The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

REWARDING MYSELF

I decided that come Saturday I was going to spend the entire day on myself.

It had been a long time since I had done that, so early Saturday I sat down at Denny’s for an outstanding breakfast that I over did of course.

Beverly and Jody Raymar spotted me as they were leaving.

We had been playing phone tag for several months and missing each other.

Bev, like her late mom Ms.

Pearl, gets prettier with age.

Jody hasn’t changed in 15 years.

Sorry I didn’t spot them when I arrived.

For several years, on given weeks, I’ve had a gig going in Gist.

I told my friend John Roy Fredrick thatI would stop and visit him on my return.

He suggested it might be better if I stopped by on my way to the rendezvous but I didn’t take his advice, I stopped and visited the new Market Basket Super Store in Mauriceville.

It is impressive; you would never believe you are in a Market Basket store of old.

It is beautifully set up with wide aisles.

They are at this time celebrating their grand opening.

We distributed 700 County Record newspapers, up from the usual 400.

While there we visited a couple from Buna and spoke with an old boy from Starks.

I asked him about the old mayor, Rene Hanks, he told me he believed Hanks was having health problems.

I heard that Commissioner Owen Burton had just left the store.

I made my way to John Roy’s little money maker.

I asked if there were any bills in the register.

They had been so busy money was spilling out of the cigar box.

John Roy has led an exciting life that makes for great stories.

He said, “Sit down; I have a story to tell you.” Between taking in cash, he told his story.

It was a long, feel-good story spreading 51 years.

It is a beautiful tale with a happy ending.

It was closing time for him.

He had to count and bundle the day’s take.

I was wearing down and could feel a nap coming on so I headed to the Tee-Pee.

When I woke it was plum dark.

I wondered if I had dreamed the day’s activities or if I had a full day to myself.

Sunday was also a special day but that’s another story. *****Now it’s back to the grind stone.

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

PATE MEMORIAL TO BE HELD

A memorial for longtime Orange County attorney H.D. Pate, who passed away May 6, 2019, will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.

at St. Henry Catholic Church in Bridge City.

A reception will follow at the K.C. Hall from 3 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

H.D. had practiced law in Orange County for 50 years and also was Bridge City Attorney for many years.

He drew up the charter to incorporate the city and became its first city attorney.

Please join us in celebrating the life of our friend Heinie Dell Pate.

Come share memories and stories at the K.C. Hall reception.

(Editor’s note: Ten years ago this week several Bridge City pioneers got together for the last time at Peggy’s on the Bayou for breakfast prepared by Richard Albair.

Those in attendance were H.D., Doug Harrington, Roy Dunn, Curtis Lee and Wilson Roberts. All had played an important part in the development of the Bridge City community.

Wilson, who was the city’s first police chief and Roy, whose family had settled in the area in 1927, are the only two survivors today.)

SERVICE FOR BOBBY JOE SHUGART SATURDAY

Bobby Joe Shugart, 81, of Orange, passed away on August 17. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 24, at 2:00 p.m., at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday. Another old Pipefitter has left us. Condolences to his family and friends. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2009

Helene Litton, age 78, passed away Sunday at 2 a.m.

Aug. 23.

Service was Wednesday at St. Henry Catholic Church.

Helene had fought a tough fight for several months and she is at peace now.

She and Moe married 61 years ago.

She was his sidekick and soul mate.

Moe told everyone in Gladewater she was his girlfriend when she was a teenager.

Everyone knew not to mess with the “Little Bulldog’s” lady.

Moe dragged his bride around until settling in Bridge City 43 years ago where they raised their girls, Mickey and Sherry, and watched their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.

Our hearts are heavy with sadness for Moe and this great family.

Helene was one of the nicest, sweetest ladies you could ever hope to know.

After 37 years as the Bridge City librarian she leaves behind many students and teachers who loved her.

(Editor’s note: Moe passed away last year.

They are together again.)***** I thought, for historical sake and for those years from now interested in the past and what was happening back in 2009, I should mention the opening of Jerry Jones’Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington.

