Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

TEXAS MONTHLY “BEST AND WORST LEGISLATORS”

The new ratings are in this month’s issue. Our own senator Robert Nichols, is listed in the Best column. T.M. says “There are no Republican mavericks in Dan Patricks senate, but until a real iconoclast shows up, Robert Nichols will do.” Nichols, represents largely rural East Texas from his perch at Jacksonville, where few private schools exist. He has long opposed creating vouchers, which siphons money away from public schools. Patrick has long supported creating them. Nichols also is one of few Republican legislators to support a rape exception to the state’s abortion ban. Also raising the legal age for purchasing certain semi-automatic weapons to 21, a minority stand that stands for real courage. Somehow Nichols has maintained a relationship with Patrick and has gotten several bills passed. Perhaps the senator’s greatness accomplishment is duplicating what another area senator, Carl Parker, was able to accomplish many years ago, bringing Lamar Orange and Lamar Port Arthur into the Texas state system. This session, Nichols accomplished making Stephen F. Austin State University into the University of Texas system. Membership in the U.T. system will provide this East Texas institution with a much needed infusion of money and energy. S.F.A. at Nacogdoches celebrates its centenary this year. Robert Nichols is not only one of Texas Monthly’s Best, he is without a doubt East Texas’ most popular Republican.

GOV. GREG ABBOTT’S BIG BET

Abbott bet big on school vouchers; and easy sell in the Senate, but not the House. Abbott attempted to exert pressure on rural Republican representatives by holding rallies at private Christian schools across the state. He misjudged how political power in the House works. The regular session ended in defeat for many of Abbott’s priorities, especially the voucher proposal. Texas Monthly says the bright lights of Right Wing television such as Fox and Friends, Hannidy, etc, gave him unconditional love. He has long been overshadowed nationally for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

MATTHEW McDADE PHELAN—TEXAS SPEAKER

In January, 2015, when Abbott and Patrick were sworn into their current post, freshman Dade Phelan, of Beaumont, was just arriving in Austin. Six-years later, he ascended to Speaker of the Texas House, an astonishing rise but it wasn’t until this year that Phelan stepped into his power. He faced pressure from Abbott, Patrick and the State Republican Party officials, each pulling him in different directions. Phelan seemed to be losing control but the opening brought a series of extraordinary developments and reversals. Phelan boldly and quietly empowered the House to investigate Ken Paxton, the indicted Attorney General, who is awaiting a trial in the senate. Patrick and Abbott began sparring, relieving pressure from the House, while Phelan’s other enemies scrambled to react to the Paxton inquiry. The Speaker emerged stronger. Left to be settled is whose property tax bill, between Abbott, Patrick and Phelan, will become law. Abbots special session came to a close Tuesday. Constituents in Orange County are better represented right now than in years past.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2013

It just hasn‘t been the same here on Henrietta for the last few weeks without our buddy Don Harmon around. Don has been away battling cancer. His strength is slow coming back. He was always the first one at work at the car lot. Every morning you could count on Don sweeping the outside entrance carpet and walking the grounds picking up any trash and all cigarette butts. He would then come in and ask, “Is my education holding me back?” No one loved his line of work any more than Don, who has been in the car business over 60 years. (Don passed away Dec. 2, 2004.) *****The Miami Heat overcame the San Antonio Spurs in a rare NBA seventh game, 95-88. It’s rare when a season comes down to one game. The Spurs will long relive game six, when they had the championship in the bag and the cat got out in the most exciting five seconds in basketball. It was the second championship in a row for the Heat and made Lebron James MVP. Names like Dwayne Wade, Shane Battier and James are future hall of famers. *****Our friend Lester “Buckshot” Winfree died on this day in 2010. *****The old Elliot Ness TV weekly series, in the 1950’s, was a favorite viewer choice. Then came the Godfather shows. As crime shows go, I don’t believe they can ever be duplicated, but the Soprano’s, that ran on HBO from 1999 to 2007, set record ratings. The acting was good and one guy was born to play the lead of the mob boss Tony Soprano. The part was played by actor James Gandolfini, 51, who died of a heart attack in Italy last week. Tony Soprano showed violent tendencies yet somehow was a relatable family man and appealed to a broad audience. For some reason Americans have love affair with crime shows. Despite Tony Soprano being a crime boss, Gandolfini played the part so well the audience always pulled for him. The world lost a great actor at a young age.*****It probably went unnoticed to most people but not to me and Neighbor Cox. Last week, at ago 90, Slim Whitman died. Who was he you ask? Slim was a country pop singer in the early 1950’s. He was a regular on “The Louisiana Hayride.” His first hit was “Indian Love Call.” In the 1970’s and 80’s, his career was revived by telemarketing campaign that blanketed country’s local TV stations with his “All My Best” hits collection. No one sang like Slim Whitman. *****An A.P. report out Monday ranked Texas in the bottom 10 states on providing children’s health care. Meanwhile, the Texas government has again screwed rural counties with their political maps that give the power to the large cities. Gov. Perry is expected to sign the bill he proposed. Think about this, why is unemployment so high in our area when Texas is booming? It’s because the days are gone when we had local representation that went to bat to bring local industry and jobs to this area. The state even gives abatements to attract industry to certain areas. We continue to suck the hind teat.*****One thing we can all agree on is that the United States Congress is doing absolutely nothing to help the economy, especially jobs. Their argument is to give more tax breaks to the top one percent. I believe a jobs bill and an immigration bill will do more to help the economy than anything.***** The Republican controlled Supreme Court struck down key parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, opening the door for voter suppression. Look for Texas to go to photo identification by next election.

17 Years Ago-2006

Jessie Domingue, anxious to see his home on Gilmer Street, in Bridge City, after Hurricane Rita, let a film crew from the Weather Channel tag along. Last week, a 30 minute show “Hurricane Rita” aired on the network and featured Jessie and his neighbor, Arthur Connor. “Storm Stories” series is narrated by Jim Cantore. *****Last week, in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, Bridge City Bank officially returned to its main facilities. The bank had been conducting business in portable buildings until the renovations were completed. *****An Orange County soldier, 30-year-old Benjamin Dwayne Williams, was killed in Iraq. He was on his third tour of duty. The Marine Staff Sergeant was a career soldier. He is the second former LCM student killed; Lance Corporal Shane Goldman was killed in 2004. ***** Three former Bridge City High students received degrees from Texas A&M. They are Freeman Michael Peart, Jeffrey Ryan Lack and Katie Elise Hoffpauir.*****Barbara Mulhollan, Roy McDonald, Doris Norwood and Nancy Dupuis celebrate birthdays. 

47 Years Ago-1976

In a few days, the United States will celebrate its 200th birthday. On June 31, 7 p.m., the Bridge City Bi-Centennial beard contest will be held next to Bridge City Bank, on Texas Avenue. *****Sak-N-Pack opens a new convenience store at 1510 Texas Avenue.*****A two-day community wide picnic in the park will be held Saturday, July 3, and Sunday July 4, at Adams Bayou Park, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wear your Bi-centennial outfits. Over 30 booths and displays, live radio, free games will be on the grounds. Sunday will be Edgar Brown Jr., Memorial Day, with plenty of live entertainment and fireworks show. Everything is free, presented by Sabine Area Bi-Centennial Commission. Roy and Crystal Wingate are co-chairmen.*****A USA softball game was held between Carl Parker, incoming Texas senator and a team put up by Roy Dunn, made of members of the media, with H.D. Pate thrown in. Richard Cordor is umpire. All proceeds, plus a donation from the losing team, will go to the Bridge City/Orangefield Community Center fund.*****Ann and Jimmy Segura took a flying trip to North Carolina to visit son Tommy and wife. Becky. They are stationed at Polk Air Force base.*****Mark Dunn writes a feature story on G.G. Shinn and the TSC Trucking Company, made up of Kenny Babb, Gerry Mouton, Rat Brown and Oran Guidry. 

