MOE WAS LEGEND IN THESE PARTS

It’s hard to believe “Moe” is gone.

He passed away Sunday, Oct. 14.

A rosary will be said at 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 18.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m.

to 9 p.m.

at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.

at St. Henry Catholic Church in Bridge City.

I had known Herman “Moe” Litton since 1965 when he went to work for his old SFA teammate Chief Wilson, who was Bridge City’s football coach and AD. The following year Bridge City won the State Football Championship.

Bum Phillips was also one of their teammates at SFA. Moe was from Gladewater, TX and we visited often about that place.

Everyone who knew Litton has a story.

He knew every student who went through Bridge City High so there are thousands of stories.

Just one from me although I have dozens.

Moe had a sleeping disorder and many nights, at 2 or 3 a.m.

you could often find him at Gary’s Coffee Shop.

One night he got up, didn’t turn on any lights as not to wake Helene up.

He eased into the living room, sat on the couch right on top of Micky, who had snuck in and went to sleep on the couch.

The screaming woke Ms.

Helene up.

Hundreds of girls can tell stories of Moe’s famous ear piercings.

Boy athletes can tell harrow stories about injury treatments.

His favorite saying was, “It will feel better when it quits hurting.” There will never be another “Moe-Jo”.

I feel blessed to have known him, as does everyone else.

Rest in peace my friend.

CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

We were sorry to learn of the sudden death of Harriet Faye McCorvy, age 72, who passed away Saturday, Oct. 13, at Meadows Nursing Home where she was a patient in rehab recovering from pneumonia. She was scheduled to go home Tuesday, Oct. 15. Services were held on that day. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, James McCorvy, eight children and 18 grandchildren. One of her daughters, Brenda Lund, is our ‘Girl Friday’ at the Penny Record office in Bridge City. Please see obituary. May this good lady rest in peace. She was truly loved.

TEXAS SHOWDOWN FEATURES TED AND BETO

The showdown for United States senate in Texas will feature Sen.

Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke in the Thursday evening, nationally televised Town Hall, to be carried at 6 p.m.

by CNN. Local ABC outlet, Channel 12, did broadcast the debate at 8 p.m.

Tuesday.

Cruz, a national debate champion, didn’t fare too well in the first debate and got negative in this debate.

Throughout the campaign O’Rourke has sought the high ground with a people-powered campaign.

Beto has rejected special interest and corporate PAC money.

Now the Cruz campaign has made O’Rourke’s early life and career their focus in attack ads.

Some have been disproven.

An example, in recent commercials Cruz accused O’Rourke of voting to use government power and eminent domain to take away homes from residents.

This turns out to be false.

Unknown to most Texans Beto comes from a Republican family.

His father ran for congress in the GOP and his mother is also Republican.

O’Rourke is known for working with both sides and presently he and Sen.

Cornyn, a Republican, are co-sponsoring a bill.

He was portrayed in the debate as being a populist.

With polls tighter than analysts ever expected.

Cruz has sought to reopen old wounds.

O’Rourke has responded to the negative stuff on Facebook to supporters, “We can be defined by our fears” or “We can be known by our ambitions and aspirations.” Can Cruz knock him off of that high road? Cruz, who once called Trump a ‘pathological liar and utterly amoral’ is now assuring people all over Texas that he has Trump’s back, even on his border policy of separating families.

So far, two Trumps have appeared in Texas on his behalf, daughter Ivanka and Don Jr.

Trump himself announced that he would hold the biggest rally, in the biggest stadium in Texas, in October for Cruz.

The rally is now set for Monday, Oct. 22, at NRG stadium in Houston, which seats slightly less than 10,000 people.No senator serving with Cruz has spoken up for him.

Sen.

Lindsey Graham said in the past, “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the senate and the trial was held on the senate floor, no one would convict you.” Former House Speaker John Boehner said of Cruz, “I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.” Cruz is liked by very few in government.

I believe, year in and year out, the interest of Texas would best be served with senators from both parties.

Any state would be.

Texas has the opportunity to have a senator from both. Regardless of who is in the White House we would be covered.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2008

A month after Ike, at least on the surface, things are looking better in Bridge City.

The clean up is helping. At first glance, a person wouldn’t know that houses are just shells with nothing inside.

I’m still amazed that so many people I talk to around the country or even a hundred miles away don’t realize how hard Orange County was hit.

We can’t thank the many groups and individuals donating their time to help the rebuilding job enough.

It’s just so massive and without their help it would be a lost cause.

Roy says that four of his immediate neighbors will not be returning.

That is just an example of how many citizens without flood insurance just can’t make things fit.

Insurance companies have a strong lobby.

Someday I look for the Congress to come up with a bill that forces insurance companies to pay for wind driven surge caused by a hurricane.

Everyone in Bridge City had hurricane insurance but most didn’t have flood coverage.

The bill would be late to help Orange County but in the future they wouldn’t be able to rip the citizens off by saying, “We won’t pay a dime under the water line.” (Editor’s note: That was wishful thinking.)***** I was just thinking about how things would have been different if we still had homeboys representing us in federal and state government.

If Jack Brooks, Charlie Wilson or the “Blue Dog” Demos were representing us, they would be screaming from the top of the Hill while squeezing nuts. If D-Roy Harrington or Carl Parker were still our state senators, they would fight and scream every day to get the state off their ass and not just offer lip service or photo-ops.

They would make home folks a fighting priority.

We had it good back in the days of Wayne Peveto, Clyde Haynes and Ron Lewis, fighting local guys, in an Orange County district.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Obituaries 10 Years Ago-2008

Ruby McClelland of Mauriceville died Monday, Oct. 13.

Services were Saturday, Oct. 18.

She was a member of the American Bridge Retirees, a homemaker.

She is survived by her children, Shelia, Rickey and Debbie.

Ruby had seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.***** Charles E Spradling, 80, brother of Hubert “Sprad” Spradling died Oct. 12.

Services were Monday, Oct. 20.

He served in the Army and was a retired parts manager for Sprad’s Boat Town.

He was the youngest president of the Eagles Club at age 19.

He also was a member of VFW Post 2775 and an original members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Charles is survived by his brothers Admiral David Spradling, Hubert Spradling and Orville Spradling, sisters Mildred Werner and Nancy Mae Lease.***** George “Clint” Hathaway, 52, of Bridge City, died, Friday, Oct. 17.

Service was Tuesday, Oct. 21.

He worked as a mechanic at DuPont Sabine River Works.

He also was a member of the National Bonsai Society and the National Rifle Association.

Survivors include his mother, Pat Kelley, stepmother, Sue Hathaway, son, John Hathaway, daughter, Carrie Hathaway and grandchild Austin Hathaway.

40 YEARS AGO-1978

Congrats to the L.J. Doucet family of Bridge City on their new arrival, son Landon, born Oct. 9.

He weighed in at 9 pounds, 1 ounce.

*****Brad Lapeyroerie, a great young guy, turned 10-years-old on Oct. 13.

*****Kimberly Dunlap celebrated her 14th birthday.

*****Charles Patton hit the half-century mark this week.

He celebrated by attending the LSU game.

He hasn’t missed a home game in 15 years.

(Editor’s note: He would be 90 years old this week.

He and wife, Juliet, operated Gravely Tractor for many years.)****Suzanne Halliburton covers LC-M football for the Opportunity Valley News. The Bridge City Cards beat the Bears 13-7 in first district game.

Bridge City quarterback Rodney Johnson scored a touchdown on a fourth-down at the one-yard line in the final seconds of the game to give the Cards the win.

(Editor’s note: Suzanne, who started her sports writing career with the Dunn family-owned OVN in Orange, has been with the Austin American-Statesman and one of the nation’s top female sports writers.

Her career has taken her around the world.

*****Judge Sid Callivet celebrated his 86th birthday last week, receiving telegrams from around the country.

The big party was held at he and Ms.

Dennis’ home.

Roy Dunn was host and also served the cake.

