News

   This year’s Little Miss and Mister Rice Festival are Leigha Melchor and Vance Lee.
   Both were crowned during the annual Blackcat All-Sports Booster Club “Little Mister & Miss Rice Festival” pageant, Oct.1.
   Melchor’s court includes runner ups Aimee Rivera, Jasalyn Revis and Adrianna Ramos, in first-third place respectively.
   Lee’s runner ups are Otoniel Deleon and Kaleb Guzman.
   Jasalyn Revis took home the awards for Miss Personality, Photogenic and Best Dress.
   Kaleb Guzman claimed Mister Personality, Photogenic and Best Tux for himself.
   “Money generated by the pageant fundraiser goes towards scholarships for our senior athletic students,” said Janice Hopes, treasurer of the Blackcat All-Sports Booster Club.
   All contestants will be on floats during the Rice Festival Parade Saturday. Oct. 8, downtown.

   This month’s Rock the Block theme is “Rockin’ Pink” for breast cancer awareness, and features a women’s health information booth hosted by the Matagorda Regional Medical Center.
   MRMC staff will help women sign up for a $100 digital mammogram special and their annual “well women” checkups during the event.
   The time has changed to 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, downtown on the square.
   Previously times were longer due to the summer season.
   Everyone is encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
   Live entertainment for the event is by Robert Hartye.
   There will be special discounts and sales available from downtown merchants.
   T-shirts are also being sold for $15 each at Homestead, Bay City Floral, Blue Orchid, GC Sports and Mustard Seed.

   Bay City’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest fundraiser from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the USO Service Center, 2105 Ave. M.
   Tickets to the dance are on sale now at the Parks and Rec office for $20 per person or $150 for a table of eight.
   “This year’s event will raise funds to purchase new tables and chairs with dollies at the USO for the auditorium and Train Depot,” said Kelly Penewitt, Parks and Rec supervisor.
   Light refreshments and set ups will be sold.
   The event is also BYOB for those 21 years of age and older.
   “The Billie Ledbetter Orchestra will make a return engagement this year to perform your favorite songs to dance all night long,” she added.
   “Grab your Lederhosen and Drindl and join us by reserving your table soon!”

   Public hearings on the city’s proposed fiscal 2016-17 tax rate and budget were held last week and on Monday, and city council will consider adopting both at a special meeting Thursday, Sept. 29.  
   The city’s property tax rate will be 60 cents per $100 valuation – the same as last year’s levy - and is projected to raise about $38,000 more than fiscal 2015-16 because of the city’s higher appraised valuations.  
   The tax rate and the new fiscal year’s $13 million budget both will be up for adoption at Thursday’s meeting that begins at 7 p.m.  
   The timetable on getting the tax rate and budget approved proved to be a problem for the city and for Matagorda County.  
   County Assessor-Collector Cristyn Hallmark said the city didn’t meet her office’s deadline of having the city’s new tax information by Sept. 20.  

   About 3.6 tons of trash were collected from Sargent Beach Saturday as part of the annual fall beach cleanup.  
   Five miles of beach were cleaned by 135 volunteers including Tenaris employees, families and other locals.  
   There were between 250 and 275 volunteers at the Matagorda Beach Cleanup.   
   Among the numerous plastic bottles, plates and bottle caps were a few odd findings such as:  

   The 71st Annual Bay City Lions Club Rice Festival kicks off Saturday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m. with the Rice Queen Pageant at Keye Ingram auditorium.  
   Official festivities begin the following Thursday, Oct. 6, from 4-11 p.m.   
   This includes carnival rides and a midway by Todd Armstrong with unlimited rides for $15 an armband and vendor booths.  
   Each entry is $6 and children under six get in free.  
   VIP Parking is $20 and includes entry fees.  
   It’s also “HEB Night,” meaning that bringing three non-perishable HEB brand food items gets you free admission at the gate.  
   All food items benefit a local food pantry.  
   Friday, Oct. 7 is similar, with carnival armbands going up to $20 and the festival being open late until midnight.  
   Cash bingo also opens and runs from 4 p.m. to midnight.  
   The highly anticipated Rice Festival Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown around the square.  

   About $15,000 was raised during the annual “Gourmet Guys” fundraising event at the Matagorda County Museum, Sept. 24.  
   “That includes about $4,000 from the silent auction items,” said Barbara Smith, museum director.  
   This year debuted two new twists to the usual fare.  
   The theme was an “Evening in Paris” and there were “Gourmet Gals” on hand with their cuisine as well.  
   “I know a lot of our cooks were a little intimidated when we announced it was French food this year,” she said.  
   “A lot of them have not done French cooking before, but I think they really took the challenge and came through. We always want our chefs to have as good as time as our guests so they will look forward to next time.”

   A felony possession of methamphetamine charge was filed against a Bay City man after police arrested him for assaulting his wife Tuesday morning, Sept. 27, Bay City police reports show.  
   Stephen P. Wilson, 52, was booked for Assault Family Violence and Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled substance in Penalty Group 1, a first-degree felony into the Matagorda County Jail, according to reports.  
   After Officer Stephen Lunsford arrived at a residence in the 4200 block of Sargent Drive on a possible disturbance call, he determined the suspect assaulted his wife, police said.  Lunsford arrested the man for Assault Family Violence.    
   Prior to placing the man in his patrol unit, Lunsford began searching him for weapons.  During the search, Lunsford found “a baggie full of a brown crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in his pocket.”  

   The 22nd Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is scheduled for 8 a.m. - noon Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds.  
   Household hazardous waste is any product labeled: toxic, corrosive, poison, flammable, combustible or an irritant.  
   This also includes things such as used batteries, pool chemicals, pesticides and herbicides as well as household cleaners.  
   Do not bring: