Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

I’M WORKING BETWEEN DISTRACTIONS

A BRIEF SUMMARY

It’s never a good time to be admitted to the hospital, but now is really a bad time. Beds are not available at will and the ER walls are lined up with people lying on stretchers. After about 16 hours I got lucky and in the middle of the night I made it to a room. I swear the hospital style bed, those that the head and legs go up and down and in the middle leaves your rear sitting in a hole, was the very worst bed I have ever laid in. A real back kicker. Some people have been waiting for a room for nearly a week and their families can’t visit them. The alert is often heard loudly announcing “Cardiac Arrest” room so and so. Eighty-five percent of all R.N. nurses are travelers. One nurse I spoke with was from Miami, lives in a motel and eats at the local restaurants. Another nurse was from California. A young man RN was from Ohio. All hospital personnel work five days a week, 12-hour shifts and are very understaffed. Most admit that they are all very tired. They are professionals; they smile and try to accommodate the best they can. Arrangements had been made at Medical Center to transfer me to a Galveston hospital. Again, luck was with me, after a day of blood transfusions, Dr. Alampur, MD, agreed to do my procedure, Dr. Abochamh, MD, from the Golden Triangle Cardio Group, agreed to be my attending provider. I had been losing a lot of blood from somewhere in my belly and that had my blood pressure down to a very dangerous low. Finding a couple of other issues, it was determined that the blood was coming from a bleeding ulcer. The bleeding stopped but my blood pressure is hanging at a low ebb. This keeps me light headed and dizzy, worse yet because of three different problems. I am strictly on a bland diet, but if not for the ulcer I could be eating better. Have you ever tried to drink “celery juice.” I don’t know how many stalks they have to squeeze to make a cup that they call celery broth. I missed everything about the inauguration; the entire week was wiped out. From the tone of the positive news on the TV, it seems like old times before our government was at a four year Trump reality clown show. I did get home in time to catch the youngster Patrick Maholmes and the Chiefs win and move on to the Super Bowl. I watched the professor, Tom Brady, 43, beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to advance to the Super Bowl. What a game that should be, young legs against old experience. Vegas will probably make Patrick and the Chiefs a 3 to 4 point favorite but I’ve learned a long time ago not to bet against Brady.*****Well, I will try to finish this column in spurts. Come along, it won’t do you no harm.

THE WHITE HOUSE GOES TO THE DOGS

President Donald Trump was a boy that was raised without being allowed to own a dog. His niece, Mary Trump, said that her grandfather believed pets were for commoners. So Trump became the first president to not have a dog live in the White House. Sunday, two German shepherd dogs, Champ and Major, the Joe Biden dogs, moved into the executive mansion. The Biden’s adopted Major in 2018 from the Humane Association. Champ joined the family in 2008 after the presidential election that made Biden vice-president. Major is the first shelter dog to live in the White House. Goes to show that even dogs can live the American dream.

CONDOLENCES

We were sorry to learn of the death of Larry Lyle Garrison, 75, who passed away January 21. Larry was a longtime resident of Orange. It was often said to know Larry was to like him. Our condolences to our friend and loyal helper here at The Record, his daughter Lisa Guyote and her family. May he rest in peace. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2011

