Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

IS THIS GOING TO BE THE NORM

I can’t recall at anytime in my long life when our country has been under so much constant chaos.

I had predicted that if Trump was the nominee, he would wreck the Republican Party as we know it.

Then I predicted if elected it would be four years of chaos. I based that on his entire life being that way, five bankruptcies, three wives and nearly 4,000 lawsuits.

I never expected it to be this bad.

I didn’t believe the legislature would stand still for any president dragging the country through so much muddy water.

Where are the checks and balances? The congress and the senate have to share in the blame for letting it go on.

I fear what we are witnessing today will become the norm.

I came up and spent a lifetime in a great nation.

It’s really pitiful to me and should be to you what we are witnessing today.

We have lost respect around the world and especially with our neighbors.

Every day we seem to sink to a new low.

I find it shameful.

How low will it go? Who knows.

I’m really saddened by it.

I don’t believe anyone in their right mind wants to see the nation going down this path.

Enough already, I had to get that off my chest.

That’s my opinion and mine alone.*****I have to move on.

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

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SHIRLEY BURTON

A memorial service for Shirley Burton, age 78, will be held June 30. Shirley passed away August 23, 2017 but due to the devastation that Hurricane Harvey brought to the First Baptist Church of Mauriceville, the family was unable to hold her service in the church that meant so much to her. The Sanctuary has been repaired and the memorial service for Shirley will be held Saturday, June 30, 10 a.m. Please see announcement in obituaries. To husband Tommy, sons Barry and Keith, daughter Alicia and their families we extend our sincere condolences.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2008

Our longtime buddy Quincy Procell celebrates his 71st birthday this week.

It looks like just yesterday he was a 40-year-old tusk hog.

Even though Father Time has moved him down the line I wouldn’t tackle him today.

There are great stories about Quincy and his friends in their heyday.

*****Sunday evening Johnny and Darlene Montagne hosted a barbecue goat outing.

Even though Darlene is a vegetarian, she is a good sport about it.

Buckshot ate his fair share but pretty wife Barbara is his waitress.

She also makes great fresh-picked blackberry cobbler.

Devra Cormier is always fun to be around, husband Bobby headed home to bed after loading up on goat and all the trimmings.

He never lets sundown catch him still awake.

Lynwood Sanders assured Bobby it was going to be a Democratic year.

Ms.

Phyl didn’t allow Roy seconds but you should have seen the first serving he and Johnny stacked on their extra large plates.

Roy says it was the most tender, best cooked goat Johnny ever put together.

He also put extra effort in the side orders.

Every year animals are bought from youngsters at the Fat Stock Show and Montagne cooks them.

(Editor’s note: I don’t believe they do that anymore.

“Buckshot” is gone and others have moved away.)*****Rumsfeld and Cheney knew that any disturbance in the mid-east would disrupt the oil market and drive up not only Arab oil but domestic oil as well.

Iraq was on the planning board even before the first inauguration.

We predicted gasoline at the pump would go for more than $2.

This morning, I paid $20 for 5 gallons.

*****The American public is suffering and our youngsters are still dying and getting wounded in Iraq while oil companies are netting $38 billion a quarter.

*****Last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled on an individual’s right to gun ownership.

The majority opinion, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, established for the first time in U.S. history that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to keep guns at home for self-defense.

It doesn’t override the ban on concealed weapons, felons and the mentally ill from possessing firearms.

The court did not address what type of regulations would survive legal challenges.

You can expect the NRA in a few states to file law suits against cities with handgun restrictions.

The ruling struck down the ban on handguns in Washington, D.C. The justices were split 5-4.

The ruling was signed by the most conservative justices, Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.******We send our sympathy to the family of William Manchac, 21, who died June 21 from a drowning accident.

His grandmother Athalene Manchac, lost her husband Frank way too young, and both sons, Frank Jr.

and Mark, in tragic accidents and now her grandson.

Memorial services for William were June 27.***** Our deepest sympathy also to the family of DPS officer Brad Frye and his entire family on the death of his mom Adelle Frye, who passed away June 26.

