Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

DR. TOM WILL BE MISSED

I visited with Dr. Tom Johnson by phone over the weekend. He was at his place on Lake Livingston doing nothing, totally deserved rest. “The heaviest thing I have lifted is this coffee mug as I enjoy the outdoors and the million dollar view.” He said he would call me Monday. I know now he must have been deep in thought about his future. He has put in 42 years in government service. That left little time with family. His life and accomplishments at such a young age is quite a story. Our friend Dr. Tom Johnson, a Port Arthur lad, weaved quite a life story. The last six years he make great accomplishments at Lamar State College-Orange. He was a Houston police officer and a right hand man for Congressman Charlie Wilson before becoming a college president. He will retire come August. We can’t thank him enough for all the work he put in to expand the college. Personally I’ll miss the guy. I bonded with him the first time I met him. What a great guy. He and his wife Karen plan to enjoy time and traveling together.

REMAINS OF CAPITOL ATTACK FADES AS TRUMP TAKES OFFICE

Scars on the walls have been repaired. Windows and doors broken by the rioters have been replaced. And there is no plaque, display or remembrance of any kind. Lawmakers rarely mention the attack, and many Republicans try to downplay it, echoing President-elect Trump’s claims that the carnage of that day is overblown and that the rioters are victims. In some ways, it’s like the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, that shook the foundations of American democracy, never happened. Trump promises to pardons rioters, as he has said he will do after taking office Jan. 20. Some of the 1,250 defendants convicted of crimes after Jan. 6 called for the deaths of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Mike Pence, who was Trump’s vice-president, as the mob violently overran police and breached the building. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges after Jan. 6, said it was a very dark time. Congress passed a law in March 2022 to require “an honorific plaque listing the names of all of the officers of the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Now, almost three years later there is no plaque. It’s unclear why or who is responsible for it. New York Rep. Joe Morelle, now the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said refusing to display the plaque is part of an effort to “deny Jan. 6 happened and the harm it caused to the U.S. Capitol Police force. We must never forget.

OUR CONDOLENCES

Stephen Dale Carlton

Longtime Orange County attorney Stephen Dale “Steve” Carlton, 78, of Orange, passed away December 29, 2024. A celebration of life was held Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Turning Point Church in Vidor. Born in Butte, Montana, and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Steve dedicated his life to his interests, his profession, and his family. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1969 where he was a ranked tennis player. He was a proud graduate of the University of Texas Law School, Steve became a licensed attorney in 1972. He established the Carlton Law Practice in Orange. A die-hard University of Texas Longhorns fan. He cherished his season tickets and the camaraderie of tailgating with family and friends. Both of his children also graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and share his love for the Texas Longhorns. He even chose to marry the love of his life during halftime of the Texas versus Texas A&M football game on Thanksgiving Day in 1975. He relished trips to the Bowl games with his family, with the most important being the National Championship game where his Texas Longhorns won. Steve loved to tell funny stories about his life adventures with his family and friends. He was quick to tell anyone who would listen about how proud he was of his children and their various accomplishments. Steve became a beloved figure among his colleagues, who affectionately referred to him as “Grumpy.” What I best remember about Steve was that he was a good lawyer who most often won the case. Also, how quick he was on his feet with one liners. Our condolences to his family.

THOMAS JAMES ANDRUS

We were sorry to learn of the death of Thomas James Andrus, who passed away January 2, 2025. His funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. Our condolences to wife Carolyn, son Eric, daughter-in-law Caitlin and granddaughter Diana, family and friends. Please see obituary.

