SINCLAIR BROADCAST SLAMMED FOR PROMO

Sinclair Broadcast group is being criticized for on-air promotional message many of its local news anchors were asked to read that warned viewers about ‘False News’ on competing media outlets.

The way it works is that local on-air news host voice concerns about ‘the troubling trend of irresponsive, one-sided news stories.

Then the anchors go on to say that many media outlets are publishing ‘Fake Stories.’ The promotion looks unique in each market.

Sinclair’s headquarters scripts and distributes it to its local stations.

After a video showing overlapping clips of anchors reciting the same script went viral.

Some lawmakers and media critics condemned the company for thinly veiled editorializing that they said promoted Trump’s attacks on the news media.

Some Democratic members on the intelligence committee said Sinclair is parroting Trump’s talking points, moving America one step closer to it’s own version of state run media assailing another freedom under this administration.

Some local anchors are not happy with the arrogance from Sinclair headquarters.

One anchor said, “I felt like a POW recording a message.” The national message from Sinclair comes as regulators are considering weather to approve its $4 billion deal to acquire Tribune Media Co. It would increase Sinclair’s number of TV stations from 193 to 220 and increase it’s reach of homes to 72%.

Trump defended Sinclair on Twitter Monday adding to critics’ complaints that the TV Company was acting as his proxy.

Locally CBS,channel 6 and Fox, channel 4, are owned by Sinclair, the nation’s largest broadcaster.

We are not aware if any of the two local stations aired the message from headquarters.

Encroaching on trusted news brands in rural markets is not anything anyone should welcome.

A Republican friend sent me a message saying, “The GOP was the (Grand Old Party), now it’s the TNP (Trump’s News Party.”) The times they are changing.*****I’d best get going.

Come along I promise it won’t do you no harm.

CONDOLENCES

We were sorry to learn of the death of Rev. Marv Howland, 86, of Orange, who passed away April 2. Marv was a combat veteran of the Korean War. He was a minister who served as a Chaplain at burial services for thousands of veterans. He and his wife Arlene were two of the nicest, most helpful people I’ve ever known. A visitation will be held at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange Saturday, April 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. His memorial service will be held at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 1401 Park Ave., Sunday at 2 p.m. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2008

Sheriff Mike White, the second longest serving sheriff in Orange County History when his term ends Jan. 1, was soundly defeated by challenger Constable Keith Merritt. The two lawmen put on a spirited contest.

From the time Merritt announced on Jan. 2, his campaign never looked back.

His wife, Marlene, managed the details, advertising, ect.

and their son, Robert handled the field operation, yard signs, ect.

It was a well run campaign.

They left no stones unturned.

7,783 votes were cast.

Merritt garnered 4,648 to Whites 2,129.

Merritt is a class guy, with some positive changes in store for the department.

We understand that Sheriff White was leaving Houston at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday on a trip to China that had previously been planned.

Yank Peveto, led the six man race for constable in the primary, but was defeated by Sheriff’s Department Lt.

Rob Strause in the runoff.

Strause, a professional longtime peace officer put up a good come from behind race.

2,429 votes were cast.

Strause received 1,313 votes for a 54 percent win.

Chris Humble was the winner over Sarah Jefferson Simons in the Precinct 1 Constables race to replace constable Merritt.

Humble received 1,466 votes to 776 for Simons.*****Roy went out of town this weekend to attend the 105th birthday celebration of his only surviving aunt, Eve Lemaire, who he says is still very sharp.

It is said that when elderly people die it’s like a library burning down but when Eve goes it will be like a great archive, going back to 1903, being destroyed.

She came along before the automobile, telephone or even the Spanish-American War.

Her son Hubert, who would be 86, the same age as Cedric Stout, was seriously injured at Pearl Harbor but ironically died of a farming accident after returning from war.

She has seen life from the most primitive, no roads just trails, to a space station hanging high over the earth, from telegraphs to cell phones and computers reaching around the world in seconds.***** Albin J. ‘A.J.’ Judice, Jr. dies at age 80, Sunday, April 6.

He was a legend in these parts.

His face was so famous that even little children knew who he was.

He and his mom ‘Maw Maw’ Judice and dad ‘Tabin’ introduced Cajun food and transported Louisiana Cajun customs to Texas.***** Our longtime buddy Ray Cotton, at the Longhorn Entertainment Complex, is really going all out to put rodeoing on the map.