When these writings are reviewed the reader will find that the stadium was taller, longer, with more design advances than any other that had ever come before it.

It is the world’s biggest, costing $1.15 billion, with an 80,000 capacity, expandable to 100,000. There are three million square feet under one roof, 292 feet high, 1,100 concession stands and restaurants, 300 suites and 11,000 tons of air conditioning and scoreboards with two 160 foot HD-TV screens.

The first game was played Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009.

The Cowboys, coached by Orange, Texas native Wade Phillips, beat the Tennessee Titans 30-10.

Wade is the son of coach Bum Phillips, “World’s best known bum.” He was born in Orange also.

*****Celebrating birthdays this week: To our longtime, dear friend Glenda Dyer, who now lives in Tennessee with husband Paul.

Glenda keeps up with us on our Web site.

***A special guy, Johnny Montagne, hit his last year in the 50s on Aug. 22.

He and his little buddy Blaze have been slaughtering the fish in the lake but last week, after he and Roy’s annual kidney stew dinner, Johnny, Blaze, along with Tommy Bean, took off on a fishing expedition about 3:30 p.m.

Can you believe three batteries all died? The crew had to be rescued by Richard Adair.

He found them after dark in the lake and dragged them home.

Darlene, Johnny’s lovely wife, said, “Johnny you need to change your maintenance program.”***** I believe Tonya Tucker was born to sing.

She was born Oct. 10, 1958, in Seminole and recorded her first Top-10 hit “Delta Dawn” in 1972.

Then came her big hit “What’s Your Mamma’s Name” in 1973, “Lizzie and the Rainman” 1975 and “Would You Lay With Me in a Field of Stone.” In all she had 10 No. 1 hits plus 24 albums.

Tanya has a new album, “My Turn,” out.

Most of the songs were sung when she was a youngster, songs first done by Buck Owens, Ray Price, George Jones, Merle Haggard etc.

I was fortunate enough to have met her once and even though I have never been fond of female singers, I’ve always loved her voice.

*****Speaking of artists, Kris Kristofferson of Brownsville, the Rhodes scholar, will also have a new album out on Sept. 29 called “Closer to the Bone.”*****What’s up with Rep.

Charlie Wilson? Well, on Oct. 24, at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Charlie will speak, along with former Poland president Lech Walesa, at a leading heart banquet to benefit Methodist Hospital DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center.

Larry King will be master of ceremonies at the event; from 7-11 p.m.

Honorary event co-chairs are President George H. and Barbara Bush. I believe a few million dollars will be raised and our guy Charlie will play a big part. *****We were sorry to hear that Cody Sparks, a red-shirted junior at Tulane, broke a kneecap and will be out six to eight weeks.

He was a starting tight end for the Green Wave.

Cody was a four-sport star at Bridge City – football baseball, basketball and track.

Cody is in the top bunch of great athletes that have come through Bridge City High.

*****Who will lie on top of Marilyn Monroe? The crypt above her final resting place has sold via a 20-day Ebay auction with the high bid of $4.6 million.

The starting bid was $500,000.

The space above Monroe is being vacated according to Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

40 Years Ago-1979

The old country boy from Orangefield and former Orange police chief Alvin Keown, has sold Keown Supply on Texas 87 for $6 million.*****Former Bridge City coach Buddy Gillis died last week.*****D.J. Morris, 72, also passed away.*****Debbie and David Fusilier welcome their first born on Aug 18. They named him David Wayne Jr.*****Graduating from Lamar are Sheila Goodwin, Vikki Lowe, Phillips Williams, Michael Angelle, Margaret Waldrep Dumas, Nina Perkins, Linda Echols and Carolyn Dixon.*****Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Glenn Gisclair are the proud parents of a new son “Beau,” born July 27 in Alamosa, Colorado.

45 Years Ago-1974

Attorney H.D. Pate claims he can run the mile in under eight minutes.

Meanwhile druggist Doug Harrington claims he can run a mile and a half in under 13 minutes.

