SPECIAL LUNCH BUNCH GATHERING

Next week, on June 16, the Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at Robert’s Restaurant, 12 noon. County Judge John Gothia and tax assessor-collector Karen Fisher will host all of the county mayors and their city managers. The county wide participation will allow everyone to interact with the civic leaders., break bread and get to meet the new mayors. It also will be a great opportunity for the citizens and county officials to share how they might be of help to the cities. We look forward to the gathering. Everyone is invited. The Lunch Bunch will return to a weekly gathering after next week when hopefully we can get the old gang back together after a year’s lay-off because of the pandemic. Y’all come.

CONDOLENCES

James Ward Gammill, 70, of Bridge City, passed away on June 5. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 10, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. To his wife of 49 years, Judith, children and grandchildren we offer our sincere condolences. May he rest in peace.

WILL GUN KILLINGS GET WORSE

USA Today reports that America’s gun culture has turned into a killing culture. There are more guns than people in the United States, with 121 firearms for every 100 residents (although the weapons are concentrated in about a third of U.S. households.) America has less than 5% of the world’s population but about 40% of privately owned guns. Gun ownership in the USA is rising rapidly. During the socially disruptive pandemic, the federal government tracked gun sales exceeding a million per week, the first time that benchmark was hit since officials started gathering data in 1998. Gun-related homicides and non suicide shootings have risen just as fast, with a 25% jump in 2020 over 2019. According to an analysis by the gun control group Everytown, firearm deaths of all types last year will likely exceed 40,000, marking 2020 with the highest gun-related death rate in two decades. About three-quarters of U.S. homicides are related to firearms, a gun-killing ratio that far surpasses Canda (39%), Australia (22%) and England and Wales (4%). The same pattern is borne out within the USA, where states with the most gun ownership have recorded the highest rate of firearm related deaths. Mass shootings are traumatizing, high profile tragedies lately have become numbingly routine. In fact, eight of the 15 worst mass shootings in the United States have been in the past 10 years. America’s culture of guns has become a culture of killing. We need sensible gun control laws such as closing the gun-show loophole by expanding background checks (favored by 81% of Americans), banning high-capacity magazines, (favored by 64%) and banning assault-style rifles (63%). Now however there seems less appetite than ever in Congress for tightening gun laws. There was a time when it was thought that a single horrible event, such as the slaughter of first-graders in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, could spur Congress to act. That hasn’t happened. Now mass shootings seem to be happening at a harrowing pace. Will lawmakers continue to remain unaffected? Or perhaps American’s love of guns is just too strong

