News

   Cooper Wade, above right, entertains 4th of July celebrants at LeTulle Park during the Sparks in the Park. 
   Morning and afternoon rains gave way for more pleasant conditions for the events.
  Below right, one of the colorful entries in the Sargent 4th of July Parade.
   There were few problems at Matagorda and Sargent beaches over the July 4th weekend.
   “It was the best 4th of July we ever had,” Sheriff Skipper Osborne told commissioners court Monday.
   Matagorda Beach was crowded Saturday, he said, but credited Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard with deploying equipment to keep the sand packed down.
   As he previously has noted, people don’t read the no-swimming signs posted near the jetties at Matagorda Beach.
   “There are signs up and down the beach and they’ll hang their towels on the signs and go swimming,” the sheriff said.  

   A 32-year-old Bay City man was arrested on two drug charges after patrol officers saw a vehicle with a brake light out Sunday night, July 8, reports show.
   When officers noticed the vehicle pull into a parking lot of a closed business, they moved the police cruiser closer and waited for the vehicle’s driver to get out.
   The driver sat in the vehicle for about five minutes, police said, so officers pulled in behind the vehicle, as it was suspicious.
   When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver was acting suspicious, reports show. Another officer reported seeing marijuana on the front passenger seat.
   The driver was arrested and when officers searched the vehicle they found meth, police said.
   Chris H. Bouldin was charged with possession of marijuana in a drug free zone and possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone, police reports show.

   El Campo-based Globecom Media has purchased Happy Radio 92.5 KKHA in Bay City.
   Globecom Media owns 96 Country KIOX-FM in El Campo, and the nationally syndicated radio show “Saturday Night Gold” which airs on radio stations across the country. 
   As a part of the company’s expansion in South East Texas, Globecom Media reached an agreement with Tomlinson/Leis Communications to purchase Happy Radio.
   The ownership transition should be final by the first of September, pending FCC approval, said Globecom Media President Mark Porter.
   Globecom Media (www.96country.com) is located at 201 E. Jackson St. El Campo.

   Just a short two weeks ago, farmers in Matagorda County were measuring cracks in the ground up to and exceeding seven feet because of a concerning stage of drought.  
   Oh, how things can change in such a short period of time. 
   In the past two weeks most locations across Matagorda County have seen more than a foot of rain in a culmination of just two rainfall events.  
   Obviously, rain is critically needed in all areas of agriculture but excesses can be catastrophic in certain instances. Matagorda County crops are currently in one of those instances.  
   Grain sorghum is very near harvest-ready where excess moisture levels affect maturing grain unique to the crop.  
   The producing seed head of the plant is exposed at the top of the plant and open to the elements.  
   When the crop is at the current stage, excess moisture followed by prolonged periods of high humidity and cloud cover, the grain cannot dry.  

   Bay City Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating July as Parks and Recreation Month.
   “Playgrounds, parks, sports leagues, events are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of parks and recreation. 
   But, parks and recreation is so much more than that,” said Parks and Recreation Supervisor Kelly Penewitt.
   “During Park and Recreation Month, discover all the ways parks and recreation can improve quality of life, like senior programs; community celebrations; outdoor education; flood mitigation; maintenance; and more.
   “Summer is in full swing and a great time to get outside and enjoy our city parks, pools and events.  
   “Did you know – Bay City has nine neighborhood parks, two historic buildings, seven sports fields, two regional parks, a dog park and the Southern Pacific Trail?” she asked.   

   A small group is forming to find solutions to Bay City residents’ recurring issues with the two railroads that serve the city, after City Council discussions at its regular meeting Thursday, June 28. 
   There are two major railroad issues here – the quiet zone along Union Pacific lines and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF) switching operations on 7th Street near downtown. 
   A quiet zone has a low priority among the railroad companies, Mayor Mark Bricker said of his discussions with the railroads, adding it also would be difficult to have BNSF stop the switching operations. 
   At a previous council meeting, Council Member Jason Childers described the ease El Campo had in enacting a quiet zone along the railroad there. 
   “We’re very different from El Campo,” the mayor said of that city’s lone railroad at last week’s meeting. 
   “The switching operations are excruciating,” Cornman said. 

   Riverside Park recently opened for day use from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. after being closed for almost nine months due to Hurricane Harvey. 
   “Riverside Park is open with limited resources but the city is taking steps to get the park fully restored, we ask that citizens be patient during this process, we see this as an opportunity to revamp Riverside Park in a sustainable way,” assistant public works director Marla Jasek. 
   “The park reopened on July first for day use only at no cost to the public. When we have a date for the sewer system replacement then we will have a date for a complete reopening of the park.” 
   A sign in the park reminds attendees that certain amenities are unavailable such as: 

  A public hearing for establishing a Reinvestment Zone for tax abatement was set for the proposed Peyton Creek Wind Farm in southern Matagorda County by commissioners court at its regular meeting Monday, July 1. 
   The hearing was set for 9:45 a.m. Monday, July 16. There were no comments on setting the hearing. 
   The $170 million wind farm first approached the court in August 2017, when it began tax abatement review process. 
   Peyton Creek Wind Farm is part of E.ON, one of the world’s largest owners and operators of onshore and offshore wind farms. 
   Since last year’s presentation, E.ON has made different studies, including wildlife, soil and water tables, and “they all came back favorable,” said Nathan Yates, Wind Development Manager for E.ON. 

   After 25 minutes in closed session, Tidehaven trustees unanimously approved hiring school marshals as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s School and Firearm Safety Action Plan at the June 27 special meeting. 
   “Due to the nature of their positions as school marshals, I can’t reveal many specifics,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Seigrist. 
   “Revealing their numbers on campus, classes taught, genders or other specific facts could put them in danger if we were ever to have an active shooter emergency.” 
   According to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), “The sole purpose of a School Marshal is to prevent the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises, and act only as defined by the written regulations adopted by the School Board/Governing Body.” 

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