H Published For Orange Countians By Orange Countians H
County Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 58 No. 47
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, March 29, 2017
3-2 vote continues deputy pay- for now Dave Rogers
For The Record
If last week’s agenda item concerning deputy certificate pay seemed geared to restarting stalled contract negotiations between Orange County and its law enforcers, there was no pussy-footing around Tuesday. County Commissioners voted 3-2 to put a six-week deadline on continuing to pay deputies extra for job-related continuing education. “I believe smart people with good intentions can get anything done in 30 days. I’d like to use those 30 days to get a contract,” Barry Burton, Commissioner Precinct 2, said in putting forth the resolution. Burton and County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton, who joined the court together in 2015; and Jody Crump, Commissioner Precinct 4, who is the court’s longest tenured member having begun his service in 2011, voted in favor
of Burton’s resolution. Commissioners Johnny Trahan, Precinct 1, and John Gothia, Precinct 3, voted no. The Burton January 2017 newcomers to the court pleaded for more time to get familiar with the issue: a collective bargaining agreement between the county and its deputies that expired in 2013 and the three-plus years of fruitless negotiations since. The CBA contained an “evergreen” clause interpreted to say its terms stay in effect until a replacement CBA is finalized, but the county’s reading of the contract is that certificate pay was not mandated after 2012. The county’s stance, as expressed by Carlton, is that the payment of certificate pay – about $27,000 per month -has been voluntary since 2012.
Crump, who was away for a funeral last week when there was a 2-2 vote on the issue of continuing the certificate pay, offered a resolution Tuesday to terminate the payments as soon as possible, at
the end of the April 9 pay period. That motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with only Carlton and Crump voting for it. Then Burton, asked for a 30-day cutoff for the pay.
“Are you sure you don’t want a longer period?” Trahan said. “I think that seems to be rushing things.” Gothia suggested a 90-day cutoff. Then he asked for a closed session to learn more
about the CBA and the state of negotiations from Carlton and Crump and outside counsel. “It’s hard to vote on something we don’t know about,” Trahan said.
High schoolers fish Sabine April 8
Bobcat senior set as Army cadet
Dave Rogers
For The Record
Mack Patterson has spent a decade working hard and achieving an outstanding goal, but the Orangefield senior doesn’t expect any favors when the next chapter of his life begins in July. “Everybody that goes there is a valedictorian, salutatorian or class president,” he said. “There’s no such thing as a big man on campus there.” U.S. Representative Dr. Brian Babin notified Patterson in February that he was receiving a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. He is believed to be the first Orangefield High student ever
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
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Balei Slaughter and Lacey Pender have made quite a splash this year. They have finished in the top 50 and won scholarships in 2 out of the 4 tournaments we have had so far.
Dave Rogers
For The Record
Orangefield senior Mack Patterson is heading off this summer to West Point after earning a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy.
to win an appointment to a military academy. Patterson leaves Texas July 3 to begin six weeks of basic training. He thinks he’s ready, as in already indoctrinated after a summer seminar. “From the time you step off the bus, they treat you like when you’re getting admitted. People are yelling in your face,” Patterson said. “When you walk by the library and student center and see statues of General Eisenhower and General Patton, you go, ‘Wow, those people went here.’” The son of the Stephen and Candi Patterson – he’s Orangefield’s schools superintendent, she’s a high school counselor – Mack attended recruitment seminars at all three service academies after his junior year. He had already been to baseball academies at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs after his sophomore year. “All three of those are gorgeous and in different parts of the country,” Patterson said. “I loved every minute of it.” But in the end, his choice was West Point. “It was eye-opening to me to get to experience what the caMACK PATTERSON Page 2A
The president of the fastest growing phenomenon besides Donald Trump’s run for higher office says it’s time his kids test themselves. “If these kids really and truly are going to move on from the high school world and pursue college and pro careers, they’re going to have to learn to fish rivers and tidal waters. “This is a good place to start,” said the leader of the Southeast Texas High School Fishing Association, president Clint Fountain.
And so starts the buildup to Saturday, April 8 and the first SETXHSFA tournament held outside of Lake Sam Rayburn threatens to overrun Orange. The Sabine River is the site. The Orange Boat Ramp will serve as headquarters. Fishing begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Weigh-in is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Fishing is allowed anywhere in Orange or Jefferson County but no fishing is allowed in Louisiana waters. Contestants are not allowed on the water Sunday through Thursday prior to the tournament but pre-fishing will
More than 40 schools are members of SETXHSFA and they regularly have as many as 500 boats compete in one of their tournaments. Above: Orangefield team members show catch.
take place Friday, April 7. “Participant-wise, it’s going to be more than triple any fishing tournament we’ve had before,” said John Gothia, board member of the Greater Orange Chamber of Commerce and past fishing tournament chairman. “The hotel demand will be more, but this is different, because they’re only going to stay one night.” More than 40 schools are members of SETXHSFA and they regularly have as many as 500 boats compete in one of their tournaments. The teams compete for college scholarship funds.
The Orange event will be the final tuneup before the May 6-7 series championship weekend at Rayburn. High school fishing is a two-person team event, with two students per boat accompanied by an adult driver. There is a five-bass catch limit per team. But because of the new Sabine River limits, the new 12-inch minimum will in effect. “Fishing down here is different from fishing a lake,” says Bridge City fishing team sponsor Nicole Harris. “You can catch bass out here in HIGH SCHOOL Page 2A
Early reviews strong for skate park Dave Rogers
For The Record Foster parent Denice Cox was running errands Friday when she saw the new City of Orange Skate Park on 16th Street. A few hours later, she was back with her six boys, all students at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High. “I saw this and I said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to bring my kids out here,’” she said. “It’s our family night and this sure beats a paid movie.” The new attraction is a 50foot by 90-foot concrete pad topped by quarter pipes on each end with 12 other features, including bank ramps, grind rails and grind boxes for tricks. About two dozen people were taking their turns at the ramps, rails and boxes around dinner time Friday, including some riding bikes. “I think it’s great. It’s got any-
thing that any skater would need,” said Bryce Hebert of Forest Heights, near Deweyville, who like Cox and her teens, were testing it out for the first time Friday afternoon. “There’s only one [other] skate park in the area,” Allen McFarland of Beaumont reminded, referring to downtown Beaumont’s Beautiful Mountain Skate Park. Prior to this week, the closest skate parks to the Beaumont one were in Houston and Sulphur, La. “Any time there’s something new in the area, you’ve got to check it out,” McFarland said. The City of Orange paid for the project thanks to a $130,000 community development block grant from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. Workers from the Dallas NEW SKATE PARK Page 2A
It didn’t take long for word to get out about the new Orange Skateboard Park., which opened last Thursday. Skaters came from near and far Friday to give it a try. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers
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