Penny Record (Bridge City, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 25, 1994 Page: 1 of 16
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Have A Safe Memorial Weekend
” The City of Bridge City
offices will be closed
Monday in observance
k of Memorial Day
_Serving Bridge City / Orange field Over 36 Years_
Penny Record
voi.xxxvi,no.2 Celebrating The Life And Spirit Of The People In Southeast Texas M.y2j,i»«
Ken Sparks —
The art of everyday living
By Darla Daigle
BRIDGE CITY -- One’s opinion of
whether his life Is Interesting is not
the ruler by which to measure. So It Is
with Ken Sparks, a Bridge City man
with diverse Interest and talents. He
creates breath-taking oil paintings yet
Insists that anyone of average
Intelligence could do the same. v
degree in
art; licm wii. the path that led him to
It probably could not be taken by
today's youth. Sparks, during World
War II, dropped out of school to help
his huge family work a share-cropper
farm on which they lived; he was 13.
Three years later. Sparks Joined the
Army whefe he served as a
paratrooper artilleryman. He was sent
to Korea 30 days after hostilities
began, age 18, leaving behind a wife
pregnant with their first child. Sparks
spent 18 months battling In Korea
and was twice wounded. Several
medals and months later, he was on
his way home to Arizona, his wife, and
a nine-month old son he'd never seen,
where be began building-construction
work.
So how does a young school drop-
out wind up with a masters degree?
HI was working a pipeline in
Michigan," Sparks said, "working
alongside college students. 1 developed
an attitude that seemed to say. 'If they
can make It In college, I can tool', so I
'drug up' and headed for college."
Sparks had never ever drawn a
sketch before an aptitude test showed
his talent in art.
"I might have gone for engineering
had I kncr n college was not going to
be as dlliicult as I thought. I was
advised to go for the area where 1
showed ‘he most talent," Sparks
remembti ...
So by 1960, a masters degree In
hand, versatile In oils, pastels, silk
screen and lithography print making,
along with Jewelry, design and
smiting. Sparks took a short teaching
stint In New Mexico.
"After three years teaching art, I
knew that art and its elements would
play a large part In my life but not as
a revenue producer," he explains.
He did exhibit his art. Beginning
with a private hotel chain in Arizona
and later In museums In Santa Fe
and Taos, New Mexico; and El Paso.
He also taught art and Jewelry making
at Western New Mexico University for
several years.
"I never neglected the elements and
principles used in making a good
piece of art. When one makes choices
of what clothes to wear, how to
arrange furniture In a room, every day
choices, they are using the same
principles I use to paint a pretty
picture," Sparks said. "An empty room
Is like a blank canvas. You have to
decide how you're going to fill it. The
only thing that keeps most people
See Sparks, Pg. 14
Mr. & Miss B.C.H.S.
)eremy Wilson
BRIDGE CITY - Mr. and Miss Bridge
City High School for the 1993-1994
school year were announced at the
awards ceremony Wednesday. May
11. Jeremy Wilson and Laura Myers
were awarded this honor after being
elected by the faculty.
While at B.C.H.S., Wilson had many
accomplishments. He was a National
Honor Society member his Junior and
senior year. He was a Student Council
Laura Myers
member his senior year, serving as
class treasurer. In sports, he was a
member of the football and baseball
teams for four years. He also ran
track for two years. He was a member
of the Art Club for four years; his
senior year serving as president.
Wilson was also the Biology Club
president his senior year. Also, he was
a member of the Computer Club.
See Mr. & Mrs. BCHS, Pg. 14
j Inside This Week
Chester Moore, Jr. "Outdoors"......................
Classified Ads..............................................
Focus This Week..........................................
Gordon Baxter..............................................
................Pg. 9
.....Pgs. 12 & 13
................Pg. 6
..............Pg, 11
H.D. Pate "What Thoughts Will Do"..................
Pg. 2
Louis Dugas "Views in the Night".................
Maw Maw Judice "Cajun Cookln”.................
William Maultsby "Where There's A Will".....
........!.......Pg~ 7
................Pg. 3
................Pg. 4
The Lord Is righteous In all H/s ways and loving toward all He has
made. Psalms 145:17 (NIV)
Martin Ardoln
Emily Sckriebe*
More
precious
than
gold
By Carmen White
BRIDGE CITY — Cancer In a young
person Is something most pre-
teenagers do not think about. But 11-
year old Emily Schricher has found a
way to make a difference.
Emily is an enthusiastic fifth grader
at Hatton Elementary. She decided to
donate her hair to a young cancer
patient after having a close friend's
child go through the cancer
experience.
Small children who suffer from the
side effects of chemotherapy, such as
hair loss, need a special custom-made
wig.
When Emily found out a local salon.
Head First of Groves, worked with a
doctor In the donation of hair for a
wig she decided to do that. Her hair
was not long enough, so she had to let
It grow. The required donation Is 12
Inches.
