While I’m certainly capable of reading a calendar, a look at Matagorda and its environs this weekend told you that summer is here.
The annual Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser was Saturday – the 75th anniversary of the department.
I’d say it was well supported judging by the long line of vehicles picking up their orders.
A better example of success was the packed Fireman’s Hall.
The line to pick up the meals stretched around the sides, down the middle and people fit in where they could go.
I have been fortunate to live in – or close by - two places that are vacation or holiday destinations.
One was Kerrville where I grew up in the Texas Hill Country and the second is Matagorda County.
As I covered the fire department fundraiser, I went to down to Matagorda Beach.
En route, on Beach Road, I noticed most of the houses or rentals were mostly full.
It’s still early, but I kind of envy the group gatherings for the long weekend.
Well back to the business of re-porting.
City Council was interesting, as Councilman Blayne Finlay was commenting on how many people have approached him to complain about the new sidewalks the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has contracted for one end of town to the other.
The complaints, Finlay ex-plained, about the high cost of the sidewalk and, wait for it, how many other projects could be done on that nickel, or several nickels.
OK, here’s where we add the important fact that the state is paying for those sidewalks.
I’m not sure that would help Blayne, but it should be mentioned.
He suggested that I post huge headlines explaining that.
At the same meeting, I heard Mayor Robert Nelson talk about the hard work and devotion that city employees exhibit. Good words about good employees I’d say.
But, as the mayor was delivering his words of appreciation, he noted the “negative press” the city workers have to endure in doing their job.
Come again?
Usually, with government officials, there is some kind of dustup the press (I guess that means me) was involved in.
The answer is: not recently. And the mayor didn’t elaborate.
That’s hardly a surprising edict for the press, but I don’t know what incident he was referring to.
If he’s got a complaint, then articulate it for us. Both papers were seated at the table at the front of council chambers.
Nothing beats clear communication of a problem. But that’s not what we heard.