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2011

The temperature reached 105 and was over 100 for the first five days in June. What makes it worse is that it hasn’t rained in months and the wind has gone down to a zero breeze. Monday a little rain finally came. Some folks got up to a couple of inches including a good amount of hail. Most of us got only .5 of an inch, enough to wash the dust off of the leaves. We could see the dark clouds to the south and east of us and prayed it would come our way but all we got was the over spray. For 38 years I’ve been on this place and I can assure you it’s the worse drought in all of those years. In 1953, the drought was really bad but at that time I had other interest than the weather. I wasn’t concerned about me and Cox’s gardens burning up, however, I do recall the big cracks in the soil and not a blade of green grass anywhere. I believe if we don’t get a good rain soon we will see that situation again. It will take a couple of Gulf storms to make up 19 inches of rain that we’re running below normal. We’re happy for the gardeners who got rain Monday though. City water just won’t cut it when it comes to growing a crop. It keeps stuff alive, works some on flowers but tomatoes, cucumbers and other veggies needs a little help from above. Green tomatoes will stay that way for a month on the stalk, etc. Our friend Judge Derry Dunn has eight plants and grows the most beautiful tomatoes I’ve seen and plenty of them. His secret is condensed water. A couple of gallons a day from the air conditioner works as good as God’s water on four plants per day. Ironically Judge Derry doesn’t eat tomatoes and that’s all right, more for me.***** I knew something wasn’t right and Congressmam Weiner was lying when he told Wolf Blitzer that he didn’t know if that was his wiener or not. Every wiener is hand grown and usually named and any guy would recognize his in a crowd. Right then I was convinced he wasn’t being truthful. Monday he admitted it to the world that sure nuff’ it was his wiener. Public officials are having trouble keeping their pants zipped. Sen. David Vitter, Con. Chris Lee, Sen. John Ensign and a host of others, republicans and democrats alike.***** Country star Trace Adkins and wife Ronda lost their home in Brentwood, Tenn. to fire. Trace wasn’t home, the family got out safely but everything was lost. Adkins owns a farm next to our friends, Glenda and Paul Dyer, near Nashville.***** Pretty Patsy Peck brought by a big bowl of her famous banana pudding. It always amazes me how some guys can get such nice wives.*****I received a program of the 46th  Academy of Country Music Awards compliments of Theresa Hearne George, a Nashville resident, long involved in the country music industry. The Bridge City queen is the daughter of Elaine and Ray Hearne. We heard Theresa was in town briefly visiting grandmother Inez Hearne and family. Theresa is one of our special people.***** Quote of the week comes from Texas Sen. Leticia Van DePutte during a debate of a bill requiring a woman seeking an abortion to have a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure. The senator said, “Texas is going to shrink government until it fits into a woman’s uterus.”***** The Wednesday Lunch Bunch dined at Novrozsky’s last week. Uncle Jim hosted a surprise birthday party for Roy. He had a good weekend also. Friday night he again won a first place award from the Press Club for his “Down Life’s Highway” column titled “Mom, Youngswitch Road and the little shack that built me” and Saturday, his sisters and in-laws and the family threw a birthday bash for him.***** Sen. John Edwards was indicted for violating finance campaign law. No one has ever been accused of that before. No one ever charged with this violation. It’s a historic case. He was given a million dollars by 100 year old, Mrs. Mellon, to help hide his affair and the fact that he fathered a child.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Obituaries 10 Years Ago-2011

Emma Jean Stanfield, 79, of Orange, died Thursday June 2. Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 5. She retired from the City of Orange where she was an accounting secretary. Preceded in death by her husband, Henry L. Stanfield, Emma is survived by her brother, James Cook; nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.*****Debbie Diane (Taylor) Holland, 44, passed away on Sunday, June 5. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 8. She was a life long resident of Orange. Debbie is survived by her father, Thomas Reid Taylor Sr .; mother and step father, Shirley Louise and Jimmy Carl Cloud; children, Linda Louise Wright; Billy Ray Holland III; Jessica Hernandez and seven grandchildren.***** Nada Ann Vidalier Simon, 55, of Orange, died Monday June 6. Service was held Wednesday, June 8. Nada is survived by her husband of 35 years, Ricky Simon; father, Murphy Vidalier; daughter, Devin Wilson and her husband, Shawn of Bridge City; brother, Ted Vidalier; and step-brother, David May.

