Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AUG. 19-22

Several prominent Democratic figures are set to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week. President Joe Biden, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been confirmed as speakers at the convention. Obama and the Clintons delivered speeches during the 2020 DNC, which was largely held virtually to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amid the pandemic. A source familiar said that former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson Jason Carter is also confirmed to be speaking as a representative for his grandfather. The convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, takes place weeks after Biden announced his withdrawal from the race following widespread calls from Democrats to drop out after his disastrous June debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran unopposed for the Democratic presidential nomination after Biden dropped out of the race, secured the majority of delegate votes to win the nomination. The Harris campaign last week announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris, who is the first Black woman and first Indian American in U.S. history to secure a major party’s presidential nomination. The momentum leading up to the convention has surged since Harris announced her presidential campaign last month. Some people have waited a lifetime to elect a woman president. Hillary Clinton, the only other woman who had a chance was defeated by Donald Trump in 2016. The Harris campaign raised a historic $310 million last month, and $36 million in the 24 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate. Protests and demonstrations related to the U.S. government's support for Israel in their ongoing invasion of Gaza are expected to emerge while the convention is being held. Commentators have drawn comparisons between the upcoming convention and the 1968 convention, also held in Chicago, in which protests opposed to the Vietnam War turned violent when the city utilized extreme levels of police brutality to suppress the protestors.

CURRY DELIVERS GOLD

The United States is atop the international men’s basketball world once again, after Stephen Curry scored 24 points and led the way to a 98-87 win over France in the final at the Paris Games on Saturday night. It was the fifth conservative gold medal for the U.S., and the 17th in 20 all-time appearances for the Americans at the games. Curry made four 3-pointers in the final 2:43, including the one that just sealed the win with 1:19 remaining. It put the U.S. up 93-84 and he skipped down the court letting out a yell, shaking his jersey so everyone could see the “USA” across the front. If that wasn’t enough, one more followed with about 30 seconds left, with the “go to sleep” move where he puts his hands on the side of his face. Good night. Game over. Gold won. Again.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2014

Oscar winning actor/comic Robin Williams, 63, was found dead in his Tiburon, California home around noon Monday, Aug. 11. Tiburon is across the Golden Gate Bridge north of San Francisco. His death was a suicide due to asphyxia (death by hanging). He had been battling severe depression of late. Robin was considered a comic genius, a versatile actor beloved by several generations. Baby Boomers first became acquainted with him in 1978 as Mork on TV’s Mork and Mindy. Many remember him as a D.J. in 1987’s “Good Morning Vietnam.” He was one of the most beloved entertainers of our time. Depression is a desperate disease often unnoticed by others. A victim is often alone in a crowd. You never know those who might be suffering, Williams appeared to be an unlikely victim.***** We spoke with Judge Derry Dunn, in the hospital in Houston Tuesday. He says he is healing, off of strong antibodies, but still can’t put weight on his legs. He’s very bored but thankful Jane has been with him. It may be sometime before he can operate his tractor. He’s thankful to be recovering, back home and looking forward to the day when the gulf water bacteria is just a memory.*****We were sorry to learn that Karen Jo’s mother-in- law, former Bridge City teacher Sally Vance, had broken her back. Karen is by her side in Dallas.*****Sharon Wooley tells us that Bridge City High School teacher Karen Tomlin is in ICU with high fever and a bacteria infection. She is very ill.*****We were sorry to learn of the death of Jack Jones, 86, who died Saturday, Aug. 9. Jack was a teacher, coach and principle at LC-M. He was a good man.*****Death on dirt track clouds NASCAR image. Driver Kevin Ward, Jr., age 20, was killed by Tony Stewart’s car when he ran onto the track. Stewart’s car struck and killed Ward Saturday night at Canandaigua Motor Sports Park, in New York. The death is being investigated by the sheriff’s department. So far no evidence of a crime. Stewart has expressed sadness but this tragic death. *****Orange County Treasurer Christy Khoury returned over the weekend from a week long county treasurer conference in Amarillo. All elected treasurers in the state attended. Christy says it’s a small world. One of the elected officials she met is Nelda Burton’s first cousin. She said they were kept too busy to meet a West Texas cowboy.

20 Years Ago-2004

Buffalo from Louisiana swam across Sabine Lake and the Intracoastal Waterway before roaming the streets of Bridge City. Orange County Animal Control officer Will Winfree and volunteers rounded up the rogue herd of eight buffalo, three bulls

and five cows. Will used Sylvia’s Rocking S pen on Roundbunch, loaded the herd and returned the buffalo to the Gray estate in Cameron Parish.*****Ginny Cox, “Neighbor’s” better half is home after a few days in hospital. She is one of the first to receive a stint; a new heart ornament that saves lives. *****Crude oil jumps to $46.58 a barrel, an all-time high. (Editor’s note: That was the Bush/Cheney years. Before the oil men left office oil by the barrel went up to over $100 never to come down again.)*****Health care and prescription drugs have gone up 49 percent between 2001-2004. ***** The 2004 Jerry Hughes Realty team consist of Jerry, Darla Bertrand, Sherry Hommel, Pat Cailavet, Loretta and Debbie Hughes, Wayne Potter, Gertie Ewing, Rana Miller and Charles Cessac.*****GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Mary Louise Fitzgerald, 88, died Aug. 5.*****Rosa Mae Lavergne, 86, died Aug. 10.*****Dempsey “Ten Mile” Turner, 86, died Aug. 13.*****Rosemary Shannon, 86, of Mauriceville, died Aug. 9.*****Ada Bergeron, 87, of Orange, died Aug. 13.

