Sports

   High school athletes who attend smaller public schools in Texas can start practicing volleyball and football as soon as Aug. 3. 
   But bigger schools, which are more likely to be in more populous areas, will have to wait longer, according to new guidelines released by the University Interscholastic League on Tuesday.
   Due to the continued coronavirus pandemic, the UIL, which is the organization that governs high school sports in Texas, created two separate calendars based on school size for resuming football, volleyball, tennis and cross country. 
   Schools with the 1A to 4A designation can start meeting for games and meets in mid- to late-August. 
   Schools in 5A or 6A, which are the biggest schools, will have to wait until September.
   Marching bands across the state can begin their curriculums on Sept. 7.

   City Manager Shawna Burkhart gave an update on the status of Valiant Pool during council’s regular meeting, July 14.  
   “A group of individuals, mostly key stakeholders between the school, Van Vleck, Aquacats and others will join in a discussion about the usage of the pool,” she said.  
   “We’re meeting to vent out ideas to extend the life of the pool and a timeline to accomplish that goal. Or, to find out what we need to make Hilliard Pool suitable for our needs.”  
   That meeting is set for 10 a.m. Monday, July 20, in council chambers at City Hall.  
   Councilman Bill Cornman told council that the aquatics center project is expecting an update Thursday, Aug. 13.  
   “That’s when we’ll get more information about the feasibility study that was done,” he added.  
   “That should give us a realistic view of how everything looks, too,” said councilman Jason Childers.  

   Tidehaven ISD trustees unanimously called for a Nov. 3 board election and budget amendment for athletic equipment during their regular meeting June 30. 
   Board members Stuart Lynn, Marty Crain and Lee Edward Pierce’s positions are up for election. 
   Each trustee’s term is four years long, with members Lynn and Crain having served just one term. 
   “Lee Edward Pierce has served multiple terms,” said TISD Superintendent Dr. Andrew Seigrist. 
   “I’m not sure how many, but its multiple terms. All trustee positions at Tidehaven are at large positions and they are not numbered.” 
   Other board members are not up for election until 2022 and those are Stephen Crow, Eric Saha, Mike Galvan, and Scott Cheek. 
   Trustees also unanimously approved a budget amendment for a variety of athletic needs including new football helmets for junior high players. 

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   There has been no decision made about shutting down the Valiant, or 16th Street, pool, City Manager Shawna Burkhart said in an interview Tuesday, July 7. 
   Burkhart was asked about a Facebook post from Aquacat President Andy Spencer who said, “The city plans to close our pool and that will kill our programs.” 
   Spencer said closing the pool “will kill” local swimming programs. 
   Burkhart said a scheduled meeting about the pool was scheduled last week but was postponed because of COVID concerns. 
   “We will schedule a discussion only of the closure of the pool because of the failure of the facility,” the city manager said. 
  

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From Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

   Bay City ISD trustees unanimously approved giving district employees a 4 percent raise as part of the 2020-2021 school year budget and held an intense discussion on construction projects during their regular meeting June 15.
   The approved pay increase will bring the total budget to just over $45.7 million for the school year.
   Board members Bob Klepac, Eddie Nelson, James Scardami, Trent Tinnin, and John DeWitt were present while trustees Jerry Manning and Frankie Cole were absent.
   All trustees weighed in on the salary increase as they addressed their concerns with COVID-19 affecting next year and how to be “fiscally responsible.”
   “I know there’s some sentiment about funding from the state and staying fiscally responsible,” said Trustee James Scardami.
   “I know the cost of living increase is usually between 2 and 3 percent,” he added.

   Happy snapper season, y’all! Hopefully you have been able to enjoy some gulf fishing…I mean out on the water sounds like a good way to social distance. 
   If you have been a fisher of snapper long enough, then maybe you have heard of the iSnapper app you can download (for free!) on your smart phone. 
   This app was designed to supplement catch data for snapper. 
   Since there are so many commercial and recreational fishermen, the information provided from non-research fishing trips is invaluable and would be almost impossible to get without something like iSnapper. While catch data is an important part of helping manage the snapper fishery, the app also collects other parameters that would otherwise be difficult to obtain including discard rates and depths fished. 
   So why is it important to know this information and collect the data? 
   Unfortunately, many folks think that by entering in their catch it will somehow shorten the season.