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SPORTS

ORANGE COUNTY

Commentary

FISHING

Kaz’s Korner

Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 1 Section B

Joe Kazmar Page 1 Section B

Outdoors

RELIGION & LOCAL CHURCH GUIDE

HUNTING & FISHING Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 2 Section B

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The       Record TheRecordLive.com

Vol. 58 No. 45

Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield

Week of Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Commissioners look to plug leaky finances Dave Rogers

For The Record

Commissioners looking to refill the coffers of Orange County’s rainy-day fund discussed better record keeping and collection efforts during a workshop session with department heads Tuesday. “We’re not looking to levy new taxes, but just collect what we ought to be collecting,” County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton said. But much of the 70-minute back-and-forth focused on the need to up the county’s economic development game. New business and industry would bring new residents, new commerce and increased sales tax revenues and property values. “We’ve got to grow the county. Economic development is our only option,” said John Gothia, Precinct 3 commissioner. Barry Burton, Precinct 2 commissioner, reported that Jessica Hill, executive director of the Orange County Economic Development Cor-

poration, had been approached in the last two months by businesses looking to spend $12 billion on 16 new Gothia projects. But the commissioners agreed potential business investors are looking for the county’s cooperation. “These companies come with their hand out,” Gothia said. “If you’re not willing to work with them for the longterm gain for us, then they’ll go somewhere else.” Hill said the EDC’s annual 2017 budget was about $160,000. She said the City of Orange spends $1.4 million a year on its EDC and Port Arthur has budgeted $4 million. “We need to be proactive, not reactive,” Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, said. Carlton proposed that the county move $500,000 from its “legal fund” to economic development to be used “if

the right project comes to Orange County.” Gothia liked the idea. “That $500,000 is short of what we need, but it’s a step in

the right direction,” Gothia said. Johnny Trahan, Precinct 1 commissioner, was, like Gothia, elected last year on a

platform focusing on a greater emphasis on economic development for the county. “Look at economic development as an investment with

return vital to our growth and vital to our county,” Trahan said. LEAKY FINANCES Page 2A

Backroad bayou bridge closed Staff Report

For The Record

Pickup truck after pickup truck of dayshift workers traveled from Bridge City and Jefferson County over the swing bridge on E. Roundbunch Road to work in the chemical plants of Chemical Row Friday morning. But by Friday afternoon, the bridge was closed. The Texas Department of Transportation declared it un-

“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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safe for automobile traffic Thursday evening, after reviewing reports from the state’s every-other-year bridge inspection. Orange County workers set up barricades on either end of the bridge before Friday’s lunch. It is expected to remain closed to cars and trucks for 18 months to two years, though boat traffic along Cow Bayou will be allowed. “What occurred was they thought it wasn’t safe to have traffic go over it,” said Clark Slacum, Orange County engineer. “It’s a county bridge, so it was up to us to close it. We did it based on the recommendation of their inspection team.” A $9 million bridge repair was set to begin in as soon as two months, based upon results of the bridge’s 2015 inspection, Slacum said. “The inspection two years ago prompted them to schedule the repair,” he said. “They found fatigue cracks in the steel beams. This time they found the cracks had grown a substantial amount since the last inspection. The bridge will remain closed until the project is complete. Sarah Dupre, public information officer for TxDOT, said contractors have been hired for the repair and construction should begin in two to three months. Once begun, the project is expected to take 18 months to complete, barring weather delays. TxDOT-contracted repair work on the nearby Rainbow Bridge over the Neches River is running three months behind schedule because of weather delays. Peggy’s On The Bayou, a seafood restaurant at the eastern end of the swing bridge, remains open. BRIDGE CLOSED Page 2A

Hung Nguyen, left, and Neil Moody prepare fish filets for the fryer at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bridge Friday, March 10.

BC Knights Fish Fry feeds multitudes Dave Rogers

For The Record

A flurry of fish-frying fun and fried fish fulfillment finds its way to the Bridge City Knights of Columbus Hall for lunch each Friday through April 7. Members of the KC Sacred Heart Council 3406 are keeping up a year-long tradition of providing the Lenten specialty, a plate of fried fish, French fries, cole slaw and hush puppies for $8. The women of St. Henry’s Altar Society are selling desserts two-for-a dollar. Dine-in and take-out meals are served from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hall, at the in-

tersection of Avenue A and W. Roundbunch Road. Deliveries are available by calling 409-735-5725. Darrel Latiolais of Council 3406 said the fundraiser served nearly 600 meals on March 3, the first of six weeks. A crew of about 75 men and women volunteer each week to run the operation. Among those dining in the KC Hall on Friday, March 10 were St. Henry’s members Paul Roy and Jean Braus, who were both celebrating early their 90th birthday. Roy turned 90 on Saturday, March 11 while Braus had to wait until Monday, March 13.

Danny Harrington prepares hush puppies Friday for the Knights of Columbus Fish Fry.

Excitement high as 2017 Follies near

pates and gets involved and makes it a big community event.” The 2017 Follies will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Lutcher Theater. It’s such an undertaking that it is held only once every three years. The Service League plows the proceeds

Dave Rogers

For The Record

Jennifer McConnell and Mindy Currie got a kick out of their previous participation in the Follies, so the two Service League of Orange members decided it was time to get the kids involved. The two women had company Saturday night in the persons of Madison McConnell, 10, and Paige McKee, 9, as they performed a corny comedy skit during auditions for “A Hee Haw Salute” held at the First United Methodist Church. “Follies is a lot of fun,” Jennifer McCollum said. “The community partici-

FOLLIES Page 2A Jennifer McConnell, left, Madison McConnell and Mindy Currie listen as Paige McKee, second from right, tells a joke during Saturday night auditions for 2017 Follies. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers

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