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PROGRESS 2020 THE COUNTY WITH A FUTURE

Where all Things are Possible

February 2020 A Special Supplement to

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What’s inside Progress 2020 Stark Museum .............................................. 4

Acadia Parish ............................................. 20

Honda of Orange ........................................... 5

W.H. Stark House ........................................ 22

Lamar State College Orange .............................. 6

The Crawfish Hole ....................................... 23

Neighborhood Sporting Goods ........................... 8

Countryland Properties with Wilma Horner........... 24

R&R Auto ................................................... 9

Special Angels Rodeo .................................... 26

City of Orange CVB ...................................... 10

Brick and Barley ......................................... 27

Horseman Store .......................................... 11

Orange Grove Project .................................... 28

Dow ........................................................ 12

Top Deck, Inc ............................................. 29

Orange Lions Club ....................................... 14

Cowboy Church of Orange County ..................... 30

Entergy .................................................... 19

The Cottage Boutique .................................... 30

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Progress 2020 • 3

Graphic courtesy of the Stark Museum of Art

Stark Museum of Art is hosting it’s latest exhibit, The Drawing Experience, from February – September 19, 2020 at 712 Green Avenue in Orange.

Stark Museum host The Drawing Experience

he Drawing Experience is a hands-on interactive exhibition that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of drawing. The exhibition is designed to engage 21st century learners through technology and participatory learning and features drawings from the Stark Museum of Art’s collection. Jennifer Restauri Dickinson, Curator of Education, comments, “The Drawing Experience is an incredible opportunity for our visitors to get an inside look at how artists use the art of drawing. We have selected a range of drawings from our collection that show a variety of techniques and approaches artists use, and I know visitors of all ages will enjoy the participatory approach of this exhibition from experimenting with different media through digital platforms to using light tables and a 21st century twist on a 300-year old drawing tool called a camera lucida.” 4 • Progress 2020

The Stark Museum of Art houses one of the nation’s most significant collections of American Western art and is located in the heart of downtown historic Orange, Texas. Paintings, sculpture, prints and rare books interpret the West from 19th century frontier artists to the 20th century artistic colonies in New Mexico and focus on the stunning land, dramatic people and diverse wildlife of the American West. The Museum features artists such as Frederic Remington, John James Audubon, John Mix Stanley, and Charles Marion Russell. Also featured is a significant collection of American Indian objects, including baskets, pottery, clothing and jewelry. Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, and is open Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, visit starkculturalvenues.org.

WESTERN WEAR • WORK BOOTS WESTERN BOOTS • FIRE RETARDANT WEAR JEWELRY • BELTS • BUCKLES • GIFTS

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Honda of Orange flourishing, will be growing to new location By Van Wade

t’s been a smooth transition for Honda of Orange, (Triple L Powersports) after Mark Frey and Ed Van Huis went in together to buy the business this past September. The business, located at 1800 Strickland Drive in Orange, has been thriving. Honda of Orange (Triple L Powersports) opened December of 1976 and the rights to sell Honda motorcycles and ATVs in Orange, Texas. Mr. Grover M. Lee, owner, along with his two sons, Dennis G. Lee and Ronnie J. Lee, were the nucleus of the “Triple L” in Triple L Honda. Starting out as a fledgling shop, continuous growth motivated by customers has helped the business transform into what it is today. Triple L Powersports, and now Honda of Orange, strives to offer more to the public than ever before. Now they can boast of having the Honda lines to offer. Frey and Van Huis have worked hard and with their efforts, along with a great staff, they will have a newer location by early in 2021. “Mark and Ed have a passion for this business and really jumped on a great opportunity,” said Sales Manager Mark Strayhorn. “They are both so community-oriented and keeping customers satisfied is their top priority.”

There will be a new Honda of Orange, built near the feeder road off Interstate 10 close to the Hampton Inn. They bought seven acres and the new complex is going to be 27,000 square feet. “We’re definitely excited about what the future holds,” said Strayhorn. “We hope to break ground in March if the weather holds up and hopefully it can open up 10 months or a little later, that’s what we’re aiming for.” Honda of Orange on Strickland has been updated nicely. Freshly painted walls illuminate the building. There is also a nice place near the middle of the store that offers customers a few minutes to relax, kick back and eat some fresh cookies, popcorn and coffee. “We’ve done some major renovating to brighten the place up,” said Strayhorn. “It took some effort, but the customers love it and so do we.” Triple L has everything from all-terrain vehicles, ATV, motorcycle/scooter, and UTV to a complete line of parts and accessories for everything they sell—and strive to become your powersports leader. Many long hours of strenuous labor have gone into becoming their customers’ ultimate motorsports dealer. There is also a large pre-owned shop on site for those seeking nice “old rides.” Honda of Orange is grateful for your patronage throughout the years.

Van Wade/Orange Leader

The staff at Honda of Orange are dedicated to help their customers walk out with a smile.

There is also plenty of Honda apparel in the shop, from helmets to shirts and jackets. There is plenty of Honda powered equipment available as well such as lawn service equipment and generators. Their sales staff is very customer oriented. They take the time to learn the customers’ needs and wants. Whether you are a new or experienced rider, the staff strives to match each customer with the appropriate ATV, motorcycle/ scooter, and UTV. Personable, knowledgeable, and confident, their sales staff will work to get you on the powersports vehicle of your dreams. Honda of Orange appreciates the Lee family and their commitment to every customer who walked through the doors over the past 50 years and we look to take care of the community for the next 50 years. We have an experienced staff of people eager to continue our goals. Please stop by and give them a chance to become family.

“Our doors are open to everyone and we’re so glad to be a part of the community,” said Strayhorn. “I know Mark and Ed are excited about things to come as we all are. We just want to give our customers the best service and help them leave with a smile. That’s what it is all about.”

There are plenty of nice bikes to test ride at Honda of Orange.

409-745-2375 30 years of great tires at a fair price with exceptional custom services. benstireandlube.com

Van Wade/Orange Leader

There is plenty of Honda items for sale at Honda of Orange, including plenty of Honda apparel.

