News

   Bay City High School Dungeoneers won district for their One Act Play (OAP) “Tracks y Huellas” March 9 and performed at Royal High School for Bi-District competition.
   Those results were not available at press time.
   “Tracks y Huellas” is an original play written by speech/debate/theater teacher Magda Mirelez.
   “I wrote the first version of this play eight years ago. The play was inspired by the true story of the 19 immigrants who died in the back of an 18 wheeler trailer in Victoria,” said Mirelez.
   “Our play, Tracks y Huellas, follows families who are traveling into the country and are accidentally trapped inside a boxcar.

   The City of Bay City’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, April 14, at Le Tulle Park.  
   All egg hunts and event activities will be free and open to the public and refreshments will be sold.    
   “Everyone’s invited to enjoy an afternoon of egg hunts, photo opportunities, prizes, spring fun and of course, the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny,” said Kelly Penewitt, Parks and Recreation supervisor. 
   “Children up to 10 years old will be able to take part in the City’s now famous `egg scrambles’ for treat filled eggs.” 
   Parents should note that each scramble lasts about one minute and is not repeated so children should be at the scramble for their age group on time. 
   Children with special needs will also be able to join in the fun of the egg scrambles at the “Beeping Bunnies” egg hunt area.   
   This area will include beeping and talking eggs for children with special needs hidden among the hay.   

   LyondellBasell announced the donation of firefighting equipment to three Matagorda County volunteer fire departments – including a new pumper truck for Matagorda – at a ceremony Tuesday morning at Matagorda Firemans Hall.
   About 30 people were at the event that featured remarks from Joe Hoinkis, site manager for LyondellBasell’s Matagorda Complex, and from public officials.
   The 15,000-gallon new pumper truck for Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department and bunker gear, or personal protective equipment, which LyondellBasell also donated to that fire department – plus the Markham and Midfield volunteer fire departments - were on display Tuesday morning.
   In addition, LyondellBasell’s Matagorda Complex also has sent local firefighters to industrial fire training school at Texas A&M.

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   Bay City ISD Board of Trustees voted to engage U.S. Capital Advisors (USCA) Municipal Advisors LLC, for financial advisory services during a special meeting March 13.
   “Trustees are seeking a second opinion on the original calculation of estimated bond proceeds based on the BCISD tax rate approved by voters in November 2016’s $124 million bond election,” said Allison Sliva, BCISD public relations, in a press release Tuesday morning.
   “In seeking the second opinion, the trustees want analyzed the tax values, tax collection rate, and bond payback period figures used in the bond proceeds calculation before moving forward on the elementary projects.”
   The district currently employs Terrell Palmer of First Southwest Company as financial advisor.
   Palmer provided the tax rate calculations for trustees and the bond steering committee last year.
   “It never hurts to get a second opinion,” said interim superintendent Mark Pool.

   David Holubec was hired as City Secretary for Bay City, effective May 11, and present City Secretary Rhonda Clegg was approved as the city’s new Human Resources director at a special city council meeting Tuesday evening, March 14.
   Mayor Mark Bricker’s appointments of Holubec and Clegg were approved by council following an executive session of close to 90 minutes.
   Both actions were on last Thursday’s regular council meeting agenda but were tabled because of Holubec’s candidacy for a seat on the Bay City school board.
   The city secretary serves as an official election judge for the May 6 city council and school board elections.
   “If he’s on the ballot, he couldn’t be in the polling place,” Bricker commented last week.
   Holubec, Van Vleck Elementary principal, said at council’s meeting last week that he would withdraw from the Bay City trustee race.
   But Bricker said it was too late to remove his name from the BCISD ballot.

  Chilly wind and rain didn’t put much of a damper on the 7thAnnual Matagorda Seafood Fest March 11.
   Overall, the event raised almost $87,000 for Matagorda Charities to use for local needs.
   “It all goes to charities here in Matagorda,” said Buddy Treybig, committee member of Matagorda Charities.
   “The volunteer fire department, the school, food banks, scholarships and any other programs approved by the committee. We try to give as much as possible.”
   “It rained until 2 p.m., but we had between 1,500-1,600 people,” he said.
   “We were surprised at the amount of people sitting and riding the rain out.”
   In years past, anywhere from 2,500-3,000 people attended the Fest.
   “The rain ran off most of our paid vendors,” added Treybig.
   “Out of 50, we had only a few left.”
   Live entertainment played inside to a packed Matagorda Fireman’s Hall rather than outside.

   A total of 14 cook teams are on board for the Seventh Annual Great Steak Cookoff March 25 that is the lone fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Bay City and Matagorda County.
   The event at the Bay City Civic Center can take a maximum of 18 teams. The cost per team is $1,000.
   “If someone wants to sponsor a team, we can provide the cooks,” said cookoff spokesperson Susan Reed.
   Cook teams will compete for best steak, crowd favorite and pacesetter awards, Reed said.
   Best steak is a blind judging by three to four independent judges.  
   Crowd favorite’s format has been changed to be a “non-monetary” vote by patrons based on entertainment value provided by each team.  

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   As the Bay City Main Street Program celebrates it’s 25th year, it is an privilege to receive once again National Accreditation Recognition for our 2015-2016 year. 
   It was a year filled with great successes and you can enjoy the results when you visit downtown. The Main Street Board successfully developed the new annual Wild Game and Wine Camofest which raised funds used to purchase the new benches, bistro sets, trashcan and reset the 43 planters. 
   We also help Green Brothers celebrate their 70th year downtown by granting façade money for their new beautiful façade. 
   We also had fun working with the merchants and the Matagorda County CVB to conduct monthly Rock the Block events.
   Look for more improvements downtown as we disperse the funds raised for Camofest 2017! If you are interested in becoming involved in downtown, we would love to have you. Contact Karen Stephens at 979-245-8081.