. To Ms. Margie, her sons and their families and Tommy’s siblings, I extend my sincere condolences. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2006

Pinehurst citizens have finally gotten enough petition signatures to call for an election to approve liquor by the drink.

*****Julia Myers, executive vice-president of the Bridge City Chamber announces her resignation effective Aug. 11.

She is leaving to join the Greater Orange Area Chamber as business manager.

*****Bridge City Cardinal All-Stars are one game out from the World Series.

Pony team members are: Joseph Robertson, Grant Encalade, Josh Watson, Corey Moseley, Matt Hicks, Evan Boren, Anthony Cessac, Luke Rhodes, Zach Hayes, Dustin Breaux, Kyle Fontenot and Dylan Mulhollan.*****William and Sharon Hudson are the proud grandparents of triplets, two girls and a boy, Vivian, Veronica and Zachary. They are the children of Doug and Shawn Hudson. (Editor’s note: Today those triplets have celebrated their 10^th birthday.)***** Kayden Elizabeth Church celebrates a 12^th birthday.

(Editor’s note: Ten years in your early years makes a big difference.

Kayden is now 22.)*****Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo opens Friday.

Posse president Martha Havens said that although hurricane Rita affected the going-ons, the rodeo is one you shouldn’t miss.

*****A story in The Record recalls the life of rodeo legend John Henry. He won 18 championship world titles, starred in wild west shows, played an extra in western movies and was a friend of Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson and many of the early cowboy stars.

His life is an amazing story.

He was the dad of J.W. “Kid” Henry.

*****James Monroe Parish, Jr. 83, died Aug. 3.

He was Bum Phillips’ uncle, his mother’s brother.

(Editor’s note: Since then Bum has died also and so has his wife Joy Young Parish.)*****GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:Sonya Lynn Hilliard, 20, of McLewis Community, died Thursday, July 27.

Services were held Saturday, Aug. 5.

Sonya worked as a babysitter for people in the Orange area.

She is survived by her parents, Arvil and Yvonne Hillard, grandfather Robert Hailey, brothers Steven Hillard and Matthew Hillard and their families.*****Liewelyn “Red” Myers, 74, of Orange, died Monday, July 31.

Services were held Thursday, August 3.

He served in the Navy and retired as an Orange Firefighter after 28 years.

He was an EMT dispatcher with the Orange County Ambulance Service and a Fire Marshall for West Orange.

He enjoyed fishing, traveling, yard work and bird watching.

He is survived by his daughters Diane, Remona and Renoria, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and brother Verlin Myers.*****Dr.

Thomas E. Huff, 80, of Orange, died July 31.

Services were held Saturday, August 5.

He was a graduate of Orangefield High and received his doctorate from Texas A&M University.

He worked as teacher, coach, administrator and superintendent for West Orange ISD and also at Port Neches Groves ISD. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jimmie Mosier Huff, son Charles, sister Celesta Mae Lowrimore, step-grandson David Gomez and nieces and nephews.*****Albert Dillon Pate, 66, of Orange, died Tuesday, August 1.

Military services were held Sunday, August 6.

He had lived in the Bridge City/Orange area and had retired from the United States Army.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Sharon Pate, of Orangefield, mother Clara Mae Pate, daughters Kristie Anderson, Brandy Pate, Carrie Raynes and Cheryl Railey, step-daughter Angie Hubert, 16 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.*****Gillie Stiles Cherry, 98, of Bridge City, died July 24.

Services were held Thursday, July 27.

She had lived in Bridge City since 1936 and was a homemaker and charter member of the First Baptist Church of Bridge City.

She is survived by daughters Bobbie Wade and Mary Jo Savoy, son John William Cherry, and nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

40 Years Ago-1976

Fred Sapperstein is the new manager of Norman’s Men’s Wear.*****Liz Wickersham will be doing television commercials in New York.

She has just returned from Honolulu.