She had been ill for quite some time.

Service was June 29.

OBITURARIES

10 Years Ago-2008

Marshall J. Ducote, 83, of Bridge City, died Saturday, June 28.

Funeral service was Monday, June 30.

He worked as an operator at Gulf Oil and was a member of VFW, OCAW, and 423 Local.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Juanita Ducote, great-granddaughter, Jessica Young and brother, Francis Ducote.*****Maxine Gerland Williams, died Wednesday, June 25.

Services were held June 28.

Maxine was once the co-owner of Gerland’s Big Star in Orange.

She was a longtime employee of Levingston Shipyard.

Survivors include her husband, C.H. Williams, sons, Ronny, Kenard, Kelly Gerland, daughter Melissa Gerland, stepson Chuck Williams, stepdaughter Dennise White, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.*****Alice Marie Corson, 78, of Orange, died Monday, June 23.

Service was held June 27.

She Retired from Weiner’s, Survivors include her husband, Charlie Corson, daughter Sharon M. Stone, son Bruce W. Stone, two stepdaughters, Angela Marie Bernacki and Susan Margaret Aronin stepson, John Corson and seven grandchildren.*****Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Dalton Merritt, 50, of Orange, died Sunday, June 22.

Services were June 28.

She is survived by daughters, Olivia Laughlin and Alicia Merritt, mother, Odessa Dalton, brother, J.W. “Jeff” Dalton and seven nieces and nephews.*****Velena Irene Taylor, 43, of Orange, passed away Tuesday, June 24.

Services were June 27.

Survivors include her husband, Steven Taylor, mother, Helen Clark, grandmother, Una Pearl Jackson, sons Aaron Keith Arpin, David Hodges, daughter, Tina Hodges, brother, David Lee Clark and sister Darlene Williams.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

40 Years Ago-1978

Bill Wright has replaced District Attorney Jim Sharon Bearden who left office on June 30.

*****The Cimron Campbell family is on the “Campus Crusade for Christ” staff.

They are now at Fort Collins, Colo., until July 24.

In August, the family will be in Texas traveling to San Angelo, Austin, Houston, Beaumont and at home in Orange.

Bearden has taken over Cimron’s office and law practice, sharing a building with Wayne Peveto. (Editor’s note: Bearden is still in the same location on Border Street.

Wayne’s two sons are now attorneys in the same building.

Forty years ago, after traveling the world the Campbell family returned to Orange).

*****Sandi Mobley, a Bridge City High grad who has been working for the Dunn family’s Opportunity Valley News since she was a high school freshman, has left to attend the University of Houston and will work part-time at the Houston Chronicle.

(Editor’s note: Sandi died several years ago.)*****Melissa Flowers and Debbie Teal have both completed Modern Floral Design at Benz School in Houston.*****OVN staffer Debbie Fusilier and husband David are enjoying the Florida sun.

Debbie enjoys the beach; David is doing some serious girl watching when Deb’s not looking.

(Editor’s note: I believe Debbie got pregnant for their first child on that trip.

She blamed it on the Florida water.)*****On Friday, June 30, pretty legal secretary Barbara Mulhollan celebrated her birthday.

(Editor’s note: Barbara left us a few months ago.)*****Linda Richardson leaves KOGT this week after 15 years at the station.

*****Jack Luther was spotted on the biggest darn motorcycle Harley makes and he still dwarfed it.

The big guy would dwarf an 18-hand high mule.

*****Robyn Lusignan is at Camp Otanya with a host of Orange County beauties.

***** Richard “BBRC” Corder is on sick leave at Orange Hospital.

He became sick while doing his show Friday.

The cause is still unknown.

He will undergo tests in Beaumont.

*****Betty Jo Spence, editor of the Opportunity Valley News, is doing a great job according to all the response the paper is getting.

The “Office Hound” with his “Ear to the Ground” is still getting cakes from the he’ers and she’ers getting caught messing around.