LSCO focuses on students, prepares them for success By Amy Moore

or more than 50 years, Lamar State College Orange has been a beacon of hope and opportunity to students at all points of their higher education journeys. Our two-year academic and technical college has a mission to transform lives and communities. Lamar State College Orange is an exemplary place of learning with state and nationally-ranked programs. Our students arrive with the hope of a productive future and leave with the knowledge and opportunities for success. Our campus continually pursues academic, professional, and personal excellence and we provide new and unique opportunities for growth and success as we prepare the workforce of tomorrow. More than 40 degrees and certificate programs are available at Lamar State College Orange. Many of our academic programs have been in place since the college first opened in 1969 and those programs continue to create a foundation of learning for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Credits earned at Lamar State College Orange are fully transferable to any Texas college. Other programs are new and were created to meet the needs of the local workforce. Whether youâ€™re starting college for the first time or restarting again, our campus has courses and programs to fit every need. As an open admission institution partnered with reduced tuition and a variety of scholarship opportunities, Lamar State College Orange opens doors for all types of students. Full time tuition at our campus is less than $2,000 a semester and nearly 65% of students receive some financial aid. At Lamar State College Orange, the student to instructor ratio is 17:1, meaning students are on a first name basis with instructors and classmates. With smaller class sizes, students learn fast-

6 â€˘ Progress 2020

er, have better communication with their instructors, and have increased participation in class. Classes are available on campus during the day and night and online anytime. Our award-winning and devoted instructors have years of experience and want to see students succeed. The campus provides a variety of support services to help students meet their educational goals, including the Learning Center, library, tutoring, and success seminars. The Lamar State College Orange Student Activities staff ensures all students have the best college experience through events, activities, and clubs. Student Organizations are a dynamic force on campus and in the community. Students in these clubs are volunteers, influencers, and leaders. Lamar State College Orange also offers Dual Credit classes for high school students. These classes allow high school students to earn both high school and college credits at the same time at a fraction of the cost of traditional college classes. Students who participate in Dual Credit classes save money and graduate college faster. Lamar State College Orange is focused on students and preparing them for the world with a first-class education. With 50 years of success behind us, we look

Photos courtesy of Lamar State College Orange

to the future to continue to improve and transform lives and communities. We realize that a degree from Lamar State

College Orange provides opportunities for our graduates to have a bright, Orange future.

The Orange Leader â€˘ www.orangeleader.com

At Top Deck Inc, we focus on producing excellence in our wide variety of services that we offer our clients. With local clients as well as clients across the U.S, we strive to build business relationships that last, that matter, and that are mutually beneficial.

Top Deck, Inc. is a national provider of Project Controls, Scaffolding, Precision Maintenance, Mechanical & Piping, Insulation, Alignment, Painting, Asbestos and Lead Abatement, and Refractory services as well as providing Heavy Lift Specialist to industrial facilities. In the last five years, we have averaged 30% annual growth giving our company the opportunity to expand our footprint across the United States. Top Deck is licensed in 14 states and performs work for over 47 Pulp and Paper Mills as well as petrochemical industry leaders and other industrial capital projects.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE AND PRIDE SINCE 2009. Top Deck, Inc. is committed to safety performance excellence from our employees and our clients. Our staff has more than 486 years combined experience in the pulp and paper industry and in the petrochemical industry.

Offices across Southeast Texas & Southwest Louisiana Headquarters: Mauriceville, TX

(409) 749-3955

New chapter for local sporting goods store By Ginger Broomes The Orange Leader

“W

hen I started my business, I felt like I had the opportunity to bring something to Orange that we needed. And something to help people, while having success in my business.” Larry Zetar is the owner of Neighborhood Sporting Goods, a store that carries workout wear and NFL/NBA fan gear. It is a business that he began in 2013 after dreaming about having his own store for years. Previously located on 10th Street in Orange, it has a new home in the shopping center at 1501 A 16th Street, where Zetar, along with his family, continue to show that Neighborhood Sporting Goods is not your average sporting goods store. Since the beginning, the store has set itself apart from other sporting goods stores by offering customized clothing, from team shirts for local schools such as Orangefield, West Orange-Stark and Little Cypress, to special event shirts and hats. “God has blessed me so much,” Zetar said. “Everything that has happened in my life has been from the work of Him.

He leads me in the direction to help others. I just put my work in to better myself and others.” His is a business where his ‘employees’ are quite literally family. At any given time, his wife or daughter will be screen printing shirts for a special occasion or taking orders over the phone. Zetar has lived in Orange his entire life and is a 1981 WOS graduate. His father, Carlton Zetar Sr., owned Zetar’s BBQ in the 70s, while another relative had Broussard’s Drive-in store. Like his father, Zetar said he enjoys the customers who come to his store, just seeing their smiles and knowing that they feel treated right when they meet him. He said he enjoys the ‘free talk’. In addition to the new location, Zetar sees the next year bringing growth to his business, with the hope that it could be ready for expansion within the next five years. His hopes for the future are to open his own franchise. “I’m 58,” Zetar said. “The clock is ticking.” “My goals are to move up, but I still take one day at a time. Just let God lead the way and he will see me through. As for now, I’m happy.”

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NEW! BRIDGE CITY 2105 Texas Ave, Ste C Photos courtesy of Neighborhood Sporting Goods

ORANGE

ORANGEFIELD

2948 N 16th St 1201 Green Ave 883-4222 883-6208

6311 FM 1442 738-2400

R & R Auto Supply has shown quality service for nearly 46 years By Van Wade

ince 1974, R & R Auto Supply has been a blessing, serving Orange-area residents for nearly 46 years along MacArthur

Drive. When Jerry and Marietta Howington bought the building at the location where it has always been, they became tremendous fixtures in the Orange community. Now their children, Joe Howington and Sue Denosowicz, have ran the business well for years now as the store continues to flourish. â€œItâ€™s been great over all these years, getting to be in a small-town atmosphere and getting to know a lot of local customers,â€? said Denosowicz. â€œWhatâ€™s great is so many people come in here and we simply know them by their first names and vice versa, the only thing missing here is a coffee bar, that would

be great.â€? R & R Auto Supply is a NAPA-brand store. But it is not a franchise store, it is locally owned by the family. The NAPA brand is one of the most reliable in the country as far as their products go. â€œNAPA is the best brand out there,â€? said Howington. â€œThey have quality parts and supplies to keep cars, trucks and equipment performing smoothly and safely. We have everything here that anybody would need, whether you are an auto service professional or a doit-your-self mechanic.â€? Denosowicz echoed the same sentiments. â€œNAPA supplies us with everything we need to help our customers,â€? said Denosowicz. â€œWeâ€™re able to aid people in so many different ways, and that also includes industrial customers and municipal customers.â€? Both of them feel like customer ser-

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vice is what it is all about and theyâ€™re both so proud of the staff they have to work with. â€œEach of our employees are ASE certified parts professionals,â€? said Denosowicz. â€œThey are so darn good at what they do. If you want to talk about years and years of experience, we certainly have that.â€? â€œWe love to say that we have a family-oriented atmosphere here,â€? said Howington. â€œThe folks that work here, they are like family members and we always try our best to treat them that way.â€? R & R was one of the business that took a big hit from the flooding of Hurricane Harvey as they had a little more than three feet of water in most of the store. â€œThat was rough because we moved so much stuff up higher and yet it wasnâ€™t high enough,â€? said Denosowicz. â€œWe bounced back nicely though. Thatâ€™s due in part to a great staff that rolled up their sleeves along with many other people that helped us out. We got through it, just so many others across the area. People here tend to bounce right back up and thatâ€™s another thing that makes Orange special.â€? Joe and Sueâ€™s Dad, Jerry, passed away in 2012 but Mom, Marietta, is still a key player when it comes to the business. â€œMom, she still likes to tell us what