A FEW HAPPENINGS

The new Golden Triangle Polymers plant by Chevron Phillips knows how to pack 'em in at the Orange County Expo Center. Vehicles were parked along the highway Saturday as job-seekers waited in line to get in to find out job opportunities for contractors at the construction site, along with permanent jobs once the plant opens. Texas Workforce Solutions is helping and more than 600 people attended the first job expo. The company will be having another expo for vendors and contractors next month. The economic boom is beginning on the big project for which many locals have prayed for a half of century. Traffic is already congested around the plant site on Highway 87 as the company is doing highway adjustments to accommodate the heavy haul trucks that will be coming into the site. RV parks for construction workers are starting to pop up across the county and affordable apartments are getting hard to find.*****As the heat wave continues, people are taking to the water to cool off. Orange County Commissioner Johnny Trahan and wife, Becky, took off for a weekend in New Braunfels and went river tubing They got back in the OC to watch the LSU baseball team win the  National championship. Of course he had to brag about the Tigers at Tuesday's commissioners court meeting. Commissioner Robert Viator, though, got him with a zinger.*****Brandi Griggs, Justin Rieson, Cindi Gipson, plus Chris and Chastity Lampman went boating on the Sabine. This time, Brandi didn't get a flat tire while wearing a bikini.*****Janois Grizzzaffi along with Bobbie Weldon, Terri Buchanan, Shannon Halliburton, Renae Andreu, Rhonda Ritter-Fenton, Terri Childs, and Jacki Tate got some beach time at Bolivar.*****Drs. Clay and Amber Greeson recently spent two week in Hawaii with their three sons, Luke, Lian and Rowan. It took two days to get home due to plane delays.*****Patty and Pat Cook, though, had the most cool water trip as far as temperature and adventure. They are on an extended road trip for their 50th anniversary and on the West Coast, took a tour boat to see whales, which had been on Patty's bucket list. They traveled down the coast to San Francisco and saw the giant redwoods. And to make all their Southeast Texas friends jealous, they have had to wear sweaters or jackets.*****Speaking of anniversaries, Ron and Sue Cowling had their 60th one this past week. Hammon and Glenda Thompson celebrated No. 44, while Randy and Paula Ragsdale marked 36. Taylor and Jonathan Friend had their tenth, while Brandon and artist Lauren Leigh Stanley are now married for eight years. He doesn't mind the paint stuck to her. She's one of Southeast Texas' leading mural painters. She's also painted a lot of the decorative oranges in front of businesses.*****Birthdays this past week included County Clerk Brandy Robertson turning 47. Hubs Roderick Robertson, who serves as a WO-C school board member, took her out for seafood. They went all the way to Destin, Florida.*****Another couple getting away to the water. Kathy Marsh, wife of longtime friend Dwayne Marsh, turned 60.*****Little blonde Indie Jaymes turned 3. She may be the only person in the world who can give some sass to Donna Dorman Scales. Indie is Donna's granddaughter and the namesake of her uncle, James Scales, who holds so many civic titles it’s hard to name them.*****Faith Moore, daughter of Chester and Lisa Moore, turned another year older. Besides being an animal expert alongside her father, she's also a big wrestling fan. Her great-grandmother is the late Ruby Pickard.*****Also celebrating this week were Patricia Hebert and Terry Sonnier.*****Haven’t set eyes on Keith Wallace in a couple of years, however, I hear that like so many businesses today, Keith is having a hard time finding enough help at his Reliable Cleaners in Orange, Bridge City and Vidor. He has full and part-time job openings. He and his wife are great folks to work for.*****The Lunch Bunch gathers every Wednesday, 12 noon, at Robert’s Restaurant, a great place to congregate.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

