From the Creaux's Nest

THE U.S. SHOWS ITS GREATNESS

Swimmer Michael Phelps of the U.S. owns the all-time record for Olympic swimmers, a record that will probably not be broken in our lifetime.

Twenty-three golds, 28 medals in all.

Runner Carl Louis and runner Usain Bolt are a distant second with nine gold's each.

The only American who has a shot of catching Phelps is swimmer Katie Ledecky. She’s a six time Olympic medalist who looks like a model.

She has already broken 13 world records in world competition.

There are others also like swimmer Nathan Adrian. Over and over Americans stars shine.

I’m always amazed at what these youngsters can accomplish in all sports.

We take a back seat to no one, we’re America proud, we own the finish line.

As of Tuesday morning with four days to go, the U.S. has 26 gold medals, 22 silver, 24 bronze for a total of 72.

The closest is China with a total 46.

Team USA will be the grand champion when Rio 16 comes to an end.

I’m proud to be an American, the greatest country on earth in any category.

Don’t let anyone tell you any different.*****I feel for our Louisiana friends.

They are facing flood waters 20 times greater than what we experienced in Bridge City from Ike.

Over 20,000 people have been rescued, over 12,000 in shelters.

The “Monsoon Depression” has dumped more than 20 inches of rain causing massive flooding in Baton Rough and Lafayette, towns along with Mississippi, and coastal Louisiana towns.

The Vermillion River is at the brink, causing flooding in St. Martin, Youngsville all the way to Abbeville.

At Denham Springs, the Amite River crested five feet above record.

They caught the blunt of massive amounts of water that crushed the community.

The “No Name” storm isn’t done yet; more rain is predicted Wednesday before it starts drying out.

It is the largest flooding event in the areas history.

Even though I recall the rainfall of 1939 which ran the Vermillion River over and the water got nearly to the ceiling of our home.

My prayers go out to our folks from the Motherland.

May the loss of life be low.

The sun will shine again but it will take months to recover.

We’ve been there.*****I’ve got to move on.

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

TRUMP IN THE LIGHT OF DAY

Besides Donald Trump not being qualified and as many have said, “unfit” to be president, I’ve observed other things as well.

Over the course of the election Donald has barely mentioned his mother.

On the other hand, his late father Frederick was a perfectionist, hard-nose businessman.

Donald has four siblings, Fred Jr., who did not go into the family business and became an airline pilot.

He died in 1981 at the age of 43.

Donald put Freddy down a lot according to witnesses.

Donald has two older sisters Maryanne and Elizabeth and a younger brother Robert. Maryanne Barry was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Federal Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where she served until retirement in 2011.

Sister Elizabeth Joan married film producer James Walter Grau in 1989.

She worked for Chase Manhattan Bank.

His brother Robert is a retired Long Island businessman and is the only sibling who has spoken favorably about Donald’s run for president.

In 1999, Donald’s father Fred, Sr.

died.

Donald had helped draft his father’s will. He was his dad’s favorite and administrator.

The millions of dollars were divided up among Fred Sr.’s children and their descendants, with the exception of the children of the late Fred Jr. His children sued, claiming Donald Trump had used “undue influence” over their grandfather, who had dementia, to cut them out of his will.

Donald retaliated by withdrawing the medical benefits he had promised to his nephew’s infant son, who suffered from seizures that led to cerebral palsy.

“They made me angry because they sued,” Trump told the New York Times.

I’ve said the above to say this, “You can tell a lot about a person by what they think of their mother and what the family thinks of them.

There is no evidence that any of his siblings or their offspring have attended any of his functions, including convention and nomination for president.

When Donald was accused of being a racist after his insulting words about the Mexican descendant judge, no family member came to his rescue to say they knew him and he’s not a racist.

There’s a lot of reasons to vote against Donald but character, loyalty to family and temperament pretty well predict what you’re going to get.

Buyer beware.

LAST WEEK IN RIO—SIMONE SHINES

Simone Biles became the best gymnast in the world when she won gold and her USA teammate Aly Raisman won silver in the Olympic All-Around.

The gold medal was the latest in a long line of victories that has made her the greatest gymnast in that sports history.

Her tricks are so difficult they defy the law of both gravity and physics.

She is now part of a proud lineage that traces from Comaneci to Mary Lou Retton and Gabby Douglas. The 19-year old Simone became the fourth American in a row to win gymnastics’ biggest prize.

She gave USA bragging rights no other country in men’s or women’s competition gymnastics can claim.

Many believe she is the best ever.