Mary Ruby Russell

Mary Ruby Russell, age 86, of Bridge City passed away January 3, 2025. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 7, at First Christian Church of Orangefield. She and husband R.V. Russell had been married 70 years. Our condolences to their large family. May this good lady rest in peace. Please see obituary

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2015

New Orange County officials took office Jan. 1. To County Judge Britt Carlton, Commissioner Barry Burton and Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3, Joy Simonton, we send our best wishes. Going back to 1948, Judge Simonton is only the seventh Justice of the Peace in Pct. 3, starting with John T. Denny when the office was located in Orangefield. The office was then moved behind a little Sak-N-Pak store on Texas Ave. where Stop and Drive is now located. When Judge Toups was elected Judge Flo Edgerly’s mother, Abbie Carter, was office manager, assistant. When Toups died his roommate Judge Andrus was appointed. He also inherited the grocery store. They operated the J.P. office in a little white building that still exists today. Judge Andrus retired, moved to the lakes where he ran for the J.P. office and was elected. Martin Ardoin retired from the plant and was Dist. Judge Gene Hoyt’s bailiff. He ran for J.P. and served until Flo Edgerly was elected. She served for 20 years and was replaced by longtime chief clerk Janice Menard. It was during Ardoin’s time that the J.P. office on Roundbunch was built. The new office on Hwy. 87-South was built while Menard was judge. She had some input in how the building was to be built, just as Ardoin had done on the Roundbunch office. Judge Ardoin is credited in stopping a longtime practice in the Bridge City area, then known as a “Speed Trap” and having a “Kangaroo Court.”*****We were very sorry to learn about the death of Brenda Lee Sanders Beaumont, 50, who passed away Friday, Jan. 2, at Baptist Hospital, Beaumont after suffering a massive heart attack. Brenda was the daughter of our friends Sue and Tommy Simar. We knew Brenda to be a friendly, outgoing lady, who never seemed to meet a stranger. Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Dorman Funeral Home. ***** We were saddened to learn of the death of Terry Fall, 80, who passed away Dec. 27. Service was held Tuesday, Dec. 30. We only learned of her death when our paper came out on Dec. 31. We had known Terry since we were all young parents raising our youngsters. She was a beautiful, sweet lady. Our condolences to her son Lanston and daughter Peggy and their families.*****Former Orange Republican chairman Zach Johnson, who graduated from Lamar in December and will turn 23 on Jan. 20, has landed a job in Austin as new state representative Dade Phelan’s administrative assistant.*****Orangeite, Seattle Seahawk, former West Orange-Stark and University of Texas star, who has been named to the NFL All Pro team. Earl Thomas has made the team four out of five times.***** On Jan. 8, a youngster we have known since he was a puppy, former Bridge City and Lamar football star, Lanston Fall, has a birthday. It’s on a sad note he lost his mom Terry Fall last week.*****Justice of the Peace David Peck continues to recover. He is undergoing intense therapy in Houston in preparation of surgery that he will undergo later.*****Port Commissioner Keith Wallace got to spend the holidays on a deer lease with his 12 and 15 year old sons. The boys both bagged their first deer. Something they will always remember. Keith says, “It’s memories for him also plus spending camp time with the boys.

22 Years Ago-2003

 New Orange County officers sworn in are Janice Menard, J.P. Pct. 3; Roy Derry Dunn, J.P. Pct. 2; Owen Burton, commissioner Pct. 2; Beamon Minton, commissioner Pct. 4; Carl Thibodeaux, county judge; Michael Shuff, county court at law judge; Buddie Hahn, 260th district judge; Karen Jo Vance, county clerk; Vickie Edgerly, district clerk; Vergie Moreland, county treasurer; Joe Parkhurst, J.P. Pct. 1; Sherry Smith, J.P. Pct. 4. (Editor’s note: They served us well and they were all good Democrats.)******County Commissioner John Dubose named Judge Pro-Tem. He replaces Sue Bearden who was defeated in the Democratic Primary runoff by Burton.*****Pretty Lou Raburn is sporting a couple of black eyes. She was digging in the attic; something fell on her causing a concussion. *****Lovely Lyndia Peck hit a heavy weight and broke her heel. She’s in a cast all the way up to her calf. ***** Dr. Williams tells Judge Grover Halliburton that giving him a prescription for Viagra “Would be like putting a new flagpole on a condemned building.”*****Karen’s youngest son, Collin Slade Gros, celebrated his 8th birthday Jan. 10.