(Editor’s note: Boy, time changes everything, those two old boys are running for St. Peter now days.)*****Jack Nance was hospitalized after fainting in an east Texas restaurant.

Someone asked Jack if it was the heat and he answered, “No it was the check.”*****Faye Linscomb and daughter Kathy were in the Dallas area to watch Jimmy Lacombe and Mark Dunn play in an inter-squad scrimmage at UTA where the Bridge City football players are freshmen.

*****Newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Easterling, were winners of $150 in groceries from Howard’s Grocery Market.

They won KOGT’s “Dial a Door” contest.

(Editor’s note: I wonder what became of Roger, a star athlete at Bridge City.

He had a brother named Ben and his dad was former boxing star George Easterling.)*****Sue Cormier Matthews, a 1967 graduate of Bridge City is now associated with Ingram School of Dance in Orange teaching twirling.

Sue has won many honors and awards in the field.

*****Susan Savoy will become Mrs. Dennis Brown on Aug. 31.

*****Barbara McRight will wed Edwin Hayes Osborn on Aug. 30.

*****The Thrift and Gift Shop will hold its first anniversary sale on Sat., Sept. 7.

*****Savoy Studio, instructing dancing, baton, modeling and adult gymnastics, is at 509 Sixth St. and owned by Judy and Gary Savoy.

The couple have one child, 6-year-old Stacy.*****The new head football coach at Little Cypress-Mauriceville is Randall Dorsett.*****The Bridge City Cards will count on No. 52, Bill Powers and 33, Neal Jenkins, to play multiple positions.*****No. 55, Junior Henry and 52, James Lanscaster, are competing for the starting center spot for the West Orange Chiefs.*****Anchoring the center spot for the Stark Tigers will be No. 51, Dale Daily.*****Steve Jones is a new patrolman with the Orange Police Department.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Last week in the Penny Record we ran the story of Wesley and Ronda Dishon’s new “Hightides” water front restaurant near the historical Cow Bayou Swing Bridge.

It’s much more than a restaurant and will be unique for the area and a great and exciting addition to Orange County.

We received a tremendous amount of response in readership in our publication and online and Facebook.

This week, we are publishing the “Hightides” story in the County Record.

It will be a great place to congregate but for me just seeing Ronda will be worth the trip.*****We have a few friends celebrating special days in the coming week.

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, Micah and Carl Tibodeaux celebrate their 54^th wedding anniversary.

Not a bad average.

Congrats.***Friends Karen Fisher, Mariellen Jacobs and Johnny Montagne all celebrate birthdays on Aug. 22.***On Aug. 24, our buddy Marlene Merritt has a birthday.

She wants to quit counting.

Also on this day Commissioner Theresa and Frank Beauchamp celebrates another anniversary.

I don’t know the number but it’s a bunch.

Congratulations.***Aug. 25 is a special day for some great folks, Coach Dan Ray Hooks, David Montagne, Dot Hudson and the First Lady of Orange County, pretty Glynis Gothia all celebrate birthdays.***Aug. 26 is a special day for a special lady.

Happy birthday to Donna Scales.***Happy birthday on Aug. 27, to Stephanie Roberts, Claybar’s talented PR person and also having a birthday is Frank Beauchamp.***We also want to remember a dang good guy who is on kidney dialysis.

The “A” Team sends Happy Birthday wishes on Thursday, Aug. 22 to Thomas Stanfield.*****The Wednesday Lunch Bunch dines at Southern Charm this week and back to Robert’s next week.

Last week Chief Wilson Roberts and wife V.J. attended and also Eric and Rex Peveto were consoling Bearden after the whipping on a bad court appointed case.

I still believe he’s the best criminal defense attorney around.

Everyone is always welcome.*****Trump is bluffing.

He will cave to NRA on universal background checks and use the NRA’S talking points that it’s a mental health issue.

BIRTHDAYS

Celebrating birthdays in the next week are Kimberly Hubbard, Olga Graham who celebrate Aug. 21, and celebrities country singers Kenny Rogers, 81 and Kacey Musgraves, 31.*****Aug. 22: Kristen Murdock, Betty Diabo, Mike Johnson and Jason Delano celebrate.

