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PLAYOFFS Joe Kazmar Page 3B
BEST FISHING IN TEXAS
OUTDOORS WEEKLY Capt. Chuck Uzzle Page 5B
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 4B
County Record Vol. 53 No. 39
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Orange County businesses reap holiday sales David Ball
For The Record
Christmas sales figures nationally were mostly flat but some area retailers broke the national trend. Things were stacked against retailers this holiday season, and it seems they may have pushed too hard to please, according to Business Week: “Consumer demand was anemic, and there were fewer days to shop because of the late November date for Thanksgiving. Foot traffic in stores dropped off in December. Retailers responded with aggressive discounting, then tried to force through more last-minute shipping deals than UPS could handle. The result? Unhappy customers and concern about ever-narrowing profit margins.” The article states sales of
OC Christian Writers Guild to meet The Orange County Christian Writers Guild will meet 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2014. at Brown Hearing Center, 105 Camellia, Orange. We will have a guest speaker, Penny LeLeux. Penny will share how she got her foot in the door for her writing career. If you have any questions, call Karen Stevens at 409 988-2588 or email here at karen.stevens@ coldwellbanker.com.
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holiday items increased 2.3 percent compared with last year. On a brighter note, Elaine Meyers of The Meyers Horseman Store in Orange, said their Christmas sales were excellent. “We were up six percent from last year. We’re very pleased. We’re up considerably for the total year at all five stores. We’re very thankful. We’re looking forward to 2014,” Meyers said. “We’re very honored and humbled by this.” Bestsellers were boots and ladies’ clothing, work boots and work clothes. Meyers explained the store began a “good sales program” after Thanksgiving and “wonderful premiums” such as Wrangler gear bags and George Straight CDs with the purchase of a particular item. Returns of merchandise has been moderate, Meyers said, due to salespeople fitting customers precisely and researching customers’ needs. In addition to carrying 4,000 pairs of boots in their store, The Horseman also has four mobile rigs to sell work boots to plants. Shell Plaza Houston, for instance, is so please with The Horseman, they signed a four-year contract to 2018 to service their plants. Tina Jetton, manager of The Classy Peacock in Bridge City, said their sales, too, were above average. “A lot more people are becoming more aware to shop local and keep the money in the community. Our sales goal was met,” she said. The Class Peacock’s bestsellers are Pandora and Brighton jewelry, particularly gift sets, and Corral boots. The store is also running an after Christmas special. Jetton said there hasn’t been a high rate of return of merchandise with the exception being exchanges for jewelry. Burke’s Outlet in West Or-
CHRISTMAS SALES Page 2A
David Ball
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New Year’s Eve may be over, but most local police officers know, the party is not really over and on the roadways will be too many people who have had too much to drink before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. Officer M. Roush, of the Orange Police Department, will be working this weekend and as part of his job duties will help make the roads a safer place to be by arresting drunk drivers. But, he is quick to
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Influenza spreading Flu strain spreading across Orange County Debby Schamber For The Record
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cross the state, flu is on the rise, especially the 2009 strain of the H1N1 virus, previously known as swine flu. Stephanie Davila, of Orange, had a sore throat on Friday which became progressively worse. Her 10-year-old son, Eric, was reading in the newspaper about the deadly flu this season and became increasingly concerned about his mother’s health. In the end, the mother of seven children had to make her son happy. “ I had to promise I would go see the doctor,” Davila said. ‘They were so worried.” A swab at the doctor’s office determined Davila did have the flu. In addition, she had an ear infection. Davila was able to receive Tamiflu because she was within the 72-hour window. She also received a prescription for antibiotics for the ear infection. “If not for my son and his friend and making me pinky swear, I would not have gone,” Davila said. Davila is now at home recovering. She has her “small army” to help her, along with her husband, Victor. Although many in Orange County have been diagnosed with the flu, in Orange County there are not any reported deaths. But, in nearby Jefferson County five people have died from flu complications. It has also been confirmed they had H1N1. The people who died in Beaumont had “underlying health conditions,” which put them at risk for developing flu complications, such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infections and dehydration, according to Beaumont Health Department officials. Beaumont officials also report a rise in the number of flu-like cases within the past few weeks. Health workers have confirmed at least two cases of H1N1 in Montgomery County where four people have died. In addition, the Houston Health Department reported this week, they had their first pediatric flu death. A spokeswoman for the department would only identify the victim as a teenager. She said the victim is believed to have been infected with H1N1, the most predominant flu strain this season.The death occurred sometime within the season began on Oct. 1. At least three previous flu-related deaths in the Houston area have been confirmed this season in ad-
At the urging of her children, Stephanie Davila was recently diagnosed with the flu. Across the state, flu is on the rise, especially the 2009 strain of the H1N1 virus, previously known as swine flu. Health officials are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
dition to the pediatric death. However, being the HIN1 is no longer a new strain, the good news is the current vaccine available has the H1N1 included. The flu season began Sept. 29. On average, the flu kills 23,600 Americans
each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those with chronic health conditions, like diabetes or asthma, are at risk for complications. They should be vacFLU STRAIN SPREADING Page 3A
Flu outbreak increasing David Ball
For The Record
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ake advice from the experts. Shannon Forrest, director of nurses at Baptist Orange Hospital, took herself, her husband and children to receive a flu vaccination during the course of this interview. “There’s a significant increase of flu and Upper Respiratory Infections through our emergency department. We have three to four to test positive a day. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Forrest said. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in fact, is encouraging residents to be vaccinated due to “The level of flu-like illness is classified as ‘high’ in Texas, and medical providers are seeing an increase in flu in multiple parts of the state.” Thirteen flu related deaths have been reported in the Houston area this season, according to an article in the Austin-American Statesman. Shari Ulmer, director of the Beaumont Health Department, likewise, has reported five deaths in Beaumont- two confirmed as H1N1, one pending, and two with similar symptoms which are probable H1N1.
Of those who died, one was from Jefferson County, two from Jasper County, one from Hardin County and one from Bexar County, according to information from Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. “None who expired received the flu vaccine. We urge everyone to get the flu shot. It’s (2009 strain of the H1N1 virus) not new and it’s not too late. Forrest said the flu vaccine doesn’t cover the Strain Influenza A, but it does cover the H1N1 which she calls the worst of the two evils and the most common strain circulating, according to the TDHS. She speculates the flu is spreading because of the cold weather and people spending more time inFLU ADVISORY Page 3A
Drunk drivers continue to be focus of OPD
•Dicky Colburn Fishing...................4B
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Week of Wednesday January 1, 2014
For The Record
point out, it is not just alcohol which makes people drive while intoxicated, but also prescription and other drugs, too. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before their first arrest. The whole process of making a driving while intoxicated arrest for a seasoned officer takes about two hours to complete from start to finish because of the many pieces to the puzzle. “It’s not just one, but a combination of things,” Roush said
of the things he looks for when making an arrest. While out on patrol, Roush looks at what is going on in the city. He looks for simple traffic offenses such as going too fast or too slow, driving in the middle of the road or not stopping at stop sign or traffic lights. Once he initiates a stop, he makes contact with the driver. This is where he will discover if the person pulled over is presumed to be under the influence of narcotics or alcohol. As he approaches the Officer Roush, of the Orange Police Department will be on the look- vehicle, he will look inside for out for people driving while intoxicated over the holiday weekend. RECORD PHOTO: Debby Schamber
DRUNK DRIVERS Page 3A
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