*****Thousands turn out to welcome President Jimmy Carter who pays the Triangle a visit.

*****Actress Delores Cantu, a West Orange grad, visits her Orange family.

Delores makes her home in Hollywood.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

I visited Bridge City Farmers Market last Saturday and came away quite impressed.

All vegetables in season are available and plenty of it.

Example: There was probably over 2000 red, ripe tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon…you get the drift, also lots of homemade jellies and jams.

Many crafts were on display.

We saw our longtime friends Betty and Robert Vail.

Many years ago Robert was bitten by a brown recluse spider and his health has been failing since.

At first he was really sick and has been in and out of the hospital often.

On days that he feels good enough, he works with wood to create beautiful items, many different carved fish.

They have a tent at the Market.

Robert was writing a fishing column for us at the time the spider bit him.

He is recognized as the best catfish fisherman to ever fish our waters.

They welcome your visit.

Also you’ll be happy with the fresh produce.

*****EU imposes tariffs on US goods. The European Union will start taxing U.SA. imports in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum.

EU trade chief, Cecilia Malmstrom, said tariffs would amount to $3.4 billion worth of products including bourbon, peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice and Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Harley Davidson plans to shift a portion of its U.S. motorcycle manufacturing capacity to foreign markets after a trade spat between President Donald Trump and the European Union led to increased tariffs.

“It is hard to run a business when the rules keep changing,” industry analyst Craig Kennison, with Robert W. Baird & Co. said.

*****I stopped in at Judice’s Cajun Café for breakfast Saturday.

Johnny Montagne was holding court surrounded by a table full of old guys that could have been former hit guys for the mob.

A serious bunch. I ordered the Three Pancake Special, big, fluffy, light and delicious.

The only thing missing from the “Just like Grandma’s” pancakes was the Steen Syrup she always served with them.

Someone compted my breakfast.

I’ve gotta believe it was Johnny. *****On June 27, 1957, we slept through the first blow of Hurricane Audrey. Unaware there was a storm; I walked outdoors during the eye of the storm.

The sun was bright in the sky before the back side of the storm hit us.

Cameron, La.

was hit with a storm surge as far as 25 miles inland.

More than 500 people were killed along with thousands of animals.

We could not believe the devastation we slept through thinking it was just a bad rainstorm.

Our neighbors had evacuated but we never got the word, no telephone, no television.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at Novrozsky’s this week and be off next week (July Fourth) and will meet again July 11 at Robert’s.

Make plans to attend.

Everyone always welcome.

*****Jane and Derry Dunn spent the weekend in Portland, OR. Son, Dr.

Mark Dunn and his family live there.

They have six children that Jane and Derry got to spend a little time with, plus the weather was great, in the 50’s at night and 70’s during the day.

We are looking forward to hearing all about the trip.

*****Gayle and Judge Joe Parkhurst are back from a driving trip to Vegas.

Most times their winnings pay for their trip but not this time.

BIRTHDAYS

A few folks we know celebrating birthdays this week.

June 27: Claudine Hogan, Judy Lewis, David Ball, Lynn Nell Guidry, Shanna MacCammond, Travor Kimbell, Jody Raymer, Dorris Norwood all celebrate.

Celebrities having birthdays this week are fashion designer Vera Wang, 58, actors Toby McQuire, 42, Dan Osborne, 26 and Khloe Kardashian, 33. Jerry Wimberly died on this date in 2013.

*****June 28: Kourtney Derouen, Kathy LeBlanc, Ann Lieby, Tina Bernard and Kelly Kimbrough.

Joining them are football player John Elway, 57, country singer Kellie Pickler, 31 and actress Kathy Bates, 69.*****June 29: Jana Fisette, Cobey Sonnier, David Sandlin all celebrate today.

Also actors Gary Busey, 73, Carrila Mendes, 23 and Lily Rabs, 35.*****June 30: Celebrating today are Dave Rogers, Chris Huebel, Mary Beth McClure, Mayor Roy McDonald, Sonya Jarreau, Betty Derrick.