Celebrating birthdays this week are the following. June 28: Kelly Kimbrough, Kathy LeBlanc, Karen Tomlin, Kourtney Derouen, Tina Bernard, and Connie Berry.*****June 29: Ann Lieby, Wayne Rice, Jana Fisette, Cobey Sonnier Rebecca Griffin, David Sandlin.*****June 30: Chris Huebel, Angela Schram, Beverly Haggard, Roy MdDonald, Sonya Jarreau, Deanna Shuford and Betty Derrick.*****July 1: Shirley Dougher, Marcy Strahan, Wendy Young, Charlie Learned, Dian Arnold and Jeff Eby.*****July 2: Marla LeMoine, Kristy Davis, Sonja Cooper, Lisa Wilson, Maria Garcia, Brennon Mitchell and Nancy Dupuis.*****July 3: Cyndee Fleetwood, Dean Crooks, Jean Scott turns 90, Jeanne Donahey and Ellen Ray.*****July 4: Kathie Wilson, Katy Maloney and Kellie Derouen. Happy Birthday to all. (To publish birthday or anniversary announcements free of charge email therecordlive.com or call 409-886-7183.)

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

One day Clovis Comeaux and Sostan Thibodeaux went to a job interview, da boss came out of his office and gave dem a test. It took bout two hours to finish dat test.

The boss pick dem test up and graded dem. Wen he finish, he came back out of his office and said, “Ya’ll bot did very well and pass da test. In fact, ya’ll scored da same grade. Den he tol Comeaux he got da job.

All of a sudden Thibodeaux jump up and said, “Well wait,

if we bot scored da same grade, din why does Comeaux get

da job?”

Da boss said, “Well because of your answers, for example,

on number 25, Comeaux wrote, “I don’t know,” and you

wrote, “Me either.”

C’EST TOUT

LSU 2023 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS

LSU on Monday night prevailed over Florida in the deciding Game 3 of the Men's College World Series finals 18-4 and with the win claimed the Division I national championship for 2023. LSU's dominating performance, in which they pounded out 23 hits, came one night after the Tigers themselves were dominated 24-4 in Game 2. It's LSU's seventh national title in baseball.  From their 19 College World Series appearances, LSU has now emerged with seven national championships. In addition to 2023 under second-year head coach Jay Johnson, the Tigers also won both belt and title in 2009, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1993, and 1991. Prior to Monday night's outcome, LSU had been tied with Texas with six titles. Now only Southern Cal has more championships with 12. The Trojans, however, haven't won it all since 1998. Helping keep them from eight titles, coincidentally, is Florida. Back in 2017, they bested LSU in the MCWS finals for their one and only national championship. Florida’s 24-4 win in Game 2 was the biggest beat down in MCWS finals history and the second-largest win in any MCWS game. When LSU responded with an 18-4 butt-kicking of Florida in the clincher, it went against trends, only the fourth time in the past 11 MCWS that a team lost Game 2 of the finals but came back to win the title in Game 3. No team had scored more than six runs in a game in this year’s MCWS before Game 2 of the title series. No team had ever scored 18 or more runs in an MCWS game at The Chuck, and then it happened in consecutive days, by opposing teams. The Tigers won it all on Monday and set one last record in the process. Their 24 hits were the most cracked off the bats of any team to participate in a Men’s College World Series game, 592 squads of baseball players from 1947 through Monday night.

LSU's Dylan Crews wins Golden Spikes Award

LSU center fielder Dylan Crews, projected to be the No. 1 pick in the amateur draft next month, on Sunday was honored as the winner of the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country. Crews, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, led the Tigers to the Men's College World Series finals and is among the national leaders in most offensive categories. "Dylan Crews has been one of the nation's best college baseball players since he arrived at LSU in 2021," USA Baseball executive director and CEO Paul Seiler said. "His extraordinary 2023 season, in addition to his generous charitable work off the baseball field, make him an extremely worthy winner of this award."*****My time is up. We wish you and yours a great 4th of July. Take care, be safe and God bless America.