45 Years Ago-1979

Julia Fudge is back at work at the Bridge City Police Department after recuperating from surgery. She is working with the new chief Andy Verret.*****Fannie Beaty can be seen running around town on a yellow Moped (bike). *****Last weekend Joe Kazmar hit a hole-in-one. It was his first and the first he had even witnessed. *****Rush Wood is the new sports information director at Lamar University. ***** Karen Leslie Smith became the bride of Mark Hryhorchuk Saturday, Aug. 4. They are attending Texas A&M. *****Mary Teresa Mott became the bride of Mark Couvillion Aug. 4. *****Janet and James Fontenot celebrated their wedding anniversary August 13. *****Frank Manchac, Jr. will wed Lara Ann Pachar on Saturday, Aug. 18. The bride will be given in marriage by her uncle Neal Miller, Jr., former Orange mayor.*****Vicki Curtis is now engaged to Frank Brown, son of Edgar and Betty Brown. Dr. Frank is teaching Artificial Intelligence at the University of Texas. They plan a December wedding.*****Doug Ballard is home from hospital in Houston after being treated for Spinal meningitis.*****Neal Bond, Bridge City school employee is hospitalized for surgery.*****Congrats to Lou and Arval Hebert on the birth of their twins, Michael and Anna.*****Former West Orange and Texas Longhorn baseball player, Andre Robertson of Orange, was named to the Sporting News All American Team which is compiled by the nation’s pro-scouting directors. Robertson was drafted by Florida State League where he is known as “Robbie.” (Editor’s note: Andre went on to play for the New York Yankees.)

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Chase Shugart, 2015 Bridge City graduate, received the call of his dreams on Monday, Aug. 12 to make his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox. Many of close family & friends made the trip to Fenway Park for the big day. Shugart was drafted by the Red Sox in 2018 after pitching at the University of Texas for three years.*****We have been hearing some good things about Vision Quest, a full service optical eye center. Mark Weaver and his staff do amazing work and are highly recommended. They are located at 1502 Strickland Dr., Orange. (See ad in this issue.)***** Lady Whistlebreaux is getting all excited about the next Bridge City event coming up. That city on the west side of the county has been coming up with unique community events and the Hot Air Balloon Festival is the latest after July's drone show. Tethered hot air balloons will be lit for display at the festival set for the evening of September 14. Mark your calendars.*****Cornell Thompson was out selling and signing copies of his book on the history of Mustang football Tuesday evening at a stop on the newly formed Orange Runners Club. All summer, even in the heat, people have been gathering at the Starbucks on 16th Street to run, jog, or walk down the thoroughfare. The crowd gets bigger every week and you never know who will be out there. Father Jim Sichko suggests those who don't run can drive along playing 'Eye of the Tiger' for encouragement.*****Speaking of Sichkos (or is that Sichkoes?) his sister Thereze was off with Gina and Skipper Yeaman to Houston last week to see Luke Combs in concert. Logan Poluk, founder of The Hut, went along to keep those three in line.*****Allisha and Gary Bonneaux vacayed in Florida and took a night kayaking trip looking for manatees. Word was no sightings of one of the giant sea creatures was made and Gary made Allisha do the hard paddling.*****Brandi Griggs took daughter Kiley in for hair highlights to start the new school year.*****boxing champion and Orange native O'Shaquie Foster was back home on Saturday with his second annual Back to School Bash, giving away backpacks, school supplies, and snocones to youngsters. Plus he poses for photos and signs autographs. The general consensus is that he was cheated by judges out of his defending his title and we know he'll be back to reclaim it. But no matter what, he's always a champion in his hometown for his generosity.*****Larry Hamilton recently was spotlighted for his volunteer work with the Bridge City-Orangefield Ministerial Alliance, another one of our non-profit groups helping people get food and other necessities.*****Christy Smith retired from the Orange County courts to teach court reporting at LSCO and recently graduated another class. LSCO President Dr. Tom 'Bow Tie' Johnson has instituted a number of programs that train people to get high-paying jobs.*****David and Sabrina Claybar took their kids for a week at Crystal Beach. We haven't heard if they found their lost shaker of shark’s teeth. That family has a knack for finding the teeth while beachcombing.*****Benitris Edwards led a successful Blues Festival at the Orange Riverside Pavilion this past Saturday and the next one is already set for August 9, 2025. If there's an even at the pavilion, Steve Jones is a sure bet to be on hand. The retired Orange Police Department major has spent untold hours in the past few years helping plan traffic and set-ups for big community events. Butch Campbell was also on hand Saturday. Orange Lions Club worked with Bernard. Ishmael Jack provided Chris Kovatch, Bill Smith, Jared Wilson, Chris Smith and Rusty Bernard his MC talents for the festival.*****Congratulations to Faith Moore, daughter of Chester and Lisa Moore, for getting national recognition from a wildlife photography contest for her shot of a mountain goat.*****Ninety-five years ago this week, Aug. 11, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player to reach 500 career homeruns. Also on Aug. 12, 1994, baseball came to a halt and didn’t return for 232 days. The Major League baseball strike that ended basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s baseball career. Bo Jackson, Sid Bream, Lloyd McCllendon and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage would never play again. That strike altered baseball history.*****David Ball, longtime newspaper reporter who suffered a stroke a couple of years ago covered Commissioners Court for us last week. We were glad to see him back in action.*****For years my hearing has depended on Brown Hearing Aid Center. The older one gets, the more important hearing service is. Eddie and his staff go that extra step to assist elderly folks. You don’t get that when you purchase over the counter hearing aids.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

