Lifestyle

   Commissioners unanimously approved establishing reinvestment zones for future tax abatements for OQ Chemicals and Matagorda Bay Distillery during their regular meeting Monday, June 28.
   “This is just a step in the tax abatement process,” said County Attorney Jennifer Chau.
   “Establishing these as reinvestment zones are necessary to pursue tax abatements.”
   Chau added that among several requirements for a reinvestment zone the projects must reasonably contribute to increasing employment and providing tax revenue.
   Matagorda Bay Distillery plans to open its 45-acre facility in Wadsworth this year.
   The distillery will produce rum and have its own event center.
   “I believe this is a quality of life initiative and will be a tourism draw to the county,” said County Judge Nate McDonald.

  A woman who went into the Gulf surf to save her husband from a Rip Current ended up a drowning victim and her husband survived on Matagorda Beach near 3 Mile Cut Friday, June 25, Matagorda Fire Chief Clay Bishop said. 
   “All I know is the victim was a female that went into the water to save her husband from a RIP current,” Bishop said.  
   “He was able to make it back to shore, but lost sight of her,” the chief added.  
   “Bystanders on the beach called 911 when they spotted her floating face down in the surf and helped to pull her out of the water. 
   “A Matagorda VFD first responder helped pull the patient from the water and initiated CPR, but the patient was unable to be revived after a lengthy attempt that involved paramedics and advanced life support measures,” he explained. 
   “It has unfortunately been an eventful week for Matagorda VFD,” the chief said

   In Matagorda County, new confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at low levels – not much change from last week.
   The county’s per-capita average remains 0.2% per 1,000 residents, with seven new confirmed cases in the past 14 days from Tuesday, June 29.
      Overall, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) data shows the county with 3,536 confirmed cases, 731 probable cases and 114 deaths.
   Vaccination numbers remain somewhat stubborn.
   Of the county’s estimated 36,643 residents, 31.5%, or 11,590 residents, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, DSHS reports.
   The county trails the vaccination rate of neighboring counties.
   Statewide, the average is 40.5%, according to DSHS.
   Of those 65+, the fully vaccinated rate is 61.54%.
   For that same age group, the Brazoria County percentage is 75% and in Fort Bend County, 86%.

   Bradley Westmoreland is the newest member of City Council after he was chosen among five people seeking to fill the unexpired term of the late Council Member Brent Marceaux, at council’s regular meeting June 22.
   Council heard personal and professional statements for seeking the council seat at the meeting from Imelda Howard, Joe Enoch, Jessica Hartman and Donnye Stone.
   Westmoreland gave his remarks via teleconference.
   After an 18-minute closed session, council returned and voted to appoint Westmoreland to Council Position 3.
   “It was a difficult decision,” Mayor Robert Nelson said.
   The mayor added that he appreciated the five hopefuls volunteering to seek the council seat.
   Nelson also said he hoped more people would get involved in running for council positions.

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Westmoreland focuses 
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   If you’ve seen one movie toting demonic possession as the main plot then you’ve pretty much seen them all by now. 
   Rarely does a film take another angle on such an over-used theme. 
   Still, I only ever watch those movies and other horror or thriller films in a similar vein to see how they’ve tried to portray it and if there’s anything scary enough. 
   The Unholy falls flat even though it’s got a fairly decent cast and definitely shows how selfish humans can be when it comes to miracles or money. 
   The ending is actually rather happy and does show good triumphing over evil after all, so, that has to count for something. 
   The Unholy is a supernatural horror film written, produced, and directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos, in his directorial debut and is based on the 1983 novel “Shrine” by James Herbert. 

   The Lower Colorado River Authority is offering grants of up to $50,000 for community projects throughout LCRA’s wholesale power, water and transmission service territory.
    Applications for this round of Community Development Partnership Program grants will be available online beginning July 1 and must be submitted by midnight on July 31. 
   Most grants are for $25,000 or less, but several grants of up to $50,000 are awarded each cycle.
    Eligible organizations include volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, local governments, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums and other nonprofit organizations. 
   The grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, professional associations, social service projects or limited-use facilities.
    Applicants requesting more than $5,000 in grant funding must supply matching funds of at least 20 percent of the total project cost. 

   Happy summer! The sun is out and lots of people are spending these hot days relaxing on the beach. 
   While the beach is a place where you leave your stress on the paved roads and let the salty breeze whisk your worries away, it is also a place where you should never let your guard down. 
   Unfortunately, tragedy has already struck at our local beaches and the ocean can be as cruel as it is beautiful.
   Rip currents. You have probably heard about them or seen signs along beaches warning you about them. 
   But what are they, where are they, and how can you escape them? 
   Rip currents top the charts as the leading hazard for beachgoers of all ages. 
   These are powerful currents of water that move away from the shore and can carry away even the strongest of swimmers.