62nd Anniversary Edition TheRecordLive.com County Record Vol. 61 No. 45 The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas Week of Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Orange comes alive with weekend events based at the Orange Boat tionwide series, 40,107, Or- Visitors Bureau hosted both Brad Childs said. “Bassmas- Ramp Thursday through ange County Judge John Art in the Park and an An- ters. Art in the Park. The car Sunday – officially titled the Gothia said. tique Car Show downtown, show. Everyone was so excit- Dovetail Games Bassmaster But that was hardly the about six blocks from the ed. Everyone was smiling.” Elite at Sabine River – turned only must-see event drawing boat ramp. The weather was awesome, out the most fishing fans in a weekend crowd. “Orange was ready to get BASSMASTERS Page 2A the 15-year history of the na- The city’s Convention and going again,” councilman Roy McDonald The Record’s 2021 ‘Person of the Year’ DAVE ROGERS Jason Christie of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was the winner of the Bass- For The Record master Elite on The Sabine fishing tournament held Thursday through Sunday at the Orange Boat Ramp. The tourney, along with Roy McDonald was elect- the Orange County River Festival, free concerts, Art in the Park ed Mayor of West Orange 10 and antique car show, provided plenty of opportunity to enjoy a sunny weekend. RECORD PHOTO: Dave Rogers years before the Houston Astros played in their first DAVE ROGERS “Great weekend! Fantastic World Series. For The Record job, Orange Texas,” city Or, to put it in Orange councilwoman Mary McK- County terms, since being Downtown Orange and enna said, a sentiment re- elected mayor in 1995, Mc- the west bank of the Sabine peated by her colleagues at Donald’s leadership has River were jumping over the Tuesday’s city council meet- seen the town of 3,500 resi- weekend, filled with folks out ing. dents through Hurricanes to enjoy great weather and The bass tournament Rita, Humberto, Ike, Har- fun wherever one looked. vey, Laura and Delta and Tropical Storm Imelda, the ice storms of 1997 and 2021 Early voting opens and Sabine River flooding of 2015 and 2016. for May 1 election He has served as Chair- man of the Orange County hours, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Housing Authority, the DAVE ROGERS President of the Southeast For The Record Early voting sites for all other city and school elec- Texas Regional Planning Early voting for spring tions are at the Orange Pub- Commission for a term- 2021 city and schools elec- lic Library, 220 N. 5th St, Or- and-a-half, President of the tions begins Tuesday, April ange; Bridge City ISD Ad- Texas Association of Re- 19 and two Orange County ministration Building, 1031 gional Councils, Chairman cities could wind up with W. Roundbunch Road, Bridge of the Texas Municipal new mayors. League’s Small City Adviso- City; Raymond Gould Com- Retiring West Orange Mayor Roy McDonald, right, was honored along with his wife LaVerne with Orange Mayor Larry munity Center, 385 Clai- ry Committee and was twice a City Hall reception Monday, April 12. RECORD PHOTO: Lawrence Trimm Spears, Jr., is being chal- borne, Vidor; or the Orange appointed by Gov. Rick Per- lenged by Charles Thomas County Convention and ry to the Southeast Texas while in West Orange, cur- Expo Center, 11475 Farm to Regional Review Commit- having chosen not to run for tems. her to go get a Coke. rent alderman Randy Branch Market Road 1442. tee. reelection after having first A perfect resume for the “It’s history from there.” is running against Jim Whit- Polls are open from 8:30 Additionally, McDonald joined the West Orange City problem-solving in his fu- The couple has two grown tington for mayor after the am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday has been an ordained dea- Council in 1987. ture. children, Troy and Beverley, retirement of Roy McDon- through Saturday, except for con and Sunday School He was also honored with At Orange’s Dupont plant and five grandchildren. A ald. Wednesdays April 20 and teacher at first, Calvary a retirement reception at for 32 years, he worked as a portrait of the grandchil- All voters except those April 27, when voters have 12 Baptist Church, then, for City Hall Monday. millwright, pipefitter, re- dren is prominently dis- from West Orange can go to hours, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. the last 16 years at McDon- “We had so many differ- frigeration technician, a played in his office, behind the polls at any one of the City councils in Orange ald Memorial Baptist ent councils while I was scaffold rigger. “A general the