He just put in a 4,000 seat outdoor arena for professional and amateur rodeo cowboys and girls.

Ray and Coleman Peveto together will put on an attraction like no other.

Also once a month, it will become the largest flea market on the Gulf Coast.

You never know what Cotton will do next.*****In the NCAA championship,with less than a minute left in regulation, and Kansas six points behind, the Jayhawks tied it with two three-pointers and went on to win 75-68 in overtime.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Obituaries 10 Years Ago-2008

Albin Joseph, “A. J.” Judice Jr., 80, Bridge City died Sunday April 6, 2008 at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur surrounded by his family.

He was born on Aug. 30, 1927 in Port Arthur, Texas to Lariza and A. J. “Tabin” Judice Sr.

He attended Port Arthur schools and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1945.

A. J. owned and operated Judice’s French Market in Port Arthur.

He lived in Port Arthur his entire life until moving to his beloved Cow Bayou in Bridge City in 1976.

He enjoyed promoting any and all Cajun related activities in the local community and happily traveled spreading the Cajun culture.

He was appointed Crawfish Racing Commissioner by Texas Governor Preston Smith.He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Lois Bourgeois Judice and five children; Larry and Brenda Judice, Debbie and Paul Roy, Al and Michelle Judice, Kevin and Susan Judice, Karen and Mark Eddingston, fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.***** Ruth J. Mathews died Thursday, April 3, 2008.

Funeral services were held Sunday, April 6.

She is survived by her daughters Beverly Anderson, Elaine Jagneaux, and daughter and son-in-law Diane and Glen Prince, and her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Mala Mathews, 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.***** Rosalea Sherrill Croaker, 81, of Orange, died, Thursday, April 3.

Funeral service was held Monday, April 7.

She was owner of the Capistrano Restaurant in the late 60’s and 70’s.

She is survived by her children, Jackie Haley, Jimmie Haley, Roslyn Haley, Joseph Haley, Renee Smith, and seven grandchildren and nineteen grandchildren.***** Lawrence Ray Bean, 76, of Orange, died Tuesday, April 1.

Funeral services were held Friday, April 4.

He was an electrical lineman at IBEW Local# 390.

He is survived by his wife, Margie (Fontenot) Bean, daughters Dianne Bean Mabie and Christine Bean Hargraves, son David C. Bean, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.***** Oma Faye McGee, 73, of Orange, died Saturday, April 5.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 8.

She was employed as a cashier for the Racetrack on I-10.

She is survived by sons, Rodney McGee and Wayne McGee, daughters Brenda Brister, Carolyn Farr and Sheila Snelgrove, and grandchildren,

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

40 Years Ago-1978

Word is out that Lake Charles native Alvin Dark was fired as manager of the San Diego Padres because team owner Ray Kroc, the MacDonald’s magnate, saw Alvin eating at a Burger Chef. ***** Elvis impersonator Bobby Freeman, who also expertly does Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Rod Stewart, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, Waylon and Willie, The Platters, Don Williams, and Neil Diamond, will perform in the Orange House Ballroom.

No one in the country is better than Bobby at imitating voices, over 200 voices in all.

Bobby brought his 1976 Cadillac limousine, which Elvis bought for him after ‘The King’ watched Bobby impersonate him at one of his shows.

(Editor’s note: I attended some of the shows in Orange and was amazed at his talent.*****Elected to the Bridge City Water District were Howard Matthews, G.A. ‘Ham’ Laughlin and W.W. ‘Bill’ Hutto.****** C.E. ‘Curney’ Lormand and Robert Pruitt were re-elected to the school board.*****In B.C. City Council elections, Don Cole took the place vacated by Billy Wright, Bill Cagle and John Banken were re-elected.*****A gumbo dinner honoring Judge Burgess was held at the Old Timers Pavilion on Tulane Road in Orange.

Free food and drinks.

Don is seeking election to the 260th.

District Court that he was appointed to.*****A few of the real characters around town are J.K. ‘Jimmy’ Conn, Ed Bacon, Joe leBleu, Joe Blanda, Judge Sid Caillavet, J.B. Arrington, Red Garrett, Butch Lusignan, Homer Flanigan and Inez Hearn.*****Flo and Gene Edgerly mark their 19th wedding anniversary.*****Mark Dunn has joined in the spirit of the Orange Historical Preservation District.

He has been working to repair and paint his 19th Century house on Cherry Street.