University of Texas partners with ESPN to create a 24-hour, $300 million television network. The Longhorn network will launch in September. It will guarantee the university $300 million over 20 years. The Longhorn brand will be right there with Oprah, FOX, ESPN airing 200 live sports events per year.*****Another bonanza will be the men’s NCAA Final Four at Reliant Stadium. Local businesses will profit with tens of thousands of hoops fans expected to leave $60 million in Houston.*****Special folks having birthdays: On Jan. 23, Matthew A. “Ski” Korczynski celebrated his 88th birthday. Ski lives in Deweyville and is an avid reader of The Record. Thanks to his daughter Barbara Bernauer for letting us know how Ski is doing.*** Mark Walles, of Orangefield, celebrated on Tuesday, Jan. 25.*** One of our great buddies Nancy Vincent celebrates another birthday Jan. 26. What a gal.***A great little guy, Leland Clay Gros, “Scooter” to his Papa, is two years old on Jan. 27. That boy is way wiser than his two years. With his smarts and good looks I smell trouble ahead.***Others celebrating this week are the Todora twins, Rosalie Clark and Mary Ann Scofields, Lily fields, Marty Delano, Skipper’s boy, Scott Free, Bill Dixon, our longtime friend Devra Cormier and Ace Amedo’s twin girls celebrate their 60th on Jan. 29.***Pat and H.D. Pate celebrate their anniversary this Wednesday, Jan. 26. H.D. says to mark the occasion he will take Pat to the Merle Haggard concert. Not bad Hinney, Merle is always a good gig. Best wishes. *****Our friend Daniel Jacobs, recovering from Leukemia, has taken a step backward but he’s determined to start moving forward again. Our prayers go out to he and Gloria.*****Congratulations go out to Giesla Houseman, selected as the Southeast Texas Person of the Year by SET Regional Planning committee. Well deserved. *****Every time I hear a great human story I think of “Buckshot.” He loved people stories.*****Arbor Day is April 29. That date must have been set for Yankees. It’s too late for us to plant. In fact, here on the Gulf Coast, we have completed planting by the end of March.*****The gold rush started 163 years ago, 1840, at Stutter Mill in northern California. *****The “Godfather of Fitness,” Jack LaLanne, died Jan. 23 at the age of 96. He opened the nation’s first health club in Oakland in 1936. In 1950, he moved to television with a women’s morning exercise program. He said, “Billy Graham is for the here-after, I’m for the here and now.”

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Obituaries 10 Years Ago-2011

Shaun Randall Taylor, 26, passed away on Jan. 12. A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 22. He was a native of Orange; He was an American History buff and enjoyed working on computers; he volunteered in Houston repairing computers that were donated for children who could not afford one. He is survived by his mother, Sharon K. Marx; father, Stephen Taylor; and brother, Jayden Marx and paternal grandfather, Hyman Taylor.*****Charles William “Bill” Barrett, 44, of Orange, died Tuesday, Jan. 18. Graveside service were held on Saturday, Jan. 22. Bill is survived by his sons, Nathan and Michael Barrett; sister, Missy Sonier; niece, Lauren Dyer; nephew, Zachary Sonier and great-niece, Kayle Ener of Orange.***** Wilfred Leleux, 79, of Bridge City, died Sunday, Jan. 23. Service was held Thursday, Jan. 27. He retired in 1993 from Teamster’s Local 920. He was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church for 57 years and the Knights of Columbus where he had served as Grand Knight.  He is survived by his sons Winfred J., Dexter and Michael; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.***** Louis Duhon, 93, of West Orange, died Tuesday, Jan. 18. Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 21. He served in the Army in World War II and retired from the Navy Base in Orange after 25 years. He also retired from the West Orange Cove Maintenance Department. Louis is survived by his wife of 72 years, Melba Duhon; daughters Juanita Smith and Charlotte Alford; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

