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· WOUNDED HEROES ARRIVE IN PALACIOS FRIDAY FOR RELAXATION & FISHING
· ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET, SHRIMPOREE ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND
· HARD AT WORK BARGE-BUILDING AT TRES PALACIOS MARINE
· CofC’s ‘CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST’ TO BE A GOURMET EXPICUREAN EXPERIENCE
· PALACIOS CITY COUNCIL GIVES ENDORSEMENT FOR PAVILION PROJECT
· PAF ‘PICKS UP THE TAB’ FOR ARCHITECT’S BILL FOR PROPOSED PAVILION
· CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD UNDERWAY FOR MCND #1 ELECTION
· MATAGORDA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 12-PERCENT
WOUNDED HEROES ARRIVE IN PALACIOS FRIDAY FOR RELAXATION & FISHING
 More than 20 wounded servicemen, recuperating from major injuries on the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq, will arrive in Palacios about 3 p.m. Friday (July 30) for a weekend of fishing, boat-riding and just plain relaxation at Serendipity Resort on South Main.Accompanying the servicemen, on their weekend “furlough” from Carl R. Darnell Army Hospital at Fort Hood, Texas and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., will be family members or their caregivers. For most of the servicemen, the weekend in Palacios is their first public outing since they were flown to the hospitals direct from the war zones. “We invite, actually request, all possible men, women and children of the Palacios area to turn out along First and Main streets for a flag-waving welcome,” said Carol Huddleston, spokesperson for the El Campo-based Hunts For Heroes that is bringing the wounded heroes to Palacios. The two groups will merge in El Campo for a parade prior to coming to Palacios with a motorcycle club escort. The Palacios Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department will take over the escort at the city limits on First Street. The non-profit Hunts For Heroes, founded by El Campo firefighter and Vietnam era veteran Billy Hodges, has become nationally known for hosting wounded servicemen (and women) on hunting and fishing trips. “I pledged myself to help see that no American serviceman receive the type of public treatment that I saw many returning returnees from Vietnam receive,” Hodges has said. This is the fifth consecutive year for Hunts For Heroes to bring groups of wounded servicemen for a weekend of fishing and R&R in Palacios. There is no planned public event for the servicemen this weekend, although local citizens may drop by Serendipity Resort Friday evening and meet some of the servicemen. After a day of fishing and boat riding on Saturday, the wounded heroes will be treated to a shrimp boil that evening. The servicemen are expected to depart early Sunday afternoon. |
ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE FLEET, SHRIMPOREE ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND
 FATHER Charles Dwomoh and Bernard and Madeline Rother display just a few of the items that will be up for auction at the 46th Annual Shrimporee that will take place Sunday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. The auction will begin at 1 p.m. (Submitted Photo)
••••••••••••••• St. Anthony’s Catholic Church’s 47th Annual Shrimporee, Blessing of the Fleet, and related activities, will take place this Friday through Sunday (July 30-Aug. 1). A dance, golf tournament, auctions and more will be part of the Shrimporee events scheduled.The weekend activities will begin with a Teen Dance from 8 p.m.-midnight Friday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 7th & Main, with music by DJ “Rudy C.” Admission is $5 per person. On Saturday, the 13th Annual Shrimporee Golf Tournament will tee-off at the Palacios Golf Course with the ‘A’ Flight at 8 a.m. followed by the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Flight at 12 noon. Entry fee is $220/team or $55/person and includes green fee, cart, meal and raffle ticket. For information on the tournament and for registration, call Isidro O. Castanon at (361) 972-6006 or Tony Garcia at (361) 972-2720. Father Charles Dwomoh of St. Anthony’s will conduct an Evening Mass at 6 p.m. Saturday at the church. The traditional Blessing of the Fleet will take place at 8 a.m. Sunday for vessels inside the Port of Palacios. That will be followed by a Mass (the only Mass of the day) at 8:30 a.m. at the Railroad Park amphitheater across from City Park. Shrimporee activities will follow at the Palacios Recreation Center, 2401 Perryman. Activities include games, rides, auctions, country store, variety of food booths and meal. Serving of the Shrimporee meal starts at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $7 per plate and offers a choice of shrimp, BBQ beef or chicken. A variety of items will go on auction block that begins at 1 p.m. in the beergarden. Music entertainment will be provided by Texas Sound Check and DJ “Rudy C”. Tickets for the 8th annual Tran’s Sport Boat raffle are available for $25 each. Second place is a $1,000 gift card and third place a $500 gift card. Drawing will be at 4 p.m. For ticket information call 972-2446. |
HARD AT WORK BARGE-BUILDING AT TRES PALACIOS MARINE
 A crane lifts a large piece of steel as workers finish construction of a barge at the Tres Palacios Marine shipyard at the Port of Palacios. |
CofC’s ‘CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST’ TO BE A GOURMET EXPICUREAN EXPERIENCE
A fund raiser for this year’s Seawall Christmas Lighting will be an event you won’t want to miss. The Palacios Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a gourmet epicurean experience from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Palacios Recreation Center.