Former Sheriff Chester Holt attended along with Curry Barton.

Banker Elmer Newman looked over to where JoeBlanda, Jimmy Conn, Casey Peveto, Joe Runnels and Henry Stanfield were sitting and said, “That group looks like a meeting of the Mafia.” Conn, with his all white suit sat in the big chair and was dubbed “The Godfather,” with Blanda as his top crime boss.

(Editor’s note: No finer men ever walked the streets of Orange.

Every day brought a surprise from the happy-go-lucky guys.)*****Jim Gunter wears three hats well.

He is a 1956 Stark High grad, from a Pinehurst family of 10 children.

He has been an instrument electrical foreman at B.F. Goodrich for 11 years.

He also entertains with his “Funny Business,” one-man band each Friday and Saturday at the Fisherman’s Reef.

Getting out of the Air Force in 1960, after a four-year hitch, he spent a lot of his time in Shreveport and became an avid fan of the “Louisiana Hayride” attending every Saturday night.

His favorite shows were Johnny Horton, Hank Snow, Farron Young, Roger Miller, Johnny Cash and a youngster named Elvis.

Gunter said back then Willie Nelson was just a songwriter.

About four years ago, in 1974, Gunter began picking and singing with area groups.

In 1964 Gunter became a real estate and insurance businessman.

HAPPENINGS

The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at Novrozsky’s this week and next Wednesday at Robert’s. We have missed seeing County Treasurer Christy Kourey lately.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fellowship.*****James Charles Taylor, age 83, died unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 13.

at a Baton Rouge, La., hospital.

A native of Baton Rouge, the rugged Taylor is remembered as perhaps the last great fullback in professional football, a player tasked as much with carrying the football as blocking before the modern game divvied those responsibilities.

He played professionally in the National Football League for ten seasons, with the Green Bay Packers from 1958 to 1966 and with the expansion New Orleans Saints in 1967.

With the Packers, Taylor was invited to five straight Pro Bowls and won four NFL championships, as well as a victory in the first Super Bowl.

He was recognized as the NFL Most Valuable Player after winning the rushing title in 1962, beating out Jim Brown. His confrontational attitude, combined with his tenacious running style, a penchant for contact, and ability to both withstand and deliver blows, earned him a reputation as one of the league's toughest players.*****Trump has no redline when it comes to human rights violations.

There’s a dark truth behind the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, in Turkey, in the Saudi consulate.

It looks less likely that Trump will expose it after he spoke with the Saudi king.

Trump was impressed with his denial.

It’s a re-occurring role, he apologizes for brutal leaders who draw his favor.

Now he says, “Maybe it was rouge killers.” Meanwhile, Trump is stalling for time to get the midterm election over before congress demands investigation.

(I say always follow the money.

A reason not to call out Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince.)*****More than 310,000 temporary protected status holders, documented residents, are now ordered to leave the U.S.A. Most have been here for decades, worked and raised their families here.

Hundreds of thousands of documented residents have been ordered by the Trump Administration to go back where they came from, many from Haiti.

They are praying the federal courts will extend their stay until the new congress convenes*****The U.S. budget deficit hits highest in years, $779 billion, thanks to the big tax cut to the wealthiest.

The deficit in 2019 will bust $1 trillion. Meanwhile, the stock market is down, interest rates have tripled, gas is up at the pump and big job layoffs are coming because of tariffs.

Ford is laying off 23,000.****Nikki Haley U.N. Ambassador, will get out of Dodge come Jan. 1.

Historians will decide Nikki Haley’s true motivation for wanting out.

She called Russia’s meddling an act of “Warfare.” She called for sanctions against Russia for assisting Syria and called for Russia to immediately get out o Crimea.

None of that was in step with the White House.

Mostly her steady support for human rights of refugees cut across the grain with Trump.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays the week of Oct. 17: Linda Heard, Johnny Dubose, Sue Collins, Wesley Palmer, Bob Puntes, Cheryl Royal and Lynn Bates all celebrate.