Van Wade/Orange Leader

Sue Denosowicz and Joe Howington have continued a great family tradition in running R & R Auto Supply as the business will celebrate its 46th anniversary in April.

to do at times,â€? laughed Denosowicz. â€œMost of the time, itâ€™s just basic stuff, but we certainly listen to what she has to say because she was involved with Dad in it so much over all those years.â€? R & R Auto Supply will be celebrating its 46th anniversary in April. So, they plan to make it to 50 years. â€œYou better believe it,â€? said Howington. â€œI love what we do, the people we work with along with great customers. We wouldnâ€™t have it any other way.â€? R & R Auto Supply is located at 1900 MacArthur Drive in Orange. Their phone number is (409) 886-2589.

COME ON OVER FOR A REAL CAJUN EXPERIENCE! 48th Annual Rayne Frog Festival

May 13-16, 2020

18TH CAJUN WOODSTOCK

48th RAYNE FROG FESTIVAL

HEART OF THE CAJUN PRAIRIE

CHURCH POINT, LA 70525 (always last weekend in April) Saturday & Sunday, April 25-26 2020 BeneďŹ t for St. Jude Hospital This festival, held the last weekend in April since 2003, highlights the rich culture & music of this Cajun Town. Founded by Steve and J.C. Carriere, this festival features some of the hottest Cajun, Rock, Zydeco and Country bands around. All proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research in Memphis, this event has raised nearly $130,000 for St. Jude. Come help us fight Cancer! Church Point City Park 100 East Darbonne Street Church Point, Louisiana woodstock4stjude@aol.com www.cajunwoodstock.com

JOIE DE VIVRE A LITTLE JOY OF LIVING ACADIA PARISH TOURIST COMMISSION

877.783.2109 aptc@bellsouth.net

Laissez les bons temps rouler

RAYNE, LA 70578

Wednesday-Saturday (May 13-16) 2020 10 a.m. until Midnight

RAYNE FESTIVAL MUSIC AND FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA Carnival 10:00 am - 12 Midnight 206 Frog Festival Drive Gossen Memorial Park Local and out-of-town food vendors including Rayne Non-Profit Organizations Arts & Craft Show Musical Entertainment by popular live bands 12 Noon till Midnight Carnival Specials

CVB brings new event to Orange By Dawn Burleigh

range Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is hosting a new event this year as it continues to bring new and fun events to the area. This year it will host the inaugural Family Fun & Food Fest from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the Riverfront Boardwalk and Pavilion. “It is a one-day event for kids,” CVB Coordinator Brandy Judice said. “We wanted to offer a family-oriented event.” The event is free and will have something for kids of all ages. Kingdom Zoo will be on hand as well as a mini carnival. “There will be pony rides and a petting zoo,” Judice said. There will also be informative booths as well such as dentist Nina Leifeste, LifeShare, and Exceptional Emergency. “The police department and fire department will be there as well,” Judice

added. The purpose of the event was to have something for kids centered festival. Attendees are invited to grab great bites to eat from a number of food trucks available on site. End your fun-filled day with a movie on the lawn featuring Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on a large inflatable screen beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. The movie is the 1971 version directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder. “We wanted to do something different,” Judice said. “We wanted something just for kids and for families to have a good time.” Attendees are invited to grab great bites to eat from a number of food trucks available on site. The city is pulling out all the stops for this event. “This is a new direction and something new we are doing,” Judice said. Attendees are encouraged to bring a

chair or blanket for viewing of the film. The CVB hosts several events through out the year such as partnering with the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce with Mardi Gras festivities. “We host the Friday night Motorcade,” Judice said. The event was followed by a free concert featuring L.A. ROXX, an 80s cover band in keeping with the 80s theme for the parade. “We try to do something a little different each year,” Judice said. Another event residents look forward to each year is Art in the Park. In an effort to promote tourism, the event includes over 100 artists and crafters from Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana, and surrounding areas. Vendors are on site serving a variety of foods and drinks and several children’s activities are also be available. The event, which began in 2003, was originally created as a means to bring people into downtown Orange so they

might experience all the city has to offer and it has been a booming success for people of all ages over the years. Have questions? Contact the Orange Convention & Visitors Bureau at 409883-1011.

2020 Events 3/21 4/04 4/10 5/02 5/16-17 5/29-6/01 7/04

Family Fun and Food Festival Art in the Park Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt Depot Day DSRA Boat Races Bass Masters 4th of July

City City City Train Depot City Chamber City

Karen D Collier, AAMS® Financial Advisor 675 W Round Bunch Rd Bridge City, TX 77611 409-735-9413

Tuesday-Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-2 Featuring local vendors! Women’s and children’s clothing and accessories - custom embroidery - bath products home decor and signs - metal art

Handmade and unique hard to find items and much more! e d wa rd j o n e s .co m MKT-5894J-A

10 • Progress 2020

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Horseman’s Store: Proudly serving area since 1969

Van Wade/Orange Leader

By Van Wade

Since 1969, folks across the Orange County area, the Golden Triangle and people traveling along Interstate 10 have made their share of stops at the Horseman’s Store located just off Interstate 10 East in Orange. The Horseman’s Store in Orange has been busy for years with tremendous customer service that has kept cowboys and cowgirls of all ages in amazing western wear. President and CEO of Safety Wear, LTD and The Horseman’s Store Gordon

Worlow and the tremendous staff at The Horseman’s Store can size customers up in every way as they look for those comfortable fitting jeans and make sure that they can fit in those perfect-styled boots they have been seeking. They will find just the right style and size Western boots by Tony Llama, Luchese and other leaders in boot making. They have ‘jeans for the modern cowgirl’ by Cowboy TUFF Company in a variety of styles. Their affiliate, Safety Wear, LTD provides all you need to fulfill your clothing needs on the job. Fire retardant clothing

is necessary for employees, contractors and service providers at local industrial sites. But it goes beyond safety boots. See their selection of jeans and shirts for your busy day while meeting the safety requirements of your employer or customer. Shop FR clothing by Wrangler and Rasco and boots by Thorogood and Wolverine to name a few. Safety Wear, LTD leads the way in providing industrial footwear with their on-site mobile shoe store which travels to work sites from New Orleans to Houston.