Mary Lou Retton still sticks out in my mind.

I was at a lodge in Angel Fire, New Mexico when I watched in amazement as she came from behind to win.

The 4 foot.

8 inch Simone stands alone and will long be remembered.

She was never challenged and hasn’t lost an All-Around competition since 2013, claiming three world titles and four U.S. crowns in the process.

Simone also won the Floor Exercises Tuesday gaining a record four gold medals.

She was adopted by her grandparents when she was taken away from her mother as a small child.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2006

Construction will begin soon on the new fire sub-station in Orangefield.

Scott Barnes, Bridge City fire chief said that the department is meeting with contractors this week.

The station will be located next to K-Dan’s Supermarket.*****The Texas Longhorn Club features legendary Percy Sledge Friday .

Tickets are $17 according to Angela Granger, marketing director for the club.

Sledge marks the 40^th anniversary of his first single, also his first number one hit, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” The song has been featured in several movies including “The Big Chill” and the “Shaggy Dog.” (Editor’s note: It’s been 50 years since that song and I still catch my self singing a bad version of it.)*****Saddam Hussein went on trial Monday.

Meanwhile, Iraq is going to hell in a hand basket.

Shiites and Sunnis are killing and injuring thousands of civilians every week in Iraq’s Civil War.

The United States sent in 12,000 extra troops but the country is being taken over by terrorist.

(Editor’s note: Wasn’t that three-years before Obama became president?)*****Next week, on Aug. 24, Frank and Teresa Beauchamp celebrate an anniversary.

Frank will celebrate a birthday on Aug. 28.*****John “Big Johnny” Montagne celebrates a birthday.

He and Roy are planning their annual kidney stew dinner.

Johnny and Darlene just returned from 10 days in Montana.*****Stump Weatherford has lost 75 pounds, shaved his head like Mr. Clean and is sporting a Jeff Bagwell goatee.*****Meri Elen Jacobs ,Mustang writer for The Record, writes an article about football season and the Mustangs chomping at the bit for the chance to defend their district title.

(Editor’s note: Time repeats itself.

This time the Mustangs are defending a state title and Meri Elen will be reporting.) GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Emma Jane Colburn Nies, 83, of Orange, died Aug. 18.

Services were held Aug. 24.

A lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Orange High School, she was a member of the Bengal Guards.

She was a teacher with the West Orange-Cove CISD and was named Teacher of the Year and received numerous other achieve awards.

She is survived by sons Michael and Mark and daughter Jean Margaret and several grandchildren.*****John Robert Lawrence, 41 of Orange, passed away Friday, Aug. 18.

Services were held Aug. 22.

He was a lifelong resident of Orange and worked as a Lubrication Technician and was a great fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

He is survived by his wife Wendy Lawrence, mother Mary Ann Lawrence, son Brandon LeFleur and daughter Ashley LeFleur.*****Charles “Pud” Gunter, 62, of Orange, died Aug. 18.

Service was held Aug. 21.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Orange, he was an operator for A. Schulman, Inc. for 29 years.

He also was a US Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife Beverly, daughters Lisa Fuselier and Gina Collins, Stephanie Sonier, Michele Johnson, brothers Harold Gunter and Jim Gunter, sisters Margaret Balas, Georgia Jackson and Normadine Vann and grandchildren.*****Barbara Bucher Starr, 89, of Orange, died Aug. 16.

Service was held Aug. 20.

She was a resident of Orange and a lifelong homemaker, mother, grandma and great-grandma better known as GiGi. She is survived by daughters Laurel Workman and Margaret Rackler, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.*****Robert L. Wickware, 79, lifelong resident of the area, passed away August 16.

Services were held August 20.

He had served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later worked at and retired from DuPont.

He is survived by his wife Geneve, sons Robert and Henry, two step-children Alice Norris and John J. Kusnir, Jr. and their families.

40 Years Ago-1976

The Bridge City B&PW names Angelina Garza as member of the month.*****Darla Gisclair, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Gisclair, received a degree in education from Sam Houston and is now teaching in Southeast Texas, 50 miles from San Antonio.*****Bridge City band booster officers are Mrs. Darwin Rothering, president; Mrs. Grover Browning, vice-president; Mrs. John Haynes and Mrs. L.E. Huckabay.

(Editor’s note Notice that 40 years ago a woman’s first name was seldom used, she was referred to as Mrs. so-and-so.

That’s not the norm today.

Most often it’s Mrs. Shirley or whomever.)**********The Bridge City High football coaching staff is Braton, Stuebing, Hollier, head coach Griffin, Gillis, Miller and Litton.