The house was one of only four houses that withstood the 1865 storm and was moved to the current location.*****Office Hound tee shirts go on sale.

Kresge’s received a large shipment in all sizes Monday.

Two styles, in two colors.

One has a caricature of the Office Hound holding a cake with the inscription, “I sent my cake to the Office Hound.” The other has a prancing caricature with the slogan, “I’m an Office Hound fan.” Opportunity Valley News employees Debbie Fusilier and Sandi Mobley modeled the shirts.

Paul Wise, Kresge’s manager, said the shirts were flying off the shelves.

The tee shirts will be available at several locations next week.

The Office Hound was a popular character in a column back then, like Breaux and Creaux are today.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Congrats to Ann and Ben Ezell on their 60^th wedding anniversary.

They were wed April 12, 1958.

They are nice folks.

That’s not a record but a darn good average.*****I find it somewhat ironic that Charlton Heston, 84, and A.J. both died on the same day.

April 6, 2008.

In his long movie career Heston had many modes of travel.

In Ben Hur he rode in a cart. Judice also had many different types of transportation going back to high school he rode a motorcycle, and then had the only red convertible in town.

He was the first owner of a Ford Victoria in Port Arthur. Thirty years ago he ran around in an MG. Name a brand of autos and he probably owned one, even a Jeep.

In later years he ran around on a red scooter.

I often wondered when he went over the Rainbow Bridge, if he would make it back. He would travel to nursing homes or to his and ‘Maw Maw’ Judice’s food class at Lamar where they taught Cajun-cooking classes.

Wherever he went his triangle went with him.

He called it playing his ‘Ding-a-ling.’ He often sat in with local bands.

We will never see the likes of A.J. or ‘Maw Maw’ again. *****The American Legion Squadron, Post 49, in Orange, is holding a benefit raffle for Andrew ‘Andy’ Stacy’s medical expenses.

A Remington Express 12 gauge, pump shotgun is being raffled.

Tickets are $1 or six for $5. The drawing will be held April 14 and you need not be present to win.

It’s a great pump shotgun that beings hunters the best of all worlds.

Tickets are available at American Legion Hall.*****Eighty-five years ago this week, April 7, President FDR signed the Cullen-Harrison Act ending Prohibition.

Some eight months before the amendment could be repealed, thus ending bootlegging.*****Dupuis Tire and Service Center is having a big Yokohama and Cooper tire rebate sale now through April.

Dupuis is Bridge City’s oldest business in continuous operation.

It also is Orange County’s only full service station.

Earl, David and the gang will treat you right.

They are great, local folks to do business with.*****The Crawfish Hole, located behind the Little League fields, just off of West Roundbunch Rd., in Bridge City, is the talk of the town.

Owned by Brigg, Amy and Griffin Patterson, along with Ricky and Robin Berry.

The Hole serves boiled crawfish and shrimp.

You can dine in or take out.

They also sell live crawfish.

Open 7 days a week, Monday and Tuesday, 4 p.m.

to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, open at 11 a.m.*****The Dunn family welcomed a new arrival, Chase Truth Ballou, born March 30, to Robby and Jenna (Dunn) Ballou. He joins brother, Nate and sisters, Delilah and Willow.

Their mother is Mark Dunn’s youngest daughter.*****Word on the street is that Little Cypress-Mauriceville Superintendent Pauline Hargrove will be retiring after this year.

What a great job she has done since taking over at LC-M. The school district is far better off today because of her service.*****We also hear that Randy Becker, a 40 year employee of Market Basket and presently manager of the Bridge City store, is looking forward to retiring in the near future.

Everyone likes Randy. He started at the Bridge City store right out of high school.

He has employed many high school students over the years and helped them move up the ladder of life including Dr.

Amber Dunn, who was a checker and carry out girl leaving for college.*****Carroll Holt stopped in for a visit Monday.

He and I go back many years in politics.

He knows a lot of local history.

Carroll has run for Port Commissioner a couple of times before and this year is running for the open seat that Jerry Hughes retired from.

‘Port Commission at Large’ means running county wide.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at JB Barbeque this week and will host all newly elected officials.

Next week, The Bunch will dine at Novrozsky’s Everyone always welcome.*****This week in history on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was killed by James Earl Ray. The United States also entered WWI on April 15, 1917 and Hank Aaron hit home run 715 off of Al Downing on April 8, 1974.*****An acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Donald Trump, Jr., was sued for divorce by wife Vanessa, a couple of weeks ago.