Worlow’s unique approach to providing safety wear originated with his desire to provide the right product in a convenient and efficient manner. The shoe mobile fits the bill. In business since 1969, The Horseman’s Store has locations in Houston, Orange and Port Arthur, Texas and in Sulphur and Gonzalez, Lousiana. To go to work or on the town in style visit the Horseman’s Store and Safety Wear LTD. For more information about what The Horseman’s Store offers, please call (409) 883-5712.

REBUILDING, REVIVING, RECOVERING TOGETHER Tropical Storm Harvey left a path of destruction across Orange County leaving many with flooded and wind damaged homes. Orange County was the third hardest hit according to the federal register. Seventy- five percent of Orange County was affected and only 12% had flood insurance. Orange County Disaster Rebuild is dedicated to helping those who were uninsured or underinsured from natural and man-made disasters in Orange County. Those in need of help can call our disaster case management hotline, 2-1-1. Those interested in volunteering to assist with repairs/rebuilds can visit our volunteer webpage, www.ocdisasterrebuild.com/assistance-opportunities or call (409) 745-9719.

OUR SPONSORS

For assistance • To donate • To volunteer (409) 745-9719 • www.ocdisasterrebuild.com The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

American Red Cross • Rebuild Texas – The Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas • Nehemiah’s Vision • Motiva LifeAustin • International Paper • Foundation for Southeast Texas – A Community Foundation • Camp Noah • The Salvation Army Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief – Texas Baptist Men Sabine Federal Credit Union • United Way of Orange County Progress 2020 • 11

Photos courtesy of Dow

Artfully, through science, designing perfume caps and cream jars D ow, known for helping improve golfing and golfers with better golf balls, also beautifies the counters with artistically designed perfume caps and cream jars. Each one a piece of art in itself, appears to be as smooth as glass but is actually a high resin plastic designed for that particular purpose and all right here in Orange, Texas. “From concept to final delivery, we enjoy working with brand owners, designers and converters to develop creative cosmetics packaging that express and enhance brand identity,” a Dow representative said. “It may not seem obvious, but there is an art to science. Let’s work together using the latest technology and 12 • Progress 2020

materials to create beautiful skincare and fragrance applications, such as perfume caps and cream jars.” This magic is created through an ionomer resin called Surlyn created by Dow because creativity should not be inhibited by material capabilities. Surlyn offers: • Unique neutral transparency, even with thick walls, and glossiness • Moldability, even in complicated shapes or overmolded objects, for an elegant look • Soft feel and less fingerprint marking • Excellent chemical and scratch resistance • Distinctive container shapes and decoration techniques with patented

SURLYN™ 3D production technology Through an innovative process the production technology consists in two manufacturing steps: the design and production of an inner container manufactured followed by the injection overmolding of an outer layer through a unique patented process. The end result are beautifully crafted perfume caps and cream jars which are also scratch resistance, chemical resistance, squeezability and barrier performance as well as being 60-percent lighter, resulting in a lower carbon footprint during shipping. The resin allows for freedom in package designing by enabling inner and outer containers with different antagonist

shapes, including sharp edges and the possibilities of new visual effects ranging from crystal transparency, colored translucence, or frosted effects. Surlyn also allows for decoration in the mass which is allowing for new visual deep effects such as inclusion of materials, levitation and suspension effects. So next time you look at your perfume cap or cream jar and admire the shape which intrigued you, remember, without the designing and research at Dow, intricate designs of today would not be possible nor would as many people be able to purchase them. “Design for recyclability. It means considering every aspect of a package’s life in relationship to our environment and in

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

our drive to a circular economy,” a Dow representive said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re closing gaps every day. And we love to share our passion, and our progress.” Using resins, such as SURLYN™ Ionomer Resin, takes advantage of material reduction and downgauging. This crystal-clear resin can be recycled within HDPE and LDPE recycling streams, as well as, mechanically recycled into cosmetic packaging and footwear. Recycling helps close the loop. It’s a big loop in the circular economy. But recycling plastic packaging isn’t always easy. So, Dow is working on it. A lot. Using strategies such as structure simplification, eco-design and compatibilization. Recent developments include RecycleReady Technology. It is a licensed process developed by Dow which helps create multi-layer, flexible packaging that can be recycled through store drop-off programs.

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Progress 2020 • 13

Orange Lions Carnival to celebrate 80 years By Dawn Burleigh

n 1938, Orange Lions Carnival held the first Charity Carnival. Now 80 years later, the Orange Lions Charity Carnival is an event looked forward to by many. This year the event will feature a new Kiddie Scrambler. The purchase was made with a donation from the late Lion, ‘Gunny’ Gunstream. “We will bring out the new ride,” Orange Lions Club 1st Vice President Kacey Burnitt said. “The carinal is a staple in this community. Here we are 80 years later and still going strong.” In a 1939 article in The Orange Leader, the first carnival went ‘over with a bang first night’. Record crowds were out last night for the first period of the Lions club annual benefit carnival held at Howell’s stadium. The first one consisted of several booths, according to a 50th anniversary book on the club. Most of the booths were profitable while a few were declared duds. The first event netted the club a profit of $115, with the second one bringing in $410.22. It was a couple of years later before the first ride made an appearance. A professional carnival was traveling through Orange and did not have sufficient funds to leave. A Lion purchased a ride of small cars connected to a portable track. The club was hesitant to reimburse the member

at first but quickly changed their minds when it ‘seemed every kid in the county wanted to ride on it.’ In 1947 a merry-go-round was purchased and in 1948, a ferris wheel was added. At one time, the carnival was set up om the grounds around City Hall in downtown Orange. However, the event outgrew the area and eventually relocated to Lions Den Park in Orange. Since 1961, several area Lions Clubs have also participated in the event with game and food booths. The profits from the carnival is use to pay for the charity work the clubs do throughout the community through the year. Projects such as building a ramp for a person in a wheelchair or planting pecan trees to help beautify the area. While in the beginning, the carnival was held twice a year, it is now two weeks in the Fall. “There is discussion of moving the dates because of the weather,” Kacey Burnitt said. “But it has not been changed at this time.”

Courtesy photos

HARRY’S Since 1963

APPLIANCE & SERVICE, INC.