Celebrities joining them are Rapper Eminem, who turns 45, Country singer Alan Jackson, 59 and MMA fighter Holly Holm, 36. *****Oct. 18: Celebrating this week are Penny Becker, Bill Andes and Emily Hughes.

Joining them are actors Zac Efron, 30 and Jen Claude Van Damme, 57.*****Oct. 19: Mary Jane Hughes, Julie Prosperie, Phillip Todora, Kristin Bertles, Kyle Johnson all celebrate today.

Also having birthdays on this day are boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Sr., 65.*****Oct. 20: Judge Joy Simonton, Jason Yeaman, Jeanne Mullins.

Also celebrating are Rapper Snoop Dogg, 46, actors Jennifer Freeman, 32 and John Krasinski, 38.*****Oct. 21: Kim Ezell, Kameron Lane, Cicki Brown, Brad Childs, Cory Moreau and John Cecil Beeson.

They are joined by Reality star Kim Kardashian, 37, Country singer Kane Brown, 24 and Judge Judy Sheindlin, 75.*****Oct. 22: Ray Farias, Becky Carter, Brian Provost and Judice’s own Kayla Block all celebrate.

Also having birthdays on this day are Christian rapper TobyMac, 53, actors Jeff Goldblum, 65 and Christopher Lloyd, 70.*****Oct. 23: Celebrating birthdays today are Erie Brinson, Pat New, Sara Ethredge, Danny Jinnings, John Clark and Sherry Martz.

Joining them are actors Ryan Reynolds, 41 and Emilia Clarke, 31, and Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King III, 60.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Clovis Badeaux wat is flying for da first time in his life, taking a plane trip to visit his very ill sister, Agnes, in California. Clovis is really nervous about da trip, him. Not too long after dey take off dem, da pilot is making da usual welcome announcements over da PA system.

“Ladies and gentlemens, dis is the captain. I would like to welcome you aboard Cajun Airlines. We are flying non-stop from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Me, I expect a smooth and uneventful flight. Jus sit back and enjoy da----Oh My God!”

Den dere is nuttin but silence. A minute later, da pilot comes over da PA again and say, “Ladies and gentlements, I’m sorry me if I scared you but da stewardess accidentally spilled a big cup of hot coffee in my lap. Boy, you should see da front of my pants.”

Badeaux him, breath a big sigh of relief. He say “KeeYaw,” to da passenger sitting next to him, “Da front of his pants ain’t nutten, you should see da back of mine.”

C’EST TOUT

THE DOWNSIDE OF LIVING IN PARADISE

The most powerful hurricane on record hit the Florida Panhandle, on the Gulf Coast. It looks like a bomb went off after the destruction from 155 mph sustained winds and violent waves.

That is the price everyone who lives on the Gulf is subjected to.

We love everything about living on the Coast, the picturesque seaside, the fishing, the mild winters and the scaled down pace of life.

Many people are suffering, many lives will never again be the same, and some will never recover.

I don’t believe people who live away from the coast fully understand the impact of being run over by a major storm.

Like what happens to communities, the victims of hurricane Michael, in a week’s time, have been moved to the back pages.

The television networks have gone away.

CNN seems to be doing the best job of keeping the story alive.

Monday, the nation’s largest newspaper, USA Today, had no mention of the storm or struggle for recovery.

The same probably goes for most of the country’s major newspapers.

Talk radio and TV no longer mentions last week’s destruction in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.

President Donald Trump held three political rallies without mentioning the recovery facing those areas.

Tuesday he and the First Lady flew from Washington to survey the damage.

It’s a photo-op but it will be somewhat useful to bring the extreme damage back into focus for awhile.

Trump said, “It’s going to be done better than ever before by anyone.” Whatever that means.

What is always so surprising to me is that the number of deaths is always smaller than seems imaginable.

One death is too many, but so few deaths are a God send.

I feel for the poor and the elderly, most had no insurance and no place to turn, everything is gone.

*****Thanks for your time.

Read us cover to cover and please shop our advertisers.

Take care and God bless.