*****Rod’s Barber and Hair Design does all the latest European designs, including, Wedge, Beret, Mushroom, Fringe, etc.

The staff includes Joyce and Rod Dowdle, Sherry Hermon, Charles Duplichain and Johnny Barton.

Nancy White is manicurist.

*****Jean Lapeyrolere celebrates her 17^th birthday on August 2.

*****Chapman Bell is new manager of Golden Triangle Savings and Loan; he replaced Roy Ingram. The Bells are from Hondo, Texas.*****Grangers Seafood, 995 W. Roundbunch in Bridge City, serves a noon buffet, seven days a week, all you can eat for $1.85.

A large bowl of Bernice’s famous shrimp gumbo is only $2.25.*****Jerry Pesson, a 17-year member of the Bridge City Fire Department and former chief, just returned from the 47^th Texas Firemen’s Training School at Texas A&M. Jerry was an instructor for one of the courses.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

We ran into former ad salesman Al DeRoche.

He’s now 92 and still going strong.

He asked about Keith Wallace, one of his favorite former clients.

*****Bridge City mayor David Rutledge stopped by this week.

He’s always nice to visit with.

The Mayor is very optimistic about the future of Bridge City.

*****This week is the “First Thursday-Open Late” monthly event for Infocus, JScotts A Florist, Mathews Jewelers, Merle Norman and Parlours.

These local businesses will be having special sales and refreshments for your shopping pleasure.

Look for advertisement in this publication.

*****A quote from the DNC convention that has stuck with me was given by Sec.

Clinton in an exceptional speech.

“A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.” I don’t want his finger on the button either.

*****Our friend Earl Duhon, who has been with Dupuis Service and Tire Center, is now the new owner of the station.

The oldest business in Bridge City and the only full service station in the area, was purchased from Ken Dupuis. We wish Earl the best.

He and his people are good folks.

*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch dines at JB’s Barbeque this week.

Next week, The Bunch gathers at Robert’s. It will be Judge JoeParkhurst’s birthday.

Make plans to come celebrate with him.

Last week The Bunch had the pleasure of Beth Rash’s visit.

Everyone always welcome.

*****A few folks we know celebrating birthdays in the next few days: Aug. 3: Longtime ago Bridge City secretary, Norris’ better half, Pat Brandon, celebrates on this day.

Also Glenda Delano, Lacey Monceaux, Frank Wiegreffe and Diana Tally. Celebrities joining them to celebrate on this day are entrepreneur Martha Stewart, 75 and actor Martin Sheen, 76.

*****Aug. 4: John Harrington “Mr. Mayhaw” celebrates today.

John planted the Mayhaw trees at the Bridge City Chamber office location several years ago.

He’s an interesting guy who is an expert with fruit trees.

Also celebrating are retired Bridge City ISD teacher Cetha Haure, Kody Fisette, Jean Ousley and Jarrod Vogt celebrate.

Joining them are President Barack Obama, 55, race car driver Jeff Gordon, 45 and actor Billy Bob Thornton, 61..*****Aug. 5: Dr.

Mike Shahan, Lamar Orange longtime president and a great guy celebrates today.

So does Nan Briggs, Paul Jagen, Mike Preston and Mitizi Peoples.

Celebrities joining them are Olympic runner Loto Jones, 34 and basketball player Patrick Ewing, 54.*****Aug. 6: Our longtime buddy Sleepy Smith is a year older today.

A few years ago, when he was younger, he celebrated in Alaska.

I wonder where he celebrates now days? Also celebrating is troubadour singer, crap shooter and salesman, Robert Carpenter, who now has a new CD out.

Happy birthday also to Pam Boehme, Melanie Braus, Sarah Fisher, Sonya Villanoueva and Randy Hickox. Joining them are actor Soleil Moon Frye, 40 and basketball player David Robinson, 51.