NEW LOCATION - SAME GREAT SERVICE

NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTING GOODS Offe

• School spirit shirts silk-screreing for cus ning • Hats t clothin om g • Workout wear • School Sports Gear and NFL items

(409) 221-0459 Larry Zetar, owner

1501 A 16th Street, Orange | Located across from Kroger | Tues-Sat 11 to 7 14 • Progress 2020

Free Local Delivery

302 N. 10th St., Orange

(409) 886-4111 The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Progress 2020 • 15

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Entergy continues to “power” SE Texas well By Van Wade

here is no question about it, Entergy continues to grow and is all about keeping Orange County “energized”. As Southeast Texas grows, Entergy Texas is investing now to power tomorrow with reliable and affordable energy. These investments will create jobs, spur economic development and improve how we serve customers. They are taking steps today to make investments in infrastructure that will ensure long term reliable service for their customers and set a foundation for businesses to grow across the region. One of the most critical factors in attracting and growing new businesses is a reliable and affordable supply of electricity. The investments Entergy is making will ensure that they have the right infrastructure in place to reliably serve our customers and grow our local economies. In addition to the investment made to date, Entergy Texas plans to invest nearly $2 billion over the next three years to improve how Entergy Texas serves customers. Some of Entergy Texas’ planned investments include: • Construction of the Montgomery County Power Station; the construction of this facility is estimated to provide nearly $1 billion in economic activity across Texas. Additionally, the facility will provide a reliable and cost-effective supply of electricity for a growing region, resulting in estimated savings of $1.7 billion over 30 years for Entergy Texas’ customers. • Building three major transmission projects that will drive economic growth and provide access to lower cost power, including the China-Stowell project, the Port Arthur Reliability project and the Western Region Economic Project. • Replacing outdated equipment with new technology that improves reliability, including the deployment of an advanced meter system that puts more tools at customers’ fingertips to help customers understand and manage their energy use more effectively, which can lead to lower bills. But Entergy’s commitment to South-

east Texas isn’t just about making sure the lights stay on. Entergy only succeeds if their communities succeed alongside them. Entergy is committed to supporting non-profit and community organizations across our service area. Last year, Entergy provided more than $1 million to community organizations. By supporting our communities, we are able to ensure that Southeast Texas continues to flourish into the future. As we look across our region, we are fortunate to have a great deal of growth. We see industrial growth opportunities in the Golden Triangle, as well as residential growth in the western part of our region. The construction of the Montgomery County Power Station is an essential piece of Entergy Texas’ work to meet that growth. By providing reliable, affordable power, we can meet our customers’ needs today, while laying the foundation for future growth across our region. The Montgomery County Power Station will benefit all customers across the Entergy Texas service area– regardless of where customers live across our region. We will be building this facility next to our Lewis Creek Power Plant, which was constructed nearly 50 years ago. This location allows us to provide the needed power for all of Southeast Texas, while also economically addressing some local reliability issues in the western region of our footprint. This addition of nearly 1,000 megawatts of reliable, baseload power will allow us to replace older, more inefficient power plants with newer, cleaner technology. And that increased efficiency directly benefits customers. On the very first day of the plant’s operation, customers will start to see benefits from the plant. The fuel savings from this power plant will result in up to $1.7 billion in savings for customers. In fact, we expect these savings to pay for the cost of the plant after roughly 10 years – a third of the lifecycle of the plant. The addition of MCPS will ensure that customers continue to benefit from reliable and affordable energy. But construction of this plant will also help play a major role in growing the Texas economy. We

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

expect that construction of the plant will provide nearly $1 billion in economic activity in Texas. New technology provides tools to improve how we serve customers. Many of the new technologies we are deploying – such as advanced meters – will help accomplish this. Advanced meters will enable us to provide our customers new online tools to help better manage energy usage, as well as allow for quicker and more accurate detection of outages. We are also deploying technology to give us better visibility into our equipment across the region and in some cases, identify and fix problems on the electric grid before they affect customers. We believe advanced meters establish the foundation that will enable us to put the power in customers hands to manage their electricity usage. No more waiting until the end of the month to see how much electricity you used. You’ll be able to log online and see on a daily basis how much you’re using and make adjustments before you get your bill. Entergy’s mission as a company is ‘We Power Life.’ This means much more that providing reliable, affordable electricity to our customers. It means supporting the customers we serve and the communities

in which we operate to be successful and prosper. We certainly have a tremendous focus on making sure we keep the power flowing in our communities along with an equal focus on keeping our customer’s bills affordable, but we are also working with community partners across our region to help Southeast Texas grow and be successful. Whether that is working with our large industrial customers to grow new business or helping organizations like the Southeast Texas Food Bank and the United Way of Beaumont thrive, we want to be a part of what matters for this community. We also look to establish a quality educational pipeline to meet the business needs of the future. That’s why we were excited to partner with Lamar, LIT, BISD and PAISD among others in our workforce development initiative workforce in 2017. We see our company is not just a utility, but a force for good across the areas we serve. Our goal is to ensure that we are delivering on that promise to every customer across Southeast Texas. From residents who call the area home to businesses looking to expand, we will be here making sure modern, low-cost infrastructure is in place to help the economy grow, while at the same time, working to create opportunity for all those who live here. Progress 2020 • 19

Acadia Parish Tourist Commission want to share, preserve heritage By Dawn Burleigh

cadia Parish Tourist Commission, founded in 1996, attracts visitors to small towns within the community. Founders for the commission are described as regular working people who love the local culture and want to share and preserve the heritage whole enticing others to stay a while in the six towns in the Parish: Church Point, Crowley, Rayne, Estherwood, Mermentau, Morse and Iota, Louisiana. The commission was established to collect a bed tax of four-percent which is used to promote the parish. A major turning point for the organization was in 1998 when Jack C. Hoffpauir and families donated an acre of land to the office. In turn, the commission purchased seven acres next to it. Acadia Parish Tourist Commission hopes a community center will be built on the site or to lease it to a hotel. While also having the Mardi Gras traditional celebrations, the parish is also home to some different and fun festivals. During the last weekend in April is the Cajun Woodstock. Cajun Woodstock was organized in 2003, from a vision one night at band practice with J.C. Carriere & Hotstep. Wanting to create an event for the community and at the same time, an event that would â€œgive backâ€?, the band came up with â€œCajun Woodstock for St. Jude Childrenâ€™s Hospital. Each and every member of their families felt blessed enough for their healthy children and grandchildren, that they wanted to help raise awareness and money to give to those who were not healthy and fighting this childhood disease, according to www.cajunwoodstock.com In May, there is the Frog Festival with a full schedule of music, delicious foods and drinks, signature events such as frog racing and jumping, selection of the Rayne Lions Club Derby Queen, Diaper Derby, Arts & Crafts show, Frog Cookoff, Frog Eating Contest, Dance Contest, Free Kids Area with live frogs, and the Grand Parade. In October, there is German Fest and the International Rice Festival. German fest is live entertainment, authentic German food, a large selection of German beer on tap, folklore demonstrations and childrenâ€™s activities during the two-day event in Roberts Cove, LA. The International Rice Festival held annually in Crowley is one of Louisianaâ€™s largest and also itâ€™s oldest Agricultural Festival. Since itâ€™s first festival on October 5th, 1937, over 7 million people have attended the annual event. The celebration brings attention to the importance of rice as food and also emphasizes itâ€™s place in the worldâ€™s economic picture. It is usually held on Friday and Saturday of the 3rd weekend in October. Location is Downtown Crowley. There are 2 parades, Friday (Childrenâ€™s Day), which is the Childrenâ€™s Parade, and Saturday, the Grand Parade. There are also Special Events including the Rice Cooking Contest, Rice Eating Contest, Farmers Banquet and also the Queens Ball. There is also entertainment continuously from early morning to midnight. Also, in conjunction with the Festival, is an Arts and Crafts exhibit, which is held adjacent to the Festival Grounds and also on Main Street, according to www.ricefestival.com 20 â€˘ Progress 2020