47 Years Ago-1978

 Don Burgess is sworn in Sunday as 260th district judge by law partner H.D. Pate. Wife Bobbie held the Bible.*****W.T. Oliver started the day before preparing a feast for the New Year’s Eve party and 23rd wedding anniversary celebration of Roy and Phyllis Dunn. The gathering was held at the Dunn home. Oliver featured 20 gallons of gumbo, 20 gallons of jambalaya, five gallons of sausage and blackeyed peas, Mexican corn bread and other trimmings. Paul Wise furnished the back-up music for a variety of singers. A highlight was the picking and singing of Father Walter Montedon. Between walking their baby Jenny, Gordon and Diane Baxter did a couple of numbers. H.D. Pate sang along and prompted Sen. Carl Parker into singing ten songs by announcing the Senator didn’t know but two. Vicki Curtis and Dennis Hall teamed up on the guitar while the crew harmonized. Furnishing foot-tapping and leg-clapping were State Rep. Wayne Peveto, Judge Grover Halliburton, Betty and Bernard Gaiarratano, Danny Brack, Judge Burgess, Barbara Gillis, Sue Pate and Betty Harmon. Big eaters were Bobby Cormier, Dewey “Teddy Bear” Cox, Bill Forte, Jack Parcel, Tim Lieby, James Fontenot and Ace Amedo. Don Jacobs sang his novelty songs including “The Legend of Roy Dunn.” Harold Beeson, judge of Rose City, author and newspaper reporter came without Shelia. The only time he ever behaved. Around 100 folks attended the annual party. (Editor’s note: Roy was half his age. Recently he and Phyl celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.)

52 Years Ago-1973

 District Judge Graham Bruce, Tax Assessor-Collector Louvenia Hryhorchuk and District Attorney Jim Sharon Bearden are all sworn into office. Also sworn into office New Year’s Day were County-Court-at-Law Judge David Dunn, Sheriff “Buck” Patillo, Commissioners Casey Peveto, Gordon Dunn, and Asa Mansfield, Constables Morris Collier, John Ford, Forrest Hudson and Carl Ward. Also sworn in was District Judge Fred Trimble.*****Immediately following oath, District Attorney Bearden announced that Bill Joyce, former sheriff’s captain and Newton police chief, had been hired as criminal investigator for the county attorney’s office. Bearden also hired Steve Williams as assistant in charge of misdemeanor cases. (Editor’s note: I wrote the above all those years ago. I can’t believe it has been that long.)

TRUMP FACES FELONY CONVICTION JANUARY 10

Former president, president-elect Donald Trump will be headed back to the White House with a felony conviction. Judge Juan M. Merchan will sentence Trump 10 days before his inauguration on Trump’s hush money conviction. That will close the case but with no real punishment. That will close the case but with no real punishment. Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts. On Jan. 10, the conviction, in the Stormy Daniels case without any real punishment called unconditional discharge. It will still be that Trump is the first felon to be sworn in as United States President. Trump can’t pardon himself. Pardons apply only to federal crimes, not state crimes. He can appeal his conviction but not until he’s been sentenced.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Seems like a lot of people stayed home for New Year's Eve, but based on the noise through the evening and into the next day, plus the trash left in roads, they did a lot of fireworks shows. Lady Whistlebreaux has heard stories that grown-ups are so tired of the noise, they're taking those calming gummy chews intended for dogs. Maybe people stayed home to calm their pets during all the blastings. Sipper and Gina Yeaman went to their lake house with Bonny and Ed Trahan for a more peaceful New Year's Eve. Caroline and Mike Hennigan were way up in Maine visiting their son and his family. Terri and Brad Childs went out on the town in Vidor for live music at Benoit's Louis Hall, which has become known for good music.*****Longhorn fans got some thrills during the game as UT pulled through with the big win. Holly Halliburton Callahan got so excited she knocked off Longhorn-themed Christmas tree decorations that broke. And speaking of UT fans, we hated to hear about the passing of longtime local attorney Steve Carlton. He loved his horns.*****Congratulations to Erin Thibodeaux Davison, daughter of Judge Carl and Michaela Thibodeaux. Erin was named the Citizen of the Year by the Women's Commission of Southwest Louisiana.*****The Stark Museum reports that 32 businesses, school groups, and organizations painted and decorated the reindeer for the Reindeer Trail holiday display. The display drew 582 visitors plus 2,155 people to special events held in conjunction with the Reindeer Trail.*****Sharon Bearden is still at the Meadows Rehab Center. He says four nice ladies have been working him over. He says they are tougher on him than those long ago football two-a-days.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