Joining them are Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, 32, boxer Mike Tyson, 51, wrestler Cody Rhodes, 32 and country singer Cole Swindle, 34.*****July 1: Charlie Learned and Renee Degeyter celebrate.

They are joined by rapper Missy Elliott, 46, actor Dan Ackroyd, 65 and singer Debbie Harry, 72.*****July 2: Lisa Wilson, Kristy Davis, Nancy Dupuis and Dr.

Satir’s lovely nurse Marla Lemoine all celebrate.

Celebrities joining them are actors Lindsay Lohan, 31 and Kurt Long, 44, race car driver Richard Petty, 80.*****July 3: Celebrating are Kathy Simmons and Ellen Ray.

Ironically, both County Judge Dean Crooks and Judge Pete Runnels both celebrate on this day.

Also celebrating are actor Tom Cruise, 56, singer Elle King, 28 and Chef Sandra Lee, 51.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Tee-Not Desormeaux ain’t the brightest light on da block him. Tee-Not suspected his wife Alice of cheating on him. He jus wouldn’t be inteminated like dat him. So he goes out to Landry’s Pawn Shop and buys himself a 38 Police Special, Smith and Western pistol.

While Alice taught he was at work, he goes to his house unexpectedly and wen he opens da door he finds Alice all wrapped up in the arms of a big, redheaded woman.

Well, Tee-Not was really angry bout dat him. He pulls out dat 38 gun and as he does he is overcome with grief over his pretty wife Alice’s strange affair. He takes dat gun and puts it to his head. Alice yells, “No, no honey, don’t do it.”

Tee-Not said, “Shut up you, you’re next,”

C’EST TOUT

Leon Payne and Orange Connection

Orange native Eugene Godeau, 94 year old WWII veteran, related this story at the Lunch Bunch last week of early Orange.

He recalled when the local radio station, I assume it was KOGT, had a DJ that had achieved some stardom but later went on to be much bigger.

I had heard the story from others years ago but I don’t personally recall it.

Leon Roger Payne was born in 1917 in Alba, TX. He was blind in one eye at birth and lost the other in an accident.

He attended the Texas School for the Blind.

Payne began his singing and composing career at a radio station in Palestine, TX. He played the guitar and several other string instruments and he sang soft and smooth like Eddie Arnold. In 1938 he joined Bob Wills.

I recall Bob saying on his early records “Take it away Leon.” In 1948, he composed “Lifetime to Regret” and in 1949, he wrote “I Love You Because.” It is a standard in Country music.

He wrote it for his wife who was also blind.

Myrtie Velma Courmier and Leon met at the School for the Blind.

He later formed his own group, “The Lone Star Buddies.” He recorded “You’ve Still Got a Place in my Heart” in1951.

In 1960 Dean Martin recorded that song and also “I Love You Because.” That earned Payne a BMI, One Million Performance award.

Millard “Neighbor” Cox, 94, recalls Payne appearances on both the Louisiana Hayride, in Shreveport and the Grand Ole Opry.

Many well known singers like Elvis, Glen Campbell, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves recorded songs Leon had written.

He wrote “Lost Highway” for Hank Williams and in 1971, George Jones recorded an album of Leon Payne songs.

Leon died on Sept. 11, 1969, in San Antonia and is buried there.

He was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame” in 1970.I recall listening to Leon Payne music.

There is a story I heard many years ago that Leon and Claude King performed in Orange.

I’m not sure if it was at the rodeo or a political rally.

Now the question is, what year did he work at KOGT? It must have been for a short time.

Leon spent 13 years at the School for the Blind. Several years ago another blind DJ Terry Lyons attended that same school and spun records for KOGT until his death.

Maybe someone in their 90’s will let me know when Leon Payne lived and worked in Orange.

The song “Psycho” is a bit of a cult favorite.

Payne wrote the song after Richard Speck’s mass-murder of the nurses in Chicago in 1966.

Let me know if you know more about Leon being in Orange.

*****Thanks for your time.

Mine is up.

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Take care and God bless.