News

   While Matagorda County COVID-19 cases have the highest per-person count in Southeast Texas – including Harris County – at least one health official is puzzled by the apparent lack of interest in last week’s vaccination efforts.
   Meanwhile, Emergency Operation Center (EOC) spokesman Mitch Thames urged residents to take advantage of the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine scheduled Thursday and Friday, April 8 and 9. 
   “If you were one of the 1,620 persons that received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine during the Texas National Guard HUB distribution on March 18 and 19 at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds, you are asked to return for the second dose,” Thames said.
   The location is the same as before, the Matagorda County Fairgrounds, at 4511 FM 2668. No appointments will be scheduled.
   This is a first-come, first-serve event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

   Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution by the Gulf Coast CASA to support awareness for volunteer child advocates and foster homes in Matagorda County during their regular meeting Monday, April 5.
   Gulf Coast CASA — which stands for Court-Appointed Special Advocate — is a nonprofit serving abused and neglected children from Brazoria, Matagorda, and Wharton counties placed in foster care.
   The resolution says that almost 48,000 children were in the Texas foster care system due to neglect or abuse in 2020.
   “In Matagorda County, 117 children were removed from their homes and placed outside of the county or region due to the lack of foster homes,” reads the resolution.
   “Approximately 20% of the children removed were separated from their sibling, causing further trauma to the child.”
   “We are in desperate need of volunteers to be advocates and fosters for children,” said Gulf Coast CASA Program Director Lucy May.

   The 7th Annual Andrew Vasek Memorial BBQ Scholarship Cookoff starts at 5 p.m. Friday, April 9, and lasts until 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Matagorda Fireman’s Hall.
   Cookoff categories feature ribs, beans, chicken, chili, beans, fajitas, brisket, and Dutch oven desserts.
   This year also features a margarita and Bloody Mary drink contest.

Awards will be given for barbecue winners along with “People’s Choice” and “Good Time Charlie.”
   A variety of live entertainment will be on tap, along with washer, cornhole, and domino tournaments Friday night.
   The cookoff also will host the exclusive auctioning of a photo taken from the movie set of “Giant.”

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   The $41 million Sargent swing bridge replacement – or corkscrew bridge – will open Thursday, April 8, after three years of construction, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said Monday.
   Public hearings on the bridge began in 2015 and construction was under way in April 2018 on the span linking FM 457 across the Intercoastal Gulf Waterway.
   TxDOT outlined the project as far back as 2013.
   The new span replaces the swing bridge that’s the last bridge of its kind in Texas, according to the Sargent website.

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   The temporary waiver of certain vehicle title and registration requirements, announced by Governor Greg Abbott on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will end at 11:59 p.m. on April 14, with no grace period. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) reminds Texans to complete any overdue transactions now. 
   After April 14, 2021, law enforcement may begin issuing citations to motorists operating a vehicle without a current registration sticker or current registration receipt. There is no grace period after the April 14, 2021 deadline.
   Three ways to renew your vehicle registration:
Online: Visit TxDMV.gov or www.Texas.gov. This is the quickest and least expensive way to renew. Save $1 if you renew online. Online renewal is available up to nine months past your registration expiration date.

   A 42-year-old Bay City man was arrested on warrant and drug charges, and for evading arrest, after he tried to flee from police in his vehicle and on foot, March 25 Bay City reports show.
   Charles A. Southall III, 42, Bay City, had a BCPD warrant for failure to comply with a sex offender’s duty to register with previous convictions, police said. 
   In addition, Southall was charged with evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance – Penalty Group 1.
   Reports show Officer Tyler Ramirez attempted a traffic stop in the 1900 block of Avenue C on a white SUV, on March 25, at about 9:36 p.m.  
   The SUV had driven on the wrong side of the road, against oncoming traffic, causing Ramirez to veer off the roadway.  Officer Ramirez activated her emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle.  
   The SUV accelerated to speeds up to 85 miles per hour, reports show.

   Howdy! Hard to believe it is already April Fools and month 4 of the new year. 
   This year has already been one to remember in many ways, both good and not so much! 
   Following the freeze that none of us want to repeat, in which Matagorda County agriculture producers lost an estimated $60 million in combined commodities, planting started. 
   Many were concerned about not getting fertilizer in the ground in a reasonable time due to the backup stemming from the freeze. 
   Planters, however, did follow quickly behind fertilizer with equipment running around the clock. 
   To date virtually all the corn is in the ground, grain sorghum is nearing completion, and cotton is rolling into planting smaller outlying locations. 
   New terraces now traverse the fresh rice fields with many already planted. 
   Cattle folks are gathering up all over the county helping one another in working calves, vaccinating, and moving to new pasture. 

   Three COVID-19 issues have converged this week.
   While Texas has opened COVID-19 vaccine to all adults – 16 years of age and older - this week, supplies continue to be a problem for Matagorda County and new confirmed cases still are showing local spikes.
   Matagorda Regional Medical Center began the week with a vaccination clinic at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds Monday and Tuesday.
   While new confirmed cases recently have been around 10 or fewer cases per day in Matagorda County, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) noted last week, there were 15 new confirmed cases Saturday, March 27, and 14 Monday, March 29.
   As of Tuesday, March 30, there were 126 new cases within the last 14 days, according to DSHS.
   That averages out to 3.4 cases per 1,000.
   That average is an increase over the past few weeks in Matagorda County and it’s a higher average than all of the surrounding counties.