Joining them are comedian James Corden, 41 and chef Glada De Laurentis, 49.*****Aug. 23: Michele George, Pat Gunter, John-David Walles and Skipper’s little boy Keble Free all celebrate.

Also celebrating are actors Barbara Eden, 88 and Shelley Long, 70 and basketball player Kobe Bryant, 41.*****Aug. 24: Having birthdays today are Tina Pontan, Belen Zuniga and Ben Ezell.

They are joined by entrepreneur/WWE Vince McMahon, 74, comedian Dave Chappelle, 46 and football player Arian Foster, 33.*****Aug. 25: Carlene Wheat, Milton Briggs, Jr., Ron Cowling, Trevor Schaffer and Bree Fontenot celebrate birthdays.

Also country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, 58, chef Rachel Ray, 51 and actor Sean Connery, 89.*****Aug. 26: Celebrating today are Michele Flowers, Jerry Mercer and Sheryl Guillory.

Also celebrating are actors Melissa McCarthy, 49 and Macaulay Culkin, 39.*****On Aug. 27, David Green, Peggy Larson and Stephanie Roberts celebrate birthdays today.

Joining them are reality star Cesar Millan, 50, Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, 58 and actor Chandra Wilson, 50.

Happy Birthday to all.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Sostan and Clovis went on a camping trip last month near the Davis Mountains. Getting dere tent all set up wore out dem two old duds and dey fell sound asleep. Sometimes after midnight, Sostan woke Clovis up and said, “Look up, look up to da sky, wat you see hanh?”

Clovis him say, “Mais me, I see millions of stars.”

“Wat dat tell you?” Sostan axe.

Clovis pondered dat for a minute den answer, “It tell me dere are millions of galaxies and billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me dat Saturn is in Leo, time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past two in da morning. It tells me dat God is all-powerful him, and we are small and insignificant in the skeem of tings. It seems we will have a beautiful day come daylight.”

Clovis den axe, “Wat it tell you Sostan?”

Sostan answer, “Clovis, you crazy Cajun, you are dumber dan a brick wall. Can’t you see dat somebody stole our damn tent.”

C’EST TOUT

Is next recession around the corner?

It’s been 11 years since the U.S. economy experienced a recession under President George W. Bush and inherited by President Obama.

Now more signs are popping up that another one could be on the horizon.

Typical downturns are no picnic because once the ball starts rolling down hill it picks up momentum.

The loose definition of recession is two straight quarters of decline in real gross domestic product.

Economists look at leading economic indicators to predict when a recession is coming. One of those is the inverted yield curve like what happened last week.

That’s when the yield on the 10-year bond sinks below the yield on the two-year bond.

It has never failed to predict a recession before.

It doesn’t predict when it will arrive or how deep it will be; only that it’s coming.

Something usually triggers stocks going into a tizzy, like last week.

It may steady before falling back a few times.

Most economists believe the trade war with China is a factor.

President Trump put off the 25 percent tariffs on China until Dec. 15.

He says so it won’t affect the consumer at Christmas time.

All Christmas merchandise would be on the shelf.

Trump had said, “Chinawill pay for the tariffs.” He’s now admitting that the consumer would pay at the cash register, while still claiming on the other hand, “China will pay the tariff.” That is not true.

Here’s something that could very well happen.

If, come February, the bottom falls out of the market, Trump’s numbers will sink even lower.

He might by March decide he can’t win and will take down the senate with him.

Then the best thing to do is make a deal of no prosecution after he leaves office and take the doctor’s advise and bail out for his health.

That would give the Republicans time for a Primary.

It will depend on if there is a recession, how bad and what Trump’s numbers tumble to.

He may try to bluff it and stay but a lot of people will get hurt, even the senate in Texas is not safe.

The best thing for the GOP is for him to leave but it’s not the best for the Democrats who would be running against a fresh Republican start.*****Well, that brings me to an end.

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Take care and God bless.