Celebrating birthdays in the following days are Aug. 14: Diane Justice, Jerry Windham, Kevin Berry, Lindsey Schaffer, Myrtle Singletary, Bill Triggs, Britanie Long, Christina Myers.*****Aug. 15: Tiffany Schlicher, Gavyn Fisher, Kristie Gunn, Valerie Richter, Brandi Arnold, Beth Holm, Christine Johnson.***On this day in 1765 a population known as Cajuns were exiled to Nova Scotia.*****Aug. 16: Gwen Boehme and Joe Sanders celebrate birthdays. On this day in 1977 Elvis Presley died at age 42.*****Aug. 17: Brenda Gage, Johnny Stimac, Jordan New, Shandi Conner, Dagma Hood, Danielle Heil.*****Aug. 18: Carolyn Ward and Ian MacCammond celebrate birthdays.*****Aug. 19: Former Record employee Tammy Davis celebrates today also Pat Brown, Maggie Joubert, Ryan Prejean, Terry Ford, Braydon Denison, Brett Heil, Brett Johansson.***Former U.S. President Bill Clinton turns 79 today.*****Aug. 20: Kelsie Matlock, Melinda Ja’arah, Sarah Byers, Jimmy Findlay, Marilyn Guerrerro.***Other birthday greetings go out to Imogene Spross, who turned 90. Word is her celebration lasted all weekend with family including daughters Marla Blanke and Gayla Huff.***Also recent birthdays included Sandra Cash, Melany Marie Monson, Sandy Haynes, Bonnie Bufford, Kyndall Harrison, the lovely Judy Lynn Smith, Pat Caillavet, Casey Harris, Mark Ricks, and Donna Rogers Holley.*****Happy 59th wedding anniversary to Micah and Judge Carl Thibodeaux who celebrate on August 21.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

One day, Marie, wat lives way out at Pecan Island, sent her little boy Tee-Ned down to da pond to get some water for cooking dinner. As Tee-Ned was dipping da buket in da water him, he saw two big old eyes looking back at him. He dropped dat bucket and hightailed it back to da kitchen as fast as his little legs would carry him.

Marie axe, “Tee-Ned, where’s my bucket of water, hanh?” Tee-Ned cried out, “I can’t get no water from dat pond Mama, dere’s a great big ol’ alligator down der!” Marie answer, “Tee-Ned, don’t you mind dat ol’ gator, he’s been dere for many years him, and he ain’t never hurt nobody. Cher, he’s probably as scared of you as you is of him.”

Tee-Ned replied, “Well Mama, if he’s as scared of me as I am of him, den Mama, dat water it ain’t fit to drink no!”

C’EST TOUT

WHAT IS PROJECT 2025

Project 2025 is a set of radical, dangerous and unpopular policy proposals. The conservative Heritage Foundation’s 900-page blueprint for a second Donald Trump presidency would remake government by, among other proposals, replacing thousands of civil service employees with Trump loyalists, eliminating the departments of Commerce, Education and Homeland Security while giving Trump power over the federal government. Roughly 3 in 4 American adults believe the upcoming presidential election is vital to the future of United States democracy. The poll finding suggest that many Democrats continue to view Trump as a threat to democracy after he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and threatened to seek retribution against his opponents if he wins re-election. The poll shows the stakes of democracy in the election are felt more by older adults rather than younger ones. About half of adults 45 and older say the outcome of the election is extremely important for the future of democracy, compared to about 4 in 10 adults under 45. *****My time is up, thanks for yours. Please read us cover to cover and shop our family of advertisers when you can. Take care and God bless.