Lifestyle

County Judge Nate McDonald released the following information after Gov. Abbott’s morning press conference:

MATAGORDA COUNTY TEMPORARILY CLOSES COUNTY PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, FAIRGROUNDS AND COUNTY BEACH ACCESS AREAS

Effective today, March 19, 2020, Matagorda County Commissioners Court has ordered the cancellation of all public activities on County owned property until further notice.  This includes community centers, fire department buildings, parks, fairgrounds. 

The track at Heffelfinger Park in Blessing is open for walkers/joggers in pairs. Matagorda County beach line public access points (including, but not limited to, Matagorda and Sargent) will be closed by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020. 

Matagorda County will not be accepting reservations for rentals for these facilities.

   Bay City ISD trustees discussed qualities they want to see in the new athletic director (AD) and head football coach (HFC) candidates and heard updates form district staff concerning coronavirus’ impact, at an emergency meeting Tuesday night, March 17.
   Trustees agreed that the new AD/HFC needs to:

•     Be a winner with a proven track record rebuilding a program with progressive growth.
•     Have experience as an AD/HFC is preferred along with knowing several sports.
•     Invest time, energy and presence in the community.

   “Overall, we need somebody who is community oriented and involved,” said trustee James Scardami.
   “We need somebody that’s going to foster our programs at a lower level – not just junior high students. That person needs to rebuild the whole program.”

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   The third positive case of COVID-19 was announced Tuesday night by MRMC officials.
    The patient, a woman between the ages of 50-55 had recently traveled to Washington state.
   At the onset of symptoms she immediately went home to self-quarantine and has been in self-quarantine since last Friday, March 13.
    MRMC spokesman Aaron Fox said the woman had been in contact with state health officials who are monitoring her.
   The new development quickly follows the COVID-19 related death of a 97-year-old Bay City man who died Sunday.
    The Bay City resident Eddie F. Roberts – longtime director of Duncan-Roberts Funeral Home - passed away Sunday evening at MRMC, “with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.”
   It is the first such coronavirus-related death in Texas. 

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   With Matagorda County Judge Nat McDonald declaring a state of disaster amid coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and concerns, local school districts are still closed.
   Bay City, Van Vleck, Tidehaven, Palacios and Matagorda ISD are all closed until further notice as of press time Tuesday.
   Those closures include all University Interscholastic League (UIL) sports and other extracurricular events.

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    In the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Matagorda County and County Judge Nate McDonald declaring it a countywide disaster, several community fundraisers and events have been canceled or postponed.
   As of press time Tuesday night, the annual Markham Day cookoff and celebration slated for Saturday, March 21, has been canceled.
   Bay City Country Club Father/Daughter Dance (Grandfather, Uncle) slated for Saturday was postponed to a later date.
   Van Vleck and Bay City Little Leagues’ opening day ceremonies for March 21 was canceled.

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   Usually, boredom and a lack of a lot of new releases makes it hard to decide what to watch and review for our readers.
   This week, there’s the added bonus of COVID-19 infection fears and using “social distancing” to protect myself and other moviegoers from catching the virus.
   Timing led me to catch an early morning showing of “The Hunt” – a movie I had barely heard of, let alone was terribly motivated to see.
   The Hunt had had a slow opening weekend at just over $6.4 million worldwide with a run time of about an hour and a half while being rated  R for strong bloody violence, and language throughout.
   The movie features some pretty creative death scenes and racks up a body count faster than expected.
   The Hunt is a thriller film directed by Craig Zobel and co-written by Damon Lindelof.
   The film stars Betty Gilpin, Ike Barinholtz, Emma Roberts and Hilary Swank.