Lifestyle

   The Matagorda County Soil & Water Conservation District #316 held its Annual Awards Banquet Thursday, Jan. 24. 
   The following winners were recognized:
   2019 Conservation Rancher - Matthew Ashcraft
   2019 Conservation Farmer - Luke Ledwig
   2019 Conservation Teacher - Stacey Goodman (not pictured in group photo)
   2019 Friend of Conservation - William Younger
   2019 Wildlife Conservationist - Matagorda County Birding Nature Center
   This year’s theme for the student Conservation Contests was Dig Deeper: Life in the Soil. 
   Matagorda County SWCD added the coloring contest as a new category this year. The Coloring Contest winners are:
   Honorable Mention - Lila Miles
   4th Place – Derek Gartica
   3rd Place – Catherine Torres
   2nd Place – Aubree Ibarra
   1st Place – Ruger Reed  
   The Essential and Functional Academics Poster Contest winners are:

Matagorda, Palacios, Bay City, Van Vleck and Tidehaven school districts are joining the From the Heart Fund’s “Community Partnership for Student Well-being” initiative.
   The initiative seeks to “develop a behavioral health system of care that will support and enhance students’ behavioral health so as to substantially reduce the risk for violence in schools.”
   Countywide campus teachers and counselors will be trained in recognizing children whose behaviors and mental health have been affected by trauma or are displaying signs of depression or anxiety.
   School counselors will be more intensively trained in delivering trauma-informed counseling and support in a school-based setting.

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   There will be only three propositions to consider in the May 4 election on revisions to the Home Rule City Charter, and City Council previewed them at a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday night.
   The three propositions, A,B and C, include:
   A Consider measures to elect a Council-City Manager form of government, rather than the existing Council-Mayor government.
   B Consider three-year terms for council members. 
   Council’s present terms are for two years.
   The mayor’s position is a three-year term.
   C Council may appoint a charter review commission to consider revisions if necessary.
   That’s compared to the charter’s present mandate for a charter review every five years.
   Council Member Julie Estlinbaum told the Bay City Civic Center audience the town hall meetings are to familiarize voters with the proposed three changes that will be on the May 4 municipal election.

   Filing is under way for city council, mayor and Bay City ISD trustee positions for the Saturday, May 4, elections.
   The filing period began Dec. 17 and continues through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.
   Current Council member Julie Estlinbaum has filed to run for mayor.
   Incumbent Mayor Mark Bricker has posted online that he doesn’t intend on seeking re-election.
   Three City Council Positions, 3-5, are up for election in May.
   They’re now held by Mayor Pro Tem Chrystal Folse, Becca Sitz, and Jason Childers, respectively.
   Childers is the only one to have filed for re-election so far. 
   Also up for election are three Bay City ISD trustee Positions, 1-3.
   Bobby Kimball and Crystal Allison hold Positions 1 and 3, respectively, while Position 2 is an open seat vacated when trustee Helen Knezek resigned late last year.
   Kimball has filed for re-election to his position on the board.

   A special meeting for council to consider removals and additions to the Bay City Housing Authority board was tabled Tuesday night before the town hall meeting.
   Mayor Mark Bricker who placed the item on the special meeting agenda agenda, was not present.
   Mayor Pro Tem Chrystal Folse, noting that it was the mayor who wanted council to take action on removing and adding BCHA commissioners.
   “We should wait,” she said, and Council Member Julie Estlinbaum said a court hearing on the removals was coming up in two days.
   Folse moved to table and Council Member Becca Sitz seconded the motion that was approved unanimously.
   Councilman Jason Childers abstained from the vote, without giving a reason.
   City Attorney Anne Marie Odefy recommended council approve the mayor’s commissioner removals and additions.

   This weekend is full of events and kicks off early in the evening on Friday, Jan. 25.
   The 12th Annual Chicken Fried Steak Dinner Crisis Center fundraiser will be from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bay City. 
   Tickets are $10 for dinner plates to dine in or drive-through. 
   There will also be a silent auction and other donation opportunities. 
   For tickets call 979-245-9109 or stop by the Crisis Center at 3010 Sixth St. in Bay City. 
   Proceeds help support the Crisis Center of Matagorda and Wharton Counties.
   The Matagorda County Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts The Emotions for the “Wolf Moon Concert” as part of the Full Moon Concert Series from 7-11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 downtown in Bay City. 
   The band Something Else kicks off the event featuring San Antonio Lights as the headliner along with beer, wine, food trucks, and restaurants. 

  Tidehaven ISD trustees unanimously approved a salary increase for Athletic Director David Lucio for $88,000 during their Jan. 15 meeting.
   “We wanted to show our commitment to your work on and off the field,” said Stephen Crow, board president.
   “We’re excited to see what happens next season and are aiming to win State next season.”
   “I appreciate your support,” said Lucio.
   “I’m confident in our students and all that we can do. We’re definitely aiming to win it all next year.”
   Despite a slow start last season, Lucio’s Tigers advanced to the quarterfinal round in the 3A-2 UIL 2018 football state championship.
   Crow also presented possible renovations to aging facilities to the board.
   “We’ve got a $4.5 million surplus and healthy fund balance right now,” he said.

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   The Bay City Tourism Council unanimously approved three new members to replace retiring board members during their regular Jan. 16 meeting. 
   Board members Tiger Lane, Karen Kinard, and Donna Younger retired after several years of service that included the Matagorda County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
   New members Jessica Perez, Carla Rae Southard and Nicasio Perez will take their spots pending approval from City Council Thursday, Jan. 24.
   Tourism director Heidi Martinez presented a budget update to the board outlining some unexpected costs.
   “We’ve run into some items that were not previously in the budget,” said Martinez.
   “For example: credit card fees, a work cellphone and event overtime fees for any city employees that work for us beyond their allotted schedule.”
   Martinez told the board that she was 25 percent through her department’s fiscal year, but has spent 30 percent of the total budget.

   Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a four-vehicle fatality collision southeast of Bay City on FM 457 early Friday evening, Jan. 18.
   The preliminary information indicates at about 6:40 p.m. Friday, a southbound 1997 Chevrolet pickup traveled into the northbound lane of FM 457 striking a 2016 GMC pickup, and a Dodge Avenger. 
   Following the initial collision, the Dodge struck a 2013 Chevrolet pickup.
   James Watkins, 37, of Brazoria, was identified as the driver of the Chevrolet. 
   He was transported by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston for his injuries.  
   Antonio Maldonado, 41, of Bay City, identified as the driver of the GMC, was not transported or treated for injuries.
   The driver of the Dodge was identified as Alexia Knowles, 24, of Bay City. 
   She was transported by Life Flight to Memorial Hospital in Houston for her injuries.