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W.H. Stark House reopens after restoration By Dawn Burleigh

.H. Stark House stands majestically in downtown Orange. Most of 2019, its doors remained closed as the Nelda C. & H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation moved forward with restoration needed to the house. “Orange is an important industrial town,” Interpretation and Programming Manager for the W.H. Stark House Joshua Cole said. “There is a lot left from the glory days. There is a lot going on with the house, one part was to get it back open. It is a resource for Orange and it needs to be here for Orange.” While the house is open one weekend a month for tours, trying to find the right balance is a concern. “Being open five to six days a week was not sustainable,” Cole said. “We have a team of wonderful volunteers, but we don’t want to burn people out either.” A walking tour on the second weekend of the month is offered through the 14,000 square foot, three-story home that stands much as it did at the turn of the 20th century, with fifteen rooms of original family furnishings, personal effects and decorative arts, including antique rugs, original textiles, silver, cut glass, and antique porcelain. Built in 1894, The W.H. Stark House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission. “The house is really incredible,” Cole added. “Support from the Foundation was incredible.” After extensive restoration of both exterior and interior spaces following water damage from an air handler leak, The W.H. Stark House reopened in time for the holidays in 2019.

22 • Progress 2020

The newly restored Formal Dining Room, featuring a hand-painted, full ceiling mural by local artist Grace Chadwick. On the second floor, enjoy our newly restored Sitting Room, complete with silk wall treatment minted in France and installed by the textile team from Woven Inspiration in Galveston, Texas. All restoration elements have been painstakingly researched to showcase the House as it was in its prime. “Nothing was considered a total loss,” Cole said. Cole added the greatest resource was the volunteers at the house. “Our volunteers are peers helping peers,” Cole said. The restoration also allowed the Foundation to take time to look at long standing issues and address them. “We replaced the air handler/climate control so we would never have the problem which caused the damage in the first place,” Cole said. According to Cole, one of the advatages of the House was only one couple lived in the house. “It was one couple,” Cole said. “All the items are theirs over the 40 year span. So the hardest question was what period to restore it too.” Second Friday and Saturday monthly tours are free, but require an on-line reservation. Visit starkculturalvenues. org/whstarkhouse and Facebook page, @thewhstarkhouse, for more information about upcoming events and programs. All tours start at the Carriage House at 610 W. Main Avenue (just behind The W.H. Stark House) and parking is available in the Lutcher Theater parking lot. Stairs are an essential part of the tour. Admission is limited to individuals six years and older.

Photos courtesy of Nelda C. & H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

The Crawfish Hole great for “mudbugger” fans Live Entertainment Every Weekend Drink Specials Pool Tournaments Parties Karoke Nights Great Big Screens to Watch Sports with Friends! 2614 Lutcher Drive, Orange, TX 77632

409-330-4345 Follow & Keep to with the latest Bands & Live Performances Southeast Texas Regional Alerting & Information Network

EMAIL US: info@setexasrain.com

www.setexasrain.org

KEEPING SOUTHEAST TEXAS INFORMED

Van Wade/Orange Leader

Craig Boudreaux is always busy “boiling” at The Crawfish Hole for those hungry crawfish eaters.

olks that dig the “mudbugs” will certainly have a treat and a great atmosphere at The Crawfish Hole in Bridge City. Brigg Patterson was instrumental in getting the thriving business cranked up and it has really flourished. It is definitely a family-oriented vibe when customers show up, especially when they can eat all the crawfish they can handle. The dining area is fantastic when you want to dine in or you can easily order than stop by and bring home nine sacks of crawfish. And if kicking back and chowing down on some tremendous boiled shrimp than The Crawfish will definitely be your cup of tea. They also have corn, potatoes and links on the menu as well. They offer regular sauce, spicy sauce and butter. They also have a variety of drinks such as Coke, Diet Coke, Mr. Pibb, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Sweet Tea, Unsweet tea, water and Tummy Yummy for the kids. There is plenty of seating for sure to enable folks to gather together as a group. They can relax and check out some sports memorabilia that hangs from the walls. Customers can also challenge their friends with some games of cornhole that is located in the back part of the dining area. And 405 Parkside Place Drive in Bridge City is a short trip for any Southeast Texans that has a “hunger attack” for crawfish, shrimp and links and good old-fashioned fun. To reach The Crawfish Hole, their phone number is (409) 719-6576.

“Serving Orange since 1974”

Locally Owned – Nationally Known

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Progress 2020 • 23

Real estate is about relationships

Wilma Horner

By Van Wade

ountryland Properties has been excelling throughout Orange County and the Buna area in helping people with all of their real estate needs for years now. Countryland Properties has been selling property and representing clients in Southeast Texas for over 20 years. Countryland is the umbrella for many outstanding realtors to fulfill needs for customers whether it is residential and commercial. They are familiar with every type of land and home transactions. In March of 2012, Countryland Properties took over the sales for Woodridge Land Co. in Mauriceville. Woodridge Land Co. has been in business for over 25 years, developing and selling land. “I have a true passion and drive for real estate, as well the title I carry as a Broker associate and the company I work with, Countryland Properties,” Wilma Horner said.

24 • Progress 2020

They are known greatly for taking rural or suburban tracts of land and help create amazing subdivisions. They work with the city, county and state governments as well as engineering firms and utility contractors to bring great vision. Countryland Properties can also service all kinds of commercial real estate needs and helping businesses find that perfect location. They believe that each client, customer and fellow workers in their industry brings value to the table. They always want to treat each and every person with a level of services that says “you matter.” “I credit my knowledge in the real estate industry for many years to my loyal clients and customers,” Horner said. “I enjoy building relationships in helping change the life’s of customers and clients through their real estate needs whether buying or selling a home.” With many decades of collective experience, Horner is prepared to provide her customers and clients with extensive knowledge in navigating transactions that have high impact on their everyday lives.