The training staff is Thad Angelle, Robbie Moore and Ted Townes.*****West Orange cheerleaders are Diane Collins, Sandy Allen, Janet Brown, Leisa Landry, Beverly Mitchell, Susan Sullivan, Amy Sandlin, Sharon Jones and Cindy Carr.*****The Little Cypress-Mauriceville drill team leaders are Capt.

Connie Gunn, Karen Francis, Melony Smith, Hollis Parker and Sabrina Frey.*****Bridge City cheerleaders are Nancey Gauthier, Donna Jeansonne, Kim Young, June Nezat, Kim Daniels, Tish Bratton, Melissa Harmon and Terri Medley.*****Mauriceville Junior High cheerleaders are Janey Rougeau, Melanie Plunkett, Donna Franks, Stacee Williams, Jeanette Yawn and Janice Johnson.*****Donald Sharpe, 32, becomes new Kroger store manager.

A native of DeRidder, he has been with Kroger for 11 years.

He has managed at five other stores from Morgan City to Brownsville.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Last Saturday, 4 a.m.

to 8 a.m. Judge Derry Dunn and 15 other members of the local Mormon Church put in their yearly time making 6,300 jars of peanut butter.

The product is put in care packages for the needy.

The Houston factory puts up peanut butter, starting with the shelling and roasting.

Other Mormon factories put up other canned products that will go in the baskets.

Every day I learn more about the great work the Mormons do.*****Congrats to Lonnie and Norma Dickey who will celebrate their 65^th anniversary August 23.

The couple has been blessed with seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

See announcement in this issue.*****This week’s blunder: Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has been trying his best to keep Donald Trump afloat.

Monday, in a nationally televised speech, Rudy said, “Before Obama came along we didn’t have radical Islamic terrorist attacks in the U.S.” Poor Rudy, he’s really slipping.

He was mayor of New York when terrorist attacked us on 9-11, eight years before Obama.****It’s been 39 years since Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977.

Just think about how many people were not born yet or how many were too young to remember.

Too many of us I’m afraid.

His death seems not so long ago.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at PK’s Grill this week and at JB’s Barbeque next.

New grandmother Donna Scales will celebrate a birthday on Friday Aug. 26.

Everyone always welcome.*****Donald Trump’s lawsuits haven’t stopped during his presidential campaign, most notably in Florida.

A Miami judge ordered Trump to pay a small business $300,000 over unpaid paint jobs.

Hundreds of lawsuits are pending.

Three hundred out of more than 4000 courthouse fights are in Florida where Trump’s blunt “take it or leave it” approach has left many small businesses stiffed.

$17,000 for the guy who installed the chandeliers at his mansion for his wedding; a paint shop $32,000; a large group of cooks and servers, hired for special events, average $1,754 per worker.

He just said “sue me.”*****Congratulations to the large family of Stella Claire Scales, born August 10.

Stella weighted in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 ¾ inches high.

Proud parents are Alyssa and Jerrid Scales, grandparents are Donna and Judge Jimmy Scales and Laura and Johnny DeRamus. There is plenty of excitement around the Scales house.*****A few folks we know celebrating their special day in the next few days.

Aug. 17: I have been wishing Nancy Finchum and Henry Bland a happy birthday for over 40 years and on this day I do it again.

Also celebrating his big day is Johnny Stimac, Brenda Gage and Dagma Hood. Celebrities joining them are actors Robert DeNiro, 73, Sean Penn, 56, and Donnie Wahlberg, 47.*****Aug. 18: Pretty Carolyn Ward, just a nice lady, celebrates today as does Ian MacCammond and Helen Gresham. Joining them are actors Andy Samberg, 38, Robert Redford, 80 and Denis Leary, 59.

This also would have been the birthday of our late friend Cal Broussard. The longest serving sheriff in Orange County, Chester Holts, also died on this day in 1984.*****Aug. 19: Brett Johansson, Ryan Prejean, Terry Ford, Linda Tibbits and Braydon Denison all have birthdays on this day.

Celebrities joining them are President Bill Clinton, 70 and actor John Stamos, 53.*****Aug. 20: Our friend, Shaun’s better half, pretty Tammy Davis celebrates today as does Marilyn Guerrerro, Sarah Byers and Melinda Ja’arah.

