News

   Bay City school trustees approved a 3 percent raise for all district employees as part of the fiscal 2016-2017 budget during Monday’s regular meeting, June 20. 
   “All employees for Bay City ISD will receive a 3 percent pay raise,” said Director of Business Richard Johnson. 
   He said the budget totals $36.8 million. 
   “That includes a deficit of $1,546,340,” he said.  
   The salary increase percentage came from workshop meetings with district staff and the board. 
   “After our workshop, things improved on the budget,” said trustee Bobby Kimball. 
   “At the last meeting, didn’t we discuss doing another workshop?” asked trustee Frankie Cole. 
   Board president Robert Klepac said no. 
   “He (Johnson) was supposed to give us some more information before we vote on the budget,” said Cole. 
   The board had two budget workshops. 

   Bay City Market Days’ Historic Street Heat Car, Truck and Motorcyle Show brought throngs of people downtown Saturday. 
   There were 76 vehicles on display along Avenue G, between Sixth and Fifth streets, and crowds were drawn to the car show and to Market Days around the square. 
   The car show raised  $1,900 for the Boys & Girls Club of Bay City and Matagorda County, said event coordinator MaLinda Reddell. 
   “I thought the car show was great,” said Bobby Wilkinson, owner of Bay City Abstract, who participated in his first car show with his 1965 Corvette Stingray. 
   “It was a real good turnout,” Wilkinson said.     
   “I think you could build from this – you just need more room,” Wilkinson pointed out.  
   Most of the vehicles were in the block-long Avenue G off downtown, because of problems closing other streets around the square. 

   Freshwater flows into the Matagorda Bay system and the Gulf of Mexico may have a short-term impact on oysters and shrimp, but there are long-term benefits, says Matagorda commercial fisherman Buddy Treybig. 
   Both Treybig and Matagorda County Marine Agent Bill Balboa said river flooding that dumps freshwater into the bays - where oysters are harvested - will typically wipe out oyster beds, but the crop usually will bounce back stronger than before. 
   That’s because, by the same stroke, the freshwater also will eliminate predators and diseases affecting the oysters, both men agree. 
   “About seven or eight years ago, fresh water killed every oyster,” Treybig recalls.  
   “Within two years everything grew back thick because there are no predators.” 

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   While we aren’t part of the Caribbean, pirates are taking over Palacios this weekend, June 23 – 24. 
   The 2nd Annual Palacios Pirate Fest makes port at the Palacios Community Hub, 205 Fourth St., Palacios. 
   Proceeds will benefit the Palacios Community Hub and its many programs. 
   With everything from live music to an all-ages carnival and various tournament competitions, it is a two-day fest chock full of something for everyone. 

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   Over 350 adults and their children got the chance to rock out at the first ever “Full Moon Food Truck Festival” Saturday, June 18. 
   The festival was hosted by the Matagorda County Birding and Nature Center and was a hit. 
   “Every food vendor sold out,” said Nature Center board member Becca Sitz. 
   “And we plan on making this an annual event.” 
   Real Deal Grill, Crawfish Crazy and Frank’s barbecue were the food trucks available. 
   The fourth, Southern Style, did not make an appearance. 
   The festival helped raise about $5,000. 
   “We met our goal of $5,000 quickly,” said Sitz. 
   “Initially, we didn’t know how it was going to turn out,” she said. 
   With tickets costing $5 - those under 13 were admitted free - other funds were raised via raffle, commemorative T-shirt sales and by adults purchasing beer or wine. 
   Beer and wine were sponsored by Oxea and served by volunteers. 

   Matagorda County Historical Commission was recognized for its distinguished service during commissioners court’s regular meeting Monday.  
   The Texas Historical Commission bestowed its Distinguished Service Award to the local historical commission “for well-rounded preservation programs to save the history and character of Texas and generate interest in the history and character of Texas.” 
   Commission members present for the honor included the group’s president, Ona Lea Pierce, plus members David Holubec, Becca Sitz, Mary Johnston and Jerrilyn Capers. 

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   All seven of the BCHS Aristocats Dance Team officers earned a spot on the “elite team” at Danceline USA Officer Camp in Montgomery, Texas June 6th-8th.  
   The elite team gives these dancers an opportunity to perform in New York, California or San Antonio with other Elite members.  
   As a group, the officers earned Super Sweepstakes, by scoring between 90-100 on all routines, skits, and interviews. The officers also won “The Magnificent Motivator Award” for their skit. 
   The ACat officers also were voted “Most Congenial Team” by all the other teams present for the camp. 
   Captain Madaline received the “Star” award for individual recognition.  
   ACat Officers are: Captain Madaline, First Lieutenant Chandler, Second Lieutenant Yhazmin, Second Lieutenant Calysta, Second Lieutenant Otensha, and Second Lieutenant Delorian.  
   Directors are Veronica Dibbern and Victoria Sparks.  

   A summer camp of sports, Bible study, crafts and community service recently brought together 41 children from the Caney Creek Chapel in Sargent and from a San Antonio church. 
   This is the fifth year for the combination of kids from the two churches – 21 are from the Sargent area while the others from San Antonio - said Pastor Bob McCarter of Northwest Park Baptist Church. 
   “The Bible study is not like anything you’ve seen,” McCarter said. 
   The Bible study involves both adults and campers, and gives church teenagers the opportunity to teach chapel. 
   Called the “Kingdom Way,” the Bible study focuses on “our image of how God sees us and how we should be seen – a hope, a will, a vision to live the way God intended.” 
   More importantly, it’s an approach to teaching the Bible that holds the campers’ interest, McCarter said. 

  Midfield Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Vic Collins, left, and Department Captain Paul Hahn stand in front of their recently purchased historic fire engine. 
   The engine was one of the trucks on scene after the Twin Towers fell in New York City on 9/11 and was deployed on Staten Island during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 to fight fires. 
   The 1992 Spartan model engine, from the Endwell Fire Department in Endwell, N.Y., arrived at its new home June 17. 
   The new engine will replace a 1980 model fire engine and will act as the department’s primary unit and first truck out for calls. 
   The truck will be decaled with the Midfield department’s logo, but the stickers commemorating its service during 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy will remain.