“Not only do I have an open door to clients and customers but to other agents that might have a question or looking for direction,” Horner said. “I believe we all are here to work together. By doing so we do what we are driven to do which is giving our client and customer the best of ourselves.” Countryland Properties continue to serve buyers and sellers for real estate transactions. They are a local, full service Real Estate. “When I am not busy showing properties, assisting clients, or manning the office, I cherish the time with my family,” Horner said. “With the busy schedules we carry today I have learned the quality of time is just as important if not more so than the quantity of time spent. With each moment I try to assure the memories are lasting and enjoyable ones.” Countryland Properties have office locations in Mauriceville at 12192 Highway 62 North and the phone number is (409) 745-1115; in Bridge City at 600 Texas Avenue with the phone number being (409) 792-5200; and in Buna at 743 Highway 62 with the phone number being (409) 792-5337. The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

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Special Angels Rodeo a ‘blessing’ for Orange area By Van Wade

2019 Queen Jorisha Lewis

2019 Ambassador Cameron Lane

26 • Progress 2020

here is no doubt about it, the Special Angels Rodeo is a special event each year that brings out so many smiles for many Southeast Texas families and their little cowboys and cowgirls. It is the premier adaptive sports rodeo event in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. They just had their sixth Special Angels Rodeo back in November at the T2 Arena and Event Center at 3810 Old Peveto Road in Orange. The event is open to all special needs individuals regardless of age, disability, or county of residence and is completely free for all of the participants and their families. Each of the events is adaptable to meet almost any need of participants to guarantee the best experience for all involved. The events are overseen by a physical therapist with “Stable Spirit.” Not all that participates are kids but it is a tremendous event for parents and their families to kick back and watch their kids. It’s great that parents, family members and friends can be in the stands like other parents that go to things like rodeo events and little league activities. The first year, no one was sure what to expect, as the event became a reality for Lue Harris, who was inspired to start the event. She had a dream of doing something for those with “special” needs. The first year there were about 100 participants and has now grown to close to 300. The Harris family, who have operated Farmer’s Mercantile for decades and have been involved with the Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo, were eagerly excited about staging a rodeo. Dan Harris, Lue’s husband, was pessimistic at first. However, Lue, Jo, their daughter, and Bubba, their son, won Dan over and the dream that became the Special Angels Rodeo was born. “We started putting the first rodeo together in January, 2014, and it took to November to stage the rodeo,” said Jo Harris. “One of the first things we did was to have a meeting after church one Sunday with a group of people and we talked it over. We decided on some tentative events and figured out we could partner with the Sheriff’s Posse and get under their umbrella and use the arena on Highway 105.” The first rodeo was a success with 94 entrants and a host of volunteers that were rewarded by seeing those amazing grins on kids who were doing things they never thought they would be able to do. As soon as the 2014 rodeo was over,

work began on the second one in 2015. That rodeo saw an estimated 300 contestants, but due to the generosity of Chad Havens donating the use of the T-2 Arena, they had a tremendous facility that could handle the overflow. “We want every Special Angel to be able to participate and we do not ‘age out,” said Jo Harris. “We do not care how old someone is. We want them to be able to participate in the rodeo and have fun. We have the arena covered with the mats, so that we can take anyone, no matter what makes them “special”. The other beauty of the Special Angels Rodeo is that every contestant that is registered is awarded a gold medal. All of them are treated like winners, even if they do nothing but register and walk around looking things over. The fact that they have come to the rodeo is all that matters to all the volunteers. Events for the participants includes adaptive barrel racing with therapy horses from Stable Spirit and trailers pulled behind an ATV for wheelchair-bound participants, adaptive bull riding and bronc riding utilizing modified rodeo training aids, and adaptive roping. Area service and activity organizations that serve the special needs community and sponsoring businesses are also available with information, giveaways and activities for participants and their families. 2019 Princess Madison Corbell-Broussard

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Brick & Barley logo art

Brick & Barley a “hot” spot for Orange nightlife By Van Wade

here are plenty of great places to eat, dine with friends and have an entertaining time and Brick & Barley is one of those fine locations where

folks can get their “grub” on. Located at 2614 Lutcher Drive in Orange, Brick & Barley has plenty to offer diners. It is a tremendous place to relax after a long week of hard work.

Brick & Barley has a wide selection of food and drinks, so you can certainly kick back, relax your mind and body how you see fit. It was voted by Orange County residents in the Orange Leader’s Reader’s

Choice Best of Orange County for the Best Bar, Best Sports Bar and best nightclub. From hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal craft beers to freshly prepared finger food, Brick & Barley has a little something for everyone. Their menu has a wide variety that includes chicken strip baskets, pork wings and fries, wings and fries, boudin balls, fried pickles, pretzels, southwest egg rolls, crispitos, mozzarella sticks and onion rings. With trained mixologists that specialize in craft beer knowledge and seasonal cocktails, you can be rest assured that their bartenders will serve it up right. They have domestic beers, craft beers, seasonal cocktails, whiskey flights and beer flights. Instead of making long drives to big cities, Brick & Barley has live entertainment, karaoke and open mic nights if those with a great voice wants to drop in with a group of friends and show everyone what they’ve got. Brick & Barley definitely brings something refreshing to the local Orange County nightlife scene. They host a number of recurring entertainment events that includes Ladies Night; Live Music Nights; Karaoke Night and patrons can also test their pool skills on their diamond table. They host 8-Ball Tournaments throughout the year. For upcoming events, go to the Brick & Barley Facebook Page and their phone number is (409) 330-4345.

OUR SPONSORS

For assistance • To donate • To volunteer (409) 745-9719 • www.ocdisasterrebuild.com The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Orange Grove Project brings community together By Dawn Burleigh

Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader

The Orange Grove Project began as a hope to bring all the communities of Orange County together, and it appears to be a success. Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Chris Kovatch with President Ida Schossow made the announcement of the project after discussing it for four years. “Child’s is the official paint supplier of the Orange Grove,” Kovatch said. “Brad Childs is delivering all of the oranges for free for the chamber.” Since the arrival of the first 1100-pound concrete oranges in November, residents and businesses alike, have watched as more and more arrive throughout the county. “I hoped that it would catch on. I truly felt that Orange needed something like this project to continue moving us down the path of increasing community engagement that we have been on,” Kovatch said, “There is an air of positivity in Orange and I am glad that this project helps foster that sense of pride.” As part of the project, a map is available on the chambers website to help locate each orange as one travels through the area. Residents have taken the tour and posted pictures of kids sitting by, posing with and otherwise hamming it up for the camera with each orange. Kovatch and his children have also looked out for the oranges as they run errands through town. “My kids look for the oranges every time we are out. To be honest, I generally have at least one of my kids with me on every delivery,” Kovatch said. “I believe it’s important for them to see people in the community volunteering their time to make it a better place. We do make an effort to stop periodically and snap a pic with each Orange. My hope is that we start seeing more and more families out and about checking out each location.” While many oranges were painted the traditional orange at first, more and more are starting to show up in different colors and artistry. The first one painted, was the one delivered to the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce at the corner of 10th and Green Ave. in Orange. Kovatch and his son, Stryker, painted it shortly after it was placed at its new home. “When we delivered the first one, I felt very proud that we were able to make this project a reality. We had done a lot of press prior to receiving them and when we got to unveil and paint the first one it hit me that this project was now a reality,” Kovatch said. “My kids love being a part of this too I hope when they are older, they look back on as a positive event in their lives.” Pride in the community has grown as residents have asked about oranges for their yards as well and orange paperweights are appearing in offices as well. “The pride and positivity that has grown from this project has been amazing. Our businesses can’t wait to get them delivered and we can’t wait to announce when we have new ones out,” Kovatch added. “I have seen businesses overhaul their landscaping or even put in new landscaping with the orange as the centerpiece. Businesses have created displays for them as well. It is awesome seeing all the creativity and excitement around them. I count this project as a huge success.” There is still more to come with this project. “We still have about 70 of the commercial oranges to get delivered that have already been ordered. We are still receiving orders for them on an almost daily basis. We will focus on get these filled as quickly as possible,” Kovatch. “We are still receiving the desktop oranges with each regular orange shipment. Those sell out pretty much as soon as we receive them. We are also in the very beginning stages of planning for the residential oranges. We hope to have them coming out in mid-summer if everything moves as planned. I expect they will be just as popular as our commercial ones. As soon as we have firm information on these, we will share it with the community.”