22 Years Ago-1999

Moe Litton, former city councilman, coach and athletic trainer, joined by Bum Phillips, coaches Darrell Shaffer, Alex Dudley, Joe Washington, was inducted into the Southeast Texas Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Litton was selected in only the third year of balloting. West Orange-Stark coach Dan Hooks is president of the organization.*****Bridge City star Shane Dronett is headed to the Super Bowl. He had a great game in the Falcons 30-27 win over the Vikings. The Falcons will meet Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII on Jan. 31.*****Hal Ridley celebrates a birthday last week and it also was he and Laverne’s 45th wedding anniversary. (Editor’s note: Hal and Laverne have since passed away. It seems it was just a few years ago when they were the life of the party and also threw many of them.)*****Nine Bridge City football players made recruitment visits last weekend. Eleven to 13 boys are expected to be offered scholarships. No one works harder to get his athletes scholarships than Coach Les Johnson. Over the past four years, 30 youngsters have received scholarships in all sports. *****A “Down Life’s Highway” column, written by Roy Dunn was picked up by the Associated Press.*****Capt. David Peck flew to San Angelo to watch daughter Amber star in a basketball game and also to meet a future son-in-law that daughter Jacelyn plans to marry.*****Big Brother and the Holding Company excited the crowd at Janis Joplin Bash. B.J. Thomas showed his great voice but it was Jivin’ Gene who stole the show. He put on his dad’s old hat and knocked them dead with his medley of Bobby Charles songs. Charles Alan and Warren Storm kept true Swamp Pop alive.*****Misty Segura, a 1994 Bridge City grad, completed her first semester at South Texas College of Law. Misty was a 1998 honor grad at Lamar. Proud parents are Darrell and Sharon Segura. Grandmothers are Ann Segura and Mildred Piggott.*****Bridge City Chamber honored Charlie Waldon as it’s Citizen of the Year. Fred Gregory brought him to Bridge City 33 years ago with a job offer. He worked at Bridge City Bank one year and joined Bayer, on Chemical Row, where he has been ever since.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Last week District Judge Courtney Arkeen, who is not hard to look at, sentenced a felon to 25 years of hard time in the joint. When it was done, he was asked if he had anything to say. He answered, “Yes, you’re the most beautiful judge I’ve ever seen.” He has a long time to recall that image.*****Can you believe it’s been 30 years since Desert Storm? The United States launched the first air strike on Jan. 17, 1991, after Iraq had invaded Kuwait. On Feb. 24, 1991, the ground war began. On Feb. 28, just four days later, a cease fire was declared. The mistake we made was going back and invading Iraq. The first battle was President George H. Bush, the second invasion was President George W. Bush’s war. We were told we wouldn’t occupy the country but 50,000 U.S. troops did.*****Jan. 22, marked 48 years since the Roe Vs. Wade Supreme Court ruling. Over the years protest, mass marches and even the murdering of doctors have taken place. Today, the abortion activist have made a dynamic switch and are reaching out to women considering abortion with more compassion, trying to convince them to do otherwise.*****It’s been 60 years since President Kennedy’s famous State of the Union speech. Today it’s not what you can do for your country, it’s what you can do for your party.*****It is said when an elder person dies its like a library burning down. I have heard but know nothing for sure, that some weeks ago, D.J. “Ace” Amodeo had passed away. Last I had heard he was in a Pinehurst nursing home. Dennis would be 96 years old and he was a library full of Orange city history. At least two famous trials were held where Percy Foreman was defense attorney. “Ace” was a police dispatcher when Zeke, a Black guy, was killed in the city jail and his body dumped in Louisiana. Percy successfully defended Henry Stanfield and others on the police force. “Ace” took with him a world of knowledge.*****A few folks we know celebrating their special day. Jan. 27, Leland Clay Gros turns 12 years old. He’s Roy and Ms. Phyl’s great grandson.*****Janelle's new sweetie, Lil' Arya Perritt turns 5 today.*****Also, our late friend Judge Janice Menard celebrated on this day. She passed away in 2020.*****Jan. 28, Longtime friend Mary Stanton celebrates today, also Judge Bill Dixon and Judge David Dunn share birthdays today.***Sidney Longron, everyone’s friend, turns 89 today.*****Jan. 29, A wonderful lady, Devra Cormier, celebrates today.***Also celebrating is Wyman Ogden.***The Amodeo twins celebrated on this day. Lynn, I know, has passed away, I’m not sure about Leslie Smith, her twin.*****Jan. 30, My calendar shows this is Rosalie Clark’s birthday. The list Janelle sent me shows her birthday as 28th but I’m going with my calendar.***Also celebrating on this day is former Major League pitcher John Patterson.*****On Feb. 2, longtime Aggie, one of “Bear” Junction Boys, Don Kachtik celebrates. Happy Birthday to all.*** Feb. 2 is also Ground Hog Day.*****Community Bank of Texas has reopened its Orange location on Edgar Brown Drive.  Please see their ad in this week’s paper as we welcome them to our family of advertisers.***** Our friend Pat Pate stopped by the Orange office on Tuesday morning to check in on Roy and family.  She is doing well.*****Lamar State College Orange is hosting day two of the LifeShare Bus till 2:00 pm at the Orange campus today.  The Life Share Blood Center also has COVID antibody tests available.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