In preparation for her hair donation.
Emily had to handle the weight of her
hair, which Included headaches and
heat. After her hair cut, she
discovered brand new things she
could do.
"It only takes three times to brush It
out!" and "No more pony tails when I
play on my trampoline.”
The doctor will take the donation to
a wig maker In Houston who, at no
charge, will make a wig for a local
child. Whenever the child receives this
beautiful gift, he will find a
handwritten note from Emily. Emily
wishes to become this child's pen pal.
If the old saytng Is true that hair Is a
virtue, then Emily has really shown
that the gold Is In the giving.
Martin Ardoin —
A lifetime of services
By Darla Daigle
Ninety-one years of living has not
dulled Martin Ardoin's memory. With
encyclopedic accuracy he recalls dates
and events from his life. Not so
impressive, you may think. Ardoin.
however, recalls these memories down
to the day, month and year. It's
almost as if the numbers are written
before him in mid-air.
Ardoin moved to Bridge City on June
7. 1937, where he purchased several
acres of land. He retired from Gulf OH
in 1959, but he by no means
considered himself retired.
"I've worked 53 years of my life,"
informs Ardoin. The year 1960
brought an appointment as Orange
County Port Commissioner, where
Ardoin served three years. Next came
a position as bailiff of the 163rd
District Court. Ardoin's most
distinguished post retirement Job.
however, was his 12 years as Justice
of the Peace for Precinct 3. In January
of 1969, Sheriff Buck Patillo
appointed Ardoin to the J.P.'s position
to nil a spot left vacant by a
department Justice.
"When I finished out the first year. I
decided to run for the office. 1 was
elected, and re-elected every year until
I retired." states Ardoin. Though he
certainly considers all these
accomplishments Important, hla life
has been built around another
interesL
This month Ardoin will be the
recipient of the honored Golden
Trowel, an award presented by the
Masons. Ardoin himself has been a
Mason since 1953. Throughout its
long history. Masonry has been one of
the most powerful forces for the
unification of mankind In charitable
works and the performance of deeds
of mercy and benevolence.
"Any award Is quite an honor."
admits Ardoin. "...but I have never
petitioned for any.” Ardoin started at
Masonic Lodge #136 In Orange then
transferred to Bridge City Lodge
#1039 In 1954. His service has been
varied, including a stint as Post
Master from 1963 to 1984. Though
Ardoin has not been able to be as
active In Masonry the past few years,
his love for the organization Is
apparent. A small room In Ardoin's
home houses certificates, photos,
books, plaques; any type of award or
honor he has received. The highest
ranking a Mason can reach Is degree
thirty-three. Reaching the 33rd degree
See Ardc a, Pg. 14
Top ranking students
Randall David Crim
Jamie Marie Watdrep
ORANGEFIELD — The Valedictorian
and Salutatorlan have been
announced for the Orangefleld High
School graduating class of 1994.
The Valedictorian is Randall David
Crlm. son of David and Marilyn Crim.
Crim received many awards and
honors Including Orange Memorial
Hospital Corporation Scholarship,
Eagle Scout Award. American
Chemical Society Outstanding
Chemistry Student, Class Favorite In
1992 and 1994, Scholastic All-District
four years. Outstanding Male Choir
Student in 1991, Highest ranking
student In high school in 1993 and
1994 and TSCPA Award of Excellence.
He also placed fifth In Regional UIL
accounting, served as Junior and
senior class president. National Honor
Society president and was on the
Texaco Star Academic Challenge
Team.
Crim participated In basketball,
football, tennis. UIL accounting.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the
Art Club, and track at Orangefleld.
Crim plans to attend Baylor
University and pursue a career in
medicine.
Jamie Marie Waldrep, daughter of
Ronnie and Kathy Waldrep, is the
1994 Salutatorlan.
See Top Students, Pg. 14
Ethics committee
concludes hearings --
No violations ruled
By Bill Maultsby
After a two-and-a-half hour
meeting at City Hall Monday night,
(he Bridge City Ethics panel
found "no violation" of the city’s
ethics ordinance in (he cases of two
city councilmen, two former coun-
cilmcn and the city’s planning and
zoning committee chairman.
Making the first ruling ever in
cases involving city officials ac-
cused of ethics violations under a
new ordinance, the panel acted
after hearing from all of the ac-
cused parties and their accusers in
closed session in the council cham-
ber.
Chairman Dale Etheridge ad-
dressed the charges brought by
Council- man John Dubose against
Councilman Mike Faulk, former
Councilmen Thad Hill and Mark
Anderson; and planning commis-
sion Chairman Jeff Brinson.
See Ethics, Page 14
*>/
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Turkel, Arlene. Penny Record (Bridge City, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 25, 1994, newspaper, May 25, 1994; Bridge City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1171053/m1/1/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .