News

   A feasibility study of the proposed aquatics center will be released in late March - that’s when local work to make the project succeed will begin, Councilman Bill Cornman told City Council and the BCCDC board this week.
   The feasibility study, bolstered by a $25,000 grant from Bay City Community Development Corporation – and using combined engineering, design and finance firms’ expertise - began in 2019 under the direction of Wellness Matagorda, Cornman said.
   The study is “trying to get things right based on what the community wants,” Cornman said.
   “We’re really struggling on the revenue side to get as realistic a number as possible.
   “We’re just about ready for a presentation in late March,” Cornman said, adding there first will be a joint meeting between BCCDC and council “to take a look.”

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   Van Vleck school board members heard several construction updates and bond project progress as part of their regular meeting, Feb. 24.
   “Masonry work on the new high school is nearing completion,” said PBK Architects project manager Mike Mandola.
   “Security fencing is ongoing and ceiling-tile grids are done in the academic wing.”
   Mandola said that punch-list items are nearing completion for the agriculture shop building.

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   About $108,000 in grants was approved – including funds to help rehabilitate the Bay City Inn – and a $936,000 bid was awarded to reroof the Center for Energy Development (CED) at Bay City Community Development Corporation board’s regular meeting Feb. 24.
   In addition, the board approved the Nile Valley Road improvement project – not to exceed $6 million – in cooperation with the City of Bay City, along with an interlocal agreement with the city.
   In discussing the Nile Valley Road project, BCCDC Executive Director Jessica Russell said discussions with city officials indicated a 15-year note, rather than 25 years, would mean lower overall interest payments on the $6 million in certificates of obligation.
   The yearly payments on that note would be between $230,000 and $239,000, Russell told the board, adding “that was doable.”
   The project calls for BCCDC and Bay City Gas Company sharing the yearly payments. 

   The Matagorda County Fair & Livestock Association fair kicks off with the annual barbecue cookoff this Friday and Saturday.
   Cookoff awards will be about 5 p.m. Saturday, after brisket judging.
The fair lineup also features several other events this weekend starting with commercial heifer check-in from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.
      Commercial heifer judging follows the check in at 6:30 p.m.
   The commercial heifer show will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, with awards to follow at noon and the sale at 1 p.m.
   The home economics food show check-in will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, with awards at noon and live auction following the heifer sale.
   The 7th Annual Matagorda County Fair Concert kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds indoor arena.
   This year’s concert features Diamond Rio and Bay Of Donuts.
   Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

   The Bay City High School Choir has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in February 2021.
   This honor for the Blackcat choristers is by invitation and recommendation only.
   The BCHS Choir along with a limited number of other ensembles have been invited to participate in the Distinguished Concerts Singers International in performing Lux: The Dawn from on High.
   The New York City residency includes two half-days of rehearsals and clinics, culminating in a performance with the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra with Dr. John Paul Johnson on the podium. The performance will be on Feb. 15, 2021 in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in NYC.

   Do you know how many feet there are in a fathom?
   What about the author of “The Silence of the Lambs?”
   Chances are if you need to Google either of those questions, you might have missed out on those points during the Literacy Volunteers of America - Matagorda County’s Annual Knowledge Bowl fundraiser, Feb. 22.
   Those answers are: there are six feet in a fathom and Thomas Harris wrote “The Silence of the Lambs.” 
   Seven total adult teams faced off over a variety of 75 questions to see who could get the most points.
   Team “One More Time Into the Breach” took home the first-place plaque this year with members Joseph Cook, Brandon Jenewein, Marco Ruvalcaba and Glen Schinzel.

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   After a half hour in closed session, Bay City ISD Trustees unanimously approved authorizing Superintendent Dr. Marshall Scott III to review Athletic Director Matrick Matthews’ contract during a special meeting, Feb. 25.
   Board members present included Bob Klepac, Jerry Manning, Eddie Nelson, Trent Tinnin, James Scardami and John DeWitt. 
   Trustee Frankie Cole was absent from the meeting. 
   “The board is taking no official action on the athletic director’s contract,” said Morgan Beam, district legal counsel.
   “This just gives Dr. Scott a chance to review the contract including benefits, salary or other terms as well as the term of the contract. Any action taken would have to happen in a public meeting.”

    The second week of early voting for the March 3 primary in Matagorda County showed some drop off from the first week.
   County Clerk Stepanie Wurtz said inclement weather has affected some early voting, particularly this past Monday, Feb. 24.
   Through late Tuesday, 1,887 early votes had been case in person in Bay City and in Palacios, Wurtz said.
   There were 235 early votes cast Tuesday.
   The total tracks the constitutional amendment election in 2019, when about 3,000 early votes were counted, she said.
   Early voting will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 28 at the Bay City Service Center or Courthouse Annex in Palacios.
   Voting places for the Tuesday, March 3 primary are listed below.

   Three robbers entered a Hamman Road residence, forced two people into a closet at gunpoint, stole several items then fled Sunday night, Feb. 23, police said.
   Officers were sent to the 2900 block of Hamman Road in reference to a robbery at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
   Before the officers arrived, police were told three black males wearing hoodies or masks had robbed the victim at gunpoint and had fled.
   Officers arrived on scene and met with two adult victims, who said they were sleeping when the suspects entered their room. 
   Both victims said the front door had been unlocked. 
   The robbers took the victims’ cell phones before forcing them into a closet. 
   The victims stayed in the closet until they heard the suspects leave, police said. 
   That’s when the victims ran to a neighbor’s house to call the police. 
   Both victims were unharmed.