Word is that he had been having an ongoing affair with a show girl and his wife finally discovered it.*****Kerry Cooper, a local Orange guy and West Orange-Stark grad, is gone from Channel 6 after 21 years.

No one I reached seemed to know why.

Also over at Channel 12,Greg Pieazo is gone leaving two girls doing the morning show.

This is contract time so maybe some are not being renewed.*****Save the date.

The seventh annual ‘Boot Scootin’ at the Brown Center will be Saturday, April 14.

It is Lamar Foundations annual fund raiser for scholarships and everyone always has a blast.

For more info contact Phyllis Ford at 553-6955.

BIRTHDAYS

A few folks celebrating birthdays in the next few days.

April 4:Debbie Kendick, Jason Ballard, Jeremy Simmons, Joe Peery, Kathie Dorman, Sandra McRight.

They are joined by tors Robert Downey, Jr., 52, Jamie Lynn Spears, 26 and R&B singer Jill Scott, 45.*****April 5: Our friend at Dupuis Tire Center, Earl Duhon is a year older also Al DeRoche, Jean Taylor, Libby Harrison, Nancy McWhorter celebrate today.

Celebrities having birthdays today Pop singer Pharrell Williams, 44, wrestler Charlotte Flair, 31 and actor Sterling K. Brown, 41.****April 6: Celebrating today are Cyndie Chauvin, David Blanton, John Green, Brenda McPherson.

Also having birthdays are actors Paul Rudd, 48, Billy Dee Williams, 80 and Candace Cameron-Bure, 41.*****April 7: Bethanie Penning, Janet Anderson, Linda Juneau celebrate, along with football player Kiki Barber, 42, actors Russell Crowe, 53 and Jackie Chan, 63.*****April 8: Angel Sehon turns 22 on this day, also celebrating are Cathy Riley, Lindsey Etheridge, Lorene Zoch and Melissa Pittman.

Joining them are actors John Schneider, 57, Patricia Arquette, 49, JR Bourne, 47, and Taylor Kitsch, 36.*****April 9: Having birthdays today are Trey Dubose, Ken Swenson, Terri Brent, Tonya Burch and Barbara Allen.

Also celebrating are fashion designer Marc Jacobs, 54, actors Kristen Stewart, 27, Dennis Quaid, 63 and Keshia Knight Pullman, 38.*****

April 10: Janey Montagne, Elliot Purcell and K’Lynn Ess, Dr. Katie Olson and Austin Brent all have birthdays on this day. Celebrities joining them are Pop singer Mandy Moore, 33, Country singer Marin Morris, 27, actor Steven Seagal, 65 and sportscaster John Madden, 61.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Clotile and Sostan Chauvin were marking dere 30th wedding anniversary. Dey made a trip to da Houston Fats Stock Show and Rodeo. Dey stopped at da first exhibit, da breeding bulls. Da first pen had a sign wat said, “THIS BULL MATED 50 TIMES LAST YEAR.” Clotile nudged Sostan, smiled and said, “He mated 50 times last year.”

Den dey walk to da second pen. “THIS BULL MATED 150 TIMES LAST YEAR.” Clotile gave Sostan a healthy jab and said, “Keeyaw! Dat’s more dan twice a week Sostan, you could learn a lot from him.”

At da nex pen da sign read, “ THIS BULL MATED 365 TIMES LAST YEAR.” Clotile her, was so excited her elbow nearly broke Sostan’s ribs. She almost shouted, “Babe, dat’s once a day. You could really learn sumting from dis one.”

Sostan looked at Clotile and in a stern voice said, “Go over dere you and axe him if it was wit da same old cow.”

Da anniversary celebration is canceled.

C’EST TOUT

Villanova beats Michigan, 79 to 62, to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

Villanova has mastered the shot from downtown, destroying Kansas and Michigan with the three-point shot.

They have won the NCAA twice in the last three years..*****The Houston Astros have started off where they left off.

As of Tuesday noon, they have only lost one game away from home, beating the Texas Rangers three out of four games and won their home opener 6 to 2 over Baltimore. Locally, if you want to see some good baseball live, attend any high school game.

Like in the past, our high schools are loaded with young talent.*****I’ve run plum out of time but I sure thank you for yours.

Take care and God bless.