Chef Shawn Watkins, Executive Chef at the Bay City Country Club, will dazzle you with his culinary skills as he prepares a holiday feast in front of you. During his food demonstrations, you will be served a four course meal along with perfectly selected wines as recommended by Sommelier Manuela Watkins.
Tickets are $37.50 and available only at the Chamber office, 312 Main. Seating is limited, so call the Chamber office now, 972-2615, to reserve your seat or table.
If you want to reserve a table, you will need to purchase eight tickets. If you make reservation, you must purchase your ticket by Aug. 13 or forfeit your reservation.
Chef Shawn will show you how to make a version of Irish cream without all the expense of a brand name label. While sipping on your brew, Chef Shawn will begin with the first course, a mixed green salad with Gorgonzola dressing topped with candied pecans and cranberries. Next, he will demonstrate how to stir up a scrumptious bowl of roasted pumpkin bisque soup.
For the main course, he will prepare a rack of lamb and then tweak it up with a special herb crust before it goes into the oven. The side dishes will be braised winter greens and a sweet potato gratin, a process that takes this simple vegetable to a whole new level.
And if this isn’t enough, Chef Shawn will finish off this dinner with a tantalizing cinnamon parfait served with a cherry sauce and spiced coffee. Not only will you leave satisfied with your taste buds tingling, you will have the skills and knowledge to mimic this grand production for your own guests during the holiday season with a printed recipe book. After all, Thanksgiving is only three months away.
All proceeds will be used to purchase lights and decorations to replace the displays that were damaged due to vandalism which occurred last year.
If you would like to be part of the planning team for this event or if you want to volunteer your help with the seawall lighting, please call JoAnne Estopinal at 972-3097.
If you cannot attend but you would like to donate to this cause, please send a check or money order to the Palacios Chamber of Commerce –Seawall Lighting.
PALACIOS CITY COUNCIL GIVES ENDORSEMENT FOR PAVILION PROJECT
Maybe last, but not least, the Palacios City Council finally voted to endorse the new Pavilion Project “and the many and much needed benefits this project will bring to our rural coastal community.”
The city had been referred to as the lone entity in Matagorda County that had not endorsed the project of building a new Pavilion. If so, it was resolved as Council unanimously voted and signed (councilman Andy Erdelt was absent) a letter of endorsement at its July 13 meeting.
“This project will give us the opportunity to maximize on our ecotourism efforts by providing a pristine, comfortable and accommodating setting for visitors and the well-being of our local people, encourage public access to on-the-bay activities, a place for festival and event headquarters, fishing, picnics, regattas, family and class reunions and other social enrichment events,” the letter states.
It also states a new Pavilion will provide a boost in economic development, pilot green energy trials, provide for business retreats and small conferences, many other listed services.
Council completed appointment to the board of directors for the new City of Palacios Economic Development Corporation, which now becomes a 4B sales tax EDC with a 7-member board of directors, replacing the former 4A EDC with a 5-member board. Appointments of Bruce Webb and Debbie Morris to one-year terms (subject to Morris’ acceptance) completed the new board.
COMMITTEES NEED MORE APPLICANTS Appointments to the Council’s three standing committees was far from fulfilling as there were no applications from interested citizens in hand and some previous committee members were no longer eligible or had asked not to be reappointed.
City Manager Charles Winfield said committee members had to either be city residents or could live out of the city, but have a business in the city.
