Lifestyle

   Commissioners Court approved reopening Matagorda County community centers – including the fairgrounds, fire stations and buildings on all areas – at the court’s regular meeting Monday, June 15.
   The reopening comes with a set of guidelines and required compliance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
   The guidelines include:

   Van Vleck school officials’ main task this summer is looking ahead to the moving parts of starting school this fall during a pandemic. 
   “We’re taking all the pieces of the puzzle and formulating a plan,” Superintendent John O’Brien told the school board at its regular meeting Monday, June 15. 
   “We want to be back this fall face-to-face. That is our main objective.”
   O’Brien explained the district staff is working on 3-4 plans, with the main plan being face-to-face instruction. 
   “The other backup plans will only come into play when and if we are unable to conduct face-to-face instruction. 
   “TEA can’t cancel schools by law, and I’m sure the governor won’t allow that either. Simply put, our schools are the center of our economy, so we need to have students in class as much as possible so our parents can work. 
   “The main thing is we need to take care of students and staff,” O’Brien commented. 

   Local sales tax allocations for June were 11.7 percent less than in June 2019, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar recently announced.
   These allocations are based on sales made in April by businesses that report tax monthly.
   Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread social distancing requirements were in place across much of the state in April, leading to the steepest year-over-year decline in allocations since September 2009, Hegar said.
   Bay City’s June sales tax allocation of $568,917, was 16.55% higher than the $488,094 the city received in the same month in 2019.
   For the year, Bay City’s sales tax rebates total $3,175,825, which is 9.121% more than the $2,910,335 reported for the same period last year.
   Palacios reported an 18.04% increase for June, with rebates of $65,564, compared to the $44,543 the city received in June 2019.

   I vaguely remember “Call of the Wild” in its literature form from some long-forgotten segment in school.
   Maybe even just a small excerpt for a test or grammar exercise.
   But, I had some hope watching the newest film adaptation – right up until I saw how truly horrible the computer-generated image (CGI) of Buck really is.
   It’s like the artists used all their skills to make his face wonderfully expressive but slacked off on the body of the “dog.”
   The plot also has a different ending in the new film, but, I’m fine with that.
   The Call of the Wild is an adventure film based on the Jack London 1903 novel of the same name and on Twentieth Century Pictures’ 1935 film adaptation.
   Directed by Chris Sanders, in his live-action directorial debut, and his first film without a co-director, the film was written by Michael Green and stars Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Cara Gee, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, and Colin Woodell.

   LynnGroup, a family of engineering, development and construction companies along the Texas Gulf Coast, has hired Brandon Cox as the company’s marketing director.
   In his role, Cox will develop and execute marketing and communications strategies to drive business growth.
   He will be responsible for overall brand development and reputation management in the marketplace, focused on both client success and business-to-business relationships.
   “We are excited that Brandon will join our team in a full-time capacity here at Lynn Group,” said Stuart Lynn P.E., principal and founder of LynnGroup.
   “Acquisitions and continued growth have led us to a higher focus on marketing and communications as we take our businesses to the next level. Brandon and I have worked on several projects together in the past and I have always been interested in finding the right time and opportunity for us to continue working in a similar capacity.

   Bay City ISD has received notice that a student who attended the summer athletic camp at Bay City High School on June 8-June 10 has tested positive for COVID-19. 
   In accordance with state and national guidance, any person who attended the camp should self-monitor for signs of symptoms of COVID-19 during the next 14 days and should self-isolate in order to prevent transmission of the virus.
   The athletic camp will be closed effective immediately until further notice to allow the deep cleaning and sanitizing of the athletic facilities.
   Impacted students and employees will be notified.
   Please know that the safety of BCISD students and staff is our absolute top priority. 
   As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we encourage you to follow all public guidelines, including proper hand washing and social distancing.

   A 22-year-old Bay City man is charged with aggravated assault in connection with a shooting that left a victim seriously injured late Wednesday night, June 10, Bay City police said.
   Officers were dispatched to the Avenue H and Austin Street area in reference to shots fired at 10:16 p.m. June 10.  
   While en route police were told a caller said he had been shot.  
   Officers contacted the victim in the 2900 block of Avenue H and began first aid until EMS arrived.  
   The victim was taken to Matagorda Regional Medical Center by EMS and was later flown to Houston by Life-Flight.
   Through their investigation, detectives were able to determine the suspect, reports show.  
   At 6:28 a.m. Thursday, June 11, a warrant was served on Marquez Hughes, 22, Bay City, for aggravated assault, police said. 
   He was taken to Matagorda County Jail without incident.