News

   Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed HB 133, a bill sponsored and passed by Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) to increase Medicaid coverage for new mothers in Texas from two months to six months postpartum.  
   Kolkhorst said that expanding new post-pregnancy maternal care is a pressing need for qualifying Texas women and serves as an efficient and effective use of state and federal dollars. 
   "HB 133 will extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women on Medicaid from 60 days to 6 months post-pregnancy," said Abbott. 
   "It will also streamline women’s health programs & create better continuity of care for Texas women."
   "With this legislation, Texas becomes one of the first states in the nation to extend Medicaid coverage beyond two months federally required for postpartum," said Kolkhorst, who chairs the Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. 

   Recent rainfall events have been a major problem this summer. 
   As a result of this rainfall, fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) are thriving across the northern, central and eastern portions of Texas.
   Below is some information on the biology of the pest, how to scout for them, and control options to mitigate damage. 
   Biology and Damage
   There are two strains of fall armyworms (FAW): the corn strain and the grass strain. 
   The corn strain usually appears in the spring and early summer and feeds on crops such as corn, sorghum, and cotton. 
   The grass strain, which is the strain that infests hay fields and pastures, generally shows up after significant rain events from mid-July through fall. 
   The corn strain is known for being resistant to pyrethroids, while the grass strain is susceptible to pyrethroids. 

   Van Vleck ISD trustees heard a brief update on the 2017 bond construction projects at their regular meeting Monday, July 19.
   “We’re done with the middle school right now,” said Sofia Dusek, PBK architect project executive.
   “They’re finishing the punch list items right now and we’re looking forward to finishing that out. The elementary still has a few outstanding punch list items and a few warranty items, too.
   “We’re super excited to have reached completion on these projects and are thankful for working with you all for the past four years,” she added.
   “Even with those few items, we’re still at functional completion from a staffing standpoint,” explained VVISD Superintendent John O’Brien.
   “Hydromulch went down about two weeks ago and with recent rain, we’re hoping to see some sprouts popup. 

   A $25,000 contract to fix the leaks at the Precinct 2 barn and office in Matagorda was approved by commissioners court at its meeting July 19.
   Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard said his administrative assistant was met with a half-inch of water when she entered the precinct barn shortly after a heavy rain.
   The contract with BNA Construction Company, for $25,101, will include repairing the roof, soffit, wall, gutters and windows, plus interior sheetrock repairs due to water leaks.

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  Ribbon cutting ceremonies for TxDOT’s $43 million FM 457 Sargent “Corkscrew” Bridge were held before about 50 people in the shadow of the extraordinary span Friday morning, July 16.
   “Thank you for delivering an engineering marvel,” County Judge Nate McDonald told the sizable contingent of TxDOT officials and employees.
   “You’ve built one hell of span,” the judge added.
   McDonald briefly reflected on Texas’ last swing bridge that was replaced by the new bridge that opened to traffic April 8.
   “We loved our swing bridge,” the judge continued, “but it became a choke point for commerce (in the Intracoastal Waterway) and that’s been relieved.
   “A lot of business floats on the canal.
   “Sargent deserves a bridge like this and as safe passage over the waterway,” McDonald said.
   He gave a shout out to sub-contractors Matagorda Materials and Matagorda Concrete and praised TxDOT for using local companies in the project.

    Following statewide trends, Matagorda County averages of new confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
   The county reported 38 new cases over the past 14 days for an average of one per 1,000, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported Monday, July 19.
   By comparison, the county had 11 new cases over the 14-day period on July 8 and seven on July 1.
   DSHS reported Monday that the positivity rate, which measures how prevalent the virus is in Texas, has crossed a 10% “red zone” threshold. 
   This indicates that the highly transmissible delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rampantly among the unvaccinated, the Texas Tribune reported Monday.
   Vaccinations in the county appear at a standstill, with 33% of county residents fully vaccinated.
   Calhoun County reports 37% fully vaccinated, Brazoria County at 44% and Ft. Bend, 56%.
   Texas has 42.6% of its residents fully vaccinated.

   There were about 500 people attending the Texas Oilman’s Charity Invitational Fishing Tournament (TOICFT) last weekend at Matagorda Harbor.
   That many people is a major boost to the Matagorda economy – some local folks call it the fifth holiday.
   While that number is down from previous years, it sure beats no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.
   “We’re suffering the same fate as the oil and gas industry has over a six-year decline,” Tournament Chairman Chris Johnston said in an interview, with directors Curtis Denison and Ron Hartman.

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  “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.”   Broadway-bred bombast and beauty! Revolving doors… Secret passageways... A mysterious figure… All add to the comic mayhem that takes place inside the new CAST Theatre as we present “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.”
   This production starts at 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 26-27, and Thursday-Saturday, July 29-31, with a special lunch presentation at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25.
   All tickets are $45 per person and feature a catered meal by Venezia’s Garden at CAST’s
   new home, 920 Nichols, in Bay City.
   Actors portray actors, directors, singers, and writers – all of whom may be in danger from the “Stage Door Slasher.”
   A New York police detective tries to sort out the mystery-in-a-mansion.
   Only the audience is aware of some of the secrets – but you can’t tell!