Celebrating on this day also is rock singer of Led Zeplin,Robert Plant, 68; sports promoter Don King, 85 and TV show host Al Roker, 62.*****Aug. 21: Lon’s lovely wife Kimberly Hubbard celebrates today, also Olga Graham, Shirlyn Findlay and Alexanda Wild. Olympic runner Usain Bolt, turns 30 on this day, country singer Kacey Musgraves, 28 and singer Kenny Rogers, 78.*****Aug. 22: It’s Mari Ellen Jacobs’ big day.

She is also preparing for another great WO-S Mustang football season.

Johnny Montagne is a year older today as is Mike Johnson, Jason Delano and Connie Forse. Green Bay Packer Randall Cobb, is 26 today and Laverne & Shirley actress Cindy Williams, is 69.*****Aug. 23: Skipper’s eldest, Keble Free celebrates.

He’s not as wild as he once was.

Also having a birthdays are Ryan Moreau, Ron Hopperton, Corey May, Mae Rollins, Pat Gunner and John David Walles.

LA Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant turns 38, singer Rick Springfield, 67 and “I Dream of Jeannie’s”Barbara Eden is 85.*****Last week I had a memory loss.

I said the new Bayou Club was on Strickland.

Wrong! It’s at 2210 Simmons.

The Bayou Club, owned by Sheila and managed by daughter Larris LeLeaux, is having a grand opening Aug. 20.

Lots of goodies.

Please see ad in this issue.*****Sean Cade Gros finally made it home Saturday even though he was grounded in Dallas for over 24 hours.

After a short visit with family and friends the Coast Guard Petty Office will be stationed in McKinleyville, California.*****Three or four weeks ago I told you about Paul Manafort, Trumps campaign manager, having financial connections to the Ukraine and Russia.

Now it’s coming out to the tune of $12 million.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Little Joe Comeaux had a couple of shot of straight whiskey to give him some nerve before he walked into Tee-Boy’s crowed bar and grill. Waving his pistol Joe yelled, “Me I have a .45 caliber Colt wit a seven round magazine, plus one in da chamber and I want to know me, who’s been sleeping wit my wife Lilly Mae?”

A voice from da back near da pool tables called out, “Joe, you going to need more ammo you.”

C’EST TOUT

1945-THE YEAR THAT WAS

In August, 1945, World War II came to an end. People approaching 80 years or older often refer to that time in history.

We thought we would look at what else was going on in 1945.

The price of gasoline was 21 cents a gallon, coffee, 45 cents a pound.

Top-of-the-line Bulova watch was $24, movies playing on the big screen; “Anchors Aweight,” starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.

“The Bells of St. Mary’s,” with Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman; “The Lost Weekend,” with Ray Milland.

Seven academy awards went to “Going My Way,” Bing Crosby was best actor.

Ingrid Bergman earned the best actress Oscar for “Gaslight.” Big bands were popular; some were Harry James, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Kay Kyser, Stan Kenton, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

Dizzy Gillespie.

Top songs were “Rum and Coca-Cola,” by The Andrews Sisters; “Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe,” sung by Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers; “Sentimental Journey,” Les Brown’s band, sung by Doris Day.

In sports, the National League MVPPhil Cavarretta and the Chicago Cubs went to World Series only to be beaten four games to three by the Detroit Tigers and the American League MVP Hal Newhouser. In football, Green Bay’s Don Hutson was NFL top receiver for the fifth straight season in eight out of 10 years.

Other leaders were Washington quarterback Sammy Baugh and Sid Lockman of Chicago and Steve Van Buren of Philadelphia Eagles. The Cleveland Rams won the NFL title game over Washington 15-14.

Felix “Doc” Blanchard of Army won Heisman trophy.

Army won second straight national college championship.*****Now here is an item that I have worn out several thousand of; In October, 1945, Gimble’s Department store ran a full page ad in the new York Times for the latest item, “The Ballpoint Pen.” Over 5,000 people jammed the store.

They sold out the 10,000 at $12.50 each in just a few hours.

Milton Reynolds saw a version of the pen while in Argentina and quickly started manufacturing them.

Reynolds was really on the ball.

It made him very wealthy.*****Changing the course of history on August 6, 1945, a B-12 bomber dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. The United States called for Japan to surrender when they didn’t respond a second atomic bomb was dropped, August 9, on Nagasaki.The Japanese surrendered on August 15.

While there was great relief in the United States at the end of the war it was not without sadness for all the soldiers injured and killed in action.

Our buddy “Neighbor Cox” was one of the fortunate ones to come home.

Americans mourned the loss of President Roosevelt, who had died April 12.*****Thanks for your time.

Read us cover to cover.

Take care and God bless.