22 Years Ago-1999

The Orangefield nine and ten year old girl’s Little Dribblers all star basketball team is headed to Hobbs, New Mexico for the national basketball championship June 9 through June 12. The little all stars that make Orange County proud are Natalie Lavergne, Kim Little, Wyntier Sheppard, Kayla Stone, Alyssa Deramus, Kaylyn Little, Kristy Sanders, Jessica Shores, Heather Woods, Paige Roy, Meaghan Granger and Sara Bonds. Coaches are Todd Shores and Keith Sanders.*****Little Cypress resident Lisa Roberts was surprised when she heard she had won a new 1999 Jeep Wrangler in a statewide drawing sponsored by Market Basket and Coca Cola. Lisa, a deputy county clerk for Karen Jo Vance, stopped at Market Basket to pick up a gallon of milk on her way home from work. In a hurry, she didn’t stuff the ballot box, just signed up once in her name and once in her husband Randy’s name. Son Ricky, 14 years old, hopes his dad doesn’t wear the Jeep out before he get his license in two years. However, the Roberts plan to sell it. They will pay the taxes on the Jeep, valued at $17,400, and keep the rest.*****Ms. Agnes Bourgeois will turn 92 on June 17.*****For 18 years in a row, H.D. and Pat Pate has made a trip to Pensacola, Fla. the first week in June. In fact, they just returned.*****Capt. Bill Lathrop resigns from the Orange County Sheriff’s office. He will enter private business.*****Everybody’s buddy, Lyle Overman, suffered a couple of heart attacks while at a deer lease and is in a San Antonio hospital. Wife Janice is by his side. *****Roy Dunn’s annual birthday bash was held at his bayou property, “Dunn’s Bluff.” Robert’s Market catered a big seafood outing Friday night and Robert and Freda served barbecue and all the trimmings at Saturday’s big party. Roy’s 96 year old Aunt Eve, Aunt Mae and his Mom attended, danced to the music and had a great time. (Editor’s note: They have all passed away since and Roy is too old or too much of a wimp to fight the June heat anymore. He’ not nearly as tuff as his elder folks were.)*****The 16th annual Gulf Coast Jam is coming June 12. The main inductee is Bo Diddley, born Ellas Bates McDaniel, who got his start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1987 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Z.Z. Top. Also performing are Percy Sledge, Jivin’ Gene, Barbara Lynn, G.G. Shinn, Barry Pickett and the Heartbeats, Smokin’ Joe Solis and the Trutones, featuring Ernon Charles. The big show is at Logan Park on Pleasure Island.*****Sorry to hear that Adam Dupuis is in Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston suffering from heart failure. Adam has had heart surgery a couple of times. He’s Kenneth and Nancy’s son. How quickly those 22 years have gone by.

42 Years Ago-1979

John Wayne, America’s most loved actor, died Monday, June 11 at age 72.*****Gas shortages causes long lines and prices jumps from 39 cents a gallon to $1 a gallon.*****Janice Overman is in Saint Elizabeth Hospital after having surgery June 7.*****Linda Ricks Sutton became the bride of Clarence Dale Newton, on June 11*****Pat Meeks is named Outstanding Baseball Player of the Year.*****Gene and Flo Edgerly recently bought a home on Cow Bayou. (Editor’s note: They left the place after Ike and went to higher ground.)*****The First Baptist Church of Orange will celebrate 100 years on June 17. In 1879, the Rev. Andrew Peddy organized the congregation with 18 charter members.*****Bridge City’s Bryan Ward was named High School Athlete of the Year.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

First Baptist Church of Orangefield will turn 142 years old on June 17. The church was formed in 1879.*****There is still one mayoral race to be settled in Orange County where Misty Songe and Ronnie Herrera are in a runoff. The race is getting more attention than usual for a Vidor mayoral race.*****Welcome guest Mark Dunn’s daughter Amber and husband Clay Greeson and their three boys, Luke, age 4, Liam, 2 and Rowan, who will be 1-year-old June 25, flew in Monday from Vero Beach, FL. Ms. Phyl filled them up with the best seafood the Gulf has to offer. Fishing guide Johnny Cormier is taking the parents out on Lake Sabine for a fishing trip. Johnny comes highly recommended by Capt. Dickie. We’ll let you know how that came out. *****A few folks we know celebrating their special day on June 9: Jennifer Rives, Dennis Monk, Karli Choate all celebrate.*****June 10: James Ardoin, Jennifer Broussard, Chris Riedel, Tyler DeRouen.*****June 11: Judge Mandy White Rogers celebrates today as does Traci Denning, and remembering our longtime friend, former sheriff Huel Fontenot on what would be his birthday as well as our friend Gordon Baxter died on this day in 2005. Hard to believe he’s been gone 16 years.*****June 12: Happy Birthday to Kaaren Kline, Lindsay Hallman and Wesley’s better half, pretty Ronda Dishon.*****June 13: Celebrating today are Shawna Gauthier, Paul Burch and Tammy Droddy.*****June 14: Bobbie Burgess and Donald Trump share a birthday. He’s 75, she’ younger. Neither she or Judge Don are Trump fans. Also happy birthday to Zoe Ann Hinds. Today we wish a happy anniversary to longtime friends Peggy and David Claybar. I recall their wedding a long time ago.*****June 15: Happy Birthday to Janelle Sehon, “Girl Friday” to this Old Creaux who couldn’t make it without her. Happy Birthday also to a good and talented guy, Lyle Overman, and to Nancy and “KeeKee’s special child, Adam Dupuis, who is well into his 40’s now.*****Our thanks to Judge Derry Dunn, who always comes through with produce. This season he must have made a bumper crop. He loaded us down with great, large tomatoes, a bag full of cucumbers and a mess of fresh dug new potatoes, just in time for a house full of visitors. Thanks to Derry and Jane for remembering us.***** Yes we’re going to have a carnival. After Hurricanes and storms keeping the Lions Club Carnival from happening and then last year’s COVID19 pandemic, they are preparing to begin next Wednesday.  The Lions Club has discussed for a couple of years about moving the time of the carnival to an earlier date and away from what is the peak of the tropical storm season. This year’s Lions Club Carnival will begin on the week of June 16 through June 19.  The second week will be June 23 through June 26 before concluding on June 30 through July 3.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

Elizabeth Barfield, Gavin Birmingham, Alston Reynolds, Dixie Armstrong, Jessica Hilliard, Kevin Ernst, Caroline Hennigan, Harold Adkins, Jane Minor, Jeanette Hubert, Jesse Walles, Brook Doxx, Elizabeth Tran, Sidney White, Ryan Kelly, Steven Crabtree, Desia Davis, Susan Fischer, Selita Ernst, Sylvia Galbreath, Ben Perry, Charlie Burnaman, Ryan Richard, Alex Eby, Carol Hall.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

June 9: Actors Johnny Depp, 58; Michael J. Fox, 60; Natalie Portman, 60; Religious Leader TD Jakes, 64.****June 10: Country Singer Lee Brice, 42; Actors Elizabeth Hurley, 56; Carolyn Hennessy, 59.****June 11: Football Player Joe Montana, 65; Actors Shia LaBeouf, 33; Sadie Robertson, 27; Hugh Laurie, 62.*****June 12: Wrestler Mark Henry, 50; Country Singer Chris Young, 36; Actor Dave Franco, 36.*****June 13: Actors Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, 35; Chris Evans, 40; Race Car Driver Tanner Foust, 48.*****June 14: Comedian Paul O’Grady, 66; Ex-U.S. President Donald Trump, 75; Actors Lucy Hale, 32; Yasmine Bleeth, 53.*****June 15: Rapper Ice Cube, 52; Actors Neil Patrick Harris, 48; Helen Hunt, 58; Courtney Cox, 57.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

“Tee Cuz” Dartez was on a two-day drunk since his wife Mary Ann run him off. He was sitting at da bar at Tee-boy’s feeling sorry for hisself and downing one beer after anutta wen two of his friends joined him. A couple of hours went by and “Tee Cuz” him hadn’t left da bar for nuttin. In a little while he discovered his pants dem were wet. He look to his right and axe, “Clovis, did you spill some beer on me Hanh?”

“Mais no, Clovis answer, I don’t do dat me.”

Den “Tee Cuz” him turn to his utta buddy, Sostan, and he say, “Sostan, did you throw some of you beer on me?”

Sostan answer, “Why would I do dat me and waste my beer hanh?”

“Tee Cuz” tink about dat him and he finally say, “Well, I’m all wet me, all da way down my pants, I guess it must have been an inside job.”

C’EST TOUT

There are no survivors from Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s patient advocacy organizations praised the FDA’s decision to approve the drug which is administrated by IV once every four weeks to slow decline in people with mild memory and thinking problems. Biogen said the list price would be $4,312 per treatment for people with mild memory and thinking problems. Biogen said the list price would total about $56,000 per year, before insurance. Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association president and chief executive office, said his organization will focus on ensuring eligible patients have access to the drug and Medicare and private insurers cover testing and treatment. The group estimates about 6.2 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Part of the target is for people who have a serious disease that is ultimately fatal. Finally the FDA is recognizing that Alzheimer’s disease is a serious disease. Many of us have lost parents, family members and friends to this disease that has no survivors. This breakthrough is big news.*****Gotta go. Have a good week, stay safe and God bless.