Natives celebrating birthdays in the next few days. Kimberly Barclay, Mick Weidner, Lori Lummus, Cheryl Gonzales, Chase Rendall, Jim Snider, Sheryl Richard, Virginia Robinson, Paula Perkins, Rachel Beaulieu, Ricky Miller, Carolyn Martin, Jeanie Kreger, Amy Campbell, Lily Fields, Marty Delano, Regina Gaspard, Wayne Sullivan, Jake Williams, Bobby Anderson, Vance Thomas.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Jan. 27: Actors John Witherspoon, 79; Patton Oswalt, 52 and Alan Cumming, 56.*****Jan. 28: Actors Elijah Wood, 40 and Alan Alda, 85; Pop singer Nick Carter, 41.*****Jan. 29: Actors Tom Selleck, 76 and Sara Gilbert, 46; TV Host Oprah Winfrey, 67 and Pop singer Adam Lambert, 38.*****Jan. 30: Actors Christian Bale, 47 and Wilmer Valderrama, 41; Rock singer Phil Collins, 70 and Politician Dick Cheney, 80.*****Jan. 31: Pop singer Justin Timberlake, 40, Actors Minnie Driver, 51 and Bobby Moynihan, 44.*****Feb. 1: MMA fighter Ronda Rousey, 34, Pop singer Lisa Marie Presley, 53 and Actor Pauly Shore, 53.*****Feb. 2: Reality star Duane Chapman, 68; Modeel Christie Brinkley, 67; Actors David Jason, 81 and Emily Rose, 40.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Little Norris Badeaux was sitting on da church steps him, wit a bottle of turpentine. He was shaking and watching all da bubbles. Fatter LaSalle came along and he axe Norris, “Wat you got dere hanh?”

Norris answer, “Well Fatter, dis here is da most powerful liquid in da world, it’s call turpentine.”

Da priest him said, “No Norris, da most powerful liquid in da world is Holy Water. If you rub jus a little bit on a women’s belly, she’ll pass a healthy baby her.”

Norris him tink about dat, den he replaied, “Fatter, if you rub a little bit of dis here turpentine on a cat’s ass, he’ll pass a Harley-Davidson him.”

C’EST TOUT

We lost two giants of my generation in the last few days. Larry King, age 87, had been under COVID-19 care since Jan. 4. A Brooklyn boy he became a newsman who interviewed newsmakers. In his 25 years on CNN, Larry conducted over 50,000 interviews on television. He also did a lot of radio. I can recall in the 1980’s he had an all night radio show. People from around the country would just call in and talk about anything. He was married eight times, seven times to different women. Everyone liked Larry. He was one of our true icons during a period I was fortunate to have traveled. “R.I.P. Larry King.”*****I was saddened to learn of the death of Hank Aaron, who died Friday Jan. 22. I had followed his baseball days, I was a real fan. He symbolized the very best of the game. A Black kid from Mobile, Alabama, in 1974, on April 8, he broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record with his 715th homerun off of Al Downing. I was fortunate enough one month later to obtain a commemorative bat with a plaque signed by Henry (Hank’s given name) Aaron. Only 500 copies of Hank’s record breaking bats were released by Magnavox. It is one of my proudest possessions. He grew up a poor kid who faced racism but never let the hatred he get the best of him. A legend in every sense of the word, he was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. A champion for civil rights, he was a roll model for every youngster. He was given a hard time by White Supremist for breaking Babe Ruth’s record. Hank ended his career with 755 home runs, a record later broken by Barry Bonds. “Hammerin Hank, R.I.P. #44.”*****My time is up for this week. Take care, wash hands and wear mask. God bless.