Van Wade/The Orange Leader

28 • Progress 2020

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

Top Deck invests in employees, community By Kirista Shehane

For more than 10 years, Top Deck, Inc has focused on establishing a successful business while cultivating a partnership with the communities of Mauriceville, Texas and Vinton, LA as envisioned by company founders JW Dalton and Dennis Malone. “While we celebrate the hard work and dedication made by both our management team and employees, we are also forward facing the future as the industrial climate in Southeast Texas and beyond continues to expand exponentially,” explained Dennis Malone. Top Deck, Inc is a national provider of Project Controls, Scaffolding, Precision Maintenance, Mechanical & Piping, Insulation, Alignment, Painting, Asbestos and Lead Abatement, and Refractory services as well as providing Heavy Lift Specialist to industrial facilities. In the last five years, we have averaged 30% annual

to name a few. During Top Deck’s 10-year history, our commitment to excellence has always focused on the core values of our company to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction: “Safety is Our Commitment, Quality is our Standard.” “As one of the largest employers in the Mauriceville area, we take pride in the ability to assist a myriad of community partners in Orange County and the City of Vinton, LA,” explained JW Dalton, “this gives us an opportunity to assist organizations with grants and scholarships essentially giving back to our communities.” In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda, Top Deck joined with the Mauriceville Heritage Association to provide logistical support and manpower needed ensuring community residents received vital supplies and assistance. We also believe in engaging in company-sponsored volunteer initiatives like the Mauriceville Crawfish Bash which creates

Willie Williams, Optical Alignment Specialist for Top Deck, assisting with food distribution the morning after Tropical Storm Imelda.

Top Deck’s Shop served as a point of distribution and logistical staging during Hurricane Harvey.

growth giving our company the opportunity to expand our footprint across the United States. Our owners maintain a sharp focus on our clients and a vision of providing solution-based contractor services; while, our employees maintain targeted training credentials to support the demands of specific project needs. Top Deck is licensed in 14 states and performs work for over 47 Pulp and Paper Mills as well as petrochemical industry leaders and other industrial capital projects. We have an intensely loyal client base with more than 90% of our business originating from repeat customers and a wide-ranging presence including local and statewide operations such as International Paper and Exxon Mobil to companies throughout the Southeast United States including Georgia Pacific, West Rock Corporation, and Packaging Corp of America

opportunities for team building while assisting with the largest fundraiser in the community as a platinum sponsor. In 2020, we made a three-year commitment to sponsor the Lamar State College Gator Bass Club. Throughout the Southwest Louisiana region, we support various activities including Vinton and Deridder Schools, livestock associations, and youth sports. Our commitment to the communities where we live and work is a top priority for both our owners, managers, and employees. As we move into the future, we welcome the growth and opportunities afforded by a robust economy and the industry expansion in Orange County. By investing in our employees and our community, we hope to continue to be a positive entity that cultivates a climate of safety, workmanship, volunteerism and economic growth in our region.

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com

JW Dalton stirring up a secret recipe at the 2019 Mauriceville Crawfish Bash Crawfish Cook off.

Cowboy Church of Orange County Tips Hat to Rising Rodeo Star M

arissa Waters’ Cowboy Church family has watched her grow up getting her boots dusty in the CCOC Arena, and now she’s competing nationally in the sport of Barrel Racing. The Cowboy Church Arena Ministry and Youth Programs promote Christian values, teamwork, leadership and respect. Rodeo competition helps develop real-life skills required by the cattle industry. Marissa said, “The love of this church family means a lot. To other kids interested in the arena, she says, “You don’t have to have a horse. Just a dream.”

A unique shopping experience opens in Mauriceville By Ginger Broomes

arla Morgan already had a business going when she decided to open The Cottage Boutique in Mauriceville. “I started this to give my business, Craft’n With Nonnie, a home base. I have always had a passion for crafting and last year I decided to put my love to the test and Craft’n With Nonnie was born.” It wasn’t long before Carla tired of working from home, so she first tried setting up a similar business in Orange and it didn’t work out. “I thought to myself, I can do this! I can open my own vendor boutique and have a place for Craft’n With Nonnie and give my hometown a wonderful place to shop!” Morgan said. “So that’s what I did and The Cottage was launched Feb 1, 2020.” Located inside Tuffy’s Plaza on Highway 12, there is no other store quite like this. It is not quite a craft store, or a boutique, but a combination of both. With no other employees except herself and her daughter Lindsay, she manages this unique boutique store filled with wares from 28 different vendors. Here you can find vendors who sell women and children’s clothing and accessories, and the next booth over find handmade metal art from another vendor. Then there are homemade bath bombs and body scrubs, and while you’re checking those out, you might wander to the next stall over and find farmhouse signs and candles. Custom embroidery is another specialty offered at The Cottage. Everything one can think of can be customized onto a tote,

30 • Progress 2020

outfit, or hat. Even customized stuffed animals and blankets with a newborn’s birthdate and weight for new parents. Caps for fans of local high school teams are also available.

The Cottage Boutique had a successful grand opening February 1 and another on February 8, and already Morgan has a waiting list for even more vendor space within her store. “We have been blessed abundantly with vendors,” Morgan said. She sees great success for The Cottage and possibly expanding to a bigger building sometime next year. “I would not be surprised, and I welcome the idea of having multiple loca-

tions within the Golden Triangle within the next 5 years,” Morgan said. What does Carla Morgan see as the future for this type of business? “Prosperity and SUCCESS!!”

The Orange Leader • www.orangeleader.com