News

   The wild pig (Sus scrofa) is truly an amazing animal, and I do not say that in a positive manner but one of awe as it relates to the intelligence of the species. 
   The success of the species is attached directly to many traits and tendencies that make them highly adaptable to just about any given landscape. 
   The dietary range of wild pigs expands the range of the animal to not only seek food above ground but to pit the chisel-plow nose in the ground and exploit a totally new menu. 
   The duration and extent of wild pig usage of a given area or food source depends on some driving factors that relate to overall dispersal across the landscape. 
   Wild pigs are lazy at their core. 
   Once in an area, wild pigs will focus on the easy food sources first (berries, grains, seeds, etc.) before expelling necessary energy going below ground. 

   Bay City and Palacios June sales tax allocations from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar were up from the same month last year.
   Hegar recently announced that he sent cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $907.6 million in local sales tax allocations for June, 31.5 percent more than in June 2020.
      These allocations are based on sales made in April by businesses that report tax monthly.
   Bay City June sales tax allocation totaled $596,094, a 4.7% increase over the $568,917 rebate for the same month last year.
   For the year, Bay City has received rebates totaling $3,228,839, a 1.6% increase over the $3,175,825 the city received for the same time period in 2020.
   Palacios’ June rebate was $69,236, which is a 5.6% increase from the $65,564 allocation the city got in June 2020.

   Mayor Robert Nelson said work in front of City Hall is designed to make the area more attractive.
   “One of our goals is to make Bay City more inviting and aesthetically pleasing,” the mayor said. 
   “We had to remove the tree in front of city hall, which was causing damage to the roof and the foundation of the building,” he explained. 
    He added that the leaves from the tree damaged the fountain, “which rendered it incapable of performing the way it was designed and causing it to be a blemish to the appearance of city hall. 

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   Guzman’s candidacy adds a new dynamic to the primary that is already unfolding between incumbent Ken Paxton and Land Commissioner George P. Bush.   

   Matagorda County officials focused on the continuing problems of people swimming in unsafe, riptide areas of Matagorda Beach at Commissioners Court regular meeting Monday, June 7.
   Sunday evening’s drowning of a 30-year-old Angleton and the related incident where a 10-year-old boy also was swept into the surf were tied to remarks from Sheriff Skipper Osborne and commissioners during the court meeting.
   Osborne gave an overview of Sunday’s drowning that was near the jetty at Matagorda Beach – the boy was found late Monday night.
   Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard focused on the impact a swollen Colorado River has at its mouth near the jetty pier.
   Noting all of the recent rainfall, Pollard said upstream flooding makes the rip tides worse at Matagorda Beach – especially at the jetty.
   “I had two deputies on the beaches all weekend. My deputies aren’t going in the water to save someone,” the sheriff said.

The Bay City Public Library kicked off its summer reading program with an all-ages petting zoo experience in Bay City and Sargent Monday, June 7.
   “Our reading program will once again be held using the Wandoo Reader digital platform,” said Library Director Samantha Denbow.
   “This is where you will log the minutes you read and complete challenges such as scavenger hunts. There will be a challenge for each program we host that can be completed by attending our in-person event or the at-home alternative.”
   The overall community goal of the reading program is to read 50,000 minutes collectively.
   “Print reading logs are available at the circulation desk and youth services desk,” reads the Wandoo Reader website.

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   The search ended late Monday night, July 7, for a 10-year-old boy missing off Matagorda Beach since Sunday evening, June 6, Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office reported.
   The boy and a 30-year-old man were taken out by the surf about a quarter-mile east of Jetty Park about 6:50 p.m. Sunday, and the boy’s body was found about a third of a mile west of the beach vehicle entrance, deputies said. 
   A deputy confirmed that the body found was 10-year-old Nicholas.
   Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace James Powell was notified and performed an inquest.   
   The search for the boy by boat, air and by vehicle Monday included the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Game Wardens, and the Coast Guard.
    Sheriff Skipper Osborne said deputies were initially told three people were in the water at Matagorda Beach “in distress.”

   New confirmed COVID-19 cases are following statewide trends and keep dropping.
   In its report Tuesday, June 8, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported that Matagorda County had 30 confirmed cases over the past 14 days.
   That’s a per-capita average of 0.8 cases per 1,000 residents – way below previous week’s DSHS averages.
   Overall, the county has 3,507 confirmed cases, 725 probable cases and 114 deaths.

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