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Former Orange Mayor and Councilmember Essie Bellfield called the office and spoke about the loss of Dean Graner.

Then she added a tidbit of information concerning the Grangers.

“Some of the Grangers brought the Emancipation Proclamation to Texas,” Bellfield said. 

Gen. Gordon Granger was sent to command the Department of Texas and among his first duties was announcing General Order No. 3:

“The people are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor: The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

Granger set up a provisional government as some of his troops continued throughout South and East Texas enforcing the “official” mandate of freedom, according to https://www.pvamu.edu/.

A Juneteenth Historical Marker is located downtown on the Strand near 22nd Street tucked under some oak trees at the parking lot by Old Galveston Square telling of the history and of Granger’s part. 

Ms. Bellfield, thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. 

I also want to thank Norma Stephenson for her comments on last week’s editorial.

She wrote, “I was taught this way of “timing” your handwashing a few years ago.  People also need to remember to remove their rings, including wedding bands, in order to make sure you cover the entire area of your hands.” 

I share this because others may need to hear it as well.

Speaking of hearing, did you know sounds can be harmful when they are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-lasting?

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) sounds can be harmful when they are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-lasting. These sounds can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

According to Texas, making an unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy is considered disorderly conduct.

Under Penal Code Title 9, Chapter 42.01 Section 11 (c ) (2) a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.

Heavy traffic, window air conditioner, noisy restaurant, and power lawn mower are 85 decibels according to Google.

So, what about the music emitting from cars heard above the sound of the traffic? Higher than the damaging sounds of traffic.

Consider your hearing as you crank up the music. Don’t you want to be able to hear that someone special say, “I love you”?

 

Dawn Burleigh is general manager and editor of The Orange Leader. She can be reached at dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com