Looking Back 4/11/2002

Retired insurance agent Beamon Minton defeated Percy Flanigan, Jr. in Democratic runoff election for the Orange County Precinct 4 commissioner’s position with more that 56 percent of the vote.

Entire slate of Pine Forest city officials forgo reelection bid leaving newcomers unopposed

5 Years ago April 5, 2017: A new two-lane parent drop-off/pick-up queuing land is to be constructed at the Vidor Middle School.

Deadline nears to register for elections

Eligible Texas voters who have not done so already have until April 7 to register to vote in the May 7 statewide constitutional amendment election, as well as any local elections for city, school districts and other local entities.

Looking Back 4/4/2012

A hometown boy who pulled himself up by the bootstraps to move from a part time jail commissary bookkeeper to an Orange County Assistant District Attorney said good-bye to the Orange County Commissioners' Court and thanked everyone who helped him move forward.

Ask Rusty – Should I Claim Early Due to Social Security’s Financial Condition?

Dear Rusty: I plan on retiring at 62, one year from now. I have been coached to (if financially possible) leave my Social Security earnings for my wife to collect in the future if I die, considering that she was a homemaker for the majority of her income earning years.

Wildfire risk remains high in much of state

Much of the state remains at considerable risk for wildfires through this week, largely because of higher-than-usual temperatures and drought conditions. More than 40% of the state is suffering extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Ask Rusty – Do Immigrants Get Social Security Benefits?

Dear Rusty: I am 90 and a long time Social Security recipient - I signed up at age 62, which I now know was not wise, but I digress. We see from various sources that immigrants, legal and illegal, get Social Security benefits merely by attained age, regardless of contributions. Is that true?

Site preparation gets underway for new $1.9 million Walmart

5 Years ago March 23, 2017: Fifty-year-old Eva Powell of Vidor was arrested last Saturday in Lake Charles on bank robbery and possession charges.

Sheriff’s deputy dies in wildfires

An Eastland County sheriff’s deputy died Thursday as wildfires swept through several small Texas communities west of Dallas, destroying at least 50 homes and charring more than 54,000 acres as of Sunday. Deputy Sgt.

Looking Back 3/22/2002

The driver of a Mercury Grand Marquis suffered relatively minor injuries after his vehicle was hit by a train at the FM 1135 intersection Wednesday at 4 p.m. According to investigating DPS troopers, the driver attempted to beat the train across. Archive Photo