Lifestyle

   This Independence Day, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) want to remind drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. 
   No matter how people choose to celebrate Independence Day, do it safely and always have a sober ride. 
   Anyone under the influence of alcohol that chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle not only puts everyone on the road in danger, but also themself.  
   Fourth of July festivities often start early in the day and go into the evening or late at night, causing more cars to be on the roads at night. 

Matagorda County Sheriff Frank “Skipper” Osborne pled guilty to tampering with a governmental record in a 23^rd District Court proceeding Friday, June 25.

The sheriff was assessed a $500 fine and one-year deferred adjudication for the Class B misdemeanor tampering charge, said Osborne’s attorney, Danny Shindler of Bay City.

“I tried to correct a mistake made by my personnel to help a 78-year-old citizen of Matagorda County,” Osborne said in a written statement following the sentencing by Presiding Administrative District Court Judge Susan Brown.

“I did it the wrong way. I see that now,” the sheriff also remarked in his statement.

“I look forward to serving the citizens of Matagorda County as your sheriff for the remainder of my term,” Osborne said.

The sheriff was indicted by a 23^rd District Court grand jury for intentionally impairing on Feb. 3, 2020, the availability of a government record:

   New state legislation would require cities, counties and the Parks and Wildlife Department to add signs and lifeguards by each pier, jetty or other structures that extend into the Gulf of Mexico on public beaches.
   House Bill 3807 – the Je’Sani Smith Act that’s named for a Corpus Christi teen who was swept away by a rip current two years ago – becomes effective Sept. 1.
   Precinct 2 Kent Pollard told Commissioners Court Monday the act “is an unfunded mandate” that calls for placing lifeguards around “obstructions and other structures that protrude into the gulf.”
   Pollard listed all of the structures on the gulf that could require a lifeguard within 100 yards on each side in Matagorda County, including the jetty pier, the jetties, the mouth of the Colorado River, the educational pier at Sargent Beach and the breakwater beach nourishment project that will begin construction in January.

   In sharp contrast to previous months’ reporting where Matagorda County stood out for its high numbers of new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the county is now among the lowest.
   The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) shows that the county had seven new confirmed cases over the past 14 days for a per capita rate of 0.2 cases per 1,000 residents.
   That rate is below all of the surrounding counties, DSHS reported Tuesday, June 22.
   That’s a reversal of when Matagorda County led all regional counties in new confirmed cases and was among the highest in the state. 
   In its Tuesday, June 22, reporting, DSHS shows Matagorda County with 3,524 confirmed cases, 729 probable, 114 deaths, no active cases and 4,140 recovered.

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   Commissioners Court began the tax abatement process for OQ Chemicals and Matagorda Bay Distillery with public hearings on nominating reinvestment zones at its meeting Monday, June 21.
   “This is the first step in the entire process to grant a reinvestment zone,” County Attorney Jennifer Chau said at the start of the public hearings.
   “This is not to consider a tax abatement, but a reinvestment zone,” said County Judge Nate McDonald. 
   Tuesday’s meeting included public hearings on the two applications and action could come on the reinvestment zones at the court’s next meeting.
   In addition to representatives for both the distillery and OQ Chemicals, Bay City and Matagorda County economic development officials also testified for the two projects.

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   Van Vleck ISD trustees moved forward with leasing the O.H. Herman Middle School campus to the Van Vleck Community Development Corporation (VVCDC) during their regular meeting June 21.
   “At last month’s meeting the board asked me to look into the options we had for leasing the campus, or donating it and so forth,” said VVISD Superintendent John O’Brien.
   “With the help of our district legal counsel we’ve decided on a tentative one-year lease that leaves all the upkeep in the hands of the VVCDC and doesn’t lock them into a long-term lease.”
   O’Brien explained that the VVCDC would pay all utilities for the campus, mowing the lawn, and general upkeep of the campus.
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•     MVFD responded to a tree on fire on 7th St in Wadsworth at 6:03 p.m. June 14. Power line touching tree.
•     MVFD responded to a wind turbine on fire on Texas 60 near Triangle Turf Grass, June 15.
•     MVFD responded to a fire alarm on Mimosa Lane. No fire found. 
•     MVFD responded to an motor vehicle accident with patients trapped in vehicle on FM 521 and CR 263 in the Wadsworth area at 9:51 p.m. June 20

   Bay City ISD trustees unanimously approved a 1% pay increase for all district employees during their regular meeting Monday, June 21.
   All board members were present except for Mark West.
   The increase also includes a chance to review the budget for an optional second increase payment at the midpoint of the school year.
   The pay raise will apply to teachers, librarians, administrative/professional, clerical/paraprofessional, and auxiliary employees.

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