Reappointed to the Airport Committee were Jim Dale, Robert Porter and Dr. Shane Krenek. Two more members are needed.
Reappointed to the Parks & Recreation Committee were Paul Smith and Vicki Adams. Edith Gower and Carroll Carney will be reappointed if they accept. One other member would be needed.
Larry Glenn was reappointed to the Streets & Drainage Committee. Four more members are needed.
All citizens interested in serving on a committee are urged to turn in application forms that are available at City Hall.
OTHER BUSINESS •City Manager Winfield said the 2010 street paving project had been completed and was awaiting the final inspection. A map of the proposed 2011 project was on display at the meeting.
•Approval was given on a contract with Harrison, Waldrop & Uherek of Victoria for the 2010 fiscal yer audit at an estimated cost of $19,950.
•Approved a resolution authorizing a funding agreement with the Texas Dept. of Transportation involving the pedestrian/bicycle walking bridge project alongside the Hump Back Bridge on East Bayshore,
•Approved an interlocal agreement with Matagorda County Navigation District #1 for the construction of the pedestrian/bicycle walking bridge, subject to approval by the MCND#1 board of commissioners.
•Approved a resolution amending the rules, procedures and official order of business for City Council meetings.
•Received a memorandum from City Attorney Randy Strong that due to a recent change in the law, the city could negotiate a new lease for all its oil, gas and mineral lands for all of its property except parks. Strong said if the city wants to lease park property, it will need to use the bid procedures of the Natural Resources Code.
Mayor John Sardelich said the agenda for the council’s next meet will include drainage problems in the Foley Addition and the need for an “emergency project.”
PAF ‘PICKS UP THE TAB’ FOR ARCHITECT’S BILL FOR PROPOSED PAVILION
 The architect who designed a proposed new bayfront Pavilion for Palacios is finally going to be paid for his work after all.The Palacios Area Fund (PAF) has come to the “rescue” of City Manager Charles Winfield, who said the city could not use donations and money from pledges to pay the architect for a possible new bayfront Pavilion. PAF has “picked up” the $2,653.96 architect bill with what was termed a “community charitable need” grant. Payment of the bill by PAF was made despite the fact that the City’s Centennial Committee received some $4,400 in pledges and donations in last year’s Centennial. The committee had publicized in advance of the July 4, 2009 Centennial that various entry fees, pledges and donations would be used to pay for architect and engineering studies for a new Pavilion. Since then, City Manager Winfield, backed by an opinion from City Attorney Randy Strong of Baytown, said the money could not be spent on non-city activities. The Centennial Committee was appointed by City Council, but Strong opinioned that the Pavilion Committee, which had the architect prepare the design, is not an official city committee. |
CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD UNDERWAY FOR MCND #1 ELECTION
The next candidate-filing activity for an election this year opened Monday (July 26) for three positions on the Matagorda County Navigation District #1 board of commissioners, including the two new positions, No’s 4 and 5, created by the State Legislature.
The other MCND#1 position facing voters this year is Position 1, currently held by board chairman Ted Bates, Jr.
Candidate applications will be available at the navigation district’s administration building on South Main St. The filing period will continue thru Aug. 24.
Bates has stated he will seek re-election, while Larry Glenn has announced he will file as a candidate for one of the new positions.
For eligible citizens who still have not registered to vote this year, or will be at least age 18 by the November 2 general election date, they have until Oct. 4 to register with the County Tax Assessor’s Office.
MATAGORDA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 12-PERCENT
The unemployment picture for Matagorda County took a hit last month as the jobless rate rose more than one-percent according to the latest figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
The June unemployment rate climbed to 12-percent. The was up from 10.9-percent the previous month and marked the second consecutive monthly increase.
That is substantially higher than the overall Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped of 8.2-percent as well as the national unemployment rate for the month of 9.5-percent.
According to the TWC, of the county’s labor force of 18,743, a total of 2,240 were without jobs in June. The 12-percent unemployment rate is the second highest for the county this year. It registered 12.1-percent in January.
All four adjacent counties also saw their jobless rate increase last month. Although Jackson County had the lowest rate of 7.9-percent, that was an increase of a half-percent from the previous month. The rate for Wharton County stood at 8.9-percent followed by 9.3-percent for Calhoun County and 9.5-percent for Brazoria County.
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