Lunch Bunch honors new OC mayors

New mayors Misty Songe of Vidor and Randy Branch of West Orange were guests of honor at the Wednesday Lunch Bunch meeting held June 16.

Orange County Judge John Gothia and Orange County Tax Collector Karen Fisher hosted the event and treated everyone to lunch at Robert's Steakhouse and Meat Market.

The crowd also included Bridge City Mayor David Rutledge, County Commissioner Kirk Roccaforte and former County Commissioner John Dubose. Roccaforte and Dubose are former Bridge City mayors, Roy Dunn, Publisher of The Record Newspapers as well as old and new friends.

Justice of the Peace Chad Jenkins, former JP Derry Dunn and Constable Jeremiah Gunter, all from Precinct 2, were in attendance as well as Precinct 1 JP Hershel Stagner, Jr., County Tax Collector Karen Fisher, County Treasurer Christy Khoury and Jessica Hill, Director of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation.

A number of Lunch Bunch regulars were unable to attend as they were assisting final preparations for the Lions Club Charity Carnival which opened Wednesday evening.

As always, Dunn entertained by telling jokes at the expense of those in attendance, but former County Judge Carl Thibodeaux turned one around so adeptly that the meeting devolved to reminiscing about his old blue pickup truck.

Vidor City Manager Robbie Hood told stories about Eagles drummer and singer Don Henley when Hood worked in Linden, Henley's hometown.

Dunn announced the Lunch Bunch, which took more than a year's break after COVID-19 came to Southeast Texas, will again be meeting each Wednesday for lunch at Robert's.

Next up is 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 23. Attendance is open to anyone. It's a time to pick up stories about your neighbors or tell some, a virtual info exchange without the computers.