A few people celebrating birthdays in the next few days. Jan. 8: Lanston Fall, Heather Montagne Mankopf, Terri Gauthier, Mike Comeaux, Joey Halliburton, Nadine Whitsett, Philipp Hunt, Sandra Cole, Sean Brinson.*****Jan. 9: Chad Meadows, Mattie Goza, Brenda Hearn, Caitlin Pastrana, Ken Steppe, Pat Gunstream, Ralph Buker, Susan Kelly.*****Jan. 10: Brittany Ramos, Sandy Uzzle, Scott Gerrald, Emily Breaux.*****Jan. 11: Olivia Trahan, Ashley Rion, Fermin Brown, Grant Gilson, John Kraus, Madeline Dawn Evans, Teresa Franklin.*****Jan. 12: Beth Lindner, Jill Sherrod, Donald Edgerton, Dana Sandlin, David Pendergast, Lynnette Lothman, Susan LeBlanc.*****Jan. 13: Commissioner Robert Viator, Rodney Townsend, Jerry Pennington, Kent Hannegan, Ashton Simmons, JoLynn Sholmire, Lyndia Permenter, Mandy Jaarah, Patricia Coppage.*****Jan. 14: Stephanie Hurst, Robert Simonton, Mel Campbell, Chris Williams, Brittany Trantham, Rob Fisher, Tommy Thompson. *****Birthday greetings also go out to Ronnie Perry, Stephanie Blanda, Bonnie Backer, Mindy Currie, Lani Rousseau, Cara Campbell, Ebonie Landry, Phillip Caillavet, Marlene Campbell, Jason Laughlin, Grant Craft, Audi Zeto, Charles Garrett, Bianca Garrett, Dorothy Skiles, Ryan Robertson, and Barbara Dardeau.***** Looks like the holiday season is a popular time to get married as OC had a number of people with wedding anniversaries this past week. Lamar and Pam Hughes had their 33rd.***Judge Rodney and Dr. Amy Townsend marked 28 years and he took the oath of office as a new county court-at-law judge.***Paul and Claudia Hardin celebrated 22 years of marriage.***Ron and Becky Anelley had their 14th.*** Bobby and Ashley Seals have now been married 10 years.***Elvis and Melissa Rushing celebrated their 8th anniversary, though they've been together much longer.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

  Several years ago, TeeNeg Comeaux’s sister Clara Mae met a guy from up north and married him. She had been gone all dem years so TeeNeg and da family had never met her husband Urban until dey came for a visit over da holidays.

During the visit talk turned to the weather like it always does wen trying to make conversation. Urban, him, he say, “It gets so cold in Minnesota in the winter, we have to put heaters under the cows to milk them.”

Tee Neg tink bout dat, den not to be out done by dat Yankee he say, “Mais, dat ain’t nuttin, it gets so hot here in Sou’h Loosiana, we got to feed ice to da chicken hens so dey won’t lay hard-boiled eggs dem.”

C’EST TOUT

BIDEN AWARDS PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

TO HILLARY CLINTON, 18 OTHERS

President Joe Biden on Saturday named former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire political activist and philanthropist George Soros recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, part of a group of 19 people selected for the nation's highest civilian honor. Others presented the medal by the outgoing president at a White House ceremony included U2 frontman Bono, actor Michael J. Fox, actor Denzel Washington, chef José Andrés and William Sanford Nye, better known as television's Bill Nye the Science Guy." From the sports world, decorated professional soccer player Lionel Messi of Argentina and retired NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson also received the medal. *****I’ve got to move along. Please read us cover to cover and shop our family of advertisers when you can. Tell them we sent you. Also check out our website at therecordlive.com Thanks for your time. Take care and God bless..