*****Aug. 7: Celebrating birthdays on this day are Rodney Hanks, Tessa Bailey and Kimberly Sensat. Celebrities celebrating birthdays on this day are actors Charlize Theron, 41, David Duchovny, 56, and Clint Eastwood and Frances Fisher’s daughter, Francesca Eastwood, 23.*****Aug. 8: Happy birthday to a great guy, Coach Dwight Thacker.

What a guy.

Also celebrating is Fred Brent, Katie Allen and Billie Carter. They join actor Dustin Hoffman, 79 and singer Shawn Mendes, 18.

*****Aug. 9: Celebrating today is Jada Montagne, Ken Hartley, Paige White and Edie Anthony. They join football player Deion Sanders, 49, actors Sam Elliott, 72 and Melanie Griffith, 59.*****Of all the political talk shows I watched Sunday, “Reliable Sources,” on CNN, with host Brian Stelter, was the most informative and straight forward.

On the other hand it took a lot of guts for Hillary Clinton to appear on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

From wall to wall FOX News does nothing but bash her and praise Trump.

Chris is the son of longtime newspaper man Mike Wallace and like his dad he plays it by the rules.

Shepard Smith is the only other reporter on FOX that doesn’t slant the news.

The worse is Hannity and Judge Jeanine, they are strictly Trump surrogates.

By the way, I was one of the few that predicted Roger Ailes would be gone.

I look for some more shakeups at FOX.*****Bruce and Donna Self, owners of Burger Town hosted a “gender reveal” last week for their new grandbaby expected in January.

They are excited to be having lots of pink with a granddaughter.

Congrats to Brent and Nikki.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Teg-Neg Comeaux, wat make his living catching crawfish and game from da swamp, decided he could make more money working in the canning factory in Green Bay. While da crawfishing was slow he caught a plane out of New Orleans to Wisconsin.

A well dressed man, carrying a brief case and laptop computer, sit next to him. Tee-Neg introduce himself and say, “I catch crawfish for a living me but I’m on my way to work in da canning factory up nort.”

The gentleman said he was a big time attorney from Chicago.

Tee-Neg say, “Boy, wit a job like dat, you must be smart you.”

Da man answer, “Yes, I am very intelligent, I have a doctorate in finance and a law degree from Yale.”

Tee-Neg say, “Keyaw!”

The gentleman say, “We can pass the time away wit a little game. You ask me a question and if I can’t answer it, I’ll give you a hundred dollars. Then I’ll ask you a question and if you don’t know the answer, you give me a dollar.”

Tee-Neg said, “Well, I just finished the second grade me, all I got is Cajun common sense but I’ll play.”

Tee-Neg goes first, he axe, “Wat has ten eyes, 14 legs, two tails and lives on da bottom of Bayou Tech?”

The lawyer say, I don’t know the answer, here’s your hundred dollars. By the way, wat is it?”

Tee-Neg replied, “Mais, I don’t know me, here’s your dollar.”

C’EST TOUT

The Pope makes a passionate appeal to youth.

Pope Francis ended a five day visit to Poland on Sunday with a Mass that drew nearly two million faithful, including tens of thousands of Americans.

He made a passionate appeal to youth to work toward a new world order.

The Mass, held in a field, was an inspiring sight with faithful as far as the eye could see.

Pope Francis said, “People may judge you to be dreamers because you believe in a new humanity, one that rejects hatred between peoples, one that refuses to see borders as barriers and can cherish its own traditions without being self-centered or small minded.

Don’t be discouraged.” The Pope also called for countries to be more receptive to refugees.

Since taking the helm of the Catholic Church and its 1.2 billion members in March 2013, Pope Francis has worked to strengthen ties with Jewish, Muslim and other faiths.*****The count down to Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is on.

The opening ceremony for the games with all its glitz and pageantry takes place Friday.

One of the most compelling figures will be Caster Semenya, a South African runner.

She has been subjected to invasive gender test because of her muscular build and blazing speed.

She may be the one who breaks tracks longest standing record in the 800-meters.

*****My time is up, I thank you for yours.

Take care and God bless.