Debby Schamber
The Orange Leader
December 30, 2008 10:13 pm
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As 2008 comes to an end, there are a few events that tend to stand out in people’s memories. Some have been good, while others are something some they would like to forget.
Gas prices rise then fall
Although recently people have sighed a big relief as gas prices continue to fall, it was just the summer months of 2008 that gas prices peaked locally at more than $4 per gallon.
Skyrocketing oil prices, which were trading at more than double compared to their level last year, were largely to blame for the surge. Crude prices shot up steadily and made history with a reported 13 percent in one week making it the biggest price gain in history.
Businesses felt the squeeze on their profit margin and began implementing a fuel surcharge. Additionally, the prices of simple things like grocery items also began to increase.
It was only recently, the airlines lifted their fuel surcharge and gave consumers a break. However, they have said if fuel prices climb again they will be forced to implement the plan to cover expenses.
While the summer months are generally considered the driving season for vacation plans, some were forced to stay closer to home or cancel their plans. While other die-hard vacationers bit the bullet by paying the price and went anyway.
At the height of the higher gas prices, consumers looked for alternate ways to conserve not only gas, but money. For some it was a smaller vehicle while for others it was groceries or medications. Food banks and charities across the nation reported an increase of people unable to make ends meet and asking for assistance.
Shangri La opens
The much anticipated March opening of the Shangri La Botanical Gardens has drawn people across the nation to be inspired by it’s beauty.
Since then thousands of people have walked through the gates to marvel at nature on the 252 acres located in the heart of Orange.
Shangri La which is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation had hoped to set an example to all people on how to “Be Kind To Their World.” The sprawling park, named after the mystical valley in James Hilton’s 1933 novel, “Lost Horizon,” includes formal Botanical Gardens with more than 300 plant species and a Nature Center with a cypress/tupelo swamp, outdoor classrooms, laboratory and more.
Adjacent to the Botanical Gardens is a bird blind which allows visitors to observe nesting.
Since Hurricane Ike roared through Orange on Sept. 13, Shangri La has been closed, but officials anticipate re-opening in the spring of 2009.
Elections spark some changes
During the 2008 elections, voters chose to make several changes on whom they wanted to represent them and record numbers of people went to the polls.
Locally during the March primaries , David Dubose won over incumbent James Stringer as commissioner of precinct one. Incumbent Brown Claybar faced stiff competition from challenger Charles Atkinson for the mayor position. Claybar held off a late surge from Atkinson to retain the office of mayor by 148 votes.
For Orange city council positions, place 1 incumbent Theresa Beauchamp defeated challenger Glen Prince. Prince made it close at the end with a strong showing from the Little Cypress Intermediate School ballot box, but it wasn’t enough to win the election.
Place 3 incumbent Cynthia Jackson faced opposition as well, although not from one opponent, but three. Each eager to take her place was Norman Sonnier, Jeff Holland and Mary Ann Kirksey.
In the end it was Holland who was chosen to take the place 3 council seat.
In Pinehurst it was incumbents John Zerko and Bob Williams who were challenged for their seats by Drusilla Anderson and Enand Young Jr.. However, both incumbents walked away victorious.
On the law enforcement side, it was Keith Merritt who won the primary election to replace Mike White as Orange County Sheriff. White has served as the sheriff for 11 years. Merritt has served as the constable in precinct 1 for the past 13 years.
Voters elected Chris Humble to be Merritt’s replacement as pct.1 constable. Humble and Sarah Jefferson-Simon were the top runners in the primaries and voters were then forced to choose between the two law enforcement officers.
In other races where voters were asked to choose between two candidates was constable, pct. 2. Rob Strause came out on top against A.B. “Yank” Peveto.
Other people who walked away with elected positions was Mark Philpott as the new constable for precinct 3 while incumbent Weldon Peveto was retained as constable of pct. 4.
In the state representative race, District 19 Incumbent Mike Hamilton (R) faced a Democratic nominee, Larry Hunter, and Libertarian nominee, Richard Ramsey. Voters in Orange County precincts two, three and four decided in this race, along with voters in Newton and Hardin Counties.
Kevin Brady (R) won his bid to retain his position as U.S. Representative of the 8th District in Texas.
Two school bonds failed to make the cut as voters did not approve the bond proposals. The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District and Vidor Independent School District each asked respective district residents to approve bonds for improvements.
The LC-M CISD Board of Trustees sought $40 million to renovate and construct many facilities across the district, especially the high school which would have been rebuilt on its current site.
School board members in the Vidor school district were asking voters to approve a $61.6 million bond which was split into two proposals. The bulk of the bond, proposition 1, was worth $46.1 million and would have funded the construction of a new district administration building, new parking areas and roadways at several campuses and new two-story buildings at Vidor Junior High and at the high school.
BC’s Bryant, LC-M’s Moody reassigned
The sports scene in Orange County was full of great accomplishments as always yet two coaching moves dominated websites blogs and water cooler conversations in 2008. First came the reassignment of former Bridge City baseball coach Billy Bryant. After leading the Cardinals to the state tournament two years in a row and then the regional finals and quarterfinals, Bridge City ISD officials decided to reassign Bryant for undisclosed reasons. Bryant would later resign from BCHS and moved on to be an assistant at West Sabine High School. Soon after the end of the football season, former LC-M athletic director and head football coach Todd Moody requested to reassigned within the district and Superintendent Dr. Pauline Hargrove approved the request. Moody was 8-28 overall in his four seasons at LC-M and turned in an 0-8 record in 2008.
Crime still an issue in Orange County
Over the year law enforcement has tried to keep up with the growing crime problem and get a grip on those responsible.
As a result, the largest “pill stop” in a 13 county area recently happened right here. About 84 pounds of ecstasy was seized during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 10. The street value of the drugs is $4.2 million.
In addition, Bridge City High School athlete, Cody Mills, 18, pleaded guilty to possession of steroids after he distributed them to other athletes. Mills was sentenced to some time in the Orange County Jail .
An Orange man died after OPD officers used a Taser gun on him. Jerry Jones, 45, entered a 69-year-old woman’s home in 1500 block of 10th Street. He failed to comply with the officer’s commands. After being tased Jones was taken outside but officers noticed he was becoming unresponsive.
Jones was transported to Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital-Orange where he later died. Autopsy results indicated he died from an ingested lethal amount of cocaine.
Other tense moments for residents included robberies at Casa Ole on 16th Street and the Orange Savings Bank located on Highway 62. The suspects in the bank robbery have been sentenced to time in prison while one juvenile was given probation. One of the suspects in the Casa Ole robbery received 30 years in prison while the other was given probation.
This year some residents were victims of violent crimes.
Such is the case of three employees of the Acapulco restaurant on MacArthur Drive who were standing outside in the back parking lot on a hot August night. The employees were approached by the four suspects allegedly demanding money. Before fleeing the area, they reportedly fired gunshots. Two victims received non-life threatening injuries but the third victim had to be transported to a local hospital. A manhunt which included area law enforcement and the FBI captured the suspects.
The suspects have been charged with aggravated robbery, but according to the district attorney’s office, have not been indicted yet.
West Orange police officer Dennis Hankins, was reportedly beaten during a June attack by 29-year-old Kenneth Comeaux as he tried to arrest him. When Hankins arrived at the residence he was allegedly informed by a woman that she had been assaulted by her husband. The officer reportedly attempted to arrest Comeaux but a struggle ensued. According to police reports, Hankins was overpowered by the man as he was beaten on the head and face with a 5-pound weight.
Hankins was able to return to work about seven weeks later. Comeaux is expected to go to trial for charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer in the upcoming months.
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