mayor’s desk. four Orange County early and Bridge City are set for Church (no relation). mayor, but we always mechanic,” he said. McDonald said one of the voting sites April 19-27 and head-to-head races, though, Add to those titles The worked together well,” he McDonald met his wife, best things he’s done since in their local voting pre- as one office-seeker said, Record Newspapers’ Person said. “I had an excellent staff LaVerne, at the Knaptown being elected in 1995 is cincts on Election Day, May they aren’t running of the Year. throughout the time I was Baptist Church in the days starting a once-a-month 1. against each other, just for He was honored with the there.” between ending his three- “mayors breakfast” where West Orange voting is the same seat. latest honor at the noon Born in Glenmora, Louisi- year Army enlistment and city leaders can talk about done at West Orange City Incumbent Pat Pullen is Lunch Bunch gathering ana, and raised and schooled coming to work for Dupont. issues and their solution. It Hall, 2700 Western Avenue. being challenged by David C. Wednesday, April 14, at in DeQuincy, Louisiana, “I went to school with her has grown to include city Polls are open there from 8 Bailey for Beaumont’s Place 1 Robert’s Steakhouse and McDonald came to Texas in sister in DeQuincy and both managers, school districts, a.m. to 5 p.m. except for city council seat. Meat Market. 1966, following three years my parents and her parents the county, Lamar State Wednesdays April 20 and McDonald, 76, is retiring in the army where he worked lived there,” the mayor said. ROY MCDONALD Page 3A April 27, when voters have 12 EARLY VOTING Page 3A from public office in May, with missile guidance sys- “We met at church. I asked Fresh faces greet visitors at Bridge City Chamber PENNY LELEUX only reason I’m not there. Flooring still needs to be For The Record This opportunity presented replaced in an area at the itself after eight months of back of the building that was Kelli Lewis came aboard as not working…I’m very damaged due to condensa- the new director of the blessed it came across my tion. Surplus flooring is in Bridge City Chamber of doorstep. I absolutely love it.” storage that will be used, so Commerce in October. She’s not the only fresh it will match the rest of the “It’s been good. I absolutely face at the Chamber of Com- floor. love my members and my merce. For the last month Plans are to remove the board.” Said Lewis. “I’m not the building itself has been two smaller storage build- actually from Bridge City, my getting a facelift. New siding ings and replace them with husband is. I’m a private was installed. The building one large building. school Kelly girl. I worked for has been painted. It got a Lewis said they were try- the Nederland Chamber new roof. Railings and new ing to bring the building eight years ago, so I’m famil- steps were installed. A new back to as close as possible to iar with nonprofits. I ran A/C unit was installed up- the original look. Commitment to Caring stairs and new windows were She is excited for things to which is a psychiatric board- being installed during this start opening back up. They ing home prior to Covid, interview. The building has will resume their morning which is unfortunately the been releveled. coffees June 8 at the Bridge City Community Center Kelli Lewis, director of the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce sponsored by the Chamber. shows off the face lift to the BCCC/BC Museum building. Joe “We’re super excited about it. Broussard of Alamo Glass installs new windows in the background left. RECORD PHOTO:Penny LeLeux BCCC FRESH FACES Page 3A CMYK 2A • The Record • Week of Wednesday, April 14, 2021 ‘Art in the Park’ returns to Orange Bassmasters From Page 1 which is what organizers ing – provided by the county. ters Elite tourneys with a hoped for when Gov. Greg Bands performed under crowd of 33,600 the first Abbott ended Texas’ restric- that roof Thursday, Friday time one was held here, in tions on outdoor gatherings and Saturday night with Sat- March of 2013. and the tournament was urday’s Neal McCoy show That record had since been moved back to its original filling the park. broken by Waddington, New date after having been post- “The pavilion is perfect,” York, later in 2013 and ex- poned until at least August. Gothia declared. “We got to tended again to 36,200 by “Anytime you get four days test it for three nights with Waddington in 2018. of great weather, that helps different types of music and “All these places that host the numbers, that helps ev- different power require- Bassmaster Elite tourna- erybody enjoy themselves ments.