Lifestyle

   The Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation is taking a closer look at eight possible candidates to fill former Executive Director Mike Ferdinand’s vacancy according to their meeting March 26.
   “The search for our new executive director is getting interesting,” said MCEDC Board Secretary Mitch Thames.
   “We’ve got Zoom interviews upcoming with eight candidates and we’re going to pull the same questions from when Mike was hired and maybe do some revisions to create great HR questions for these folks to answer.”
   Thames expects some to “shine” more than others.

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   The Easter Bunny is stopping by a little early for Bay City’s youngest residents.
   The City of Bay City’s Annual Egg Hunt will be from noon – 3 p.m. Good Friday, April 2 at LeTulle Park.
   “All are invited to enjoy an afternoon of egg hunts, photo opportunities, prizes, spring fun, and of course, the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny,” said Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor Kelly Penewitt.
   “Children up to 10 years old will be able to take part in the City’s now-famous `egg scrambles’ for treat-filled eggs and extra prizes from the prize booth and free pictures with the Easter Bunny – don’t forget your camera.”
   Children with special needs will also be able to join in the fun of the egg scrambles at the “Beeping Bunnies” egg hunt area.
   This area will include beeping and talking eggs for children with special needs hidden among the hay.

   A U.S. Army arrived at Bay City Regional Airport last week for a “cross-country Medevac training” session.
   About 16 soldiers from Ft. Hood’s C Company 2-227 came in on five Blackhawk helicopters.
   The training was aimed at determining “how long it takes to insert field hospitals,” said CW4 Ricky Brinkman Jr. 
   Brinkman is a Bay City native and Class of 1999 at Bay City High School.
   The scenario for last week’s training session was an enemy force moving east to west, “with U.S. Army forces in Bay City to stop the advancement,” Brinkman explained.
   The mock hour-long mission was to conduct Medevac operations.
   “In a combat situation, our job is to get wounded soldiers to the first level care as soon as possible.”
   Bay City is within Ft. Hood’s territory for response, including natural disasters, said Brinkman, who is the lead instructor of the training mission.

   City Council came to a resolution with Bay City Housing Authority last week by waiving six years of fees owed the city in return for dropping a long-standing lawsuit.
   Council discussed the BCHA decision in closed session – by moving two related public agenda items into executive session – and later announced the arrangement in open meeting.
   The money waived was not to exceed $82,793 in the annual PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) that BCHA had been unable to pay for the years 2015-2020 due to financial problems.
   With the PILOT waived, BCHA will work with HUD to come off the federal housing agency’s “Troubled PHA (Public Housing Authority)” list.
   The lawsuit to be dropped was Ronnie Dean Reeves, Vidala Leal Rodas, Danyal Sheniel Manning and the BCHA vs. former Mayor Mark Bricker.

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   Van Vleck ISD trustees heard several bond construction updates during their regular meeting March 22.
   “The middle school is moving along on schedule,” said PBK Associate Architect Elizabeth Giusti.
   “Tiling is at about 85% complete and they’ll be doing more flooring soon.”
   Giusti added that the drywall was mostly installed and the painting was ongoing.
   “Light fixtures are also at about 60% and the new gym flooring is being done right now,” she said.
   “The elementary is nearly complete along with punch-list items and everything is moving really well in the high school.”

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   Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation declaring the month of April as “Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month” during its regular meeting, Monday, March 29.
   “This is something we do and try to enforce every year,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Bubba Frick.
   “I think it’s a great thing for our county to do and I appreciate all the work the ladies at The Crisis Center do.”
   The proclamation included statistics of childhood abuse or neglect in Texas and Matagorda County.

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   There’s been this lull in new movies and it’s been a struggle to find anything worth watching.
   However, I am eagerly awaiting the debut of “Godzilla v. Kong” this Wednesday, March 30.
   That being said, I decided to give a relatively new scary movie a chance – which sadly failed for me.
   If you’ve seen “The Babadook” (2014) or “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” (2010) – then you’ve basically already seen this movie minus the smartphone caveat.
   Come Play is a horror film written and directed by Jacob Chase.
   The film is 96 minutes long and rated PG-13 for terror, frightening images, and some language.
   It stars Gillian Jacobs, John Gallagher Jr., Azhy Robertson, and Winslow Fegley.
   Oliver (Robertson) is a young non-verbal autistic boy who uses a smartphone to communicate with people.

   Bay City ISD school board positions 6 and 7 are up for election this May.
   Those positions are currently held by Edward Nelson and Bob Klepac respectively.
   Nelson has filed for re-election to his Position 6 spot.
   Nelson will face Matthew Murray for his position.
   Jill Westmoreland and Kanecia James Gaskin will face off for Position 7.
   Klepac has chosen not to run again.
   Early voting in the General Election is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 19 – Friday, April 23, at Bay City ISD administration building, 400 7th St. Bay City.
   The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 26-27, at the administration building
   The General Election is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the Bay City Service Center, 2105 Ave. M Bay City.